The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Author: Editor

  • ENUGU CP ORDERS PROBE OF ALLEGED SHOOTING AT NDC SECRETARIAT

    ENUGU CP ORDERS PROBE OF ALLEGED SHOOTING AT NDC SECRETARIAT

    ENUGU STATE POLICE COMMAND

    PRESS RELEASE

    ENUGU CP ORDERS PROBE OF ALLEGED SHOOTING AT NDC SECRETARIAT, AS JOINT SECURITY OPERATIVES DISPERSE RIOTOUS PARTY MEMBERS AT AIRPORT ENTRANCE

    The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, mspsp, smicm, has ordered a thorough investigation into an alleged shooting by unidentified armed hoodlums in front of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) secretariat in Enugu on 10th October 2026, at about 2:30 p.m. The incident reportedly left a man repairing a vehicle parked along the road with a suspected gunshot injury and resulted in damage to the windscreens of five parked vehicles.

    Upon receiving a distress report, Police operatives promptly moved to the scene, restored normalcy and rushed the injured victim to a hospital, where he is receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition. The CP has directed the State CID to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

    In a separate incident at about 11:30 a.m. on the same day, joint Police and military operatives dispersed suspected NDC members who gathered in a disorderly manner at the entrance to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. Preliminary findings indicate that airport authorities restricted the party members from entering the airport in large numbers to receive their governorship candidate. A misunderstanding reportedly arose among the party members and escalated into a fight, prompting the intervention of the joint security operatives.

    The Commissioner of Police has reiterated the need for political parties and their members to shun violence and conduct their activities in accordance with the law and existing peace accords. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to providing a level playing field for all political parties and urged them to notify the Police of their planned activities to facilitate adequate security arrangements.

    SP DANIEL NDUKWE, mnipr, mnisma
    Police Public Relations Officer
    Enugu State Command
    State Headquarters
    GRA, Enugu
    11th October, 2026

  • 2027: Over 30,000 Enugu Teachers Endorse Mbah, Tinubu

    2027: Over 30,000 Enugu Teachers Endorse Mbah, Tinubu

    ...List Welfare, Increased Education Funding

    Teachers in both public and private schools in Enugu State have resoundingly endorsed the Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, for a second term, citing improved teachers’ welfare, increased education funding, promotions and other interventions.

    The teachers also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose economic reforms, Mbah said, had made more resources available to states to embark on massive projects such as the construction of over 267 Smart Green Schools across all the 260 political wards of Enugu State.

    The teachers made their position known through over 12,000 of their members, who marched through parts of Enugu metropolis before holding an endorsement rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Saturday under the auspices of Teachers for Grassroots Movement (TGM).

    In his address, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Theophilus Odo, described Mbah as a Godsend, reeling out the concrete steps taken by the Governor to address the challenges that had bedevilled the education sector in the state before now.

    “On behalf of the NUT, I want to say that we are happy today because God has given us a caring governor, Peter Mbah.

    “He was instrumental to the domestication of the harmonised retirement benefits for the teachers even before he became governor.

    “The building of over 260 Smart Green Schools is a very positive change. Our teachers and children can now compete favourably with their peers in other places.

    “He has started recruiting thousands of teachers, and he is also building smart teachers by ensuring that they attend symposiums and other training programmes to gain more knowledge.

    “There are no outstanding promotions, and our salaries are coming at the appropriate time.

    “So, we, the teachers, are endorsing our governor for a second term in office. The votes of our teachers are only for Governor Mbah,” Odo stated.

    On his part, the Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Enugu State, Nelson Agu, said private school teachers were joining such a rally in the state for the first time ever to encourage what he described as Mbah’s revolution in the education sector.

    He noted that the introduction of Smart Green Schools had challenged private schools in the state to improve.

    “When you came and started the idea of over 260 Smart Green Schools, we thought we were out of service. But we went and upgraded our schools to meet the required standards.

    “Importantly, the idea of allocating 33 per cent of the budget to the education sector for three consecutive years is something to laud your administration for,” Agu told Mbah.

    The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Simeon Akaeme, said the Mbah administration had restored the dignity of teachers and made life better through huge investments in infrastructure and social services.

    The Director-General of the Teachers for Grassroots Movement, Dr. Nwakaego Aja, described education as a springboard to liberation, self-reliance and economic development amid the systemic collapse experienced by the nation.

    Aja assured him of the total support of the over 30,000 teachers in the state.

