…Renews Call for Electoral Reform Ahead of 2027
…Urges INEC to Use Anambra Nov. 8 Poll to Restore Public Confidence
The former Leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, PhD, has publicly endorsed Senator Adams Oshiomhole’s recent call for Nigerian politicians to end election rigging and the use of political thuggery, describing such acts as “deceitful, sinful, and wicked.”
Ezeugwu, a respected voice in Enugu politics and a strong advocate for integrity and reform, condemned political leaders who empower thugs while sending their children abroad to live comfortably.
“It is deceitful, sinful, and wicked that some so-called leaders support thuggery in whatever format,” Ezeugwu stated. “They do this while their children study overseas, deliberately impoverishing the masses and weaponizing poverty during elections.”
Addressing critics who dismissed Oshiomhole’s appeal as hypocrisy, Ezeugwu urged Nigerians to allow space for redemption in leadership, likening such transformation to the biblical conversion of Saul to Paul.
“Given without conceding that he allegedly benefited from such acts in the past, we must remember that Saul was on his way to persecute Christians when he became Paul,” he said. “When leaders decide to turn a new leaf, we should see it as God at work.”
Ezeugwu further stressed that the burden of credible elections does not lie solely on politicians, but also on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its ad-hoc staff, who must act with transparency.
“INEC staff should realize that rigging cannot happen without their compromise,” he warned. “Impunity has an expiry date, and accountability is inescapable. If we don’t account to humans, we will account to God.”
He also praised Prof. Nnenna Oti, the Returning Officer for the 2023 Abia State governorship election, for her courage and integrity, noting that her actions earned her family a lifetime of honour.
“Wherever her descendants go, they will be received with red carpets,” he said. “Unlike those whose corrupt actions have made them fugitives in their own country.”
Reiterating his long-standing call for electoral reform, Ezeugwu recalled his remarks at the National Coalition for Peter Obi Summit in Abuja, where he chaired the public presentation of a book documenting the activities of support groups during the 2023 elections.
“We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result,” he emphasized. “The bottom line is electoral reform, electoral reform, and electoral reform. Let INEC and its staff do the right thing so we can have a society that benefits all.”
Looking ahead, Ezeugwu urged INEC to use the Anambra State Governorship Election on November 8, 2025, as a benchmark to prove its readiness for the 2027 general elections.
“The Anambra poll should serve as a litmus test,” he declared. “If the process is transparent, orderly, and credible, it will rekindle public confidence and show that lessons have been learned from past failures.”
His remarks have since drawn commendations from civic and youth organizations who view his stance as a bold call for a new era of peaceful, credible, and accountable elections in Nigeria.
Like Oshiomhole, Ezeugwu’s message resonates with the national yearning for a democracy built on persuasion, not intimidation; on ballots, not bullets.
