Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, has called on Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State to immediately retract recent threats made against the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Falana’s reaction followed remarks attributed to the governor during a political rally in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, where he reportedly warned that Obi must not enter Edo State without prior notification or security clearance.

The governor said: “There’s a new sheriff in town. He cannot just come into Edo without informing me. His security will not be guaranteed. If anything happens to him here, he will have himself to blame. I’m not joking.”

In a statement released yesterday, Falana condemned the governor’s comments, describing them as a direct violation of fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights instruments.

“The threat to Mr Peter Obi’s life by the so-called ‘new sheriff in town’ contravenes Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which guarantee the right to life,” Falana stated.

He emphasized that under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, the security and welfare of citizens remain the primary responsibility of government, urging Governor Okpebholo to publicly retract the threat, issue an apology to Obi, and affirm his safety within Edo State.

Falana also advised that if the governor fails to withdraw the statement, Obi should seek legal redress by filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Benin to enforce his fundamental rights.

“Mr Obi should act with utmost urgency in view of the prevalence of mob justice and other forms of extrajudicial killings in the country,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, made a visit in Daura, Katsina State, to offer his condolences to the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Peter Obi in Daura to sign the condolence register and condole with Buhari’s family

Obi was spotted at Buhari’sDaura residence yesterday, a day after the former President was laid to rest.

Buhari was buried on Tuesday in Daura, according to Islamic rites, marking the end of a solemn national farewell to a leader who once steered Nigeria both as a military Head of State and as a democratically elected President.

His remains were interred at 5:50pm following a funeral prayer led by the Imam of the Central Mosque in Daura, Sheikh SalisuRabiu.

In a final act of military honuor, Army Generals and Service Chiefs carried Buhari’s coffin to the graveside, where a 21-gun salute echoed across Daura, closing the final chapter of his public life.

A former Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor (retd), has disclosed a surprising detail about his 2021 military appointment: he’d never personally met then-President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a heartfelt tribute to the late president on Tuesday, Irabor lauded Buhari as “a good man and a disciplined and deeply principled leader.”

According to Irabor, Buhari’s leadership style was that of trust and delegation.

He added that Buhari placed implicit trust in those he appointed and never micromanaged, never second-guessing.

He said Buhari’s quiet confidence was sometimes misunderstood, but for those who worked closely with him, it was a mark of his character.

Irabor said, “I have never met you before, but I have heard of your performance. I hope you will not disappoint.

“Before he appointed me as Chief of Defence Staff on 26 January 2021, I had never met him personally.

“Like many Nigerians, I knew him only from a distance through the pages of history, the news, and the reverence with which he was spoken of in military circles.”

The ex-defence chief added, “In President Buhari, I encountered a disciplined and deeply principled leader. A man who said little but listened intently and deeply.

“He sat for hours, attentive and composed, never once calling for a break. I once asked him, half in jest, how he found the patience and strength. He only smiled.

“I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to have served in his administration. To my Commander-in-Chief, my Principal – President Muhammadu Buhari, at the sound of the Last Post, rest well. You fought the good fight. May your soul find eternal peace in the bosom of the Almighty.”

Irabor also extended condolences to the Buhari’s family, particularly the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, describing the late president’s service as marked by “dignity, honour, and integrity.”

…his ADC led coalition is no threat to us

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has described the departure of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a form of “freedom” for the party, saying it is better than being held back by internal obstacles.

Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, officially resigned from the party in a letter dated July 14, 2025, addressed to the PDP chairman of Jada 1 Ward in Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa State. In the letter, he said the PDP had strayed from its founding vision, describing his decision to leave as painful.

His resignation comes weeks after joining a coalition of opposition figures that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

Reacting to the development during the 10th Coronation Anniversary Colloquium of the Deji of Akure, Oba AladetoyinboOgunladeAladelusi, held in Akure, Governor Makinde said Atiku’s exit does not diminish the PDP’s strength or prospects.

Shettima, Radda, Atiku, other dignitaries attend Fidda’u prayers for Buhari in Daura

“Politics is a game of interest, and I don’t think Atiku’s exit will make any dent on the PDP. The PDP is an institution,” Makinde said. “You have the freedom to enter and exit. But I think anyone who would hold PDP down—it’s better for such a person to just leave.”

He dismissed concerns over the rising profile of the ADC, saying it poses no threat to the PDP. “I don’t see ADC as a threat to the PDP. The goal is the same if you’re dissatisfied with the pace and direction of governance. You’re free to associate with any platform,” he noted.

