Politics
‘Independent Electoral Process, Key To Eliminating Political Dominance’
A Human Rights Campaigner, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, says the entrenchment of an independent electoral process that guarantees fairness and transparency can prevent political dominance.
Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, made the remark in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
She noted that the most important way out of a one party system or political dominance was mass political education of the citizens.
She stressed the need to engage traditional rulers, democratic institutions, political class, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders on how to get it right.
“The most important way out of this is mass political education of the citizens, and the entrenchment of an independent electoral process, that guarantees fairness and transparency.
“Also, citizens’ right to choose must be respected at all times and this is the only way to prevent political dominance by one political party under a democracy,” the campaigner added .
She also spoke on the implications of one-party system in a state against the backdrop of the recently held local government elections in Lagos.
Okei-Odumakin explained that one of the major setbacks for local government system in Nigeria, was the absence of competition.
This, she noted, was occasioned by the absolute control of the electoral process into local government positions by the various state governments.
According to her, one party system gives birth to undemocratic government which becomes dictatorial and gives no choice to voters to elect candidates from other politcal parties and ideological tendencies.
She further added that one party system gives the tendency for elected officials of government to become dictatorial and no room is given for the existence of an opposition party.
“For that reason, even if the only ruling party goes on a wrong tangent, it cannot be criticised. It is also a breeding ground for corruption, and does not in anyway promote democracy.
“One of the attributes of a true democracy is the ability of political parties to participate and occupy public positions in government through elections.
“But in a situation where such attribute is denied and people do not have right to different choices, that can longer be referred to as a democracy.
“One of the major setbacks for our local government system in Nigeria is the absence of competition, which is occasioned by the absolute control of the electoral process into local government positions, by the various state governments.
“Conduct of local government elections in Nigeria, has become such a shameful issue as political parties that are incumbent in states, turn out to win all positions available during elections,” she said.
Okei-Odumakin opined that to return to a genuine multiparty democracy and put an end to a drift towards a one party state, the people must demand that elections are conducted by truly independent electoral bodies.
Also, they must be allowed to elect their leaders, without any form of manipulation and intimidation.
“Without a genuinely independent process of elections, we will continue to witness worse scenarios and the citizens will continue to lose trust in the process.
“ This leads to the kind of apathy witnessed during the last local government election in Lagos State,” she said.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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