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“Electoral Act Reforms: NASS Approves Dedicated Fund For INEC, E-Transmission, And More”.
In response to criticism over the recently signed Electoral Act, 2026, President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the National Assembly (NASS) has clarified that it consulted extensively with key stakeholders—including the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners—over a two-year period before the law’s enactment.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The new law now makes electronic transmission of election results, use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and creation of a digital membership register by all political parties mandatory for primaries conducted with INEC oversight.
Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) outlined other major reforms, highlighting the establishment of a dedicated fund for INEC to ensure its financial autonomy, operational stability, and administrative continuity.
The Act also empowers the commission to recommend a two-year jail term for any Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who withholds vital documents, mandates an electronic register of voters, and increases campaign spending limits for various elective offices.
Bamidele noted that NASS harmonized different versions of the Electoral Bill, particularly Clause 60(3), to avoid constitutional issues ahead of the 2027 general elections. He stressed that the law’s development was a collective effort involving key stakeholders, not a unilateral parliamentary action.
“The National Assembly worked with the AGF, CSOs, INEC, and development partners, incorporating their inputs into the Act. Given this inclusive process, there is no need for prolonged Executive review before assent,” Bamidele said.
He added that the new electoral governance framework strengthens institutional independence, improves transparency, integrates technology in elections, and reinforces accountability in the system.
Among key provisions, Section 3 establishes INEC’s dedicated fund, requiring election funds to be released at least six months before elections and allowing the commission to review questionable results declared under duress. Section 47 mandates presiding officers to use BVAS or any other technological device approved by INEC for voter accreditation.
Section 60(3) requires electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), with Section 60(6) prescribing six months’ imprisonment, a N500,000 fine, or both for any presiding officer who frustrates this process. The law allows the use of Form EC8A as a backup if electronic transmission fails due to communication issues.
Section 72(2) permits a certified true copy of a court order to suffice for swearing in a candidate when INEC fails to issue a certificate of return. Section 74(1) requires RECs to release certified true copies of any document within 24 hours of payment, with failure attracting a minimum two-year jail term.
Unlike the 2022 Electoral Act, the 2026 law allows only direct and consensus primaries, phasing out indirect primaries to broaden participation and reduce the influence of money in delegate selection. Section 77 requires political parties to maintain digital registers, issue membership cards, and submit registers to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, congresses, or conventions.
The Act also raised campaign spending limits: presidential elections from N5 billion to N10 billion; governorship from N1 billion to N3 billion; Senate from N100 million to N500 million; House of Representatives from N70 million to N250 million; House of Assembly from N30 million to N100 million; Area Council from N30 million to N60 million; and councillorship from N5 million to N10 million.
Section 125 strengthens measures against vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation, prescribing two-year imprisonment or fines of N500,000–N2 million, or both, upon conviction.
Bamidele concluded: “The Electoral Act, 2026 consolidates and refines Nigeria’s electoral governance framework, enhancing electoral credibility, reducing disputes, and strengthening democratic governance.”
An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been arrested for allegedly firing gunshots into the air during a confrontation with traders at Kubwa Market in Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The officer, identified as Onoja Samuel, reportedly arrived at the market armed with a pistol following allegations that some traders had assaulted his wife.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed the incident while addressing journalists at the command on Wednesday, Naija News reports.
Sanusi said the police received a distress call from Kubwa Market, located in the Bwari Area Council, reporting that a man was shooting into the air.
Following the report, officers attached to the Kubwa Police Division were deployed to the scene, where they arrested the suspect.
According to the police commissioner, preliminary investigations revealed that Samuel holds the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) in the NSCDC.
He explained that the officer allegedly fired several shots during an argument with the traders.
“During the ensuing argument with the traders, Onoja Samuel, who is a DSC with the NSCDC, fired several shots into the air,” Sanusi said.
The police recovered a CZ pistol and 17 rounds of live 9mm ammunition from the suspect.
Sanusi added that Samuel remained in police custody and would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The commissioner also urged personnel of other security agencies operating in the FCT to exercise restraint and notify the police divisions responsible for their areas before conducting authorised operations.
He stressed that effective coordination among security agencies was essential to preventing confrontations and maintaining peace across the territory.
Nigerian gospel singer Laolu Gbenjo has cautioned the public against spreading unverified information about the circumstances surrounding the death of his colleague, Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Gbenjo’s warning comes amid growing controversy surrounding the late singer’s death and burial arrangements, with reports of disagreements among members of his family.
The gospel singer spoke on Tuesday during a night of tributes held in honour of Toluwanisings in Ibadan, Oyo State. He warned against allowing the situation to degenerate into a controversy similar to the one that followed the death of Nigerian singer Mohbad.
Describing the deceased as a devoted Christian and a genuine servant of God, Gbenjo said Toluwanisings was passionate about his faith and had a good relationship with people.
He urged the public to stop fuelling unnecessary controversy over the late singer’s death, particularly through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
“You can never see Toluwani in the midst of jobless people. He had a good heart. He was a friend to everybody. He served the Lord with all his heart. Don’t turn Toluwani into Mohbad. That madness on TikTok and Instagram must stop. If you are jobless, go and look for a job,” Gbenjo said.
Meanwhile, comedians Ayobami Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, and Olamide Oladimeji, also known as Dele Omo Woli, have threatened legal action against individuals allegedly linking them to Toluwanisings’ death.
Woli Agba disclosed this in a public notice shared on his Instagram page on Sunday.
In the notice issued by their solicitors, Gemgold, the comedians warned members of the public against publishing or circulating allegations they described as false and defamatory against them.
The legal notice maintained that the allegations were baseless and intended to damage the reputations of the two entertainers.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed December 2, 2026, for judgment in the ₦1 billion fundamental rights suit filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other respondents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik set the date after lawyers representing the parties adopted their respective court processes.
However, El-Rufai’s lawyer was absent when the case was initially called. The judge subsequently deemed the former governor’s filed processes adopted.
Counsel to the ICPC, Abdul Mohammed (SAN), adopted the commission’s court processes and urged the judge to dismiss the suit in its entirety.
Similarly, the lawyer representing the Inspector-General of Police, ACP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, and Maimuna Lami-Shiru, Director of Civil Litigation and Public Law, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), adopted their respective processes and asked the court to dismiss the case.
During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lawyer, Ubong Akpan, arrived in court and apologised for his lateness.
When Akpan sought the court’s permission to adopt his client’s processes, Justice Abdulmalik informed him that the documents had already been deemed adopted.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until December 2, 2026, when judgment is expected to be delivered.
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