Governor Makinde concluded by emphasizing that political players come and go, but the nation and its institutions will endure: “Governors will come and go, presidents will come and go, but our country and our states will remain.”

A former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, says Nigeria needs a new inclusive and democratic constitution that will accommodate the country’s plurality.

Anyaoku stated this at a national summit organised by The Patriots and Nigerian Political Summit Group on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the 1999 Constitution was not democratically formulated, and is not in sync with the plural nature of the country.

Anyaoku, who was the chairman of the summit, said that only a constitution that accommodates the plurality of Nigeria could address the country’s myriad of challenges.

“As a background to this summit, it is important to state the following indisputable facts that are recognised by all citizens, except of course those who want to continue to live in denial.

“Nigeria is a pluralistic country. Like all successful pluralistic countries around the world, for its political stability and maximal development, its constitution must address its pluralism by being formulated by elected representatives of its diverse peoples.

“Our present 1999 Constitution (as amended) is not such. It was not democratically-formulated. It was, instead, imposed on the country through a decree by the military administration.

“And the governance system derived from it is not only non-inclusive but also induces over-expenditure of the country’s resources on administration rather than on capital development. Hence the need for a new Nigerian peoples’ democratic constitution,’’ he said.

According to the elder statesman, the rising cases of insecurity, high poverty, lagging infrastructure and lack of confidence in the future among the growing youth population have necessitated a new constitution.

“Overall, the present 36 federating units are obviously incapable of generating and sustaining the pace of national development achieved in the early years of the country’s independence,’’ he said.

Other issues, according to him, include number of federating units, powers of the national and sub-national governments, structure of the security agencies, political parties and their organization, management of the country’s resources and other important features of the constitution.

“In considering the process of actualising the new constitution, I hope that there would be due emphasis on ensuring that it is formulated by representatives specifically elected for that purpose by the Nigerian people,” he said.

In order to give the new constitution the necessary legitimacy, the former veteran diplomat said it would have to be endorsed by the people through a national referendum.

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed no fear over the ongoing African Democratic Congress coalition by some notable politicians in the country.

The governor said the development could not affect the progress of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party in any manner.

Makinde stated this yesterday while speaking with journalists on the campus of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State, the venue of a colloqiumorganised as part of 10th coronation anniversary of the Deji of Akure, Oba AladetoyinboAladelusi.

The PDP governor said in politics there is freedom of entry and exit for members of political parties and what is currently happening in the PDP was not a new thing in politics.

Makinde stated, “Politics is a game of interest. I don’t think that will make any dent on the PDP as a party.

“The PDP is an institution. We have freedom of entrance and exit. Anyone that will hold the PDP down, it is better for such an individual to quit.

“I don’t see the ADC as a threat to the PDP. The goal is about the same. If you are not happy about the tempo and pace of governance, you are free to associate and see what can be done.

“But one thing we must all realise is that players will come and go, governors will come and go, the president will come and go but our states and country will remain.”

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the ADC has declared that the executive of the party in the state was still intact, despite the formation of the coalition when members of other political parties were joining the coalition.

In a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary of the party MrEniolaOlurotimi, the ADC debunked the report that the leadership of the party has changed following the coalition.

In the statement, the party clarified that the Executive Committee, led by MrsSidikatuOjo, is the duly recognised and constitutionally appointed leadership of the ADC in the state.

“We urge all party members, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard any misleading claims or publications suggesting a change in the Ondo State executive. Chief (Mrs) SidikatuOjo remains the authentic and recognised Chairperson of the African Democratic Congress in Ondo State,” the statement read.

The ADC emphasised its commitment to stability, transparency, and grassroots mobilisation, assuring members that the leadership remains focused on the party’s vision and preparations for future elections.

“All the list of names announced by the certain people to coordinate local government offices of ADC in Ondo State is hereby not acceptable, null and void as it runs counter to the subsisting order within the party.

“Therefore, all those so appointed must immediately desist from exercising any authority whatsoever on behalf of the party,” the party declared.

A political pressure group, the Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum, CBSF, has called on Governor DouyeDiri to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The group’s convener, Mr. Wisdom Ikuli, made the call on Tuesday in Yenagoa, encouraging stakeholders to back efforts to align Bayelsa more closely with the Federal Government.

