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OPINION: The Senate Coup Against Nigerians

Published

3 months ago

February 10, 2026

By Suyi Ayodele

Chief Whip Senator Monguno, moved the motion to sustain the old Electoral Act; Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, hurriedly seconded it. The Senate Leader, the Villa lickspittle from Ekiti, Opeyemi Bamidele, was salivating! Senator Abaribe raised his hands to alert his colleagues who were chatting and not concentrating. The Elésin Oba, (Remember the Abóbakú in Soyinka’s “Death and the King’s Horseman”), Senator Godswill Akpabio, smartly hit the gavel!! Coup hatched, executed against Electoral Transmission real time.

The above was sent to me by a senior journalist who witnessed the putsch on the floor of the senate last week.

If the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 passed by the Godswill Akpabio-led senate is allowed to be the guiding laws and principles for the 2027 general elections, Nigerians can kiss democracy goodbye. With the new bill as passed by the senate, everything called credibility, fairness, decency and moral, is gone and gone forever!

With what the senate did last week, it is true that elections are not rigged on the day of balloting. No. The simple analogy is that the Nigerian Senate, with the electoral bill passed, has rigged the forthcoming election for the incumbents – president, governors, senators, House of Representatives members and any other person in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking election or re-election in 2027 and the years to come.

I wished I could find a better way to describe the action of the senate. My frustration at describing the open electoral murder committed on the floor of the Red Chamber was, however, mitigated by the response of the senior journalist above in a chat we had over the matter.

He sent me a 48-second video. It is an edited video of last week Wednesday’s proceedings on the floor of the senate. The discussion was on the controversial electoral bill. Underneath the video, he wrote: “The 3 (three) coup plotters against democracy.” Their names?” I asked. Then he responded.

Nothing could be more apt. His response in the opening paragraph is the best I have had over the removal of “real-time” electronic transmission of election results by Akpabio and his co-conspirators against free and fair elections in Nigeria. It is sad; rather unfortunate that we have a National Assembly populated by representatives, who would openly shortchange the destiny of the people on the altar of political desperation!

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR:OPINION: An Incantation For Tinubu’s Next Trip

Here is the Clause 60 (3) of the bill that Akpabio killed with his gavel: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to IREV portal in real time and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents available at the polling unit.”

The Clause is simple. Elections shall hold, with voting taking place. The ballots will be sorted. Each participating political party shall have a party agent present at the voting unit. The ballots will be counted. The results of the votes scored by each political party shall be announced openly by the Presiding officer. The Presiding Officer shall proceed to enter the results on Form EC8A, that is, the result sheet.

He or she shall sign the Form EC8A. He or she shall also stamp the form. All the party agents shall sign thereafter. Then, the Presiding Officer shall snapshot the Form EC8A and shall upload it to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) IReV (INEC Election results Viewing Portal). From the IReV portal, any human being can view the results.

The implications of an all-time electronic transmission of election results are too lofty. One, the controversy over result swapping is eliminated. Two, from the comfort of our homes, Nigerians can collate the result of any election, get the result and wait for INEC to officially announce the winner. Again, the idea of political thugs or any undesirable element attacking INEC officials on their way to the physical collation centre, to hijack the result, is eliminated.

More importantly, if there is any controversy, all that is needed is a visit to the IReV portal to ascertain the accurate figure entered. And should there be any litigation, the IReV portal comes handy. So, ask me: what are Akpabio and his gang of electoral murderers afraid of? What can be more honourable than Clause 60 (3)?

Instead, Akpabio’s senate insisted that the existing provision of the 2022 Electoral Act, which stipulates that “The Presiding Officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission”, should stand!

Before you shout perfidy, you need to hear this. In addition to rejecting the all-time electronic transmission of results, Akpabio also rejected the 10-year jail term for PVC traders, and opted for a two-year imprisonment term. In essence, the senate is saying that a 10-year jail term is too harsh for anyone caught either selling or buying PVC. Such a felon, the senate voted, should be punished for just two years.

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR:OPINION: Ali Baba And A Midnight Honour

After watching the video and reading the footnote, I changed the topic. Nothing can be sadder than the senate under Akpabio. I doubt if the Akwa Ibom State senator reads or hears what people say about him. Nigeria can never be more unfortunate than to have the present crop of leaders; especially at the executive and legislative levels.

I don’t know what Akpabio and his APC members are afraid of in a real-time ELECTRONIC transmission of election results. All the indices favour the party to win the 2027 general elections without any wùrùwúrú. In terms of spread, APC has 30 state governors out of 36 in its kitty. It has 75 of the 109 senators and in the House of Representatives, the party has over 231 members out of the total 360 members and it is still counting.

All the ministers in the Tinubu cabinet, including Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, are APC members without an exception. Forget Wike and his pretension to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Truth is that between Tinubu and Wike, nobody knows who is more APC! All board appointees are loyalists of the party and the President. Numerous board members fall over one another to impress the appointing authority, Tinubu. Many more people in the opposition have gotten their boarding passes, ready to board the APC ship.

What then is the party afraid of such that it cannot allow the results of the forthcoming elections to be transmitted immediately the ballot is counted and the results are announced? Why would a party which claims to have the most expansive nationwide spread be afraid of uploading election results immediately they are announced? Why should any nation of this age be afraid of immediate electronic transmission of election results? Whose interest are Akpabio and his hellions in the National Assembly serving?

