NEWS
2027: NASS Proposes Nov 2026 for Presidential, Governorship Elections
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The National Assembly has proposed that the Presidential and Gubernatorial elections should be conducted in November 2026 as against February or March of the year, 2027 even as stakeholders demanded electronic voting/transmission of results by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).
The proposal as contained in the draft copy of various amendments being sought in the 2022 Electoral Act seeks that election into the two offices should be conducted not later than 185 days before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent which is May 29, 2027.
The proposed amendments which came to the fore yesterday during a one day Public Hearing held by the Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Electoral Matters also contained other far reaching amendment proposals.
This is even as many of the Stakeholders who made presentations at the public hearing demanded for electronic voting and transmission of election results.
Section 4 (7) of the proposed amendment states “Elections into the office of the President and Governor of a State shall be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office”
Calculation of the 185 days before May 29, 2027 clearly shows that the election must be conducted in November 2026, since the number of days from May 28, 2027 to December 1st 2026 are 180 days.
For the federal and state of legislators, Section 4(5) of the proposed amendment to the 2022 electoral act states “Election into the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly shall be held not later than 185 days before the date on which each of the Houses stands dissolved”.
In unlocking the constitutional impediments against the amendment , the joint committee states in the draft copy “:section 28 now section 27 ( 5 – 7) was introduced due to the amendments to sections 76, 116, 132 & 178 of the Constitution, which seeks to remove the determination of election timeline from the constitution to the Electoral Act ” .
The proposed amendment seeking for conduct of election six months before expiration of tenure of incumbent, as explained by the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon Adebayo Balogun, aims at giving enough time for disposal of election litigations before swearing in of declared winners.
According to him, section 285 of the 1999 Constitution will be amended just as section 139 will also be amended.
“To ensure that all manner of election litigations are dispensed with, before the swearing in of winners, we are proposing amendment that will reduce 180 days of tribunal judgement to 90 days, 90 days expected of Judgement by appellate court to 60 days up to the Supreme Court, which will all not exceed 185 days “.
Other far reaching amendment proposals being sought for by the joint committee, are early voting contained in section(2) of the draft bill .
It states: “There shall be a date set aside for early voting not later than 14 days to the day of the election, Categories of Nigerians listed for the pre – poll are security personnel, officials of the commission, accredited domestic observers , accredited journalists and ad – hoc staff of the commission
Other proposed amendments are mandatory electronic transmission of election results, non – compulsory use of permanent voters card etc.
The proposed amendment as contained in Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act also seeks to ensure compulsory electronic transmission of results.
“The Presiding Officer shall transmit the results including total number of accredited voters to the next level of excuses both electronically and manually just as it criminalizes failure of Presiding Officer or Collation Officer who distribute unstamped ballot papers and results sheets. Such erring officers will be jailed for one year or pay a fine of N1m or both.
All the Stakeholders who made presentations at the public hearing including representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Abdullahi Zuru aligned with the joint committee’s proposals.
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TOM CHIAHEMEN
All is now set for the grand celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Club De Pals Abuja, the foremost socio-cultural association of Tiv professionals resident and working in the federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs.
The grand celebration, scheduled to hold on Saturday, 6th December 2025 at the Royal Choice Inn Hotel located within the National Christian Centre – behind the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarters in the Central Business Centre, Abuja, has as its theme, “30 Unbroken Years of Sustained Unity in Friendship.
”Highlights of the event, according to the Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the 30th Anniversary celebration, Dr Cletus Akwaya, include the unveiling of the revised Club De Pals Constitution, inauguration of the newly constituted Board of Trustees, special recognition of deceased Members and, Fund Raising for the construction of a Permanent Club House Secretariat.
Other activities include a keynote address by a former Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and current Federal Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Professor Steve Ugbah, cuttingof the Anniversary Cake and, presentation of Awards to past presidents of the Club and other deserving Nigerians.
Formed and registered in 1995 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) of Tiv young professionals in the Nation’s capital, Club De Pals has since emerged as the single most formidable umbrella body that articulates the views and interests of the Tiv people of Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River and Plateau states, as well as the FCT.
From its initial membership of 10 young professionals, the Club has today grown with well over 100 members, just as the association has produced, within the 30 years of its existence, university professors, directors in the federal civil service, state commissioners, publishers and media owners, senior legal practitioners, engineers, medical doctors, pharmacists, architects and school proprietors.
Within the 30 years of its existence, Club De Pals has contributed immensely to community development, philanthropy, humanitarian services and other good causes, including interventions in the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs), victims of ecological disasters, communal conflicts and terrorism and other individuals and groups with health and educational challenges.
TOM CHIAHEMEN
Chairman, Media & Publicity Sub-Commitee
NEWS
Military Neutralises Scores, Rescues 318 Victims as Armed Forces Intensify Nationwide Operations
By David Torough, Abuja
The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) says its troops recorded major breakthroughs across all theatres of operation in November, neutralising scores of terrorists and other criminal elements, arresting dozens of suspects, and rescuing 318 kidnapped victims nationwide.
