Politics
A Nation In Despair
Fifteen days from now, millions of Nigerians will troop to the polling booths to cast their votes for who will be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But this every-four-year ritual has many obstacles of which security is one.
Just few days ago, the National Security Adviser to the President, General Babagana Monguno held a crucial meeting with state governors on the issue of security during the forthcoming elections and to chart a way forward.
General Monguno, worries in his bid to ensure that the elections went as planned, warned against the use of thugs by politicians.
He said government will demonstrate zero tolerance to political thuggery and illegal bearing of fire arms.
This show of concern was apt and very necessary as experience had shown over the years that in every election in Nigeria, there was always tension and reports of acts of violence in virtually every geo-political region in the country.
Although the 1999 elections which ushered in the present democratic dispensation was peaceful, subsequent ones were not so, especially those of 2011 and 2015.
In 2011, aftermath of the elections in which former President Goodluck Jonathan emerged victorious witnessed acts of violence leading to the killing of some youth corpers and even the burning of the Kaduna City residence of former Vice President Namadi Sambo.
Apart from that, there were reported killings in other parts of the country.
The worst of such incidents was the brutal killing of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kano State with his entire family.
In all these acts of violence, no one was arrested, prosecuted or jailed. Even the then Police Commissioner who was supposed to have provided adequate security for all electoral officers in Kano State did nothing to apprehend the culprits but was rewarded with the position of inspector-general of Police.
The problem with Nigeria is that it is quite easy to scream insecurity but when it comes to taking critical actions, sentiments come in.
The issue of political thuggery is nothing new as it has existed right from the late 1950s to early 1960s in the first republic.
Today, in the 21st century after almost 60 years of Independence, we are still talking of “Political Thuggery” as if it is something new that challenges.
Yes, it is challenging but the issue should not be addressed to the governors alone, but to all stakeholders in the electoral process. The use of thugs in elections is not only shameful and embarrassing but shows the level of desperation some politicians will go to ensure that they win elections. Again even some security operatives behave as “Thugs” during elections. In Rivers Sate, during the re-run elections in 2016, a very senior police officer was captured on video manhandling a female electoral officer while demanding for the result sheets of the election.
Similarly in Ekiti and Osun States elections, there were reports of security men chasing away potential voters.
Furthermore the verbal threats of the political actors, hate speeches with that of the body language of the president did not help matters. Although every Nigerian wants a free, fair and credible elections, have the gladiators and those who want the vote of the electorate really abreast of the chain reactions of their negative actions on the polity?
As the count-down tickles on, as Nigerians, we need to ask questions and find solutions to electoral violence and rigging. Most people who engage thugs to intimidate voters and inflict bodily harm on them are well known in the society. Even the thugs are identifiable. Then why were they not arrested in the past. If actions needed to be taken, then the Police should be allowed to do its work but in a situation where power is concentrated in few hands, the police or other security agencies cannot be effective.
From all observations of the trend in politics and power play, no police commissioner or inspector-general of police has ever resigned over policies by the government that undermines the electoral process.
This time around that the polity is already heated up with the world watching us, the national security Adviser should not just warn but ensure that the problem of thuggery was nipped in the bud and he should liaise with all security agencies to ensure that anyone caught in acts of violence was not just arrested but prosecuted, no matter the party affiliation of the individual. It is then and only then that we can say the government is serious in tracking down acts of violence during elections.
In Nigeria, we seem to treat vital issues with levity, especially on electoral matters. In other climes town hall meetings and outside engagements with the electorate help score candidates in public opinion which really translate into actual election results. Maybe they think that public enlightenment programmes are not for them.
Every electoral violence is politically motivated and the key actors are the various party chieftains and their followers who did not witness the presence of any of the political parties.
Also as part of the efforts to ensure that Nigeria departed from the past, the national orientation agency had embarked upon a massive enliftment programme, geared towards a hitchfree election devoid of violence and thuggery.
Various speakers who participate at the south-south zonal flag-off of stakeholders dialogue for peace and violence free 2019 general elections harped on the need for electorate and the political actors to shun violence. The concept which was apt surprisingly did not witness the presence of any of the political parties.
The political parties ought to have sent representatives. One begins to wonder how the 91 political parties could not even send a single representative to know the feelings of the civic society and other non governmental organizations in the south south. Maybe they will give the excuse of the campaigns, but this is not tenable.
