By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed that democracy remains the most effective system of government for Nigeria, given the country’s rich diversity of ethnic, religious, and cultural identities.

In a goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, in a statement signed by his Chief, Onwuka Nzeshi, Governor Fubara said June 12 represents far more than a historic date; as it embodies the enduring struggle, sacrifice, and collective aspiration of Nigerians for freedom, justice, and representative governance.

The Governor extended warm felicitations to Nigerians at home and across the Diaspora, paying tribute to the heroes and heroines of the democratic struggle, particularly Chief MKO Abiola, his wife, Kudirat Abiola, and countless others whose courage and sacrifices helped secure the democratic freedoms Nigerians enjoy today.

According to him:

“June 12 is a reminder of the price paid for the democracy we enjoy today. The sacrifices made by Chief MKO Abiola, Kudirat Abiola, and many other patriots who laid the foundation for the democratic journey we continue to enjoy today. Their commitment to the principle that power must ultimately reside with the people remains a source of inspiration for every generation of Nigerians.”

Governor Fubara noted that thirty-three years after the historic June 12, 1993 election, Nigeria’s democratic experiment has continued to evolve despite challenges and setbacks.

“Our democratic journey has not been without difficulties, but the resilience of our institutions and the determination of our people have kept the nation moving forward. The ability to express differing opinions, engage in constructive debate, and peacefully choose leaders through the ballot remains one of the greatest achievements of our nation,” he said.

Governor Fubara stressed that democracy provides the best framework for managing Nigeria’s diversity and transforming it into a source of national strength.

“Nigeria’s diversity should never be seen as a weakness. Properly harnessed, it is our greatest asset. Democracy offers us the opportunity to build consensus, promote inclusion, strengthen national unity, and create the conditions for sustainable development and shared prosperity,” he said.

Governor Fubara commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing efforts aimed at economic revitalization, strengthening security, and deepening democratic institutions across the country.

He reiterated the readiness of Rivers State to continue partnering with the Federal Government in advancing policies and programmes that improve the lives of citizens through infrastructure development, job creation, enhanced security, quality education, healthcare delivery, and good governance.

The Governor further called on Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, ethnic background, or religious belief, to use the occasion of Democracy Day to renew their commitment to the Nigerian project and the ideals that underpin democratic governance.

“Democracy must not be viewed merely as a periodic electoral exercise. It must be reflected in our daily commitment to accountability, transparency, tolerance, justice, respect for the rule of law, and responsible leadership. As citizens and leaders, we all share a collective responsibility to strengthen our democracy and build a nation that future generations will be proud to inherit,” he said.

Governor Fubara expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future, urging citizens to remain united, hopeful, and committed to the values of peace, dialogue, and national development.

“Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more prosperous Nigeria where every citizen has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national progress,” he said.

By George Mgbeleke

The Senate on Wednesday debated a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele seeking to preserve the institutional authority of the upper chamber, ensure compliance with the Legislative Houses’ Powers and Privileges Act, and safeguard fair hearing, due process, and parliamentary impartiality in oversight proceedings.

Bamidele told his colleagues that Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution confer investigative and oversight powers on the National Assembly and its committees for lawmaking, accountability, transparency, and good governance.

He added that the Legislative Houses’ Powers and Privileges Act, Laws of the Federation 2004, provides the legal framework for compelling witness attendance.

He noted that Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Act specifically vest authority to issue warrants compelling witness attendance on the presiding officer of the House, which in the Senate is the President of the Senate, not on committees acting independently.

The motion was prompted by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts’ reported resolution to issue or recommend a warrant of arrest against Mele Kyari, former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, over alleged failure to honour committee invitations.

Bamidele also drew attention to comments attributed to Senator Adams Oshiomhole during deliberations, describing NNPC Limited as “a bunch of criminals and thieves.” He said such remarks could convey criminal culpability before any lawful investigation or court determination.

The Senate Leader stressed that as an institution created by the Constitution, the Senate must at all times conduct proceedings according to natural justice, fairness, objectivity, parliamentary decorum, and respect for the rule of law.

He argued that while the Senate has extensive oversight powers, they must not create the appearance of bias, prejudice, or predetermined conclusions about any person or institution under investigation.

Bamidele reminded the chamber that NNPC Limited, incorporated under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, remains a strategic national energy institution in which the Federation holds ownership interest on behalf of Nigerians.

He warned that unclarified statements could be misconstrued as the Senate’s official position and undermine public confidence in the impartiality of ongoing oversight involving NNPCL and its former management.

The motion noted that the power to issue a warrant affecting a citizen’s liberty is extraordinary and must be exercised strictly according to law. Legislative investigations, he said, are meant to aid oversight and lawmaking, not substitute criminal prosecution or judicial determination.

Bamidele observed that compliance with due process strengthens rather than weakens the Senate’s authority, dignity, and credibility.

