Politics
We Need To Finetune Our Electoral Act – Thompson
Tunde Thompson
This is the concluding part of the interview with Mr. Babatunde Ozemoya Thompson, veteran journalist and now stalwart of the All Progressives Congress and member of the media team of President Mohammadu Buhari. He spoke with Opaka Dokubo in Asaba, Delta State. The first part of the chat was published on Monday, last week.
What Is your assessment of INEC under the new leadership, especially after the conduct of the Kogi and Bayelsa elections?
Let me tell you,
despite all the negative comments people in different parties have been making, INEC has proved that it has come to stay to do the right thing at the right time for the people of this country in maintaining a wholesome democratic process. Kogi shows that INEC has lived up to the expectation that this is the time to build institutions, powerful institutions not powerful people.
Whatever INEC said in Kogi, it was an institution put in charge to do certain things and it did what it had to do and offered its opinion. Whoever you are, I’m afraid, go to court and challenge it. PDP shouted, APC shouted. People should know that INEC’s job is not an easy job to do. It’s like being a judge in a land where there is no rule of law. That rule of law has to be established otherwise we’re all ruined. So, INEC has lived up to expectation in both elections.
Of course, Bayelsa matter is yet to be concluded and by the time they hold election in Southern Ijaw, we will see what happens.
But let us enforce the rules in the Electoral Act that nobody shall carry guns, nobody shall carry machets, nobody shall carry cutlasses and axes and all that. And that anybody who sponsors the procurement of such materials is not fit to be a candidate in Nigerian political contest.
You see, people commit offences during electoral activities and they’re not punished. You too you know that the failure of the enforcement of the law is one of the reasons for the disrespect for the rule of law in Nigeria.
The APC candidate’s protest in Bayelsa
Well, Mr Sylva is capable of expressing his own views, I was not there, he was the man there and cannot judge for him. All I am saying is that anybody who supports violence and procures equipment of violence should not be allowed in the democratic process.
I may be in the APC but I’m not a person who will support the destruction of lives and property, just because I want the APC to win. APC members are for progress, they’re for progressive approaches to governance. They cannot be in support of retrogressive, unpopular, man eating practices, society demolishing tendencies (and) pretending to be democratic. That’s not my vision for the APC. My vision for the APC is not a party where the truth does not matter. Go tell it on the mountain, tell it in the valleys that where there’s no respect for godly ways to life, the devil shall take over. And if you don’t want the devil to win (he has already been winning for too many years) we shouldn’t give him more quarters in our parties. We cannot stop extreme behaviour, by authorising or allowing inacceptable behaviours
Did you consider that Delta is a PDP State while agreeing to deliver a lecture on the vision of the governor?
When I was invited by the NUJ of the Delta State Council to prepare to speak on something the governor has declared as his own philosophy of governance called SMART, since I’m not a politician, it was not my business to consider PDP or no PDP. It was to be looking at ways SMART could be rendered or knocked off all together if people were to be partisan in their thinking. And the way to stay straight is to stay ethical and professional. I find that most governments do not work because people do not face the rule of law, people did not remain ethically conscious and focused. So, I said that the major problem it will have is if reporters, editors, correspondents, even cartoonists choose to see the SMART programme introduced by the governor as something they could destroy on partisan lines, using partisan arguments.
I think the SMART programme is a creative and thoughtful way of serving the people. How to serve people is what politics is out to do and politicians have found ways of achieving that purpose – that goal of serving the people. So, Dr Ifeanyi Athur Okowa has come up with an idea and you don’t because you’re in APC, APGA or something else, begin to throw sand on that SMART Programme.
Even as a member of the APC, how do you see the state of opposition politics in Nigeria?
It is not right for opposition parties just to keep criticising everything, running down people in authority just because they want to be noticed as being in opposition. There are times you have to be sincere to yourself. Imagine the election that has been concluded in Kogi State now, eeh they’re going to rig, eeh everybody is trying to rig…
They accused the party in authority at the centre of wanting to do one evil or the other. That’s too much. Some of the accusations are untested, they are unsubstantiated. We’ve finished Kogi and we have had Bayelsa and you can see that the rivalry in Bayelsa has always been there. I can say, undemocratically so because some of them decided to put their trust in weapons of mass destruction instead of social intercourse, democratic interrelationship, persuasion, convincing people that you’re a better candidate, debates and so on.
