Former Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has, again, asked the Independent National Electoral Commission and political actors to ensure that Nigerians are allowed to freely choose their leaders in a free, fair and credible 2027 election.

Cardinal Onaiyekan stated this on Monday in Abuja when he received the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development and the Council of the Wise, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

He urged the electoral umpire and political stakeholders to abide by the rules governing elections and ensure that Nigerians were allowed to freely choose their leaders.

He also called on security agencies to maintain professionalism during the 2027 elections, warning against actions that could create tension or turn the country into a “war zone” because of the polls.

Onaiyekan stated, “There’s not much one can do, but all we can do is to remind people about the basic principles of a free, fair, and credible election.

“I hope that people, both the political gladiators and I hate the word, because gladiators are not very nice actors- political competitors on the field.

“And the umpire, that is the INEC. When I say the political actors, I include the government, because the government has a party that is also in the race. All of them, if they will follow the rules that we have made for ourselves, things will work well.”

On the efforts of the National Peace Committee, Onaiyekan said the committee had done its best to promote peaceful elections, including organising the signing of a peace accord by political actors committing themselves to responsible conduct.

He, however, expressed concern that some political actors had violated such commitments, saying he remained hopeful that the 2027 elections would be better.

Onaiyekan added that Nigeria’s elections had not improved significantly since 1999.

He continued, “I don’t think it has been improving. And if you look, for example, at the voter party figures, it’s not encouraging. Professor Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, has promised us that he’s going to deliver a free, fair, and credible election.

“So, to the INEC chairman, don’t tie your own hand. Do the right thing. The President says you are free. He’s not going to put undue pressure on you to do the wrong thing.

“So everybody must be responsible for what they do. And so there will be no room for people to be looking for excuses for not doing the right thing.

“You don’t need AI to have a free and fair election. We have practical rules. Let them do that. Let Nigerians, for once, there are only once in four years. Let us as individuals talk and take our decision about who rules us. They should allow us to enjoy that right to choose who we want to rule us.”

Speaking during the visit, the Ariwoola-led Council of the Wise urged Onaiyekan to intensify calls on politicians to ensure peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in 2027.

The council also asked politicians to avoid hate speech, rancour and inflammatory statements capable of triggering violence.

The former CJN urged political parties and candidates to abide by their constitutions, codes of conduct and INEC guidelines.

He stated, “Your Eminence, the main purpose of the council’s visit to you is to appreciate the fatherly role you have been playing in Nigeria and to request you to double your efforts in appealing to the Nigerian politicians to always listen to their own wise counsel during the upcoming political campaigns to have peaceful, free, fair and successful 2027 elections.

“It is also important for His Eminence to call on all candidates to ensure that the political campaigns are devoid of rancour, hate speech, inflammatory and unguided utterances capable of instigating violence. Nigeria deserves peaceful, transparent 2027 elections.

“The council will be very grateful if His Eminence would join it in appealing to the leaderships of political parties in Nigeria to always abide by the codes of conduct and constitutions of their respective parties so that they could earn the trust and respect of the electorate.

“It is also important to remind all candidates that as responsible Nigerians who aspire to secure the mandate to lead the country as a whole, exemplary conduct and inspiring attitude are expected from them at all times.

“They should lead in compelling members of their political parties and supporters to fully comply with the electoral laws and guidelines issued by the electoral umpire, to develop a culture of integrity and trust.”

The council comprises prominent Nigerians drawn from the six geopolitical zones and is mandated to engage stakeholders, promote national unity and strengthen democratic governance.

Source: punchng.com

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The Rivers State House of Assembly has backed the bill for the creation of state police in Nigeria.

With its backing, the Assembly joined its counterparts in Osun and Edo in declaring support for the bill.

Recall that the bill was sent to the state Houses of Assembly by the National Assembly for consideration after it was formally transmitted to the Clerk to the National Assembly on September 16, 2026.

Going by Section 9 of the Constitution, at least 24 of the 36 state Houses of Assembly must approve the amendment before it can be sent to the President for assent.

The proposed amendment seeks to create a decentralised policing system, with the Presidential Working Group saying it would bring policing closer to Nigerians by providing safeguards for its operation.

