Politics
IPAC Re-Elects Peter Ameh For Second Term
The incumbent National President of Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), Mr Peter Ameh has been re-elected for a second term of one year in office, yesterday in Abuja.
Ameh, whose tenure would expire on Sept. 5, scored 62 votes to emerge the national president of IPAC, while three votes were voided and three delegates voted against his re-election.
Ameh, who was billed to reel out his manifesto when the delegates asked him to take a bow and go, was first elected in 2018 to replace Tanko Muhammed.
68 delegates comprising political parties’ officials converged at the National Electoral Institute to reelect Ameh, who is of the Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA).
A mild drama however occurred when Mr Bishop Amakri, National Chairman, Young Progressives Party (YPP), opposed the voice vote, insisting that Ameh must address the delegates.
Amakri, who described the syndrome of taking a bow and go as ‘unacceptable’, and called on delegates not to practice the National Assembly style of “take a bow and go”, was however ‘shouted down’.
In his acceptance speech, Ameh lauded the peaceful conduct of the election, saying that IPAC would work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to develop a democratic model for “a free and credible election atmosphere in the country.”
He said that he would work for inclusiveness to create offices that would bring in youth, women and people living with disability into the mainstream of nation’s political system.
“We now have gender office, youth policy adviser and now we are creating IPAC Institute for Multi-Party Democracy and Good Governance,” he revealed.
Mr Damian Akhamhe, Director of Political Finance Monitoring, INEC, commended the conduct of the election, describing it as “peaceful and satisfactory”.
He said: “This is one of the best elections I have observed in IPAC, very organised and straight to the point, there is no argument.”
He however expressed worry over absence of what he called “big political parties”, adding that the exercise would send the right signal on how to conduct elections.
No fewer than 16 contestants jostled for the 13 available positions which include; President, Vice President I and II, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Youth Advisor and Organizing Secretary.
Others are Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Gender Advisor, National Legal Advisor and Audit Control Officer.
Mr Babatunde Ademola of Nigeria Community Movement Party (NCMP) emerged the Publicity Secretary with 43 votes to beat two other contestants.
Ademola described the exercise as a test for excellent democracy in IPAC, saying “I can assure you that working with different mindset in IPAC will stabilize our democracy.”
Other elective positions except the office of Vice-President II which had two contestants were unopposed.
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.