They’re not thinking of positive democratic ways of winning votes; there must be weapons, there must be weapons, there must be axes, there must be guns.
We need to fine tune our Electoral Act. Anybody whose supporter is found carrying a gun, a cutlass, an axe, must be removed from the democratic process because if those people who are carrying those weapons of mass destruction had not been funded, where could they have got the money? All those who put their trust on destroying their opponents must be destroyed out of the system.
You might say it’s not democratic to exclude them but what’s the law there for? Are we to encourage violence, negative fanaticism, wrong accusations, manipulative dispositions by people who want power at all cost? No way let us think of ways of discouraging negative tendencies like that in our politics.
So, I agree with you that we must stop the draconian people from polluting our democratic process. Draconian is not only related to the military.
There are people who are democratically disposed to being violent. They think they’re democrats but their ways are anything but democratic. In fact, there are people who don’t even go to the party headquarters; they are too big to report for meetings. Tell them that I said so. Democracy calls for humility. You should not feel too big to go into your party headquarters and discuss with A to Z. among the populace, you’re to be able to show them what you mean, you can do well and you care about them. Most of our political parties have a problem of internal democracy. The big shots don’t want to tell the small people anything to convince them; they want to order them around. But the world is changing. Those that were ordering them around should check themselves otherwise they’d be given the red card.
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved the release of N15.6 billion for the payment of outstanding severance gratuities, accommodation, and leave allowances owed to over N3,000 former councillors across the State’s 44 local government areas.
The approved payment covers councillors who served during the periods of 2014–2017, 2018–2020, and 2021–2024 under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The entitlements, which remained unpaid for years, will now be disbursed in three installments between April and June 2025.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information to the Governor, Ibrahim Adam, the administration described the move as a corrective measure to address the neglect of past leadership and fulfil a promise to ensure fairness to public office holders.
“The approval of N15.6 billion is in fulfilment of Governor Abba K. Yusuf’s commitment to ensuring that all outstanding entitlements owed to our dedicated public servants are fully paid. It is a matter of principle and justice to uphold the dignity of those who have served in elected positions”, Mr Adam said.
He noted that the financial intervention reflects the governor’s broader vision of governance rooted in fairness, accountability, and public trust.
“His Excellency recognises the sacrifices and dedication of these former councillors. This action is part of a larger effort to right the wrongs of the past and restore faith in public administration,” he added.
Local government officials and affected former councillors have welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue and a step toward healing the financial frustrations of many grassroots leaders.
Governor Yusuf’s administration, elected on a different political platform than his predecessor, continues to draw commendation for its proactive efforts to resolve inherited liabilities and improve the welfare of public servants.
As the payment schedule begins, it is expected that this intervention will offer financial relief to thousands and stimulate local economic activity across the state.
Politics
Gunmen Disrupt Political Rally In Bayelsa ….As Turnah, Others Emerge New Associates’Leaders
Scores of spectators and political faithful were hospitalised after a yet to be identified gunmen invaded a rally organised by a group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Part of the activities scheduled to hold at the occasion was the inauguration ceremony of the Bayelsa State chapter of the ‘New Associates’, a pro-Wike political forum.
The Tide which monitored the event reports that trouble started just at the preparatory stages of the event, when the unidentified gunmen launched sporadic gunshots from a farm close to the venue of the event, injuring unsuspecting spectators and party faithful across party lines.
However, calm was restored after a swift intervention by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations which enabled the event to go on as planned.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after restoration of calm, factional South-South zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the State’s chapter of the party, Barrister George Turnah, commended security operatives for their timely response.
He noted that the plan of detractors had been defeated as forces loyal to certain individuals in the State never wanted the rally to hold as scheduled.
Turnah, who doubles as Convener of the ‘New Associates’ in the State, commended President Tinubu and Chief Wike for the appointment and facilitating the same for Ijaws across the Niger Delta region.
He said, but for the love of the duo for the Ijaw people of various extractions, the Presidency would not have given preferential political portfolios in the Federal Government’s Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to Ijaws even though the ethnic nationality produces bulk of the natural resources for the economic mainstay of the nation.
