By Tony Chuddy 

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the opposition  African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that it would set up it’s own election situation room, where it will monitor the election at all wards, and collate it’s own result parallel to what the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned against 

The party rejected the warning by INEC against the publication of privately collated election results, declaring that it will document, collate and share polling-unit results with Nigerians during the 2027 general elections.

The ADC, in a statement on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said INEC’s responsibility to make official declarations did not extinguish the constitutional rights of political parties and citizens to collect, collate and disseminate information.

The party said its agents would document results at polling units while its structures would collate and verify the figures before making them public.

“The ADC will share our collated results with the public. Our agents will document results, our structures will collate them, and we will communicate verified figures to the public, clearly identifying their source and status,” Abdullahi said.

The opposition party maintained that

independently collating and sharing election results constitutes an exercise of the right to freedom of expression and is not prohibited by the limitations placed on that right under the Constitution.

“We are aware of our rights to freedom of expression under the Constitution. We are also aware of the limitations associated with those rights. And we hold that our rights to collate and share election results are not abrogated by any of the limitation clauses,” the party said.

The party which however acknowledged INEC’s exclusive responsibility for officially declaring election outcomes and announcing winners, maintained that this mandate could not reasonably prevent citizens or political parties from collecting and sharing polling-unit results.

INEC had earlier warned the media to avoid declaration of results not collated by the commission, saying privately declared figures could create conflicting narratives and undermine confidence in officially declared results.

***Makinde, Adebayo react

By Nkem Okereh 

The opposition political parties have criticised president Bola Tinubu and his ruling All progressives Congress (APC) over the decision to enforce reduction of petrol price accross the country for a period on one month 

The federal government, which announced the fuel reduction package through the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Tunde Oyedele on Thursday, said the major beneficiaries would be transporters and commercial vehicles operators, saying the package is aimed at reducing the high transportation fares in the country 

Oyedele, said the measure was not a return to subsidy, but an arrangement for NNPC to sell petrol at cost for the initial 30-day period.

Reacting to the federal government’s package, the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO) of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), described the government’s 60 Naira fuel discount package as a “deceitful” political stunt that is  aimed at hoodwinking Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections.

The campaign organisation, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Director of Strategic Communications, Richard Ihediwa, said reducing the pump price of petrol from about N1,400 by just N60 was an insult to Nigerians struggling with the impact of the fuel price regime.

The campaign also criticised the government’s offer to sell crude oil to domestic refineries at $80 per barrel, describing the arrangement as “distasteful and offensive” for an oil-producing country.

“Nigerians cannot be swayed by this act of deceit and failed media stunt to change their resolve to vote out the dishonest, insensitive and grossly inept Tinubu-led APC administration in January 2027,” the campaign council noted 

The council argued that Nigerians deserve an “impactful reduction” in petrol prices rather than what it called an attempt to “hoodwink citizens” ahead of the elections.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) urged voters to back the party’s presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde for what it described as an honest, resourceful and responsive government.

Also the Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo likened the 30-day petrol discount by the federal governments to the popular television series “Fuji House of Commotion.”

Adebayo, who reacted during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adebayo questioned the basis and duration of the intervention, describing it as a temporary gesture rather than a long-term policy.

“I saw the visual and heard of the policy or statement; I don’t know. There is no plan behind it, so I cannot know whether it is a policy or a gesture, but it immediately reminds me of a series on television in the 90s called ‘Fuji House of Commotion.

“One thing they are presenting is Tinubu’s house of commotion. It does not make any sense in any way.

“Number one, none of those people who are seated there represent the NNPC. Now, there is no account established in the Ministry of Finance that deals with the petroleum subsidy account.

“One month is not short term; it is not medium term; it is not long term; it is a flash in the moment.

“They did not refer to any law that authorises them to do what they are doing.

“So, long and short, it looks to me like the government is genuinely now and sincerely confused because they have created problems for themselves.”

“This is not subsidy, FG says 30 days petrol price reduction, not subsidy return

The Federal Government dismissed  opposition claims that it has softly returned the painful petrol subsidy, through the announcement of an agreement with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to sale petrol at a N60 reduction price for a period of 30 days

The presidency  in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Assistant to the president on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited will forgo its retail profit margin on petrol and sell to Nigerians at cost, as part of measures to cushion households from global crude oil price shocks.

The statement however emphasised that the arrangement, which is backed by President Bola Tinubu, does not signal the return of the petrol subsidy, which ended on May 29, 2023.

It explained that the petrol price slash was among a raft of measures announced by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, on Thursday.

The statement noted that ‘NNPC retail outlets would forgoe petrol profit margin to offer some support to Nigerian households amid global petrol crisis; FG announces additional measures.’

“This means if NNPC’s landing cost is N1300, it will sell fuel to Nigerians, especially commercial vehicles, at the same price,” the statement read.

