Oriire Kidnap: FG arraigns Ansaru Commanders, 3 others on fresh charges of terrorism, murder

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, arraigned two commanders of the Ansaru terrorist organization captured by the Department of State Services (DSS), and their three foot soldiers, for terrorism, kidnapping and murder of two teachers of schools in Orire LGA of Oyo State.

The five suspects were arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahin of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In August 2025, DSS operatives captured Mahmuda top commander, Abubakar Abba Mahmuda Abu Bara’a and his deputy, Abubakar Abbas aka Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri.

According to security sources, after the capture, Ansaru made two attempts- one in December 2025, and another in February 2026, to free their commanders. However, the attempts were reportedly foiled by DSS intelligence to the state security council, after which the secret police continued to update intelligence on the group’s activities.

On May 15, 2026, several armed men belonging to Ansaru terror group stormed some schools in Oriire LGA of Oyo State, kidnapping 46 people made up of 39 students and seven teachers. Apparently, to mount pressure on government to release their two captured commanders in DSS’ custody, the terrorists killed two of the teachers.

On July 10, 2026, however, security forces from the DSS and the military, police and other security agencies, stormed the forest where the terrorists were holding the abductees, freeing the hostages.

During the rescue operation, DSS operatives captured three more members of the Ansaru terror organization- Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

On July 23, the three men pleaded guilty to concealing information regarding the Oriire school kidnapping and for membership in the proscribed Darul Salam/Ansaru group. They were promptly handed life imprisonment.

Relatedly, a Federal High Court in Abuja, last week, sentenced Mahmud Usman (Abu Bara’a) and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri, to life imprisonment after they both pleaded guilty to some charges in the 32-count charge of belonging to a terrorist organization, among other charges.

After the sentencing, feelers from the DSS suggested that the secret police was dissatisfied with the judgement and was going to appeal.

However, in a fresh twist, the DSS, on Wednesday, changed strategy, opting to arraign the terrorist commanders and three of their foot soldiers on fresh charges of terrorism, kidnapping and murder of persons in Oriire LGA.

Justice Salim adjourned the matter to September 24 for the commencement of trial. He ordered that the five suspects remain in the custody of the DSS.

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Breaking: FG arraigns ‘BOSYA President’ Kaigama for terrorism

The Federal government, on Wednesday, arraigned President of the Borno State Youths Association (BOSYA), Samaila Ibrahim Kaigama, recently arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), for terrorism.

Kaigama was arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, in Abuja.

The self-styled youth president had during an interview session last week on Channels Television, admitted that he had discussions with Boko Haram terrorists on alleged ransom payments for victims they kidnapped.

Security sources disclosed that the secret police is in possession of rock-solid evidence of extortion of victims’ families by Kaigama.

Justice Ibrahim adjourned the matter to September 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial, even as he ordered that the youth president remain in the custody of the DSS. Authority.

Nigeria 2027 and the overwhelming ‘Trump card’

By Ike Abonyi

” _To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal.”_

— Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State.

The upcoming make-or-mar 2027 Nigeria’s Presidential election is being increasingly dominated by the figure of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has become a pivotal, almost decisive, element in Nigeria’s political landscape. His influence is so pronounced that Nigeria’s democratic trajectory appears, at times, to be that of a political dependency of the United States, with Trump himself acting as the de facto arbiter of its democratic destiny. This centrality is not accidental; Trump has emerged as the ‘Trump card’ – a metaphor drawn from card games signifying a hidden advantage or decisive resource – for the crucial 2027 polls.

In narrative contexts, a trump card is a potent tool, a secret weapon or unexpected advantage deployed at a critical moment to shift power dynamics and secure victory dramatically. It allows a character to circumvent established rules or resolve narrative impasses. The anticipation of when and how this secret weapon will be revealed builds suspense, offering insight into the character’s strategic acumen. In essence, a trump card is typically revealed at a very crucial moment to transform a potential loss into a decisive victory.

This concept is directly applicable to Nigeria’s political arena. The author plants the seeds of this ‘secret advantage’ beforehand, allowing the audience or opponents to sense its existence, even if its precise nature and timing remain unknown. By all accounts, Nigeria’s democratic journey towards the 2027 election is faltering, and Donald Trump has become the critical factor poised to be the election’s ultimate trump card.

