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Fear of Armageddon in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa Elections

Published

2 years ago

November 11, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

And finally, the much awaited day for the off cycle election involving Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states has arrived. But as expected, palpable fears abound as candidates and their parties have engaged one another in a battle of wits, fisticuffs and large scale attacks that have left many dead, and a lot more heavily injured. And with INEC announcing the areas where violence are recorded will have their votes cancelled may likely mean that votes may be cancelled in many places. The case of Ayingba in Kogi State may readily come to mind.

However, while many of the Nigerian states hold their governorship elections in February or March or every four years (same time when presidential elections are held) depending on the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a few states have resorted to off cycle periods owing to election rescheduling or upturn of electoral victory by the courts.

According to history, the off cycle elections originated when in 2006, former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi then of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), was sworn in as governor after contesting the result of the 2003 Anambra election that favoured Chris Ngige, then of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Since then, the governorship election in Anambra State takes its cue four from 2006. The next governor will be sworn in in 2026 after the elections might have held in 2025.

Similar incidences have also resulted to the off cycle election involvement of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

Report by TheCable shows as follows:

“After PDP’s Timipre Sylva was declared governor of Bayelsa in 2007, Ebitimi Amgbare of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was dissatisfied and challenged the election result before the tribunal. However, the ACN candidate lost his case. Amgbare went ahead to petition the court of appeal, which mandated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise a fresh poll in the state in 2008. Again, Sylva won and was elected governor, disrupting the state’s election calendar.

“Kogi followed a similar route. In 2007, Ibrahim Idris of the PDP was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election. Abubakar Audu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Idris’ main opponent, petitioned the state election tribunal to challenge the victory, claiming his name had been improperly left off the list of candidates meant to run for office. He took the case all the way to the appeal court. The election was nullified, leading to the conduct of a fresh election. Idris won re-election as Kogi governor on March 29, 2008.

“Imo, on the other hand, is the most recent addition to the collective. In 2019, the legal tussle between Hope Uzodinma of the APC and PDP’s Emeka Ihedioha moved from the election tribunal to the supreme court. Uzodinma contested Ihedioha’s victory and was later inaugurated as governor on January 14, 2020.”

By the above, it becomes crystal clear that the only times elections have been in all the states of the nation simultaneously were in 1999 and 2003. Ever since, a good number of states have joined in the off cycle arrangement. They are Edo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Anambra, Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states.

But the major issues of the day remain the volatile nature of elections in the aforementioned states billed for election on November 11, 2023. Nigerians fear that things might just go haywire again considering the affairs in the last days leading to the election day

In Kogi State, cleared governorship candidates to run for today’s election include Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party; All Progressives Congress candidate, Ododo Usman; Muritala Ajaka of Social Democratic Party; Leke Abejide, African Democratic Congress; Olayinka Braimoh, Action Alliance and Okeme Adejoh of the Labour Party.

However, among these contestants and their parties, violence has continued to play a major role both during their primary elections and campaignings. The spate of accusations and counter-accusations had rent the air, causing untold apprehension among the residents. Many parties, especially the SDP and the PDP have Pointed accusing fingers at Governor Yayaha Bello as the brain behind politically motivated violence in the state. The governor has however, denied the allegations. Even before voting on election day, reports have made the rounds about pre-thumb printed ballot papers declaring the APC candidate winner. The INEC is however, still investigating the matter.

The Punch recalls that “in November 2019, when the result of the governorship poll was declared, a PDP woman leader of the Wada/Aro campaign council, Ochadamu Ward, Acheju Abuh, was burnt alive in her home by some suspected political thugs. Since then, nothing has been said about the issue, and no one has been brought to book. The November 2019 governorship election in Kogi State was an exercise that many discerning persons would wish to forget quickly due to the preponderance of violence before and on election day.

“On June 3, 2023, it was reported that the motorcade of the SDP governorship candidate, Muritala Ajaka, was attacked by gunmen, and many believed that the incident was not unconnected with today’s governorship election. A month later, arsonists burnt down the state SDP campaign office in Lokoja, the state capital.

“It was reported that the convoy of the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, was attacked, allegedly by the supporters of the SDP, even as some aides of the governor were said to have been injured. A member of the Senate, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, when she was a candidate for the SDP, had raised the alarm over violent attacks aimed at her and her supporters. Similarly, when she contested on the platform of the PDP in the 2023 general election for a senatorial seat in her constituency, she decried the prevalence of violence.”

Also, in Imo State, violence has continued to rear its ugly head with the Hope Uzodimma-led state government pointing accusing fingers at the opposition and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

However, the opposition onbthe other hand, has blamed the governor of masterminding state-sponsored attacks at the opposition. The security challenges have instilled more fear in the residents, creating an atmosphere of possibility of viter apathy.

