Eid-ul-Adha: ‘Dark Days Are Over, Light Is Here,’ Tinubu Assures Nigerians

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the country is gradually overcoming its economic challenges, declaring that the difficult phase triggered by his administration’s reforms is coming to an end.

In his Eid-ul-Adha 2026 message to Muslims across Nigeria and around the world, the President said the sacrifices made by citizens in the last three years were beginning to yield positive results, including a more stable economy and increased investor confidence.

According to Tinubu, Nigeria is now on the path to economic recovery after enduring painful but necessary reforms introduced by his government.

“Just as sacrifice brings reward, I am happy that the sacrifices and efforts we have made over the past three years have yielded a more stable economy, making our country a preferred investment destination that will drive job creation and economic growth.

“The walk through the dark tunnel is over, and the light is here,” the President declared.

The President Bola Tinubu Eid-ul-Adha message comes amid growing concerns among Nigerians over the rising cost of living, inflation, food prices, insecurity, and unemployment following the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange reforms introduced shortly after he assumed office in 2023.

Despite the economic hardship experienced by many households, Tinubu maintained that the reforms were necessary to stabilize the nation’s economy and prevent future financial crises.

He expressed confidence that ongoing policies would continue to improve national security, attract investments, create jobs, and strengthen critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

Tinubu Speaks on Insecurity, Terrorism

While acknowledging the continued attacks by terrorists and bandits in parts of the country, the President assured citizens that the Federal Government remained committed to restoring peace and security nationwide.

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Tinubu referenced the recent joint military operation between Nigerian and United States forces that reportedly led to the elimination of an ISIS commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, in the Lake Chad Basin.

“I am aware that, despite the best efforts of our security and intelligence agencies, heartless terrorists and bandits still attack some communities.

“I assure you: you are neither abandoned nor forgotten. We will ultimately defeat all the forces of evil,” he stated.

The President further urged Nigerians to use the Sallah celebration to pray for national peace, unity, and prosperity, while also extending support and charity to the poor and vulnerable.

Akpabio, Barau, Abbas Call for Unity and Sacrifice

Also reacting to the Eid-ul-Adha celebration, Senate President Godswill Akpabio called on Nigerians to embrace sacrifice, tolerance, and unity for national progress.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said the festival symbolises obedience, faith, and selflessness as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim.

“These timeless virtues of devotion, selflessness, and submission to divine will are values our nation desperately needs today,” he said.

Akpabio urged Nigerians to pray for troops fighting insecurity and for farmers to safely return to their farms.

Similarly, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau appealed to Muslims and all Nigerians to sustain prayers for peace, unity, and economic progress.

Barau encouraged citizens to support the poor and uphold the values of charity, justice, sacrifice, and tolerance during the festive period.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, alongside several state governors, also called for national unity and renewed commitment to nation-building.

Mixed Reactions Trail Tinubu’s Economic Claims

Tinubu’s declaration that Nigeria’s “dark days are over” has continued to generate mixed reactions among Nigerians.

While supporters of the administration believe the reforms are gradually stabilizing the economy and attracting foreign investments, many citizens say they are yet to feel the impact of the policies due to persistent inflation and high living costs.

Economic analysts, however, note that key economic indicators, including foreign reserves and investor confidence, have shown signs of improvement in recent months, although challenges remain for ordinary Nigerians struggling with daily expenses.

As Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha 2026, many Nigerians are hoping for real economic relief, improved security, and better living conditions in the months ahead.

Eid-ul-Adha: ‘Dark Days Are Over, Light Is Here,’ Tinubu Assures Nigerians

INEC Heads to Appeal Court on 9 Grounds – Seeks to Void Judgment Nullifying 2027 Timetable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally petitioned the Abuja Court of Appeal to overturn the verdict that nullified the dates it provided for the 2027 general elections, while also requesting a stay of execution of the judgment pending the resolution of its appeal. In a legal move that has thrown the 2027 election calendar into uncertainty, INEC filed a notice of appeal on May 25, 2026, through its team of attorneys led by Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN. The commission raised nine grounds of appeal urging the appellate court to consider and vacate the May 20 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The judgment, delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, had nullified key aspects of INEC’s timetable, including deadlines for party primaries, submission of candidates’ particulars, withdrawal and substitution of candidates, publication of final candidate lists, and campaign schedules. The lower court held that INEC lacked the statutory power to “fix or prescribe the timeframe within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections.”