A recent example of Trump’s impact was a wave created by a purported letter from him to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending his administration’s efforts against terrorism. This message, arriving six months before a critical presidential election, was a significant boon for the ruling party and a source of consternation for the opposition. Regardless of the letter’s authenticity, the intense reactions it generated underscored Trump’s strategic importance in Nigeria’s electoral calculus.

The ruling party swiftly leveraged this purported endorsement for political gain, while the opposition vehemently disputed its legitimacy. This divergence in how both factions engage with Trump highlights his crucial role as the ‘trump card’ that could significantly shape the 2027 presidential outcome. This concern is rooted in historical precedent; in 2015, the U.S. played a role in the downfall of the then-ruling President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and led to the rise of the current ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

Interestingly, both the ruling party and the opposition are now seeking Trump’s favour, albeit for different reasons. The incumbent government is hoping that Trump will overlook their numerous shortcomings – such as questionable backgrounds, corruption allegations, and electoral manipulation records that are very well known to the U.S and look the other way to enable them to capitalise on their incumbency advantages. Conversely, the opposition is strongly imploring Trump to take a more active interest in the election, specifically by critically scrutinising the known dirty dealings of President Tinubu while he lived in the U.S. Their primary demand is for Trump to facilitate a free, fair, and credible election, a prospect that deeply unsettles the ruling party.

This intense focus on Donald Trump raises questions about Nigeria’s sovereignty, making it appear more like a political colony than an independent African nation. This reliance on an external ‘trump card’ reflects a persistent tendency to embrace undemocratic practices.

Trump’s involvement in Nigeria’s political discourse intensified after he secured a second term in 2024, sparking hope among the opposition that he would champion democratic reforms. However, his subsequent actions have been unpredictable, creating ambiguity.

The appointment of his son-in-law, Massad Bolous, a known ally of the Tinubus in charge of African Affairs, opened the door for suspicion on Trump’s real agenda for Nigeria, especially the vital 2027 poll.

Consequently, both the Tinubu administration and the opposition, propelled by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, are expending considerable resources and energy lobbying in the U.S. rather than engaging directly with the Nigerian populace. Their focus is not on mobilising voters, whose ballots often carry little weight, but on securing the ‘trump card’ that could influence the U.S. stance on electoral fraud or support for a fair election.

These ‘Trump Card’ variables are not peripheral to the 2027 election; they represent a significant geopolitical influence with Nigeria at its centre, reshaping global electoral dynamics. U.S. political rhetoric under President Trump acts as a major catalyst for the approaching pivotal election.

Various Political commentators term these influential factors ‘Trump Cards,’ which local candidates and coalitions must either leverage or counter. When discussions arise about Nigeria ‘awaiting’ Donald Trump’s influence on the 2027 election, they consider how shifts in U.S. foreign policy and global geopolitics under his presidency might affect Nigeria’s political landscape.

While Trump does not directly control Nigerian elections, a U.S. presidency significantly impacts the economic climate, diplomatic relations, and campaign narratives. The strategic manoeuvring by President Tinubu and the fragmented opposition, including their lobbying efforts, are shaping the electoral dynamics. Meanwhile, a substantial portion of Nigerian voters remain undecided, not strongly aligned with either side of the Atiku/Tinubu lobbying teams.

Instead, they are seeking fundamental changes in their governance, and many see Peter Obi and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as embodying this desire, owing to his unimpeachable record of integrity and prudence.

In contrast, the incumbent administration under Tinubu is concentrating its efforts on employing statecraft, international diplomacy, and cross-party alliances to solidify its prospects for re-election. The administration has actively pursued foreign policy avenues and engaged reputable international lobbying firms in Washington to promote its stringent macroeconomic policies—including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange rates—as crucial measures for achieving long-term economic stability and growth.

A significant strategy of the APC’s lobbying contingent involves weakening opposition structures by encouraging the defection of prominent opposition figures, such as state governors. Furthermore, there are concerted attempts to financially incentivise certain youth groups and other state-level organisations before the official campaign period commences.

Regrettably, despite acknowledging that a divided opposition contributed to the APC’s victory in 2023, Atiku Abubakar’s lobbying efforts do not appear to be prioritising the unification of opposition platforms. This is likely due to his unwillingness to make the necessary concessions, as the established political office zoning arrangements are not advantageous to him.

