….Judiciary, last hope of our democracy – Comrade Kalu

A coalition of civil society organisations has said that the September 21st governorship election in Edo State was replete with what it described as manipulations. According to the coalition, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is majorly to blame for the manipulation. 

The coalition also called for urgent reforms in the electoral sector to “save Nigeria’s integrity.”

Addressing the media, the coalition leaders presented what they described as “incontrovertible evidence” of manipulation, including certified documents from INEC itself. It claimed that the records exposed what it described as an “unprecedented level of electoral fraud” in Edo, asserting that tampering occurred in collusion with security agents, distorting the true will of Edo’s voters and by INEC allegedly orchestrating widespread fraud that altered the vote’s outcome.”

According to them, “Our findings show that the election results announced by INEC were far from a free and transparent process,” said Comrade Victor Kalu, Convener of the coalition and head of the Center for Development and Transformation Initiative. 

“We are alarmed by this blatant disregard for electoral laws. If left unaddressed, this sets a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy itself in Nigeria. While we cannot speak to the details of the Election Petition in Edo as it is now sub judice, we appeal to the Judiciary to remember that they are the last hope not just of the common man, but of our democracy. Justice must be seen to have been done in Edo.”

The coalition is urging the Nigerian judiciary to take swift action, pressing the courts to thoroughly examine what they call a “charade” in Edo. Members of the coalition said they were mobilising to ensure public oversight of the judicial process, shielding it from political interference, and are calling for the alleged perpetrators of election fraud to face accountability under the law.

At the heart of the coalition’s demands is the immediate dismissal of INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. Citing what they described as “his failure to restore public trust in the electoral process,” they urged President Bola Tinubu to act decisively.

 “INEC has repeatedly shown itself incapable of conducting free and credible elections,” said Comrade Friday Emeh of the Global Development Center for Rescue Mission.

 “President Tinubu, who fought to defend democracy during his NADECO years, understands how a lack of confidence in the electoral system threatens the very democracy he once championed.”

The coalition is also pushing for reforms to secure INEC’s independence. They recommend that future nominations for INEC Chairman and National Commissioners be proposed by the National Judicial Council, ratified by the National Council of State, and confirmed by the Senate. Structural changes, based on the Uwais Panel Report, are also recommended to ensure INEC’s financial and operational autonomy, with transparency reinforced at the polling unit level.

Among their key recommendations is the expanded use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, which transmit results directly from polling units, establishing BVAS data as the official record. By addressing manipulation points at central collation centers, the coalition aims to curb interference.

The coalition warns that “failing to rectify the alleged fraud in Edo could further erode Nigerians’ trust in the electoral process.” 

They cautioned that, “as public confidence diminishes, disenfranchised voters may increasingly turn to ‘self-help,’ a potential path toward instability that mirrors recent unrest across West Africa.”

 “In every election cycle, we witness repeated violations of the people’s trust,” said Rasheed Shuibu of the Northern Socio-Cultural Development Initiative. “The judiciary has an opportunity to restore the people’s faith in democracy.”

Representing a wide range of civil society organisations, from youth and women’s groups to regional advocacy entities, the coalition includes Comrade Peter Nwokolo of the Citizen Rights and Leadership Awareness Initiative, Ali Abacha of the Northern Patriotic Front, and Martha James of the Great Light Women Empowerment Initiative. These groups vowed “to maintain pressure on INEC and the judiciary, urging them to uphold accountability and transparency.”

“As civil society, we are here to strengthen democratic values,” said Martha James. “We want to ensure that the rights of Nigerian citizens are protected, not trampled upon by electoral malfeasance.”

“This case’s outcome could profoundly shape Nigeria’s democratic landscape as the nation approaches future elections. For now, all eyes are on the judiciary as civil society groups and the public await a verdict that could restore faith—or deepen disillusionment—in Nigeria’s electoral process.” She said