News

4 Months To Elections: Plots To Remove INEC Chair, Stop BVAS Raise Dust

Published

4 years ago

October 13, 2022

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

Barely four months to the 2023 general elections, a plot to remove the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, is being hatched by top political actors in the country, Daily Trust has gathered.

Top politicians and persons close to the seat of power in Abuja are said to be firming up the plot as a last ditch plan should the INEC chairman fails to accede to their demands regarding the conduct of the elections.

Preparations for the conduct of the elections are in top gear following the lift of ban on campaign activities by the INEC on September 28.

The INEC, on its part, said it had reached an advanced stage with the process including procurement of materials. The commission has also advertised for the temporary election

The INEC chair, in an exclusive interview with Daily Trust penultimate week, had reiterated that the commission would deploy Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as done during recent off-season elections.

Yesterday, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) addressed a press conference in Abuja and raised the alarm over the plot to remove the INEC chairman.

CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, who spoke on behalf of the opposition parties, said the coalition had also uncovered fresh plots to deactivate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) from being used in the election and ultimately stop electronic transmission of results.

READ ALSO:

Prior to the CUPP’s press conference, sources had told Daily Trust that political actors believed the elections would be difficult to manipulate under the current circumstances.

The three “unwanted” elements about the elections which the politicians wanted expunged, Daily Trust gathered, include the use of BVAS for accreditation of voters, cancelation of the use of incident forms and electronic transmission of election results.

Two governors–one from the South East and another from North East–are said to be in the forefront of the plot to kick out the INEC chairman. Also, a leader in the National Assembly, who allegedly felt betrayed by the INEC chairman, is said to have joined the prey “to get back at the chairman”.

The fear over BVAS

BVAS, introduced by INEC to replace the smart card reader used in the 2019 elections, is a biometric system that recognises voters based on their finger prints or faces.

An INEC insider said politicians are now wary of the use of BVAS and cancellation of the use of incidence form for voters not recognised by the BVAS device.

“The BVAS is very advanced. It’s different from the smart card reader in many ways. If it cannot capture your fingers, it can capture your face, and there is no excuse for not using it.”

According to the source, the agitations that that the INEC brings back the incident form and cancel the use of BVAS and the IREV platforms have thickened since the Anambra State governorship election.

A governor from the South East was said to have made frantic efforts to have the election swayed but was made impossible because of the adamant nature of the INEC top leadership and the electronic transmission of results.

“They had results from 10 local governments which they wanted the INEC to accept but they were told it was impossible with the current system. It was frustrating for the governor who had already told one of the candidates he woukd be declared as the winner,” said the source.

According to another insider in the commission, rather than work with the party, the governor later discovered that three senior INEC officials, including one in charge of the electronic systems had “compromised” to pave way for another party to win the election.

“They obtained security reports about the three of them, showing the transactions they had. This was how they pushed the person in IT out of his seat and blocked the reappointment of another senior commissioner,” said the source who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

READ ALSO:

Aside the political pressure being exerted on INEC, there were reports of a lawsuit instituted before the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo state, seeking to stop INEC from using BVAS for the 2023 elections.

Yakubu in the eye of the storm

Some politicians are said to be uncomfortable with the INEC chairman’s rigid posture and unwillingness to help them during critical periods.

Yakubu was also lately embroiled in allegations around his assets declaration.

In late September, a Federal High Court in Abuja okayed hearing in a suit asking to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to release the assets declaration forms of the INEC chairman.

The plaintiff in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/33/2021, is one Emmanuel Agonsi.

Daily Trust gathered that this was not the first suit of this nature against the INEC chairman.

“There was another suit in Abakaliki. It went up to the Court of Appeal, they wanted to stop his renomination for second term. They nearly succeeded both at the level of Presidency and the National Assembly.

“He was there thinking his name would be submitted for reappointment when he was told that they had tabled the name of one professor, who was later appointed a national commissioner. When it came to the screening there was move to also block him but a presiding officer gave him a smooth sail, it is for that reason that the man now feel pained for INEC to have rejected him as candidate of his party,” one of our sources said.

