The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Prince Nwaeze Onu, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sign a separate justice accord ahead of the 2027 general elections. Onu said INEC must make a clear commitment to fairness, transparency and impartiality if Nigerians are to have confidence in the electoral process. In a statement issued in Abuja, the NNPP chieftain said political parties and candidates should not be the only stakeholders required to sign peace agreements before elections. He argued that INEC, as the body responsible for conducting elections, should also publicly…
Author: National Update
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Babangida Nguroje, has urged Taraba residents and political stakeholders to put aside their differences and work together for the continued development of the state. Nguroje made the call in a message marking the 35th anniversary of Taraba State, stressing that the issues that unite the people are greater than those that divide them. The former deputy speaker, who is also an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, commended the founding fathers of the state for establishing a strong foundation for its growth. He described Taraba as a state with enormous potential, citing its…
Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his proposal to reintroduce a targeted petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027. Onanuga questioned the consistency and economic viability of Atiku’s proposal, arguing that statements from the former vice president’s aides had created confusion over whether the proposed subsidy would be temporary or remain in place until certain market conditions were achieved. The presidential aide, in an article published on Thursday, said Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, initially stated that the former vice president would restore petrol subsidy and…
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has tackled the Presidency over its claim that his proposed fuel subsidy policy could cost Nigeria N19.1 trillion annually. Atiku’s camp dismissed the figure as propaganda, accusing the Presidency of deliberately misrepresenting his proposal in an attempt to discredit it ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The controversy followed comments by Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media, Otega Ogra, who said during an interview with TVC News that Atiku’s proposal would impose a huge financial burden on the country. Ogra also questioned…
The Nigeria Police Force has challenged social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to provide evidence to support his allegation that some police officers are colluding with kidnappers and bandits to facilitate abductions. VeryDarkMan made the allegation while speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He claimed that some officers manning checkpoints along major highways allegedly gather information about travellers and pass such details to kidnappers. Reacting in a statement on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, described the allegation as “unsubstantiated and unfairly damaging” to the…
Douglas Baye-Osagie dbayeosagie@yahoo.com After almost a decade in the wilderness, Nigerian club football has finally landed a title sponsor again, The EuroMatch Group, a betting company based in Poland. The EuroMatch Group’s $7.5 million, three-season deal may not match South Africa’s R900 million Betway Premiership agreement, but for the NPFL, it is oxygen. If this is to be the final act of this NFF board, then it might just be the best place to draw the curtains on four years that have largely been disappointing and sour for the fans of the game in Nigeria. As chaotic and disorganized as…
The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has condemned the attack on Kpenya Mosque and the communities of Gidan-Zana and Kpenya in Dekara District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The forum demanded the immediate and safe release of all abducted persons. The Chairman of the forum Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua in a statement on wednesday said it was deeply saddened by the attack, which reportedly occurred on Friday, August 22, 2026, and resulted in the abduction of hundreds of worshippers and residents. Yar’Adua commiserated with the government and people of Niger State, particularly families of those abducted and those reportedly…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has raised concerns over the growing use of religion as a tool for political mobilisation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The organisation warned that allowing religious platforms to become campaign grounds could undermine voters’ freedom of choice, deepen social divisions and threaten peaceful elections. CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said political campaigns should be driven by issues that directly affect Nigerians rather than religious or ethnic sentiments. He listed security, education, healthcare, employment, infrastructure, poverty reduction and accountability among the issues candidates should address as they seek voters’ support. The…
By Opeyemi Owoeye The August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election was never just about who would occupy Bola Ige House in Osogbo. It was framed by INEC itself as “the most consequential off-cycle election in Nigeria” because “after this election, we move straight into the general election.” With barely five months to the 2027 general elections, all eyes turned to the Independent National Electoral Commission under its Chairman, *Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN*. Could INEC conduct a credible poll in a state already described as tense? Could the commission prove it had learned from past off-cycle elections and restore public…
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has raised fresh concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed pilot livestock scheme, demanding full details of the lands earmarked for the programme before any implementation. The forum said it was particularly concerned about the inclusion of communities in Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory in the proposed scheme. In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, the SMBLF warned that the programme must not become a vehicle for taking over ancestral lands or imposing ranching projects on communities without their consent. The statement was signed by…