    “Through experiential learning and innovation, you brought answers to the quest by our nationalists, elevating education to a catalyst for economic development,” she asserted.

    “We, the teachers, are not ingrates. We see what you are doing. You promised disruptive innovation, and you have delivered disruptive innovation. That is why we are here.

    “We promise you this: we will take your good news to the communities, to the staff rooms, to every market, to every polling unit, and we will deliver. Our vote is for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from bottom to top,” she stressed.

    The Commissioner for Education and patron of TGM, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, said the endorsement by the teachers in their thousands was a tip of the iceberg of the support coming his way and that of the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

    He added, “On behalf of every teacher gathered here today, I have one message, and that is to thank you for believing and investing in the vision that it is through education that Enugu State will attain greater heights. You have committed so many resources to giving every Enugu child a future.”

    In his remarks, Governor Mbah said the endorsement meant so much to him beyond the 2027 polls, as the future his administration wanted to build for the state depended on education and the teachers.

    “Today’s endorsement carries a particular significance, and that is because everything we do, all the promises we have made, all the projections we have made — growing Enugu’s economy, becoming one of the top three states in terms of GDP, making Enugu State the number one state in terms of investment, business, living and tourism — are in the hands of our teachers.

    “That is why it appears as if we are insane about education when you consider what we are doing in the sector —building over 7,000 classrooms. And we are not talking about the details because we do not talk about 464 furniture items, we do not talk about 25,000 desktop computers, we do not talk about over 5,000 tablets or the free feeding and uniforms, among others.

    “For us, it is about transformation —transforming an education system. And that whole transformation, whether we fail or succeed, would lie largely in your hands.

    “That is why, when I say that I see you and I value you, it comes from the depths of my heart because I understand what you go through to inculcate this knowledge into our children so that we can become that great state. So, we love you and appreciate you dearly,” he emphasised.

    The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, who was represented by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, said the endorsement was a great reward for a government that had made education the cornerstone of its development agenda.

    The event attracted senior government officials, political and community leaders, among others.

  • 2027: INEC Releases Final Candidates’ List Amid Protest, Relief

    The release of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission has sparked mixed reactions following the omission of prominent opposition figures, including a former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami; Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu; and the Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.

    While the Ogun PDP accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of mounting pressure on INEC to exclude its candidate, Pantami’s camp urged supporters to remain calm. Gwarzo, a former Deputy Governor of Kano, is yet to react.

    There was jubilation among supporters of politicians whose names came under scrutiny following a recent Supreme Court ruling that raised doubts about their qualification.

    INEC published the names of candidates contesting the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections on its website on Saturday, marking a significant stage in preparations for the 2027 polls.

    Sunday PUNCH review of the list shows that it contains 18 presidential candidates.

    Among the prominent figures whose names appeared on the list were President Bola Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, listed under the Allied Peoples Movement.

    The list also includes governorship candidates across 26 states, including Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara.

    A review of the published names by Sunday PUNCH showed that while several candidates whose nominations had attracted attention made the final list, others were absent, leaving their political camps to confront questions over their participation in the elections.

    Among those missing were Pantami, the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State, and Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State.

    Adebutu’s running mate, Alhaja Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, was also absent. The Accord Party governorship candidate in Ogun, Alhaji Olaniyi Agbongboakala, was similarly missing.

    The omissions have drawn attention to disputes surrounding party primaries and the legal requirements for nominating candidates, particularly following a Supreme Court judgment on the conditions political parties must satisfy in selecting candidates for elective offices.

    The judgment had raised questions about the validity of some nominations, including compliance with party membership requirements and the conduct of primary elections.

    It was not immediately clear whether the omissions of the affected candidates were directly linked to the judgment or to other issues concerning their nominations.

    Pantami’s omission

    In Gombe State, Pantami’s absence from the list raised questions because he had emerged as the PDP’s candidate in a fresh governorship primary conducted after a court ruling invalidated his earlier nomination.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe had nullified Pantami’s initial emergence as the party’s candidate and ordered a fresh primary after a suit challenging the process was filed by Usman Garry.

    Garry argued that the PDP failed to conduct a valid governorship primary before announcing Pantami as its candidate on June 26, 2026.

    He contended that the party’s adoption of Pantami without the required primary violated its guidelines and relevant electoral laws.

    In her judgment, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed directed the party to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral laws.

    The ruling effectively set aside Pantami’s earlier emergence and required the party to repeat the nomination process.

