By Our Reporter

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 103 million Nigerians are now on the national register of voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced this on Monday at a strategic workshop for media executives in Abuja.

The workshop, themed ‘Strengthening democracy through partnership among editors, civil society and electoral institutions’, was organised by INEC in collaboration with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

Amupitan said the commission’s three-phase continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise attracted more than 10.6 million new applicants.

He said the public display of the preliminary register of voters for claims and objections had been completed, while the final automated biometric identification system (ABIS) cleanup of the register had also been concluded.

The INEC chairman said the commission would commence nationwide collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) on October 9.

He urged eligible citizens who participated in the registration exercise to collect their cards and ensure they are ready to participate in the 2027 elections.

Amupitan said INEC was also committed to continuously improving the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to strengthen the credibility and transparency of elections.

“The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” he said.

He called for stronger collaboration among INEC, media organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

Amupitan said the commission was prepared to listen to editorial concerns, address operational challenges and provide timely information to prevent misinformation from filling communication gaps.

He said INEC would provide editors with direct access to verify field incidents, logistical developments and security reports in real time.

The chairman also proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism between INEC and the NGE to review the commission’s operational progress and address emerging challenges throughout the 2027 election cycle.

Amupitan said stronger engagement with the media would help ensure that accurate information reaches voters, particularly during periods when electoral activities generate heightened public interest.

Rudolf Elbling, team leader at DAI, said credible elections depended not only on effective electoral administration but also on professional, ethical and fact-based journalism.

Elbling identified electoral integrity, election technology, the security of journalists and voters, and information disorder as some of the major challenges confronting the media ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said journalists had an important role to play in providing voters with accurate information and holding electoral institutions and other stakeholders accountable.

The workshop brought together electoral officials, editors, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and improve public communication ahead of the 2027 elections.

By Tony Chuddy 

The opposition African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC PCC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of encouraging  terrorism through it’s chapters as the Edo state chairman, Emperor Jareth Tenebe threatened to unleash terror on voters to actualise the state governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s prompted se of 2.5million votes for president Bola Tinubu’s re election

The opposition party rejected what it described as opposition intimidation and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The council in a statement issued on Sunday by Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiya, said the alleged threat by the Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, to deploy AK-47 rifles against anyone who attempts to prevent the party from securing the 2.5 million votes it has promised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election equals to intimidation and promotion of terrorism activities ahead of the polls 

The ADC PCC also condemned the reported attack on its members and the destruction of vehicles belonging to party supporters in Gegu, Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State

The council said the alleged threat amounted to an attempt to intimidate voters and create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We are shocked that a state chairman of a ruling party, Mr Jarrett Tenebe, can stand before the public and threaten Nigerians with AK-47 rifles if they refuse to vote for his party, the APC.

“This is terrorism, and not politics. This is the height of desperation by a party that has failed Nigerians woefully,” Ologbondiyan said.

The ADC PCC said it had expected the APC leadership and President Tinubu to condemn the alleged statement or demand its retraction but claimed that no such action had been taken.

Ologbondiyan further alleged that following President Tinubu’s reported remark that “all is fair in politics,” some APC members had increasingly resorted to intimidation, harassment and violations of the law.

He argued that the APC could not legitimately secure 2.5 million votes in Edo State through a free, fair and credible electoral process, claiming that voters in the state were politically sophisticated and dissatisfied with the hardship and insecurity under the APC-led administration.

The ADC PCC director said the alleged threat to use AK-47 rifles against voters violated the Electoral Act and the Constitution and should be investigated by the relevant authorities.

He urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to invite Tenebe for questioning over the alleged threat.

The council also called on the international community, including the United Nations, European Union, African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United States, to monitor political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ologbondiyan said the 2027 election would be “a referendum” on the performance of the APC-led administration, insisting that intimidation and threats would not stop Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

On the reported attack on ADC members in Gegu, Koton Karfi Local Government Area of Kogi State, the council urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.

“We call on the members of our Kogi State chapter, particularly in Koton Karfi Local Government, to name everyone they identified in the course of the needless attack,” Ologbondiyan said.

He called for a thorough investigation into the incident and urged authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

From Sani Zubeiru(Gusau)

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) suffered a major set back in Zanfara state as eight members of the State House of Assembly have resigned from the party 

The resigning lawmakers, which included key allies of the former governor and Director General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Abdul’aziz, said they decided to leave the party over insecurity, alleged injustice and other issues affecting the wellbeing of the people.

The lawmakers who announced their resignation through a statement issued at the weekend, said they could no longer remain in a political party which, according to them, had failed to provide adequate security for citizens.

They expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as the party’s inability to address challenges confronting the state, particularly the worsening security situation.

The lawmakers included Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, representing Bakura; Hon. Faruk Musa Dosara, representing Maradun I; and Hon. Barrister Bashir Abubakar Masama, representing Bukkuyum North.

Others are Hon. Muktaru Nasiru Kaura (Kaura North), Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi (Maru North), Hon. Bashar Bello (Bungudu West), and Hon. Bashar Aliyu (Gummi I).

The lawmakers accused Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration of failing to give adequate attention to insecurity affecting rural communities.

Speaking on behalf of the resigning lawmakers, Hon. Kagara said they decided to leave the APC because the party had failed to properly address insecurity and had allegedly turned down their earlier agreements.

“What we are challenging Governor Lawal’s administration about is even worse now compared to previous times, so we have seen no reason to continue remaining in the APC.

“Our constituents in rural areas who voted us into power to address their security concerns were not being given any attention,” Kagara said.

He also alleged that the lawmakers had gone for 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other benefits due to them as elected members of the state House of Assembly.

“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members, and the people of Zamfara; the ball is in their court. Whether they enjoy what is happening or not, they are in the best position to take action and they need not to be told,” Kagara said

Their resignation adds to the growing political developments within Zamfara APC, where internal disagreements and realignments have continued to shape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers did not immediately disclose their next political destination.

Responding to the development, the state APC publicity secretary, Hon. Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, said the party at the state level was yet to be officially notified.

“We are still waiting for their correspondence from their respective political wards after reaching their local government executives, which would later be forwarded to us.

“We all saw it on social media platforms, but whenever we receive the copies officially, we would communicate with you on our stand,” the party publicity secretary said.

Responding to questions on whether the development was linked to an internal crisis within the party, Danmadami said the APC was not aware of any grievances until it received copies of the resignation letters.