Politics
‘Stagger National Polls For Better Results’
A youth activist and member, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Jolly Emmanuel has suggested the staggering of national elections for free and fair polls.
Emmanuel told The Tide in Port Harcourt that the electoral umpire could conduct credible polls if held in few states at a time.
Speaking on the conduct of the Ondo governorship election on October 20, and the previous Edo polls, he said Nigeria should reduce the number of states holding elections per day.
According to him, the best the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can do for Nigerians now is to re-schedule the election timetable to reflect zoning.
He commended INEC for a job well done, adding that it was time to change the general elections timetable for closer supervision and monitoring.
The activist said that INEC had with the elections in Edo, Adamawa and Ondo proved that it could do better with singular state’s supervision rather than plural states’.
“I am saying that we need to stop simultaneous general elections to achieve credibility.
“Elections should be conducted state by state, region by region, on different days and different periods, for them to be free and fair,’’ he said.
Emmanuel, who adjudged the Ondo elections as one of the most credible polls in the history of the nation, said INEC should adopt similar procedure in subsequent elections.
“We have realised the reason behind the seeming failure of INEC to deliver credible elections.
“It is no longer secret that conducting elections at the same time in 36 states is too big for INEC to handle.
“To overcome this cumbersome task, and to deliver free and fair elections, let INEC take it one after the other,” he said.
Emmanuel said the new approach might be slightly more expensive if adopted, but noted that the benefits far outweighed the cost.
“It is the only guarantee for a widely accepted election results in the country,” he said.
He said it was necessary to attain the international standard of electoral practices and stifle conflicts that could arise from fraudulent polls.
“Don’t you see how everybody, even the opposition, accepted Gov. Mimiko’s victory. The chances of litigations and drab electoral disputes have almost been eliminated.
“It was a clear indication that the election was not doctored, neither was INEC partial in its conduct,’’ he said.
The activist, however, advised INEC to continue with the credibility in delivering free and fair elections devoid of rancour and violence.
He said the amendment of the general election timetable “is key to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy through credible elections and the National Assembly should play a key role here.”
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.
