Former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, has strongly opposed proposals to allow prison inmates to vote in Nigerian elections, warning it could open the floodgates to a new wave of electoral fraud.

Appearing on The Weekend Show, Ameh said the current state of Nigeria’s correctional facilities makes inmates vulnerable to political manipulation and coercion by prison officials and state actors.

“Prison voting, without structural safeguards, will not strengthen our democracy, it will deepen manipulation,” he stated.

Ameh argued that inmate voting should not be prioritised at this time.

Instead, he said Nigeria should focus on enfranchising Diaspora Nigerians, who contribute billions of naira in annual remittances and remain deeply invested in national progress.

Beyond his concerns about prison voting, Ameh made a strong case for sweeping reforms to strengthen the electoral process, including unbundling INEC to guarantee greater independence, conducting all elections on a single day to reduce costs and improve transparency, as well as mandating electronic transmission of results to curb vote manipulation.

“It’s unjust for a President who is also a contestant to appoint the very referee of an election. This undermines public trust,” he said, referring to the current structure where the President appoints INEC officials.

He advocated for changes in the appointment process, suggesting that INEC chairpersons and commissioners should be screened and confirmed by the National Assembly to avoid political bias.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Electoral Reform Coalition (NERCO) has launched a nationwide campaign to push for electoral reforms through what it calls a “people’s bill.”

The coalition is engaging lawmakers, civil society groups, and citizens in a bid to close electoral loopholes and enforce transparency at every stage of the process.

NERCO’s proposals echo Ameh’s concerns, particularly on electronic result transmission through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, which they insist must be enshrined in law to restore public confidence in elections.

Prominent lawyer and human rights activist Dele Farotimi has cautioned Nigerians against believing that replacing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with former President Goodluck Jonathan would bring lasting change, insisting that the country’s challenges are deeply rooted in systemic failure, not individuals.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Farotimi argued that any attempt to return Jonathan to power in 2027 would merely recycle past mistakes unless Nigeria undertakes structural reforms.

“Even a thousand Goodluck Jonathans can’t solve Nigeria’s problems,” he said.

“We keep recycling people, hoping for different outcomes, without fixing the broken system that keeps producing bad leadership. If we do not address our structural problems or confront the truth, nothing will change.”

He described the renewed push for Jonathan’s comeback as political distraction rather than a path to national recovery.

“This was the same Jonathan who was demonised in 2015. Religious leaders and the media joined in removing him, promising better days. Now we’re being told to dig him up again, just like we dug up the one who just expired. We’re not looking for saviours, we need to build sustainable systems.”

Meanwhile, in a sharp contrast to Farotimi’s view, a Northern youth movement, Bring Back Our Goodluck, has publicly apologised to former President Jonathan for what it described as false accusations used to oust him in 2015, including claims he sponsored Boko Haram.

The group’s National Chairman, Grema Kyari, made the remarks in Maiduguri, Borno State, during a strategy meeting aimed at mobilising support for Jonathan’s return to the presidency in 2027.

“During Jonathan’s tenure, many of us believed he supported Boko Haram. We were misled by a false narrative fueled by political propaganda. Today, with clearer insight and access to information, we know those allegations were unfounded,” Kyari said.

He accused foreign interests and local political actors of collaborating in a “regime change” plot that unseated Jonathan in 2015.

The group announced plans for a one-million-man march to Jonathan’s hometown in Bayelsa State, as part of a nationwide campaign to urge him to contest again.

“Nigeria is at a crossroads,” Kyari declared.

“Economic hardship, insecurity, and division are worse than ever. Our people feel betrayed. We believe Jonathan can restore stability and unity, and we’re ready to go the distance to bring him back.”

Despite pervasive public discontent due to economic hardship and rising insecurity, this weekend’s by-elections across 12 states delivered a resounding victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which secured 12 out of 16 seats.

The results exposed the continued unraveling of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the precarious state of other opposition parties.

Organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the by-elections spanned various senatorial and legislative constituencies.

Meanwhile, internal disarray in the Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) ranging from disputes over leadership to complaints of voter intimidation and fraud, marked them as particularly fragile.

President Bola Tinubu commended the electoral process as largely smooth and free of violent incidents, stating the outcome reflected the people’s true will.

He hailed the results as a “good omen” for the APC under its new national leader, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, reaffirming his “Renewed Hope” agenda.

PDP’s Lone Win:

The party clinched only one seat in Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Oyo State, where Governor Seyi Makinde holds regional influence despite broader national weakness.

APGA’s Resurgence:

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) made notable gains in Anambra, capturing two seats, Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency.

NNPP’s Mixed Fate:

In Kano, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) held on to Bagwai/Shanono, though it lost Ghari/Tsanyawa to the APC.

In Zamfara, results were deemed inconclusive due to narrow margins and cancelled votes.

Meanwhile, Enugu South Urban faced its fourth failed electoral attempt, undermining confidence in INEC.

The APC’s dominance across both northern and southern regions, from Jigawa to Ogun and Edo to Adamawa shows strategic advantage over a divided opposition.

For President Tinubu, these wins fortify legislative power ahead of the 2027 general elections.

For the PDP, these results are a wake-up call. Its shrinking presence outside core areas makes internal cohesion and grassroots rebuilding ahead of 2027 urgent.

APGA’s performance positions it as a potent coalition partner or independent challenger moving forward.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has rejected the results of the recently concluded by-election in the Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency, claiming the election never took place in any credible form.

Speaking to journalists in Kano on Sunday, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, who spoke on behalf of APC stakeholders in the state, described the entire process as a “sham,” marred by violence and voter intimidation.

Ata accused the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of mobilising armed thugs from neighbouring states and even from across national borders to disrupt the electoral process.

According to him, the violence began early on election day, with thugs storming Shanono and Bagwai Local Government Areas as early as 5:00 am, armed with dangerous weapons including firearms.

“These thugs, reportedly brought in from Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi States, created panic among residents. Many voters fled their communities and sought refuge in nearby Gwarzo and Bichi LGAs,” he said.

The APC alleged that its candidate was physically attacked at his home, and that the thugs hijacked election materials, including ballot papers and result sheets.

Ata said that the NNPP then proceeded to manipulate the vote, allocating scores to their candidate without the presence of voters.

He lamented that the people of Bagwai/Shanono, who had waited over a year for this by-election following the death of their representative, Hon. Halilu Ibrahim Kundila, were effectively disenfranchised and traumatised by the chaos.

Calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to nullify the results, Ata demanded a fresh, peaceful, and transparent election. He also urged security agencies to prosecute those involved in the violence and uphold justice.

“Democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and lawlessness. What happened on election day was not an election, it was a tragedy,” Ata concluded.