Politics

Task Before New RSIEC

Published

14 years ago

October 29, 2012

Before the 2011 general elections, which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Prof. Attahiru Jega ,many Nigerians had expressed the belief that several factors had constituted hindrances to the country’s development.

One of such important factors for attaining its potential of an egalitarian, rich and prosperous country with a stable polity ,despite its huge endowment in human and material resources has been the nation’s inability over the years to conduct elections which results are widely accepted as representing the people’s wish, save for the 1993 Presidential elections, the results of which were unfortunately annulled.

Since the 1993 Presidential election, which many believed was won by late Alhaji Moshood Abiola, many Nigerians regard other elections in the country as having been marred by partisanship on the part of the electoral body unbridled violence leading to loss of lives and various forms of corrupt practices, including the manipulation of votes through dishonest and deceptive means ,especially by the ruling political class.

It is widely believed that the situation is far worse at the Local Government level, where public opinion holds that state Electoral Commissions, which shoulders the responsibility of conducting elections at that level, simply reflect the wishes of the party of the government in power without recourse to fairness, equity and aspirations of the people.

Indeed, so strongly debated have election issues become in Nigeria, with a huge outcry for electoral reforms ,that they are currently situated on the front burner of national discourse as flawed elections have come to be regarded by many as the very essence of the nation’s backwardness.

This public outcry informed the change by Governor Chibuike Amaechi, when he inaugurated Prof Nimi Briggs on the 27th of November,2007, a month after the supreme court ruled in his favour the governorship of the state, to salvage the electoral process and conduct an election which would be worthy of emulation by other electoral Commissions in the country.

No doubt, the Commission under the leadership of Prof Briggs took its assignment seriously and put in great thought and time. In the end, it achieved some level of success in the 2008 and 2011 Local Government Elections in the state.

Prof Briggs made history not only in Rivers State, but in Nigeria when in 2010, he presented a written report of the 2008 local government council elections in Rivers State. In that election, other political parties won some wards though the ruling peoples Democratic Party (PDP)won the Chairmanship seats in the 23 Local Government Areas.

It is, therefore, expected that the present Chairmanship of Prof Ahiazu whose record had been transparent in his previous major public task as Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu, would be discrete to carry out the task of conducting and supervising the next Local Government election in the state.

His appointment and subsequent confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly recently, makes Prof. Ahiazu the third Executive Chairman to continue the task of piloting the State Electoral body which was established in 2003.

He succeeds the former Chairman, Prof Nimi Briggs whose tenure expired last April. The former University of Port Harcourt Vice Chancellor, took over from the pioneer Chairman, Senibo Sam Jaja after whose tenure crisis erupted, before the court intervened.

The State legislators confirmed Ahiazu’s appointment with six other commissioners, Dr.Eddy Adiele, Mr Kennedy Saro Pueba, Dr Viviala Fubara, Mrs Ngozi Ayayi, Dr Solomon Nwanchukwu and Mrs Ibiso Dakuru.

The Electoral body was established in the state in accordance with section 197(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

The then Governor of Rivers State, Dr.Peter Odili, established the Commission to conduct and supervise Local Government elections in Rivers State.

From the fore-going the immediate, task before the commission is the Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni local Government Council election scheduled for January 2013. The board would be expected to conduct an election that would be fair and acceptable to all in the area by all the participating political parties.

The commission as a matter of urgency should. thus commence extensive consultations with stakeholders in that Local Government Area and, all the political parties to ensure an acceptable election in the January 2013 election.

This approach would not only form the basis for careful planning of the forthcoming Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Council election, but would also help the Commission to conduct, supervise and monitor all the primaries of political parties and ensure the safety of electoral materials.

During the presentation of the 2008 Local Government Reports to Governor Chibuike Amaechi, the then Chairman, Prof Nimi Briggs noted that he faced many challenges during and after the election. It is therefore not out of place to expect that the present Commission will face tougher challenges.

Apart from the challenges, the conduct of an acceptable election can only be made possible with cooperation and participation of everyone, and the determination of the electoral body to remain transparent and impartial. This among other factors includes provision of a level playing field for everyone who wish to stand for the election.