    Following the judgment, the PDP conducted a fresh governorship primary on Tuesday across the 114 wards in Gombe State’s 11 local government areas.

    Pantami won the rerun with 2,024 votes, defeating former House of Representatives member Khamisu Mailantarki, who scored 389 votes, and former Gombe State House of Assembly member Usman Aliyu Garry, who polled 112 votes.

    Despite his victory in the fresh primary, Pantami’s name and that of the PDP were absent from INEC’s published list of governorship candidates for the state.

    The spokesperson for the Pantamiyya Movement, Professor Suleiman Mohammed, urged supporters to remain calm, describing the development as a temporary challenge rather than a final determination of the former minister’s political future.

    In a statement shared on Pantami’s Facebook account, Mohammed said the camp was aware of the omission but remained hopeful that the issue would be resolved as the electoral process continued.

    “This is a temporary challenge and a normal part of the electoral process, not a final determination, in sha Allah,” the statement read.

    The statement did not, however, specify the legal or administrative steps the party or Pantami’s camp intended to take to address the omission.

    The development leaves the PDP facing questions over its representation in the Gombe governorship race, particularly after the party conducted a repeat primary in compliance with the court’s directive.

    The commission’s published list showed Bala Bello as the ADC candidate, Ardo Kumo as the NDC candidate and Gwamna Isyaku as the APC candidate in Gombe.

    Ogun PDP alleges interference

    In Ogun State, the PDP accused the APC of mounting undue pressure on INEC to exclude Adebutu from the final list, alleging that the ruling party feared losing the governorship election.

    The allegation was contained in a statement issued by the PDP’s state Publicity Secretary, Kayode Adebayo, who urged residents and party supporters not to panic over the omission.

    The party maintained that Adebutu remained its duly nominated candidate and expressed confidence that his name would eventually be published by the electoral commission.

    According to the PDP, Adebutu registered as a party member within the stipulated period, obtained a printed membership card, underwent verification and submitted the required information to INEC before the deadline.

    The party said the omission would not deter its efforts to challenge the APC in the 2027 election.

    “The public should be informed that the omission of our candidate’s name in INEC’s list is as a result of the undue pressure mounted by the ruling party on INEC out of fear of losing the election,” the statement said.

    The published list included 13 governorship candidates for the state, among them Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, of the APC; Jimi Lawal of the ADC; Babajide Rotimi of the Allied Peoples Movement; Adenuga Adekunle of the Boot Party; and Akinbola Rotham of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. The Accord Party candidate, Agbongboakala, was also missing from the list.

    Chinda, Omo-Agege, Ochei make the cut

    The list also featured some high-profile candidates whose nominations came under scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s ruling on political party membership registers and candidate selection.

    On September 24, 2026, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Jauro, upheld an appeal filed by INEC and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which the Court of Appeal had earlier invalidated. The case originated from a suit filed by the Zenith Labour Party challenging the constitutionality of the provisions.

    Under the restored provisions, only members whose names appear in a political party’s membership register submitted to INEC at least 21 days before its primary, congress or convention may participate in the exercise.

    Parties must use the submitted register, while failure to submit it within the statutory period prevents a party from fielding candidates. Section 84(2) also provides for candidate nominations through direct primaries or consensus.

    The judgment raised questions about politicians who changed parties shortly before their primaries, including Kingsley Chinda, Ovie Omo-Agege and Victor Ochei.

    However, the Supreme Court did not expressly disqualify any of the politicians, meaning the validity of their individual nominations depends on compliance with the applicable legal requirements.

    But the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chinda, and a former Deputy Senate President, Omo-Agege of the Nigeria Democratic Congress contesting Delta Central senatorial district made the list.

    Also on the list is the former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Ochei, contesting the Delta North senatorial list under the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

    Other candidates

    The list also provides a clearer picture of the candidates expected to contest governorship elections in the 26 states covered by the publication.

    In Kwara State, Zakari Mohammed is listed as the ADC candidate, Yakubu Danladi Salihu as the APC candidate, Abdulmumin Ajia as the NDC candidate and Kawu Bolakale as the PDP candidate.

    In Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is listed for the ADC, Obafemi Hamzat for the APC, Doherty Adeshina for the NDC and Doherty Olugbemiga for the PDP.

    In Abia, the candidates include Kalu Agu of the ADC, Ndubuisi Ogah of the NDC, Kelechi Anosike of the PDP and Eric Chinemeucheya of the APC.

