The Senate has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts aimed at the safe rescue and release of all abducted women and children from the Woro community in Kwara.

The call was sequel to renewed concerns over killings and general insecurity in Kaima Local Government Area of the state.

The upper chamber also called on the federal government to redesign and comprehensively clear the forest reserve of criminal elements and consider the strategic establishment of security formations, where necessary.

It equally urged the federal and state governments to provide comprehensive support, resources and well-structured programmes for displaced farmers and residents of the Wora community in neighboring areas.

This, according to the senate, is to restore their livelihoods, rebuild economic resilience and enable them to regain sustainable economic stability.

The senate’s resolutions followed a Point of Order raised by Sen. Sadiq Umar (APC-Kwara) on the “Killings of Over 100 innocent persons in Woro Communities of Kaima Local Government Area”, during plenary on Tuesday.

Moving the motion, Umar said the senate was concerned that communities in remote and forest-bordering areas would be more vulnerable and require enhanced protection and early warning mechanisms to prevent loss of lives and humanitarian crises.

He, however, acknowledged the prompt humanitarian interventions of President Bola Tinubu, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross.

He also appreciated the subsequent deployment of personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Nigerian Police Force to the affected communities.

In his contribution, Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, said that the matter of attack and killing of innocent persons in the Wora community was a sad one.

“The issue of insecurity, the issue of banditry, kidnapping, abductions and killings of innocent persons have become a recurring decimal.

“The president of this country has been talking very tough on insecurity and I want to believe that as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the president means well for Nigerians.

“It is alarming that in spite of the efforts and pronouncement from the federal government, killings have continued across the country and especially in Kwara in recent times.

“I still want to think that there is much more that we can do. I urge the ad hoc committee of the senate on security that is proposing a security summit to reawaken its activities and aggressively pursue the holding of that national summit.

“This, I think, is the only way that the senate as a legislative body can come up with a legislative intervention that will shape the policy of government in terms of reviewing our security architecture and our approach to insecurity problems across the country,” Moro said.

Similarly, Sen. Adamu Aliero (APC-Kebbi) said that the country had the capacity to deal with the bandits and kidnappers, while Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) urged the senate to work with the executive to recruit more soldiers and security forces.

NAN reports that after a voice vote by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary, all the prayers of the motion were adopted.

A civil society organization, the Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG), has questioned the Senate’s position on the electronic transmission of election results without a mandatory “real-time” provision.

The Chairman of CACOBAG, Toyin Raheem, raised the concern in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lagos.

He described the amended Electoral Act, which accommodates electronic transmission of results without making it mandatory and real-time, as ineffective.

The Senate on Tuesday rescinded its earlier decision on the Electoral Act amendment, in which it rejected the mandatory electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal after vote counting.

The upper chamber subsequently re-amended the Electoral Act to allow electronic transmission of results following public outcry over its earlier rejection.

However, the latest provision includes a caveat that in the event of internet failure, Form EC8A will serve as the primary means of result collation.

In spite of the revision, the amendment does not make electronic transmission mandatory. Instead, it permits electronic transmission while providing an alternative in cases of network failure.

Reacting, Raheem described the proposal as ineffective and incapable of guaranteeing credible elections in 2027.

He said the senate’s position defeated the purpose of adopting technology to strengthen electoral integrity.

“What is the essence of electronic transmission that is not real-time and not mandatory?” he queried.

Raheem also expressed doubts about the commitment of some lawmakers to genuine electoral reforms.

“The battle has just begun,” he said.

Raheem urged lawmakers not to frustrate the will of Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“They are refusing to give the electorate what is needed to safeguard the sanctity of the 2027 general elections,” he said.

He warned that citizens would resist any attempt to undermine credible polls.

“We are not going to accept their antics. Nigeria is not theirs alone; it belongs to all of us,” he said.

According to him, no public office holder is superior to other citizens.

“None of them is superior to other Nigerians. The positions they occupy are temporary, and any Nigerian could be there tomorrow,” he added.

Raheem called on the National Assembly to reconsider its stance in the interest of democracy.

“The National Assembly should be prepared. There is no retreat, no surrender. The wishes of the masses must prevail,” he said.

He maintained that only compulsory, real-time electronic transmission of results could guarantee transparency and restore public confidence in elections.

From Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

The Labour Party (LP), Ebonyi State chapter has, ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state, warned the state independent electoral commission (EBSIEC) against any attempt to compromise the process, insisting that the people will resist any form of rigging.

The state chairman of the Party, Henry Udeh made this known while briefing newsmen at the party’s state secretariat located along the Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway, Ishieke.

Udeh announced that the Labour Party had successfully completed all requirements for participation in the local government polls and would submit its list of candidates to the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) as scheduled.

The state chairman expressed confidence in the party’s preparedness, describing the Labour Party as the only visible opposition in Ebonyi State, while calling on politicians dissatisfied with the ruling party to join the Labour Party and support what he described as a “protest vote” against bad governance.

He also commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for what he described as improved security and respect for civil liberties in the state, noting that political actors could now freely address the press without intimidation.

“We can sit here today and address the press without harassment. Under this administration, we no longer hear of people being dragged from their homes or attacked. Ebonyi people are aware of this and will not forget it,” Udeh said.

On the forthcoming elections, he warned EBSIEC against any attempt to compromise the process, insisting that the people of Ebonyi State would resist any form of rigging.

“Any attempt by EBSIEC to rig this election will be fully resisted by Ebonyi people. We are following the process and our eyes are on the ball. We are ready,” he declared.

The party also called on security agencies to provide adequate protection for its candidates and supporters during campaigns and on Election Day, alleging that intimidation and disruption were common tactics used against opposition parties.

Addressing questions on the lingering leadership dispute within the Labour Party at the national level, Udeh maintained that the issue had been conclusively resolved by the Supreme Court and reaffirmed by a Federal High Court judgment, which recognised Senator Nenadi Usman as the party’s National Chairman.

He added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was already engaging with the recognised leadership, dismissing contrary claims as baseless.

The Labour Party leadership reiterated its commitment to peaceful participation in the electoral process and urged its members to remain law-abiding throughout the campaign and election period.

Responding, the state secretary, Innocent Igiri, however, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to individuals or groups occupying or laying claim to any property purported to be the party’s secretariat anywhere in the state without authorization, warning that legal action would follow after the deadline.

He declared that the Labour Party has only one recognized and legally approved secretariat in Ebonyi State, stressing that any other building being paraded as a party office was illegal and must be vacated immediately.

“We have only one headquarters and one secretariat in Ebonyi State, and that is this place. Any building, any facility, anywhere in this state bearing the name of the Labour Party secretariat must be cleaned up within 48 hours or we will take legal steps to reclaim such property,” he said.

The party leadership warned that the directive was final and aimed at restoring order and clarity ahead of the forthcoming 2026 local government elections in the state.