Politics
Anambra Guber Poll: INEC charges Security Agencies to sustain Ondo positive election model
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has issued a strong charge to security agencies, emphasizing the need to replicate the success recorded in the Ondo State Governorship election in the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship poll scheduled for November 8, 2025.
Speaking at the first quarterly meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for the year 2025, held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, on Tuesday Prof. Yakubu underscored the critical role of security agencies in ensuring seamless, peaceful, and credible elections.
“We must replicate the happy experience of Ondo State in the forthcoming elections; we cannot lower the standards,” he stated firmly.
The INEC Chairman highlighted that the Ondo Governorship election provided a template for future elections due to the enhanced coordination in the deployment of security and electoral officials.
This, he noted, contributed significantly to the early commencement of polls and the overall peaceful conduct of the election, even in challenging terrains such as riverine areas.
“We should continue to give Nigerians a happy experience on Election Day and beyond,” Prof. Yakubu added, stressing the need for synergy among stakeholders to ensure a well-coordinated electoral process in Anambra State.
The Anambra election will see voting take place in 5,720 polling units across 21 Local Government Areas, requiring robust security deployment and logistical planning.
Beyond the Anambra election, INEC is also preparing for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election, slated for February 21, 2026, alongside multiple bye-elections to fill vacant legislative seats across the country.
In this regard, Prof. Yakubu assured security agencies that detailed operational guidelines, including terrain analysis and security assessments, would be provided to facilitate efficient planning and deployment.
A major concern raised during the meeting was the issue of vote buying, which remains a threat to the credibility of elections.
Prof. Yakubu acknowledged the proactive efforts of law enforcement agencies, particularly anti-graft bodies, in combating this menace.
He urged for sustained collaboration to ensure that offenders face the full weight of the law. “Beyond the arrest of vote buyers on Election Day, our active partnership has so far resulted in the successful prosecution of some offenders in three States. We must build on this momentum,” he noted.
On his part, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Co-Chairman of ICCES, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, acknowledged the improvements in election security witnessed during the Edo and Ondo off-cycle governorship elections.
According to him, the seamless cooperation among security agencies enabled swift responses to incidents that could have otherwise disrupted the polls.
Represented by the Director of Internal Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Hassan Yahaya Abdullahi, the NSA cited the deployment of advanced security technology, including drones and enhanced communication systems, as key factors that contributed to a smoother electoral process.
“The lessons learned from the Edo and Ondo elections will be vital in refining security strategies ahead of the Anambra Governorship election and other forthcoming polls,” he assured.
While acknowledging that voter turnout in Edo and Ondo was not as high as anticipated, Mallam Ribadu commended the generally peaceful conduct of voters.
He noted, however, that some polling units experienced delays due to logistical constraints. Moving forward, he emphasized that these challenges would be addressed to ensure a more efficient electoral process in Anambra and beyond.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to ensuring adequate security during elections across the country.
Represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Abayomi Sogunle, the IGP assured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the police’s dedication to maintaining peace and protecting electoral materials and officials before, during, and after elections.
He added that the deployment of a Commissioner of Police to oversee Election Planning and Monitoring underscored the Force’s strategic approach to election security.
He emphasized the need for continued collaboration between the police and other security agencies to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Politics
How former governor, Senator Ben Ayade of Cross River State Sabotaged President Tinubu during Presidential Primaries in 2022
Ayade Knowing he had no chance to win the 2022 APC presidential primary,allegedly decided to extort money from other aspirants ,falsely promising to step down for them.
He then shortchanged Cross River delegates, keeping most of the funds for himself while giving them a paltry sum.
He arrogantly told delegates to ignore “deep pocket” candidates and vote for him instead, based on his intellect, a clear attempt to undermine President Tinubu
Again funds provided by the party/presidential campaign for Cross River State were never used for their intended purpose , instead, Ayade donated part of those funds to an opposition candidate,simply because he believed the late former President supported another candidate and not Tinubu.
This was not just disloyalty; it is active financial sabotage.
It was this action by Ayade that directly Caused President Tinubu to Lose Cross River State
Despite the President’s national victory, Ayade’s betrayal, withholding resources, diverting money to rivals, and running a self-interested delegate strategy, ensured that Cross River did not deliver for Tinubu.
The result: the President lost a state he should have been competitive in, purely because of Ayade’s greed and ego.
Ayade lost the 2023 Senate election to Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe even while he was sitting governor, an almost unheard-of defeat that proves his utter rejection by Cross River North voters.
Yet instead of accepting responsibility, he blames Governor Otu and Senator Godswill Akpabio for his own failure. That is classic deflection.
It’s not about Governor Otu or Akpabio’s influence. Ayade’s untrustworthiness stands on its own:
· He defrauded fellow aspirants.
· He stole from the President’s campaign.
· He actively worked against the President’s interest in his own state.
· He lost his own election and now scapegoats others.
Any President, looking at these facts, would conclude that Ayade is a liability, not an ally. The blackmailed attempts won’t change the record. Ayade has already been rejected by his people and rightly, by anyone who values loyalty and integrity in politics.
Ayade stop the blackmail against Governor Otu. He is in charge of Cross River State. He has achieved what you couldn’t achieve in 8 years, in less than 3 years .
Ayade’s albatross is no one else but himself.
Ekpenyong NSA . APC CHIEFTAIN and public affairs analyst in Cross River State
Politics
ADC Verdict: A Defining Moment for Unity and Democratic Stability
ADC Verdict: A Defining Moment for Unity and Democratic Stability.
