Politics
Yakubu’s reforms laid foundation for credible elections – INEC
Yakubu’s reforms laid foundation for credible elections – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hailed the decade-long leadership of its former Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, calling 2015 to 2025 one of the most transformative periods in Nigeria’s electoral history.
In two new reports, Election Management in Nigeria: 2015–2025 and Innovations in Electoral Technology: 2015–2025, INEC credited Yakubu’s administration with modernising the nation’s electoral system through groundbreaking technological and legal reforms.
Appointed in 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari and reappointed in 2020, Yakubu became the first INEC Chairman to serve two full terms. His tenure spanned two general elections (2019 and 2023), 19 off-cycle governorship polls, and hundreds of bye-elections across over 4,500 constituencies.
Among his landmark achievements was the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which allowed real-time transmission of polling unit results, a milestone in electoral transparency.
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The reports also highlighted the deployment of the INEC Voter Enrolment Device (IVED) and the launch of an online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) portal, enabling Nigerians to pre-register from anywhere, a first in the country’s electoral history.
Backed by the Electoral Act 2022, INEC was legally empowered to adopt technology for voter registration, accreditation, and result management. This, the Commission noted, enhanced its independence and boosted public trust.
Yakubu’s era also saw the expansion of polling units for the first time in 25 years from 119,974 to 176,846 to ease voter access and reduce overcrowding. He established the INEC School (INECSCH) and Virtual Electoral Training System (VETS) to professionalise election management and train staff nationwide.
The Commission credited his leadership with prioritising inclusion by introducing braille ballot guides, magnifiers, and priority voting for persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, women, and youths.
Despite challenges such as insecurity, vote buying, and attacks on over 50 INEC offices between 2019 and 2023, Yakubu said the Commission “responded with innovation, resilience, and reform.”
As INEC looks beyond his tenure, it pledged to deepen international partnerships and continue modernising Nigeria’s electoral system for greater transparency and trust.
Yakubu’s reforms laid foundation for credible elections – INEC
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metro
Kaduna APC Calls for Probe Into Alleged Attacks, Vandalism
Kaduna APC Calls for Probe Into Alleged Attacks, Vandalism
The Kaduna State chapter of the APC has appealed for calm after reporting alleged attacks, vandalism and intimidation involving its members and party-related facilities.
The party wants the police and other security agencies to determine what happened and identify those responsible for any offences established by the evidence.
APC Publicity Secretary Sani Dan Azare said vehicles were allegedly damaged during an incident at party premises, while some members and supporters were reportedly assaulted or intimidated elsewhere in the state.
Rather than draw conclusions from the competing claims, the party asked security agencies to examine all credible leads and evidence before taking action.
The appeal comes as political activities intensify in Kaduna ahead of the 2027 elections. The state has already recorded a separate dispute involving ADC supporters and security operatives during a campaign-related walk, with the parties giving different accounts of the confrontation.
The APC said such incidents should not undermine what it described as progress made in reducing political, ethnic and religious tensions in the state.
It therefore urged political parties, candidates and supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and within the law.
Dan Azare also asked APC members and support groups to avoid retaliation, warning against any form of self-help.
“Let the facts be established. Let due process prevail. Let the law take its course” the party said.
The APC added that anyone with relevant information should make it available to security agencies to help establish what happened and determine whether anyone should face legal action.
Kaduna APC Calls for Probe Into Alleged Attacks, Vandalism
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Politics
Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Exporting Nigeria’s Wealth, Importing Hardship
Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Exporting Nigeria’s Wealth, Importing Hardship
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised concerns over the direction of the national economy, saying current policies favour exporting raw natural resources while everyday families struggle with rising costs and smaller budgets.
In a statement shared on Tuesday by his communications aide, Phrank Shaibu, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate pointed out that while export numbers look high on paper, local businesses and households are facing serious financial strain.
Recent trade figures show that raw material exports increased by over 106 percent in the first half of 2026. However, Atiku explained that selling unprocessed goods like cocoa, cotton, and minerals overseas creates profits for foreign factories rather than local workers.
Meanwhile, Nigerian warehouses are holding more than two trillion naira in unsold finished goods because many families can no longer afford to buy everyday items after paying for transport, electricity, and basic food items.
Atiku emphasized that sustainable economic growth must begin with strengthening domestic production and protecting consumer incomes. He urged the government to support local manufacturers to refine and package Nigerian materials at home, which would create good jobs and keep finished goods affordable for everyone.
By focusing on practical help for local factories and improving daily purchasing power, Atiku argued that the country can build an economy that truly works for all citizens.
