By Francis Ede

It was Socrates who once said that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” as reported by Plato in his Apology. And our own immutable Chinua Achebe in his Anthills of the Savannah, published in 1988, did contend that “has any of the herd of 2,000 pigs that Jesus reportedly exorcised the demons from, spared a single moment to argue among themselves, perhaps some of them would have lived instead of drowning in the Sea of Galilee.”

But suffice it to say here that 2023 was not the first time the opposition girded their loins against the incumbent government in Enugu State, but by far the most impact was made in 2023 in terms of winning elections.

However, 2003 was by far the most dangerous, and it took a heavy toll on participants, particularly on the opposition side, and Hon. Chijioke Edeoga was at the forefront of that struggle.

As it were, by early 2000 or thereabouts, as many as 16 of the 24 members of the Enugu State House of Assembly had signed impeachment papers against the incumbent Governor of Enugu State then, His Excellency Chimaroke Nnamani, and all the members of the National Assembly from the state—House of Reps and Senate inclusive—were in support of that daring move, except Sen. Fidelis Okoro, representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone at the time.

Almost the entire hierarchy of the Catholic Church and its teeming members were in support, with the fiery Fr. Ejike Mbaka—whose Adoration Ground at GTC was later attacked—leading that crusade of sorts to remove then-Governor Chimaroke Nnamani while his tenure was still in its infancy.

I remember very clearly, Sir, that you were coordinating the efforts of members of the National Assembly from Enugu State at that time to give vent to that mass action to unseat Chimaroke Nnamani for his high-handedness and other sundry allegations against him.

And for the first time in a long while, all the Nwodos and Jim Nwobodo were in one accord in that noble but dangerous enterprise that ultimately failed woefully.

Then came the election of delegates at the PDP State Congress. While the government party structure was organizing their own separate Congress at Hotel Presidential, Enugu, under Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s supervision, we, the opposition, had our venue at Filbon Hotel at Upper Chime Avenue, New Heaven, Enugu.

On your way to our venue, you were not only abducted but put into the boot of a 504 Salon Car—as huge as your frame is—and taken to an unknown destination.

I was the one who made a formal complaint at New Heaven Police Station. And in fairness to Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, when he heard it—or pretended to have heard it—he ordered that you be released.

He also came to your residence at Onoh Quarters, GRA, that night to apologize to you. Even the Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, made a press release from London, where he traveled on official duties, and BBC carried it as breaking news.

Your friend, the late Chijiama Ogbu, was their reporter in Nigeria at that time.

At the turn of the 2003 election proper, and aligning himself with then-President Obasanjo on all state and party matters, all the 16 members of the Enugu State House of Assembly were sacked; all the members of the National Assembly, House of Reps and Senate inclusive, were sacked—except Sen. Fidelis Okoro of Enugu North Senatorial Zone, who refused to lift a finger against Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani from the onset.

That was how the likes of Barr. Ike Ekweremadu went to the Senate, and even Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as he then was, got himself a ticket to the House of Reps and remained there for three terms.

A long time before that was the Local Government Election in Enugu State that preceded the 1999 general election, which ended in a stalemate in Isi-Uzo LGA between Hon. Chijioke Edeoga of Alliance For Democrats (AD) and Hon. Osita Ogene of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the result was declared inconclusive by INEC, the electoral authority that conducted Local Government Elections nationwide at the time.

Notably, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga was pronounced by the returning officer, a certain Mr. Ogbonna from Obollo-Eke, to have won that first ballot by gaining the highest number of votes cast, but he did not make the required spread in the 11 Wards of Isi-Uzo LGA.

Significantly too, he entered AD within two weeks of the said election; his name had been removed from the INEC list of PDP candidates by former Governor Jim Nwobodo, using his closeness to Chief Solomon Lar, the then National Chairman of PDP.

It was on the morning of the scheduled rerun election, when all the forces had been assembled for action and counteraction, that Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, who led the PDP election task force to Isi-Uzo, persuaded Hon. Chijioke Edeoga to withdraw from the election, come back to PDP, and take the House of Representatives ticket. And the rest is now history, as the saying goes.