Notwithstanding, the current Tinubu administration appears vulnerable, potentially to a fractured opposition bolstered by the Obi/Kwankwaso alliance—especially given the prevalent cost-of-living crises and security concerns, which frame the election as a direct judgment on the incumbent’s performance. Renowned Ghanaian first President Kwame Nkrumah’s observation about neo-colonialism resonates with Nigeria’s current democratic experience: ‘The essence of neo-colonialism is that the State which is subject to it is, in theory, independent… In reality, its economic system and thus its political policy are directed from outside.’

Similarly, a former US Secretary of State, Zbigniew Brzezinski, articulated America’s pragmatic approach for a Nigerian lesson that: ‘America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.’ May divine intervention guide us.

Peter Obi to Nigerians: Don’t be distracted by the trivialities of the ruling class

The Peter Obi Media Office says it has been compelled to react to the reactions to our principal’s recent television interview, having observed with growing concern the persistent attempts by paid political operatives, propaganda machinery, and elements aligned with the ruling establishment to divert national attention away from the pressing socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria today.

In a statement on Wednesday, the office said: “After the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Presidential Candidate painstakingly outlined the structural defects in our governance, the crippling economic hardship, and concrete steps toward national revival, the public has once again witnessed the predictable reflex of the ruling class: a desperate scramble to weaponise minor slips, cherry-pick narratives, and elevate non-issues over critical national debate.

“While millions of Nigerian families continue to suffer under the weight of hyperinflation, food insecurity, skyrocketing energy costs, widespread unemployment, and unrelenting insecurity, the political elite and their mouthpieces are fixated on peddling trivialities. This is not an accident; it is a calculated political strategy designed to keep the public emotionally agitated and intellectually distracted from demanding real accountability.

“We wish to state unequivocally:

Nigeria is in a crisis of governance, not a battle of soundbites: The debate that Nigeria desperately needs today is not about political drama or deliberate semantic distortions; it is about how to rescue a failing economy, restore the purchasing power of the naira, secure innocent lives, and transition our nation from a consumption-driven economy to a productive powerhouse.
*We reject the rules of engagement set by the ruling class:* The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the millions of patriotic Nigerians who stand with us will not be dragged into the gutter of trivial controversies created by those who have failed the nation. We refuse to allow those responsible for the country’s current plight to set the agenda for public discourse.
*An appeal to the Nigerian public and media*: We urge the press and the Nigerian public, particularly the youth whose futures are at stake, to remain vigilant and discerning. Do not yield to the diversionary tactics of propaganda. Whenever the handlers of this administration attempt to turn a national conversation into a circus of irrelevancies, ask them the hard questions:
_Where is the plan to lower food inflation?
How do we secure our farms and highways?
What is being done to rescue millions falling below the poverty line?_

Peter Obi remains unwavering in his commitment to a new Nigeria built on competence, character, transparency, and actionable solutions. No amount of coordinated distraction or smear will deter him from speaking truth to power and standing firmly with the Nigerian people.

Let us remain focused on the issues that truly matter.

“A new Nigeria is possible, but only if we refuse to be distracted,” it concluded.

Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents — Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon political grandstanding and confront the monumental failures of his administration, saying no amount of macho rhetoric can rescue a government that has already lost the confidence of its people.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described President Tinubu’s declaration that he would “wrestle his opponents to the finish” as the lamentation of a drowning man desperately seeking to divert attention from an abysmal record in office.

Atiku said it was particularly disturbing that such a reckless and undistinguished remark was made in response to a solemn appeal by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria for credible, transparent and peaceful elections. He said the President’s flippant response underscored the prevailing sense of aloofness that has come to define his administration and reflected a troubling lack of the courtesy, humility and decorum expected of a President during such a high-profile engagement with one of the country’s most respected moral institutions. Rather than reassuring Nigerians of his commitment to electoral integrity, the President chose bravado over statesmanship.

“Mr. President, you are a drowning man. Wrestle with your failures, not your opponents,” Atiku said.

He noted that a President presiding over the worst cost-of-living crisis in recent memory ought not to be talking about wrestling political opponents but about wrestling inflation to the ground, defeating hunger, restoring security, stabilising the naira and rebuilding public confidence in government.

