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Former INEC REC Warns of “Chaos” in 2027 Over E-Transmission of Election Results
Former INEC REC Warns of “Chaos” in 2027 Over E-Transmission of Election Results
A former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mike Igini, has raised concerns that Nigeria’s ongoing debate over electronic transmission of election results exposes unresolved legal, institutional, and technological challenges, despite years of electoral reforms. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Igini warned that recent Senate amendments to the Electoral Act could create confusion and vulnerabilities in future elections, particularly the 2027 general polls. He stressed that failing to clarify rules on electronic results transmission risks undermining democracy, transparency, and public confidence.
The controversy stems from the Senate’s recent amendment to the Electoral Act, which now allows electronic transmission of results but removed the “real-time” requirement that had previously been proposed to enable direct uploading from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV). Under the amendment, Form EC8A, the physical result sheet, remains the primary document in cases of internet outages or connectivity failure. Igini cautioned that this creates a grey area that could trigger disputes in 2027 if presiding officers are allowed discretion over network availability, highlighting that legal and technological clarity is essential to avoid chaos.
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Referencing a 2021 technical report by INEC and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Igini said Nigeria possesses adequate telecommunications coverage, with 2G and 3G networks covering about 93% of the country, making electronic transmission feasible nationwide. INEC had also mapped polling units to mobile network operators and prepared SIM cards and data arrangements to ensure smooth uploads to IREV. He explained that Nigeria had previously relied on interim innovations, including biometric voter registers, card readers, and digital result-viewing platforms, to enhance transparency where legal provisions prohibited full electronic transmission.
Igini further warned that introducing discretionary fallbacks for “network issues” could reintroduce vulnerabilities, as presiding officers might abuse their authority to manipulate results. He emphasised that modern election devices, such as BIVAS machines, can operate both online and offline, uploading results at the nearest connectivity point to ensure integrity in IREV. “The whole purpose of IREV is to make results verifiable and immutable once entered. Allowing manual override defeats the reforms we have painstakingly implemented over the years,” he said.
He also noted that judicial interpretations and evolving legislative amendments have contributed to uncertainty over the legality of technological innovations in elections. Igini urged lawmakers to consider the long-term implications of changes to the Electoral Act, stressing that Nigeria’s democratic stability relies on cooperation between INEC, the judiciary, and key stakeholders. “Our democracy’s future depends on the rule of law. Without it, society risks being dominated by those who act for personal interest rather than public good,” he added.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Igini’s warnings underscore the need for clear legal frameworks, technological preparedness, and robust institutional coordination. He urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to ensure that electronic transmission of results enhances transparency, accountability, and credibility in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Former INEC REC Warns of “Chaos” in 2027 Over E-Transmission of Election Results
News
Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road
Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road
The Oyo State Police Command has successfully rescued four passengers abducted along the Igbeti–Kishi Road in the early hours of March 5, 2026, following a swift and coordinated security operation. The incident occurred when armed hoodlums emerged from nearby bushland and blocked a commercial bus, forcefully taking four passengers into the surrounding forests.
Upon receiving reports of the abduction, the Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Femi Haruna, immediately directed the Divisional Police Officers in Igbeti and Kishi, alongside tactical units and security stakeholders, to deploy all operational resources for a rescue mission.
A joint security team comprising Oyo Police operatives, members of the Amotekun Corps, Operation Burst, and other local security agencies conducted intensive bush combing operations in the forests surrounding the area. The sustained operation forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and flee, allowing the authorities to rescue all four passengers unharmed. The victims have since been reunited with their families.
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The police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, commended the professionalism and bravery of the combined security forces, highlighting that collaboration among security agencies is vital to ensuring safety across the state. The command also appreciated the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde for promptly mobilizing resources and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for strategic guidance in the ongoing fight against crime.
Investigations and intelligence-led operations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects and ensure they are brought to justice. Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information to support security efforts.
