Politics
INEC, police identify flashpoints ahead of Ondo poll
Ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday, met behind closed doors with security agencies in the state, under the auspices of the Inter-Agencies Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Before going into the meeting, Yakubu said there was a need to plan ahead to ensure a successful poll.
Yakubu said there was no foreseeable threat ahead but “all the flashpoints have been identified, including the types of threats across the 18 local government areas.”
No fewer than 16 political parties are participating in the governorship election,according to INEC.
The Monday security meeting, held at INEC headquarters in Akure, had in attendance the state Commissioner of Police, the state Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, among others.
In his remarks before the commencement of the meeting, Yakubu stated that the purpose of the meeting was to plan a hitch-free preparation for the election.
“We came to observe the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration in Ondo State and second is to monitor the preparation for the election.
“We can’t succeed in delivering electoral activities and the elections unless the electoral environment is secured for us.
“This is going to be the third governorship election conducted by the present commission in Ondo State. I was here in 2016 for the same purpose; I was here in 2020 for the governorship election and, by God’s grace, we’ll be here again in November 2024 for yet another governorship election.
“I want to assure registered voters in Ondo State that they should continue to troop out in their numbers to register and collect their PVCs from the current registration, but we also have literally over 200,000 uncollected PVCs from the last exercise,” he said.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the INEC chairman said the preparation for the election was reviewed while some areas of challenges were identified to be handled by the security agencies.
“This is an essential routine meeting we had with the Commissioner of Police and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in Ondo State to review our preparation for the forthcoming governorship election.
“So, we reviewed the challenges generally. There are areas with issues that are known; there is nothing extraordinary requiring some extraordinary action, but we recognise the need for us to continue to be vigilant when working with the security agencies.
“All the flashpoints have been identified, including the types of threats across the 18 local government areas, and we have shared the information with the security agencies who will do the needful,” he stated.
Yakubu appealed to political leaders in the state as well as the people to continue to keep the peace, saying, “We have had no major adverse reports as we prepare for the elections. We are confident that it will remain the same into the election and beyond,” he said.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abayomi Oladipupo, disclosed that the deployment of security personnel for the November poll had already been done by the Force Headquarters but he declined to mention the number of the personnel deployed.
He added that there was a strong synergy among the security agencies in the state, hence, the assurance of a smooth process.
“Election security is not new to us as an agency of government charged with internal security operations. We are fully prepared in conjunction with our sister security agencies, which you have seen around.
“At the moment, we have deployed personnel for the Continuous Voter Registration, which is ongoing, and that is the reason we appreciate the coming of the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to interface with us, to know our challenges and the level of our preparation,” he said.
The Nenadi Usman-led National Executive Council (NEC) of Labour Party (LP) has set up a five-man disciplinary committee to investigate alleged gross misconduct against Mr Julius Abure.
The NEC also gave Abure 48 hours to explain why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him over the alleged misconduct.
If found guilty, he may be expelled.
Chairman of the party’s Caretaker Committee, Senator Nenadi Usman, made this known on Monday at a news conference in Abuja.
Usman said that the action was in the exercise of NEC’s constitutional mandate and in strict accordance with the disciplinary provisions of the party’s 2019 Constitution, as amended.
“The NEC in session hereby announces the commencement of disciplinary actions against Mr Abure.
“These actions have started with the constitution of a special investigative committee to review the actions of Mr Abure, as it affects the image and integrity of the party.
“NEC gives Mr Abure 48 hours notice to show why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him for his numerous acts of gross misconduct against the party.
“They are actions that threaten the unity, integrity and public image of our party,” she said.
Usman further stated that NEC took the decision due to Abure’s continued impersonation and misrepresentation of the office of the National Chairman.
“We can no longer stand by while the values we hold dear – transparency, discipline and democratic accountability – are undermined from within.
“This press conference is convened to address the growing concern over the misconduct and internal rascality plaguing our party.
“At a time when Nigerians are yearning for credible leadership and they see the Labour Party as a beacon of hope, it is regrettable that we must battle internal sabotage from those who should know better.
“Rather than unifying the party, he undermines it. Rather than attract credible Nigerians to come and join, he alienates them. Instead of advancing our collective vision, he pursues narrow personal ambitions,” Usman said.
The former Finance Minister said it was most painful that Abure targetted those who had brought credibility and national visibility to the party.
“Mr Peter Obi and Governor Alex Oti represent the aspirations of a new Nigeria. Governor Otti stands out today as one of the most effective and respected governors in the country.
“These men have sacrificed, not for personal gain but to give the Labour Party and Nigeria a real shot at transformation. What they demand is simple: a party that is transparent, democratic and accountable.
“Instead of embracing this vision, Mr Abure chooses confrontation and chaos. We say today, this must stop,” she said.
Usman said that a formal notice of the action would be sent to Abure.