The Presidency said the federal government was also negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol to keep pump prices stab

“This is neither a subsidy nor a price control: it is designed to smooth prices over time rather than suppressing them,” Oyedele was quoted as saying, adding, “The reasoning is simple. 1,400 naira a litre today and 1,400 tomorrow is better than 1,500 today and 1,300 tomorrow, because volatility itself adds to uncertainty and cost. And when fares rise sharply, they rarely fall as fast. The ceiling will be reviewed monthly, reset as costs require, and the figures published for transparency.”

It stated by further that the federal government will also sell crude forward to domestic refineries. According to the statement, this is expected to shield pump prices from global volatility as production rises and previously committed crude is freed up.

The statement noted that under the 2025 tax reform laws, the Federal Government, working with the states and security agencies, was reining in the collection of road taxes and levies that inflate fares and logistics costs. It is also increasing funding for cash transfers to the most vulnerable households and for subsidised credit to small businesses and consumers.

The other measures listed include the CNG rollout, where the FG is scaling up compressed natural gas deployment with the states, and expects transporters to pass on the savings to passengers through lower fares. CNG is 60 to 70 per cent cheaper than petrol, the statement said.

It said excess profit tax will be considered for operators who take undue advantage of consumers anywhere along the ener

Proceeds will be used only to cushion fuel prices through transport support or vouchers for urban minimum-wage earners. The government will also work with the National Assembly on enhanced tax relief for low-income earners under the 2027 Finance Bill.

“This was not a subsidy and did not fix prices, but secured supply and would deter artificial scarcity and market manipulation.

“Removing the fuel subsidy came at a price. But the alternative has been tried. Nigeria has already lived through that cycle: scarcity, smuggling, a collapsing currency and a fiscal crisis. We cannot afford to live through it again, least of all in response to a temporary disruption, and at the very moment the results of reform are gathering pace.

“Government is not out to reverse a necessary reform designed to set our country on the path towards sustained prosperity. It is to ensure its gains reach more Nigerians, faster and in more tangible ways. That is our work, and we are committed to doing it.”

By Ijeoma Nwajiobi, Nnewi

Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu of Anambra South Senatorial District has presented his one year achievements in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nwachukwu during a press briefing on Thursday, October 8, 2026 in his country home, Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State said the zone recorded enormous milestones in his one-year stay in office.

Onodugo, who took the oath of office following the by-election of August 2025 to fill the vacant seat of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah said he doubled his efforts because he understood that representation is not about occupying a seat or enjoying the privileges of office but carrying collective voices , hopes , tears, and aspirations of the people of Anambra South to where national decisions are made.

“My journey into the chamber was accompanied by immediate legal challenges surrounding the mandate. Yet, I remained resolute”the lawmaker explained.

Sen. Nwachukwu listed his key pillars of accomplishment which included Institutional Continuity and Stability where he retained the administrative secretary of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to ensure the constituents services continued without interruption.

Other key pillars, Power and Industrial Sector Support, he noted he engaged the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Federal Power Authorities to tackle Right – of – Way bottlenecks in Nnobi and accelerate completion of the crucial Nnewi injection substation.

On National Electoral Integrity and Reform, Nwachukwu said as a member of the Sanate committee on electoral matters, he was among the Senators who voted against manual fallbacks in favour of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Infrastructural advocacy, he said he sponsored a major Senate motion calling national attention to the collapsed bridge and failed sections along the critical Okija Spur – Ihembosi – Ukpor – Ebenator – Ezinifite Road corridor.

“I successfully secure Senate resolution directing the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to execute immediate engineering intervention” he added.

He further noted that he has been working closely with NEMA and the Nigeria Red Cross to ensure that his people never feel abandoned in times of emergency.

“I secured and distributed substantial relief materials to victims of devastating fire outbreak, including affected families in Ozubulu, brought attention of NEMA to the victims of building collapse in Oko, Orumba North LGA,” Onodugo further revealed.

Furthermore, Nwachukwu disclosed he engaged the Ecological Fund Office and the Federal Ministry of Environment to bring targeted federal remediation to their most vulnerable sites.

The lawmaker said he has established strong collaborative working relationship between members of the National Assembly caucus and the Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR to ensure alignment between state transformation goals and federal interventions.

He further revealed that a lot of qualified youths from Anambra South have been empowered with skills and have secured jobs across various ministries, departments and agencies.

Currently, Onodugo said he would undertake the first phase of installation of over 3,000 solar-poweted streetlights across the zone.

Beyond Abuja, he said he has maintained continuous town-hall meetings and consultation sessions with traditional rulers, Presidents-General, youths, women and constituents across the 7 Local Government Areas in Anambra South as well as their diaspora communities across the country.

Sen. Nwachukwu maintained that the voice of his people would continue to be clear, respected and active in the Senate with his commitment to build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Anambra South.

He expressed his profound gratitude to Governor Soludo, the APGA National Chairman, Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth, women groups and all his constituents for their support, confidence and commitment.