Politics

Between Edo Polls And Rivers Re-run

Published

10 years ago

September 19, 2016

For reasons that are still
debatable, Rivers State was named among the first of states that were said to be flash points of political violence in the run-up to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. In what is now history, the polls were conducted in an atmosphere that was not any much different from what obtained in other states across the country. Little wonder therefore that the Prof. Atahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, collated and declared results in Rivers State as it did in others.
However, what INEC did not see as sufficient grounds for annulment, the Election Petition Tribunal adjudged enough grounds to cancel some results and ordered a re-run of the polls while upholding others.
Consequently, the national electoral body fixed March 19, 2016 to conduct a fresh exercise for the affected Senatorial, House of Representatives as well as state House of Assembly seats. In the run-up to the rescheduled polls, the predictions of an unfavourable atmosphere for peaceful electoral activities resurfaced. The polls were held under a different leadership at INEC. Prof. Mahmud Yakubu had been given the job of chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission while Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak had been redeployed to Rivers State as the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.
As it turned out, between March 19 and March 20, 2016, the electoral umpire declared the conduct of the rescheduled elections in Rivers State inconclusive as it pronounced the exercise out rightly cancelled in some constituencies and suspended some others in other constituencies.
Whether the alibi of widespread electoral violence advanced by INEC was sufficient or not, it provided perfect excuse for the commission to wield the big stick. It was not until July, 2016 before INEC came up with another date (July 30, this time around) for the conclusion of the suspended and or cancelled polls.
As if it was not enough punishment that Rivers State and its people have been without representation in the Senate of the Federal Republic, having had only five representatives out of thirteen in the House of Representatives and as many as eleven constituencies yet to be represented in the State House of Assembly, Hajiya Amina Zakari, INEC Commissioner in charge of operations, announced in the twilight of July that the July 30 date had been reconsidered. The reason she said that in the thinking of the commission the security situation in Rivers State was not conducive enough for them and that they couldn’t consider any other date close to September 10, 2016 when the Edo State Governorship election had been fixed.
According to Mrs Zakari, the suspended and or canceled rescheduled re-run legislative elections in Rivers State may be held only in the closing days of October, 2016. She said that the focus and the concentration of the commission at the time was on the Edo governorship polls.
That the much focused and prioritized Edo polls did not hold on the appointed date because INEC postponed it only about 72 hours to the time is no longer news. What has however remained controversial and continued to agitate the minds of many keen observers is the circumstances surrounding that decision.
Prior to that final decision the police and the department of State Services, DSS, jointly issued a warning to INEC to shift the set election date because of terror alert involving a number of states including Edo during the Muslim festival of Eid-el-Kabir on the 12th and 13th of September, 2016.
“For Rivers State, there were claims of insecurity. In Edo, there were no claims of insecurity”, Orage St. Franklyn, lawyer and senior special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State on Social Media, pointed out.
According to Barr St. Franklyn the reason of a possible terror attack adduced by the police and the DSS was only a product of a collaboration between the security agencies and the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, to show strength and thereby gain some political dividends.
For him, the fact that the police as well as INEC had mobilized and deployed men and materials into Edo for the elections did not support the claim of a veritable terror threat and that the security agencies were inadvertently indicting themselves of being unable to provide protecton for Nigeria and Nigerians.
“It’s a very disturbing issue and it’s a source of worry for a lot of us”, adding that it’s embarrassing and it’s a shame” .
The Senior aide to the Rivers State Governor said he considered the development as a strategy by the ruling APC to undermine the will of the people of Edo State and in Rivers as well.
“Insecurity is a strategy of the APC to undermine our democracy. For Rivers State it’s the same strategy. For Edo State, it’s the same strategy”, he alleged.
He averred that the claim of insecurity by the security agencies and INEC was exaggerated in order to deny the people their legitimate stake in the polity and urged INEC to quickly put its house in order so as not to jeopardize the future of the country.
“Even in Rivers State, what are the security issues that will be the reason why a state will be denied its stake in the federation”, he queried, adding that the Senate of the Federal Republic may be argued to be improperly constituted since there was no single member from Rivers State contrary to the provision of the constitution setting up the upper legislative chamber.
“What is happening is actually a shock and it’s taking very many of us by surprise”, Comrade Christian Lekia, President, Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence and spokesman of the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State, said.
According to Comrade Lekia, the circumstances surrounding the election postponement were unnecessary and uncalled for since the state does not rank high among states with a violent political out look in the country and the Niger Delta region in the current dispensation.
While he admonished the major political actors in that state to do everything in their power to reject any thing associated with political violence, he tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission to come out clean and discharge its duties conscientiously.
“As an organization, INEC ought to have put everything in place. They’re an agency of the Federal Government that is in control of security and I don’t really see any justification for that postponement”, he said.
“Agencies and institutions of the Federal Government who ordinarinly should have played whatever role in the conduct of whatever election should submit in terms of support to INEC”, he said but advised the commission not to “conduct itself in a manner that will make it look as if there’s a conspiracy between one political party and the commission”.
He said even though the situation in both Rivers and Edo States were not exactly the same, INEC had not discharged itself well in both cases.
“INEC must do everything to end this shame game”, he emphasized, adding that “No reason was reasonable enough for INEC not to conduct the remaining re-run (legislative elections in Rivers State)”.
He said that the people of Rives State are ready to have the re-run election in October and urged electoral commission to live up to its constitutional responsibility and to justify its continued existence and funding from tax payer’s money.
“If democracy is people centered and there’s a set of people that are deprived of making their contribution because they’re without representation in the legislative chambers, as sensitive as it is, it will not be in the interest of this democracy at all”, he noted and strongly advised the leadership of INEC to either deliver on their mandate or resign their positions.”If this INEC cannot conduct election, they should resign. If they can conduct election, they should prove to Nigerians that they’re reedy to work”, he said and threw the same challenge to the security agencies.
“This is one moment of need for those in the police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies that need to collaborate to ensure that the tide of insecurity is stemmed and things like elections are conducted”, he reiterated.

