The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Author: Editor

  • Atiku Questions Petrol Price, Demands Probe of Subsidy Savings

    Atiku Questions Petrol Price, Demands Probe of Subsidy Savings

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Federal Government over the high cost of petrol, questioning the management of revenues following the removal of fuel subsidy.

    Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians were now paying as much as ₦1,470 per litre for petrol despite crude oil selling at about $102.52 per barrel.

    He compared the current situation with 2008, when crude oil reportedly reached $147 per barrel but petrol sold for ₦65 per litre under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    Atiku described the current arrangement as “an organised system of grand larceny”, alleging that opaque deductions from the Federation Account, questionable revenue management and off-book transactions had raised concerns about the handling of public funds.

    He also questioned what had happened to the savings from the removal of fuel subsidy, recalling that Nigerians were told the policy would release funds for investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure.

    “Petrol at ₦1,470 per litre is not merely a figure at the filling station. It enters the price of transportation, food, school runs, farming, manufacturing and virtually everything Nigerians buy,” Atiku said.

    He added, “After all the pain imposed on Nigerians, they have a right to ask: where are the subsidy savings and where is the money?”

    The ADC presidential candidate cited Federal Account Allocation Committee records which, according to him, showed that the Federation Account recorded gross revenue of ₦4.232tn in June 2025, while only ₦1.818tn was distributed.

    Atiku demanded a comprehensive reconciliation of government revenues from 2023 to date, including details of gross collections, deductions, the legal basis for each deduction, receiving accounts and the ultimate beneficiaries of the funds.

    He also called for greater transparency concerning the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund, OML 143, NNPC LNG trading operations, offshore corporate structures and what he described as alleged unofficial crude lifting.

    The former vice president further rejected international oil prices as a sufficient explanation for the high cost of petrol in Nigeria.

    He noted that petrol prices in the United States, which he put at about $1.14 per litre, were comparable to prices in Nigeria, but stressed that the US federal minimum wage was $7.25 per hour, compared with Nigeria’s ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage.

    “Tinubu has brought Nigerians close to American fuel prices while leaving them with Nigerian poverty wages. That is the true cost of his subsidy-removal policy,” Atiku said.

    He urged the Federal Government to make verifiable financial records available to the public and engage independent forensic auditors to examine and reconcile the accounts.

    Atiku maintained that accountability in the management of public resources was a fundamental obligation to Nigerians and should not be treated as optional.

  • Court Adjourns Suit Challenging Mark, Aregbesola’s ADC Leadership

    Court Adjourns Suit Challenging Mark, Aregbesola’s ADC Leadership

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until September 28 the hearing of a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President David Mark.

    The case, filed by an ADC member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, was scheduled for Monday before Justice Peter Lifu for the hearing of pending applications.

    However, proceedings could not take place as the judge was not sitting, leading to the matter being moved to September 28.

    The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, seeks to prevent Mark, ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from presenting themselves as the legitimate leadership of the party.

    Gombe argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the interim NWC was contrary to provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The plaintiff joined the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the former National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu, as the first to fifth defendants respectively.

    The latest adjournment followed an earlier ruling by Justice Lifu on June 16, when he dismissed separate applications filed by the ADC and Aregbesola seeking his withdrawal from the case.

    The defendants had asked the judge to recuse himself over allegations of bias.

    Justice Lifu, however, ruled that the applications lacked merit and awarded N1m costs against both the ADC and Aregbesola in favour of Gombe.

    Following the ruling, the court fixed the case for Monday to hear the remaining applications before it.

    The substantive suit will determine Gombe’s challenge to the legitimacy of the current interim leadership structure of the ADC.

  • Five Nigerians Extradited From South Africa Face Up to 100 Years in US Prison

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Five Nigerians extradited from South Africa to the United States over alleged involvement in wire fraud and money laundering could face a combined maximum sentence of up to 100 years in prison if convicted.

    The United States Department of Justice disclosed this in a statement on Monday, stating that the defendants were extradited on September 11, 2026, following their arrest in Cape Town in 2021 at the request of American authorities.

    The suspects, identified as Perry Osagiede, 57; Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42; Osariemen Eric Clement, 40; Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42; and Musa Mudashiru, 38, were scheduled to appear before US District Judge Michael Shipp at the federal court in Trenton.

    According to the DOJ, the five men were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering over alleged offences committed between 2011 and 2021.

    Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Clement were also charged individually with wire fraud, while Perry Osagiede, Franklyn Osagiede and Otughwor face additional charges of aggravated identity theft.

    US Attorney Robert Frazer alleged that the defendants were leaders of the Black Axe organisation and operated within its Cape Town Zone in South Africa.