The incident underscores the continued commitment of the Oyo State Police and security agencies to protect travellers on vulnerable highways, particularly areas with increased reports of highway abductions and criminal activity. Patrols and security presence along the Igbeti–Kishi corridor and other vulnerable routes have been intensified to prevent future attacks.
Oyo Police Free Four Kidnapped Passengers on Igbeti–Kishi Road
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BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
BREAKING: Tinubu Posts Yakubu, Omokri, Fani-Kayode, 62 Other Ambassadors (Full List)
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the posting of 65 Nigerian ambassadors and high commissioners to diplomatic missions across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, in a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s foreign policy and international engagement.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that the list comprises 31 non-career diplomats and 34 career ambassadors whose appointments were earlier confirmed by the Senate.
The newly posted envoys include prominent politicians, retired military officers and seasoned diplomats tasked with representing Nigeria’s diplomatic, economic and strategic interests abroad.
Among the notable postings, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, has been posted to Qatar, while former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode will serve as Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany.
Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has been deployed to Mexico City, while former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been assigned to Spain.
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Businessman and senator Jimoh Ibrahim will serve as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
According to the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already begun securing diplomatic approval, known as agrément, from host countries. The United Kingdom has granted agrément for Ambassador Aminu Dalhatu, while France has approved the posting of Ayo Oke.
President Tinubu has also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately begin the induction programme for the ambassadors-designate and high commissioners, after which they will proceed to their respective missions once final approvals are secured.
The appointments are part of the administration’s broader effort to reinvigorate Nigeria’s diplomatic missions, attract foreign investment, strengthen bilateral relations and expand trade and security cooperation globally.
Non-Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
| S/N | Name | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senator Grace Bent | Lome, Togo |
| 2 | Senator Ita Enang | South Africa |
| 3 | Victor Ikpeazu | Spain |
| 4 | Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu | Tel-Aviv, Israel |
| 5 | Mahmud Yakubu | Qatar |
| 6 | Paul Oga Adikwu | Vatican City |
| 7 | Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas | Philippines |
| 8 | Reno Omokri | Mexico |
| 9 | Abasi Braimah | Hungary |
| 10 | Angela Adebayo | Portugal |
| 11 | Olumilua Oluwayimika Ayotunwa | Japan |
| 12 | Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi | Greece |
| 13 | Chioma Priscilla Ohakim | Poland |
| 14 | Aminu Dalhatu | United Kingdom |
| 15 | Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau | China |
| 16 | Tasiu Musa Maigari | Gambia |
| 17 | Olufemi Pedro | Australia |
| 18 | Muhammed Ubandoma Aliyu | Argentina |
| 19 | Lateef Kayode Are | United States |
| 20 | Joseph Sola Iji | Russia |
| 21 | Jimoh Ibrahim | United Nations |
| 22 | Femi Fani-Kayode | Germany |
| 23 | Isaak Folorunso Adewole | Canada |
| 24 | Fatima Florence Ajimobi | Austria |
| 25 | Lola Akande | Sweden |
| 26 | Ayo Oke | France |
| 27 | Yakubu N. Gambo | Saudi Arabia |
| 28 | Nora Ladi Daduut | South Korea |
| 29 | Joe Okocha (SAN) | Ireland |
| 30 | Kulu Haruna Abubakar | Tunisia |
| 31 | Jerry Samuel Manwe | Trinidad and Tobago |
Career Ambassadors / High Commissioners
| S/N | Name | Mission |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nwabiola Ezenwa Chukwumeka | Cote d’Ivoire |
| 2 | Besto Maimuna Ibrahim | Niger |
| 3 | Monica Okwuchukwu Enebechi | Sao Tome & Principe |
| 4 | Mohammed Mahmud Lele | Algeria |
| 5 | Endoni Syndoph Paebi | Burkina Faso |
| 6 | Ahmed Mohammed Monguno | Egypt |
| 7 | Jane Adams Michael | Jamaica |