Ikuli, who also serves as Governor Diri’s Technical Adviser on Print Media, explained that the CBSF is a non-partisan body comprising members from diverse political affiliations, including non-indigenes.

He stressed the need for Bayelsa to promptly align with the APC, claiming that numerous PDP members had allegedly colluded to deprive Bayelsa and the Ijaw people of the Presidency in 2015.

He claimed that there are plans to take advantage of the PDP’s internal disputes and ongoing court cases to disqualify candidates who emerge from the party ahead of future elections.

Ikuli emphasized that Bayelsa is now the only PDP-controlled state in the South-South and warned that it is dominated by a handful of individuals who could pose electoral threats ahead of 2027.

He disclosed that the CBSF would soon launch daily street rallies in Yenagoa to press Governor Diri to consider defecting to the ruling APC.

Ikuli maintained that the governor’s defection is crucial for Bayelsa’s interests and should be regarded as both non-negotiable and imperative.

He recalled that prominent Ijaw leaders such as Chiefs Dappa-Biriye and MelfordOkilo had advocated aligning with the centre to drive development, given the region’s geographic isolation.

Ikuli said past alignment with the PDP, while it ruled nationally, enabled Bayelsa to produce both Vice President and President in Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

He lamented that the Ijaws are now sidelined from key federal positions such as the Presidency, Vice Presidency, and Service Chiefs, which has diminished their political influence.

“In spite of their population and contribution, Ijaws remain marginalised due to lack of alignment with the ruling party,” Ikuli added.

He argued that the Ijaws, who contribute over 65 percent of Nigeria’s oil wealth, have become powerless because they are not aligned with the Federal Government.

Ikuli explained Nigeria’s North-South power rotation system, stressing that the South must complete its eight-year turn under President Bola Tinubu’s current administration.

He noted that Tinubu is committed to strengthening the South and has appointed several Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions.

Ikuli appreciated Tinubu’s appointments, including Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri as Oil Minister and Chief Samuel Ogbuku as NDDC Managing Director.

He also mentioned Chief EbitimiAmgbare as NDDBA Managing Director and PreyeAganaba as Executive Director at the South South Development Commission.

Ikuli thanked the President for approving the federal takeover of the Nembe-Brass Road Second Phase, a key project linking Bayelsa to the Atlantic Ocean.

He said this development shows Tinubu’s commitment to Bayelsa and urged the governor to show solidarity by joining Southern APC governors.

Ikuli further stated that aligning with the Federal Government is essential to actualize the Agge Seaport project, which would stimulate economic growth and secure prosperity for the state.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Nigeria needs right operators of the constitution, not a perfect constitution, to lead in good governance and promotion of welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry.

Obasanjo stated this in his remarks at the opening of a three-day National Summit on the Future of Nigeria’s Constitutional Democracy, organised by The Patriots, in collaboration with the Nigeria Political Summit Group, yesterday in Abuja.

Obasanjo, in his remarks read by the Secretary-General, Eminent Patriots, MrOlawaleOkunniyi, said that while a nation’s constitution must reflect its history, its constituents and the aspiration of its people, “no constitution is perfect.”

He noted that the operators of the constitution played a key role in the implementation and promotion of the wellbeing of the citizens.

“From my experience in operating our constitution, I will be the first to point out some areas of our constitution that need amendment. However, for me, no constitution can ever be regarded as perfect.

“But whatever the strength or weakness of a constitution, the most important issue, to my own understanding and experience, is the operators of the constitution.

“The best constitution can be perverted and distorted by the operators and we have experienced that all over Africa, Nigeria is not exempted.

“I am more concerned about the operators of the constitution to lead in good governance and promotion of welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry.

“No matter what you do to the Nigerian constitution, if the operators of the constitution, for the past one decade and a half, remain unchanged and continue in the same manner, the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of selfishness.

“It will continue to be sacrificed on the altar of self-centeredness, corruption, impunity and total disregard of the constitution, decency, morality, integrity and honesty,’’ he said.

Obasanjo said at this crucial time, the operators matter more and the searchlight must be on them.

A former Governor of Akwa-Ibom, Victor Attah, in his remarks, also read by Okunniyi, stated that the 1999 Constitution was not a people’s constitution.

Attah said the summit was not another routine conference but an opportunity to confront the fundamental contradiction that Nigeria was governed by the will of the people, but by a constitution that robbed the citizens of their sovereignty.