    He alleged that Osagiede founded the Cape Town Zone and served as its leader, while the defendants and other members were involved in various internet fraud schemes.

    Frazer said the group allegedly targeted victims in the United States through romance scams and advance-fee schemes, using social media, online dating platforms and Voice over Internet Protocol phone numbers.

    According to him, the suspects allegedly operated under different identities and convinced victims that they were involved in genuine romantic relationships before persuading them to send money and valuables overseas.

    Some victims were allegedly threatened with the release of sensitive photographs when they hesitated to send money, while funds were also allegedly moved through US bank accounts belonging to victims and other individuals before being transferred to South Africa.

    The US attorney further alleged that proceeds from business email compromise schemes, romance scams and advance-fee fraud were laundered through aliases and business entities to conceal their origins.

    The DOJ said conspiracy to commit wire fraud and individual wire fraud charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

    The money laundering conspiracy charge also carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, with a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.

    Aggravated identity theft, according to the department, carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.

    The five defendants were extradited to the US on September 11 after spending years in South Africa following their 2021 arrests.

    However, the DOJ stressed that the charges remain allegations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in court.

    “The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” Frazer said.

  • Security Operatives Take Over NFF Secretariat Ahead of FIFA Stakeholders’ Meeting

    Security Operatives Take Over NFF Secretariat Ahead of FIFA Stakeholders’ Meeting

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Security operatives from the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force have taken control of the Nigeria Football Federation secretariat in Abuja ahead of a scheduled stakeholders’ meeting with officials of world football governing body, FIFA.

    The heavily armed operatives were deployed around the NFF headquarters on Monday, with access to the premises restricted as preparations continued for the meeting.

    More than 20 security personnel, who arrived in several official vehicles, were positioned at strategic points around the secretariat and subjected visitors and stakeholders to screening at the entrance.

    Only a limited number of people were reportedly allowed into the complex, while others were denied access.

    Attempts by journalists to enter the secretariat were also blocked by the security operatives, who said a high-level management meeting was taking place inside the premises.

    The operatives reportedly said they had received instructions from above not to allow journalists into the complex or permit them to operate within the secretariat.

    Earlier, a vehicle from the State House arrived at the NFF headquarters and delivered files containing documents ahead of the management meeting.

    Meanwhile, the FIFA delegation expected to participate in the stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Monday night in Abuja arrived in Nigeria on Sunday.

    The delegation was reportedly received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by a combined team of security operatives and taken away from the airport.

    The stakeholders’ meeting is expected to bring FIFA officials together with relevant Nigerian football stakeholders as discussions continue on issues concerning the country’s football administration.

  • FG Seeks Fresh Amnesty for Nigerians Detained Over Immigration Offences in India

    FG Seeks Fresh Amnesty for Nigerians Detained Over Immigration Offences in India

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Federal Government is seeking a fresh six-month amnesty programme in India to facilitate the release and repatriation of Nigerians detained over immigration-related offences.

    The development was disclosed by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, which said the Nigeria High Commission in India had visited 198 Nigerian inmates held across five prisons in Maharashtra as part of ongoing consular interventions.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM said the prison visits were conducted as of September 1, 2026.

    The commission noted that Nigerians were also being held in prisons in other Indian provinces, with the latest intervention focused on addressing cases involving immigration violations, prolonged detention and delays in the prosecution of criminal matters.

    According to NiDCOM, the Nigerian mission had previously secured an amnesty programme that ran from September last year to May this year, resulting in the release and repatriation of thousands of Nigerians detained mainly for immigration offences and other irregularities.

    It said, however, that some Nigerians either failed to take advantage of the programme before it expired or did not utilise the opportunity while it was available.

    NiDCOM said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, was currently engaging her Indian counterpart in an effort to secure another six-month amnesty for Nigerians detained in camps who have no pending trials but remain in custody over immigration-related offences.

    The latest move followed concerns over the detention of a Nigerian identified as Mr Ekene in India.

    NiDCOM said the Nigerian High Commission was reviewing Ekene’s case to determine whether he qualified for early release and repatriation.

    It explained that if he was found eligible to leave India, arrangements could be made for his return, subject to his family providing the necessary funds and compliance with established legal and administrative procedures.

    “The Nigerian High Commission is on his case and that of others in similar circumstances and has also been putting pressure on the Indian government to speed up cases of those awaiting trials for various offences,” the statement said.

    The commission stressed that the proposed amnesty would not apply to Nigerians facing trial for criminal offences, including drug-related crimes.