    Adamawa’s list includes Modibo Ribadu of the ADC, Aishatu Ahmed of the NDC, Maurice Vunobolki of the PDP and Ahmed Galadima of the APC.

    In Akwa Ibom, John Akpanudoedehe is listed for the ADC, Michael Eyong for the NDC, Sunday Akpan for the PDP and Umo Eno for the APC.

    Benue’s candidates include Hembe Lorwase of the ADC, Terhemba Shija of the NDC, Michael Aondoakaa of the PDP and Governor Hyacinth Alia of the APC.

    In Borno, Babagana Buhari is listed for the ADC, Ibrahim Kashim for the NDC, Abba-Gana Baba for the PDP and Mustapha Gubio for the APC.

    In Ebonyi, the candidates include Ukpai Udeh of the ADC, Igwe Paulinus of the NDC, Chukwuma Ifeanyi of the PDP and Francis Nwifuru of the APC.

    Enugu’s list includes Ocho Chukwuma of the ADC, Christian Ohaa of the NDC, Geoffrey Nnaji of the PDP and Ndubuisi Mbah of the APC.

    In Kaduna, Isa Ashiru is listed for the ADC, Bawa Usman for the PDP and Sani Uba for the APC. Kano’s list includes Ibrahim Amin of the ADC, Yusuf Kabir of the APC and Abacha Sani of the PDP.

    In Oyo State, Yusuf Adebola is listed for the NDC, Adegoke Adegboyega for the ADC, Gbolarumi Ola for the PDP and Senator Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun for the APC.

    The list also names Aliyu Ahmad of the NDC, Manir Dan’iya of the ADC, Abdullahi Sokoto Abubakar of the PDP and Aliyu Ahmed of the APC in Sokoto State.

    In Plateau, Akuns Sunday is listed for the NDC, Sura John Sunday for the ADC, Ropshik Wungak for the PDP and Governor Caleb Mutfwang for the APC. Punch

  • UK Universities Withdraw Admission Offers to Nigerian Students

    Some United Kingdom universities have withdrawn the admissions of Nigerian students due to an ongoing visa crackdown by the British government impacting international applicants.

    The universities revoked admissions given mostly to Nigerian and Pakistani applicants in the first half of 2026, driven by tightening rules from the Home Office regarding visas for international students.

    According to a Financial Times report on Saturday, a study showed that 10.5 per cent of study visa applications to the UK ended up being withdrawn, up from 2.3 per cent in the same period last year and 0.4 per cent in 2023.

    “Universities are revoking offers en masse made to international applicants from countries including Nigeria and Pakistan as they fear the UK government’s visa crackdown will result in a ban on their recruiting international students,” the report stated.

    The Financial Times noted that the institutions clarified they revoked admissions in reaction to a doubling in the number of study visas refused by the Home Office during the first six months of 2026.

    The report stated that 22.7 per cent of study visa applications from Nigeria were withdrawn in the first half of this year, compared to 4.5 per cent in the first half of 2025.

    Related News

    “While visa applications can be withdrawn for other reasons, universities said the main driver had been an increase in their revoking offers,” it added.

    The British publication further stated that the surge in Home Office study visa rejections has been driven by a higher increase in refusals from applicants suspected by the UK government of using the route to make asylum claims.

    Data from visa processing application firm Enroly indicates that nearly half of universities have refusal rates above the five per cent threshold, which could lead to a ban on recruiting international students.

    Speaking on the repercussions of the visa revocations, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sunderland, Sir David Bell, said, “This has involved pulling back from international markets where a tougher approach is being taken to visa applications”.

    Vanessa Wilson, chief executive of University Alliance, a group of 20 professional and technical universities, warned, “This is going to result in restructures, which inevitably result in job losses, course closures, campus closures”. Punch

  • Portugal Provisionally Suspend Ronaldo Over National Team Walkout

    Portugal Provisionally Suspend Ronaldo Over National Team Walkout

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been provisionally suspended after the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) opened disciplinary proceedings against the forward over his departure from the national team squad.

    The federation announced the decision on Saturday, describing the case as urgent. Ronaldo, 41, will remain suspended pending a final decision on the punishment.

    The disciplinary action follows Ronaldo’s decision to leave Portugal’s Nations League squad after being left on the bench against Norway on September 27 and subsequently learning that he would not start against Denmark on October 1.

    Earlier this week, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker apologised to supporters over his actions but criticised national team coach Jorge Jesus for allegedly failing to honour an agreement over his playing time.