Use of BVAS irreversible– INEC

INEC yesterday dismissed the call for the re-introduction of the incidence form and the suspension of the use of BVAS for the 2023 general elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a chat with Daily Trust yesterday, said: “The decision of the commission to introduce and use the BVAS is final and irreversible. It is backed up by the law and a substantial number of the BVAS for the 2023 elections have been delivered. The BVAS is the game changer and has buried the incident forms.

“Those engaged in identity theft should not near the polling units. Those that have stolen or bought over PVCs are out of business and should not attempt to access the PUs. The commission is focused on delivering on its mandate.

READ ALSO:

“The commission is not and will not pay attention to the negatives or the antics of those that will want to delegitimize the electoral process and the commission. The commission has reached the critical stage of the electoral process and all Nigerians, and all the critical stakeholders should join the commission in delivering a clean election.”

CSOs react

Executive Director Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, told Daily Trust that,

“I won’t be surprised if there are plans to blackmail INEC to suspend the use of the BVAS. Nigerians have endorsed the use of BVAS, and that is what matters. Any attempt to stop the use of the BVAS should be considered an assault on the sovereignty of Nigerians and an effort to subvert the popular will of the people.

“INEC should continue to resist the attempt to capture the institution by all means possible. It is within INEC’s constitutional powers to undertake, organize and supervise elections. Its powers cannot be subjected to any authority. The commission has insisted that the use of the BVAS for election has come to stay. Stakeholders should respect the commission’s powers.”

Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Ibrahim Zikirullahi, said:

“We know there’s a vast array of political and partisan interests who may want to subvert the electoral process for their own self-serving ends. It’s however important to note that the will of these elements should not be allowed to prevail over the will of the Nigerian electorate.

“The key to ensuring desperate elements don’t undermine the process is to ensure there is vigilance.”

Also, Chairman, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said:

“In elections, numbers that have no relationship with the votes cast are routinely written up all over the country. This is what we call rigging. In 2015 INEC used a technology solution in the form of Card Reader to verify the PVC and close the gap between the voting tallies and achieve over 50% in using the device to accredit voters in the presidential election.

“The result was that for the first time in Nigeria’s presidential election history, the loser declined to sue and, overall, the percentage of elections ending in the courts fell to about 43%. In 2007, 86.25% of all offices contested ended in court while in 2011, it was just about 51%.”

Related Topics:BVAS elections Featured INEC Chair

Up Next

Tinubu, APC Stakeholders Meet To Finalise Campaign Issues

Don't Miss

Wike appoints another 28,000 special advisers

News

Yamal Fires Back at Mbappé: “I’m Not Going to Beg” for Ballon d’Or

Published

15 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal

Yamal Fires Back at Mbappé: “I’m Not Going to Beg” for Ballon d’Or

The 19-year-old Spain international insists his World Cup and La Liga triumphs speak for themselves, while also being named one of Barcelona’s vice-captains ahead of the October 26 ceremony.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has made it clear that he will not campaign or “beg” for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, stating that his achievements on the pitch for club and country should speak for themselves. Speaking ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord, the 19-year-old responded to comments from rival Kylian Mbappé, who had previously made his case for the award by highlighting his World Cup Golden Boot win, which also saw him become the competition’s all-time top goalscorer.

“I don’t think I need to campaign for the Ballon d’Or. I’m not thinking about what I deserve, everyone can think what they like,” Yamal told reporters. “I’m proud of everything I’ve done this year with my club and with the national team. We’ve become world champions, we’ve won the league again. I can’t ask for anything more. I think I’ve shown an incredible level, it’s your job and I will not beg for anything.”

The Spanish international, who finished second in last year’s voting behind PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé, is among the leading contenders for the prize alongside Mbappé, Harry Kane, Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London. Yamal was officially named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or when France Football unveiled the list on Tuesday, marking his third nomination.

When asked about Dembélé’s recent comments naming Kvaratskhelia, Kane, and Mbappé as his top three, Yamal joked: “He’s a friend of Kylian, right? Honestly, I don’t care. I’m very happy with the year I had. Whenever I’ve faced both of them, I’ve won. They must have taken a dislike to me for some reason.” Spain knocked France out of the World Cup semi-finals with a convincing 2-0 victory.

