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Electoral Act: Okonkwo Urges Senate To Cancel Elections Lacking E-Transmission.

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Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called on the Senate to remove any provision allowing manual transmission of election results, insisting that electronic transmission from polling units should be mandatory to safeguard electoral integrity.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okonkwo, a lawyer and actor-turned-politician, made the appeal during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, amid nationwide backlash over the Senate’s passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

“Once they put that law requiring transmission from the polling unit, I am okay. Polling officers should not leave the polling unit without transmitting results,” he said.

He further urged the House of Representatives to mandate the cancellation of elections in areas where electronic transmission fails. “Where it is not possible to transmit from the polling unit, that election should be cancelled,” Okonkwo added.

When asked whether cancelling such elections would be fair to voters, he stressed that the goal of accreditation and voting is to produce credible results. “If the process leads to a fraudulent result, what have you gained? You have only emboldened the criminals. Fraudulent elections are our biggest problem. When we have free and fair elections, Nigeria can become a superpower,” he said.

Okonkwo emphasized that democracy must transcend party lines, urging Nigerians to defend democratic gains. “Democracy is not the government of the ADC or APC; it is the government of the people. We must fight to sustain it,” he declared.

His remarks come amid protests and criticism from civil society groups, opposition leaders, and youth organizations over the Senate’s initial removal of the phrase “real-time” from the electronic transmission clause.

Last week, the Senate passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, sparking outrage over concerns that the change could weaken electoral transparency. While the bill retained INEC’s discretion over result transmission, the mandatory real-time clause was dropped.

During an emergency session on Tuesday, the Senate reversed course by approving electronic transmission, though the “real-time” requirement was not explicitly reinstated. In cases of internet failure, the manually filled Form EC8A will serve as the official record of results.

Lawmakers have now set up a committee to harmonize the Senate and House versions of the bill as public pressure mounts for credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.

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Insecurity Will Soon Be Defeated, Akpabio Assures Nigerians

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured citizens that the federal government will soon overcome the nation’s security challenges through a renewed, proactive strategy by security forces.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking in support of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Akpabio emphasized that safety is vital for economic growth, noting that no local business or foreign investor can thrive in an atmosphere of chaos. He highlighted that security agencies have transitioned from a reactive stance to taking the fight directly to the enclaves of criminals, bandits, and insurgents.

Key highlights from his address include:

  • Collective Responsibility: Akpabio stressed that military hardware alone cannot end criminality, urging citizens to partner with security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence.

  • Economic and Banking Resilience: He declared that Nigeria’s banking sector has shifted from survival to absolute dominance, becoming one of the safest and most technologically advanced in Africa.

  • Reforms Yielding Results: He credited ongoing bank recapitalisation and financial reforms for ending the era where banks could suddenly collapse and cause depositors to lose their savings.

Ultimately, the Senate President maintained that a combination of proactive security operations, economic reforms, and civic cooperation will drive Nigeria’s path toward lasting recovery and national development.

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‘So Many In A Cell – Gov Bago Breaks Silence On Death Of 37 Miners In NSCDC Custody

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Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has addressed the tragic deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • Severe Overcrowding: Governor Bago confirmed that NSCDC holding facilities were severely overcrowded, stating that “so many [were] in a cell” designed for a much smaller capacity.

  • Potential Causes Under Investigation: While highlighting the dangerous overcrowding, the governor also pointed to possible poisoning as a contributing factor, citing the victims’ foam-filled mouths and the presence of chemical substances at the arrest site.

  • Accountability and Autopsies: The state government has suspended the NSCDC Commandant and his team. Investigations, including autopsies and toxicology reports, are being conducted by multiple agencies, including the police and DSS.

  • Call for Calm: Governor Bago ordered the closure of the mining site in question and appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid unrest as the investigation proceeds.

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“POLITICAL BLOODSHED: Notorious Gunmen Assassinate Popular Enugu Politician In Midnight Ambush!”

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Prince Ikechukwu Oloto, a well-known politician in Enugu State also known as Okanga Moo, has been brutally murdered by unknown attackers in Nsukka Local Government Area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • The Attack: Oloto was reportedly ambushed and killed on Thursday evening inside his residence located in the Odenigbo area of Nsukka.

  • Confirmation: Social media influencer Sen. Chijinkem Ugwuanyi confirmed the tragic incident on Facebook, stating that the politician was brutally attacked and cut into pieces.

  • Police Status: At the time of reporting, the exact circumstances surrounding the assassination remain unclear, and the Enugu State Police Command has yet to release an official statement.

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