    Ronaldo maintained that he had no intention of retiring from international football and said he would accept any sanction imposed by the federation.

    “I will be available, as I have always been until today, to compete and win for our national team,” he said, adding that his actions deserved to be punished.

    The forward accused Jesus of going back on his word about bringing him on during Portugal’s match against Norway. He also alleged that the coach failed to make agreed points during a press conference ahead of the Denmark fixture.

    According to Ronaldo, one of the points concerned his status in the team, with the player comparing the decision to make a footballer of his stature warm up without playing to asking legendary figures Pele or Diego Maradona to do the same.

    Jesus declined to engage in a public exchange with Ronaldo, saying he had read the player’s statement and remained focused on his responsibilities with the national team.

    The coach had previously indicated that Ronaldo would remain eligible for selection if he continued playing for his club and wanted to represent Portugal.

    Portuguese media reports indicate that federation rules provide for suspensions ranging from one to six months for players who miss training sessions, matches or other national team activities.

    Ronaldo remains the leading goalscorer and most-capped player in men’s international football.

    Portugal have won all four of their Nations League matches and secured qualification for the quarter-finals with two games remaining in the group stage.

    The team are scheduled to host Denmark on November 14 before travelling to face Wales on November 17 in their final Group A4 fixtures.

    Ronaldo returned to club action on Friday for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, scoring in their 3-0 victory over Diriyah in a Saudi Pro League match. The goal took his career tally to 980, according to the report.

  • UK Inquest Rules Deaths of Three Nigerian Sisters Who Drowned at Sea Suicides

    Three Nigerian sisters who drowned in UK sea took own lives – Inquest Rules

    Three Nigerian sisters who drowned in the sea off Brighton, southern England, have been ruled to have taken their own lives following an inquest into their deaths.

    The sisters, Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, lived together in Greenford, west London. They had become increasingly withdrawn following the death of their mother in 2010.

    The inquest heard that the sisters visited an area of Birmingham close to where their mother died on May 11 before travelling to Brighton the following day.

    According to BBC, they were later seen on the town’s eastern seafront in the early hours of May 13, when they entered the sea in difficult conditions. None of the sisters could swim.

    Their father, Joseph Jacobsen, described the loss of his three daughters as heartbreaking.

    Coroner Penelope Schofield said the court could not speculate on the reasons behind the sisters’ actions.

    Evidence presented at the inquest showed that a taxi carrying the sisters arrived in Brighton at 10.21pm on May 12. The driver reportedly noticed that they were quiet during the journey.

    Closed-circuit television footage later showed the sisters on Brighton’s eastern seafront. They were last seen alive at 2.42am on May 13.

    The inquest also heard that police examining Christina’s laptop found 227 references to water and 179 references to suicide. Christina had reportedly experienced anxiety and depression following their mother’s death.

    Rebecca’s medical records contained no significant information relevant to the inquest, while Jane was not registered with a doctor.

    Toxicology tests found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in the sisters’ systems, and investigators found no evidence of violence.

    Jane was brought ashore by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and pronounced dead. Christina was recovered by an RNLI lifeboat, while Rebecca’s body was later washed ashore. Both were pronounced dead by paramedics.

    The inquest examined the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the sisters’ movements in the hours before they entered the water. Vanguard

  • FG Prioritises Local Solar Manufacturing Before Import Restrictions

    FG Prioritises Local Solar Manufacturing Before Import Restrictions

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Federal Government has begun efforts to expand Nigeria’s solar panel manufacturing capacity before considering restrictions on imports, as part of plans to promote local production and make renewable energy more affordable.

    The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, said the government was engaging foreign manufacturers and potential investors to establish solar panel production facilities in the country.

    Speaking during a media briefing, Udeh said Nigeria must develop the capacity to manufacture solar panels locally before considering a ban on imported products.

    “You can’t ban importation of solar panels if you do not have manufacturing capabilities in the country,” the minister said.

    The Solar Power Nigeria Campaign and the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP) welcomed the approach, warning that restricting imports before domestic manufacturers could meet local demand might increase prices and limit access to solar energy.

    The organisations said households, businesses and public institutions increasingly depended on solar power to supplement unreliable electricity supply and reduce their reliance on petrol and diesel generators.

    Udeh disclosed that the government was seeking partnerships with international manufacturers, including Turkish companies, to establish production facilities in Nigeria.

