Politics
BAYELSA GOVERNOR DOUYE DIRI URGES NIGER DELTA WOMEN TO REJECT SECOND-CLASS CITIZEN STATUS, ADVOCATES FULL POLITICAL INCLUSION OVER SPECIAL SEATS
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has admonished women to prioritize their full inclusion in politics over agitation for special seats in the National Assembly. This was contained in a press statement made available to media and signed by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Dan Alabrah.
In a statement, Dan Alabrah quoted the governor as making the admonition on Tuesday during the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) women conference in Yenagoa, the state capital. The Bayelsa governor also urged women across the region to demand total freedom to participate in politics because they do not deserve to be treated as second-class citizens.
His words: “I was told that the British High Commission is a major sponsor of this programme. I had the opportunity of meeting with the Deputy High Commissioner when she visited Bayelsa last week, and we discussed women participation in politics. She believes that the agitation for special seats for women in the National Assembly is good. While I agreed with her, in part, as a temporary solution, I however largely disagree with the idea. My point is, I do not want our women to be treated as second-class citizens.”
Governor Diri drew a comparison with other nations to bolster his argument for equal participation. “The women in Britain do not have special seats in parliament just as in America. The system flows and recognises them, and they participate fully in politics. Nobody talks about special seats or women being under-privileged there. We can do it in Nigeria. Our women are very intelligent and are active in politics. They are also very active in various professions. So, why are we asking for special considerations for them?”
He emphasized that Nigerian women are capable of competing on a level playing field. “Women across the world participate and become members of parliament, governors and presidents. Nigeria should not be an exception. Our structure is wrong. There is a structural deficiency in Nigeria. Here we have women that are professors, doctors, engineers, and lawyers even in the Niger Delta. I just celebrated my daughter of 26 years with a Ph.D in law. Women should ask for their freedom and I encourage you not to accept the second-class citizens treatment in this country.”
Governor Diri recounted efforts to get more women integrated in politics of the state. “In Bayelsa, I have consciously tried to bring in more women into governance either in the state executive or the House of Assembly. In 2023, I thought we would have about five women in the assembly but when we went for the election, only two succeeded. So, I know what you are facing and I am happy that you are coming together. Sometime, the problem is even women versus women. My dear women of Niger Delta, I will always support you and encourage you as governor of this state.”
Dan Alabrah further noted in the statement that earlier, the PANDEF National Women Leader, Rev. (Mrs.) Grace Ekong, said women require education, skills, experience, and exposure to actively participate in politics. She charged them not to be passive as they have significant roles to play in societal development.
“As women, wherever you are, you should contribute. Participate and contribute intelligently, constructively and positively for the development of this region. Be educated and encourage your children to be educated so that they can be appointed into political positions and be part of what is going on in this country and our region. Our region needs infrastructure and development. We need that connectivity and protection of our environment so future generation will have where to live and work. This region provides the wealth of this country and how many women from the Niger Delta region are part of the politics of this country?”
The event had in attendance former First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Patience Jonathan, Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, PANDEF National Chairman, Dr. Boladei Igali, and several women groups from across the Niger Delta, according to the statement signed by Dan Alabrah.
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has pledged to at least double the votes secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election during the 2027 general elections.
The party also emphasised the need to reciprocate the support given by Tinubu, whom it credited with creating political platforms for members across the board to thrive, as well as driving monumental development through the creation of additional council areas in the state.
The State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, gave the assurance during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected state executives held at the party secretariat in Acme, Ogba, Lagos. Ojelabi said the executives were assuming office at a critical time as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections and the emergence of its candidates.
According to him, all eyes are on the new leadership, and the key question is whether they will strengthen the party’s achievements and sustain its dominance since 1999. He called for unity of purpose among party leaders, urging them to set aside factional interests and work collectively for the overall success of the party at the polls.
The APC chairman also advised members of the executive council to regularly attend ward and local government meetings, stressing that the party must operate as one family in order to secure victory in 2027. Ojelabi further assured that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, would provide an enabling environment to boost the party’s performance in the forthcoming elections.
Meanwhile, 37 executive members of the party were endorsed during the recently conducted State Congress held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
Politics
NNPP Condemns Move to Impeach Kano Deputy Governor, Describes It as Attack on People’s Mandate
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has strongly condemned the move by the Kano State House of Assembly to impeach the state’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, describing the action as a politically motivated attempt to undermine the mandate freely given by voters.
