By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Kogi State Police Command has intensified security preparations for Saturday’s Local Government Council elections, deploying intelligence assets to identified flashpoints and directing officers to submit hourly situation reports. The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat. Kankarofi said the measures were designed to prevent electoral violence, protect lives and property, and ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process across the state. He said the Command had issued a joint operational order for the Nigeria Police Force…
Author: National Update
Nigeria’s democracy came under an embarrassing spotlight on Thursday as senators of the 10th National Assembly moved to reserve the most powerful positions in the next Senate for themselves and their allies, weeks before voters decide who returns to the legislature. In a country where elections are supposed to determine who holds public office, the lawmakers appeared to have taken political succession into their own hands, declaring the Senate presidency, deputy presidency and other principal offices of the 11th Senate effectively occupied before the next Assembly has even been elected. The drama unfolded during plenary when senators rallied behind Senate…
The Senate has returned to two previously passed bills for fresh legislative scrutiny after identifying provisions requiring clarification, before approving both measures again to strengthen the legal framework for workers’ compensation and federal polytechnic administration. The decision followed concerns over ambiguities in the Nigerian Employees’ Compensation Trust Fund Agency Bill, 2026, and the Federal Polytechnics Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, prompting lawmakers to rescind their earlier decisions and reconsider the legislation. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, sponsored the motion for rescission and recommittal, arguing that further review was necessary to ensure the bills were legally sound…
***Demands Army Probe The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has demanded an urgent investigation into a reported terrorist attack on a military post in Mairari community, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State, warning that the incident raises serious questions about Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operations. The association called on the Chief of Army Staff and other security chiefs to investigate possible operational lapses, strengthen intelligence gathering and address weaknesses that could expose troops to deadly attacks. In a statement on Thursday, HURIWA said the reported assault, which local sources claimed lasted more than two hours, raised questions about how…
Nigeria generated N3.91 trillion in federation revenue in September, but only N2.43 trillion was shared among the Federal Government, states and local government councils after deductions, transfers, refunds and savings. The figures, released after the October meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja, showed that N1.48 trillion was accounted for by collection costs, transfers, refunds and savings before the distribution. The Federal Government received N832.242 billion from the N2.428 trillion distributable revenue, while the 36 states shared N799.872 billion. Local government councils received N560.660 billion, while oil-producing states were allocated N236.049 billion as their 13 per cent…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that the failure of some political parties to submit their membership registers led to the omission of their governorship candidates from the final list for the 2027 elections. Among those affected are Isa Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Ladi Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State. Pantami’s name was missing despite his victory in a court-ordered rerun of the PDP governorship primary in Gombe. Adebutu and his running mate were also excluded from the final list. The omissions have triggered reactions from affected politicians and…
The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) has challenged President Bola Tinubu to personally defend his record ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that Nigerians will not accept political surrogates in place of accountability. The group’s reaction followed reports that the demands of governance could keep the President off the campaign trail. In a statement on Thursday, POMR spokesman Idris Zekeri Jnr argued that Tinubu cannot delegate the defence of his policies and still expect Nigerians to renew his mandate. “You cannot govern by proxy, campaign through surrogates, and expect votes from Nigerians,” the group said. While party chieftains and…
The 2027 presidential race has opened a fresh line of attack on President Bola Tinubu, with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, questioning why a sitting president would reportedly seek to stay away from the campaign trail while asking Nigerians to renew his mandate. Adebayo said Tinubu’s reported intention to excuse himself from the 2027 campaign circuit raised questions about his willingness to face voters amid growing concerns over the economy and the impact of government policies on households. In a statement issued on Wednesday by his campaign’s Chief Communications Adviser, Comrade Mark Adebayo, the SDP candidate…
Security agencies have arrested the village head of Azare community in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State, Lawan Ganga, and his two sons over alleged involvement in terrorism-related activities and repeated attacks on communities in Gujba and Gulani. The suspects, identified as Gambo Lawal Ganga and Ibrahim Lawal Ganga, were reportedly arrested on September 18, 2026, following a manhunt for members of an alleged criminal network linked to the violence. Several other suspected members of the group are reportedly still at large. Sources familiar with the investigation said information obtained from the suspects could help investigators identify those who…
The Senate has urged the Federal Government to rebuild roads destroyed by flooding and erosion, provide emergency relief to displaced residents and assess damaged farmlands and livestock for compensation. Lawmakers also called for urgent ecological restoration nationwide, with priority for erosion sites in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states. The resolutions followed three motions by Senators Victor Umeh, Anthony Ani and Osita Izunaso during Wednesday’s plenary. The Senate directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide food, potable water, temporary shelter and medical supplies to affected residents. It urged the Ministry of Works to reconstruct damaged roads, restore access to…