On November 11, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted off-season elections in three states, as reported by DAILY POST. The increasing frequency of off-season elections in Nigeria has become a cause for concern among various stakeholders. This trend gained momentum following the Supreme Court’s decision to remove Chris Ngige, who contested the 2003 Governorship election in Anambra State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring Peter Obi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner.
Presently, Nigeria has eight off-season governorship elections, including Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, and Imo states, each with distinct election timetables. Imo State deviated from the regular election cycle after the Supreme Court nullified Emeka Ihedioha’s victory in the 2019 governorship election, subsequently declaring Hope Uzodinma as the governor.
The origin of off-season elections in Bayelsa State dates back to 2007, triggered by the nullification of Timipre Sylva’s victory, the PDP governorship candidate, due to a legal challenge by Ebitimi Amgbare of the Action Congress of Nigeria. Ondo State experienced a similar deviation when the court invalidated Olusegun Agagu’s re-election in 2007, leading to the emergence of Olusegun Mimiko as the governor in 2009.
Kogi, Edo, Osun, and Ekiti states also witnessed off-season elections due to legal disputes arising from governorship polls during general elections. Notably, eight months after the 2023 general elections, INEC conducted off-season elections in Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa, with an estimated budget of N18 billion, including substantial expenses on security to safeguard the electoral process.
Some Nigerians expressed concerns about alleged irregularities in the November 11 governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi, suggesting that conducting these elections during the general elections might have prevented such issues.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on November 11, called for an end to the practice of off-season elections, expressing worries that it might extend to presidential elections in the future. Several stakeholders, including Atiku Bagudu and Alhaji Yerima Shettima, supported the idea of enacting legislation to mandate the judiciary to resolve all electoral matters before the inauguration of elected officials.
Dr. Onome Anthony of the Labour Party emphasized the need for a law requiring the resolution of electoral matters before the swearing-in, arguing that it would prevent challenges faced in the 2023 presidential election.
National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, highlighted the potential benefits of such a law, including enhanced stability, continuity of governance, and efficient resource allocation. However, he acknowledged the challenge of ensuring timely resolution of electoral matters.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria supported the idea of stopping off-season elections through legislation. Still, he expressed skepticism about the current National Assembly’s willingness to pass such a law, citing perceived self-interest and lack of patriotism among its members.
Onwubiko suggested that addressing the root cause of election fraud, such as corrupt practices within INEC, and establishing an Election Crimes Commission with special courts, would be crucial in ensuring transparent and accountable electoral processes in Nigeria.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reported that a joint operation involving Nigerian military troops and Department of State Services (DSS) operatives resulted in the elimination of 52 terrorists and the apprehension of a leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Bauchi State.
The ISWAP leader was captured in a sting operation at Tarum, a village outside Bauchi Metropolis, as disclosed by Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, in a statement on Friday.
While the DHQ did not disclose the name of the arrested ISWAP leader, it revealed that the individual held a significant role in the North Central and North West zones.
The military high command emphasized that targeting terrorist leadership is crucial in ensuring the safety and security of citizens, with ongoing operations consistently diminishing the fighting force and capacity of these groups.
Maj.-Gen. Buba noted that Nigerian Air Force airstrikes played a key role in destroying terrorist leaders’ enclaves in the North West and North Central zones in the past week.
The week’s operations resulted in the neutralization of 52 terrorists, the arrest of 204 individuals associated with terrorism, and the rescue of 234 kidnapped hostages. Additionally, in the South-South zone, troops recovered stolen crude oil and illegal refined products, destroyed various equipment and sites used for illegal activities, and seized a substantial amount of weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and other items associated with criminal operations.
Solomon Arase, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, has expressed distress regarding the escalating violence against security personnel, particularly police officers, in the South East region.
The former Inspector General of Police highlighted the growing number of police officers’ wives becoming widows due to attacks by gunmen in the area. In a statement by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, Arase conveyed his apprehension during a courtesy visit by leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, in Abuja.
Arase emphasized that it’s essential to communicate to the assailants that the police are not their adversaries and have committed no wrongdoing. He lamented the loss of numerous serving officers in the South East, urging the perpetrators to recognize the police as friends and cease making widows out of officers’ wives, who are essentially their sisters.
Furthermore, Arase assured that the Commission has addressed the perceived marginalization of the South East in police representation nationwide.
Elder Onwu Arua, the leader of the Ohanaeze delegation, expressed concern about the lack of interest among people in the South East regarding the ongoing police recruitment exercise. He urged the Police Service Commission to devise strategies to address this issue.
On Friday, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) alleged that Governor Peter Mba was facing pressure from “Aso Rock” to discredit the Supreme Court ahead of the judgment on its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, scheduled for December 15. IPOB based this claim on Mba’s characterization of the group as a proscribed organization, a statement he made after visiting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
IPOB cautioned the governor against making a “costly mistake” by using the group’s name to gain favor from Tinubu’s administration. In a statement by Powerful, a spokesperson for IPOB, it was emphasized that Mba’s comments were deemed reckless and unguarded. The statement alleged that Mba, under pressure from the federal government, accused IPOB of being responsible for the sit-at-home protest and insecurity in the Southeast.
The statement pointed out that Mba had previously condemned Simon Ekpa, who was associated with the enforcement of the Monday sit-at-home. IPOB expressed skepticism about the governor’s motives and suggested that his statements were influenced by the Tinubu administration.
IPOB urged the public to dismiss the governor’s remarks, describing him as a “cowardly governor” making unfounded accusations. The statement reminded Mba that IPOB is not easily intimidated and warned against attempting to use the group’s name for political advantage.
The statement concluded by calling on the Nigerian Supreme Court Justices not to succumb to blackmail, urging the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who was acquitted by the Court of Appeal. IPOB reiterated its commitment to the cause of self-determination and emphasized that the movement would not yield to blackmail or pressure.