He expressed concern that committees issuing warrants independently could expose proceedings to avoidable legal challenges and diminish public confidence.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senators Tahir Monguno, Abba Moro, Adamu Aliero, and Orji Uzor Kalu backed the motion.

They stressed that committees must follow constitutional provisions and Senate rules, and that public statements must not prejudice investigations or damage NNPCL’s reputation and Nigeria’s investment climate.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole defended his remarks, saying he acted under provocation after NNPCL officials allegedly attacked the integrity of senators and claimed over ₦210 trillion was unaccounted for according to NNPC-appointed auditors.

He insisted he did not move the warrant motion and acknowledged only the Senate President could issue warrants.

After debate, the Senate resolved that warrant-issuing authority rests exclusively with the Senate President, no committee shall issue warrants without his approval, and the Senate dissociates itself from Oshiomhole’s “criminals and thieves” comment.

It also reaffirmed fair hearing and presumption of innocence, urged restraint in public statements, directed strict adherence to the Constitution and the Act, and discountenanced the Public Accounts Committee’s purported warrant against Kyari dated June 10, 2026.

The chamber further adopted additional prayers urging all persons appearing before Senate committees to conduct themselves with respect, and called for further examination of issues connected with the alleged ₦210 trillion unaccounted funds.

In his remarks,Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed a meeting with the Public Accounts Committee next week to address the matter.

By Our Correspondent

As preparations for 2027 general elections, gathers momentum,Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has warned Nigerians against vote buying and other forms of electoral inducement, describing the growing monetisation of the political process as a major threat to democratic governance and national development.

Olukoyede issued the warning on Wednesday while delivering the inaugural lecture of the High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, where he called for a collective national effort to ensure peaceful, credible and transparent elections in 2027.

Speaking on the theme, “Mobilising Critical Stakeholders for Setting the Agenda for Peaceful and Credible 2027 Elections in Nigeria,” the EFCC boss said the Commission remained committed to combating electoral corruption, particularly vote buying, vote selling and other forms of financial influence that compromise the integrity of elections.

According to him, the commercialisation of the electoral process weakens democratic institutions by distorting the political recruitment process and producing leaders who are more concerned with recovering campaign expenditures than delivering good governance.

“The EFCC is opposed to commercialisation of votes not only because it is a financial crime, but because it weakens the foundation of good governance by compromising the political recruitment process.

“Leaders who pay their way into public office are unlikely to prioritise public good and accountability. Rather, recouping their investments becomes the overarching objective, to the detriment of the common good,” he said.

Olukoyede disclosed that the anti-graft agency had secured several arrests, prosecutions and convictions involving politicians, electoral officials and citizens linked to vote-buying schemes in recent years.

He assured Nigerians that the Commission would intensify surveillance and enforcement measures ahead of the next general elections.

He stressed that electoral offences involving financial inducement would continue to attract prosecution regardless of the status of those involved.

The EFCC chairman also raised concerns about the evolving nature of electoral corruption, noting that perpetrators have adopted increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection.

According to him, vote buying is no longer limited to cash exchanges at polling units, as some political actors now rely on coded communications, covert transactions and off-site arrangements to influence voters before election day.

“Vote buying manifests not just through financial inducement of voters but also through other material and commodity offers. Investigations are pointing to the fact that some of these criminal activities are no longer being carried out in the open.

“They are not even being done on election days. Codes are being used covertly, and linkages are being established with voters outside the electoral framework in a bid to influence them,” he said.

Olukoyede said the Commission was fully aware of these emerging tactics and was strengthening its capacity to detect and disrupt such schemes in order to protect the integrity of future elections.

He identified stronger collaboration among stakeholders, strict enforcement of electoral laws, issue-based political campaigns, responsible media engagement, professional security operations and effective conflict-resolution mechanisms as critical requirements for credible elections.

The anti-corruption chief urged political parties to reject vote buying and embrace decency in political campaigns, warning that inflammatory rhetoric and divisive politics had contributed significantly to electoral violence in previous election cycles.

He also challenged media organisations to play a more active role in exposing vote-buying networks and other forms of electoral corruption, while calling on security agencies to remain neutral and professional throughout the electoral process.

According to him, coordinated security planning and proactive deployment of resources would help minimise electoral risks and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.

Earlier, Director of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, G. A. Animasawun, said the lecture series was designed to create a platform for identifying and addressing threats to Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.

He noted that the Centre intends to move beyond academic discussions by promoting practical solutions capable of strengthening electoral integrity, peace and national security.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, described electoral corruption as a major national security concern and called for stronger institutional collaboration to tackle electoral malpractice.

Egbewole commended the EFCC’s preventive approach to combating electoral corruption and proposed a strategic partnership between the Commission and the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies to advance research, training and policy development on the relationship between electoral corruption and national security.