FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/p>\n
14 November, 2025<\/p>\n
National Political Summit, 2025: Pat Utomi, Usman Bugaje, Femi Falana, Oby Ezekwesili, Ayuba Waaba, Nkoyo Toyo, Bilikisu Magoro, Ankio Briggs, Ene Obi, San Turaki, Others To Lead New Movement For Credible Elections in Nigeria Ahead of 2027.<\/p>\n
COMMUNIQU\u00c9 OF THE NATIONAL POLITICAL SUMMIT ON CREDIBLE ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL STABILITY OF NIGERIA, HELD ON TUESDAY, 11TH NOVEMBER, 2025 AT THE CONFERENCE HALL, NICON LUXURY HOTEL, TAFAWA BALEWA WAY, FCT ABUJA<\/p>\n
Preamble:
\nThe National Political Summit, 2025 was convened by the National Consultative Front (NCFront) in conjunction with the Labour & Civil Society Front (LCSF), under the theme: “Critical & Mandatory Constitutional Amendments for Credible Elections in 2027.” The Summit attracted over 600 participants and delegates representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders from government, the private sector, civil society, academia, political parties, the diaspora, and other interest groups.<\/p>\n
Goodwill messages and keynote interventions were received from former President Goodluck Jonathan; former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf; former Governor Rotimi Amaechi; former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi; Summit LOC Chairman Prof. Pat Utomi; former Minister and Keynote Speaker Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero; former presidential candidate Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; Lead Speaker Prince Adewole Adebayo, Esq; former NIDO Chairperson Mrs. Patience Ndidi Key; Senator Shehu Sani; Senator Ikechukwu Obiora; Lead Speaker Prof. Okey Okechukwu, mni; IPAC Chairman Alhaji Mamman Yusuf Dantalle; Dr. Bilikisu Magoro; High Chief Peter Ameh; Veteran Olawale Okunniyi (Secretary, LOC), among others.<\/p>\n
Summit Objective:
\nThe Pan-Nigerian Summit on Political Reforms 2025 was conceived as a platform for diverse political stakeholders of Nigeria to examine and reach consensus on essential constitutional amendments needed to perfect Nigeria\u2019s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections. It also sought to launch a formidable, citizens-led national movement as an inclusive platform for political stakeholders\u2014including government institutions, the private sector, and citizens\u2014to engage and proffer enduring panacea to Nigeria\u2019s electoral crises and threats to national security.<\/p>\n
To this end, Summit Keynote discussions squarely focused the implications of the recent warning of United States President, Donald Trump, concerning Nigeria\u2019s unabated insecurity, and the urgent need for a credible electoral framework as Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections.<\/p>\n
Observations and Suggestions
\nPanelists, delegates, and stakeholders at the summit made several critical observations and far-reaching suggestions with significant potential to enhance national stability and improve the country\u2019s electoral integrity as follows:<\/p>\n
1. Security and Sovereignty:
\nThe Summit noted that government\u2019s laxity and insensitivity in protecting citizens\u2019 lives have emboldened banditry and terrorism, inadvertently prompting external interventions\u2014such as the one by the United States\u2014since sovereignty is not absolute in international relations.<\/p>\n
2. Political Party Reform:
\nStakeholders emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive political party reforms, alongside efforts to reform INEC, noting that political parties serve as the primary training grounds for political leaders and public officials.<\/p>\n
3. Tackling Election Rigging:
\nThe Summit called for all stakeholders to intensify efforts to eliminate election rigging\u2014along with its associated practices of inducement, fraud, and manipulation\u2014which continue to undermine Nigeria\u2019s electoral integrity and government legitimacy in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Recommendations
\nThe Summit adopted the following key recommendations:<\/p>\n
a. Financial Autonomy for INEC:
\nThe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be equipped and empowered to enjoy full financial autonomy by receiving its allocation directly from the Federation Account, in full and on schedule, without interference from any arm of government.<\/p>\n
b. Open Budget Framework:
\nINEC should operate an open budget system and work closely with the organized civil society to enhance transparency and accountability in its operations.<\/p>\n
c. Prosecution Powers:
\nINEC should be constitutionally empowered to prosecute electoral offenders independently, rather than relying solely on the Police or the Attorney-General of the Federation.<\/p>\n
d. Early, Diaspora, and Electronic Voting:
\nEarly voting, diaspora voting, electronic voting, and real-time electronic transmission of results should be made legally mandatory to reduce or eradicate manipulation and circumvention of election results.<\/p>\n
e. Structural & Governance Reforms of INEC:
\nINEC\u2019s recruitment processes should be insulated from the Executive. The appointment of INEC national and state leadership should be handled by broad mix of established stakeholders and not the Executive.<\/p>\n
f. Ending Judicial Determination of Elections:
\nStrong reforms should be pursued to eliminate the current aberration, where electoral outcomes are effectively determined in courts rather than at polling units.<\/p>\n
g. Special Seats for Women and Vulnerable Groups in Government:
\nThe National Assembly should be compelled to provide for special seats for women and other vulnerable groups in the constitution to be elected and participate in governance.<\/p>\n
h. Burden of Proof:
\nThe constitution should be amended to remove the burden of proof from candidates and political parties in election petitions, placing it appropriately on INEC.