“The President should wrestle with the millions of Nigerians who now skip meals because food has become a luxury. He should wrestle with the insecurity that has turned farming communities into graveyards and highways into hunting grounds for criminals. He should wrestle with the unemployment that has robbed an entire generation of hope. He should wrestle with an economy suffocating under policy inconsistency, reckless borrowing and dwindling investor confidence.”

According to Atiku, when leaders fail, they often resort to political theatre in the hope that loud rhetoric will drown out the cries of suffering citizens.

“These are the words of a drowning man. A government that has little to celebrate inevitably seeks refuge in chest-thumping. But Nigerians are no longer interested in political performances. They are interested in performance in government. Empty slogans cannot fill empty stomachs. Boastful declarations cannot lower food prices. Threats against political opponents cannot restore the value of the naira.”

The former Vice President said the greatest opponent confronting President Tinubu is neither the ADC nor any other opposition party.

“His greatest opponent is his own record. Every unpaid worker, every struggling business, every unemployed graduate, every victim of insecurity and every hungry family is a living testimony to the consequences of his administration’s choices. That is the contest he has consistently failed to win.”

Atiku reminded the President that democracy is not a wrestling ring where intimidation determines the winner.

“Democracy is a marketplace of ideas and accountability. Governments earn another term through competence, compassion and measurable results—not through combative rhetoric. In 2027, Nigerians will not be stepping into a wrestling arena. They will be stepping into polling units to deliver a constitutional verdict.”

He urged President Tinubu to devote the remainder of his tenure to addressing the nation’s deepening crises instead of manufacturing imaginary political battles.

“The Nigerian people are not looking for a wrestler. They are looking for a leader. History will not remember who shouted the loudest. It will remember who governed the best.”

Oriire Kidnap: FG arraigns Ansaru Commanders, 3 others arrested by DSS

The five suspects were arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahin of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

In August 2025, DSS operatives captured Mahmuda top commander, Abubakar Abba Mahmuda Abu Bara’a and his deputy, Abubakar Abbas aka Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri.

On July 10, 2026, however, security forces from the DSS and the military, police and other security agencies, stormed the forest where the terrorists were holding the abductees, freeing the hostages.

During the rescue operation, DSS operatives captured three more members of the Ansaru terror organization- Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

After the sentencing, feelers from the DSS suggested that the secret police was dissatisfied with the judgement and was going to appeal.

Justice Salim adjourned the matter to September 24 for the commencement of trial. He ordered that the five suspects remain in the custody of the DSS. Authority.

Ex-Prestige Assurance Executive petitions Speaker Abbas over alleged wrongful dismissal

A former Head of Business Development at Prestige Assurance Plc, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Edet, has petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, alleging wrongful termination of her employment, discriminatory treatment, workplace harassment, and corporate governance breaches by the insurance company.

In the petition dated July 20, 2026, and addressed to the Speaker through Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Esq., Edet asked the House to investigate the circumstances surrounding the termination of her appointment and direct the company to grant her what she described as equitable disengagement benefits.

Edet, whose employment was terminated on April 24, 2026, described the dismissal as “wrongful, premature and procedurally defective,” alleging that she was denied severance benefits despite years of service and outstanding performance.

According to her, she joined Prestige Assurance in July 2021 as a management staff member with an annual business target of about ₦9 billion. She claimed that through business development initiatives and market expansion, she increased her portfolio to approximately ₦25 billion by the end of the 2025 financial year.

She further stated that the company had acknowledged her performance in a confirmation letter dated October 27, 2022, which commended her professionalism and commitment to the company’s growth.

The petitioner, however, alleged that despite her performance, she was dismissed on allegations of lateness and dereliction of duty, claims she described as false and inconsistent with the operational realities of the insurance industry.

She argued that marketing executives in the sector often engage clients and insurance brokers outside the office before official resumption time, a practice she said contributed significantly to the growth of her portfolio.

Edet alleged that her dismissal was motivated by discrimination and personal hostility rather than poor performance or misconduct.

She also accused the company of applying different standards in the disengagement of management staff.

According to her, previous executives who left the company under similar or less compelling circumstances received generous severance packages, including several months’ salary, gratuity and other benefits approved by the board.

She cited the cases of a former Company Secretary, Mr. Odulana, Mr. Samson Omoware of the underwriting department, and another staff member identified as Mr. Awofuye, whom she claimed were accorded more favourable exit terms than she received.

The former executive further alleged that the company denied her fair hearing before terminating her appointment.

She claimed she was never issued a formal query, invited to any disciplinary panel, informed of allegations against her in writing, or given an opportunity to defend herself before the termination letter was issued.

Edet also alleged that Prestige Assurance operates without a duly approved Human Capital Policy Manual governing disciplinary procedures for management staff, describing the situation as a serious corporate governance concern.

She accused the company’s management of workplace bullying, intimidation, abuse of executive authority and actions inconsistent with corporate governance standards applicable to regulated financial institutions.

Among other requests, Edet urged the House of Representatives to investigate the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Prestige Assurance over the allegations, direct the company to grant her disengagement benefits comparable to those previously approved for other executives, sanction the company for alleged discriminatory labour practices, and compel it to release her official vehicle, which she claimed was due to become her property under company policy.

She is also seeking payment of two years’ salary amounting to ₦64 million, in addition to other benefits she said are due to her.

The petition stated that she remains willing to provide additional documentary evidence to support her claims.

Prestige Assurance Plc had not responded to the allegations contained in the petition as of the time of filing this report. The allegations remain those of the petitioner and have not been independently verified.

Did Abacha Actually Die On Top Of A Woman?

By Festus Adedayo

The Yoruba establish a direct causal relationship between tragic news and emotional grief. They observe that if the ears are not fed with rotten news, the mind will not be consumed by grief. Whatever his motive for publishing his book, DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield, retired Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) Dennis Amachree has reawakened an unpleasant yet momentous chapter in our national history. In doing so, he proves right the ancient adage that a twenty-year-old pounded yam can still burn one’s fingers as though it were fresh off the mortar. Through his book, Amachree resurrects the narrative surrounding the sudden, gladsome news of the demise of Nigeria’s former Commander-in-Chief and military dictator, General Sani Abacha.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how the libido of men in power is a critical factor we must reckon with when analyzing the mechanics and texture of political authority. Even previously, I undertook a broader analysis of what I called thesexual history of the Nigerian presidency. It was a salacious narrative of the perceived sexual exploits of occupants of Dodan Barracks and Aso Rock, the two residences of Nigeria’s power. Amachree’s DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield underscores why this dimension of power cannot be brushed aside or taken for granted. In it, the author posits that on June 8, 1998, General Abacha did not die from a poisoned handshake from former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but from cardiac arrest during an intimate encounter with a paramour at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa Guest House in Abuja.

On a social media platform, a commentator questioned whether Amachree was acting as an interloper, whether he had breached official secrecy rules, and why he chose to release this account at this particular time. My response focused on the formal process of declassifying official information and documents — the administrative procedure for removing security markings from secret government records to make them accessible to the public. Typically, declassification occurs through three main mechanisms: automatic declassification over time, systematic review by government agencies, and mandatory requests by interested members of the public.

Declassified records do not always tell the absolute truth, as governments often hold back unverified or raw intelligence from public disclosure to prevent panic. This appears to be what occurred in the Abacha episode. Generally, when official records reach a certain age — frequently 25 years — they are unsealed, provided they do not fall under specific exceptions whose release could compromise national security or trigger widespread public unrest. Sensitive national security files often remain classified indefinitely to protect state interests.

Because Abacha died 28 years ago, the public has spent decades navigating competing theories. One popular claim alleged that he ate apples laced with a lethal potion prepared by foreign intelligence agencies. His ADC, from whom authentic fact could have come, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, propounded another theory, claiming Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was used to assassinate him. He further noted that Abacha began exhibiting unusual physical traits immediately after a handshake.

However, Al-Mustapha cannot be held to be a witness of truth if indeed Abacha died this way which, in African context, was a taboo. Again, he is the abore (Yoruba traditional male priest who assists in performing rituals, making offerings, and serving as a spiritual intermediary) of the Abacha shrine from whose mouth evil narratives are never expected to ooze out. By waiting for the required passage of time, Amachree fulfilled the standard criteria for declassifying information, granting him the administrative leeway to disclose what he knew about Abacha’s final hours.

However, whistle-blowers and former intelligence officers are sometimes deployed to divert public focus from pressing national issues or distract from an unfolding, unpleasant political reality. That could also possibly be Amachree’s assignment.

Expectedly, pushback and denials followed Amachree’s revelations. They are however a healthy development for public discourse. In an engaging opinion piece in the Vanguard newspaper, Tony Eluemunor challenged Amachree’s narrative using medical and situational evidence. Eluemunor argued that while Abacha suffered from diabetes and cirrhosis, he was severely ill on the night of June 8, despite the presence of two foreign paramours with him.

Of a truth, the whole country knew, prior to his expiration, that Abacha was ill. A few days before his passing, he appeared on national television looking gaunt, his lips unusually coloured and his goggles seemingly hiding critical information about his visage. The fact that he had two Filipinos with him on the night of his death, according to Eluemunor, presents a stark, troubling paradox: a ruler fiercely resisting Western influence and railing against America whom he called “global policemen of democracy,” while simultaneously permitting foreign liaisonsunhindered access into the innermost sexual and territorial borders of Nigeria’s power base.

Since Abacha’s era, numerous Nigerian public officials — governors, ministers, legislative leaders, and political aides —have compromised the dignity of public office through personal indulgences. Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole recently courted controversy regarding a widely circulated video involving a South African lifestyle influencer (euphemism for prostitutes) Ms. Leshaan Dagama, aboard a chartered aircraft. Such conduct appears to be a recurring pastime among powerful men.

Upon reading my previous piece, someone reminded me that all men, regardless of their situation in places of power, remain complicit in the borderless irritancy of the male member. Malawian feminist scholar and former government minister, Dr. Jessie Kabwila, noted this during a public address in June 2025. There, she stated candidly: “All men are weak before women.” Centuries prior, in his seminal History of Sexuality, philosopher Michel Foucault similarly challenged Western society’s understanding of sex, power, and discipline, demonstrating how carnal desires intersect with structures of institutional control.

What has largely kept the full truth of Abacha’s final moments shrouded from public scrutiny is religious sensitivity. Till date, no one knows what ailed and probably killed Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari. I strongly advocate that Nigerian leaders ought to be exempt from religious boundaries from the moment of their ascension to office up until their death. Upon assumption of office, they should totally become the collective property of the Nigerian state. Consequently, the full, unvarnished facts surrounding their final days should belong strictly to the public record, free from religious taboos, hypocritical cover-ups, or selective official secrecy.

2027: INEC boss charges staff on integrity, warns against compromise

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has charged staff of the commission to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, warning that the electoral body cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an official working visit and interactive session with management and staff at the INEC headquarters in Minna, Niger State, on Friday, Amupitan urged officials to resist all forms of compromise, stressing that both Nigerians and the international community were closely monitoring preparations for the country’s next general elections.

“The whole world, not just Nigerians, is looking up to INEC,” the chairman said. “I just returned from an African Union meeting in Egypt involving Electoral Management Bodies across Africa, and everyone expressed the desire to come and observe Nigeria’s elections. We must conduct the elections in a highly professional manner.”

He reminded staff that they serve as ambassadors of the commission and announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on **January 16, 2027**, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for **February 6, 2027**.

Amupitan assured staff that the commission was strengthening logistics, transportation and infrastructure across its offices nationwide to avoid the operational shortcomings experienced in previous elections.

“We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. My goal is to ensure that we continue to improve on our performance,” he said.

The INEC chairman reiterated his commitment to restoring public confidence in the commission through the conduct of transparent, free, fair and credible elections, noting that the success of the electoral process would largely depend on the dedication and integrity of staff at the grassroots.

He announced that the commission would introduce a reward system to recognise outstanding performance while imposing strict sanctions on officials found guilty of misconduct.

“There should be no compromise whatsoever. We have decided to introduce rewards for hard work, but if there is any misconduct, there will be serious consequences. Work hard, work selflessly, shun corruption, and let us give the Nigerian people what they truly desire,” he said.

On staff welfare, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had commenced a comprehensive review of employees’ welfare packages across the country to improve morale and productivity.

According to him, staff welfare was one of the critical issues he identified after assuming office nine months ago.

“When I assumed office, I discovered that the welfare package for INEC staff was among the lowest in the country. To boost your morale, the commission decided to take this issue head-on. When the results begin to manifest, you will appreciate our commitment,” he assured.

The INEC chairman also inspected the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at a registration centre located within the state headquarters as part of his working visit.

Atiku to Obasanjo: The grave is not a witness box

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has faulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest allegations against him, describing them as a desperate attempt to rewrite history and confer political advantage on his preferred candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the former President’s decision to accuse him of bribing the late Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba to impeach him was not only reckless but fundamentally unfair to a man who is no longer alive to defend his name.

“As Africans, we understand the solemn duty of speaking truthfully about the dead. It is therefore deeply troubling that former President Obasanjo has chosen this moment to allege that I gave the late Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba a bribe to impeach him.

“If this allegation were true, why did he never make it while Rt. Hon. Na’Abba was alive? Why wait until the only man who could confirm or refute the claim has departed this world? By invoking a deceased man as the principal witness to such a grave allegation, former President Obasanjo has denied Nigerians the opportunity of hearing the other side of the story.

“The late Rt. Hon. Ghali Na’Abba cannot now defend his own integrity or respond to the allegation that he accepted a bribe. It is unfair to his memory and contrary to our cultural values to conscript the dead into contemporary political battles when they no longer have a voice.”

Atiku noted that the allegations themselves are not supported by any judicial finding or official determination.

“If there was indeed evidence of any criminal conduct as alleged, Nigerians are entitled to ask why no action was taken at the time by a government that wielded the full powers of the Nigerian state.”

The former Vice President said it is difficult to ignore the political timing of the recycled allegations.

“Coming at a time when the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election is taking shape, the obvious objective is to besmirch my person and reputation and confer an undeserved political advantage on the former President’s kinsman. Nigerians, however, know better. They are too discerning to be distracted by stale allegations resurrected for political convenience.”

Atiku maintained that the roots of the former President’s hostility towards him are well known.

“My offence was that I stood firmly against the unconstitutional third-term agenda. As a democrat, I chose the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law. Rather than surrender democratic principles on the altar of personal ambition, I defended the Constitution and successfully asserted my rights through the courts in a series of landmark legal victories against a sitting President. Those battles are now part of Nigeria’s democratic history. It is evident that the bitterness arising from that defining period has failed to leave former President Obasanjo.”

He said he would not be distracted into exchanging words over historical political disputes while Nigeria grapples with unprecedented economic hardship, rising insecurity, mass unemployment, hunger and disturbing questions surrounding the management of public resources.

“The task before leaders today is not to rewrite history but to rescue the future. Nigerians are more interested in knowing why food prices continue to soar, why public debt continues to rise despite increased revenues, and why scandal after scandal continues to trail the current administration than in revisiting political disagreements from over two decades ago.”

Atiku added that while former President Obasanjo is entitled to support any candidate of his choice, he should do so openly.

“If former President Obasanjo has chosen to take a political position ahead of 2027, he should simply declare it and allow Nigerians to judge it on its merits, rather than attempting to influence public opinion through allegations that can no longer be tested because the principal witness is no longer alive.

“Our focus remains unwavering: offering credible alternatives, defending democracy, demanding accountability and working with all patriotic Nigerians to restore competent, transparent and people-centred leadership to our country. Nigerians deserve solutions to today’s problems, not recycled political tales from yesterday.”

Enugu Air aircraft skids off runway at Benin airport

An Enugu Air aircraft on Thursday veered off the runway after landing at the Benin Airport on Thursday, and incident described in aviation terms as a runway excursion, however, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated without injuries.

Penpushing reports that the management of the airline in a statement posted on its official X handle, explained that the aircraft experienced the runway excursion after landing and that the relevant aviation authorities had been notified.

The management of Enugu State-owned carrier’s Embraer regional jets added that the incident could result in temporary adjustments to some of its flight schedules, adding that the aircraft has been secured

“Enugu Air wishes to inform the public that one of our aircraft operating into Benin experienced a runway excursion after landing today. We confirm that all passengers and crew have safely disembarked and there were no injuries or casualties.

“The aircraft has been secured, and the relevant aviation authorities have been notified in line with established procedures. An assessment of the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the occurrence is currently underway,” the airline said.

“As a result, there may be temporary adjustments to some flight schedules. Passengers affected by any changes will be contacted directly and provided with the necessary assistance’, the statement read.

“The safety of our passengers, crew, and operations remains our highest priority. We appreciate your understanding and will continue to provide updates through our official communication channels’, it added.

Penpushing further reports that the aircraft involved is an Embraer regional jet recently introduced into Enugu Air’s fleet for commercial operations, while as at the time of filing this report the cause of the runway excursion was yet unknown while aviation authorities are expected to investigate the incident.