Nation
Stakeholders Advocate Severe Sanctions For Electoral Violence
Stakeholders have called for severe punishment for sponsors of thuggery and electoral violence, ahead of the 2023 General Elections.
A cross section of those interviewed by The Tide’s source on Monday in Abuja, said decisive action must be taken against electoral violence to ensure hitch-free general elections.
National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA), Chief Kenneth Udeze, said perpetrators of electoral violence must be sanctioned according to law, to serve as deterrent to others.
“Our approach is to keep advising the youth and all the citizens on the negative impacts of violence.
“However, they will have to go further on this issue of peace accord that was signed most recently by all the political parties with presidential candidates.
“We have to go beyond the accord. We have to find a way of legal sanctions possibly, if people are proven to have been involved in orchestrating issues that have to do or led to violence,” he said.
Udeze advised political actors in the 2023 General Elections to strive hard to prevent violence in whatever form.
“You can only know the beginning of a war, no one can predict when it will end or the consequences.
“Violence cannot do anyone good. When you start from one state, you think it is an easy thing, but by the time it starts developing, by the time other interests are building, it spreads all over the country, and that is what leads to civil disorder or war.
“So, we have to do everything possible to make sure that violence does not thrive in this election.
“Nobody knows who is going to die tomorrow. If are orchestrating it you don’t know if the bullet will hit your wife somewhere, or your sister, or your brother,” he said.
According to Udeze therefore, Nigerians should work diligently and in unity as a people to ensure that the 2023 General Elections become the driving force that will bring citizens to the new Nigeria of everybody’s dream.
He said his party, the AA, was committed to ensuring peaceful conduct of the poll and would continue to appeal to its members and supporters, even up to the grassroots, to be law abiding, shun violence and play by the rules.
“In AA, we consider ourselves as a silent majority and underdog. People may not know what we are doing, but the candidate we are giving Nigerians, Dr Hamza Al Mustapha, knows this country very well, we know what we are doing.
“We are embarking on our campaign very diligently without name calling. So we call on people to always find a way to engage on issue-based campaigns.
“With that, our supporters all over Nigeria are doing the job which we have actually asked them to do. And we are doing it as a silent majority,” he said.
Mr Yabagi Sani, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), was also of the same view, and urged all political actors, especially politicians, to shun violence for smooth conduct of the poll.
“The fact of the matter is that the biggest and immediate losers when democracy fails are the politicians, not the public really.
“It is later the public suffers for it, but the immediate casualties when democracy fails is the politician.
“So for that reason, we have to shun anything that will affect the smooth conduct of elections because it matters to us,” Sani said.
The IPAC chairman expressed concern over what he described as the emerging negative signals against a peaceful and credible 2023 election.
He listed the signals to include the use of money with impunity, during the last off-season governorship election in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun, in breach of the provisions of the Electoral Act and other extant laws.
“Also, IPAC leadership has noted the spikes in the use of divisive languages and hate speeches by several chieftains and spokespersons of some of the political parties in the mass media, and at political rallies,” he said.
He said that efforts were ongoing by IPAC to address irresponsible and reckless utterances capable of heating up the polity, with the potential of igniting mutual hate, animosity and violence in the country.
“To deepen the roots of democracy and good governance, violence in all its ramifications must be uprooted from the political space.
“We are in this regard, calling on the nation’s security agencies and other relevant bodies to gear up in the performance of their statutory responsibilities professionally and objectively,” he added.
The National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr Victor Okoye, on his part, expressed optimism that the 2023 poll would not witness violence in any form.
“I believe 2023 election is going to be peaceful. Every act of man is within the confines of God’s providential authority. No man can change what God has written,” Okoye said.
He advised Nigerians to remain firm and play politics without bitterness.
“Let us remain firm, avoid violence and money bags during elections. Vote according to your conscience. Vote for sustainable democracy. Vote for a good a good government you will get a good result,” he said.
Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cautioned political parties and their supporters against violence, saying it could further complicate the security situation in the country.
“Parties, candidates and their supporters should not by acts of commission or omission, further complicate the prevailing security situation in the country,” Yakubu said.
The INEC helmsman expressed sadness over the recent clashes among party supporters in some states, describing it as worrisome.
“Even as the commission is working hard to ensure a credible process in the forthcoming elections, reports of clashes among parties and their supporters in some states of the country during the ongoing electioneering campaign are worrisome.
“So too is the reported denial of access to public facilities for parties and candidates in some states of the federation.
