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‘In Our Wisdom’ – Tajudeen Abbas Explains Why NASS Backed Electronic, Manual Results Transmission.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has justified the National Assembly’s decision to adopt both electronic and manual transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Abbas spoke over the weekend while hosting the Ambassador of Spain to Nigeria, Felix Costales, at his office in Abuja. He explained that Nigeria’s current level of internet penetration makes it impractical to rely solely on electronic transmission, warning that doing so could disenfranchise millions of voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, limiting the process to electronic transmission could worsen voter apathy, particularly in areas without reliable internet access. He noted that lawmakers opted for a hybrid system to ensure inclusiveness — allowing electronic transmission where feasible and manual transmission where necessary.
Abbas acknowledged concerns trailing the amended Electoral Act but maintained that his engagement with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission indicates the commission is prepared to conduct credible, transparent and inclusive elections in 2027.
He argued that even major cities such as Abuja still experience unstable internet connectivity, citing reports that nearly 40 per cent of Nigeria remains underserved in terms of internet coverage. With voter turnout already hovering between 12 and 15 per cent under the manual system, he warned that a fully electronic approach could further reduce participation and effectively exclude communities lacking connectivity.
The Speaker also pointed to broader structural challenges, including inadequate electricity supply, noting that powering digital infrastructure nationwide on election day would pose significant difficulties. He added that opposition lawmakers are aware of these realities and the risks associated with exclusive real-time electronic transmission.
Describing Nigeria’s democracy as a work in progress, Abbas said reforms would continue to evolve with each electoral cycle. He expressed optimism that, with technical support from partners such as Spain, Nigeria’s democratic institutions — particularly the legislature — would grow stronger.
He assured that the next general election would improve on previous ones, adding that discussions with the new INEC chairman left him confident about planned reforms.
Earlier, Ambassador Costales disclosed that Spain also uses manual transmission of election results. He said his visit was aimed at strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and deepening bilateral relations between both countries.
The ambassador acknowledged that elections often generate intense political debate and polarisation, noting that such challenges are not unique to Nigeria but are also evident across Europe and the United States. He stressed the importance of compromise and consensus in democratic governance.
Speaker Abbas received the envoy alongside the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi; the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Wole Oke; and the Chairman of the Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, Hon. Jafaru Yakubu.
The State Wing Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has ordered all public primary and secondary school teachers in Abuja to commence an indefinite strike from Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The union also directed parents and guardians to keep their children at home until further notice, citing unresolved welfare concerns and what it described as government inaction.
This followed a communiqué issued after an emergency SWEC meeting held in Gwagwalada, Abuja, over the weekend and signed by the state leadership of the union.
Teachers were instructed to fully comply with the strike directive and await further instructions from the union leadership, as the industrial action remains in force until their demands are addressed.
According to the communiqué, the strike became necessary after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which elapsed without a satisfactory response.
The union recalled that although previous interventions led to the suspension of an earlier strike, several key issues affecting teachers’ welfare were still unresolved.
It also expressed concern that a committee set up to address outstanding entitlements submitted its report in August 2025, but the findings have not been made public or implemented.
While acknowledging the payment of the new minimum wage and some salary arrears, the union insisted that major concerns remain unattended.
The NUT further demanded reforms in promotion processes and a review of the 2024 promotion exercise.
After what it described as unsuccessful engagements and expired deadlines, the union declared that all teachers in the FCT will remain on strike indefinitely until their demands are met.
Nigerian actor and filmmaker Emmanuel Ikubese has spoken about the breakdown of his marriage to celebrity makeup artist Anita Adetoye.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The couple tied the knot in March 2020 in a widely publicised wedding that attracted attention nationwide. However, by February 2021, speculation about a split began after Ikubese deleted their wedding photos from Instagram and both parties unfollowed each other on social media.
Speaking on the Archives of Becoming Podcast, Ikubese described the end of the marriage as a painful personal setback. He said it made him deeply question himself, especially as someone who had always hoped for a stable family life.
According to him, achieving marriage had felt like a major life goal, and its collapse left him feeling as though he had failed. He added that the public nature of their wedding made the experience even more difficult, leaving him exposed and emotionally shaken.
He explained that the experience pushed him into deep reflection about his identity and life direction, describing it as a turning point that forced him to re-evaluate himself. He also noted that he could only speak from his own experience and not on behalf of his ex-wife.
Ikubese further revealed that the breakup brought him significant emotional pain and altered how he viewed life, eventually drawing him closer to his faith as he searched for answers.
“It was an identity thing. If you don’t find your identity, you always find yourself in moments like this… God needed a reset, and that was the reset for me,” he said.
“I had always desired a family… The wedding I had was very high-profile… and I just felt like I’d failed.
“It changed my life… it felt like I had to go back to God and ask, ‘Where did I miss this?’
“I was always a lost Emmanuel… fame just felt good… I didn’t even understand why I was in the industry… 2020 was just a crash.”
Former Kogi West senator, Dino Melaye, has explained why he left the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying his experience in the party became unbearable and forced him to move on.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He made this known during an interview on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Akinbaloye, where he reflected on his time in the ruling party and his decision to exit.
Melaye said the political environment he found himself in at the time no longer aligned with his values, adding that he had to step away to reassess his direction in politics.
He compared the decision to a major personal turning point, stressing that it was not made hastily but after deep reflection on his future.
According to him, leaving the party was necessary for his personal and political survival as the situation had become difficult to manage.
He said the experience marked a significant change in his political journey, prompting him to seek a new path that better suited his beliefs and ambitions.
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