Politics
C’River REC Wants Cameras At Polling Units
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross River, Mr Mike Igini wants residents of the state to come to the polling stations with their video cameras to record the governorship election.
Igini said in Calabar that “You are free to come to the polling units with your video cameras to record proceedings at every polling unit and collation centre.
“What we want is openness, we want the people of Cross River and Nigerians to take ownership of the electoral process in this country.”
Igini told The Tide’s source that INEC was ready to conduct a free and fair governorship election on Feb. 25, in the state.
He, however, said that politicians, should campaign to get their mandate from the electorate, instead of getting them from the courts.
According to him, politicians had been spending a lot of resources on litigations at the electoral tribunals, hence he advised that such resources should rather be utilised for the development of the country.
“We have spent so much money on tribunal cases. Such money should have been used for development of Nigeria, the REC said.
He said that it was the desire of INEC to put an end to endless litigations at electoral tribunals in Nigeria.
Igini continued that INEC in Cross River was determined to make Cross River one of the states that would start the process that would make politicians to accept election results without going to the tribunal.
The REC said no fewer than three security personnel would be at every polling unit in the state in the forthcoming election.
He advised political parties to provide INEC with the list and pictures of their agents, who would be expected at the polling units for the election.
“The list of all agents of political parties that will be present at every polling unit with their pictures should be submitted seven days before the elections.
“This is to ensure that at every polling unit you have the presence of all the agents,’’ he said.
Igini said that INEC would sanction anybody, who failed to adhere to the rules of the game.
“And to the electorates I say, you have a responsibility, people should not go to polling units to canvass for votes 24 hours before the elections.
“There should be no campaign within that period; we will be watching out. In fact, that was one of the key issues in our security meeting.
“All the security agents should ensure that at every polling unit, those who make the mistake of coming there to canvass for votes will be arrested,’’ he said.
He warned that politicians, who distribute money, during the elections would be arrested.
“On the day of the election, it is a punishable offence to campaign.
“We shall discipline anybody found to have either been distributing money or canvassing for votes at any polling unit,’’ Igini said.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.