Politics
Task Before New RSIEC
Before the 2011 general elections, which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega ,many Nigerians had expressed the belief that several factors had constituted hindrances to the country’s development.
One of such important factors for attaining its potential of an egalitarian, rich and prosperous country with a stable polity ,despite its huge endowment in human and material resources has been the nation’s inability over the years to conduct elections which results are widely accepted as representing the people’s wish, save for the 1993 Presidential elections, the results of which were unfortunately annulled.
Since the 1993 Presidential election, which many believed was won by late Alhaji Moshood Abiola, many Nigerians regard other elections in the country as having been marred by partisanship on the part of the electoral body unbridled violence leading to loss of lives and various forms of corrupt practices, including the manipulation of votes through dishonest and deceptive means ,especially by the ruling political class.
It is widely believed that the situation is far worse at the Local Government level, where public opinion holds that state Electoral Commissions, which shoulders the responsibility of conducting elections at that level, simply reflect the wishes of the party of the government in power without recourse to fairness, equity and aspirations of the people.
Indeed, so strongly debated have election issues become in Nigeria, with a huge outcry for electoral reforms ,that they are currently situated on the front burner of national discourse as flawed elections have come to be regarded by many as the very essence of the nation’s backwardness.
This public outcry informed the change by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, when he inaugurated Prof Nimi Briggs on the 27th of November,2007, a month after the supreme court ruled in his favour the governorship of the state, to salvage the electoral process and conduct an election which would be worthy of emulation by other electoral Commissions in the country.
No doubt, the Commission under the leadership of Prof Briggs took its assignment seriously and put in great thought and time. In the end, it achieved some level of success in the 2008 and 2011 Local Government Elections in the state.
Prof Briggs made history not only in Rivers State, but in Nigeria when in 2010, he presented a written report of the 2008 local government council elections in Rivers State. In that election, other political parties won some wards though the ruling peoples Democratic Party (PDP)won the Chairmanship seats in the 23 Local Government Areas.
It is, therefore, expected that the present Chairmanship of Prof Ahiazu whose record had been transparent in his previous major public task as Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu, would be discrete to carry out the task of conducting and supervising the next Local Government election in the state.
His appointment and subsequent confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly recently, makes Prof. Ahiazu the third Executive Chairman to continue the task of piloting the State Electoral body which was established in 2003.
He succeeds the former Chairman, Prof Nimi Briggs whose tenure expired last April. The former University of Port Harcourt Vice Chancellor, took over from the pioneer Chairman, Senibo Sam Jaja after whose tenure crisis erupted, before the court intervened.
The State legislators confirmed Ahiazu’s appointment with six other commissioners, Dr.Eddy Adiele, Mr Kennedy Saro Pueba, Dr Viviala Fubara, Mrs Ngozi Ayayi, Dr Solomon Nwanchukwu and Mrs Ibiso Dakuru.
The Electoral body was established in the state in accordance with section 197(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The then Governor of Rivers State, Dr.Peter Odili, established the Commission to conduct and supervise Local Government elections in Rivers State.
From the fore-going the immediate, task before the commission is the Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni local Government Council election scheduled for January 2013. The board would be expected to conduct an election that would be fair and acceptable to all in the area by all the participating political parties.
The commission as a matter of urgency should. thus commence extensive consultations with stakeholders in that Local Government Area and, all the political parties to ensure an acceptable election in the January 2013 election.
This approach would not only form the basis for careful planning of the forthcoming Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council election, but would also help the Commission to conduct, supervise and monitor all the primaries of political parties and ensure the safety of electoral materials.
During the presentation of the 2008 Local Government Reports to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the then Chairman, Prof Nimi Briggs noted that he faced many challenges during and after the election. It is therefore not out of place to expect that the present Commission will face tougher challenges.
Apart from the challenges, the conduct of an acceptable election can only be made possible with cooperation and participation of everyone, and the determination of the electoral body to remain transparent and impartial. This among other factors includes provision of a level playing field for everyone who wish to stand for the election.
Political parties, on their own, must not only apply for internship for the Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Council election, but must have well defined and organised structures with sufficient presence that should make them electable.
Political Parties, especially the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), should start by first practicing internal democracy, which should preclude them from thwarting and frustrating the wishes of their party members with often unpleasant consequences.
