Economy
Stakeholders Urges Electoral Reforms To Curb Godfatherism, Strengthen Integrity
Stakeholders Urges Electoral Reforms To Curb Godfatherism, Strengthen Integrity
Stakeholders urges electoral reforms to curb godfatherism, strengthen integrity. An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officer uses a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine during the general election in Ibadan, Oyo State February 25, 2023.
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral reform processes have called for urgent action to eliminate godfatherism and strengthen the country’s electoral integrity.
Speaking at the subnational strengthening democracy conference held in Lagos on Thursday, the stakeholders noted that weak electoral integrity and godfatherism undermine democratic foundations.
The conference, with the theme “Pathway to good governance and political integrity” organised through a partnership between Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), brought together diverse stakeholders from academia, political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional leaders, and governance experts to assess democratic progress and propose actionable reforms at the subnational level.
The conference highlighted how political godfatherism, electoral fraud, and weak institutions erode free and fair elections, discourage credible leadership, and diminish public trust in the electoral process.
Itia Otabor, director of strategy at the Centre LSD, called for the strengthening of democratic institutions at the subnational level.
especially after the national conference due to the decay in democratic values in recent times.
Otabor expressed concern over weak institutions, poor internal party structures, and the lack of ideological consistency among political parties.
He noted that without strong democratic institutions and well-structured parties, Nigeria’s democracy would remain unstable.
Asekere Olujoke, a senior lecturer in the department of mass communication at the Yaba College of Technology, stressed that while credible and peaceful elections are essential for democracy, they are not enough.
“One key determinant of a flourishing democracy is the quality of institutions,” Olujoke said.
“Institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, the police, and other law enforcement agencies must be strengthened to ensure independence, efficiency, and accountability.
“These institutions must be capable of guaranteeing rights and checking abuse of office without fear or favour.
“For instance, the national assembly can pass legislation to grant financial autonomy to these institutions, ensuring that they are not beholden to the executive arm of government.
“These institutions should have financial adequacy and autonomy without strings attached. Attached to this is the appointment of commissioners of INEC.
“Such appointment must be transparent, and senatorial approval must be based on integrity and expertise. Operational autonomy and accountability mechanisms of these institutions are key to strengthening democracy.”
She called for legislative action to grant financial autonomy to electoral and judicial institutions to free them from executive interference.
Olujoke further emphasised that appointments to INEC’s leadership must be transparent, with senate approvals based strictly on integrity and expertise.
She also underscored the need for greater citizen participation in the democratic process, advocating for voter education, mobilisation, and increased civic engagement to promote informed electoral choices.
Kunle Adegoke, a senioir advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted the crucial role of stakeholders, CSOs, the media, security agencies, political parties, and INEC, in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
He highlighted the importance of an independent judiciary in upholding electoral laws and ensuring justice in election disputes.
“A compromised judiciary is an albatross to the dispensation of justice,” he warned.
“It must be shielded from political interference to maintain public confidence in the system.
Stakeholders Urges Electoral Reforms
“The judiciary is key to guaranteeing effective mass mobilization and oversight, as it is the organ of government that can keep politicians and other political actors in check.”
On the role of security agencies, Adegoke stressed that their duty is to prevent electoral fraud, voter impersonation, ballot stuffing, and other forms of manipulation.
Adegoke noted that security agencies have often failed in this regard and called for urgent reforms to ensure they uphold electoral integrity rather than serve political interests.
Sylvester Odion Akhaine, a pro-democracy advocate and governance expert, described godfatherism as a major obstacle to credible elections, stressing that political parties must prioritise internal democracy.
“When a few powerful individuals determine who gets elected, democracy becomes a façade rather than a system that reflects the will of the people,” he stated.
Navy Dismantles Illegal Refining Capacity, Destroys Site With 3 Storage Tanks in Rivers
The Nigerian Navy, through FOB BONNY, has dismantled an illegal refining site discovered in Promise Land Community along Nanabie Creek, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, further denying criminal operators the infrastructure required to process stolen crude oil.
Eereporter.com
The site was discovered on 30 September 2026 following credible intelligence and comprised one large cooking pot and 3 large storage tanks intended for illegal refining activities. On 2 October 2026, the Commanding Officer, FOB BONNY, Captain SMC Umeh, led a team to the location, where the illegal refining site and associated equipment were destroyed in accordance with established regulations.
The intervention represents a further disruption of illegal refining capacity within the Bonny area, particularly by removing infrastructure that could be used to process and store stolen crude oil. It also follows recent operations by FOB BONNY under Operation DELTA SENTINEL that uncovered substantial volumes of suspected stolen crude oil and associated illegal refining infrastructure within its Area of Operations
Oil
The Nigerian Navy has continued to strengthen surveillance and monitoring across the area to prevent the establishment or reactivation of illegal refining sites and deny criminal operators the infrastructure required to sustain crude oil theft and related activities.
