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Candidates Cannot Be Forced to Participate in Debates -INEC

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4 years ago

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Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Election Commission, stated on Thursday that the commission does not have the authority to compel any contender to participate in a debate.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

He said so on Thursday in Abuja while speaking during the quarterly consultation with media executives.

Yakubu argued that debate, just like voting, is a democratic right. We know debates are to make citizens be better informed.

I’m not convinced we can force someone to attend the debate, he said. You can’t carry out that. In a democracy, you cannot force anyone to do anything, not even in the most developed nations. Debate is a democratic right, just like voting. We are aware that debates aim to increase public knowledge.

“However, there is an unspoken consequence for candidates not participating. I also understand that some candidates prefer not to attend in order to avoid making mistakes that would drive voters from them.

“We are, however, happy with the job the election debate group is doing. The effort of the media in this aspect should be supported, but they should also be non-partisan.

“Many political parties have come to complain to us that they are not invited to debate. In 2019, we have over 70 presidential candidates and now we have 18,” the statement added.

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Political Earthquake! Obasanjo’s Daughter Dumps APC In Massive Defection!.

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16 minutes ago

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June 11, 2026

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Former senator Iyabo Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central, is preparing to rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shortly after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • Move to PDP: Sources close to the former president’s daughter confirmed she has informed key PDP associates of her decision to return to the party, with a focus on influencing the future governance of Ogun State.

  • Upcoming Rally: There are finalized plans for a joint rally featuring Iyabo Obasanjo and former lawmaker Oladipupo Adebutu on June 16 at the PDP secretariat in Abeokuta, which will reportedly cover both senate and governorship campaign efforts.

  • Background: Iyabo previously served as a senator elected on the PDP platform in 2007, where she chaired the Senate Committee on Health before losing her seat in 2011.

  • Departure from APC: Her resignation from the APC occurred just two months after she failed to secure the party’s governorship ticket for the 2027 election.

  • Reasons for Resignation: After joining the APC in February 2026, she suspended her governorship bid when the party chose Senator Solomon Adeola as a consensus candidate. She cited persistent disrespect from APC leadership, breached agreements, and the alleged mistreatment of her supporters during the consensus process as reasons for her departure.

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The ₦210 Trillion Question: Senate Demands Kyari’s Immediate Arrest After Repeated No-Shows.

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26 minutes ago

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June 11, 2026

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The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has formally issued an arrest warrant for Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), following his repeated failure to appear before the panel. The committee is currently investigating 19 audit queries issued by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation regarding the NNPCL’s financial activities between 2017 and 2023, which include an alleged unaccounted sum of ₦210 trillion.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Disagreement Over the Arrest Warrant

The decision to issue the warrant followed a contentious debate among committee members:

  • Calls for Lenience: Senators Saliu Mustapha and Tony Nwoye urged Chairman Ibrahim Dankwambo to grant Kyari additional time, citing reports that the former executive is currently receiving medical treatment in Germany.

  • Opposition to Delays: Other senators, including Abdul Ningi and Victor Umeh, argued that these verbal excuses were insufficient without formal documentary evidence.

  • Final Decision: Deputy Chairman Senator Peter Nwaebonyi characterized further delays as a “wild goose chase,” noting that this was the ninth committee meeting regarding these queries. Consequently, Chairman Dankwambo ordered that Kyari be arrested and brought before the committee to assist in concluding the assignment.

Defense Against Financial Allegations

Umar Ajiya Isa, a former Chief Financial Officer of the NNPCL, appeared before the committee to refute the allegations:

  • Impossibility of the Figure: Isa asserted that the ₦210 trillion figure is impossible, noting that the NNPCL’s total revenue for the period 2017–2023 was approximately ₦54.5 trillion.

  • Commitment to Transparency: He emphasized that the company had published audited accounts, a practice that had not been maintained for over 40 years prior to their tenure.

  • Broader Impact: Isa warned that circulating unverified claims harms Nigeria’s international reputation, credit ratings, and national projects, specifically pointing to how past petitions disrupted financing for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline.

The committee has directed Umar Ajiya Isa and Bala Wunti, the former Chief Upstream Investment Officer, to reappear in two weeks to continue the investigation.

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‘I See Them Suffering’: Akpabio Breaks Silence On The Medical Impact Of Missing Out On APC Tickets.

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33 minutes ago

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June 11, 2026

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has attributed the inability of some National Assembly members to secure APC tickets for the 2027 elections to a lack of adequate preparation at the grassroots level. Speaking at the inauguration of the APC National Campaign Council for the upcoming Ekiti governorship election, Akpabio noted that several lawmakers are currently experiencing political anxiety and health issues, such as hypertension, following their losses.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • Akpabio emphasized that lawmakers must prioritize “doing their homework” at the ward and polling unit levels rather than relying on his intervention after a defeat.

  • He stressed the necessity of upholding party supremacy and respecting the outcomes of primary elections.

  • While calling on the party leadership to ensure inclusivity in final lists, he maintained that those who lost on the ground should accept the results.

Ekiti State Governorship Campaign: During the same event, Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani, who serves as the Chairman of the campaign council, outlined the party’s strategy for the Ekiti governorship race:

  • The APC has set an ambitious target of over 500,000 votes for Governor Biodun Oyebanji, aiming to more than double the votes he received in the 2022 election.

  • Senator Sani described the election as a referendum on Governor Oyebanji’s performance, supported by endorsements from all living former Ekiti State governors across various political lines.

  • The party has already mobilized structures across all 16 local government areas and 177 wards in the state to drive grassroots support.

  • Sani credited the reforms led by President Bola Tinubu for empowering sub-national governments, noting that the vote target is intended as a demonstration of support for the President’s administration.

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