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INEC, security agencies passed Osun election key test- YIAGA Africa

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An election observation group, YIAGA Africa, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their professional conduct during Saturday’s Osun governorship election.

The Chairman of the YIAGA Africa Osun Election Observation Mission, Dr Asmau Maikudi, gave the commendation during the group’s Process and Verification Statement on the election on Sunday in Osogbo.

Maikudi said that ahead of the election, YIAGA Africa had described the poll as a defining test of electoral preparedness, security neutrality and public trust.

She said the group argued that the readiness of INEC, security agencies and political parties would be judged by their conduct and performance on election day.

“With the election concluded, the evidence suggests that INEC and security agencies largely passed that test.

“This conclusion is important because Osun was not an ordinary off-cycle election.

“It was the last major governorship election before the 2027 general election and one of the earliest major tests of the Electoral Act 2026 and the new regulatory framework for election administration and results management,” she said.

Maikudi said the group employed the Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology and deployed 300 observers and 32 mobile observers across the 30 Local Government Areas, in addition to 30 LGA results collation observers.

Highlighting the key findings on election-day processes, Maikudi said one of INEC’s clearest improvements was logistics.

She said that despite the significant disruption caused by the last-minute court-ordered inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which required INEC to reprint ballot papers and result sheets barely days before the election, the commission largely succeeded in deploying personnel and materials to polling units on time.

According to her, by 8:30 a.m., 48 per cent of polling units had commenced accreditation and voting, with the figure increasing to 96 per cent by 9:30 a.m.

“This compares favourably with the 2022 Osun governorship election, where YIAGA Africa’s observation showed that accreditation and voting had commenced in only 41 per cent of polling units by 8:30 a.m. and 96 per cent by 9:30 a.m.,” she said.

Maikudi also said the group monitored the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), noting that it functioned properly in 80 per cent of polling units.

She, however, said that BVAS malfunctioned in 20 per cent of polling units, although the issues were resolved.

Maikudi said INEC’s official results for the election were consistent with YIAGA Africa’s Watching the Vote (WTV) estimate, as they fell within the group’s estimated range.

“This indicates that the official results, as announced, reflect the ballots counted at polling units,” she said.

She, however, said widespread reports of vote-buying and voter inducement raised serious concerns about the integrity of voters’ choices.

On the conduct of security agencies during the election, Maikudi said they largely demonstrated restraint.

“The campaign period was characterised by violence, inflammatory rhetoric and apprehension about the neutrality of security agencies.

“Against that background, the generally professional conduct of security personnel on Election Day deserves acknowledgement.

“The election demonstrated that robust security deployment need not translate into excessive interference in the electoral process.

“This standard must be sustained. The real measure of security neutrality is consistency across elections, regardless of which political party controls the state or federal government,” she said.

Maikudi said the Osun election demonstrated that INEC could meet a high operational standard, apply the Electoral Act 2026 and transmit results transparently when the election was well resourced and closely observed.

She commended the people of Osun for their resilience and commitment to democracy by turning out to vote.

She encouraged them to sustain the commitment beyond the election by holding political parties and candidates accountable for their campaign promises.(NAN).

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NNPC announces nationwide N66 fuel discount for fuel bought through app

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By Our Reporter

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has commenced a nationwide promotional campaign offering customers a ₦66 discount on fuel purchases made through its NNPC Fuel App.

The promotion, which began on October 1, will run until October 7 at NNPC filling stations across the country.

NNPC announced the initiative in a post on its X handle on Friday, saying customers had already started taking advantage of the offer at various stations.

“The ₦66 Discount Promo is ongoing & the excitement is already happening across our stations nationwide!

“All over Nigeria, our customers are getting in on the action & there’s still time for you to benefit!

The promo runs from 1–7 October on the NNPC Fuel App,” the post read.

The company said activities had commenced at several of its stations nationwide, with highlights from the first day of the promotion shared with the public.

NNPC urged motorists and other customers to continue using the Fuel App for their transactions throughout the seven-day campaign in order to benefit from the discount.

“Keep fueling, keep transacting and keep your eyes on our pages,” the post read.

The national oil company also said it would continue to release pictures and updates from participating stations as the promotion progresses.

Customers have been advised to take advantage of the offer before the promotional period ends on October 7.

The ₦66 discount applies to eligible transactions made through the NNPC Fuel App during the promotion.

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Hardship: Public servants begin three-day warning strike

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By Our Reporter

Public servants across Nigeria have commenced a three-day warning strike following a directive by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council over what the workers described as worsening economic and mental hardship.

The industrial action, which began at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, is expected to run through Sunday, October 4.

The council directed its national and state leadership to mobilise workers for the action, with the directive contained in a circular dated October 1 and signed by the National Secretary of the JNPSNC, Olowoyo Gbenga.

