The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received several petitions from political parties and candidates over the omission of their names from its final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Sources within the commission told Daily Trust that INEC would review the complaints at its next meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2026.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the commission received numerous petitions before the 14-day period allowed for complaints expired on Saturday.

The petition window was opened following the publication of candidates’ particulars by INEC.

“Yesterday (Saturday) was the final day for receiving petitions. Up until that time, we were still receiving petitions,” one of the sources said.

Among those affected by the omissions are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Ladi Adebutu, the party’s governorship candidate in Ogun State.

Other candidates whose cases are expected to be considered include Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State; Senator Danjuma Laah, the NDC candidate in Kaduna State; and Sebastine Hon, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship nominee in Benue State.

Another source said INEC had already received a preliminary report on the petitions but would not reach a final position until the deadline for submissions had passed.

“There was a kind of preliminary report, but the final report can only come out after the deadline for receiving petitions,” the source stated.

Although the official did not disclose the number of political parties that submitted petitions, the source explained that all complaints were addressed to the INEC chairman and were being examined by the relevant departments.

“Of course, all petitions are addressed to the chairman. You need to sit down with them for the advice of the department. As a department, we have been going through all that, and they had a preliminary report,” the source added.

When asked whether Pantami’s case would be considered at Thursday’s meeting, the official said all petitions would be handled in accordance with the law.

“All the cases. It is what the law says. After publication, they have two weeks to petition, whether they think it will be fair or unfair to them,” the source said.

The official also linked the timing of the meeting to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan’s ongoing zonal tour ahead of the 2027 elections.

The source explained that Amupitan was expected to visit Gombe on Sunday or Monday and return on Wednesday, paving the way for the commission’s meeting the following day.

“So, our next meeting, I know it’s on Thursday because even the chairman is on Zonal tour. Today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday), he should be in Gombe and come back on Wednesday. And when they come back on Wednesday, we will have a meeting on Thursday,” the source said.

A Kenyan man, Athumani Juma, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old boy in Kwale County.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the development in a statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, confirming that the court found Juma guilty of the offence.

According to the agency, the case was concluded at the Msambweni Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court after the prosecution presented evidence establishing the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The incident reportedly occurred on June 7, 2025, in Vivalani Village, Lungalunga Sub-County, when Juma allegedly lured the child to his home with the promise of sweets.

The DCI stated that the suspect assaulted the boy when they were alone and subsequently threatened him to prevent him from revealing what had happened.

Frightened by the threats, the child initially kept the incident to himself, confiding only in his brothers. However, the abuse reportedly resulted in a troubling physical condition that eventually exposed the incident.

On June 14, 2025, a relative noticed the child’s condition and sought an explanation. The boy subsequently disclosed the alleged assault and identified Juma, a water vendor known to him, as the perpetrator.

The matter was reported to the police, while members of the public reportedly apprehended the suspect before handing him over to law enforcement officers.

Investigations were subsequently launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and gather evidence for prosecution.

During the trial, five prosecution witnesses testified against Juma. The accused denied the allegations, claiming that he had been framed.

However, the court rejected his defence, finding the child’s testimony credible and consistent. Medical evidence presented during the proceedings also corroborated the account.

On October 5, 2026, Juma was convicted of defilement under Section 8(1), read together with Section 8(2) of Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act, and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Reacting to the outcome, the DCI said the case demonstrated the importance of thorough investigations, credible witness testimony, medical evidence and cooperation between communities and justice institutions in securing convictions for offences against vulnerable children.

The agency also urged members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse promptly to the nearest police station or through its toll-free line on 0800 722 203. Reports can also be made via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.

The DCI reaffirmed its commitment to combating sexual offences and violence against children, stressing that protecting minors requires collective responsibility and that suspected abuse should never be concealed or ignored.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old housewife, Fatima Dalha, for allegedly stabbing her husband during a dispute over money and a mobile phone.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Lirr Bajar community, Dass Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that police operatives rescued the suspect from an angry mob that was threatening to lynch her.

According to the police, the incident began when Fatima and her 30-year-old husband, whose marriage was barely a few months old, engaged in an argument over money, wrappers and a mobile phone she claimed belonged to her.

The disagreement reportedly escalated into a physical confrontation, during which the suspect allegedly picked up a knife and stabbed her husband in the stomach.

In the statement, the police spokesperson described how the domestic dispute turned violent.

“On 25th October, 2026, at about 0600hrs, what started as a heated argument between husband and wife in Lirr Bajar, Dass LGA, turned bloody,” the statement read.

Habib explained that Fatima had confronted her husband over the items she claimed he was keeping in his possession, but the disagreement soon escalated.

“Words failed. Tempers flared. The argument turned into a physical fight.

“In a moment of rage and desperation, Fatima reached for a knife lying close by and stabbed her husband in the stomach,” the statement added.

The victim reportedly collapsed and began bleeding, prompting residents to gather at the scene. An angry mob allegedly threatened to attack the suspect before officers from the Dass Divisional Police Headquarters arrived.

The police rescued Fatima from the mob and rushed her injured husband to a hospital, where he is receiving treatment.

The command confirmed that the suspect had been detained and the knife allegedly used in the incident recovered.

According to the statement, the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further investigation.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, expressed concern over cases of domestic violence involving young couples.

He urged couples to resolve disagreements through peaceful dialogue and seek the intervention of family members, elders or lawful authorities instead of resorting to violence.

“A moment of anger can destroy two lives forever. We urge couples to seek peaceful means, through family, elders and lawful channels, instead of resorting to violence,” the commissioner advised.

Aliyu also cautioned residents against taking the law into their own hands, stressing that the command remained committed to ensuring that justice was served professionally and humanely.