Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states for Saturday, June 20 and Saturday, August 8, 2026, respectively.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced the dates on Friday during the swearing-in ceremony of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners recently confirmed by the National Assembly.

According to Yakubu, political parties are expected to conduct their primaries for the Ekiti governorship election between October 20 and November 10, 2025. The deadline for uploading nomination forms on the dedicated portal is 6:00 p.m. on December 22, 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on January 18, 2026, while campaigns will commence on January 21 and end 24 hours before election day.

For Osun State, party primaries are to be held between November 24 and December 15, 2025. The deadline for submission of nomination forms is 6:00 p.m. on February 9, 2026. The final list of candidates will be released on March 9, 2026, and campaigns will run from March 11 until 24 hours before the August 8 poll.

Yakubu noted that the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for both elections have been made available on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

He also addressed concerns over pending bye-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the country. According to him, the number of pending bye-elections has risen to 17.

“We are aware of the urgency to commence the CVR, particularly in view of the forthcoming governorship election in Anambra State. We want to assure Nigerians that we are finalizing our preparations for both activities, the details of which will soon be made public,” he said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the recent incident in which Nigerian students were forced to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) under poor and dark conditions, describing the situation as a “national disgrace.”

His reaction follows mounting criticisms over the conduct of the ongoing examination. The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies has summoned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), giving it a 24-hour ultimatum to appear before the committee on Friday to address the issues.

Similarly, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised WAEC over delays in the administration of the English Language paper in the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

In a statement on Thursday, Atiku expressed deep concern over what he described as systemic failures in Nigeria’s education sector.

“This is not merely an unfortunate incident; it is a damning indictment of our systemic failure to uphold the most basic standards in public education,” he said.

“It is unacceptable, unjustifiable, and utterly indefensible that in 2025, our children are forced to write critical national exams in pitch darkness like second-class citizens.”

Atiku called for an immediate retake of the affected examination paper in all compromised centres, stating that anything less would be a “grave injustice” to the students involved.

He also urged authorities to establish and enforce minimum environmental and infrastructural standards for all national examinations to prevent future occurrences.

At least 21 people have died and more than 10 others remain missing following a flash flood that swept through Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State after a night of intense rainfall.

The disaster, which affected the Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa communities in Mokwa town, was triggered by a torrential downpour that lasted for several hours, according to a statement by the Acting Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Hussaini.

More than 50 residential houses were submerged and swept away by the floodwaters, resulting in heavy casualties and extensive property damage.

Emergency response efforts are ongoing. NSEMA, in collaboration with the Mokwa Local Government Authority, local divers, and community volunteers, has launched search and rescue operations in the affected areas.

“So far, 21 corpses have been recovered, while search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate more than 10 persons still missing,” Hussaini stated.

Three survivors, a woman and her two children are currently receiving medical care for injuries and trauma at the Mokwa General Hospital.

NSEMA has pledged continued support to the affected families and communities.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court, led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma, ruled that Ighodalo’s appeal lacked merit and upheld the earlier judgment of the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The court maintained that the appellants failed to provide sufficient evidence to overturn the tribunal’s ruling, which had declared Okpebholo’s election valid.

Ighodalo, who rejected the judgment, has vowed to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

In the September 21, 2024 gubernatorial election, Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 291,667 votes to defeat Ighodalo of the PDP, who garnered 247,274 votes. Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata finished third with 22,763 votes. Fourteen other candidates participated in the contest but failed to make significant electoral impact.

The APC secured victories in over 10 of Edo’s 18 local government areas and dominated two of the three senatorial districts, enabling Okpebholo to clinch the governorship seat.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo winner of the poll, and he was sworn into office on November 12, 2024, succeeding former Governor Godwin Obaseki of the PDP.

Following the declaration, Ighodalo approached the election tribunal seeking to nullify Okpebholo’s victory. However, in its April 2025 ruling, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the petition on grounds of insufficient evidence and failure to prove claims of electoral malpractice or non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

Justice Kpochi noted that the petitioners failed to call credible witnesses such as polling unit agents, presiding officers, or voters to substantiate their allegations, a lapse which the tribunal said weakened their case beyond repair.