READ ALSO:

Yamal, who suffered a hamstring injury in April, has returned to form with two goals in his last two outings against Rayo Vallecano and Valencia, and appeared far more cheerful after a difficult start to the season. “In the end, I’m 19, coming off winning a World Cup, having had the best holidays of my life. I’ve never been happier at any point in my life than I am now,” he said.

Beyond individual honours, Yamal emphasised that Barcelona’s primary target this season is the Champions League trophy, a title that has eluded the Catalan giants since 2015. “There’s no greater motivation than the Champions League, which is the one I still have to win. We will give our all to win it,” Yamal said ahead of Wednesday’s opener against Feyenoord. “Good players have arrived, like Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Rodri.”

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick praised the young star, saying: “Lamine is a player who can decide games on his own, fantastic quality. It’s great, you can see it every day how he is enjoying playing football. For me the best thing is that he enjoys this game and then he’s on a top level.”

Yamal is also the favourite to win a third consecutive best young player award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, having been one of 10 players nominated on Tuesday, including Johan Manzambi, Yan Diomande, and Ayyoub Bouaddi, who all impressed at the World Cup and were then the subject of big-money summer transfers.

Interestingly, during the press conference, neither Yamal nor Flick mentioned Feyenoord by name, instead focusing entirely on Barcelona’s mission to win the Champions League. Yamal was recently elected one of three vice-captains by his teammates, alongside Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong, with coach Hansi Flick selecting Raphinha and Pedri as the other members of the five-man captaincy group. “It’s something to be proud of at 19 years old. I’m very grateful to my teammates. It’s a position that comes with responsibilities, even if I’m only 19, but I’m very happy,” he said.

Yamal Fires Back at Mbappé: “I’m Not Going to Beg” for Ballon d’Or

News

Lagos Moves to Slash Agency Fees, Curb Rent Hikes With New Tenancy Bill

Published

17 hours ago

September 8, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Moves to Slash Agency Fees, Curb Rent Hikes With New Tenancy Bill

The Lagos State Government has unveiled a proposed tenancy law aimed at overhauling the relationship between landlords, tenants and estate agents, with measures designed to curb arbitrary rent increases, excessive agency charges, fraudulent property transactions and prolonged tenancy disputes.

The proposed Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill, 2025, currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, seeks to replace the existing tenancy framework with a more comprehensive regime covering rent payments, advance rent, agency fees, eviction, dispute resolution and the conduct of landlords and property agents.

The bill, however, has not yet become law and remains subject to legislative consideration and possible amendments.

One of the most significant provisions in the proposed legislation is the plan to reduce estate agency fees to five per cent of annual rent.

The proposal has attracted considerable attention because tenants in Lagos routinely complain about the financial burden of agency, agreement and other charges demanded when securing accommodation.

The Lagos State House of Assembly had previously stated during deliberations on the bill that the agency commission would be reduced from the existing 10 per cent benchmark to five per cent. An agent who charges above the prescribed rate under the proposed law could face sanctions, including refund of the excess, a fine of up to N1 million or imprisonment for up to two years, or both.

The bill also proposes compulsory registration of estate agents with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASRERA.

Under the proposal, operating as an estate agent without the required registration would become an offence. The government says the measure is intended to check the activities of fraudulent and unregistered operators accused of collecting money from unsuspecting members of the public, engaging in multiple transactions on the same property and imposing questionable charges on prospective tenants.

READ ALSO:

The proposed legislation further requires agents handling rent or other funds on behalf of property owners to account for such money and remit it within a stipulated period. Legal reviews of the draft bill put the remittance period at seven working days and require agents to issue receipts for transactions.

One-year limit on advance rent

Another major proposal is the restriction on advance rent.

The draft legislation seeks to prevent landlords from demanding excessive periods of rent upfront. Under the proposed framework, a new tenant would generally not be required to pay more than one year’s rent in advance, while sitting tenants who ordinarily pay monthly would not be compelled to make excessive advance payments.

The measure is expected to address one of the biggest challenges facing accommodation seekers in Lagos, where prospective tenants often complain of demands for one, two or even more years’ rent before they are allowed to occupy a property.