In its appeal, INEC contended that the high court erred in law by failing to resolve a jurisdictional question it raised before the substantive hearing. The commission argued that the legal action initiated by the Youth Party (YP) against it was not only hypothetical but also academic in nature. INEC maintained that the trial court’s reluctance to make pronouncements on the jurisdictional issues denied the appellant a fair hearing. The commission further argued that the trial court erred in law when it interpreted Sections 29(1), 82, and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026 in a manner that contradicted the clear wording of the statute.

INEC provided its own interpretation of the relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2026, arguing that the lower court got it wrong. According to the commission, Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates political parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms – of candidates who emerged from their valid primaries – not later than 120 days before the date of the general election. Furthermore, INEC argued that what is actually required of political parties under the Electoral Act, 2026, is to notify the commission 21 days before holding their primaries, congresses, or conventions – whether for the election of executive committees, other governing bodies, or for nominating candidates. “The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries, provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026,” INEC stated in its appeal. The commission insisted that the verdict of the trial court was against the weight of evidence that was placed before it by the parties. Consequently, INEC urged the appellate court to grant the appeal and set aside the judgment in its entirety.

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Beyond the substantive issues, INEC also attacked the legal standing (locus standi) of the Youth Party (YP) to initiate and maintain the action. The commission described the suit as “purely academic” and argued that the YP lacked the requisite legal right to bring the complaint in the first place. INEC urged the Court of Appeal to dismiss YP’s complaint on this ground, arguing that only parties with a direct stake in the electoral process should be allowed to challenge the commission’s constitutionally derived powers to organize and supervise elections.

The Federal High Court’s judgment, which INEC is now appealing, made several key declarations that shook the electoral landscape. The court declared that INEC does not possess the statutory power to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 general election before the 60-day minimum period prescribed by law. It also ruled that INEC cannot fix campaign activities to end two days before the election, as this is inconsistent with Section 98 of the Electoral Act, 2026. Additionally, the court held that the timeframe prescribed by INEC for submission of membership registers for the conduct of primary elections is not applicable to primary elections conducted for the purpose of replacing withdrawn candidates. The court effectively ruled that INEC had exceeded its statutory mandate by imposing restrictive timelines that abridged periods expressly guaranteed under the Electoral Act, 2026.

As part of its appeal, INEC has also filed a motion for stay of execution of the lower court’s judgment. The commission argues that allowing the judgment to stand while the appeal is pending would disrupt the carefully planned sequence of electoral activities and potentially throw the 2027 general elections into confusion. If granted, the stay of execution would suspend the lower court’s ruling, effectively restoring INEC’s original timetable pending the final determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeal.

The appeal has placed opposition parties in a difficult position. However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) – which recently admitted it was unprepared for INEC-level logistics in conducting nationwide primaries – says it anticipated the commission’s legal move. Speaking with The Guardian, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi revealed that the party deliberately chose not to act on the lower court’s judgment because they regarded it as a “booby trap”. “We expected it, and that was the reason we did not shift our primaries. We regarded the judgment as a booby trap in the first instance,” Abdullahi said. “However, our disposition to that judgment does not prejudice the fact that INEC is not doing the right thing. We will do everything possible to ensure that Nigerians have a strong alternative government of their choice next year, one that will reshape the country.”

