Politics
Edo Polls: INEC Explains Disqualification Of Monitors
INEC National Commissioner Ishmael Igbani said last Thursday that the NGOs that applied for election monitoring in the July 14, Edo governorship election were disqualified because they did not meet up with INEC criteria.
Igbani, who is the chairman Election Monitoring and Observation Committee, made this known to newsmen in Abuja.
He said the criteria included previous experience in similar exercise anywhere in the world or within Nigeria, registration of the NGO with the Cooperate Affairs Commission, and other statures.
Igbani said that application could be rejected if submitted after the deadline for submission or when applications submitted were incomplete, inaccurate or submitted by an ineligible body.
He said that applications could also be rejected when the eligible body does not meet the conditions provided for in relevant INEC regulations, procedures or the Code of Conduct.
Igbani added that even after a body had been accredited such accreditation could be revoked in the event that the accredited name was repeated in any of the accreditation list of observers or in the event if he/she failed to fulfil the conditions provided in this document or in the Code of Conduct or less than 18 years old.
“There was no hide and seek game in this exercise any NGO not qualified to monitor the election will not be accredited, don’t forget this has to do with security, transparency and free and fair election.
“The Nigerian Bar Association, Transition monitoring groups and more than 15 other Non Governmental Organisations were accredited to monitor the election.
He said there was no discrimination in the exercise as it was made open for all the eligible NGO’s that had the requirements.
Igbani said the major challenge was the security aspects of the election, but INEC had proffered adequate security to ensure protection of lives and property.
He said INEC had trained the supervisory presiding officers and also the presiding officers had been trained for the election.
“We are going to perform another feat in Edo, but the rest is left for the politicians to perform their own part.
“INEC is ready to do the election fairly and transparently for everybody to see, with nothing to hide, but the political parties must make it possible for peace to reign.
Igbani said the Commission had concluded a special training for personnel who would work as supervisory, presiding officers for the election.
It would be recalled that some NGO’s had queried the yardstick employed by INEC to pick the 22 election monitors groups so far approved.
During a press conference held in Owerri, the coalition called the campaign a “dangerous and shameful display” designed to distract the public from the governor’s performance in office.
The CSOs directly linked the Greater Imo Initiative (GII) —the group that made the allegations on September 4, 2025—to Governor Uzodimma, describing the group as his “mouthpiece and attack dog.”
“Every word spoken against INEC was spoken on his behalf.
“By falsely alleging that Professor Yakubu has an alliance with Dr. Amadi to compromise the 2027 elections, Uzodimma has not only maligned a man of proven integrity but also assaulted the very foundation of our democracy”, said Dr Agbo Frederick, speaking for the coalition.
The coalition described Professor Yakubu as a “beacon of electoral professionalism” and called the attempt to soil his reputation “defamatory and a national security risk.”
They also defended Dr. Amadi, a “respected development scholar,” stating that the governor’s accusations were “laughable, desperate, and dangerous.”
The CSOs see the motive behind the campaign as an attempt to “silence the dissent, intimidate the opposition, and divert attention from the governor’s abysmal record in office.”
The coalition issued four key demands to Governor Uzodimma: An immediate retraction of the false and defamatory allegations against Professor Mahmood Yakubu and Dr. Chima Amadi.
- A public apology to both men within seven days, to be published in at least three national newspapers and broadcast on major television networks.
- An end to diversionary tactics and proxy propaganda.
- A renewed focus on governance, including addressing insecurity, unemployment, and poverty in Imo State.
The CSOs warned that failure to comply would force them to “review our position with a view to seeking legal redress from Governor Uzodimma for defamation, false accusation, and reckless endangerment of lives.”
“Governor Uzodimma must be reminded that he did not find himself in the seat of power to chase shadows.
“We call on all Nigerians to reject Uzodimma’s diversionary antics as they are nothing short of desperate plots by a government terrified of accountability”, the statement concluded.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern that preventing the senator from resuming her legislative duties violates democratic principles and disenfranchises her constituents.
“The suspension, having been imposed by the Senate and not a court of law, has lapsed. Any further attempt to prevent her from resuming is therefore both illegal and morally indefensible,” Mallam Abdullahi said.
The party noted that denying Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan access to the chamber silences the voice of the people who elected her, adding that the withdrawal of her salary, aides, and office access during the suspension amounted to excessive punishment.
The ADC also criticised the Clerk of the National Assembly for declining to process her resumption on grounds that the matter was before the courts, arguing that the Clerk’s role was administrative, not judicial.
“Administrative caution must not translate into complicity. When the administrative machinery becomes hostage to political interests, the institution itself is diminished,” the party stated.
Highlighting that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan is one of only four women in the 109-member Senate, the ADC warned that the handling of the case sends a discouraging signal about gender inclusion in Nigerian politics.
“Any action that resembles gender intimidation of the few women in the Senate would only discourage women’s participation. Nigeria cannot claim to be a democracy while excluding half of its population from key decision-making spaces,” Mallam Abdullahi added.
The ADC insisted that Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan be allowed to resume her seat immediately, stressing that the matter was about more than one individual.
“What is at stake here is not just one Senate seat, but the integrity of our democracy itself,” the party said.