The state Chairman of the Labour Party, Callistus Ihejiagwa, earlier cried out that the state secretariat of the party was attacked by police and thugs allegedly on the directives of the state government. For instance, on September 23, 2023, the LP condemned the killing of security agents in Imo State by gunmen and the subsequent burning of houses and businesses in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area by soldiers.

Similarly, a video on the internet, showed military mobilization to the state. One would think that war was erupting. It has also been reported that there was tension over the killing of 14 youths reportedly returning from a wedding to their community in the Otulu community, Oru East Local Council of the state, from Awo-Omamma in the neighbouring Oru West council area by members of Ebube Agu security operatives, who opened fire on them on July 18, 2022.

On April 21, 2023, gunmen killed five policemen at the Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. Also killed were a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu, from the Amankwo Okpala community.

On November 7, 2023, the Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress ordered a shutdown of electricity and fuel supplies in Imo State following the brutalisation of the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, allegedly by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

Bayelsa State is not left out in the avalanche of electoral violence. From Nembe to Brass to Ekeremor, and Ijaw areas of the state, violent politics has remained the order of the day.

On Friday, chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party was manhandled by alleged APC thugs at Twon Brass jetty in Brass local government area over meddling with election materials.

The incident happened when officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were offloading the election materials, it was gathered.

The incident was in the aftermath of misunderstanding between supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts over where the election materials should be kept. It goes to say the suspicious inclinations the parties exhibit among one another.

Recall that during the 2023 election, INEC moved voting in 141 polling units in Bayelsa State to Sunday after the voting process was interrupted by thugs.

Also on August 15, 2023, thugs invaded, killed, and maimed innocent citizens in Bayelsa State communities, particularly Opu-Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area. On September 18, 2023, the governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Timipre Sylva, and incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party engaged in a war of words over allegations of spying and violence ahead of today’s polls.

Even less than 24 hours to the election, it was reported that a boat conveying INEC officials and materials capsized and one official kidnapped. The Commission also lost election materials to the incident. Responders have alleged that the act was masterminded though the entity involved is still unknown.

INEC said: “We wish to confirm that a boat carrying election personnel to registration area 17 (Koluama) in southern Ijaw LGA capsized,” the statement read.

The abducted official was taken at Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State while waiting to board a boat.

Without an iota of doubt, today’s electoral victory may likely go to the candidate and party that perpetrates the highest level of violence and manipulation as Nigerians believe that INEC, the electoral umpire, has lost all credibility, and is practically irredeemable.

However, it is believed and hoped that the feared Armageddon will not take place for the peace of safety of Nigerians, especially of Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo extracts.

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Just In: PDP Expels Wike, Anyanwu, Fayose, Others

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2025

Eric

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, its suspended National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.

Their expulsion was announced on Saturday at the party’s National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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Discordant Tones As PDP Holds Convention in Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

November 15, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

These are not the best of times for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as two factions of the party are locked up in a war of superiority over the soul of the party even as the much talked about 2027 general elections draw dangerously close.

Slashed into two parts with Umar Damagum and Abdulrahman Mohammed holding each piece as chairman, the PDP continues to swim in troubled waters with no hope of reconciliation of in sight.

The brouhaha notwithstanding, the Demagum faction is poised to hold their advertised and promoted National Convention slated for Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The location is strategic as it is the home state of one of leading governors in the party, Seyi Makinde.

On the other hand, the Mohammed/Anyanwu faction has announced a postponement of the convention, in spite of the arrangements. While political commentators believe that Makinde is behind the Demagum PDP, and Abuja Minister, Nyesom Wike is behind the Mohammed/Anyanwu faction, it has been said the two party godfathers fell out with each other after their infamous G-5 governors romance in 2023.

The hosting of the Ibadan convention is coming on the heels of consistent and conflicting court judgments for and against the convention depending on who filed the case.

On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja, issued what it termed a ‘final’ order stopping the the PDP from proceeding with its 2025 national convention in Ibadan where new national officers are to be elected for the party. The election, ordinarily would have ended the long drawn leadership crisis that has bedeviled the party since the 2023, leading to their loss of the presidential election. Observers have said that since the entire party hierarchy and members are not in support of the convention owing to one reason or another, it becomes obvious that a sort of compromise is involved.

Meanwhile, the Demagum faction has already accused the ruling APC of being the brain behind the crises including the constantly flying about court injunctions restricting the planned convention.

Delivering his judgment on Friday, in a suit filed by former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who had asked the court to bar the PDP from going ahead with the convention until it complies with its constitution and guidelines, Justice Peter Lifu ordered that the Ibadan convention must be put on hold until Mr Lamido is allowed to purchase the nomination form for the office of national chairman and campaign for his aspiration

He also prohibited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring or aiding the convention until Mr Lamido is allowed to participate.