The circular urged the council’s leadership to ensure that the strike notice reached workers across the country.

The decision, according to the council, followed the Federal Government’s alleged failure to respond to demands earlier presented to President Bola Tinubu in a letter dated September 21, 2026.

READ ALSO:Unions reject TUC suspension of strike, demand reversal of King’s College concession

Explaining the commencement of the industrial action, the council stated, “Consequent upon the above, the strike shall start with effect from midnight on Friday, 2nd October, 2026 to Sunday October 4th, 2026.”

The council called on public servants at the federal, state and local government levels to participate in the warning strike, saying the action was aimed at drawing attention to the economic difficulties confronting workers and their dependants.

It stated, “In the same vein, all public servants in the services of federal, state and local governments are to join the warning strike because an injury to one is an injury to all, most especially, all workers, their dependants, vulnerable and hapless Nigerians are groaning terribly under the present economic hardship.”

The JNPSNC further expressed concern over the impact of the economic situation on workers, saying, “The economic and mental hardships are becoming unbearable and frustrating.”

It also directed its leaders to commence immediate mobilisation for the industrial action, declaring, “The time to act and mobilise workers for the three-day warning strike is now!!!”

The warning strike comes against the backdrop of demands earlier submitted by the council to the Federal Government for measures to ease the pressure of rising living costs on workers.

Among the demands were a reduction in the price of petrol, an immediate wage award for workers and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of 2027.

The council had reportedly asked the Federal Government to bring down the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, approve an immediate wage award and constitute a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage.

The demands followed continued concerns over the declining purchasing power of workers amid increases in the prices of essential commodities, transportation and other household needs.

In its latest circular, the council urged its members to circulate the strike notice and expressed optimism about the outcome of the industrial action.

“Please, disseminate the information!!! Surely, there is victory for us!!!” the circular added.

The council maintained that the warning strike would proceed as scheduled, with public servants across the federal, state and local government services expected to take part.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Labour were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

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Olokoro Community Eulogises NDPHC MD/CEO Adighije for School Renovation, Development Projects

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Johnchuks Onuanyim, Abuja

The people of Olokoro Clan in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State have showered encomiums on the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for executing key development projects in the community, including the comprehensive renovation of a block of classrooms at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara.

The community described the projects as landmark interventions that have not only improved learning conditions for students but also reinforced Adighije’s commitment to grassroots development and community service.

Speaking during the commissioning of the projects on Nigeria’s Independence Day celebration, community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and youth organisations hailed Adighije as a worthy ambassador of Olokoro whose contributions have brought honour and development to the clan.

The projects commissioned include the renovation of a classroom block at Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara Olokoro, and the landscaping and installation of modern 3D flooring at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters Complex in Ahiaukwu.

The event attracted a large gathering of traditional rulers, government representatives, community stakeholders and indigenes who turned out to celebrate what many described as a historic day for the clan.

In his remarks, the Federated President-General of the Olokoro Clan Development Union (OCDU), Dr. Odinakachi Umekwe, commended Adighije for her dedication to the welfare of her people and for consistently identifying with the aspirations of the community.

He noted that the renovation of the school facility would significantly improve the learning environment for students and contribute to educational development in the area.

Umekwe urged community members to safeguard and maintain the facilities, while offering prayers for greater accomplishments in Adighije’s public service career.

Speaking shortly before commissioning the renovated classroom block, Adighije attributed the successful execution of the projects to God’s grace and the productive partnership between the community and government institutions.

She assured the people that her intervention in the school would not end with the renovation, announcing plans to undertake solar electrification of the classroom block as the next phase of support.

According to her, quality education remains critical to community development and nation-building, stressing that investments in educational infrastructure are investments in the future of young people.

She also pledged to continue collaborating with the leadership of the OCDU to identify and execute additional projects that would improve the living conditions of residents.

The community further applauded the NDPHC boss for her contributions to youth empowerment, employment opportunities and other initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of Olokoro people.

Traditional rulers, women leaders, youth representatives and elders who spoke at the event described Adighije as a role model and a source of inspiration to younger generations, noting that her achievements in engineering, public service and community development have made the clan proud.

In an emotional response during a grand reception held in her honour at the Olokoro Clan Headquarters, Adighije thanked the people for their overwhelming support and goodwill.

She reaffirmed her commitment to serving humanity and promoting the development of Olokoro, assuring residents that she would continue to contribute her quota to the progress of the community whenever the opportunity arises.

Her father, Senator Chris Adighije, also expressed gratitude to the people of Olokoro for the honour accorded his family and pledged continued support for initiatives that would advance the development of the clan.

The event featured cultural performances by students of Boys Secondary School, Umuoparazara, and was attended by prominent traditional rulers, community leaders, women groups, youth organisations and other stakeholders from across Olokoro Clan.

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