    NiDCOM also urged Nigerians residing in India without valid immigration documents to take advantage of the proposed amnesty if approved, warning that those who continue to stay in the country illegally could face arrest.

    NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, advised Nigerians living irregularly in India to utilise the opportunity when the next amnesty is implemented.

    “Nigerians in India, who are in India irregularly, should take advantage of the next set of amnesty being negotiated when effected, while others who are still staying there illegally should utilise the opportunity or risk being arrested,” she said.

    The commission further appealed to Nigerians living abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and avoid actions that could result in arrest, prosecution or prolonged detention.

    NiDCOM said the Federal Government would continue discussions with Indian authorities on the welfare of detained Nigerians, the speedy resolution of pending cases and the repatriation of those cleared to return to Nigeria.

  • Nigeria India Target $15bn Trade Revival as Modi Pushes for More Crude Imports

    Nigeria India Target $15bn Trade Revival as Modi Pushes for More Crude Imports

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nigeria and India have agreed to work towards restoring bilateral trade to its previous peak of nearly $15 billion, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for renewed crude oil purchases from Nigeria.

    The agreement was reached during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.

    Bilateral trade between the two countries has declined significantly in recent years, falling from $14.95 billion in the 2021–2022 financial year to $7.13 billion in 2024–2025, largely due to a reduction in India’s crude oil purchases from Nigeria.

    Trade later increased to about $9 billion in 2025–2026.

    During the meeting, Modi emphasised the importance of rebuilding energy trade as part of efforts to return commercial relations between both countries to previous levels.

    Shettima assured the Indian Prime Minister that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would consider India’s request for increased crude oil purchases from Nigeria.

    Beyond crude oil, the Vice President stressed the need for both countries to deepen economic cooperation by moving beyond traditional commodity trade.

    He said Nigeria was interested in attracting investments that would support local manufacturing, create employment opportunities and promote technology transfer, particularly for the country’s young population.

    Nigeria and India also identified fintech, digital public infrastructure and the creative industry as areas for stronger collaboration.

    The two countries further agreed to explore partnerships in defence technology, power generation and clean energy, while promoting investment in pharmaceuticals, healthcare and capacity development.

    On the social development front, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said Nigeria was drawing from India’s women-led self-help group model through the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up.

    She said the initiative uses Women Affinity Groups to promote financial inclusion, grassroots businesses and social protection.

    According to the minister, the programme forms part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to build an economy valued at $1 trillion.

  • JAMB Adjusts 2027 UTME Arrival, Exam Time Over Safety Concerns

    JAMB Adjusts 2027 UTME Arrival, Exam Time Over Safety Concerns

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has revised the arrival and examination times for candidates taking part in the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

    Under the new arrangement, candidates are expected to arrive at their designated Computer-Based Test centres by 7:30 a.m., instead of the earlier 6:30 a.m. schedule.

    The examination will now begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m.

    JAMB announced the adjustment in its weekly bulletin released in Abuja, explaining that the decision was prompted by safety and logistical concerns associated with candidates travelling to examination centres in the early hours of the morning.

    The board said the concern was particularly significant for candidates who live far from their assigned centres and may be required to leave their homes before dawn to meet the previous arrival time.

    According to JAMB, the decision followed deliberations at its 2026 Management and IT Retreat held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, from September 6 to 11.

    The retreat considered concerns raised by members of the public about the challenges candidates could face while travelling in the early hours, particularly those coming from distant locations.

    JAMB said the later arrival time was expected to improve the safety and convenience of candidates and potentially reduce absenteeism linked to difficulties with early-morning travel.

    The board, however, said other examination sessions would continue to operate under the established scheduling arrangements.

    The retreat brought together JAMB management, state coordinators, heads of outstation offices and other relevant stakeholders to consider measures for improving the efficiency, safety and credibility of the UTME.

    The participants also reviewed ways to enhance the overall examination experience as the board prepares for the growing scale and logistical demands of the exercise.

    Although the 2027 UTME is still months away, JAMB said preparations had commenced, with the board working to implement lessons from previous examinations and decisions reached during the retreat.

    It said the objective was to provide a more efficient, seamless and candidate-friendly examination.

    JAMB urged candidates and members of the public to take note of the adjustment and await further official communication on the full 2027 UTME timetable and other examination arrangements.

  • Poco Lee Speaks Out, Insists He is Innocent of UK Sexual Offence Allegations

    Poco Lee Speaks Out, Insists He is Innocent of UK Sexual Offence Allegations

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has spoken about his recent ordeal in the United Kingdom, maintaining that he did not commit the offences for which he has been charged.

    Poco Lee made the disclosure during a video conversation with social commentator, VeryDarkMan, which was shared on Instagram on Sunday.