Expectedly, the uproar against the Akpabio shenanigan has been all-consuming. From the opposition parties and men and women of good conscience, the opinions are on the negative side for the senate. More amusingly, in his response to the public condemnation of the senate under his watch, Akpabio quipped: “Why are people setting up panels on television stations and abusing senators? I leave them to God.”

Suddenly, in the face of public opprobrium, Akpabio knew that there is God! What a sacrilege! Who is Akpabio’s spiritual mentor? Why did his priest fail to tutor him that God is just, fair and good? Where was God when the Senate President inherited an electoral victory in an election he did not participate in?

With his antecedents either as a governor, minister and now Senate President, Nigerians should not be troubled about Akpabio. He could not have been otherwise; he could not have acted differently. He is not just a type character; he is also static and more A-heroic. Our focus should be on other seemingly honourable lawmakers who endorsed this open murder. How Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, the Senate Leader, with his antecedents in human rights struggles, would be a party to the amendment bill baffles any rational mind. But then, as someone suggested: “human rights and politics are two parallel lines.”

The biggest lesson of the senate’s action is that those in charge of affairs of our destiny have taken us for granted for too long. This is why the senate could summon the courage to pass a bill that outlaws an real-time electronic transmission of election results. Akpabio’s excuse that the entire country could be thrown into chaos if network or power failure affected the uploading of results remains as superficial as it is laughable!

His posturing that the senate “will not be intimidated” is an indication that he and his gang of weak-willed, leg-massaging legislators are already intimidated. And we shall continue to ‘intimidate’ them until they do the right thing. This matter, the Senate President should know, is like the proverbial thief who steals the only hen of the poor; he should know that he has stolen from a rabble-rouser (Eni gbé adìye òtòsì, ó gbé t’aláròyé). We shall not rest; we shall not sleep. We will neither curse nor praise; but our mouths shall not be shut over the matter.

Nigerians have gotten to a level where they don’t care who wins or loses the 2027 election. They have heard stories of how President Tinubu has done so well and transformed Nigeria to an Eldorado. Good enough for the man in the Villa and his promoters. Methinks it is proper if such a wonderfully-performing President is allowed to go into the next election without the laws tilted in his favour.

Only elements like Akpabio are scared of a real-time electronic transmission of results. Only those who are beneficiaries of past electoral heists look forward to a future electoral robbery, and as such, make laws to promote electoral fraud. This is what the senate did last week. This is what Nigerians must understand. And more importantly, this is what all men and women of good conscience must resist and be counted on the side of that which is fair, just and of good moral standing.

As we await the review of the last Wednesday’s “Votes and Proceedings of the day’s sitting” on the amended electoral bill, we encourage other legislators to take time off their sybaritic fantasies as septuagenarian masseurs, by concentrating on the business of building faith in our electoral processes. All romance and no conscientious legislation make a senator a mere hedonist!

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Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

News

IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.

Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.

Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.

News

Court Orders SERAP To Pay DSS Operatives N100m For Defamation

Published

13 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered a non-governmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to pay N100 million as damaged to two operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, for unjustly defaming them in some publications.

The court also ordered SERAP to tender public apologies to the defamed officers,
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, in two national newspapers, two television stations and its website.

Besides, the organization was also ordered to pay the two operatives N1 million as cost of litigation and 10 percent post-judgment interest annually on the judgment sum until it’s fully liquidated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a N5.5 billion defamation suit instituted against SERAP by the DSS operatives.

The judge found SERAP liable for unjustly defaming the two DSS operatives with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its Abuja office, harassed and intimidated its staff, in September 2024.

In the offending publication on its website and Twitter handle, SERAP alleged that the two operatives unlawfully invaded and occupied its office with sinister motives.

The judge held that the publication was in bad taste especially from an organization established to promote transparency and accountability, as nothing in the publication was found to be truthful.

The DSS staff had listed SERAP as 1st defendant in the suit marked CV/4547/2024. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, was listed as the 2nd defendant.

In the suit, the claimants – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – accused the two defendants of making false claims that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024..

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, had while adopting his final address in the mater urged the judge to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the interest of justice.

He admitted that although the names of the two claimants were not mentioned in the defamation materials, they had however established substantial circumstances that they are the ones referred to in the published defamation article by SERAP on its website.

The counsel submitted that all ingredients of defamation have been clearly established and the offending publication referred to the two officials of the secret police.

However, SERAP, through its counsel, Victoria Bassey from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, law firm, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the two claimants did not establish that they were the ones referred to in the alleged defamation materials.

She said that SERAP used “DSS officials” in the alleged offending publication, adding that the two claimants must establish that they are the ones referred to before their case can succeed.

Similar arguments were canvassed by Oluwatosin Adefioye who stood for the second defendant, adding that there was no dispute in the September 9, 2024 operation of DSS in SERAP’s office.

He said that since SERAP in the publication did not name any particular person, the claimants must plead special circumstances that they were the ones referred to as the DSS officials.

Besides, he said that there is no organization by name Department of State Services in law, hence, DSS cannot claim being defamed adding that the only entity known to law is National Security Agency.

The claimants had in the suit stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on their reputation.

The DSS also stated, in the statement of claim, that, in line with the agency’s practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite them for a familiarization meeting.

The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle – @SERAPNigeria – that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN)”.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to their reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

“Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”