Political parties, on their own, must not only apply for internship for the Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Council election, but must have well defined and organised structures with sufficient presence that should make them electable.

Political Parties, especially the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), should start by first practicing internal democracy, which should preclude them from thwarting and frustrating the wishes of their party members with often unpleasant consequences.

As for other stakeholders, they must always stand up for their rights at all times and be prepared to take all necessary legal measures that would ensure they are able to cast their votes, and that those votes count in the eventual outcome of the elections.

Lastly, our law courts must realize the powers they are vested with regarding respect for the electoral process, and that these powers should be used to make votes count.

It may also be pertinent to appeal to the Executive Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi to continue to keep away from interfering in any way in the electoral process in the forth coming election which will serve as a test for the new RSIEC board.

Meanwhile, the new board of the Rivers State the Commission has promised to use the required process in conducting a free and fair election.

Addressing the press after their first inauguration meeting at the RSIEC headquarters, the Commissioner in charge of media and Public Affairs, Hon. Ibiso Dakoru said the Commission will consult widely with stakeholders in making sure the right things are done in the electoral process.

The Commissioner stated that the new boards have resolved to carry every body along in the scheme of things, adding that the board decided to resume duties immediately in order to acclimatise with both men and materials in the commission.

Politics

Parties’ Deregistration: How Justice Lifu Overruled Appeal Court Justices

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday brushed aside the order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which ordered him to stay proceedings in a suit that sought deregistration of the African Democratic Party (ADC), Accord Party and three others.
The Court of Appeal in a unanimous decision of a panel of three Justices had on May 22, 2026 directed the Federal High Court Judge not to proceed with the suit until an appeal pending before them and filed by Accord Party is resolved.
In a Certified True Copy Enrol Order of the Superior Court, Justices Mohammed Danjuma, Adebukola Banjoko and Oyejoju Oyewumi asked the lower Court Judge to stay proceedings until all issues on the appeal filed by the Accord Party were resolved
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State had, through the Accord Party, applied to justice Lifu to join him as a defendant in the deregistration legal battle instituted by a group of former legislators.
The contention of the Osun State governor was that he had a stake in the Accord Party, being the platform he was seeking re-election in the August 15 gubernatorial poll in the state.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu on April 27 ruled against the Osun State governor, rejecting his request to be joined in the suit to defend his own position and interest.
Not satisfied with the Federal High Court decision, the Osun State governor, through his lawyer, Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), moved to the Court of Appeal in Abuja where he challenged the Justice Lifu decision to refuse to allow him join the suit.
After listening to the argument canvassed, especially that he has interest to protect as Accord Party gubernatorial candidate for Osun State governorship election, the three Justices of the Court of Appeal, unanimously directed Justice Lifu to allow them look into the grievances of the governor.
In specific terms, the Court of Appeal Justices directed Justice Lifu not to proceed further with the matter and fixed October 27 to determine the interlocutory appeal of the appellant.
However, when the certified enroll order and notice of appeal were served on Justice Peter Lifu by Mr Adetunbi (SAN), the judge rejected it on the ground that it was a ploy to arrest his judgment in the matter.
Although the judge had adjourned his judgment delivery in the matter indefinitely, he finally made a dramatic turn around on Monday and proceeded to deliver the judgment that has now proscribed the five political parties.