It is the potlicians who are being accused of sponsoring thugs and equipping them with arms and ammunition. So the platform to address some of these issue is not campaign rallies but for them to meet at a neutral venue where they will dialogue with each other and the larger society.
Here in Rivers State there is urgent need to disabuse the mind of the international community that the place is volatile as being painted by those who don’t see anything good in the present administration.
The provision of adequate security is the duty of everyone and not just the duty of the police and her sister agencies.
If we recall, some few weeks back, some group of politicians threatened to ensure that elections would not hold in Rivers State if the court injuction barring them from presenting candidates in the gubernatorial, state and National assembly elections was not rescinded. This level of disdain for the collective well being of the larger society should be taken seriously by the security agencies. But however, since the threat was issued not one single individual who made that threat has been arrested and questioned.
This brings us to ask the question of whether we have two Nigeria? One for the ruling party and one for the opposition.
For the public to have trust in the system and for the issue of violence not to rear its ugly head ahead of the forthcoming elections, there should not be favouritism whereby those who commit crimes but belong to the ruling party are never arrested, whereas those in the opposition who cough are treated as armed robbers and murderers.
Let us begin to implement policies that will discourage violent tendencies. And again youths who allow themselves to be used by politicians are not just stupid but destroying their future.
Electoral violence destroys a country’s image and hinders economic growth.
No investor will like to tie his funds in a volatile environment and now is the right time for Nigerians to say a big no to thuggery and electoral manipulations.
Tonye Ikiroma-Owiye
The Red Chamber passed the bill last Wednesday after more than two-thirds of senators voted in support.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele described the bill as “a child of necessity and not of political expediency as well as a product of national consensus and not of cynicism.”
The senate leader said the proposal to establish state police was a matter of urgent public importance that could not be delayed because of political interests, given the country’s security challenges.
He explained that the proposal did not originate recently but emerged from memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.
According to him, the proposal underwent extensive consultations and rigorous scrutiny because of its sensitive nature.
Bamidele said the National Assembly consulted widely with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, the leadership of the Nigeria Police and other stakeholders before passing the bill.
He added that during the public hearings conducted across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025, participants overwhelmingly supported the creation of state police.
“At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of stark realities we are facing today,” he said.
The Senate leader noted that recommendations from the Nigeria Police contributed to the bill, particularly on accountability and oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing abuse of state police by political actors.
According to him, the police’s support for the proposal underscores its national significance in tackling insecurity at the state and local levels.
Bamidele also said the bill received broad bipartisan backing in both chambers of the National Assembly.
“Even though the APC is the majority, there are members of opposition parties — PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party — that exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest and not on parochial basis.
“In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06 per cent approval at the Senate alone,” he said.
He argued that national security should transcend political affiliations, saying political actors in other countries often set aside partisan interests to support initiatives that strengthen security.
Bamidele called on opposition parties to contribute constructive ideas that would promote peace and stability, adding that they have a responsibility to offer alternatives that would strengthen the country.
“Even when they disagree on some grounds, they are under obligations to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our nation better and greater. Unfortunately, they have not passed this critical test of opposition democracy,” he said.
The group also urged the National Assembly leadership to ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted where sufficient admissible evidence exists, while all diverted or unaccounted public funds are recovered and paid into the treasury.
In a letter dated June 27, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the allegations were contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2022 Annual Report, published on September 9, 2025.
The organisation disclosed this in a statement signed and released by Oluwadare, yesterday.
SERAP also asked Akpabio and Abbas to disclose the identities of contractors and companies, including their shareholders and beneficial owners, that allegedly received constituency project funds but failed to execute the projects.
It gave the National Assembly seven days to act on its recommendations, warning that it would institute legal proceedings should the legislature fail to respond.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the National Assembly to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated.
It said, “The allegations involve several federal ministries, departments and agencies, including the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON); the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Volm; the Federal Polytechnic, Udana; the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); and the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
“The Auditor-General identified numerous cases of payments into private bank accounts, contracts awarded without due process, payments for contracts not executed or services not rendered, undocumented expenditures, inflated contracts, procurement irregularities and failures to account for public funds, recommending in each case that the funds be recovered and remitted to the treasury.
“According to the 2022 audited report, contained in pages 367 to 396, the Environmental Health Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON or Council) Abuja paid over ‘N22 million [N22,944,565.16] into the private account of some members of staff of the Council from the Constituency Projects Fund Account.