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, disclosed this during the Defence Headquarters’ monthly press briefing on ongoing military operations.
He said the operations targeted terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime criminality across the country.According to him, more than 69 terrorists and their family members surrendered to troops during the period under review, while intensive ground, air and maritime operations degraded several criminal networks in the North East, North West, North Central, South East and South South regions.
General Onoja noted that the AFN also foiled oil theft valued at N217.6 million, destroying 16 illegal refining sites and recovering over 289,000 litres of stolen crude and illegally refined products.
North East Operations
Troops of Operation HADIN KAI sustained pressure on Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists across Borno and Adamawa states, carrying out aggressive clearance operations supported by close air support missions. Several terrorists were neutralised, six informants arrested, and five kidnapped victims rescued. Weapons, vehicles and motorcycles were seized, while terrorist camps were destroyed.
North West Operations
Under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops conducted offensive operations across Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Kebbi and Jigawa states. Numerous terrorists were neutralised, 13 suspects arrested, and nine kidnapped victims freed. Air strikes on terrorist enclaves in Kankara and Faskari LGAs of Katsina State eliminated scores of fighters and destroyed their logistics bases.
North Central Operations
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE and Operation WHIRL STROKE recorded significant gains across Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi and the FCT. Across these missions, dozens of extremists were neutralised, 48 suspects arrested, and 30 kidnap victims rescued. Arms, ammunition, vehicles and motorcycles were also recovered.
South South Operations
Operation DELTA SAFE troops uncovered and destroyed four illegal refining sites and arrested 25 suspected oil thieves in Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers states. They also recovered 12,390 litres of stolen crude and AGO during the week, while offensive and air reconnaissance operations neutralised several other criminals.
South East Operations
In the South East, Operation UDO KA troops sustained offensive operations across Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia and Cross River. Several terrorists were neutralised, four arrested, and four kidnapped victims rescued. Air interdiction missions in Ezeagu LGA destroyed terrorist hideouts and logistics.
General Onoja commended the bravery and professionalism of troops and urged continued public cooperation through the provision of credible information. He also called for support for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem launched by President Bola Tinubu on December 2.
He assured Nigerians that the military is intensifying efforts to ensure the safe rescue of all remaining abducted students, reaffirming its resolve to restore peace and security across the country.
“Despite the challenges, our operational tempo remains high. We continue to operate within the ambit of the law and are committed to ensuring that every part of Nigeria enjoys peace and freedom from fear,” he said.
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…Says He Can’t Work as Team Member with Chris Musa
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Following the resignation of Minister of Defence, Mohammed Abubakar, an internationally acclaimed Nigerian security expert, Dr Lekan Jackson Ojo has called on Minister of State (Defence), Bello Matawalle.
Dr Ojo declared that Matawalle, just like the immediate past Minister of Defence, has not shown that he is capable of handling the responsibilities of the office he is presently occupying.
He stressed that Matawalle has been very dormant since his appointment and has exhibited poor response to security challenges in the country.
“I think Matawalle should also follow immediately, that is the Minister of State for Defence.
These two persons are not relevant, they ran their states aground as governors.”Dr Jackson Ojo also called on President Tinubu to appraise members of his Cabinet and sack those that are not performing optimally.
“They came to the federal level and were honoured with positions of Minister of Defence and Minister of State. What has been their contributions to the administration?”
He also raised issues about the appointment of General Chris Musa as the new Minister of Defence, stressing that there could be conflict of interest since the new Defence Minister was once answerable to Matawalle when he was Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
“Minister of Defence is gone and I think Matawalle should follow. If Mr President should continue like this there are lots of others we will suggest he should fire them.
“He should bring in technocrats into his cabinet and not politicians. Congratulations to Nigerians that one is gone and more will still follow.”
“I want to congratulate Nigerians that former Minister of Defence, Badaru, has resigned, whether he resigned of was booted out. He was of no positive impact on Nigeria as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The office of Minister of Defense is a very sensitive one because without a good defence minister nothing will thrive.
“The position is occupied now by an experienced retired four-star army general, Chris Musa
“What is Bello Matawalle who was the Minister of State under Badaru still waiting for, is it until Mr President boots him out?
“Both of them did not achieve anything in office as My Minister and Minister of State.
“Recently we saw a video that went viral where Matawalle said verbatim that not all bandits are criminals. If somebody is saddled with the responsibility as Minister of Defence and he is having sympathy for some bandits it means Nigeria was almost doomed.
“There are lots of allegations by bandits that he was one of their sponsors. Let’s not take that on the face value because it can be political but this about having sympathy for bandits, coupled with the fact that both of them failed woefully and both of them should bow out.
“Pairing Matawalle and General Chris Musa together is like addicting pass and fail together – it won’t blend. The two of them cannot co-travel well at the Ministry of Defence.
“The two of them don’t have equal knowledge about defence matters. While General Chris Musa has vast knowledge of defence, Matawalle has no knowledge of defence.
“Chris Musa is an experienced man, we know him well but how can he pair with someone that has sympathy for bandits?
“So Matawalle should honourable bow out and if he fails to bow out Mr President should kick him out.”
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