Landlords may face scrutiny over rent increases

The proposed law also seeks to tackle what it describes as unreasonable increases in rent.

Under the bill, a tenant who considers a rent increase excessive could challenge it, with the court empowered to consider factors including rents charged for comparable properties and evidence presented by both the landlord and tenant.

The proposal is significant in a city where rapid increases in rental values have become a major concern for residents, particularly low- and middle-income earners.

The bill also provides protection for tenants who challenge an allegedly unreasonable increase, including restrictions on eviction while the matter is before the court.

Faster resolution of landlord-tenant disputes

Perhaps one of the most ambitious aspects of the proposed legislation is its attempt to speed up tenancy-related litigation.

The bill provides for tenancy proceedings through originating summons and proposes mechanisms designed to shorten the time between filing a case and hearing it.

It also empowers courts to sit on weekends and public holidays for tenancy matters and provides for virtual hearings.

The proposed framework further provides for mediation as an alternative to prolonged litigation, with the aim of resolving disputes more quickly and reducing the backlog of landlord-tenant cases.

The government has argued that faster dispute resolution would benefit both landlords and tenants by reducing the cost and uncertainty associated with lengthy court proceedings.

Tenants to provide evidence

The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said tenants seeking legal action would be required to provide evidence including proof of rent payments and updated utility bills.

READ ALSO:

According to the government, the requirement is intended to ensure that tenancy disputes are supported by verifiable documentation rather than mere allegations.

Protection against self-help eviction

The proposed framework also strengthens legal protection against arbitrary eviction and other forms of self-help.

The draft bill provides for lawful procedures that landlords must follow when seeking possession of their properties. It seeks to discourage practices such as forcibly ejecting tenants, interfering with access to premises or taking other unilateral measures without following due process.

It also contains provisions relating to abandoned premises, recovery of possession and enforcement of court orders.

Service charges, deposits and professional fees

The bill goes beyond rent and agency commissions to address other financial issues associated with tenancy.

Among the proposed provisions are rules concerning service charges, facility and security deposits, as well as professional fees.

The draft framework seeks greater transparency in the handling of tenants’ money and provides for accountability concerning service charges and refundable deposits. Legal reviews of the bill indicate that security deposits would generally be refundable, subject to documented deductions for damage or other legitimate claims.

LASRERA intensifies enforcement

The proposed reforms come against the backdrop of increased enforcement by LASRERA against fraudulent operators in Lagos’ property market.

The Commissioner for Housing disclosed that the regulatory agency recovered more than N270 million from fraudulent estate agents between 2025 and 2026.

The government says the enforcement campaign, combined with the proposed legislation, is intended to restore confidence in the state’s real estate sector and protect residents from exploitation.

Stakeholders raise concerns

While the proposed reduction in agency fees has been welcomed by tenant advocates, housing stakeholders have also raised concerns about possible loopholes.

Spaces for Change, which participated in the 2025 public hearing on the bill, warned that agents could attempt to circumvent a five per cent cap by introducing additional charges under different descriptions.

The organisation recommended that the prescribed five per cent ceiling should cover other related charges in order to prevent agents from simply shifting costs from “agency fee” to documentation, inspection or other charges.

There have also been calls for the bill to provide clearer safeguards around the collection, storage and use of tenants’ personal information, given the large amount of sensitive data prospective tenants routinely submit to landlords and estate agents.

Bill still awaiting passage

Despite the publicity surrounding the proposed reforms, tenants and landlords have been urged not to assume that the new provisions are already enforceable.

The Lagos State Tenancy and Recovery of Premises Bill remains a proposal before the Lagos State House of Assembly. Until it is passed by the Assembly and receives the necessary assent, the existing tenancy law remains the applicable legal framework.

If eventually enacted, however, the proposed law could represent one of the most far-reaching changes to landlord-tenant relations in Lagos in years, particularly through its proposed five per cent agency-fee cap, restrictions on advance rent, compulsory registration of agents, stronger protections against arbitrary rent increases and faster mechanisms for resolving tenancy disputes.

For millions of Lagos residents struggling with rising accommodation costs, the central question will now be whether the proposed reforms can move from the pages of the bill to effective enforcement across the state’s notoriously expensive and complex rental market.