So, when some people come here purporting to teach us the terms and conditions of playing opposition politics in Enugu State and Nigeria as a whole, I wouldn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. But sometimes, I laughed so hard that I shed tears.

Those who are aghast that Hon. Chijioke Edeoga left the Labour Party for PDP, and have continuously mouthed the mantra of “betrayal” and “Obi wave” as being responsible for the mercurial success of Labour Party in the 2023 election in Enugu State, should willingly and gracefully take up the mantle of leadership amongst themselves.

Let one person in their fold—even from their rank in the Senate—take up the challenge, or more appropriately, the task of riding the next Obi wave to win the 2027 Governorship Election in the State against His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, since Peter Obi, the magician they know and applaud, is still in the race for the 2027 Presidential Election in Nigeria.

Why begrudge and demonize Hon. Chijioke Edeoga for exercising his fundamental right of freedom of association?

And why crucify him for taking a political decision that is entirely his to take?

Is there no anointed head left among the remnants of the Labour Party, Enugu State, or more appropriately, the Obidient Movement, Enugu State, who can swiftly take the Governorship ticket of whatever party Mr. Peter Obi might finally anchor his aspiration upon, since Labour Party is no longer an assured platform to challenge Governor Peter Mbah in the race to the Lion Building by 2027?

Must it always be Hon. Chijioke Edeoga at the barricade?

Truth is, all those making all manner of propaganda against Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, while denying his role in helping them win the various elective offices they secured through the Labour Party platform in Enugu State, will soon recant.

Has Hon. Chijioke Edeoga not been shouting it like a prophet of old: “Come into the Lord’s house, it is going to rain”?

And what a heavy downpour it is, by the look of things to come.

Truth again is that they will soon realize the paralysis that comes from discarding too quickly the ladder one has used to climb to the top.

And like a shadow that laughs in the dark, it will become manifest that they have been riding for a fall. For being at the top is one thing; the ability and grace to stay at the top is another.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended its Enugu State chapter for what it described as peaceful, transparent and credible ward congresses conducted across the 260 political wards in the state.

Chairman of the APC Ward and Local Government Congresses Committee for Enugu State, Hon. Solomon Funkekeme, gave the commendation on Thursday in Enugu, expressing satisfaction with the overall conduct of party members during Wednesday’s exercise.

Funkekeme said the congresses were orderly and in strict compliance with the party’s constitution and guidelines.

He noted that the monitoring team, acting on the directive of the party’s national leadership, engaged stakeholders and supervised activities in several wards across the state.

According to him, the exercise reflected unity within the party, describing the Enugu APC as a cohesive family under the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah, who emerged as leader of the party in the state in October 2025.

He stated that the committee was impressed by the conduct of party faithful and leaders, adding that there were no reports of major disputes or irregularities.

Funkekeme also praised the level of inclusivity demonstrated during the congresses, noting that positions reserved for women were duly filled in line with gender mainstreaming principles.

He added that provisions for persons living with disabilities were equally respected, underscoring the party’s commitment to inclusiveness.

He expressed confidence that the forthcoming local government congresses scheduled to hold across the 17 local government areas of the state would be conducted in the same peaceful and credible manner.

In his remarks, the Secretary of the Enugu APC Caretaker Committee, Hon. Eugene Odoh, appreciated the national panel for its oversight role and commitment to ensuring transparency and orderliness throughout the ward congress process.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Zadna Dantani, has withdrawn from the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections and declared support for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a letter dated February 18 and addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dantani said his decision followed consultations with family members and political stakeholders.

He described the move as voluntary and taken after careful consideration.

Dantani subsequently called on his supporters to back the APC candidate and incumbent AMAC chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, in Saturday’s poll.

In a video message, he also thanked the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for what he termed guidance and intervention.

His withdrawal comes barely 24 hours after the PDP chairmanship candidate in Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, stepped down from the race and endorsed the APC candidate, Joshua Musa.

Adamu had similarly cited consultations before announcing his decision.

With Dantani’s exit, two prominent PDP chairmanship candidates have now pulled out of the contest in quick succession, signalling a shift in the political landscape ahead of the elections.

The 2026 FCT Area Council elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 21.

The exercise, conducted directly by INEC, will see voters across the six area councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali — elect six chairmen and 62 councillors across 68 constituencies.