    He said he travelled to Turkey this month following engagements initiated during President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to the country, with discussions aimed at attracting major solar manufacturers to invest in Nigeria.

    Memoranda of Understanding are expected to be signed with prospective partners, according to a statement issued by the organisations on Friday.

    The minister also said the government was working to prevent substandard solar panels and components from entering the Nigerian market, while ensuring that locally manufactured and imported products from reliable sources met acceptable quality standards.

    He explained that domestic production could help reduce prices by cutting shipping costs and import duties associated with foreign-made panels. Government support, he added, would further improve affordability.

    The initiative also includes plans to develop local expertise through the Barefoot Renewable Energy College, which was commissioned last month to train artisans in solar manufacturing and installation.

    According to Udeh, expanding the pool of skilled workers would improve installation standards and help lower the cost of solar energy products and services.

    The government is also implementing the Renewed Hope Solarisation Project through the Energy Commission of Nigeria to move federal institutions, including academic institutions, towards solar-powered electricity.

    Nigeria’s inadequate electricity supply has made alternative energy sources increasingly important for households and businesses seeking more reliable power.

    The Solar Power Nigeria Campaign and GIFSEP said the national grid supplies approximately 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts of electricity to a population exceeding 200 million, leaving many consumers dependent on alternative sources.

    Reacting to the government’s plans, GIFSEP’s Founder and Executive Director, Michael Terungwa David, said developing domestic manufacturing capacity before restricting imports would protect consumers while creating opportunities for local businesses.

    He also welcomed the proposed focus on quality control and technical training, saying these measures could help address the problems of substandard products and poor installation practices.

    David, however, urged the government to publish a clear, time-bound roadmap for expanding domestic production and gradually reducing dependence on imported solar panels.

    He called for the involvement of industry operators and civil society organisations in developing the plan, alongside incentives and affordable financing for manufacturers, installers and households.

    He further urged the government to strengthen enforcement of product quality standards in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

    **Tags:** Solar Energy, Kingsley Udeh, Local Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Federal Government

  • 2027: Senate Rules Out Electoral Act Review Before General Elections

    2027: Senate Rules Out Electoral Act Review Before General Elections

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Senate has ruled out any fresh amendment of the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, saying changes to the legislation at this stage could disrupt preparations for the polls

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, explaining that the National Assembly would only consider reviewing the law after the elections if the need arose.

    His position follows a Supreme Court judgment that restored provisions of the Electoral Act governing political party membership registers and methods of selecting candidates for elections.

    The apex court overturned an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had declared Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 unconstitutional.

    The Court of Appeal had delivered its ruling following a suit by the Zenith Labour Party, which challenged the requirements as an interference with the internal administration of political parties.

    However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel, reinstated the provisions and set aside the appellate court’s decision nullifying parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable for the 2027 elections.

    Reacting to calls for a possible review of the legislation, Adaramodu said the National Assembly had completed the lawmaking process and the Act had received presidential assent.

    He maintained that the law was intended to guide the 2027 elections and should not be altered while political parties were already preparing their candidates for the polls.

    According to him, reopening the legislation could create uncertainty for parties that had relied on its provisions in their electoral preparations.

    Adaramodu said individuals or groups seeking changes could submit petitions to the Senate, but stressed that the National Assembly had no immediate plans to amend the law.

    The Supreme Court judgment has renewed attention on compliance with the restored provisions, particularly the requirements governing party membership records and candidate nominations.

    Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) restrict participation in party primaries, congresses and conventions to members whose names appear on membership registers submitted to INEC.

    Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries and consensus as methods through which political parties can nominate candidates for elections.

    The provisions are expected to remain part of the legal framework guiding political parties as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.

  • Court Of Appeal Dismisses El-Rufai’s Bail Appeal

    Court Of Appeal Dismisses El-Rufai’s Bail Appeal

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Court of Appeal in Kaduna has dismissed an appeal by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai challenging the refusal of his second bail application by the state’s High Court.

    The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, held that El-Rufai failed to present fresh facts or special circumstances that would justify overturning the lower court’s decision.

    The judgment, obtained by a correspondent on Friday, was delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, who affirmed the High Court’s June 10, 2026, ruling denying the former governor bail.

    “There is no merit in this appeal; it fails and is hereby dismissed. The ruling of the lower court delivered on 10/6/2026 is hereby affirmed,” Otisi held.

    El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission over alleged financial offences linked to his administration. He has denied wrongdoing.