    The dancer said he remained mentally composed throughout the period because he was convinced of his innocence, adding that his major concern was the impact of his situation on his associates and business activities.

    “I was just being myself; God sees my heart. My only worries were about my people: Jago could not do anything business-wise; I didn’t want to stress anyone.

    “If I were inside there and I did what I was accused of, I would have felt I was paying for my sins, but since I knew I didn’t do what I was accused of, my mind is pure. Nobody would have wanted to associate themselves with something like that, but Burna Boy stood by me, Jago, and some of my other guys,” he said.

    VeryDarkMan, who expressed support for Poco Lee during the conversation, also questioned some of the reports surrounding the entertainer’s case in the UK.

    He acknowledged the support the dancer received from Nigerian singer Burna Boy and social media personality Rahman Jago during the period.

    The development comes amid conflicting reports on social media concerning the status of Poco Lee’s case in the United Kingdom.

    While some reports had claimed that the dancer had been released from prison, others suggested that the complainant had withdrawn the case or that the matter had been settled out of court.

    However, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that the case remains active.

    The CPS Press Office said Odinaka was scheduled to appear before the Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

    “This case is still live, and Odinaka is still set to appear for a PTPH at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 15 September 2026,” the CPS said.

    A Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing is a pre-trial proceeding where issues concerning the defendant’s plea and preparations for a possible trial are considered.

    The CPS did not disclose whether Odinaka was in custody or had been granted bail.

    Odinaka faces five sexual offence charges in the UK, including attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

    The case reportedly followed his trip to the UK for Davido and Friends concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14.

    The Snaresbrook Crown Court had previously listed the matter for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 15.

    The court has also imposed reporting restrictions to protect the identity of the complainant in accordance with Section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

    Poco Lee has denied the allegations against him. However, the charges remain before the court and have yet to be determined.

    He has not been convicted of any offence.

  • Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Reconciliation

    Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Reconciliation

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Lagos State House of Assembly member and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has renewed his apology to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his role in events surrounding the last All Progressives Congress primary election.

    Elliot made the appeal during a meeting with Gbajabiamila and other party chieftains, where he went down on his knees and prostrated before the former Speaker of the House of Representatives as he sought to mend their relationship.

    In a video shared by Lagos Junction on X on Sunday, Elliot expressed remorse over his actions, admitting that he may have been misguided during the political contest.

    The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I also reaffirmed his commitment to the APC leadership and appealed for forgiveness.

    “I’m sorry. I have no excuse; I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry. I’m deeply sorry, sir. And in our culture, we prostrate. Don’t be angry, Daddy,” Elliot said.

    Gbajabiamila subsequently asked the lawmaker to rise.

    The latest apology comes after Elliot had previously expressed regret over his relationship with Gbajabiamila during an appearance on TVC’s *Your View*.

    At the time, the actor-turned-politician acknowledged that he might have offended his political mentor through his political activities, while stressing that any disagreement between them was not deliberate.

    “I’m not saying, oh, yes, media will come out, oh yes, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon. And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him,” Elliot said.

    He added, “To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way.”

    The renewed reconciliation effort comes amid the political disagreements that previously surrounded the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    During the crisis, Gbajabiamila disclosed that he had encountered difficulties at the Presidency over allegations concerning Elliot’s political activities.

    Gbajabiamila had said President Bola Tinubu confronted him over intelligence reports alleging that Elliot was involved in moves connected to the Assembly speakership dispute. Elliot had denied the allegation.

    The disagreement was linked to internal leadership tensions within the Lagos APC and was eventually resolved following interventions by senior party leaders.

    The latest meeting appears to signal an effort by Elliot to restore his relationship with Gbajabiamila and strengthen his ties with the party’s leadership in Lagos.

  • Unity Colleges Face Disruption as Workers Reject FG’s Resumption Order

    Unity Colleges Face Disruption as Workers Reject FG’s Resumption Order

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The reopening of 112 Federal Unity Colleges across Nigeria is facing uncertainty as workers in the institutions move to enforce a “No Resumption” directive over the Federal Government’s planned concession of some schools.

    The dispute centres on the government’s proposed 35-year concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys Association, a move that has drawn opposition from workers under the Federal Ministry of Education.

    About 17,000 education officers at the ministry’s headquarters and the affected unity colleges are expected to participate in the planned protest and industrial action, according to a source familiar with the development.

    The source said 112 of the 115 Federal Unity Colleges had complied with the workers’ directive, with only Federal Government College, Kwali; Federal Government College, Okposi; and Federal Government College, Otobi, admitting some students who had travelled long distances to resume.