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) also reacted to INEC’s appeal, with its National Secretary, Olu Agunloye, stating that while the commission has the constitutional right to appeal, “it will meet the whole of Nigeria in court.” Agunloye added that it had become obvious that INEC was “working not for Nigerians, but in the interest of one individual” – an apparent reference to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

However, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the immediate past spokesman of former INEC Chairman, defended the commission’s decision to challenge the judgment. He argued that the ruling questioned INEC’s constitutional powers to organize and supervise elections. “The first function is to organise, undertake and supervise all elections into the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Governor, as well as membership of the Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly,” Oyekanmi said. He explained that extensive planning and consultations with political parties and stakeholders usually precede the release of any election timetable by the commission. “Therefore, any attempt to compel the commission to alter timelines of activities in the 2027 election timetable should not be taken lightly because of the constitutional and electoral implications involved,” he added.

With INEC’s appeal now pending before the Court of Appeal, the electoral calendar for the 2027 general elections remains uncertain. The commission’s motion for stay of execution, if granted, would suspend the lower court’s ruling while the appeal is being heard. For opposition parties like the ADC, which are already grappling with leadership crises and the logistical nightmare of conducting nationwide primaries, the legal battle adds another layer of uncertainty to an already turbulent political season. Legal analysts suggest that the Court of Appeal may expedite hearing of the matter given the time-sensitive nature of electoral timelines. A quick resolution is expected, as any prolonged uncertainty could disrupt party primaries and other pre-election activities.

INEC Heads to Appeal Court on 9 Grounds – Seeks to Void Judgment Nullifying 2027 Timetable

Release Abducted Children, Teachers Before Eid, Oyo Grand Chief Imam Begs Captors

IBADAN – The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Sheikh Al-Imam Barrister Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has issued an emotional appeal to those holding innocent children and their teachers in captivity, begging them to release the victims in the fear of Almighty Allah as the Muslim community prepares for the Eid al-Adha celebrations.

In a press release issued on Monday, the revered Islamic leader called on the abductors to reflect upon the boundless forgiveness and mercy of Allah, reminding them that no sin is beyond divine pardon when accompanied by sincere repentance.

Sheikh Akeugberu, whose message was steeped in compassion and the teachings of Islam, quoted extensively from the Glorious Qur’an to drive home his plea. He cited Surah Az-Zumar Verse 53, which reads: “Say: O My servants who have transgressed against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”

The Grand Chief Imam also referenced Surah An-Nisa Verse 110: “And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

The respected Islamic scholar explained that these sacred verses serve as eternal reminders of Allah’s open door of mercy and forgiveness for every soul willing to return to righteousness.

“I hereby beg you in the mightiest name of Allah سبحانه وتعالى to release these innocent children and their teachers still under your custody,” the statement quoted the Grand Chief Imam as saying. “Let compassion prevail over cruelty, and let humanity triumph over pain and sorrow.”

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The cleric further emphasized the emotional trauma currently being experienced by the families of the victims, pleading that the abducted children and their teachers be allowed to reunite with their loved ones in time to observe the forthcoming Eid al-Adha celebrations.

“Please, please and please, let them celebrate Eid al-Adha with their families and with us,” the Grand Chief Imam passionately appealed.

Sheikh Akeugberu concluded his message with prayers for Allah’s mercy upon all humanity, asking Almighty Allah to forgive sins, overlook shortcomings, and keep everyone steadfast upon faith.

The identities and location of the abducted children and teachers were not disclosed in the press release. However, the appeal comes amid growing concern over a wave of abductions targeting schools and communities across parts of Nigeria, with many victims spending weeks or months in captivity before ransom payments or rescue operations secure their release.

The Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the two most important holidays in the Islamic calendar. It commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah’s command. The celebration is expected to take place in the coming days, subject to the sighting of the moon.

The Grand Chief Imam’s appeal adds his voice to a growing chorus of religious leaders, civil society organizations, and government officials calling for an end to the recurring abductions that have plagued the nation in recent years.

As at the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from the abductors or security agencies regarding the Imam’s appeal.

Release Abducted Children, Teachers Before Eid, Oyo Grand Chief Imam Begs Captors