News
OWN Calls for Immediate Resignation of INEC Chairman
OWN Calls for Immediate Resignation of INEC Chairman
A pressure group, Opposition Watch Nigeria (OWN), has called for the immediate resignation of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of alleged interference in the internal affairs of opposition political parties. The group said the alleged actions threaten political pluralism and undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
OWN issued the demand in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Aisha Bello, in Abuja on Tuesday, alleging that INEC under Amupitan’s leadership has repeatedly involved itself in leadership disputes and nomination processes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). According to the group, such conduct violates constitutional limits and compromises the perceived impartiality of the electoral body.
The group pointed to cases of conflicting recognitions of party leadership factions and selective invitations to party meetings, which it said fuel suspicions of deliberate interference designed to weaken opposition parties ahead of future elections. OWN emphasized that the credibility of elections depends on the neutrality and independence of INEC and warned that continued overreach by the commission risks tilting the political field in favor of the ruling party.
READ ALSO:
- Nigeria Not Technologically Ready for Real-Time Election Result Transmission — NICO Chief
- Dispatch Rider in Edo Stages Own Kidnap After Losing N1.3 Million to Gambling
- BREAKING: Tinubu Holds Reconciliation Meeting With Wike, Fubara, Rivers Leaders at Aso Rock
OWN urged opposition parties to resolve internal disputes in line with their constitutions without interference from INEC, describing the continued tenure of the commission’s chairman under current circumstances as untenable. The group also called on civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to press for accountability and restore confidence in the electoral body, insisting that the resignation of Amupitan is necessary for free and fair elections.
However, the demand has faced opposition from legal quarters. Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon, dismissed calls for the INEC chairman’s removal as unconstitutional and misleading, stressing that any removal must follow the procedure outlined in the 1999 Constitution, involving the President and the National Assembly. Hon accused critics of resorting to “cheap blackmail” and warned that pressuring constitutional offices outside legal frameworks threatens democratic stability.
OWN’s call follows previous controversies involving INEC’s perceived partiality. The Supreme Court has, on several occasions, ruled against the commission for overstepping its mandate in opposition party disputes, affirming that political parties have autonomy in internal governance and leadership decisions. Critics say adherence to these rulings is vital for maintaining public trust in the electoral system, especially with the 2027 general elections approaching.
The unfolding debate underscores tensions between political actors, civil society groups, and the electoral umpire, highlighting the importance of transparency, impartiality, and adherence to constitutional limits to safeguard Nigeria’s democratic process.
OWN Calls for Immediate Resignation of INEC Chairman
![]()
News
Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Containers of Electricity Equipment Trapped at Nigerian Ports
Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Containers of Electricity Equipment Trapped at Nigerian Ports
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly ordered the release of more than 300 containers of electricity equipment that have remained stranded at Nigerian ports, with some consignments said to have been held for as long as 20 years.
The equipment will undergo technical assessment to determine which items remain usable and can be deployed to support efforts to improve electricity supply across the country.
The development could provide an opportunity to recover valuable power-sector assets that have remained unused at the ports for years, although their actual contribution to electricity generation and distribution will depend on their condition, suitability and cost of rehabilitation.
The Federal Government is also pursuing plans to increase Nigeria’s electricity capacity to 19,000 megawatts (MW), as part of broader efforts to address the country’s persistent power challenges.
READ ALSO:
- US Police Release Bodycam Footage After Dispute Over Three-Year-Old Soccer Prodigy
- Kano Task Force Arrests Suspected Gang Leader in Port Harcourt Over Deadly Clashes
- Abuja Market Shooting: NSCDC Suspends Officer, Orders Trial
However, the proposed assessment of the stranded equipment will be crucial in determining how much of it can be salvaged and whether it can be integrated into the country’s existing electricity infrastructure.
Nigeria has continued to face electricity supply challenges, including inadequate generation, transmission constraints, distribution difficulties and ageing infrastructure.
The release and possible deployment of the equipment could support ongoing interventions in the power sector if the items are found to be functional and suitable for use.
Further details are expected on the assessment process, the estimated value of the equipment and the timeline for deploying any recoverable items.
Tinubu Orders Release of 300 Containers of Electricity Equipment Trapped at Nigerian Ports
![]()
News
Ijeh Barracks Mosque: Police Promise to Monitor Reconstruction as MURIC Urges Calm
Ijeh Barracks Mosque: Police Promise to Monitor Reconstruction as MURIC Urges Calm
The Nigeria Police Force has assured the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) that its complaint over the demolition of the Ijeh Police Barracks Mosque in Obalende, Lagos State, is receiving attention, with the Lagos State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) promising to monitor the mosque’s reconstruction.
MURIC Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, disclosed this in an update issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, following telephone calls from police officials in Abuja and Lagos.
According to Akintola, a senior Muslim police officer at the Police Headquarters in Abuja contacted him to confirm that the authorities were aware of MURIC’s complaint and its public outcry over the alleged refusal of the contractor handling the barracks project to rebuild the demolished mosque.
The officer reportedly assured him that the matter was receiving attention and that the mosque would not be abandoned.
Akintola said he received another call about five minutes later from officials of the Lagos State Police Command’s CID at Panti, who assured him that they would monitor the mosque’s reconstruction.
He declined to disclose the identity of the senior police officer who contacted him from Abuja, saying the officer’s identity should remain confidential.
