By Tambaya Julius, Abuja

The Senate has postponed its two-day National Security Summit earlier scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State.

The crash, which occurred on Monday in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state, claimed the lives of 25 officers and seven crew members.

The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, announced the postponement in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday.

He said the decision followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of three days of national mourning in honour of those who died in the crash.

The Senate had planned the summit to review Nigeria’s longstanding security challenges and develop practical measures to improve the protection of lives and property across the country.

Bamidele said the ad-hoc committee had completed preparations for the summit after concluding zonal public hearings before the crash forced the postponement.

President Tinubu had directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast across the country throughout the mourning period.

The Senate said it considered it appropriate to defer the summit until further notice in honour of the deceased officers and crew members.

The upper chamber also expressed its condolences to the President, the Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the personnel who lost their lives while serving the country.

According to the Senate, a new date for the summit would be announced in due course.

It appealed to all stakeholders invited to the summit to take note of the national tragedy and bear with the Senate during the period of national mourning.

By Tambaya Julius, Abuja 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Nigeria’s voter register has risen to more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while speaking at a strategic workshop for media executives.

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 more than 10.6 million Nigerians took part in the commission’s three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

He said INEC had completed the public display of the preliminary register, giving citizens an opportunity to raise claims and objections.

The commission, he added, had also concluded the final cleanup of the voter register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

Amupitan announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would begin on October 9.

He urged Nigerians who registered during the exercise to collect their PVCs and prepare to participate in the 2027 elections.

The INEC chairman also said the commission would continue to improve the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to strengthen the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.

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

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

According to him, INEC is prepared to listen to concerns raised by editors, address operational challenges and provide timely information to prevent misinformation from filling communication gaps.

Amupitan said the commission would also give editors direct access to verify field incidents, logistical developments and security reports in real time.

He 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.

The chairman said closer engagement with the media was important to ensuring that voters receive accurate information, especially during periods of heightened public interest in electoral activities.

Also, DAI Team Leader, Rudolf Elbling, 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 safety of journalists and voters, and information disorder as some of the key challenges facing the media ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said journalists had a critical role in providing voters with accurate information while holding electoral institutions and other stakeholders accountable.

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

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has commended the quality, experience and capacity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates contesting the 2027 elections in the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

Jonathan made the remarks at his residence in Yenagoa when he received a high-powered delegation led by the former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.

The delegation visited the former President to formally present the APC candidates to him as a mark of respect and honour, particularly as a former President of Nigeria and a prominent leader from the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

Presenting the candidates, Rear Admiral Jonah appealed to Jonathan to extend his goodwill and support to them, describing the candidates as individuals with the requisite capacity, experience and character to provide effective representation if elected.

He expressed confidence that they would serve the interests of their constituents and contribute meaningfully to the development of the district and the state.

The candidates presented included HRH. Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Hon. Jonathan Robinson Obuebite, PhD, for the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency and Barr. Jude Amidator Rex-Ogbuku for the Ogbia Federal Constituency.

Also presented were the APC candidates for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including Hon. Oteigbanyo George Braah for Nembe Constituency 1, Hon. Edward Brigidi Irigha for Nembe Constituency 2, Hon. Alalibo West for Nembe Constituency 3, Hon. Daniel Charles for Brass Constituency 1, Hon. Timi Agala for Brass Constituency 2 and Rt. Hon. Abraham Ngobere for Brass Constituency 3.

Others were Hon. High Chief Ebiango Okoba Egain for Ogbia Constituency 1, Hon. Godknows Obein for Ogbia Constituency 2 and Hon. Chief Gabriel Michael Ogbara for Ogbia Constituency 3.

Responding to the presentation, Jonathan expressed his appreciation for the quality of the candidates, noting that virtually all of them were people who, in his assessment, could be trusted in terms of capacity, performance and experience.

He gave the candidates his blessings and encouraged them to remain committed to serving their people if elected to office.

The former President urged the candidates to see politics as a means of improving society and attracting positive development to their respective constituencies.

He also admonished them and other stakeholders to sustain peace, unity and oneness in Bayelsa State, which he said remained important to the state’s continued development.

The visit brought together APC leaders, candidates, traditional leaders, youth representatives, and other stakeholders from across the Brass, Nembe, and Ogbia Local Government Areas as part of ongoing consultations and engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.