INEC Under Fire! Fubara Exposes Alleged Double Standards In Rivers Assembly Crisis

INEC Under Fire! Fubara Exposes Alleged Double Standards In Rivers Assembly Crisis

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed concerns over the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the body of failing to uphold constitutional provisions regarding political defections…….READ MORE 

Speaking as a special guest at the sixth annual Freedom Online lecture, themed “Nigeria’s Socio-Political Challenges: Whose Fault, the Leaders or the Led?”, Fubara criticized INEC’s selective enforcement of the law, particularly regarding lawmakers who defected from the parties under which they were elected.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission has failed to uphold the law concerning political defections. According to the constitution, lawmakers who defect from the party on whose platform they were elected should lose their seats,” Fubara stated through his representative, former Rivers State Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru.

He further accused INEC of bias, stating, “INEC’s selective approach to enforcing this law raises serious questions about its neutrality. When institutions fail to act decisively, democracy suffers.”

Fubara’s remarks come amid ongoing controversy involving 27 lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023. These lawmakers, who are loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, defected at the height of the political crisis between Wike and Fubara, causing a deep division within the Assembly.

While four lawmakers remained loyal to Fubara, the defectors called on INEC to conduct by-elections to replace them. However, INEC maintained that the issue was still in court.

Speaking at the event, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, demanded the immediate removal of INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, arguing that credible electoral reforms are necessary for Nigeria’s democracy to thrive.

Adams criticized Yakubu for overseeing two general elections marred by irregularities, insisting that his continued stay in office benefits politicians who manipulate the electoral process.

“If we want credible elections in this country, we must demand the immediate removal of the INEC chairman. I don’t believe anything good can come from him anymore,” Adams said.

“It is unprecedented in our history for an INEC chairman to conduct three presidential elections. There must be an ulterior motive—perhaps some politicians want to keep using him to their advantage,” he added.

The chairman of the occasion, Olabode George, also addressed the debate surrounding former Military President Ibrahim Babangida’s memoir, particularly his admission of an error in annulling the June 12, 1993, election.

George advised Nigerians to move beyond the controversy and allow scholars of political science and history to analyze Babangida’s actions based on his own account.

He lamented that despite multiple democratic transitions since June 12, 1993, Nigeria still struggles with governance and development.

During discussions on the event’s theme, Prof. Akinyemi Onigbinde argued that the real issue in Nigerian politics is not merely a divide between leaders and followers but rather the monetization of politics.

He noted that many politicians neglect governance because elections have become transactional, with votes being bought rather than earned.

Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, reinforced this perspective, warning that money-driven politics has weakened democracy. She accused both INEC and the judiciary of being used as tools for political manipulation, calling for urgent reforms.

Similarly, former Minister of Police Affairs, Omoniyi Olubolade, urged Nigerian leaders to prioritize good governance, stressing the need for transparency and a firm commitment to fighting corruption.

“Nigerians must speak out against incompetent leadership,” Olubolade said, emphasizing that only accountability can restore public trust in governance.

The event was attended by several notable figures, including:

• Former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel
• 2023 Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo
• President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba
• President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, Maureen Chigbo
• Former Editor of The PUNCH, Najeem Jimoh
• Director of Public Affairs at the Lagos Ministry of Information and Strategy, Segun Ogundeji