READ ALSO:
- 2027: Akpabio Says Tinubu’s Online Critics Are Paid, Mobilises Northern Youths
- 2027 Election: PRP Asks Court to Bar APC From Rivers Governorship Race
- Atiku Challenges Tinubu Over Mecca Trip, Demands Daily Photo, Video Proof
Following the communications, the MURIC director urged members and supporters of the organisation to remain peaceful and allow the police authorities to address the matter.
“Therefore, let us relax, remain calm and allow the police authorities to handle the issue,” Akintola said.
He described the calls from the police offices in Abuja and Lagos as signs that the authorities were sensitive to the concerns raised by the Muslim community.
“By contacting us from Police Headquarters, Abuja and also from Lagos Police Command, the Nigeria Police has displayed sensitivity, professionalism and accountability,” he said.
Akintola also thanked MURIC members and supporters for their solidarity during the controversy and urged them to exercise patience while awaiting further action.
The organisation’s complaint followed the demolition of the Ijeh Police Barracks Mosque in Obalende and concerns over the alleged failure of the contractor handling the barracks project to rebuild the facility. MURIC has called for fair treatment of Muslim worshippers and the restoration of the mosque.
However, the police assurances, as relayed by Akintola, do not establish that reconstruction has commenced or that a completion date has been agreed upon. No specific timeline for the rebuilding was announced in MURIC’s update.
The immediate issue is therefore whether the relevant authorities will take concrete steps to ensure that the demolished mosque is rebuilt.
For now, MURIC says it will allow the police to handle the complaint while urging its members to remain calm and peaceful as they await further developments.
Ijeh Barracks Mosque: Police Promise to Monitor Reconstruction as MURIC Urges Calm
![]()
News
Cocaine Trafficking: Court Denies KC Luxury Bail Over Missing Medical Certificate
The Federal High Court in Lagos has rejected the bail application of Nigerian businessman and social media influencer Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, over alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering, ruling that the defence failed to provide sufficient medical evidence to justify his release.
Justice Musa Kakaki delivered the ruling on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, holding that the application lacked the necessary medical certificate to establish special circumstances warranting bail on health grounds.
“There is no medical certificate to warrant the court to grant him bail,” the judge said.
He added that a defendant claiming to require special medical attention should provide an expert assessment explaining the condition and the need for the requested treatment.
KC Luxury’s lawyer, Emefo Etudo, had asked the court to release his client so he could receive specialised treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The defence argued that his health had deteriorated and that he required medical attention beyond what was available at the facility where he was being held.
READ ALSO:
- After AfDB Tenure, Adesina Offers to Help Tinubu Drive Nigeria’s Growth
- Why Nigeria Needs Fresh $21.7bn Loan Despite Rising Debt Burden – Finance Minister
- Emeka Ike Loses ₦10bn Privacy Suit Against Wike’s Aide, INEC
The application followed concerns about the defendant’s health after he was brought to the court premises in an ambulance on October 23 while receiving oxygen.
During that proceeding, a nurse attached to the Police Hospital in Falomo, Lagos, told the court that KC Luxury had been admitted on October 7 and diagnosed with asthma and sepsis.
The nurse said the defendant remained inside the ambulance because he was receiving oxygen and could not safely be moved into the courtroom.
The defence also alleged that KC Luxury had suffered a collapsed lung and needed specialist care. However, the prosecution opposed the bail request, arguing that the medical evidence did not establish that his condition could not be managed while in custody.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki reviewed the medical exhibits submitted by the defence but held that they did not sufficiently establish the special circumstances required to grant bail.
The judge also noted that the defence had failed to demonstrate a material change in circumstances that would justify reconsidering the application.
He questioned the argument that KC Luxury needed treatment at LUTH without sufficient evidence showing that the hospital or other available medical facilities could not adequately manage his condition.
Despite refusing bail, the court directed officials of the Ikoyi Custodial Centre to ensure that the defendant had unrestricted access to doctors and medical specialists for examination and treatment.
The judge also ordered an accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned proceedings until November 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
KC Luxury is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch on a 22-count charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The charges include allegations of conspiring to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom and money laundering. The defendants have pleaded not guilty.
According to the NDLEA, the cocaine was intercepted at a courier facility in Lagos before it could be exported. The agency also accused the defendants of involvement in financial transactions and asset acquisitions allegedly connected to the suspected drug operation.
The defendants have yet to be convicted, and the allegations remain before the court.
The latest ruling means KC Luxury will remain in custody while the criminal proceedings continue, with the court directing that his medical needs be addressed during detention.
Cocaine Trafficking: Court Denies KC Luxury Bail Over Missing Medical Certificate
![]()
-
metro3 days ago₦110.4bn Fraud Trial: EFCC Witness Traces Company Inflows To Kogi LG Accounts
-
metro3 days ago₦2.7bn Fraud: Court Jails Ex-Banker 39 Years
-
metro2 days agoAjaero Fires Back at TUC Over Rejection of FG’s ₦70,000 Allowance
-
metro3 days ago₦70,000 Transport Allowance: Who Qualifies as Informal Workers Raise Questions
-
International2 days agoHackers Leak Details of 41,000 US Homeland Security Personnel in Major Data Breach
-
International3 days agoUS Extradites Nigerian Over Alleged $100m Tax Refund Fraud
-
metro2 days agoEight Days After Abduction, Kidnappers Demand ₦50m for Nasarawa Teacher
-
Entertainment2 days agoEmeka Ike Loses ₦10bn Privacy Suit Against Wike’s Aide, INEC