“Let me caution parties and their supporters to focus on issues and steer clear of attacks on each other.
“These are not only violations of the Electoral Act, 2022, but also negate the voluntary commitment by all political parties and candidates to the letter and spirit of the peace accord signed about three weeks ago under the auspices of the National Peace Committee (NPC),” he said.
The INEC chairman therefore reiterated that a peaceful electioneering campaign was critical to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections.
“At our consultative meeting few days ago, leaders of political parties in Nigeria also complained about the denial of access to public facilities and exorbitant charges in some states for the use of such facilities for the dissemination of their campaign materials, messages and rallies.
“These attacks and denials are a violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and ominous signs of what will follow as the campaigns enter critical stages.
“They may also be a prelude to violence on Election Day and beyond. We should tackle the smoke before it snowballs into a major inferno.
Yakubu urged security agencies on effective enforcement of law to curb the issue of vote buying, violence and other menace that could affect the peaceful conduct of the 2023 General Elections.
“The effective enforcement of our electoral law is the best way to deal with the menace. We should work together to ensure the arrest and prosecution of violators of the provisions of especially Sections 92 – 93 of the Electoral Act 2022.”
Yakubu said that ahead of the 2023 general election, INEC would continue to appraise the security situation in the country and its possible impact on the conduct of the election.
“We are right now working to harmonise our Election Risk Management (ERM) and Election Violence Mitigation and Advocacy Tool (EVMAT), for a more effective risk assessment and mitigation measures ahead of the general election.
“We will continue to share information with the security agencies and most importantly, work together to ensure that elections hold peacefully nationwide as scheduled,” he said.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has inducted and given orientation to 100 Ogoni youths for training on Creative Arts. The beneficiaries were drawn from Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The induction and orientation ceremony, which took place at the CRAB of the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt on Wednesday, was a prelude to the training proper, billed to commence next Tuesday.
As usual, HYPREP issued undertaking forms to the trainees, for them to complete and submit as a guarantee that they would subject themselves to the requirements of the programme as well as be of good behaviour throughout the four-month duration of the training.
HYPREP also announced that it would pay N150,000 to each of the beneficiaries monthly, as transport and feeding allowance, stressing, however, that only those who fully participate in the training would be entitled for the allowance.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, welcomed the trainees to the programme, saying, HYPREP’s projects are evolving and that one thing that is happening today is that the Project has gotten leadership right, by making promises and keeping those promises.
According to him, the Project had equally promised to move away from rudimentary skills acquisition to high impacts acquisition levels, which it has kept today by sponsoring the training on Creative Arts.
He noted that in planning its livelihood programmes for Ogoni youths, HYPREP has taken time out to look for skills that would add value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Zabbey, who was represented at the event by the Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi said by packaging the Creative Arts training, it was expected that the Ogoni people would have their own version of Nollywood known as Ogoniwood just as Nigerians are familiar with Hollywood, Bollywood, Kannywood and Nollywood.
To achieve this goal, the Project Coordinator explained that it was the reason for choosing a reputable establishment like Halibiz Consult Limited, to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts of the University of Port Harcourt, which he described as one of the most prestigious in the Niger Delta, for the training of the beneficiaries.
He also indicated that in doing this, HYPREP was desirous of going for talents that would help the Ogoni people grow in the film industry, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously.
Zabbey equally enjoined the trainees to put in their best so that in the next three to five years, they would carve a niche for themselves and become forces to reckon with in the film industry.
On her part, HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee said HYPREP does what it says it will, stressing that the process of training Ogoni youths on specialised skills started three years ago.
According to her, the selection process for the training was rigorous and transparent, and was carried out by renowned actors actresses.
She disclosed that the training consists of three major aspects, which include acting, script writing and make-up, while Nollywood actors like Charles Nnoje, Ngezu J. Ngezu and award-winning make-up artist, Jude Odo would be on hand to drill and groom the beneficiaries.
Mrs Nzidee noted that the programme is a specialised training that does not have anything like starter packs but that it is purely a professional certification programme that would launch the beneficiaries into the Nollywood industry in Nigeria.
According to her, the Creative Arts training is one of the four specialised trainings organised by HYPREP to ensure that the Ogoni people are well positioned in vital industries like Aviation, Maritime, Creative Arts and Mechatronics.
She said the last of such trainings on Mechatronics would take place in the coming months, and urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously so as to put the Ogoni people on the Nollywood map.
