Politics
Beyond Nnamani’s Electoral Reform Committee
In a bid to streamline the
electoral process of Nigeria, the federal government recently set up a 24-man committee headed by former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani to handle the task of articulating how to reform the electoral process. The committee is to review existing electoral laws and past reports.
A statement by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said “Chief Nnamani is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear on the reform process”, while the committee is expected to review electoral environment, laws and experiences from recent elections conducted in Nigeria and make recommendations to strengthen and achieve the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
Among other things, the committee’s assignment which is expected to last for 16 weeks will review conflicting court judgments on legal disputes on past elections. The scope of the committee’s work reads in part, “Review the laws impacting elections in Nigeria, in relevant provisions of the 1999 constitution as (amended) and the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) to assess their impact and adequacy for the administration of elections in Nigeria.
“Review of recent judicial decisions on election petitions as they relate to conflicting judgments, absence of consequential orders, delay in issuing certified true copies of judgments, harmonization of the Electoral Act in view of the judgements with a view to enhancing the electoral process. “Review of the lessons learnt from the 2015 general elections and make recommendations for the improvement as they relate to the judicial decisions and experience from field operations.
“Identify and assess international best practices on electoral system relevant to Nigeria’s experience and identify best practices that would impact positively on the quality and credibility of the nation’s electoral process. Review the extent of the implementation of the recommendations of the 2008 Election Reform Commission headed by the Justice Muhammed Uwais and advise on outstanding issues for implementation”.
The decision by the Muhamadu Buhari-led administration to reform the country’s electoral system, to some Nigerians, may be a welcome development but to others, a misplaced priority considering the current economic quagmire in which we find ourselves. Electoral reform in Nigeria has always been seen as a wasteful exercise.
We all know that a similar committee headed by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), few years ago did the same job. The work done by the committee headed by Uwais in 2008 was hailed by many Nigerians but the reports has not seen the light of the day till date.
The Uwais reports focused on key issues about the nation’s electoral system including the recurring debate about how best the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) can be truly independent. The argument has always centered around whether or not the President should be allowed to appoint the Chairman of the electoral empire as entrenched in the constitution. This is because since the President is given the constitutional powers to appoint the chairman, the INEC can be partial when the President wants elections to be manipulated.
A university don and right crusader, Dr Ibrahim Dauda, in an interview explains why it is difficult for INEC to deliver free and fair election. “The truth is that since 2003, the body language of INEC has always showed that it can hardly go against the wish of the ruling party. That the 2015 presidential election was in favour of the opposition was because the incumbent President wanted it that way and not because the commission resisted manipulation by the Presidency. President Jonathan chose to do the right thing. Those who praised Jega’s INEC as being wonderful or performing well did that out of ignorance”.
In democracies, the choice of political leaders at all levels is made by competitive elections and in doing that, there must be some rules for translating peoples’ votes into a particular selection of the leaders. In any democratic state like Nigeria, rules are designed to determine which people win office, these rules are called the electoral system of the state. The rules are written with differences, spelling out all that is required to achieve free and fair election.
A nation’s electoral system can be reformed if it cannot guarantee credible elections at any given time. In the case of Nigeria, it is clear that the inability of INEC to conduct free and fair election is not a matter of wrong electoral process. It is a systemic failure that has undermined democracy in the country. The electoral umpire has denigrated its value and the people are fast losing confidence and interest in it.
This is why a one-time Deputy Speaker of the Rivers Sate House of Assembly, Hon. Iyk Oji, during an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt said that INEC’s poor performance makes it difficult for Nigerians to trust the commission. This is more so as they have not been able to efficiently conclude elections in any one state since its present leadership assumed office.
“It started from inconclusive to postponement, to no election. It’s a gradual degeneration as it were, Oji said, adding that “INEC is not ready to run an election as it is”.
He advised INEC to organize themselves and act in the interest of Nigeria and stop pandering to sectional and partisan considerations. “A situation where appointed officials of INEC function as apologist to those who appointed them instead of carrying out their constitutional duties professionally is worrisome.
