The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said Epelle-Asemota Osayuki remains its duly nominated candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District.

The party attributed the discrepancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) publication of candidates’ particulars to an error on the part of the commission.

The party, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its Director of New Media and Strategic Communication, Agada Theophilus, said INEC correctly published Osayuki’s name and personal details.

It, however, added that INEC mistakenly attached the photograph of another aspirant and the credentials of a different individual.

The party maintained that it had duly submitted Osayuki’s name, passport photograph and credentials to INEC in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

It added that the commission alone was responsible for publishing candidates’ particulars.

The party said the successful upload of her details to the INEC portal served as proof of her formal sponsorship and called on the electoral body to explain how the mix-up occurred.

The NDC also dismissed attempts to question Osayuki’s eligibility on ethnic grounds, describing such claims as an orchestrated campaign aimed at discrediting her candidacy.

The party maintained that Osayuki was a Nigerian of Benin ancestry who had lived and worked in Benin throughout her career, “and is married into the Asemota family of Benin.”

The party described her as a seasoned public servant who spent 35 years in the Edo public service and previously served in key leadership positions, including Chairman of the Principals’ Association of Edo.

“The first female National Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), and Secretary of the Trade Union Congress in the state”.

It added that she was a prominent member of the Obidient Movement and emerged winner of the NDC primary for the Edo South Senatorial District.

The party said her emergence reflected its commitment to promoting women, youths and persons with special needs, insisting that she was duly nominated and would remain its candidate.

The NDC acknowledged that other aspirants were disappointed by the outcome of the primaries but urged them to refrain from actions capable of undermining the party.

It said a national reconciliation committee had already been inaugurated to address grievances arising from the primaries and appealed to party leaders to help resolve outstanding issues.

The party also rejected allegations that candidates were imposed by the national leadership, insisting that state leaders supervised the primary process while the national leadership only harmonised interests and managed disputes that could not be resolved at the state level.

It called on members to close ranks and work together in the interest of the party ahead of the forthcoming elections.

By David Torough, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has unveiled a major package aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s armed forces through improved welfare and enhanced defence capability, approving a substantial salary increase for military personnel while reaffirming support for indigenous defence production.

The President approved a pay rise of between 30 and 80 per cent for approximately 250,000 personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, with the new salary structure taking effect from September 1, 2026.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the salary adjustment is structured to favour junior personnel, with the highest percentage increases going to the lower ranks.

Under the new arrangement, officers above the rank of colonel—including brigadier-generals, major-generals, lieutenant-generals and generals—will receive a 30 per cent increase, while personnel from colonel to warrant officer will earn a 50 per cent raise. Soldiers from private to staff sergeant will benefit from an 80 per cent increase.

The new pay package will increase the military’s annual wage bill from N660 billion to N924 billion, representing an additional N264 billion in government spending.

President Tinubu said the salary review reflects his administration’s appreciation of the sacrifices made by troops in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, stressing that personnel welfare and military modernisation remain central to his security agenda.

“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated,” the President said, pledging continued investment in modern weapons, technology and other operational capabilities to enable the armed forces to effectively protect lives and property across the country.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called for deeper collaboration between the Nigerian Army and indigenous defence manufacturers to strengthen national security and reduce dependence on foreign military equipment.

Receiving the management of Proforce Group during a courtesy visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja, Shaibu described the indigenous defence company as a source of national pride and urged greater local production to support the Army’s ongoing expansion from eight to 12 divisions.

He identified areas requiring stronger collaboration, including Counter-Improvised Explosive Device systems, ground-penetrating radar, foliage-penetrating surveillance technology, signal intelligence, facial recognition, unmanned systems and dark web exploitation to enhance intelligence-driven operations against criminal and terrorist groups.

The Proforce Group Managing Director, Ade Ogundeyin, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing indigenous defence technology, noting that local manufacturing improves operational security, shortens logistics timelines and provides faster technical support for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

The latest initiatives underscore the Federal Government’s twin strategy of improving troop welfare while building a stronger domestic defence industry to enhance the country’s security architecture.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has commenced the implementation of a fully electronic registration process for capital market operators, enabling designated regulatory services to be completed entirely online as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s capital market and improve regulatory efficiency.

The Commission, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said the new electronic registration (e-Registration) platform, deployed through its ePortal, marks another milestone in its digital transformation agenda and its drive to build a technology-driven regulatory environment.

According to the SEC, the platform allows Capital Market Operators (CMOs) to complete designated registration processes online, covering application submission, regulatory review, approvals and communication of decisions, thereby eliminating manual processing for the services included in the current phase.

The Commission said the initiative is expected to simplify regulatory interactions, reduce administrative bottlenecks, shorten processing timelines and provide applicants with greater visibility into the status of their applications.

It added that the migration to a fully digital registration system would improve operational efficiency while strengthening regulatory oversight through standardised workflows, electronic documentation, secure digital record management and enhanced audit trails.

“The new platform represents a major step towards creating a seamless digital regulatory ecosystem that enhances operational efficiency while strengthening regulatory effectiveness,” the Commission said.

The SEC explained that the e-Registration platform aligns with its strategic objective of leveraging technology to improve market efficiency, enhance the ease of doing business and deliver better services to stakeholders.

According to the regulator, beyond improving efficiency, the platform will enhance the integrity of regulatory processes by reducing delays associated with paper-based documentation and improving the quality of regulatory data for decision-making.

It noted that the digital platform would also provide a stronger foundation for regulatory analytics and future innovations aimed at improving oversight of Nigeria’s capital market.

The Commission said the implementation is being carried out in phases to ensure a smooth transition for market participants while maintaining the stability and integrity of regulatory processes.

It clarified that the current phase is limited to post-registration services for existing Capital Market Operators, adding that applications for the registration of new entrants into the Nigerian capital market are not yet covered.

According to the SEC, the commencement of electronic processing for new registration applications will be announced at a later date.

The Commission urged all Capital Market Operators to familiarise themselves with the new platform and comply with implementation timelines to ensure a seamless transition to the electronic registration process.

It said the initiative forms part of its broader modernisation agenda designed to improve regulatory efficiency, strengthen market infrastructure, enhance transparency and support the continued growth, resilience and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s capital market.

The SEC reaffirmed its commitment to implementing reforms that promote innovation, improve regulatory service delivery and reinforce investor confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.