He described the 1999 constitution as a military decree, imposed without the consent of the people

“The military suspended the 1963 Constitution which remains the last legal expression of our people’s collective will and agreed terms of condition for staying together,” he said.

The former governor said that the 1963 Constitution was suspended, repealed, proscribed or abrogated.

“We, from the South-South region, join other zones across this country who now agree that this union is not working as it is.

“It can only be sustained if it is restructured on the basis of equity, justice and mutual consent,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is not working, while people’s trust in the government has also declined.

This, he said, was due to the country’s departure from a functional federal system to an imperial, presidential, unitary system of government.

“We, in consultation with other leaders and The Compatriots – a group I chair – believe the following must be addressed.

“Sovereignty must return to the people. We must get rid of this unitary system and reinstate the federal system of governance that our founding fathers had agreed to.

“True federalism must guarantee maximum autonomy to the federating units.

“Cost of politics must be brought down to open space for inclusiveness and real leadership.

“Unicameral legislature with ministers appointed only from elected representatives,” he said.

Attah advised Nigerians to take advantage of the summit to address contending issues, saying: “We must not be afraid to change, rather be afraid not to change.

“Nigeria’s unity will only be preserved through fairness and justice – not force or fear.

“And if we miss this opportunity, the next chapter may be one of irreversible fragmentation. I believe and I know many of you also believe, that time is running out,” he said.

On his part, Sen. Gbenga Daniel, the Co-Chairman, Organising Committee of the summit, described the occasion as a significant step in Nigeria’s journey toward unity, progress and national development.

“This summit is a citizen-driven constitutional intervention, stemming from months and even years of relentless advocacy, extensive consultations and a growing sense of public urgency.

“We are here because the existing structure, established by the 1999 Constitution, has consistently proven to be inadequate in effectively addressing the core issues related to governance, equity, inclusion and national cohesion.

“Our agenda for the coming days is ambitious but aims to be straightforward and focused,” he said.

The former Ogun governor said the summit would scrutinise vital themes, including: the organisation and structure of the Nigerian federation, the role and functioning of local governments and traditional institutions and resource control and fiscal federalism.

He said that it would also look at electoral and judicial reforms, security concerns nationwide and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a 21st century democracy.

“More importantly, we will work diligently to ensure that no voice is too small and that no group is left behind.

“This summit is multi-generational, spanning different regions, and inclusive of various sectors, truly embodying the Nigeria we aspire to build,” he said.

Daniel, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Navy, urged Nigerian youths, women, civil society actors as well as traditional and religious leaders to be involved in discussions.

Their involvement and voices, he said, were crucial in building a brighter, more inclusive and resilient future for all.

Daniel said the resolutions and proposals arising from the summit would be carefully documented, further refined and subsequently presented to both the presidency and the National Assembly for their considerations.

“Our intention is not to foster confrontation but to promote constructive collaboration and mutual understanding.

“It is imperative that we persuade our leaders—through reasoned argument, consensus-building and compelling evidence—that Nigeria is in dire need of a new constitutional framework that reflects the aspirations and realities of all its citizens,” he stated.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has organised a two-day refresher training workshop on using its Candidate Nomination Portal, ICNP, for political party officials.

The training, which was held yesterday, was aimed at enhancing the capacity of political parties and minimizing procedural errors in candidate nominations.

Held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, the training brought together key representatives from registered political parties, some of whom had previously been trained ahead of the 2023 General Election.

The workshop aimed to consolidate achievements from previous cycles and ensure a more efficient, transparent, and technologically seamless nomination process in preparation for upcoming bye-elections and the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

In her welcome address, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, National Commissioner and Chairperson of the Legal Services, Clearance and Complaints Committee, LSC&CC, emphasized the importance of accurate and timely nominations in the electoral process.

“Nomination of candidates is not only a statutory obligation as provided in Section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, but it is the very foundation upon which elections are conducted,” she stated. “An error in the submission of personal particulars of candidates by political parties can be potentially detrimental to both the party and its candidate.”

She acknowledged that despite progress with the ICNP in reducing paperwork and improving compliance, political parties still face challenges such as incomplete form submissions, improper document attachments, and frequent turnover of personnel managing the nomination process.

“This refresher training is designed to bridge those gaps and ensure that both returning and newly appointed party officials have the knowledge and skills necessary for a smooth nomination process,” she added.