    In reaching its decision, the appellate court considered the prosecution’s concerns that some of the former governor’s public statements could potentially interfere with the administration of justice.

    The prosecution had cited an interview El-Rufai granted Arise Television on April 26, 2026, during which he allegedly admitted to wiretapping the telephone line of the National Security Adviser. It also referred to remarks attributed to him about defending his political legacy against attempts to criminalise him.

    According to the judgment, El-Rufai acknowledged participating in the interview and noted that he was facing a separate case relating to the subject matter.

    However, the appellate court emphasised that its consideration of the evidence presented in the bail proceedings did not amount to a determination of his guilt.

    Otisi reiterated that the former governor remained presumed innocent until proven guilty, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

    The panel also rejected El-Rufai’s argument that his return to custody after attending his late mother’s burial demonstrated that he was not a flight risk.

    The former governor had argued that his release to attend the burial and subsequent return to custody constituted compelling grounds for bail.

    The prosecution, however, maintained that security operatives accompanied and monitored him throughout the period.

    The court noted that El-Rufai’s affidavit referred to photographs allegedly showing him attending funeral prayers at the National Mosque in Abuja, but the photographs were not attached to the application before the trial court.

    Otisi said the trial judge could not speculate on the contents of documents that had not been presented as evidence.

    “Courts are not allowed to act on speculations or conjecture to reach a decision, more so in our criminal jurisprudence,” he said.

    The appellate court consequently upheld the lower court’s finding that El-Rufai had not sufficiently demonstrated that his return to custody was entirely voluntary or that the circumstances warranted a different bail decision.

    It also affirmed the order directing an accelerated hearing of the criminal case, with proceedings to be conducted on a day-to-day basis as far as practicable while the former governor remained in ICPC custody.

    The panel observed that there was no evidence before it showing that the prosecution had failed to pursue the case diligently. It added that El-Rufai could approach the trial court for another consideration of his bail application if the prosecution failed to prosecute the case diligently.

    In a concurring judgment, Justice Abimbola Obaseki-Adejumo agreed that the former governor had not presented fresh and compelling evidence to justify a different outcome.

    “Nothing had changed; therefore, I am unable to agree that a miscarriage of justice had occurred,” she held.

    Justice Lateef Ganiyu also concurred with the lead judgment, noting that the failure to attach documents relied upon in the bail application weakened El-Rufai’s case.

    The ICPC took the former governor into custody in March 2026 following investigations into alleged financial infractions and procurement irregularities during his administration from 2015 to 2023.

  • Nigeria Records 263 Lassa Fever Deaths, 1,115 Confirmed Cases, Says NCDC

    Nigeria Records 263 Lassa Fever Deaths, 1,115 Confirmed Cases, Says NCDC

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nigeria recorded 263 deaths from Lassa fever among 1,115 confirmed cases between January and September 20, 2026, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

    The figures were contained in the NCDC’s situation report for September 14 to 20, which showed that the case fatality rate had risen to 23.6 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

    The agency reported 906 confirmed infections and 168 deaths within the corresponding period last year.

    According to the report, Nigeria recorded 8,218 suspected cases in the first 38 weeks of 2026, compared with 7,792 during the same period in 2025. Confirmed infections were reported in 119 local government areas across 24 states.

    Five states accounted for approximately 87 per cent of confirmed cases, with Ondo recording the highest number at 393.

    Bauchi followed with 260 cases, while Taraba recorded 133, Edo had 122, and Benue reported 61 confirmed infections.

    During the week under review, the country recorded 11 new confirmed cases and four deaths from 120 suspected cases. The weekly number of confirmed infections dropped from 17 in the preceding week.

    The report identified people aged 21 to 30 as the most affected group, although confirmed cases occurred among individuals aged between one and 93 years.

    No new infection among healthcare workers was reported during the week, but the cumulative number of affected health workers stood at 54.

    The NCDC attributed the rising fatality rate partly to patients arriving at health facilities late, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.

    Other challenges identified by the agency included the high cost of treatment, poor environmental sanitation, limited awareness in highly affected communities and infections among healthcare workers.

    To strengthen the response, the NCDC urged state governments to sustain community awareness campaigns on Lassa fever prevention throughout the year.

    It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high level of suspicion for the disease, refer suspected cases promptly, initiate timely treatment and adhere to infection prevention and control measures.

    The agency said response efforts included active case searches, contact tracing, training for frontline health workers, distribution of protective equipment and continued laboratory testing.

