During a recent visit to Washington, D.C., Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), argued that the prevalence of election rigging in Nigeria is largely due to voters failing to actively defend their ballots. Obi emphasized that while candidates play a role in the process, credible outcomes ultimately depend on citizens remaining at their polling units to ensure votes are counted transparently. He criticized the “transactional” nature of Nigerian politics, suggesting that many voters prioritize other activities over the essential task of monitoring the electoral process. According to Obi, Nigeria’s primary challenge is poor political leadership, and he urged citizens to take collective ownership of their votes to demand the accountable governance required for the country to succeed.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for increased citizen involvement in protecting electoral integrity. During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., Obi stated that election manipulation persists because voters frequently leave polling stations before the counting process is completed. He argued that:

• Voters must proactively defend their ballots at polling units to ensure transparency and prevent rigging.

• Nigeria’s fundamental obstacle is a crisis of political leadership, rather than a lack of natural or human resources.

• Real change requires Nigerians to move beyond passive participation and take active responsibility for the electoral process.

Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, recently stated that ending Nigeria’s insecurity requires a combination of collective national effort and divine intervention. In an interview with BBC Hausa, he emphasized that insecurity is a broad national concern that transcends political, religious, and regional lines, necessitating unified support from citizens, community leaders, and security agencies.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Call for Unity: The Minister urged Nigerians to prioritize national interest over partisan politics, noting that insecurity is not a tool for scoring political points.

• Criticism of Opposition: Matawalle accused certain opposition figures of exploiting the security situation to incite the public against the government and advance their own political agendas, rather than helping to address the crisis.

• Combating Misinformation: He raised alarm over the circulation of “fake and recycled” videos on social media—some dating back years or originating from other countries—which are falsely presented as current events to suggest worsening security under the Tinubu administration. He encouraged citizens to verify information before sharing it.

• Government Commitment: Highlighting that the Federal Government has ordered security forces to deal decisively with criminal elements, Matawalle acknowledged that while progress is being made, complex security challenges cannot be resolved overnight.

• Public Cooperation: He called for continued public patience, prayer, and the provision of actionable intelligence to security forces to help restore peace across the country.

The Minister’s comments come amid renewed public anxiety following reports of mass abductions at schools in Oyo and Borno states.

Iranian state television has confirmed that the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be laid to rest on July 9 at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Funeral rites are set to commence on July 4 in Tehran, marking a formal conclusion to the period following his death in US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28, 2026. Processions are planned to travel through Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad, with officials anticipating a massive turnout of up to 20 million people across the country. In the wake of his death, the Assembly of Experts has officially appointed his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader, urging national unity and allegiance to the new leadership.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