As for other stakeholders, they must always stand up for their rights at all times and be prepared to take all necessary legal measures that would ensure they are able to cast their votes, and that those votes count in the eventual outcome of the elections.
Lastly, our law courts must realize the powers they are vested with regarding respect for the electoral process, and that these powers should be used to make votes count.
It may also be pertinent to appeal to the Executive Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi to continue to keep away from interfering in any way in the electoral process in the forth coming election which will serve as a test for the new RSIEC board.
Meanwhile, the new board of the Rivers State the Commission has promised to use the required process in conducting a free and fair election.
Addressing the press after their first inauguration meeting at the RSIEC headquarters, the Commissioner in charge of media and Public Affairs, Hon. Ibiso Dakoru said the Commission will consult widely with stakeholders in making sure the right things are done in the electoral process.
The Commissioner stated that the new boards have resolved to carry every body along in the scheme of things, adding that the board decided to resume duties immediately in order to acclimatise with both men and materials in the commission.
Senate has again approved a three-month extension implementation period for capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act from June 30 to Sept 30.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Senate Chief Whip, Mohammed Monguno (APC- Borno) at plenary yesterday.
Monguno, moving the motion, said the extension became necessary given the unutilsed substantial funds released to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for implementation of projects under the 2025 budget.
According to him, delays caused by procurement processes, project implementation challenges and administrative procedures had slowed the execution of several critical government projects.
Monguno said many strategic projects across key sectors of the economy were already at advanced stages of completion and required additional time for execution, certification and payment.
“Failure to extend the implementation period of the 2025 Appropriation Act may result in the abandonment of critical projects, the wastage of already committed public resources and the disruption of ongoing government interventions,” he said.
He argued that some allocations contained in the budget might not be accommodated in subsequent appropriation cycles if the implementation window expired.
This, he said would create funding gaps and ultimately undermine development objectives.
He said that extending the validity period of the budget would improve budget performance, facilitate the efficient utilisation of released funds and support economic growth.
“Granting a further extension of the implementation period is in the national interest and will ensure value for money in public expenditure,” he said.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Solomon Adeola (APC-Ogun), supporting the motion, explained that the extension was specifically targeted at the capital component of the budget.
According to him, when President Bola Tinubu presented the 2025 budget to the National Assembly, there is an understanding that 30 per cent of the budget implementation will be completed by March 31, while the remaining 70 per cent will be rolled into the 2026 budget.
Adeola said that the implementation timeline was not fully achieved, prompting the National Assembly to earlier extend the budget’s lifespan to June 30.
“While we were passing the 2026 budget, due to the non-implementation of that promise, we were forced to extend the budget to June 30,” he said.
He said although payments had commenced, significant obligations remained outstanding.
“There is a need to extend this budget beyond June 30 to September 30, by then, we are hopeful that the outstanding 30 per cent will have been paid in full, while implementation of the components transferred to the 2026 budget can commence.”
Adeola urged senators to support the extension to ensure proper implementation of projects and prevent disruptions to government programmes.
Sen.Victor Umeh (NDC-Anambra), who seconded the motion cited the need to sustain the execution of projects captured under the 2025 Appropriation Act.
“In view of the need to sustain the continued execution of the projects covered in the 2025 Appropriation Act, as amended, I hereby second the motion,” Umeh said.
Following deliberations, Senate President Akpabio put the proposal to a voice vote and it was overwhelmingly adopted by the lawmakers..
Akpabio in his remarks said the decision was necessary to prevent interruptions in payments and project execution.
“The payment would have stopped halfway if this was not done,” he said.
The Senate President commended the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee and other lawmakers involved in handling the matter.
He directed that the Senate’s resolution be transmitted to the executive for implementation.
“Accordingly, the resolution of the Senate is being communicated to the Executive that the 2025 Appropriation Act has been extended to Sept 30.
The National Assembly had earlier extended the implementation period of the 2025 budget to June 30, following delays in the release and utilisation of capital funds.
Senate, thereafter, adjourned plenary to July 7.
The member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, Frederick Agbedi, yesterday emerged as the new Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
Agbedi’s emergence follows the resignation of former Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda of Rivers State, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, creating a vacuum in the leadership structure of the opposition caucus in the Green Chamber.
His nomination was contained in a letter transmitted to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, by the minority caucus during plenary, yesterday.
In the letter, the caucus announced that its members had reached a consensus on the replacement of vacant principal offices allocated to opposition parties in the House.
Abbas, while reading the letter said, “The election of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the minority members of the 10th Assembly hereby unanimously nominate the following members by consensus to fill the vacant positions of the minority in the parliament.
“Number one is the Minority Leader, Hon Frederick Agbedi.
“Number two is the position of minority whip, and the person they have endorsed is Hon Mansur Soro (APM, Bauchi).
“The last but not the least is my brother from the North-West, Hon Abdussamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoko) for the position of Deputy Minority Leader.
“Honourable colleagues, today the body of principal officers is complete, and I want to seize this opportunity on behalf of the whole entire House to congratulate the three people and to wish them all the best in their new positions.”
With the development, Agbedi assumes the responsibility of coordinating opposition lawmakers in the House and articulating the position of minority parties on legislative matters before the chamber.
A ranking lawmaker and one of the longest-serving members of the House, Agbedi has represented Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency since 2011.
His appointment is expected to strengthen the voice of the opposition caucus at a time when defections and realignments continue to reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Also announced was the emergence of Hon Mansur Soro of the Allied Peoples Movement as Minority Whip and Hon Abdussamad Dasuki of the African Democratic Congress as Deputy Minority Leader, completing the minority leadership structure in the 10th House.
Speaking after the announcement, Abbas congratulated the newly appointed principal officers and pledged the cooperation of the House leadership.
“The leadership of the House will work with them assiduously in ensuring that we achieve our legislative agenda objectives of this very important 10th Assembly,” he added.
The emergence of the new minority leadership comes amid recent changes to the House Rules governing the selection of principal officers. The amendments, which introduced fresh eligibility requirements, have generated debate within opposition ranks and influenced the contest for key leadership positions.
Shortly after the announcement, a lawmaker from Imo State who had been nominated for the position of Minority Leader last week, Ikenga Ugochinyere, formally withdrew from the race.
He cited the amended House Rules and the new eligibility criteria for principal officers as the basis for his decision.
The latest appointments are expected to restore stability within the opposition bloc following weeks of uncertainty triggered by Chinda’s defection and the subsequent scramble for leadership positions.
Political observers believe the new leadership team will face the immediate challenge of forging unity among lawmakers drawn from different opposition parties while providing effective legislative scrutiny of the executive and the ruling APC-dominated parliament.
For the PDP, which remains the largest opposition party in the House despite recent defections, Agbedi’s emergence is seen as a strategic move aimed at maintaining cohesion within the minority caucus and strengthening its influence in parliamentary proceedings.
In a letter titled, “An Open Letter to Former President Goodluck Jonathan,” the observer said Dr Jonathan should be careful not to allow himself to be drawn into partisan calculations driven by ambition rather than national interest.
He cautioned the former president against allowing himself to be used by what he described as desperate political interests.
“I believe this is the time to protect the good name and legacy you have built over the years. You should not allow yourself to be used by desperate political elements who may be more interested in their own ambitions than in the future of Nigeria,” the letter read.
The Social Commentator further warned Dr Jonathan to be wary of those advocating for his comeback, claiming many of them were previously opposed to his administration.
“Many of those calling for your return today were your antagonists, those who frustrated your government back then. You should be careful not to become a pawn in a game designed by others or else they will stain your white with their ‘roforofo’,” he said.
He maintained that Dr Jonathan’s legacy remains defined by his decision to concede defeat in 2015, which he described as a landmark moment in Nigeria’s democratic history.
“Your legacy was built through years of public service and your decision to put the country’s peace above personal ambition at a critical moment in Nigeria’s history. That legacy should not be put at risk because of the desperation of a few politicians,” he added.
Mr Adenuga also alleged that some of the promoters of Dr Jonathan’s return have lost credibility in the public space.
“The truth is that some of the people pushing you to contest have already damaged their own reputations. They should not be allowed to stain your legacy with their soiled hands. What they could not achieve on their own should not be pursued through your name and goodwill,” he stressed.
He concluded by urging the former president to remain above political manoeuvring and protect his place in history.
“History has been kind to you. Preserve that honour and remain above the political games of those who want to use your name for their own purposes,” he wrote.
Recall that former President Goodluck Jonathan recently emerged as the presidential candidate of the Kabiru Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a special convention held in Abuja, where delegates ratified his nomination ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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