The Nnamani committee should be able to consider and make strong recommendation on inconclusive, postponement and cancellation of elections. It is also important that the committee includes in the reform a recommendation that will make it mandatory for those seeking elective positions to participate in pre-election debates. The Senate, according to reports, is already working on a bill to that effect. The bill presented by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari has been read for second time and referred to the committee on Establishment and Public Service as well as committee on INEC.
During the 2015 presidential election, many irregularities were observed by Nigerians, especially in the Northern parts of the country where under-aged children who were not eligible to vote were glaringly noticed casting their votes in favour of the opposition APC, which is now the ruling party at the centre. The powers to appoint the chairman of INEC and chairman of state Electoral Commission as well as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) should be removed from the President and Governors.
Now that a new committee has been set up to reform the nation’s electoral process, it is worthwhile to invite all former chairmen of INEC like Humphrey Nwosu who was acclaimed the best in the conduct of 1993 general elections, to make their inputs, to say what happened during their days and the constraints they had. Nwosu has been known to have conducted the most credible elections in Nigeria.
The reform should take care of refusal by lawmakers or any other body to swear-in opposition candidates who win elections. Issues concerning independent candidature and electronic voting as well as snatching of ballot box and destruction of voting materials must be seriously looked into while our electoral system must be tailored towards the needs of our society.
The question on the lips of Nigerians is: If the reports of the Uwais-led committee were implemented, would the nation have had any need for electoral reforms now? The answer may be yes, may be no. for Uwais, the answer is the latter. This is why he accused the authorities of lacking the political will to implement his committee’s reports. He regretted that his committee’s report died on the altar of politics.
Uwais, while speaking at a dialogue on the review of the Electoral Law and process organized by the Policy and legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) in Abuja, noted that instead of implementing the recommendations of his committee holistically, the Federal Government decided to “pick and choose”. As he puts it, “As we know, the bill that was produced by the National Assembly, though reflected on some of the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee, but not all of these recommendations were adopted. As far as the Electoral Reform Committee was concerned, the recommendations were intended to be in tandem with one another”.
Now that the Nnamani committee has swung into action, it is expected that a thorough job would be done while the Federal Government must bear in mind that it is not just enough to set up such a body in motion, but the basic thing is the political will and interest to implement its reports and recommendations for the good of the nation’s democracy.
Shedie Okpara
He said he would not hesitate to activate the recall process against any lawmaker found wanting, if he returns for a second term in office.
He stated this while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including those who lost out at the recently held national and state assemblies primaries and have become aggrieved and disrespectful to the party.
While emphasizing the supremacy of the party, he said decisions were taken in the overall interest of the party and the state and must, therefore, be respected by all members.
He warned lawmakers against being insolent and arrogant to their people to the extent of shutting them out after each election cycle, saying such would no longer be condoned.
“So I am appealing to all of you. If you were born with arrogance, please just drop that ticket here”, he said.
The governor hinted that after the next cycle of elections, the process of recalling lawmakers who made themselves “tin gods” would be activated.
“Well, they say they don’t recall people from parliament, but this will be the first time.
“Anybody whom the people say they are tired of will be brought back home. Anybody who goes and forgets his people completely and doesn’t care, thinking that during elections he will come and pretend to be a good man, will be brought back.
“And we are making this very, very clear. We will not fail in what we have said. I am working tirelessly; I don’t sleep. If you are going into office during this period, there will be no sleep for you”, he said.
He advised politicians not to ignore their people who hold the power, insisting: “You cannot overlook them and become so arrogant and pompous that you don’t know your people.”
Gov. Otu also advised members of the ruling APC, who lost at the just-concluded party primaries in the state, not to defect to opposition parties like the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) or the African Democratic Congress (ADC), warning that they would suffer untold hardship and would not make any political headway, if they did.
“There are some kwashiorkor parties that are registering people. Such parties are wasting their time and not even my time. They cannot do anything.
“I don’t want anybody to suffer the fate I suffered. That’s why I’m warning those aggrieved aspirants who lost not to go the way of those parties to avoid unnecessary suffering.
“I don’t want anybody to go that route. It’s an absolute waste of time, energy and people’s future, because at the end of the day, you will drag people into that bottomless pit.
“And when you drag them there and can’t take care of them, you begin to rot, you begin to die. May God give me the energy and power to sustain.”
