Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a nationwide boycott of the 2027 general elections and subsequent polls if the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act fails to clearly mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results. The labour centre expressed deep concern over what it described as confusion, contradictions, and a lack of transparency surrounding the Senate’s handling of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly provisions relating to electronic transmission of results. According to the NLC, the prevailing ambiguity raises serious questions about the credibility of the 2027 elections and undermines public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Amid mounting public outrage and sustained pressure over its controversial rejection of mandatory electronic transmission of election results, the Senate has scheduled an emergency plenary sitting for Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The emergency session, slated for 12:00 noon at the Senate Chamber, comes barely days after lawmakers adjourned plenary until February 24—fueling strong indications of a legislative rethink prompted by nationwide criticism. An official notice dated February 8, 2026, and circulated to senators on Sunday, confirmed the development. The notice, signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Emmanuel Odo, on the directive of the President of…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Alex Otti has reaffirmed that Abia State is open for business, assuring local and foreign investors of a secure, investor-friendly environment capable of driving sustainable economic growth. The governor gave the assurance in Umuahia while receiving promoters of the Aba Commercial Smart City during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the project developers and United Market Leaders/Traders. Represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Otti said the 140-hectare Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, strategically located at Osisioma, would reposition Aba as a major industrial and commercial hub, unlock massive job opportunities and…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government has dismissed reports alleging that it budgeted N250 million for the purchase of a photocopier at its Lagos Liaison Office, describing the claim as false and the result of a formatting error in the 2026 budget document. In a statement issued at the weekend, the Ministry of Budget and Planning clarified that only N12 million was approved for the procurement of a photocopier and other sundry office equipment, not N250 million as reported by some media outlets. According to the Ministry, the controversy arose from a formatting misalignment that occurred during the final…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Three children belonging to two different mothers have been stolen in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, by three yet-to-be-identified middle-aged women. The incident occurred in a compound opposite the Nkwagu Military Cantonment, Nkwagu Village, in Abakaliki Local Government Area. Confirming the incident on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Joshua Ukandu, said the children were taken from their residence in Nkwagu Village by women who visited the compound on February 6, 2026. Ukandu said the matter had been reported to the Central Police Station, Abakaliki, by the parents of the victims, adding that investigations were ongoing…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that the South-East is receiving more federal attention under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than at any time since the return to democratic rule in 1999. According to him, the region is witnessing significant progress, particularly in infrastructure development and other critical sectors. Umahi made the assertion at the weekend at his Abakaliki residence while receiving the people of the old Ezeagu zone, led by Senator Julius Ucha, who paid him a thank-you visit. He said the current administration has created opportunities for better inclusion of the…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Igbo youth leaders have condemned a fake news report allegedly quoting the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta Mbata, as calling on Igbo men to arm themselves. The widely circulated statement falsely claimed that Senator Mbata said: “Every Igbo man from 18 years up must get a gun, stack weapons. Igboland is under terrorist siege and must be defended. A war is coming in days.” Reacting, the Igbo Youth Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, in a statement signed by its leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, described the report as “mischievous, clueless and malicious propaganda.” The group called…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu When he presented his budget proposals for 2024 to Nigeria’s National Assembly, the first full year of appropriations under his presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu identified as his priorities human asset development, poverty reduction and fighting insecurity. Last week, his official spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, appeared to forget or renounce that policy direction, when he acknowledged that 133 million Nigerians were multi-dimensionally poor but claimed that had nothing to do with the Federal Government. According to Mr. Onanuga, the states and local governments were responsible for that. On the same day, 450 kilometres away, Vice-President, Kashim Shettima,…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Amid the controversy surrounding the alleged rejection of electronic transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has insisted that the Senate cannot be intimidated by any individual or group. Akpabio spoke on Saturday at the public presentation of a book authored by Senator Effiong Bob, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja. He said the Senate would not succumb to pressure or public outcry, but would instead “do what is right to give Nigerians an Electoral Act that will advance democracy.” The Senate President described the uproar over Section…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to reverse the Senate’s recent position and pass an amendment to the Electoral Amendment Bill that would make electronic transmission of election results mandatory. The call followed the adoption of a report by the NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, by the Association’s National Executive Council (NEC at its meeting held on February 5, 2026, in Maiduguri, Borno State. In the report, Osigwe drew NEC’s attention to the Senate’s rejection of a proposed amendment to Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Amendment Bill. The rejected amendment sought…