Samuel Omale, Assistant Director in the Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, outlined the purpose and strategic focus of the refresher training. According to him, the workshop was designed not just as a routine exercise, but as a timely intervention to deepen the capacity of political party officials ahead of upcoming FCT and bye-elections. “The objective,” he explained, “is to refresh political parties on the approved Guidelines for the Nomination of Candidates as outlined in the Electoral Act, 2022, while equipping them with practical knowledge of the nomination process.”

He further elaborated that the training sought to enhance parties’ familiarity with the Commission’s internal procedures, particularly through live demonstrations on how to make timely and correct submissions via the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP). In addition to addressing common areas of confusion and past mistakes, the sessions also provided space for open dialogue between the Commission and party representatives, an opportunity to ask questions, seek clarifications, and find common ground.

Omale expressed optimism about the expected outcomes of the exercise, citing better understanding of the portal, improved accuracy in submissions, and the establishment of a more collaborative framework between INEC and political parties as key deliverables. “Ultimately,” he said, “this is about ensuring that we reduce errors and build confidence in the nomination process going forward.”

Participants were divided into two groups for more interactive and practical sessions. INEC’s Legal and ICT Departments co-hosted the training and will be available for follow-up guidance and support.

Mrs. Agbamuche-Mbu urged party officials to maximize the training, noting that “our collective preparedness is a determinant of the overall success of the electoral process.”

The initiative reaffirms INEC’s commitment to using technology to strengthen electoral integrity, improve compliance, and build capacity among political actors to ensure credible and inclusive elections.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general elections, has explained why he was absent at the burial of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

Obi was one of the conspicuous absentees at the ceremony which took place in Daura, Katsina State.

The Ex-Anambra governor has been criticized for not being at the event.

However, he has explained that he could not get a flight to Katsina.

Obi was able to make it to Daura on Wednesday, where he commiserated with the family of the late former President.

“It was difficult to come yesterday (Tuesday) because there was no flight,” Obi told Arise TV.

“Even if there was a flight, you couldn’t land in Katsina Airport. It was all closed, because there was a lot of dignitaries.

“Mourning continues until tomorrow. So, whoever comes today and tomorrow, is still part of the mourning.”

THE House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has disclosed that it received 46 formal requests for the creation of new states, alongside 117 demands for new local government areas across Nigeria.

The proposals, submitted by various interest groups, span all six geopolitical zones.

Contents

North East

North West

North Central

South East

South South

 Below is the complete list of proposed states as released by the committee:

North East

1. Savannah State — from Borno
2. Kwararafa State — from Taraba
3. Katagum State — from Bauchi
4. Amana State — from Adamawa
5. S/Sardauna State — from Taraba
6. Muri State — from Taraba

 North West

7. Gurara State —          from Kaduna
8. New Kaduna State — from Kaduna
9. Hadejia State —          from Jigawa
10. Gobir State —          from Sokoto
11. Kainji State —          from Kebbi and Niger
12. Tiga State           —          from Kano
13. Ghari State —          from Kano

North Central

14. Edu State           —          from Niger
15. Okun State —          from Kogi
16. Okura State —          from Kogi
17. South Plateau State — from Plateau
18. Lowland State —       from Plateau
19. Plateau State —       New carve from existing Plateau
20. New Kogi State — from Kogi, Nasarawa, and Edo
21. Ifesowapo State —       from Kwara
22. Abuja State —       from the FCT
23. Apa State           —      from Benue
24. Apa-Agba State —       from Benue
25. Ayatutu State —          from Benue

South East

26. Orashi State —          from Anambra, Imo, and Rivers
27. Orlu State           —          South East zone
28. Anioma State —          South East zone
29. Etiti State           —          South East zone
30. Aba State           —          South East zone
31. Adada State —          from Enugu

South South

32. Atlantic City State —          from Rivers
33. Bori State           —          from Rivers
34. Iwuroha State —          from Rivers
35. Obolo State —          from AkwaIbom
36. Warri State —          from Delta
37. Toru           –        Ebe State

Some opposition political parties in Lagos State have called for outright cancellation of the Saturday’s Local Government Elections in the state, describing the exercise as undemocratic and daylight robbery.

The parties, including the Labour Party (LP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), African Action Congress (AAC), Action People’s Congress (APP) and the Accord Party (AP), made the call at a joint news conference in Lagos yesterday.