He appealed to the aggrieved APC members, saying: “There’s nothing that we cannot settle. God’s time is the best. Whatever we’ve done is for the common good of all of us.”
2027: INEC APPEALS JUDGMENT ON ELECTION GUIDELINES
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified aspects of the Commission’s 2027 General Election Guidelines.
The appeal, filed before the Court of Appeal, seeks to overturn the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026, by Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The trial court had nullified the provision in the guidelines directing political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by May 10, 2026, as part of the conditions for participation in the 2027 General Election.
The suit challenging the directive was instituted by the Youth Party, which argued that the Commission’s timeline was inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline stipulated under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 regarding the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.
However, INEC, through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, filed a notice of appeal dated May 25, 2026, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment.
The Commission also filed a motion seeking an order staying the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing among others that the trial court failed to determine the jurisdictional issue concerning whether the suit was hypothetical and academic in nature.
The Commission further contended that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the suit and urged the Court of Appeal to strike out the case accordingly.
INEC maintained that its actions were in line with its constitutional mandate to ensure the orderly conduct of elections and effective electoral administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
WHY I ENDORSE TINUBU’S SECOND TERM BID — ADELEKE
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has explained that his decision to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in 2027 was influenced by moral responsibility and the need to sustain developmental progress.
The governor said his endorsement was not based on political calculations alone but on what he considers appropriate in view of the relationship between Osun State and the President, as well as ongoing projects benefiting the region.
The position of the governor was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by his spokesperson, Mr Olawale Rasheed.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke spoke on Sunday after conducting an inspection of the ongoing construction work on the Ibadan–Ile Ife–Ilesa Expressway.
During the visit, the governor reportedly commended President Tinubu for embarking on major infrastructure projects across Osun State and other parts of the South-West.
Gov. Adeleke noted that infrastructure development remains essential to economic growth and improved connectivity among communities.
He acknowledged the significance of road projects currently underway, stressing that such investments are expected to contribute to easier transportation, commercial activities, and broader development outcomes within the region.
The governor also highlighted the importance of leadership support in facilitating projects that have direct effects on residents.
He indicated that recognition should be given where efforts are being made to improve public infrastructure, particularly projects capable of enhancing movement between states and strengthening economic interactions in affected areas.
According to the statement, Gov. Adeleke’s remarks came while assessing the progress of the expressway project, which has continued to attract attention due to its strategic role in linking major cities within the South-West.
The governor reportedly used the opportunity to express appreciation for federal involvement in projects impacting Osun State.
His comments further reflected his view on political and regional ties, especially considering Osun State’s historical connection to President Tinubu.
Gov. Adeleke suggested that such considerations, alongside visible developmental initiatives, shaped his decision to openly support the President’s anticipated re-election effort in 2027.
He said, “I am the governor of the ancestral birthplace of Mr President. How can I have my own in the saddle and think twice before embracing him?”
IPAC specifically said that INEC guidelines cannot supersede constitutional provisions or extant electoral laws.
The Council, which stated these while appraising the judgement of the Federal High Court, stressed that the court judgement specifically addressed exclusionary conditions capable of disenfranchising aspirants and party members during primaries.
This is contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of IPAC, Mr Martins Egbeola, stating that the judgment was a reaffirmation of constitutional supremacy, democratic principles and the rule of law within Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC said that even though INEC possesses powers to issue election guidelines, such powers must however, operate strictly within constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
It noted that the court judgment represented a major victory for democracy, political parties and citizens participating in Nigeria’s electoral process.
IPAC also said that the court judgement had restored the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs democratically without unlawful interference through administrative directives.
“The judgment would ensure equal opportunities for eligible members to participate in party primaries without discriminatory or exclusionary conditions.
“The INEC Chairman should deepen engagement and consultation with political parties on issues concerning electoral administration and reforms.
“Greater dialogue and collaboration between INEC and political parties would help prevent avoidable disputes and litigation arising from controversial guidelines,” IPAC stated.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this while speaking on a live television interview programme.
According to him, the ruling APC was not focused on fighting opposition parties, claiming that the political battle was currently between the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
He said, “In the last three weeks, the APC has not been fighting ADC or NDC. It is NDC versus ADC or ADC versus NDC.