“There ‘was no evidence of the utilization of the funds and no explanations on the purpose for the payment of such amount into the individual accounts.”
SERAP added, “The Council (EHORECON) also in 2021 ‘awarded suspicious consultancy contracts of over N12 million [N12,030,818.29] for the development of Modern Abattoirs in Kebbi State and the supervision of 7 projects in Kebbi, Jigawa, and Headquarters Abuja.
“The money was to ‘produce bills of quantity, architectural design, structural design, mechanical design, and electrical designs for the contracts and supervision.’ But ‘the ‘items could not be found.’”
Altogether, SERAP said the Auditor-General’s 2022 report alleged EHORECON paid more than ?1.8 billion in constituency project funds through questionable transactions.
For the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Vom, SERAP said the institution “in 2022 reportedly ‘paid over N279 million [N279,700,500.00] to 3 contractors to empower and train youths in selected vocational areas in Borgu and Kontagora, Niger State, train women and youths in entrepreneurship in Niger East Senatorial District and to train youths and women in agro production and self-reliance in Barki Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency, Plateau State.
“But the money was paid to the contractors without any document.’”
Other irregularities involving the college include another ?279.7 million in mobilisation fees allegedly paid without documentation, and more than ?629.4 million paid to unqualified contractors for various constituency projects without evidence of due process, contract advertisements or details of the contractors.
SERAP further alleged that the Auditor-General’s report identified multiple financial irregularities involving the Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, including over ?407 million allegedly paid as mobilisation fees without supporting documents, more than ?399 million paid to unqualified contractors, contracts allegedly inflated by over ?192 million, over ?279 million paid for projects not fully executed, ?50 million allegedly paid for an unexecuted borehole project, and more than ?83 million disbursed without the required documentation or approvals.
It also alleged that NAPTIP reportedly irregularly awarded contracts worth over ?21.8 million, paid more than ?176.8 million for logistics and consultancy services without supporting documents, and disbursed over ?89.6 million and ?4.4 million for projects that were allegedly not executed.
The report also alleged that NILDS failed to submit audited financial statements for 2012 to 2022, did not remit over ?15 million in stamp duties, and spent ?1.6 million without authorisation from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
SERAP said the report recommended the recovery of the affected funds and their remittance to the treasury.
It argued that corruption in constituency projects disproportionately affects poor and vulnerable Nigerians by diverting resources meant for public services and development.
It added that the National Assembly, in exercising its oversight responsibilities, should demonstrate leadership by ensuring accountability in the management of constituency project funds.
The organisation further argued that the allegations, if established, would amount to breaches of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the Public Procurement Act 2007, which require transparency, accountability and due process in the management of public resources.
The Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision of a panel of three Justices had on May 22, 2026 directed the Federal High Court Judge not to proceed with the suit until an appeal pending before them and filed by Accord Party is resolved.
In a Certified True Copy Enrol Order of the Superior Court, Justices Mohammed Danjuma, Adebukola Banjoko and Oyejoju Oyewumi asked the lower Court Judge to stay proceedings until all issues on the appeal filed by the Accord Party were resolved
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State had, through the Accord Party, applied to justice Lifu to join him as a defendant in the deregistration legal battle instituted by a group of former legislators.
The contention of the Osun State governor was that he had a stake in the Accord Party, being the platform he was seeking re-election in the August 15 gubernatorial poll in the state.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu on April 27 ruled against the Osun State governor, rejecting his request to be joined in the suit to defend his own position and interest.
Not satisfied with the Federal High Court decision, the Osun State governor, through his lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja where he challenged the Justice Lifu decision to refuse to allow him join the suit.
After listening to the argument canvassed, especially that he has interest to protect as Accord Party gubernatorial candidate for Osun State governorship election, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal, unanimously directed Justice Lifu to allow them look into the grievances of the governor.
In specific terms, the Court of Appeal Justices directed Justice Lifu not to proceed further with the matter and fixed October 27 to determine the interlocutory appeal of the appellant.
However, when the certified enroll order and notice of appeal were served on Justice Peter Lifu by Mr Adetunbi (SAN), the judge rejected it on the ground that it was a ploy to arrest his judgment in the matter.
Although the judge had adjourned his judgment delivery in the matter indefinitely, he finally made a dramatic turn around on Monday and proceeded to deliver the judgment that has now proscribed the five political parties.
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