Atiku Accuses Tinubu of Exporting Nigeria’s Wealth and Importing Hardship
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Politics
Peter Obi: Release My UNN Academic Records, I Have Nothing to Hide
Peter Obi: Release My UNN Academic Records, I Have Nothing to Hide
Former Anambra State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate Peter Obi has urged the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to release his academic records, saying he has no objection to legitimate scrutiny of his educational history.
Obi’s position comes amid a fresh controversy over his academic credentials, following separate suits filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking access to records relating to his education and National Youth Service.
The cases were instituted by Abayomi Arabambi, a former Labour Party chieftain, who is asking the courts to compel the relevant institutions to release records concerning Obi’s WAEC, UNN and NYSC credentials.
Obi, however, has said the institutions should simply make the records available rather than allow the issue to generate unnecessary controversy.
The former governor’s call followed a request by a journalist during an event at the University of Nigeria, where he was asked about the controversy surrounding his educational records.
Obi reportedly said there was nothing wrong with the university releasing his records, stressing that he had attended the institution and that the relevant information should be available through official channels.
The development comes against the background of three separate Federal High Court suits filed by Arabambi.
The first two cases were filed on September 1, 2026, against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), while a third case was filed against UNN on September 9.
The cases seek access to existing official records concerning certificates attributed to Obi.
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According to court documents cited in reports, the WAEC case is registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, while the NYSC case is FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026. The UNN case is registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026.
Arabambi has maintained that he is not asking the court to determine whether Obi’s certificates are genuine or forged.
Instead, he wants the institutions to release records that could establish the details surrounding the certificates and the educational history attributed to the former Anambra governor.
The documents reportedly include WAEC Certificate No. SC042560, said to have been issued in June 1978; UNN Certificate No. D000198, relating to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy reportedly awarded in 1984; and NYSC Certificate No. 203495, reportedly issued on May 1, 1986.
Arabambi’s legal action followed attempts to obtain the records directly from the institutions.
He reportedly said WAEC rejected his request on August 11, citing provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, while he alleged that UNN and NYSC did not provide the requested records or explanations for their positions.
The legal action has consequently shifted the controversy from political statements to the courts, where the institutions may be required to respond to the requests for access to their records.
However, the existence of the lawsuits does not establish that Obi’s certificates are forged, invalid or fraudulent.
The cases are requests for access to records, and the court has yet to make any finding that the former governor committed wrongdoing in relation to his educational qualifications.
The controversy has also created a political dispute within the Labour Party.
The Labour Party has disowned Arabambi, saying he no longer represents the party and should not be regarded as acting on its behalf in the credential cases.
The party said Arabambi was among members suspended by its National Executive Council in March over alleged anti-party activities and was subsequently expelled.
The LP therefore distanced itself from the legal action and indicated that it could take steps against Arabambi if he continued to present himself as a representative of the party.
The development is significant because Obi contested the 2023 presidential election on the Labour Party platform and is now preparing for the 2027 presidential election under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Obi’s political opponents and supporters have consequently interpreted the credential controversy through the lens of the emerging 2027 political contest.
The NDC has defended Obi’s academic record, while maintaining that the former governor has nothing to hide.
The party has also criticised what it described as attempts to use credential-related questions to distract from Obi’s political campaign.
Obi himself has adopted a more open position, urging institutions that hold records relating to him to make them available.
His call for UNN to release the records could therefore provide an opportunity for the university to address questions surrounding his academic history through its official records rather than allowing the matter to remain subject to political claims and counterclaims.
The issue is particularly sensitive because educational qualifications are an important component of eligibility for elective office in Nigeria, and questions about candidates’ credentials have previously resulted in legal disputes.
Nevertheless, any determination about the authenticity or status of Obi’s academic qualifications will ultimately depend on the official records and, where necessary, judicial findings rather than political allegations.
As of the latest development, no hearing date has been fixed for the three suits, and there has been no court ruling declaring any of Obi’s certificates forged or invalid.
The UNN case is therefore being closely watched because the university’s response could provide important documentary information about Obi’s academic history.
For now, Obi’s position is that there should be transparency and that the relevant institutions should release whatever legitimate records they hold.
The controversy is expected to remain part of the political conversation as the 2027 elections approach, particularly because Obi remains one of the major opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling political establishment.
Whether the legal proceedings will produce information that materially affects the political contest remains to be seen, but the immediate issue before the courts is the release and verification of official records — not a judicial finding that Peter Obi’s credentials are fraudulent.
Peter Obi: Release My UNN Academic Records, I Have Nothing to Hide
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