| 8 | Alexandra Clark-Omeru | Zambia |
| 9 | Chima Geoffrey Lioma David | Mali |
| 10 | Yvonne Ehinosen Odumah | Equatorial Guinea |
| 11 | Wasa Segun Ige | Lebanon |
| 12 | Ruben Abimbola Samuel | Italy |
| 13 | Ogechukwu Kingsley Onaga | Mozambique |
| 14 | Magaji Umar | DR Congo |
| 15 | Muhammad Saidu Dahiru | India |
| 16 | Abdussalam Habu Zayyad | Senegal |
| 17 | Shehu Ilu Barde | Ghana |
| 18 | Aminu Nasir | Ethiopia |
| 19 | Abubakar Musa Musa | Chad |
| 20 | Haidara Mohammed Idris | Netherlands |
| 21 | Bako Adamu Umar | Morocco |
| 22 | Sulu Gambari Olatunji Ahmed | Malaysia |
| 23 | Romata Mohammed Omobolanle | Tanzania |
| 24 | Shaga John Shamah | Botswana |
| 25 | Hamza Mohammed Salau | Iran |
| 26 | Ibrahim Danlami | Kenya |
| 27 | Ibrahim Adeola Mopelola | Benin |
| 28 | Ayeni Adebayo Emmanuel | Belgium |
| 29 | Wahab Adekola Akande | Switzerland |
| 30 | Esther Arewa Adedokun | Namibia |
| 31 | Gergadi Joseph John | Gabon |
| 32 | Luther Ogbomode Ayo-Kalata | Sierra Leone |
| 33 | Danladi Yakubu Nyaku | Sudan |
| 34 | Bello Dogon-Daji Haliru | Thailand |
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News
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
The United States Justice Department has released additional FBI documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including interview records from a woman who alleged that U.S. President Donald Trump sexually assaulted her after being introduced to him by Epstein.
The newly disclosed documents were made public on Thursday as part of the ongoing release of records related to the Epstein investigation. According to the Justice Department, the materials were not included in earlier congressionally mandated disclosures because they had been incorrectly labelled as “duplicative” records during the document review process.
The files include summaries of several 2019 interviews conducted by the FBI with the woman, who claimed she was between 13 and 15 years old when she was sexually assaulted by Epstein in the 1980s.
According to the interview summaries, the woman told investigators that Epstein once took her to either New York or New Jersey and introduced her to Trump in what she described as a tall building.
She alleged that during the encounter, Trump attempted to force her to perform oral sex, but she resisted and bit him, causing the alleged assault attempt to stop.
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The woman further told investigators that Epstein had abused her repeatedly over several years and had sometimes arranged encounters with other men.
During the interviews, she also said that she and people close to her had received threatening phone calls over the years warning her to remain silent, which she suspected were connected to Epstein.
Despite the allegations, the FBI did not bring charges related to the claims, and records indicate that investigators eventually stopped communicating with the woman later in 2019.
Justice Department officials have cautioned that the allegations contained in the newly released documents are uncorroborated and noted that some materials submitted during the Epstein investigation included “untrue and sensationalist claims” involving President Trump.
President Trump has repeatedly denied any misconduct linked to Epstein or the allegations contained in the documents.
The release of the additional files has sparked renewed political scrutiny in Washington, with Democrats questioning how the administration handled the disclosure of the Epstein records.
Lawmakers argue that key materials may have been withheld or mishandled during the earlier releases.
In response, a House committee has voted to summon Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify about the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files and explain why some documents were not initially disclosed.
The Justice Department maintains that the omission resulted from administrative errors in the massive document review process, which involves millions of pages of records tied to the Epstein investigation.
The disclosures are part of a broader transparency effort following congressional legislation requiring the government to release large volumes of records connected to Epstein, whose high-profile criminal case exposed an extensive network of abuse involving underage victims.
US Releases Additional Epstein Files Containing Allegations Against Donald Trump
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