Ejiofor made the call while reacting to the recent Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State, which reportedly claimed several lives, during an interview on ARISE Television.

He attributed the recurring military aircraft crashes in Nigeria partly to the country’s broader lack of maintenance culture, stressing the need for a thorough assessment of both aircraft and personnel.

According to him, the latest crash should serve as a wake-up call for the government and military authorities to take more proactive measures to prevent similar tragedies.

Ejiofor said, “So this crash is just one too many, and I think we need to do internal auditing of the Nigerian Air Force to ensure that the aircraft are airworthy and that the people receive training. Don’t forget that it’s not only the Air Force; the various parts of society also have this lack of maintenance culture in Nigeria.

“I call for comprehensive internal auditing of both the aircraft and men, because we can’t just continue to lose men, lose equipment, materials, and all that. I think it’s high time the government stepped up its proactive approaches.”

The former DSS director further urged the Air Force leadership to investigate the possible causes of the repeated crashes, particularly whether maintenance shortcomings or training gaps were involved.

He noted that the military should examine its internal operations to identify weaknesses and take corrective action.

“And the Air Force authorities also have to look inwards to see what it actually is. Is it lack of maintenance or training? I’m sure they are trained,” Ejiofor added.

He maintained that a comprehensive review of aircraft maintenance procedures and personnel readiness was necessary to help safeguard military lives and equipment and reduce the risk of future accidents.

Arteta provided the update during a pre-match press conference on Friday, October 9, 2026, as Arsenal prepared to resume their Premier League campaign following the international break.

Havertz returned early from international duty after being withdrawn during Germany’s opening match against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Konsa missed England’s final group fixture against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Speaking about Havertz’s situation, Arteta explained that the forward had suffered a muscular problem and was sent back to his club after discussions with the national team’s management.

“With Kai, because he had a muscular injury,” Arteta said. “I spoke to Jurgen [Klopp] and immediately they sent the player back, as is normal. Ezri has been carrying some issues as well, and we had good communication with the England camp about that.”

Providing an update on Tzolis, the Arsenal manager said the player would be unavailable for the foreseeable future.

“Tzolis has a muscle injury and he’s going to be out, I think, for a few weeks. He’s not available yet,” he added.

Arteta also revealed that he had remained in contact with national team managers throughout the international break to monitor the fitness of his players and ensure their workloads were properly managed.

Rice was another player who did not feature during the break, with Arsenal taking precautions following several minor fitness concerns.

“We have to manage him because he’s had a few issues since he’s come back from the World Cup,” Arteta said.

“We know the amount of games he’s played in the last three years. It was the sensible thing to do, and hopefully tomorrow he’s available.”

Arsenal Receive Defensive Boost

Arsenal have also been handed a boost in defence, with Ben White returning to training after a groin problem forced him to miss last month’s victory over Sunderland.

Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera have also regained full fitness, giving Arteta more options at the back ahead of the Leeds fixture.

The Arsenal manager confirmed that all three defenders were available for selection.

“They did incredibly well to be available for the Brighton game,” he said.

“We decided not to use them at the end, especially in the manner that we had to play the last few minutes, but they are both available, and Ben White as well.”

Meanwhile, teenage midfielder Max Dowman, 16, is also available for selection after withdrawing from England’s under-19 squad last weekend.

Dowman had featured in all three of England’s matches during the international break against the Republic of Ireland, Norway and the United States.

Arsenal will hope the potential return of several key players can strengthen their squad as they prepare to face Leeds United in their next Premier League assignment.

The party communicated its position in a letter dated October 9, 2026, addressed to the INEC chairman.

Naija News reports that the letter was signed by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.

According to the APC, the Supreme Court judgment reaffirmed the legal requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before conducting primaries, congresses and conventions.

The party noted that the judgment also established that only individuals whose names appear in the duly submitted membership registers are eligible to vote or contest in the parties’ internal electoral processes.

Consequently, the APC called on INEC to verify whether all political parties had complied with the legal requirements and enforce the appropriate sanctions where violations were established, without favouring any party.

As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the ruling party stressed that credible elections depend on transparent internal party democracy and strict adherence to the rule of law.

The APC urged the electoral commission to act swiftly in implementing the Supreme Court judgment to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.

INEC Reviews Supreme Court Judgment

Meanwhile, INEC has disclosed that it is reviewing the Supreme Court judgment on certain provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that could affect the eligibility of some candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing a press conference on INEC’s preparations for the forthcoming elections.

Naija News recalls that the Supreme Court upheld the validity of Sections 77 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026, as amended, concerning eligibility to participate in party primaries. The judgment followed appeals involving the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The ruling has raised fresh questions about the eligibility of some politicians who moved to new political parties after failing to secure tickets from the parties they previously belonged to.

Speaking on the matter, Amupitan said the commission had only received the certified true copy of the judgment on Tuesday and was still examining its implications.

He assured Nigerians that INEC would take appropriate action and communicate its decision after completing the review.