Politics
CUPP Blasts INEC-FCDA Deal, Cites Independence Risk
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly criticized the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to handle the construction of its new national headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the National Secretary of CUPP and former National President of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr. Peter Ameh, described the arrangement as “deeply troubling” and a direct threat to INEC’s constitutionally guaranteed independence.
“The recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission to allow the Federal Capital Development Authority to construct its new national headquarters in Abuja is deeply troubling and constitutes a direct assault on the commission’s constitutional independence,” said Ameh.
He condemned the move as “an unacceptable return to practices that undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress,” stressing that Section 158(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees INEC’s autonomy and insulates it from external control.
“Furthermore, Section 81(3) provides for a direct line charge to INEC’s budget, ensuring financial independence through funds drawn directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” he said. “This mechanism, reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022, was designed to eliminate INEC’s reliance on politically controlled entities, thereby curing the historical problem of undue influence over the election management body.”
Ameh also took issue with INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s justification that the FCDA’s involvement is acceptable because it constructed INEC’s previous headquarters when the commission moved from Lagos to Abuja. Ameh dismissed the rationale as “outdated and indefensible.”
“Nigeria’s electoral laws have evolved significantly, and such arrangements are no longer acceptable for an institution tasked with conducting free, fair, and credible elections,” he argued.
He warned that FCDA’s role in the project raises serious questions about political interference, especially given its control under the Federal Capital Territory Administration, which is overseen by Minister Nyesom Wike.
“The mere fact that FCDA was allowed to initiate and carry out the construction of the new headquarters speaks volumes. For an agency under the Federal Capital Territory Administration and subject to political oversight by Nyesom Wike, to fund and construct its headquarters, INEC risks compromising its impartiality and eroding public trust in the electoral process.”
Ameh emphasized that INEC’s constitutional financial autonomy was designed to eliminate such dependence and called the current arrangement a contradiction of that purpose.
“This decision contradicts the purpose of the direct line charge, which empowers INEC to independently budget for its operational and infrastructural needs through appropriations by the National Assembly. Public sentiment, as expressed by so many citizens, echoes this concern, with Nigerians questioning the integrity of an electoral body that permits political actors to influence its operations,” he said.
He further criticized INEC for prioritizing a new building project while staff welfare continues to suffer.
“Equally concerning is INEC’s misplaced priority in focusing on a new headquarters while neglecting the welfare of its staff—the bureaucratic backbone of the commission. The employees who manage voter registration, election logistics, and result collation deserve competitive salaries, adequate training, and improved working conditions to enhance their efficiency and resist electoral malpractices,” he stated.
“Diverting attention to a grandiose project at the expense of staff welfare undermines INEC’s mission to deliver credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.”
Ameh urged INEC to terminate the deal with FCDA immediately and instead utilize its constitutionally backed financial autonomy to independently manage the construction of its new headquarters.
“The National Assembly must exercise its oversight powers to ensure that INEC’s budget reflects its infrastructural and operational needs without reliance on external agencies. Additionally, INEC must prioritise staff welfare to strengthen the integrity of the electoral system.”
He concluded with a stern warning: “The Nigerian people deserve an electoral body that upholds its constitutional mandate of independence and prioritises the mechanisms that drive credible elections. Any attempt to undermine INEC’s autonomy threatens the foundation of our democracy. We must act swiftly to protect the integrity of our electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.”
Ripplesnigeria.com
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has been appointed as one of the co-chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Campaign Council ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
The ruling party announced that the campaign council will be inaugurated in Abuja on Tuesday as part of preparations for the off-cycle governorship election.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, will chair the council, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas will serve as co-chairmen.
The APC also appointed Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Political and Other Matters, as deputy chairman of the council, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as secretary.
According to the party, specialised committees have also been created to oversee campaign planning, finance, grassroots mobilisation, logistics, media, security, youth and women’s mobilisation, persons with disabilities, protocol, monitoring, and secretariat duties as campaigns gather pace ahead of the election.Government
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has dismissed reports linking him with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), insisting that he remains fully committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.APC party information
The governor reacted after photographs of him with the ADC’s Ondo Central Senatorial candidate, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, surfaced online following a church service at the Government House Chapel in Akure on Sunday.
The images, which also showed some of Akinyelure’s supporters and other personalities from Idanre, led to speculation that Aiyedatiwa was building political ties with members of the opposition.
Responding through a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor described the reports as “false, misleading and deliberately mischievous,” accusing those behind them of trying to create division within the APC.