Leaders of the various parties said that the election conducted by Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) was full of irregularities and disenfranchised many opposition candidates.

Speaking to newsmen, Pastor DayoEkong, LP State Chairman, decried what she termed “orchestrated electoral fraud and brazen bias” in the council elections.

Ekong, whose address was read by her deputy, MrOlasupoAjayi, described the exercise as a systematic state-sponsored rape of democracy.

“The just-concluded Local Government elections were not an exercise in democratic choice; they were a premeditated, meticulously executed charade designed solely to impose the ruling party’s will upon the people of Lagos.

“We witnessed, and documented, widespread irregularities orchestrated by LASIEC

“We utterly reject the fraudulent results declared by LASIEC in the affected LGAs.

“We hold Justice Bola Ighile personally responsible for this travesty and the complete collapse of LASIEC’s credibility under her watch

“Our resolve is unwavering.Weare compiling exhaustive evidence of these atrocities.

“We will explore every legal and constitutional avenue available to challenge this electoral robbery.

“We will not rest until justice is served and the will of the people of Lagos is respected. The Labour Party will not allow this daylight robbery to stand unchallenged,” Ekong said.

She frowned at absence of essential voting materials like ballot papers, result sheets, and even ballot boxes in many local government areas.

Similarly, MrOlusegunMobolaji of the YPP, who described the process that led to the polls as flawed, added that over 100 candidates of various political parties were disenfranchised over alleged LASIEC’s rigidity.

Mobolaji, the immediate past Chairman of the State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said that logos of some political parties, including that of YPP, APP and LP, were omitted in some local governments.

The former IPAC boss said snatching of ballot boxes, secret relocation of some polling units from their official places and clandestine results collation ,and other electoral law’s violation characterised the polls.

“The process that led to this poll was full of irregularities and anomalies; even the timetable was contradictory, tedious, choky and unbearable for opposition parties

“Some parties got nomination forms from LASIEC two days to the election because of some issues, how can we ascribe credibility to such an election?

“As we speak, there are a lot of forms paid for by candidates: N150,000 for Chairmanship Candidates, N25,000 for Vice Chairmanship Candidates, and 50,000 for councillorship candidates that LASIEC did not take back from us,” he said.

According to him, all appeal letters written to LASIEC, the governor, the State House of Assembly and Commissioner of Police and department of State Security were not given attention.

“It even took many appeals and protests before the commission could take political party agents lists, and their tags were not ready until the eve of the election.

“As at 9.pm on the eve of the election, YPP was still at LASIEC headquarters to get agent tags and this had to be distributed by the party all over the state for election holding the following day.

“Out of over 3, 000 tags we were supposed to get , we were given only 310 . It was not an election.When we complained, LASIEC said we should go and do photocopies Friday night.

“Why did LASIEC removed logos of political parties from the ballot paper when only 15 parties contested?

“People on election day got to the polling units where they used to vote, only to discover that there were no polling units there, or LASIEC officers didn’t come to conduct elections.

“In some polling units, the voter register list, brought by LASIEC, had names and pictures totally different from those who were supposed to vote there. We have videos and pictures to back up all these,” he said.

According to him, the election results should be nullified and cancelled.

Also, the State APP Chairman and Secretary of IPAC , MrsAbiolaAdeyemi, said that she was nearly beaten by alleged APC thugs in Badagry for complaining over removal of the APP logo from the ballots in Badagry.

Corroborating, Mr Dele Oladeji, the State Chairman of Accord, said that political parties contested against LASIEC and not among themselves.

Oladeji said that contrary to norms, stakeholders were not given the opportunity to monitor distribution of sensitive materials for the election, saying the umpire glaringly showed bias.“LASIEC acted as election players not as umpire. We actually contested against LASIEC. It was a systematic rigging orchestrated prior to the election day.

“We went into the election blindfolded because of the intended compromise. We were not allowed access to the ballot paper before the polls.

“LASIEC declared winners without results. So, we are calling on LASIEC to present the results to political parties and the public for us to scrutinise it.

“We know LASIEC will not listen to our appeal and we have decided to approach the tribunal and court where applicable,” Oladeji said.

NAN reports that APC won all 57 chairmanship seats and 375 out of 376 councillorship seats in the council election held on Saturday, according to LASIEC.

Reacting to the results on Sunday, the APC, in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, MrSeyeOladejo, thanked the electorate,saying the results reflected the will of residents.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has been laid to rest yesterday evening in the courtyard of his private residence in Daura, Katsina State, following State and Islamic funeral rites.