ABIODUN FOLORUNSHO
Navy Captain
Director Naval Information
Nigerian Navy
Eereporter.com
NNPC Ltd Offers N66 Fuel Discount Throughout the Nation
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has unveiled a nationwide ₦66 fuel discount promotion for customers using the NNPC Fuel App.
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In a post obtained from its X handle on Friday, the promotion, which runs from October 1 to 7, is being held across NNPC stations nationwide as part of activities marking the period.
“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!
“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!
The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.
NNPC said customers across the country have already begun participating in the promotion, with highlights from the first day showing activities at several stations.
“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.
NNPC
NNPC also shared moments from the first day of the promotion and said more pictures and activities from stations across the country would be released.
The company urged customers not to miss the opportunity to participate before the promotion ends on October 7.
The ₦66 discount offer is available through the NNPC Fuel App during the stated promotional period.
Eereporter.com
President Tinubu Tells EFCC: You Have Justified my Confidence in You
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the efforts and performance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country, stressing that it has justified the confidence reposed on it.
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He gave this commendation on Friday, October 2, 2026 in Awka, Anambra State at the commissioning of a new Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. The President pointed out that there are evidential proofs of the success of the Commission in convictions, recoveries and other landmark achievements
Represented by Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, Tinubu noted that “supporting the EFCC is not particularly difficult. The agency has consistently demonstrated that the confidence reposed on it is well founded. Without mincing words, the evidential proof of the EFCC’s success speaks loudly in convictions secured, assets and properties recovered”
He affirmed that the strides of the Commission are in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
“When we came in three years ago, I highlighted nine major focal areas of my administration. Two of which are reforming the economy for sustained and inclusive growth and promotion of good governance. The anti-graft agency compliments this agenda as they are focused on accountability and transparency and appropriate deployment of resources”, he said.
At the commissioning, the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede restated the commitment of the Commission to preventive frameworks in tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption in the country.
According to him, the Commission will continue its focus on making corrupt practices difficult by blocking avenues through which they may happen.
“This new Directorate will not only enforce the law professionally and courageously, it will be high on corruption prevention. It will engage government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, professional bodies, schools, markets, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and communities. It will educate stakeholders, build relationships and mobilise the people to own the fight against all forms of corrupt practices in the zone”, he said
He assured Nigerians that the EFCC would not relent in the pursuit of its mandate, recalling the achievements of the Commission in the last 34 months and describing them as impressive progress.
“The pursuit of our mandate has been our dominant engagement and in the past few years, we have made impressive progress. Between October 2023 and July 2026, the Commission received 49, 673 petitions, investigated 39, 615 cases, filed 14, 476 cases in court and secured 10, 872 convictions. This gives a conviction-to-filing ratio of 75.1 percent. In the first half of 2026 alone, we recorded 1, 370 convictions from 1, 889 filings. The Commission also recorded recoveries of N1, 233, 612, 040, 411. 11, $684, 478, 457. 32, £373, 905. 78, €9, 343, 803. 66 inn addition to recoveries in other currencies”, he said.
He noted that at the institutional level, the Commission has made radical reforms that have been yielding optimal results as there are consequential improvements in the agency’s processes and procedures, which partly explains the impacts the EFCC has made and will continue to make in all the matrices of law enforcement.
“Reforms that have strengthened the Commission during the period include new guidelines on arrest and bail, a review of sting operations, the establishment of the Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, the Security Department, the Immigration and Visa Section and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre”, he said.
While charging Ndi Anambra on whistleblowing, the anti-graft czar said that the Commission has established channels through which members of the public can submit petitions and provide information. He noted that the Commission’s Eagle Eye App allows citizens to provide details of suspected wrongdoing and makes the provision of an informant’s personal details optional. “However, whistleblowing must be responsible and based on facts. It must not become an instrument for settling scores”, he said.
EFCC
He thereafter said that Anambra and Imo States deserve effective and responsive institutional presence as they are renowned for enterprise, innovation, commerce and an extraordinary culture of industry, adding that these legitimate activities must be protected from fraud, cybercrime, money laundering, investment fraud, diversion of public resources and other forms of economic and financial crimes. “Therefore, our coming to Awka is beyond geographical expansion. It is about taking the mandate of the EFCC closer to the people and closer to the economic activities we are meant to protect”, he said.
In their remarks, His Excellencies, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and Senator Hope Uzodinma, Governor of Imo State said that they were pleased with the activities and management of the EFCC under the leadership of Olukoyede. They pledged their support to the Commission as it opened a new Zonal Directorate in their domain.
The commissioning of the new Directorate witnessed massive turn out of distinguished Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly, civil society organisations, community leaders, students, media among others.
Eereporter.com
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