The National Assembly has given the state legislatures a 30-day administrative time frame to consider the bill.

The Rivers Assembly, during plenary on Monday, voted unanimously to approve the proposed alteration of the 1999 Constitution, as forwarded by the National Assembly, to provide a constitutional pathway for the establishment of state police in Nigeria.

The item dominated Monday’s plenary, presided over by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule.

The Speaker said the Assembly fully supports the efforts of President Bola Tinubu to secure the lives and property of citizens through the establishment of state police.

Before putting it to a vote, Amaewhule drew the attention of his colleagues to Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which empowers the National Assembly to alter the Constitution.

He explained that under Section 9(2), such an alteration must be supported by two-thirds of the members of each House of the National Assembly and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the states.

He stated, “As required by the Constitution, our responsibility will be to vote whether or not we approve of the alteration of the Constitution so proposed by the National Assembly.

“No debate is allowed; we will just vote whether we accept or we do not accept.”

The Speaker then presented the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022, explaining that it seeks to create a constitutional pathway for the establishment of State Police Services, subject to the Constitution and to an Act of the National Assembly prescribing national minimum policing standards.

According to him, the bill preserves the Federal Police Service as the default police service in any state until a state police service is lawfully established and certified operational, and retains the continuing federal policing role in every state and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It also establishes constitutional guardrails covering civilian control, human rights, national minimum standards, independent Police Service Commissions, intergovernmental cooperation, criminal information systems, firearms control, and exceptional federal intervention in state policing in cases of breakdown, serious incapacity, national security threat, or egregious abuse.

The Speaker further said the detailed organisation, procedures, operational control, certification, complaints mechanisms, grants, and implementation arrangements are to be left to subsequent Acts of the National Assembly and, where applicable, the laws of the state Houses of Assembly.

Amaewhule noted that the bill contains 26 clauses, including 25 alterations or substitutions to provisions of the Constitution, which he read out to the House.

Following the reading, a vote was taken, with all the lawmakers present indicating support by raising their hands.

Announcing the outcome, the Speaker said the Clerk had counted the votes: 25 members were in favour, none against, and there was no abstention.

“By this vote, the 10th Assembly of Rivers State is fully in support of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Fifth Alteration) Bill, 2022,” the Speaker declared.

He said the Assembly fully supports the Federal Executive Council, headed by President Tinubu, in ensuring that the security of lives and property remains a top priority for all levels of government.

“Anything that needs to be done towards ensuring that our people are properly protected, so that people can move freely, stay in their houses, go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance by anybody or group of persons, will continue to be our top priority,” Amaewhule said.

The Speaker described the introduction of police at the sub-national level to complement the Federal Police as a welcome development.

“We believe in this 10th Assembly of Rivers State that everybody needs to work together.

“We don’t expect that there will be any state assembly that will say no to this particular effort, so that everybody can begin to work in tandem for our people to heave a sigh of relief,” Amaewhule added.

He thanked the lawmakers for casting what he called the right vote after consulting their constituents, noting that Nigerians have for years clamoured for police at the sub-national levels to complement the efforts of the police.

Source: punchng.com

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Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday returned to Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

Shettima departed Abuja on September 20 after the President mandated him to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the annual global gathering.

According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President delivered Tinubu’s national statement at the General Debate, where Nigeria renewed its call for reforms to the United Nations Security Council.

According to the statement, President Tinubu reinforced his call for a more representative and equitable global order.

The statement said, “Nigeria advocated permanent African representation on the council, fairer global financing, stronger climate support and deeper multilateral cooperation.

“At the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Tinubu urged African countries to move beyond exporting raw minerals and focus on processing, manufacturing and value addition.”

At a high-level education financing event co-hosted by Nigeria and Italy, Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to education and supported the Global Partnership for Education’s $5bn financing campaign.

The Vice President described education as “a critical investment in productivity, human capital and national prosperity.”

The statement said Shettima also met with Nigerians in the Diaspora, where he highlighted the importance of their investments, expertise and networks to national development.

It added that the Vice-President also held meetings with the new leadership of the Economic Community of West African States Commission and the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed.

The statement said the engagements focused on development financing, regional integration, economic cooperation, technology, peace and security.

Source: punchng.com

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