Aiyedatiwa explained that the Government House Chapel, like the mosque within the Government House complex, is a public place of worship open to everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
“The Government House Chapel is a public place of worship. Just like the Mosque within the Government House premises, the Chapel is open to all citizens, religious leaders and public officials who wish to worship. It is not an APC-only facility. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the purpose of Government House as the house of all the people of Ondo State,” the statement said.
The governor clarified that Senator Ayo Akinyelure attended the church service to worship and also used the opportunity to appreciate him for sending representatives and a goodwill message to his 70th birthday celebration held last week.
According to the statement, “Senator Akinyelure was at the Government House Chapel to worship and to personally thank His Excellency for sending representation and a goodwill message on the occasion of his 70th birthday last week. This is a normal act of courtesy, decorum and respect that transcends party lines.”
The statement further pointed out that Senator Ayo Akinyelure is the younger brother of Chief Pius Akinyelure, a prominent APC leader, ally of President Bola Tinubu and Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council in Ondo State.APC party information
Rejecting claims of any political understanding with the ADC, the governor stressed that the meeting should not be interpreted as an alliance with the opposition.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa remains committed to the APC and all its candidates. The Governor will work with all party structures to ensure that APC wins all elections in Ondo State,” the statement added.
The governor urged APC members and residents of the state to ignore what he described as attempts by political opponents to sow confusion within the ruling party, maintaining that his administration remains focused on governance rather than political distractions.Leadership development programs
“The Governor remains focused. The APC remains strong. And Ondo State will continue to progress,” the statement concluded.
The clarification comes amid political tension within the Ondo APC following the party’s recent primary elections and growing speculation over the rivalry between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
It is reported that the outcome of the recent primary election favoured allies of Tunji-Ojo over Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists, fuelling speculation of growing political tension between the two leaders
The All Progressives Congress has drafted former Osun State Deputy Governor, Iyiola Omisore and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara into its 276-member National Campaign Council for the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
The campaign council, unveiled on Sunday by the APC National Working Committee, will be chaired by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and will be inaugurated on Tuesday, July 28, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja.
The announcement was contained in a notice signed by the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.
The inclusion of Omisore is expected to put to rest recent speculation about his commitment to the APC following the defection of some of his close political associates to the Accord to support Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid.
The rumours gathered momentum after Omisore was absent from the APC governorship campaign flag-off in Ile-Ife, fuelling claims that he had distanced himself from the party.
According to the notice, Uzodimma will serve as chairman of the council, while Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas will serve as co-chairmen.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, was named deputy chairman, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as secretary.
The statement read, “Uzodimma will chair the National Campaign Council, while Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, will serve as co-chairmen.
“Senior Special Assistant to the President on Political and Other Matters, Ibrahim Masari, will serve as Deputy Chairman, while the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, will function as Secretary of the council.
“The council comprises governors, members of the National Working Committee, principal officers of the National Assembly, ministers, federal and state lawmakers, party leaders and other stakeholders drawn from across the country.”
Basiru added that specialised sub-committees had also been constituted to coordinate the campaign.
They include Election Planning and Management, Finance and Resource Mobilisation, Contact, Grassroots Engagement and Mobilisation, Logistics and Campaign Management, Monitoring and Compliance, Protocol, Media and Publicity, Security, Youth Mobilisation, Special Interest (Persons with Disabilities) Mobilisation, Women’s Mobilisation and Secretariat.
“The inauguration of the National Campaign Council and its Sub-Committees is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Event Centre, Abuja at 12:00 Noon,” the notice added.
The APC is fielding former Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, who emerged as the party’s consensus governorship candidate after consultations among key stakeholders.
He will face the incumbent governor, Adeleke, in what is expected to be a keenly contested election widely seen as a political test ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to Omisore’s appointment, the Chairman of the Omisore Campaign Organisation, Mr Ajibola Famurewa, dismissed suggestions that the former deputy governor was drifting away from the APC, saying he would accept the assignment as a loyal party member.
“I have not spoken with Otunba Omisore, and I have not seen the list too. If Otunba Omisore’s name is there, as a former deputy governor, senator, and national secretary of the party, it is the tradition to list people of that calibre in the campaign council, especially from Osun State.
“That is the tradition of the party. On whether he will accept or not, as a party man, he will. It depends on the assignment given to him within the council.
“You talked about him not attending the flag-off; was he properly informed? He was not properly invited to that flag-off,” Famurewa said.
He maintained that Omisore and several other APC leaders who missed the campaign flag-off received their invitations barely 24 hours before the event, making it difficult for them to attend.
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