The judge held that the PDP is under a strict obligation to adhere to its own rules and regulations by giving eligible members the opportunity to pursue their individual aspirations. He said it was wrong of the party to deny Mr Lamido the opportunity to purchase the nomination form for the national chairmanship.

He stated that the PDP was in clear breach of its constitution and guidelines by denying some members access to nomination forms for elective offices at the convention.

In an instant counter move, an Ibadan Federal High Court, ruled that the convention should continue as planned, asking the INEC provide monitoring and other facilities required for the smooth conduct of the convention.

It would be recalled that another judge of the same Federal High Court, Abuja, James Omotosho, had on 31 October restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the forthcoming PDP convention. He issued the order while delivering judgement in a different suit challenging the legality of the convention.

The suit was filed by three aggrieved members of the party: Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah George (PDP secretary, South-South).

Mr Omotosho said the PDP failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for holding the convention. He noted that evidence from the electoral umpire and some respondents showed that congresses were not held in some states, in breach of the law.

He also held that notices and correspondences signed by the PDP national chairman without the national secretary violated the law and were therefore null and void.

In addition, the court found that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21 days’ notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC to monitor them. The judge said the party’s failure to comply with the law jeopardised the convention and advised it to take the necessary steps before proceeding with elections.

Mr Lifu had also on 11 November issued an interim injunction restraining the PDP from holding the convention and barring INEC from supervising, monitoring or recognising the outcome of the election of national officers.

He based the restriction on the PDP’s refusal and failure to comply with relevant conditions and laws for conducting conventions. He said evidence from Mr Lamido showed that the timetable for the convention was not published for members as required by law.

The judge said the balance of convenience favoured Mr Lamido because he would suffer more if unlawfully excluded from the convention. He noted that Mr Lamido undertook to pay damages to the PDP if his suit was found frivolous, to ensure remedy.

The judge added that due process must be strictly followed, warning that failure to do so would endanger democracy. He cited section 6 of the 1999 Constitution, saying courts must dispense justice without fear or favour. He warned that anarchy would prevail whenever courts abdicate their constitutionally assigned functions.

But the decisions of the Federal High Court in Abuja rub against another order of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, asking the PDP to proceed with the convention as planned.

The judge, A. L. Akintola, issued the interim order on 3 November following an ex-parte application filed by Folahan Adelabi.

The judge held that the claimant successfully demonstrated the need for urgent judicial intervention in the PDP matter.

“The court finds merit in the claimant’s motion ex-parte. The same succeeds and is hereby ordered as prayed,” the judge ruled.

Mr Adelabi filed the application, joining as respondents the PDP, its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Governor Umaru Fintiri (representing the National Convention Organising Committee); and INEC.

The claimant had urged the court to restrain the defendants from truncating, frustrating, or disrupting the timetable, guidelines, and schedule of activities leading to the convention.

Granting the prayer, the court issued a raft of interim orders restraining any interference with the PDP’s timetable and schedule of activities and compelling the defendants to hold the national convention as fixed.

Presently, arrangements have been concluded for the convention to hold just as all loyalists of the Makinde and Demagum have arrived Ibadan. Though loyalists of the Wike and Anyanwu faction including Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State, have boycotted the convention.

While the convention goes on amid discordant tones, the ball rests on the court of the INEC to recognize the outcome or not. But whichever way one looks at it, this may trigger the beginning of a longer legal tussle.

Additional information: Premium Times

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Tinubu Seeks Transfer of Jailed Ekweremadu Back to Nigeria

Published

6 days ago

November 11, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a strong delegation to London to address the situation of Ike Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Senate President, who has been imprisoned in the UK since March 2023.

The delegation includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

The team arrived in London on Monday and held discussions with officials from the UK’s Ministry of Justice.

Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson for Tuggar, said on Tuesday that the presidential delegation was in London to engage with UK authorities to consider the possibility of Ekweremadu serving the remainder of his prison sentence in Nigeria.

The London Metropolitan Police detained the Ekweremadus in June 2022 after a man was deceitfully presented to a private renal unit at Royal Free Hospital in London as a relative of their daughter Sonia, in what turned out to be a failed attempt to convince medical professionals to perform an £80,000 transplant.

The 21-year-old man, who had allegedly been promised employment in the UK, reported the incident to the police in May of that year, saying that he had been brought to the country for an organ transplant.

In March 2023, the former presiding officer of Nigeria’s Senate was convicted of organ trafficking by a UK court. Beatrice, his wife, and Obinna Obeta, a doctor connected to the case, were also found guilty.

This verdict marked the first of its kind under the UK Modern Slavery Act.

On May 5, 2023, Ekweremadu received a nine-year and eight-month prison sentence, while his wife was sentenced to four years and six months, and Obeta was given a ten-year prison sentence.

In his ruling, Judge Jeremy Johnson determined that Beatrice should serve half of her sentence in custody and be supervised for the remainder. However, she was released from prison in January and has since returned to Nigeria.