“Actually, I watched with fun all the insults that the ADC is raining on the NDC and the NDC is returning those fireworks on the ADC.
“I watched the videos, and I laughed. The self-implosion is in the opposition rather than in the APC.”
When asked whether he was orchestrating the crisis in the opposition, Prof. Yilwatda denied the allegation but said weakening the opposition was part of politics.
He said, “No, I can’t. But I will be happy if I can do it. That’s my job.
“If you are opposing me, should I be happy? If you oppose me because you are in the opposition, what’s my job? Of course, to stop the opposition.”
The APC chairman also said the ruling party had stronger conflict resolution mechanisms than other political parties.
According to him, the party had committees at national and state levels to resolve internal disputes arising from congresses and other activities.
Speaking on the APC membership register and the votes secured by President Bola Tinubu during the party’s presidential primary, Prof. Yilwatda said the party relied on data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its registration process.
“To register as a member of the APC, your name and primary data are sourced from NIMC. That’s the same primary data that is used across the country to open a bank account, get a driver’s licence and secure an international passport.
“So we’re the only political party that sources our primary data from NIMC. This is why people have seen the APC as one of the most politically viable and stable parties. We are a data-driven political party,” he stated.
RIVERS ADC PRIMARY: ASPIRANT REJECTS OUTCOME, ACCUSES AMAECHI OF IMPOSITION
The governorship primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State has been thrown into turmoil after aspirant Mr Allen Idaso Ezekiel-Hart rejected the outcome and accused former governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi of imposing a candidate.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart described the exercise as a “shambolic charade” and said it had produced three separate governorship primary “winners” within the same party.
“Right now, we have three governorship candidates in one party, all thanks to Amaechi’s high-handedness,” he told journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He warned that the situation could plunge the opposition party into crisis ahead of the 2027 elections if the national leadership fails to intervene.
According to him, while the party’s timetable fixed May 23 for the primary, aspirants were informed late Friday that the exercise had been moved forward.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he was mobilising supporters across the 23 local government areas when fellow aspirant, Hon. Farah Dagogo, informed him that a parallel process had already been conducted.
He accused the state party chairman, Mr Chukwudi Dimkpa, of inviting only five aspirants loyal to Mr Amaechi while excluding himself and Hon. Dagogo. The arrangement, he alleged, was designed to clear the path for Dr Gabriel Pidomson, whom he described as Mr Amaechi’s preferred candidate.
He further alleged that three aspirants were persuaded to step down for Dr Pidomson in what he described as a disguised consensus arrangement, despite the party’s public stance against consensus.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart claimed Hon. Dagogo later approached him to jointly resist Mr Amaechi’s camp but asked him to publicly congratulate him as the winner.
“He told me to go on air and congratulate him, saying we are from Atiku Abubakar’s political family and should unite. I told him to stop rubbishing Atiku’s name. Atiku will not be part of this nonsense,” he said.
The aspirant said he rejected the offer and subsequently declared himself winner after Hon. Dagogo made a similar announcement.
“As it stands, Farah declared himself winner, Thompson was declared winner by the state exco, and I also declared myself winner. Three winners in one primary that never held. This cannot stand,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart accused the Rivers ADC leadership of sidelining him despite being the only aspirant who formally notified the party in writing of his intention to contest.
He also faulted Mr Amaechi for allegedly imposing candidates while demanding transparent presidential primary at the national level.
“How can someone who is demanding transparent presidential primaries at the national level turn around and impose a governorship candidate in Rivers?”, he queried.
He urged the ADC National Working Committee to nullify the exercise and either conduct a fresh primary or adopt a lawful consensus arrangement in line with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The most pragmatic thing now is for the NWC to order a rescheduled primary or quickly adopt a lawful consensus option. Time is running against us,” he said.
Mr Ezekiel-Hart said he would pursue all grievances within the party’s constitution and warned Hon. Dagogo against invoking Atiku’s name to bolster his claim.
“We will exhaust every legal channel within the party. I will not rock the boat unnecessarily, but the party must recognise that I won the primaries,” he said.
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