The PDP chieftain reiterated that the reason for the event which was attended across party lines was to say ‘thank you’ to the two political leaders, stressing that to ‘whom much is given, much was expected’.
“For me, I’m of the larger opposition party, PDP. But I’ve decided to support and work for President Tinubu for what he is doing for the Ijaw nation, Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
“President Tinubu has given Bayelsans and other Ijaws across the Niger Delta region several juicy political appointments. He appointed our brother and son, Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of Petroleum even though former President Muhammadu Buhari had previously appointed a Bayelsan as Petroleum Minister in his government.
“Apart from the Petroleum Minister, Tinubu has also appointed Ijaw sons, Chief Boma Iyaye as Executive- Director, Finance, and Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director and CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“Though former President Buhari had appointed Ogbuku initially in Acting capacity, when President Tinubu came, even after sacking all board members of the Commission, he still kept our brother, the MD and upon the completion of his tenure in Acting capacity, the President again reappointed him as substantive MD/CEO.
“But there’s one man who has made all these appointments for Ijaws possible. He is the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Ijaw people, Bayelsans are we not enjoying these appointments?
“Has the NDDC not lit up the entire Niger Delta region? Are you not feeling the impact of the Ogbuku-led NDDC? So for me and all the members of the New Associates we’ve decided to support President Tinubu for a second tenure so that our state and region can benefit more from his government”, he said.
“We want Governor Douye Diri to tell us his stand on the forthcoming 2027 general election. He should tell us whether he is supporting the President or not. If he’s supporting the President, we’ll work with him. After all, Diri was the first Governor from the South-South zone that benefitted from the President’s magnanimity during the 2023 elections and even in terms of infrastructure projects and appointments of Bayelsans at the Federal level”, Barr Turnah added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, and leader, Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO), Senator George Sekibo, lauded President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for their love and friendship with the Ijaw people.
Represented by former Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Roland Sekibo, Senator Sekibo said the ‘New Associates’ political forum was to galvanize support for the President for his 2027 election.
He said while President Tinubu had performed well as Nigeria’s leader, the FCT Minister had continued to show leadership from the federal level after showing the same in Rivers State while serving as governor.
“I like to thank the convener of the ‘New Associates’ political forum in Bayelsa State, Barr. George Turnah (MON) and the Coordinators for standing firm in spite of threats from highly placed political leaders not to hold this event.
“Love is not theoretically, but must be expressed, which explains why they have gathered to celebrate their Excellencies, President Tinubu and Barr. Ezewon Nyesom Wike for the various roles they have played and have continued to play to ensure the appointment of Ijaw sons and daughters to positions of trust and authority at the federal level.
“The ‘New Associates’ is in synergy with President Tinubu and will continue to follow directives from the FCT Minister who has openly declared support for Mr. President”, he said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Mr Titus Odo, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Odo defected to the PDP on Wednesday alongside the former Commissioner for Chieftancy Affairs in the State, Emeka Mamah, who was the state Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in the 2023 presidential election.
The duo dumped the PDP during the 2023 general elections for the Labour Party.
Receiving the defectors at the party’s state secretariat, the state PDP Chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, expressed happiness over their decision to return to their former party.
He explained that Governor Peter Mbah gave them the directive to do everything possible to bring back aggrieved party members who left the party.
“We are happy to have them in our midst, and God has set this party on a good footing, as 2027 is already assured,” he said.
The PDP chairman, however, called for unity within the party to package themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during their presentation to the party state chairman, Mr Odo expressed joy for returning to his former party, revealing that Mr Mbah’s massive development in the State informed his decision.
“I am happy to tell you that I am back to my home. I came back because of the giant development strides of Governor Mbah and I say kudos to him.
“The second reason is the defection of my immediate boss, the LP governorship candidate for the 2023 election in Enugu State, Dr Chijioke Edeoga.
“Another reason is that the council chairman in Igboeze North, Mr Uchenna Ogara, is turning the council area into a township,” he said.
Mr Mamah also thanked the PDP leadership in Igboeze North, Enugu North Senatorial zone and the state chapter of the party for receiving him back to the party.
He extolled Mr Mbah for extending hands of fellowship to those who had left the party, saying, “Personally, I am pleased with the performances of our governor.”