    The national Lassa fever technical working group also continued to coordinate response activities across different levels of the health system.

  • Court Adjourns SERAP’s N100m Defamation Appeal To October 13

    Court Adjourns SERAP’s N100m Defamation Appeal To October 13

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has adjourned until October 13 the hearing of two appeals arising from a defamation case in which the Federal Capital Territory High Court ordered the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project to pay N100m in damages to two Department of State Services officials.

    A three-member panel led by Justice Danlami Senchi fixed the new date on Friday after discovering that a related appeal filed by Kolawole Oluwadare was not ready for hearing.

    The panel consequently reversed its earlier decision to reserve judgment in SERAP’s appeal, ruling that both cases should be heard together because they originated from the same judgment of the lower court.

    The appeals, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1114/2026 and CA/ABJ/CV/1105/2026, were filed by SERAP and Oluwadare, respectively, against Sarah John and two others.

    SERAP is challenging a May 5, 2026, judgment by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, which found the organisation liable for defamation over publications concerning an alleged invasion of its Abuja office by DSS officials in September 2024.

    During Friday’s proceedings, counsel to Oluwadare, Hannah Ayanwale, told the court that the second appeal was not ready because the appellant’s brief had been filed only the previous day. She also said a document had inadvertently been omitted from the additional record of appeal.

    Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, who represented the first and second respondents in the related appeal, argued that the case amounted to an abuse of court process, noting that the matters had been heard jointly at the trial court.

    He said the respondents had assumed the appeal was no longer active because the appellant’s counsel had not filed the necessary processes within the expected time. Kehinde apologised for not filing an application to challenge the appeal earlier and sought time to submit the respondents’ briefs.

    Paul Ngbeoma, counsel to the third respondent, also apologised to the court, stating that his client would participate in the proceedings without filing additional processes.

    The panel criticised the respondents’ lawyers for failing to alert the court that the appeal was not ready before the matter was called.

    Justice Senchi stressed that only the court could decide whether an appeal should be removed from its list, adding that the service of the appellant’s brief showed that the case remained active.

    The court directed the first and second respondents to file their briefs by Monday, October 12, while the appellant was ordered to submit a reply by Tuesday morning.

    Explaining its decision to vacate the earlier order reserving judgment in SERAP’s appeal, the panel said counsel had not informed it that both appeals arose from the same lower court judgment. It held that the second appeal’s status made it necessary to hear the cases together.

    The dispute followed publications made by SERAP on September 9, 2024, alleging that DSS officials unlawfully entered its Abuja office after the organisation called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate alleged corruption at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and reverse increases in petrol prices.

    The publications reportedly described the officers as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark-skinned man” without naming them.

    The two officials subsequently sued SERAP for defamation, leading to the FCT High Court’s decision to award N100m in damages against the organisation and order an apology.

    In its appeal, SERAP challenged the finding of liability, the damages awarded and the consequential orders made by the trial court.

    The organisation argued that the claimants were not identified by name, rank, designation, office or photograph in the publications and that no independent witness established that readers understood the descriptions to refer specifically to them.

    SERAP also questioned the trial court’s reliance on its own observation of the officials’ physical appearance to establish their identification.

    It further argued that claims of psychological harm and damage to reputation were not supported by sufficient evidence of specific professional, financial or reputational losses.

    The organisation is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment.

    The appellate court is scheduled to hear both appeals on October 13.

  • IG Approves Posting Of New Police Spokespersons To Commands, Formations

    IG Approves Posting Of New Police Spokespersons To Commands, Formations

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has approved the deployment of new Police Public Relations Officers and Public Relations Liaison Officers to selected commands and formations of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The police announced the development in a post on its official X account on Friday, October 9, 2026, saying the postings were part of efforts to improve communication, strengthen media relations and provide the public with credible information.

    Under the new deployment, Superintendent of Police Johnson A. Doghudje has been posted as the Police Public Relations Officer for Zone 5.

    Superintendent of Police Ojedele Olanrewaju Tunji has been assigned to Zone 11, Osogbo, while Deputy Superintendent of Police Orchia Adndongu has been posted to the Benue State Police Command.

    Another Deputy Superintendent of Police, Imah Unwana Victor, has been deployed to the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre.

    The police said the appointments were intended to improve the timely dissemination of official information and strengthen engagement with journalists, members of the public and other stakeholders across the affected commands and formations.

    The force added that the deployments formed part of its ongoing efforts to enhance strategic communication and improve public access to reliable police information.