Opaka Dokubo

Politics

Atiku Names Kenneth Okonkwo As Spokesperson

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

The Tide

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful for 2027, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has named actor and politician, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, as his spokesperson.

Mr Okonkwo made the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) account on yesterday, expressing gratitude for what he called Alhaji Abubakar’s show of faith in him.

“I give God all the glory for being appointed by His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as his spokesperson. I thank His Excellency for the immense confidence reposed in me,” Mr Okonkwo said.

The politician credited Alhaji Abubakar with championing dialogue over conflict within party ranks.

He noted that the former vice president favours conversation and compromise when party associates raise genuine worries, rather than dismissing their concerns.

“Rather than take offence at associates for expressing genuine reservations about any action taken, His Excellency always opts for dialogue and compromise that engender solutions to problems,” Mr Okonkwo stated.

According to him, recent talks with Alhaji Abubakar and other ADC leaders tackled worries about South-East political representation within the limits of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the current political climate. He said the discussions produced guarantees for the region’s interests despite existing constraints.

Mr Okonkwo also acknowledged the work of Dr. Kashim Imam; former ADC National Chairman, Ralphs Nwosu; Ekene Onwuka, Alhaji Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, in preparing the party for next year’s elections. He thanked his loved ones and supporters for their support and prayers.

“I still covet your prayers for wisdom, courage, provision and protection needed to carry out this challenging responsibility, which will usher in a glorious and great Nigeria,” he added.

The appointment arrives weeks after Mr Okonkwo publicly attacked the ADC’s pick for running mate in 2027. He’d warned that choosing a vice-presidential candidate from the South-South would worsen what he sees as political neglect of the South-East, a region without a president or vice president since 1999.

Despite Mr Okonkwo’s objections, the ADC later announced former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, as Alhaji Abubakar’s running mate following the ex-vice president’s clinching of the party’s presidential nomination.

Politics

Senate Defends Passage Of State Police Bill

Published

7 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, saying the proposed creation of state police is driven by national consensus and the country’s security needs rather than political considerations.

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.

News

Probe N6.3bn Constituency Funds Or Face Legal Action, SERAP Tells Akpabio, Abbas

Published

7 days ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to refer allegations of the diversion or non-accounting of over ?6.3 billion in constituency project funds to anti-corruption agencies for investigation and possible prosecution.

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.