    The Joint Workers Committee of Unions in the ministry had, at the weekend, directed workers in the colleges not to resume until further notice.

    In a notice dated September 11, 2026, and addressed to principals and union chairmen of the Federal Unity Colleges, the committee reaffirmed its earlier directive and instructed union leaders to ensure compliance.

    The JWC said any instruction by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, directing the schools to reopen would not change its position unless the matter was first resolved through the established labour-management process.

    The committee said, “any purported press release, counter directive, or subsequent communication” from the minister directing resumption would not alter its position unless the dispute was appropriately addressed through the labour-management channel.

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, which represents teachers and other workers in the affected institutions, also directed its members not to report for the weekend checking-in of boarding students.

    The directive was reportedly complied with across the affected colleges.

    The union also raised concerns over the availability of textbooks, questioning the preparedness of the schools for the new academic session.

    The notice was signed by JWC Chairman, Onuche Abraham; ASCSN Chairman, Ngadi Sampson; Nigeria Civil Service Union Chairman, Ojelabi Ademola; and Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Ejike George.

    However, the Federal Government has maintained that the colleges will reopen as scheduled on Monday, September 14.

    The Minister of Education, through the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, assured students, parents and guardians that necessary arrangements had been made for a safe and orderly commencement of the new academic session.

    Alausa said the safety and wellbeing of students and staff remained a priority of the Federal Government.

    The minister added that relevant security agencies had been informed of the resumption plans and had placed the Federal Unity Colleges and their surrounding areas under heightened security surveillance.

    The government said the coordinated security arrangements were aimed at protecting students, staff and members of the school communities as academic activities resume nationwide.

  • SERAP Gives INEC Seven Days to Explain Alleged ₦126bn Electoral Spending

    SERAP Gives INEC Seven Days to Explain Alleged ₦126bn Electoral Spending

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has given the Independent National Electoral Commission seven days to account for more than ₦126.46bn in electoral funds flagged over alleged procurement irregularities.

    SERAP made the demand in a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, following concerns raised in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

    The audit report, published on August 7, 2026, examined government transactions between January and December 2022, with some findings extending to December 31, 2023.

    According to SERAP, the funds in question were linked to the procurement of ballot boxes, electoral devices and other materials, sensitive electoral materials, result sheets, vehicles and other services related to election administration.

    The organisation said some of the payments were allegedly made without following required procurement procedures, while the delivery or utilisation of some of the goods and services could not be established.

    SERAP urged INEC to provide details of the amounts paid, beneficiaries, contracts and procurement processes, as well as the contractors and suppliers involved.

    It also asked the commission to provide evidence of the delivery and utilisation of the goods and services and account for the current status of the electoral assets involved.

    The organisation further called on INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to refer the alleged financial irregularities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for investigation.

    SERAP said the agencies should prosecute anyone found culpable and recover public funds where wrongdoing is established.

    One of the major issues highlighted by the organisation involved more than ₦112.15bn allegedly paid for ballot boxes, electoral devices, items and materials without competitive bidding or a Certificate of No Objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement.

    SERAP said the Auditor-General reported that there was no evidence that the items were procured.

    The organisation also said the audit raised questions about the companies involved, including concerns over their competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations.

    SERAP maintained that INEC must account for the funds and demonstrate that they were spent for their intended purposes.

  • 2027: INEC Publishes Final List of 4,408 National Assembly Candidates

    2027: INEC Publishes Final List of 4,408 National Assembly Candidates

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of candidates contesting the 2027 National Assembly elections, with 4,408 candidates cleared to vie for seats in the Senate and House of Representatives.

    An analysis of the candidate documents published by the electoral body showed that 1,195 candidates are contesting Senate seats, while 3,213 are seeking election into the House of Representatives.

    The publication comes as political parties step up preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.

    INEC’s timetable also fixed February 6, 2027, for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    The figures released by the commission show a significant gender gap among the candidates, with 3,965 men and 443 women contesting the National Assembly seats.

    For the Senate, 1,080 candidates are male, while 115 are female.

    The House of Representatives list comprises 2,885 male candidates and 328 female candidates.

    The Allied Peoples Movement recorded the highest number of female candidates across the two chambers, with 11 women contesting Senate seats and 42 seeking election into the House of Representatives.

    Meanwhile, INEC has also published the final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections.

    The list, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 18 presidential candidates and their running mates across various political parties.

    Among the presidential candidates are President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement, Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party.

    Other candidates include Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance, Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party, Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party, Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Labour Alliance, Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party and Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party.

    Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement are the two female presidential candidates listed by the commission.

    The release of the various candidate lists marks another stage in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.