She further indicated that while Charles Nnoje and Ngezu J. Ngezu would take the beneficiaries on the practical aspects, Jude Odo would take them on the make-up aspects.
Also speaking, the External Relations Manager of Halibiz Consult Limited, Alabo Experience Douglas said his company gives much premium to standard and quality, and assured that the firm would give the trainees value for the money spent on the programme.
While charging the beneficiaries to be dedicated and punctual, he stressed the need for them to approach the programme with the mindset of being empty so that at the end of the day, they would benefit maximally.
On his part, the Head of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Port Harcourt, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo said the CRAB is an acronym for Creative Review of Arts and Books, stressing that it was named by renowned playwright, Prof Ola Rotimi.
According to him, the CRAB had nurtured, groomed and produced Nollywood actors and actresses like Bobmanuel Udokwu, Ejike Asiegbu,Francis Duru, Hilda Dokubo, Monalisa Chinda, Julius Agwu, and a host of others, assuring the beneficiaries that they were on fertile environment to hone their talents.
He noted that symbolically, the crab is a nutritious seafood common in the Niger Delta, and reiterated the need for the beneficiaries to come empty for the training, as it were.
Ihunwo disclosed that the theory classes of the programme would run for three weeks while the fourth week would be for the master classes, and urged the trainees to avail themselves of the opportunity to make a difference by telling the Ogoni story, which he described as inexhaustible by themselves, in order to put Ogoni on the map.
A 23-year-old student of Nasarawa State University identified as Jatau Rilokwah, has been reportedly found dead in the university’s senior staff quarters.
A counter-insurgency expert, focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this on his X handle on Tuesday.
According to him, the discovery was made on April 27, 2025, by a security officer at the university, Emmanuel Gyawo.
He stated that Gwayo was directed by Prof. Shedrack Jatau to check on his son upon arriving at the residence, and he found Rilokwah hanging from the ceiling.
“Professor Jatau, who was reportedly out of the State at the time, was informed of the incident. A team of police detectives, led by the Divisional Crime Officer of Angwan Lambu, was dispatched to the scene.
“The body showed no signs of violence, and no suicide note was found. Rilokwah was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he further stated.
He added that the student’s corpse had been deposited in the hospital morgue.
He also quoted police sources as saying that investigations were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Ogun State Government has partnered with Nike Art Gallery to establish a new exhibition space at the Olumo Rock Tourist Centre in Abeokuta, a move Governor Dapo Abiodun says is aimed at boosting annual tourist visits from 20,000 to over 100,000.
Abiodun disclosed the plan on Wednesday while receiving the founder of the Nike Art Gallery, Chief (Mrs) Nike Davies-Okundaye, at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
“I went to Olumo Rock about a month ago and I decided that we needed to do something about restoring Olumo Rock to its old glory. From statistics, Olumo Rock hosts about 20,000 people a year in its current state, and I felt that we could increase that to at least ten times,” the governor said.
As part of the plan, an events hall within the tourist centre will be repurposed as a permanent gallery operated by Nike Art Gallery.
“I told them to shut it down. Practically, we want to bring it down and turn it into a gallery for you to use as an exhibition gallery,” he told Davies-Okundaye.
He added that the gallery will be ready before the National Sports Festival in May, when the State will host about 15,000 visitors.
“I want them to be able to see our tourist sites,” he said, listing attractions such as the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, the Ransome-Kuti family home, and the Adire market among key heritage spots to be showcased.
Highlighting Ogun’s improved infrastructure, the governor said, “Now that we’ve succeeded in having the intra and inter-state roads in place, you can come to Ogun State by rail; you can come by air. We’ve constructed one of the best airports in Nigeria, and very soon, you will be able to come by sea.”
Davies-Okundaye, in her remarks, praised the state’s efforts to promote tourism and pledged to use the new gallery to attract global attention.
“This gallery will bring many Heads of State. The one I opened in Abuja already has more than 10 Heads of State, including those from South Korea and the Czech Republic. The same will happen here,” she said.
She also applauded the Governor for his commitment to the Adire fabric industry.
“Adire is all over Nigeria, but Ogun has been promoting Adire for over 50 years. Today, the only cloth we can call our own is called Adire. This is what we can sell to the Europeans,” she said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s backing of the Adire industry, citing policies such as the Adire Ogun Digital Marketplace, compulsory wearing of Adire in the state, and provision of solar-powered production equipment to support artisans.
He also revealed plans to open a creative arts and entertainment village in partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters, expected to be completed within two months.
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