With the Appeal Court now siding with both the tribunal and the electoral body, Ighodalo’s final legal recourse lies with the Supreme Court.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has announced an amnesty programme targeting cultists and individuals in possession of illegal firearms, as part of a broader push to restore peace and prepare restive communities for a major urban development project.

The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday during a meeting with traditional and community leaders from Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba—areas located within the proposed site for a new city project in Benin City.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Governor Okpebholo urged youths involved in cultism and criminal activity to take advantage of the window to surrender to authorities in exchange for amnesty.

“We are committed to restoring peace and stability to every corner of Edo,” the governor said. “This amnesty programme is designed not just for disarmament, but to offer a lifeline—skills training, empowerment, and the opportunity to lead productive lives.”

A technical committee, he added, will soon be inaugurated to manage the reintegration of surrendered cultists and criminal elements, with a mandate to implement restorative justice and skill-building initiatives.

The amnesty effort is closely tied to the government’s new city initiative, which will span several communities including Obagie, Oke-Oroma, and Amagba. Governor Okpebholo reiterated that the urban expansion will be carried out with community input and cultural sensitivity.

“For the new city project, especially LOT ‘A,’ we are committed to preserving traditional sites. As for LOT ‘B,’ once development commences, residents can present their documents to the Committee on Land Resolution,” he stated.

He also assured affected residents that steps will be taken to regularize legitimate land claims across all designated LOTS, adding that the government was open to addressing grievances from property owners affected by previous demolitions.

“Those who lost their properties under the last administration should meet with the Land Resolution Committee, provided they have their documents,” he said.

Governor Okpebholo’s peace outreach and development agenda mark a significant shift in the state’s approach to both urban expansion and crime prevention, signaling a more inclusive and rehabilitative path forward.

Mauritania’s former Minister of Economy and Finance, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, has been elected as the new President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), succeeding Nigeria’s Dr. Akinwumi Adesina at the helm of the continent’s premier financial institution.

The 60-year-old development expert emerged victorious on Thursday after securing 76.18% of the total votes in just three rounds of balloting—fewer than the six rounds required for his predecessor’s win in 2015. His swift ascent to the presidency signals strong continental and international confidence in his leadership.

Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo placed a distant second with 20.26%, while Senegal’s Amadou Hott followed with 3.55%.

Under AfDB election rules, the winning candidate must garner a dual majority: support from the bank’s 81 total member countries and a separate majority from its 54 African member states. Tah met both criteria, securing 72.37% of the African vote.

Dr. Tah brings over a decade of leadership experience from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), where he served as Director General. His cross-regional expertise is expected to enhance collaboration between North African and sub-Saharan member states, particularly at a time when the AfDB faces growing challenges, including the reduction of U.S. funding.

In a statement conceding the race, Maimbo extended congratulations to the incoming president:
“I wish to congratulate Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on his successful election as the President-elect of the African Development Bank Group. I entered this race driven by a love and deep concern for our continent and offered a vision for Africa’s future. Today, the Governors have chosen the leader they believe will best deliver the vision of the Africa we want at this pivotal moment.”

Dr. Tah is expected to take office as the AfDB seeks to reinforce its development agenda amid global financial shifts and mounting continental demands.

A Nigerian pilgrim, Hajiya Zainab from Plateau State, has been hailed for her rare display of honesty after returning $5,000 (approximately ₦8.2 million) she found at the Masjidul Haram in Makkah to a fellow pilgrim from Russia.

Her act of integrity has drawn commendation from both the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

In a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Plateau Pilgrims Board, Daiyabu Dauda, Hajiya Zainab was described as a shining example of moral uprightness and virtue.

“She demonstrated exceptional integrity and honesty by returning $5,000 she found in Masjidul Haram to its rightful owner. That’s a remarkable act of kindness,” Dauda said.

NAHCON also lauded the gesture, noting that it reflects the values expected of pilgrims on the holy journey.

Meanwhile, NAHCON has disclosed that discussions are ongoing with Saudi authorities to reopen visa processing for intending Nigerian pilgrims who are yet to travel.

In a statement released Wednesday by the Commission’s Assistant Director of Information, Fatima Usara, NAHCON expressed cautious optimism.

“There is optimism for a positive outcome, and when that is realised, the commission will immediately transport the registered pilgrims for the Hajj in another special arrangement,” Usara stated.

She added that selected staff members have already been placed on standby should the visa window be reopened.