By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously called for urgent and coordinated actions to protect Nigerian girls from child marriage and other harmful practices.

The call followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Rep.

Ogbara, while moving the motion, decried the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices against the girl child.

She called on government at all levels to strengthen national programmes aimed at preventing child marriage and protecting girls at risk.

The Speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, in adopting the motion, also urged governments at all levels to ensure that every girl child has access to education, and quality healthcare.

The theme for the 2026 commemoration siught to reaffirm commitment to ending child marriage and upholding the fundamental rights of every girl child.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated its commitment to an inclusive electoral process.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, stated this on Wednesday in Ibadan at a training programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) ahead of the 2027 general election.

Tella noted that persons with one form of disability or another constitute an important segment of the society.

He said such individuals are citizens with equal rights, responsibilities, aspirations and contributions to make towards the development of the country.

He said: “The commission recognises that electoral inclusion goes beyond permitting PWDs to register and vote.

“It also involves ensuring that they have access to reliable electoral information, understand electoral procedures, can access polling units and are able to participate in other aspects of the electoral process.”

Tella said the commission would provide relevant assistive devices such as magnifying glasses, Braille guides and posters for voters with hearing impairments at polling units to give Persons with Disabilities a more pleasant voting experience on election days.

He added that INEC guidelines and regulations provide that priority should be accorded to PWDs at polling units without them having to wait in long queues during voting.

He further said that eligible PWDs would be engaged and trained as ad-hoc staff during the elections.

The REC explained that the objective of the commission was to ensure that eligible PWDs in the state were not discouraged, excluded or prevented by avoidable barriers from exercising their franchise during the elections.

He further asserted that “democracy is stronger when every eligible citizen has a fair opportunity to participate in shaping its future.”

He urged PWDs across the state to cooperate with the commission to remove avoidable barriers, promote electoral awareness and encourage peaceful participation.

The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Oluwaranti Abiodun, commended INEC for giving special consideration to PWDs ahead of the forthcoming general election.

Abiodun urged the electoral body to give priority to the plights of Persons with Disabilities when planning its activities towards the conduct of the elections.

He demanded that more consideration should be given to eligible PWDs who are interested in working as ad-hoc staff.

He also called on members of the association to support INEC and be ready to perform their civic responsibilities during the 2027 elections. (NAN)

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that governance will not take a backseat to electioneering ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Wednesday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) at the State House, Abuja.

He said the responsibilities of his office would continue uninterrupted, stressing that the country required sustained attention to its pressing national priorities.

“The responsibility of this office does not pause,” the president declared.

Tinubu said he would continue engaging Nigerians on his administration’s achievements and development agenda but would leave the Council to coordinate campaign activities across states and local government areas.

“I will still make time to speak directly with Nigerians, even as you lead the campaign in the states and local government areas.

“So you will excuse me from going everywhere with you. We have bills to pay,” he said.

The President said the government had financial obligations to meet and needed to attract investors to support the country’s economic growth and future development.

“The job must go on. We have bills to pay. The American creditors cannot wait. We want those investors to come in, be here to stay, to invest for the future of our children,” Tinubu said.

He declared the APC ready for the 2027 elections, describing the inauguration as a renewal of the party’s commitment to Nigerians and its responsibilities as the governing party.

“The APC is ready. We have not gathered merely to inaugurate a council.

“We have gathered to renew a covenant, a covenant with Nigerian people and the historic responsibility they have entrusted to us as Nigeria’s governing party.

“We promise we will not let them down,” he said.

Tinubu urged members of the Council to take the party’s vision, record of achievements and development agenda to Nigerians across the country, including communities and wards.

“Let the word go out from this hall to every corner of our nation. The APC is ready.

He charged party members to remain steadfast in nation-building, citing his record as Lagos governor, when he spearheaded measures to tackle the looming threat of Atlantic Ocean flooding.

“There is no limit to daring. You must dare, you must be determined,” he said.

The President also cautioned APC governors, lawmakers and other party leaders against taking previous electoral efforts for granted, urging them to demonstrate commitment ahead of the 2027 elections.

The event was witnessed by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker Tajudeen Abass, governors, top politicians, and APC youth and women groups, among other dignitaries.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council, led by Director-General Sen. Abdulaziz Yari, is set to kick off its presidential campaign in Kaduna on October 24. (NAN)