By HallowMace Foundation Africa
At HallowMace, we view the recent judgment delivered by the Supreme Court as more than just a legal resolution, it is a critical intervention that has preserved the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process and averted a looming political crisis in Nigeria.
From our standpoint as a platform committed to democratic values, good governance, accountability, and Parliamentary advocacy, this ruling stands as a powerful reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role as the ultimate stabilizer in moments of political uncertainty.
At a time when internal divisions within the ADC had reached a boiling point, threatening both party cohesion and broader democratic confidence, the Supreme Court stepped in with clarity, authority, and finality.
This is what a functioning democracy should look like.
Beyond Judgment: The Burden of Leadership.
However, while the court has provided a pathway forward, the responsibility of consolidation now rests squarely on the shoulders of political leadership. At HallowMace, we strongly urge the party’s executive leadership under David Mark to recognize the weight of this moment and act decisively.
This is not a time for quiet celebration, it is a time for deliberate reconciliation.
The fractures within the ADC, though significant, are not beyond repair. What is required now is intentional bridge-building: engaging aggrieved factions, fostering open dialogue, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to inclusivity.
A reconciliatory framework anchored on trust, fairness, and collective interest must be urgently established.
Anything short of this risks undermining the very relief that this judgment has provided.
2027 in Focus: Unity as Strategy, Not Slogan.
Looking ahead, the 2027 general elections are no longer distant, they are approaching with increasing political momentum. For the ADC, this ruling offers a rare opportunity to reset, reorganize, and reposition.
But let’s be clear, electoral success will not be built on legal victories alone.
At HallowMace, we believe that unity must move beyond rhetoric and become a strategic foundation. A divided party cannot inspire national confidence, nor can it effectively challenge entrenched political structures. If the ADC is to emerge as a credible force, it must first put its internal house in order.
This means strengthening grassroots structures, harmonizing leadership interests, and articulating a clear, people-centered vision that resonates with Nigerians across all demographics.
A Moment That Must Not Be Wasted.
This is a defining moment not just for the ADC, but for Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. The Supreme Court has done its part in safeguarding constitutional order. What follows now will determine whether this intervention translates into lasting political progress or becomes yet another missed opportunity.
At HallowMace, we maintain that history often remembers not just the crises a system faces, but how its leaders respond in moments of resolution.
The path forward is clear: unity, responsibility, and strategic action.
Nigeria is watching.
The world is watching.
Amb. Anderson Osiebe
Executive Director
HallowMace Foundation Africa
Politics
Shun Armed Struggle Against Nigerian Govt, Akpabio Pleads with Igbo Youth
By Our Correspondent
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio at the weekend pleaded with the people of the South East, the Ndigbo, to continue to maintain peace in the country and guide the youth appropriately to shun Armed struggle against the Nigerian government.
Akpabio made the appeal while at the funeral of the former Administrative Secretary of the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission(OMPADEC), Sir Albert Ikechukwu Nnamani who was buried on Saturday in his home town at Ikem in Enugu State.
Akpabio said development is feasible only in atmosphere of peace and urged the Ndigbo to watch over the youth with a view to guiding them appropriately.
Akpabio said: “For Ndigbo, l want to plead with you to continue to maintain the peace and watch the youth of today. They don’t understand politics. They don’t understand development. You can only have development in an area of peace.
“A situation whereby you try to wrestle power and try to assert independence through armed struggle from the Federal Government will fail. The state power will always overwhelm you.
“We are prepared as a parliament, to make the right laws, to tinker with the Act, to dot the i’s and cross the t’s in order for Ndigbo to have, at least, an additional state. So that, they will also be equal to the other zones of the country. So for this, is the promise that we make and we stand by that.
“The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very eager to right the wrong of the past. That is why even in terms of appointment, he has done his best to ensure that Ndigbo is not marginalised. But everything you want should be negotiated.
“I’m saying this to underscore the fact that through peaceful means and negotiation, we shall get our right of place in Nigeria. I want this to happen in your life time. May we not lose our youth because of wrong politics and wrong advice. May we not lose our youth because of disaffection and people misleading them.
“We need solid base in Ndigbo land. I am not happy that the economy of Onitsha and Nigeria is affected by the so called sit at home. It has affected your economy so badly.
“Ndigbo are known for nothing but enterprise. When we came out from the war, all your accounts were frozen. If you have two million pounds, they gave you three pounds. What will you do with three pounds.
“So when l was given an award in 2010 by Silverbird. I saw all the gladiators sitted together. Then I asked them: how come the so called three Rs – Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction – that Reconstruction happened in other areas of the country where the war was not fought.
“But in the area of the South-South and South East where Biafra war was fought, there was no reconstruction. They only tried reconciliation and rehabilitation. That R (Reconstruction) was missing.”
Akpabio said the Nigerian past leaders at the event were not comfortable with his speech. He however ended his speech by saying it was time for Nigeria to do justice and prayed “that justice shall be done to Ndigbo in our life time in Jesus Name.”
Akpabio paid glowing tribute to the former OMPADEC administrator that was buried stressing that “as administrative secretary of the former OMPADEC, he discharged his duty with dignity and with candour and he set the tone for the development of the Niger Delta region.
“Before his ascension into that position, many use to say that so much is being promised the people of the Niger Delta and that all the promises were in the pipeline. After a while, our people started breaking the pipelines in order to bring out the Federal Government promises. But those things are now things of the past.”
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