The late president, initially wrapped in the green-white-white colours of the Nigerian flag, was interred at about 5:50pm, in accordance with Islamic tradition and his personal wish to be buried at home rather than in a public cemetery or national monument.

Gunshots were fired as a mark of honour for the former president and commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The citation of Buhari was read by the chief of defense staff, General Chris Musa.

The solemn burial ceremony was attended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President KashimShettima, and several other African and Nigerian dignitaries.

Among them were President UmaroSissocoEmbaló of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister of Niger, Ali LamineZeine, former President of Niger, IssoufouMahamadou, and former Vice President YemiOsinbajo.

Also present were Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and a host of governors, including the host governor DikkoRadda, along with his counterparts from Imo, Kwara, Gombe, Borno, Lagos, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara, and others.

Several former cabinet members who served during Buhari’s presidency were also in attendance to pay their last respects.

President Tinubu had earlier received the remains of his predecessor at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport in Katsina.

He arrived at 1:42 p.m. and inspected a guard of honour before the Nigerian Air Force jet bearing Buhari’s body touched down at exactly 1:51 p.m.

The late president’s casket, draped in the national colours, was received by President Tinubu and other dignitaries in a solemn procession.

A team of military pallbearers, drawn from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, wheeled the casket past a full military guard of honour to a waiting military hearse.Afrobeats merchandise

Former President Buhari died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a hospital in London at the age of 82.

His passing marked the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s political history, having served the country both as a military Head of State and as a democratically elected President.

His burial in Daura, the town of his birth, fulfilled a long-standing personal wish — a final return to the place he called home.

The Senate President, GodswillAkpabio, has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the suspension of Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The court had declared the six-month suspension unconstitutional, excessive, and a violation of the senator’s constituents’ right to representation.

In a notice of cross-appeal dated 11 July, MrAkpabio, through his lead counsel, KehindeOgunwumiju, SAN, is asking the appellate court to nullify the judgment, describing it as erroneous and a gross miscarriage of justice.

The cross-appeal by the senate president comes just two days after MrsAkpoti-Uduaghan filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to challenge the N5 million fine imposed on her by the same court.

The fine was part of a contempt ruling issued by the court’s judge, BintaNyako, who found the senator guilty of civil contempt over a satirical Facebook post made while her case against the Senate was still ongoing.

In her six-ground appeal, MrsAkpoti-Uduaghan described the contempt ruling as violating her fundamental rights and argued that the fine was legally unfounded.

The case began after the Senate suspended MrsAkpoti-Uduaghan over alleged misconduct during a plenary session held on 20 February 2024.

She subsequently challenged the suspension at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In her judgment, MrsNyako ruled that the Senate’s decision to suspend a serving senator for six months was excessive and undermined the right to representation for the entire Kogi Central Senatorial District.

The judge held that the suspension was unconstitutional and advised the Senate to allow the senator to resume her legislative duties. However, she did not issue a direct order compelling her reinstatement.

Following the judgment, MrsAkpoti-Uduaghan wrote to the Clerk of the National Assembly through her lawyer, Michael Numa, SAN, expressing her readiness to resume duties yesterday, Tuesday, 15 July. She urged the National Assembly to treat her notification with urgency to avoid being held in contempt of court.

However, the Senate insisted that the judgment did not explicitly direct it to recall the suspended senator.

MrAkpabio’s cross-appeal comprised eleven grounds challenging the legality and fairness of the high court’s decision.

The senate president argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, noting that it was premature since the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions had not completed its investigation when the suit was filed.

He contended that MrsAkpoti-Uduaghan failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms as provided under the Senate Standing Orders before approaching the court.

MrAkpabio disagreed with the judge’s interpretation of Section 21 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017, arguing that it does not exempt serving members of the legislature from disciplinary actions.

He alleged that MrsNyako breached his right to a fair hearing by raising and determining the issue of the suspension’s excessiveness suomotu (on the court’s own accord) without allowing him to respond.

Reliefs sought

MrAkpabio urged the Court of Appeal to set aside the Federal High Court judgment, invalidating the suspension and upholding the Senate’s authority to discipline its members, including suspending serving senators.

He’s also asking the Court to declare that no constitutional rights were breached in the suspension of MrsAkpoti-Uduaghan.