In a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, said the development reflects what he described as desperate tactics by political actors determined to wrest control of the state through means other than the ballot box.
Johnson alleged that the deputy governor was being targeted because of his refusal to abandon the party and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing some political figures of betraying the mandate given to the NNPP by the people of Kano State during the 2023 elections.
According to him, the impeachment process being initiated in the state assembly is a calculated move aimed at facilitating what he termed a political takeover of the state’s mandate by the APC.
“This is not just about one individual. What we are witnessing is an attempt to undermine the will of the people of Kano who voted for the NNPP,” Johnson said, adding that the party views the process as a political manoeuvre disguised as a constitutional procedure.
The NNPP reaffirmed its support for the deputy governor and the electorate in Kano State, insisting that the mandate given to the party in the 2023 Nigerian general election remains valid for the four-year term.
The party also urged residents of the state to remain calm despite what it described as a major provocation.
Johnson further warned that political actors involved in what he termed the subversion of the electorate’s mandate would ultimately be held accountable by voters in future elections.
He stressed that while legislators may wield authority within the assembly, the ultimate power rests with the people through the ballot box.
“The NNPP remains firm and undeterred,” the statement concluded.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has raised serious concerns over certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that political parties may boycott the 2027 general elections if the National Assembly fails to amend what it described as problematic sections of the law.
The warning was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the IPAC General Assembly meeting held on February 26 at the council’s national secretariat in Abuja.
In the statement jointly signed by IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf M. Dantalle, and National Secretary, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, the council acknowledged the efforts made in enacting the Electoral Act 2026, which was intended to address shortcomings observed in the Electoral Act 2022. However, it expressed concern that some provisions in the new law could undermine the development of political parties and weaken Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
According to IPAC, certain sections of the Act are inconsistent with its guiding objective of deepening democracy in Nigeria and may limit the constitutional rights of political parties to manage their internal affairs.
One of the council’s major objections is the exclusion of indirect primaries under Section 84(2) of the Act. IPAC argued that the removal of indirect primaries infringes on the constitutional right of political parties to determine how they select candidates for elections.
The council stressed that judicial precedents in Nigeria have consistently affirmed the autonomy of political parties in administering their internal affairs, including the process of nominating candidates.
IPAC also recalled its role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process during the tense period surrounding the collation of results in the 2023 presidential election, when it said the council resisted attempts by some actors to disrupt the democratic order.
Given the current situation, IPAC said it would draw the attention of Nigerians and the international community—including the United Nations, the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and diplomatic missions such as the United States and United Kingdom embassies—to its concerns.
The council maintained that urgent amendments to the Electoral Act are necessary to ensure that the 2027 general elections are free, fair, credible, and inclusive. It also stated that it reserves the right to challenge some provisions of the Act in court.
IPAC warned that if the National Assembly fails to address the identified issues, political parties under its umbrella may boycott the 2027 general elections and reject the outcome as illegitimate.
Among the key areas IPAC wants amended is the restoration of indirect primaries, which it said should remain an option for political parties in selecting candidates.
The council also called for the removal of the requirement for party members to provide their National Identification Number (NIN), arguing that the provision could disenfranchise many Nigerians who do not yet possess the identification number.
It further demanded the expungement of Sections 77(4), (5), (6), and (7) of the Act, stating that the provisions infringe on citizens’ constitutional right to freedom of association.
Another major demand is the restoration of mandatory electronic transmission of election results after their announcement at polling units. IPAC noted that the absence of this provision was a major flaw during the 2023 presidential election and should not be repeated.
The council also advocated stronger penalties for vote buying, describing it as one of the most serious electoral malpractices that undermine the credibility of elections.
In addition, IPAC called for the restoration of the presentation of forged certificates as grounds for election petitions. According to the council, removing this provision creates an opportunity for individuals with questionable credentials to hold public office and undermines the integrity of the democratic process.
It urged the National Assembly to align the Electoral Act with constitutional provisions that disqualify individuals with forged credentials from holding elective offices, warning that failure to do so could lead to avoidable legal disputes and damage Nigeria’s democratic image.