Politics

ADC: Okonkwo Rejects Amaechi As Presidential Running Mate, Withdraws Support

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

Actor turned politician, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, has rejected the choice of former Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 presidential election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement on Monday, Mallam Bolaji Abdulllahi, the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, announced the party’s choice of Mr Amaechi.
However in a statement, Mr Okonkwo said that the choice of Mr Amaechi from the South South strengthens the continued marginalization of people from the South East.
According to the former spokesperson of the Labour Party, any arrangement that would not factor a person from the South East either as president or vice president in the party is anti-Igbo.
He contended that Chief Raph Nwosu, who founded the ADC in 2005 and willingly surrendered it’s leadership to Senator David Mark did not do so to entrench Igbo marginalization in the party.
The former actor said: “I heard from the social media that ADC has picked its vice presidential candidate from the South-South. If this is true, it is unfortunate, as this will continue the crude marginalisation of the South-East.
“This geo-political zone has neither produced a president or vice president since 1999. To deny the South-East the opportunity to produce the president or vice president in the ADC in 2027, will amount to perpetuating the marginalisation.
“The ADC was founded by Ralphs Nwosu from the South-East in 2005. He made the sacrifice to give up the party in 2025 for the coalition to usher in a better Nigeria. He couldn’t have made that sacrifice to marginalise his own people.
“I did not join the coalition to assist in marginalisation of my own people further. I am of the opinion that if we made a sacrifice to give up the national chairman and the president, it will amount to unpardonable injustice to deny us the vice president in 2027.
“I joined politics to fight for a better Nigeria where no region, geo-political zone, or person will be marginalised.
“The only favour I asked Atiku Abubakar, who openly declared that he is the pathway to the presidency of the South-East, is to show it by choosing someone from the South-East to be his vice.
“If it is confirmed that he has chosen a candidate from the South-South, I wish him well. I am not favourably disposed to campaigning for any presidential ticket that does not have a person of South-East origin as president or vice in 2027”

Politics

2027: Tinubu’s Projects Give APC Edge In South East – Yilwatda

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

The Tide

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, on Monday said that the numerous projects being executed by President Bola Tinubu across the states in the southeast will give him upper hand over other presidential candidates during next year’s general elections.
Prof. Yilwatda stated this at the Abakaliki Township Stadium during a mega rally organized by the Ebonyi State government and Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during which President Tinubu and other APC candidates for the 2027 general elections were adopted.
According to the APC National Chairman, no President had done for the southeast region what President Tinubu has done for them and expressed the confidence that the president would not only win in Ebonyi State but in the entire South East.
Prof. Yilwatda also used the occasion to address growing insinuations in some quarters that Ebonyi State had been conceded to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dismissing the claim, Prof. Yilwatda said the state would not allow the PDP to win any position in the forthcoming general election.
“We will return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Francis Nwifuru as Governor of Ebonyi State in 2027.
“We want to return all APC senators, members of the House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates in 2027.
“Nobody has conceded Ebonyi to the PDP. Therefore, there is no vacancy in Ebonyi State. Ebonyi PDP has no place, and there is no vacancy at all in the Government House come 2027,” the APC National Chairman declared.
He commended the people of the state for their support for President Tinubu and urged them to re-elect him in the next presidential election in appreciation of what he has done for the state and the entire South-East through infrastructural transformation and human capital development.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, who also spoke at the event, said the state had no other presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections apart from President Tinubu.

He declared that Ebonyi remained a stronghold of the APC and vowed that the party would deliver the President in the state.

Gov. Nwifuru said President Tinubu had shown exceptional commitment to the state and deserved total support for appointing Senator Umahi as Minister of Works, a role he said Senator Umahi had performed creditably.

“Ebonyi has no other presidential candidate apart from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we will return him in the presidential election.

“We are standing here today to tell the whole world, especially those using the President’s name to orchestrate division and confusion in this great state, that we have only one party, and that is the APC.

“This statement became necessary because some people are going around claiming they have discussed with Mr President and that he has handed Ebonyi over to the PDP. They are also saying that Chief Nyesom Wike is their leader and that Wike said the President has given Ebonyi to him.

“Ebonyi is not for sale. We are restraining ourselves because the people are with us. Nobody should push us because we have what it takes to confront anyone trying to destabilise us.

“We want to tell Mr President that he has earned our votes. He gave us what we had never had in Eastern Nigeria — the office of the Minister of Works. And this Minister of Works is not sitting idle; he is working,” he stated.

Senator Umahi, in his remarks, said President Tinubu had done what no other President had done for Ebonyi State and the entire South-East by executing numerous projects across the state and the region.

“Ebonyi State is a one-party state under Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru. We are not going to repeat the mistakes of the past.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done a lot, not just for Ebonyi State but for the entire South-East and other geopolitical zones,” he said.