Vice President Kashim Shettima has signaled the potential return of former Adamawa State Governor, Senator Muhammad Jibrilla Bindow, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following a meeting regarding politics, governance, security, and shared interests, the Vice President posted a statement declaring, “BINDOW IS COMING!”.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Background on Departure: Bindow previously resigned from the APC in January 2023, citing a lack of genuine stakeholder reconciliation within the party.

• Time with ADC: After leaving the APC, Bindow joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

• Recent Political Activity: While he had previously withdrawn from the 2027 Adamawa governorship race under the ADC for personal reasons, he had reaffirmed his loyalty to that party at the time.

• Implications: The Vice President’s recent comments suggest that Bindow may be preparing to rejoin the APC in anticipation of the 2027 elections.

Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega, has warned that the 2026 Electoral Act contains ambiguous and dangerous loopholes that could undermine the integrity of upcoming elections. Addressing the need for reform, Jega highlighted several critical concerns:....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Electronic Transmission of Results: Jega criticized Section 60(3), arguing that allowing manual collation when electronic transmission fails creates a loophole for politicians to fraudulently manipulate results. He further emphasized that the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) should not be the primary database for result declaration, as it is intended for public viewing rather than secure backend compilation.

• Judicial and Constitutional Issues: He faulted Section 83(5) for being too broad in barring courts from overseeing the internal affairs of political parties, noting that courts should retain jurisdiction when fundamental rights or the rule of law are violated. Additionally, he condemned the removal of candidate “qualification” as a ground for post-election challenges, suggesting this change unfairly benefits “certificate fraudsters”.

• Suggested Reforms: Jega recommended that the government unbundle INEC and strip the President of the power to appoint the commission’s leadership to ensure independence. He also called for a downward review of “excessively high” campaign finance limits, which he believes further monetize the electoral process.

• Judicial Integrity: The former chairman expressed deep concern over “judicial rascality,” urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to address reckless actions by judges that damage public confidence in electoral outcomes.

Legislative Response While Jega urged the National Assembly to amend these laws before the mandatory six-month deadline established by AU and ECOWAS protocols, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has ruled out any such amendments before the 2027 general elections. Bamidele argued that attempting to amend the 2026 Electoral Act so close to the polls would likely cause confusion and further distrust, stating that any necessary reforms must be postponed until after the elections are concluded.

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has mandated the immediate closure of the IDP camp in Bama, following it with an announcement that the Gwoza facility is also set to shut down within the next two to three weeks. This decision, which follows a comprehensive screening of the displaced populations, is supported by the relative peace restored to communities previously held by Boko Haram insurgents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Resettlement Efforts: Over the past seven years, the government has already resettled displaced individuals in various communities, including Banki, Ngoshe, Kirawa, Darajamal, Nguro Soye, Goniri, Abbaram, and Warabe.

• Security Concerns: Governor Zulum noted that Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province elements have been infiltrating the camps, leading to increased criminal activity.

• Addressing Fraud: The governor identified “fake IDPs” who returned to the camps solely to collect relief materials from NGOs, a trend that has complicated the maintenance of these facilities.

• Future Strategy: Zulum emphasized that the government aims to close additional camps before his administration ends, while ensuring that the resettlement process remains safe, sustainable, and supervised by local leaders.