\n—<\/p>\n
Conclusion:
\nIn conclusion, keynote speakers, panelists, and stakeholders reached a general consensus on the urgent need to pursue comprehensive reforms of Nigeria\u2019s flawed electoral laws ahead of the 2027 elections. The Summit further agreed on the necessity to unbundle INEC to improve electoral administration, and to create constitutionally guaranteed special seats for women and other vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n
The Summit also advised that Nigeria should engage the United States diplomatically on the basis of mutual respect and openness<\/p>\n
Finally, the Summit formally launched the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE)\u2014a new citizens\u2019 mass movement ahead of the 2027 elections\u2014with an Interim Steering Leadership constituted to mobilize Nigerians to end election rigging and manipulation in Nigeria once and for all.<\/p>\n
Members of the Steering Council of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) are listed as follows:<\/p>\n
1. Prof. Pat Utomi \u2013 Chairman<\/p>\n
2. Comrade Ayuba Wabba \u2013 Co-Chair<\/p>\n
3. Hon. Dr. Usman Bugaje \u2013 Deputy Chairman (North)<\/p>\n
4. Amb. Nkoyo Toyo \u2013 Deputy Chairman (South)<\/p>\n
5. Barr. Femi Falana, SAN \u2013 Legal Counsel<\/p>\n
6. Senator Shehu Sani \u2013 Member<\/p>\n
7. Dr. Bilikisu Magoro \u2013 Member<\/p>\n
8. Comrade Ene Obi \u2013 Member<\/p>\n
9. High Chief Peter Ameh \u2013 Member<\/p>\n
10. Comrade Alex Adum \u2013 Member<\/p>\n
11. Lady Ankio Briggs \u2013 Member<\/p>\n
12. Comrade Promise Adewusi, mni \u2013 Director of Administration<\/p>\n
13. Comrade Chris Uyot \u2013 Director of Mobilization<\/p>\n
14. Mallam Hamisu San Turaki \u2013 Director of Mobilization<\/p>\n
15. Deacon Chris Iyovwaye \u2013 Director of Finance<\/p>\n
16. Prince Chris Azor \u2013 Director of Mobilization<\/p>\n
17. Comrade Mark Adebayo \u2013 Director of Mobilization<\/p>\n
18. Prof. Mustapha Nwaokobia, Jnr. \u2013 Director of Communications<\/p>\n
19. Peter Randy Akah \u2013 Director of Publicity<\/p>\n
20. Comrade James Ezema \u2013 Media Coordinator<\/p>\n
21. Comrade Kamal Yusuf Ahmed \u2013 Youth Coordinator<\/p>\n
22. Comrade Hauwa Mustapha \u2013 Deputy Head of Secretariat<\/p>\n
23. Veteran Olawale Okunniyi \u2013 Head of Secretariat<\/p>\n
*Signed:*
\nComrade James Ezema,
\nMedia Coordinator,
\nSteering Council,
\nMovement for Credible Elections (MCE).
\n+234 8035823617<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 November, 2025 National Political Summit, 2025: Pat Utomi, Usman Bugaje, Femi Falana, Oby Ezekwesili, Ayuba Waaba,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18509"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18510,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18509\/revisions\/18510"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenewsnow.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}