Politics
Anambra: 96 In Court Over Electoral Offences
Ninety-six persons arrested during the February 6 governorship election in Anambra for electoral offences were on Friday arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s court in Awka.
Lead Police Prosecutor, Mr. Adams Saleh, told Chief Magistrate Ngozi Okolonji that the suspects had planned to disrupt the election.
He said the suspects were, however, arrested by men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad on Feb. 5 at Amansea, near Awka.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The defence counsel, Mr. Vincent Obeta, told the court that the accused were innocent, adding that they had been in detention since their arrest.
He asked for bail for the suspects which was granted in the sum of N20,000 each, with a surety residing within the jurisdiction of the court.
Many of the accused persons could not immediately get sureties.
The accused, who were paraded after the election by DIG John Ahmadu, were alleged to have attempted to hijack electoral materials.
Their arraignment was delayed till Friday due to the strike by judiciary workers which paralysed court sittings.
In another development, the Enugu State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal has further adjourned all cases before it to April 1. All the seven petitions before it were first adjourned to March 26 to enable parties in the matter receive service. The Enugu council polls were conducted on December 5, 2009.
A further adjournment, however, became necessary when the tribunal on Friday discovered that pre-trial forms, a requirement for the cases, had not been served on the parties.
The tribunal then adjourned the next sittings to April 1, 9 and 16, to also allow for due exchange of briefs among counsel.
The tribunal also fixed April 16 for determination of whether one of the petitioners could withdraw from the suit, even before commencement of hearing.
Mr Bernard Eze, a candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA) for Igbo Eze South Local Government Council poll, had applied to withdraw as a petitioner in the suit.
A mild drama ensued when Eze’s counsel, Ikenna Aroh, opposed the application which was contained in a written letter to the tribunal.
But opposing counsel in the petition argued that the petitioner’s application was in order as he had the right to institute or withdraw from a suit on his own volition.
The Chairman of the three-man panel, Chinedu Ezeugwu, said the adjournment was necessary to enable the tribunal determine the matter.
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.