Connect with us

latest

2027: INEC Announces Plan To Conduct Nationwide Mock Election

Published

on

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed plans to conduct a nationwide mock presidential election ahead of the 2027 general elections to evaluate its result transmission systems and avoid a repeat of previous technical setbacks.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, made this known on Sunday at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 in Abuja, assuring Nigerians that the commission is committed to delivering what he described as the nation’s “best election yet.”

The announcement comes after a recent revision of the 2027 election timetable. INEC had initially scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, with Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls set for March 6, 2027.

Under the updated timetable, however, the presidential and National Assembly elections will now take place on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are fixed for February 6, 2027. The commission said the adjustments align with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

Addressing participants at the town hall, Amupitan underscored the need to rigorously test electoral technology before full deployment. He noted that modern elections rely heavily on technology and that proper stress-testing is essential.

He explained that the proposed mock presidential poll is intended to ensure seamless transmission of results across states, preventing system failures during the actual election.

According to him, although the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was piloted in off-cycle governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti before the 2023 general elections, it was not sufficiently tested for the scale of a nationwide presidential contest.

Amupitan expressed confidence that the technical challenges recorded during the 2023 presidential election would not be repeated, stating that new safeguards have been introduced. He clarified that legal provisions allowing alternative collation methods are precautionary and not replacements for electronic transmission.

The INEC chairman reiterated that the commission’s goal is to ensure smooth transmission of results while strengthening logistics and collation processes across the country.

The move comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding the amended Electoral Act 2026, recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The amendment allows both electronic and manual transmission of results, depending on operational feasibility.

While opposition parties have pushed for electronic transmission to be made mandatory without alternatives, Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s dedication to credible elections, describing free and fair polls as the foundation of democracy. He added that voters in 2027 are more politically conscious and understand the critical link between elections and national development.

Advertisement

latest

Police Arrest NSCDC Officer With Pistol, 17 Bullets At Abuja Kubwa Market.

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

latest

‘We Don’t Want Another Mohbad Case’ – Laolu Gbenjo Speaks On Toluwanisings.

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

latest

El-Rufai’s ₦1bn Legal Battle Takes New Turn As Court Fixes Judgment Date.

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending