Obi Media to Nigerians: It’s 100 days to end our misery: do not sell or surrender your PVC

 

The Peter Obi Media Office has alleged that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is planning to buy off Permanent Voter’s Cards from the electorate as a strategy to preventing them from voting them out in the forth coming general elections.

In a statement on Thursday, the Office urged voters to resist the pressure to sell or surrender their PVCs for monetary gains.

According to the Office, the plan of the APC is to allegedly capitalize on the wide-spread poverty to offer money to voters to surrender their cards.

Said the statement: “The Peter Obi Media Office has become aware of the ruling party’s strategy of exploiting the poverty in the land—poverty they have created—by offering large sums of money to people in exchange for their PVCs.

“Exactly 100 days left to election day, we urge Nigerians to remain vigilant against anyone offering money or inducements in exchange for your vote, your PVC, or participation in any scheme aimed at compromising the electoral process.

“Reports from some states indicate that some state governors, who have nothing positive to show to persuade their citizens, including civil servants, are collecting their PVCs in exchange for the payment of their legitimate salaries and allowances,” it alleged.

Advising the voters, the Obi Media Office said: “Your PVC is not for sale. Your vote is not for sale. Your future is not for sale. Collect your PVC. Keep it secure. Do not hand it over to anyone. Reject bribes and report any suspected electoral manipulation to the proper authorities.

“On election day, turn out, vote according to your conscience, protect your ballot, and insist that your vote counts” urging them to also “defend your vote legally. Defend your democracy and create a new Nigeria that will be possible and OK.”

Abducted 20 NYSC members regain freedom in Imo


The 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members kidnapped while travelling from Oyo State to orientation camps in Abia State have regained their freedom.

They regained their freedom seven days after they were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State.
The rescued victims are undergoing treatment at the Department of State Services Hospital in Owerri, Imo State.

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brigadier-General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, visited the facility to meet the victims and assess their condition.


He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Services and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade, Imo State.

Nafiu also addressed the rescued victims during the visit.

Also, the Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had confirmed this to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Authorities have yet to provide details on the circumstances surrounding the rescue, including whether any of the suspects were arrested or a ransom was paid.


The PUNCH reports that the 20 graduates were travelling from Ibadan to their NYSC orientation camps on Thursday when gunmen attacked the two buses conveying them.

The abductors demanded N50 million for each victim, amounting to N1 billion.

They later reduced the ransom to N5 million per person, totalling N100 million.

Following the incident, security agencies commenced a search operation aimed at locating the victims and rescuing them from their abductors.

The state police command subsequently announced that its operatives had traced the kidnappers’ hideout using drone surveillance.


However, the security team reportedly could not immediately access the camp after discovering that the area had been planted with improvised explosive devices.

The security agencies later brought in additional equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to facilitate access to the location.

The abduction had heightened concerns among the victims’ relatives, particularly after reports emerged that the kidnappers were demanding N50m for each captive.

The police had earlier confirmed that 10 of the abducted persons had been rescued, while the search for the others continued.

With the latest rescue, all 20 prospective corps members and the additional victim have regained their freedom and are currently receiving medical care in Owerri.

Meanwhile, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, commended the security agencies for their efforts in securing the victims’ release.

The governor “praised the personnel for what he described as their cooperation and patriotism in ensuring that the corps members were brought out safely.”

In a statement he personally signed, Uzodimma also acknowledged the joint efforts of the Oyo and Imo State governments towards securing the release of the remaining captives, according to Channels TV.

He said the sensitive nature of the operation, which involved the safety of the victims, informed the decision by the government to keep details of the efforts away from the public while the operation was ongoing.

Uzodimma expressed gratitude to the security agencies for the discreet and coordinated manner in which they handled the operation.

He also praised the victims’ parents for remaining patient throughout the ordeal and urged Nigerians to maintain confidence in the Federal Government’s efforts to address insecurity.

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Tinubu mourns NADECO chieftain, Ralph Obioha

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed condolences over the death of former lawmaker, businessman and prominent figure in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle, Chief Ralph Obioha, aged 80.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described Obioha as a respected statesman who belonged to a generation of Nigerians who responded to the call of duty during some of the country’s most difficult periods.

Tinubu extended his condolences to Obioha’s family, community, the people of Abia State, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and other Nigerians mourning the deceased.

The President noted that Obioha, as a founding member and prominent leader of NADECO, stood firmly for democratic governance during the struggle to restore democracy following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

He said Obioha’s commitment to the pro-democracy movement came at considerable personal cost but that he remained steadfast in his belief in democracy, justice, constitutionalism and the right of Nigerians to choose their leaders.

“While the passage of time may dim memories, the contributions of patriots who stood firm during difficult chapters of our national history must never be forgotten,” Tinubu said.

“Chief Ralph Obioha was a courageous Nigerian who made sacrifices for democracy and remained committed to the ideals of a better Nigeria.

“His generation faced extraordinary challenges, and he played his part in defending the principles he believed would strengthen our democracy and our nation.”

Tinubu said Obioha’s death was a loss to his family, community and the nation, adding that he would be remembered for his courage, convictions, service and belief in Nigeria.

“On behalf of the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. I pray that Almighty God grants them comfort and gives eternal rest to the soul of Chief Ralph Obioha,” he said.

The President added: “May the memory of Chief Ralph Obioha endure as a reminder that the building of a nation requires courage, sacrifice, conviction and faith.” Authority.

Air Force crash:  Late Pilot wedded only two weeks ago

 

It has been shockingly revealed that the air crash which occurred on Monday in Igbokoda community Ondo State and claimed lives of 25 occupants of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, NAF 931, also include a pilot, Ahamefule Aham Man-Ugwueje said to have just wedded two weeks ago.

 

Ugwueje, a Squadron Leader was one of the pilots, who tied the knot with Flight Lieutenant Damilola Adekunle on September 19, 2026, in an elaborate ceremony held in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

 

Details of the wedding invitation and posts on Facebook by vendors involved in the ceremony showed Man-Ugwueje’s hometown as Umuahia, Abia State, while Abuja is listed as his current town/city.

 

The post on the pages of the wedding planner and vendors involved in the ceremony showed videos and photographs from Man-Ugwueje and Adekunle’s wedding in Abuja while the videographers at the wedding, Beejay Creates, shared footage from the ceremony with the caption, “Love in every word.”

 

Wedding invitation showed that the couple’s Holy Matrimony was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Masters Place, Plot 826, Solomon Lar Way, opposite the NHIS Headquarters/Customary Court of Appeal, Utako, Abuja.

 

The late pilot was listed by the Nigerian Air Force among the five crew members who died in the crash, and identified him as the co-pilot of the aircraft, explaining that the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.

 

Nigerian Air Force on Tuesday confirmed that all 25 people on board died in the accident and released their names.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, described the crash as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation and expressed condolences to the families, loved ones and colleagues of the victims,

He also disclosed that a comprehensive investigation had been ordered to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Atiku mourns 25 victims of Nigerian Air Force plane crash

 

Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar has expressed profound grief over the tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Ondo State that claimed the lives of 25 Nigerians.

 

The aircraft, carrying 25 passengers and crew members, crashed near Igbokoda in Ondo State. Among the victims were airmen, soldiers and members of their families, reportedly including children who were returning to school.

 

Atiku described the tragedy as a painful national loss, noting that its circumstances make it particularly heartbreaking.

 

“The loss of our servicemen and women is deeply painful. But the knowledge that their family members, including young children returning to school, were also among those whose lives were cut short makes this tragedy even more devastating.

 

“These were men and women serving our country, alongside loved ones whose hopes, dreams and futures have been extinguished in one tragic moment.

 

“My thoughts and prayers are with every family that has lost a loved one. I extend my deepest condolences to the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the government and people of Ondo State, and indeed the entire nation.

 

“I pray that Almighty God grants eternal rest to the departed, comforts their grieving families and gives our nation the strength to bear this painful loss,” Atiku said.

 

The former Vice President also expressed the hope that the investigation into the crash would establish its cause and help strengthen aviation safety within the Armed Forces to prevent a recurrence.

Ondo crash: ADC questions Military budget funding, commiserates with victims’ families

 

African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised worries over funding for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft fleet following Monday’s fatal ATR-42 crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The Party asked why the Presidential Air Fleet received substantially higher maintenance funding than the aircraft operated by the Air Force.

It also expressed sadness over the death of 20 passenger and five crew members that lost their lives in military air crash on Monday in Ondo State.

 

ADC said available budget implementation figures showed that only about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion allocated for Nigerian Air Force aircraft maintenance had been released by December 2025, compared with 97.76 per cent implementation of the N20.74 billion allocated for maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet.

 

The ADC said the disparity required scrutiny, particularly following the crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda. The Nigerian Air Force said the aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when it crashed.

 

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed condolences to the families of the victims but said the tragedy should also prompt a broader examination of defence funding and aircraft maintenance.

 

“While we do not intend to prejudice ongoing investigations into the cause of this tragic crash, we believe that this sad moment also provides an opportunity to raise, yet again, questions about the non-implementation of the defence budget and the perennial neglect of military equipment,” the party said.

 

The Federal Government had released N4.5 billion, representing about 13.98 per cent of the N34.71 billion budgeted for maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircrafts as of December 2025, ADC claimed lamenting that the figures contrasted this with the N20.74 billion budgeted for maintenance of the Presidential Air Fleet, of which N20.27 billion, or 97.76 per cent, had reportedly been released.

 

“Put simply, while the fleet that serves a handful of people in power got almost every kobo it asked for, the fleet that serves and protects 200 million Nigerians was left with crumbs.

 

“The safety of the President matters. But what also matters is the safety of the pilots and airmen who put their lives on the line in defence of the country. Patriotism does not replace spare parts, and condolence messages do not take the place of accountability,” it said.

Air Force plane crash: No survivors yet, only wreckage, IDs – Gov Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said no survivor has been recovered in the military aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

He said rescue teams had so far recovered parts of the aircraft, identity cards and military uniforms but had yet to reach the main body of the aircraft, which reportedly plunged deep into a swamp.

He disclosed this on Monday night during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today adding that the surveillance aircraft had 32 people on board — 25 passengers and seven crew members — and was travelling from Benin to Lagos when it lost radio communication at about 9.15am.

Atiku taunts Tinubu over Teachers’ Day, questions his educational records


 
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over his inability to identify former teachers and classmates, as Nigeria marked this year’s World Teachers’ Day.


The Former Vice President also decried the rising cost of living, saying teachers across the country were struggling to provide for their families despite continuing to perform their duties.


He spoke in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu.

Atiku said: “Of course, I appreciate Nigerian teachers. I am a product of their work and the education I received in their classrooms. I still remember the names and faces of my early teachers in Jada, who saw potential in a young orphan when few others did.”

He then turned his attention to Tinubu’s educational background, questioning the President’s ability to recall details about his school years.

“It is both revealing and deeply embarrassing that Bola Tinubu cannot name a single teacher who stood before him or a classmate who sat beside him,” he said.
He criticised the government over the economic difficulties confronting teachers saying that teachers were battling rising costs of food, transportation, rent and electricity, while their earnings had failed to keep pace with the increase in living expenses.

“Government cannot praise teachers on this day and leave them to face hardship for the rest of the year. A commemorative message cannot pay a teacher’s bills. Respect must be reflected in fair conditions, reliable support and policies that make life affordable,” Atiku said.

2027: Elections’ll be driven by transparency, technology -INEC Chairman

 

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that it is intensifying preparations for the 2027 general elections, with emphasis on transparency, technology, public trust and collaboration with the media and civil society.
 INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at a strategic workshop organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in collaboration with INEC.
The workshop, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions,” comes 101 days before the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections and 124 days before the February 6 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
 Amupitan said the timing of the engagement was deliberate, stressing that credible elections could not be achieved by INEC alone.
 “The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” he said, adding that such trust required “an active, transparent, and unshakeable partnership between the electoral umpire, civil society, and the free press.”
 The chairman said INEC had completed eight of the 14 major activities contained in its revised timetable for the 2027 elections and was advancing towards the ninth milestone.
 He announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026, urging the media to educate voters on collection locations.
 According to him, the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, while the National Register of Voters now contains more than 103 million voters following the completion of the Automated Biometric Identification System cleanup.
 Amupitan said the Commission had also introduced online voter registration and printable PVC technology to reduce barriers associated with registration and collection of voter cards.
 On technology, the INEC chairman disclosed that 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices had been acquired, while existing devices had undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration.
 He said the enhanced eEC8A system would enable polling-unit results to be digitised, authenticated and uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
 He added that INEC was integrating artificial intelligence tools for anomaly detection and cybersecurity.
 “We are committed to ensuring that every valid vote counts and is seen to count,” Amupitan said.
 He also warned political parties and candidates against vote-buying, saying INEC was working with the Federal Ministry of Justice, EFCC, ICPC and NFIU to monitor illegal campaign spending.
 “Elections must be decided by the conviction of the voter, not the depth of a candidate’s pocket,” he declared.
 The chairman further warned against political violence, intimidation and hate speech, saying the Commission would work through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to track incidents and dangerous campaign rhetoric.
 On the media, Amupitan urged editors to strengthen fact-checking and verification, particularly in the face of deepfakes, manipulated videos and coordinated disinformation.
 “When information is verified before publication, you perform a sacred public service,” he told editors.
 Earlier, NGE President, Mr Eze Anaba, said the workshop was critical to strengthening the relationship between the electoral body and the media.
 “Elections are not merely about casting ballots; they are about trust,” Anaba said.
 He expressed concern about the growing reliance on the courts to resolve electoral disputes, saying: “Hopefully, with this next round of elections, citizens’ votes will speak.”
 Anaba said credible elections were a shared responsibility involving INEC, political parties, the media and citizens, adding that “the credibility of the media itself is an essential component of the credibility of the electoral process.”
 Also speaking, Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, Dr Akin Akingbolu, warned that fabricated newspaper front pages, fake campaign materials and manipulated videos posed serious threats to the 2027 elections.
 He said public trust in the media remained an important resource, describing it as “a form of electoral infrastructure” that must be protected.
 Akingbolu urged news organisations to establish verification leads within election desks and ensure that election results were traced to lawful declarations.
 His message to journalists was simply “verify before you amplify.”
 He also called on INEC to improve the speed and clarity of its communication with newsrooms, warning that “when official information moves at the speed of rumour, unofficial information inevitably fills the vacuum.”
 Akingbolu proposed an **INEC-Editors Verification Compact** to establish clear commitments on information authentication, communication of discrepancies and responses to false information.
 INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, said the Commission had conducted several elections since Amupitan assumed office, including the Anambra, FCT, Ekiti and Osun elections, as well as several legislative bye-elections.
 Haruna said the elections had progressively improved, while acknowledging the contribution of stakeholders, particularly the media.
 He said the workshop was aimed at ensuring that stakeholders worked together to deliver credible elections in 2027.
 Haruna also announced that INEC would hold a press conference on Tuesday, October 6, marking 100 days to the first phase of the general elections, where the chairman would brief local and international media on the Commission’s state of readiness. Authority.

2027: Put national unity first but protect your votes, Obi charges supporters

 The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to prioritise national unity in the 2027 presidential election and vote for a candidate capable of bringing the country together.
 Obi said a divided nation could not achieve meaningful development, stressing the need for leadership that would bridge Nigeria’s ethnic, religious and regional divides.
 The former Anambra State governor made the call on Sunday during a global digital town hall streamed through Zoom, YouTube and other social media platforms, where he addressed Nigerians at home and abroad on voter mobilisation, election security and strategies for protecting the electoral process.
 Obi said Nigerians who wanted to elect their preferred candidate must take responsibility for protecting their votes by remaining at polling units until the ballots were counted.
 “Our country needs unity. At present, we are not united. We are divided along ethnic and religious lines,” Obi said.
 According to him, the economic and security challenges facing Nigerians cut across ethnic and religious boundaries.
 “To the best of my knowledge, no tribe buys bread at a lower price, and no tribe buys fuel at a lower price. Similarly, no religion buys bread or fuel at a lower price,” he said.
 “The poverty affecting our country today is widespread across the entire nation. No tribe enjoys greater security than another. Insecurity affects every part of the country.”
 Obi said Nigeria needed a president who could unite citizens and work consistently to improve national security.
 He urged his supporters to intensify voter mobilisation and expand the deployment of polling agents across the country, saying citizens must remain engaged throughout the electoral process.
 The NDC candidate said his campaign was focused on building a nationwide network of polling agents and working with other political parties and stakeholders to promote free, fair and credible elections.
 He also warned voters against allowing money or intimidation to influence their choices during the election.
 “If you accept money from them, that is money they would otherwise have spent on security, hospitals, and education,” Obi said.
 He maintained that citizens must understand the long-term consequences of selling their votes, urging them to protect their electoral choices and insist that every ballot be counted.
 On insecurity, Obi called for improved funding, logistics and welfare for security personnel, saying security agencies must be adequately equipped to protect Nigerians.
 “We have security agencies, and they must function effectively. We must provide them with the logistics they need to perform their duties and ensure that we stand by them,” he said.
 He added that the welfare of security personnel and their families must also receive attention.
 “We must make certain that they are properly equipped and that their families are cared for if anything happens to them or they become unavailable. We need a president who will lead from the front,” Obi said.
 On election day, Obi urged voters not to leave polling units immediately after casting their ballots.
 He advised citizens to remain at their polling units until votes had been counted, stressing that active citizen participation was necessary to safeguard the electoral process.
 The former governor said Nigerians should remain vigilant and ensure that their votes were not only cast but properly counted and recorded.
 The Digital Global Town Hall forms part of Obi’s mobilisation activities ahead of the 2027 general election, with voter mobilisation, grassroots participation and protection of votes featuring prominently in the engagement. Authority.