INEC has announced that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in all polling units, with results to be transmitted electronically to its Result Viewing Portal.

Security agencies have also confirmed widespread deployment of personnel, while movement restrictions are expected between 6am and 6pm on election day.

Campaigns officially ended at midnight on February 19, two days before voters head to the polls.

Nigeria’s leading telecommunications operators have rejected assertions by some members of the National Assembly that the country lacks the infrastructure for real-time electronic transmission of election results, insisting that national network coverage is sufficient to support the process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development followed President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) into law, despite lingering controversy over provisions relating to electronic transmission of results.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu maintained that the credibility of elections depends more on effective management and human oversight than on technology alone.

He stressed that while technology can support the process, final outcomes are determined by designated electoral officials, not computers.

He also questioned the country’s broadband capacity and long-term technical readiness for real-time transmission.

In response, operators including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom, under the umbrella of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), dismissed concerns about inadequate coverage as outdated and inaccurate.

ALTON Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, said over 70 per cent of the country is currently covered by 3G and 4G networks, with 5G coverage reaching about 11 per cent, while other areas operate on 2G, which he argued is still capable of transmitting results electronically.

He urged lawmakers to rely on verified data from the Nigerian Communications Commission rather than broad claims about infrastructural gaps.

Although acknowledging security challenges in parts of the country affected by insurgency, the operators maintained that such issues should not justify a nationwide rejection of electronic transmission.

They argued that collaboration among stakeholders would better address isolated network constraints.

The position aligns with that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has previously stated that results uploaded to its Result Viewing Portal would transmit automatically once devices enter areas with network coverage.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives defended its decision to retain manual transmission as a fallback option in certain circumstances.

Deputy House Spokesperson Philip Agbese said while electronic transmission to the INEC Result Viewing Portal remains mandatory, the manual clause was preserved to prevent disenfranchisement in the event of technical failures.

Similarly, lawmaker Gboyega Nasir Isiaka said concerns over weak digital infrastructure and security vulnerabilities informed the National Assembly’s decision to soften the clause mandating real-time transmission.

According to him, the compromise followed extensive negotiations during the harmonisation process between both chambers.

However, former INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini warned that allowing discretionary manual transmission could endanger presiding officers at polling units.

He argued that disputes over network availability could expose officials, particularly youth corps members, to threats where voters perceive that network signals are present.

Also weighing in, former Education Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili expressed strong support for electronic transmission, describing it as a critical safeguard against result manipulation.

She said embedding e-transmission firmly in law would enhance transparency and restore public trust in the electoral process.

On his part, former Kaduna Central senator Shehu Sani cautioned that electronic transmission alone cannot guarantee credible elections.

While supporting the innovation, he emphasised that deeper structural and ethical reforms are required to address persistent malpractice, including voter inducement.

As debates intensify, the issue of electronic transmission remains central to Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 polls, with stakeholders sharply divided over the balance between technology, security and electoral integrity.

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai was reportedly rearrested on Wednesday night by the Department of State Services shortly after regaining freedom from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

El-Rufai had been in EFCC custody since Monday over corruption-related allegations and was granted bail around 8 pm on Wednesday.

However, witnesses said DSS operatives were stationed at the EFCC headquarters and immediately took him into custody upon his release.

Sources indicated that the DSS action is linked to allegations that the former governor unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Earlier in the week, the DSS filed cybercrime charges against El-Rufai at the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged phone-tapping incident.

The case followed remarks he made during a live interview on Arise TV, where he claimed that Ribadu’s phone had been tapped and that he overheard instructions directing security operatives to detain him.

El-Rufai also alleged that the directive led to an attempted arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he reportedly had a confrontation with security personnel and briefly had his passport seized before being escorted out.

Prosecutors accused him of cybercrime offences, claiming he admitted to intercepting the NSA’s communications and failed to disclose others allegedly involved.

They further argued that the action endangered public safety and national security.

The charges are said to be based on provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

No date has been fixed for his arraignment, and El-Rufai has yet to publicly respond to the latest allegations.

The sequence of his detention by the EFCC and subsequent arrest by the DSS has intensified the legal and political controversy surrounding the former governor.