The committee is chaired by Sen. Ireti Kingibe, with Mr Peter Ameh as the Secretary.
“Mr Abure is hereby warned to desist from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Labour Party or impersonating the office in any form.
“The apex court of the land has clearly and finally nullified his claim to leadership and his tenure has long expired by the passage of time,” Usman said.
She further said that NEC had passed a vote of confidence in Otti and Obi, adding that Abure had no moral authority to set up a disciplinary panel against the governor.
The Abure-led NEC had recently set up a disciplinary committee to probe what it called Otti’s anti-party activities.
Speaking further, Usman said that investigations had revealed that Abure illegally issued State Executive Committee letters every three months, in breach of LP’s constitutional provisions.
These, the former minister said, had been nullified.
She added that the leadership of the party would launch a nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise in the coming weeks.
Responding to questions on the likelihood of the party going into coalition with others, the party’s National Secretary, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, said that LP would only welcome any coalition that would be beneficial to it.
In attendance at the conference were stakeholders and elected members of the party in the National Assembly.
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has suspended six prominent members of the party, including the party’s only elected governor, Alex Otti of Abia State.
This decision was contained in a statement issued by the faction’s National Secretary, Umar Farouk, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said, “Recall that last Friday, 2nd of May 2025, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Labour Party set up a five-man Disciplinary Committee headed by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the National Secretary and three others to investigate Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and any other party members over allegations of anti-party activities.
“The Disciplinary Committee has concluded their assignment and has submitted their report to the party leadership. The National Executive of the party met today, May 7th, 2025, and after exhaustive deliberation in line with powers donated to it by the Party Constitution, has ratified the recommendation as submitted by the Disciplinary Committee.
“Consequent upon that, the following members of the party have been suspended from the party and all its activities, indefinitely and with immediate effect. 1. Dr Alex Otti; 2. Senator Ireti Kingibe; 3. Senator Darlington Nwokocha; 4. Hon. Victor Afam Ogene; 5. Hon. Amobi Ogah; 6. Hon. Seyi Sowunmi.”
“By this suspension, these former members of the party will no longer act for and on behalf of the party. All concerned institutions, including the Nigeria Governors Forum, the National Assembly, INEC and security agencies, among others, are to take note.
The party also clarified that Nenadi Usman was not included in the suspension list because she is not a registered member of the Labour Party, but merely a supporter of its 2023 presidential candidate.
“We are aware that she is a member of the Obidient Support group that worked and is still working for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. We will therefore not honour her with any sanction being not a member of the party,” the statement added.
“She should also tell Nigerians how she acquired her radio station in Kaduna, all her properties all over Nigeria and abroad, and her companies in Cameroon, including her plantations. Nenadi Usman lacks the moral capacity to commence any probe or even talk about corruption,” the statement added.
Reaffirming its position on political independence, the Labour Party declared that it will not enter into any coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Finally, the party has since taken a position on the issue of coalition, and we want to reiterate that the party is not interested in any overtures by any group or persons to go into any coalition or merger,” the statement added.
“Like we have earlier stated, the protagonists of the coalition, those driving the agenda, lack the capacity, character and competence to midwife such a political arrangement. These are people who have failed to manage one political party; how can they manage an amalgam of political parties and their varied interests?
The Labour Party intends to prosecute the 2027 general election as a standalone party, and no further discussion will be entertained on this matter.”
The caretaker committee of the Labour Party, led by Senator Nenadi Usman, has launched an investigation into Barrister Julius Abure over allegations of misconduct, including corruption, misappropriation of party funds, and anti-party activities.
Briefing the media in Abuja on Wednesday, Senator Usman accused Abure of persistently parading himself as the national chairman of the party despite being removed, and of running the Labour Party as a personal enterprise to pursue selfish ambitions.
She stated that rather than fostering unity, Abure allegedly exploited his position for personal enrichment.
To address these allegations, the caretaker committee has set up a disciplinary panel, chaired by Senator Ireti Kingibe, with Peter Ameh serving as secretary. The panel is tasked with investigating the allegations against Abure and recommending appropriate disciplinary measures.
The committee has summoned Abure to appear before the disciplinary panel to respond to various petitions and charges brought against him.
Furthermore, the caretaker committee criticized Abure’s alleged hijacking of party structures without following due process, including the failure to conduct ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses ahead of a national convention.
The Nenadi Usman-led team pledged to restore internal democracy, announcing that a timetable for proper congresses and the election of national executives will be released soon.
This is coming a few days after the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party set up a disciplinary committee to investigate allegations of anti-party activities against Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and other members.
It said “NEC reviewed the anti party activities of Alex Otti, the Abia State Governor” and other errant members and consequently set up a disciplinary committee.
The committee chaired by Ayo Olorunfemi, was given two weeks to submit its report.
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