24 Filipino workers detained in Yakutsk, Russia return home

Twenty-four Filipino workers who were detained for nine months in Yakutsk, Russia, have returned to the Philippines.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the repatriated workers arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday, June 21.

They were welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, along with officials from the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and other agencies.

The DMW said the group was the first batch of repatriated overseas Filipino workers from Russia to arrive in the country.

Marcos’ appeal

The DFA said it worked closely with Russian authorities to arrange the repatriation, while the DMW and OWWA provided support to the workers throughout the process.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally raised the case of the 24 detained Filipinos during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit in Kazan, according to the DFA.

Russian authorities afterward fast-tracked the workers’ release within two days of Marcos’ appeal.

“President Marcos expressed his appreciation to President Putin for his positive response and to the Russian authorities for their cooperation in resolving the matter,” the DFA said.

The DMW also said the workers had appealed for help through Marcos during his bilateral meeting with Putin, after which Putin immediately directed that the Filipinos be assisted and repatriated.

Assistance for workers

The DMW, meanwhile, said the circumstances of the workers’ detention remain under review.

While the details of their detention are still being verified, the DFA said initial information showed that the workers were held over alleged immigration violations.

Media reports earlier said the DMW, in coordination with the Department of Justice, would look into whether the repatriated Filipinos were victims of human trafficking, as they allegedly lacked proper documentation as workers in Russia.

DMW Undersecretary Felicitas Bay said the government has prepared assistance packages for the repatriated workers, including reintegration assistance, livelihood support, employment facilitation and training.

“The goal is to provide them assistance and guidance for their return,” Bay said in Filipino.

Saso stalls despite bogey-free 71; Ardina drops to tied 14th

Making her first cut in five tournaments, Yuka Saso turned in a subdued performance on Moving Day, carding a 71 and effectively dropping out of title contention in the Meijer LPGA Classic at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).

Although she remained bogey-free for the second straight round following a solid 68 on Friday that propelled her into weekend play after four consecutive missed cuts, Saso managed to climb only two spots to a share of 34th at 212, leaving her 10 strokes behind leader Jing Yan after 54 holes.

Yan maintained her grip on the tournament with another flawless 68, improving to 202 overall, clinging to a one-shot lead over Lottie Woad, who also fired a four-under round for a 203 total, while Cassie Porter stayed within striking distance at 204 after a 69, setting up a three-way battle for the title in the final round.

Saso had hoped to build on the momentum from Friday, arguably her best round in months, but struggled to create quality birdie opportunities. When chances did come, she was unable to capitalize until finally sinking a birdie putt on the closing hole after a run of pars.

Despite falling well behind the leaders, the ICTSI-backed two-time US Women’s Open champion remains focused on finishing strong. More importantly, she hopes to continue regaining confidence and form ahead of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which begins this week at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, on the Epson Tour, Dottie Ardina cooled off with a 71 following an opening-round 69, slipping from a tie for eighth to a share of 14th at 140, seven shots behind leader Jennifer Elliott.

Elliott pulled away by three over Catherine Park after firing a 66 highlighted by three birdies over her final five holes, reaching 133 through two rounds.

Unlike her strong opening-round performance, Ardina, whose campaign is also supported by the world’s leading port operator, struggled to find consistency with both her irons and putter, offsetting two birdies with two bogeys.

A birdie on the par-3 No. 16 briefly moved her back under par for the round and raised hopes of a late charge, but she was unable to generate further momentum. Still, she remained in position to contend for a top-five or top-10 finish heading into the final round.

Tomi Arejola bounced back with a 69, while Bianca Pagdanganan recovered with a 70 as both moved into a tie for 37th place.

Clariss Guce, however, failed to advance after posting a 72 for a 145 total, while Sam Bruce improved with a 73 but still missed the cut at 150.

Gov’t picks Robredo for special projects

Even as Congress scrambles to complete its tasks during its ongoing special session, Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has been going around the country to check on infrastructure projects derailed by political wrangling in the legislature.

With the onset of the typhoon season, the DPWH building agenda will include the rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by the Mindanao earthquake last June 8 as well as flood-control projects that were derailed by the bribery scandal involving legislators.

Dizon met with Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo on Saturday to inspect projects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. committed during a visit in February, particularly under the administration’s Oplan Kontra Baha program.

The President also picked Naga City as the recipient of 300 modular shelter units under the national government’s expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

Robredo thanked the national government for the Bayanihan Village units, which will provide immediate housing assistance to families affected by government clearing operations and disaster-related risks.

She described as ‘good news’ Dizon’s commitment to national government projects, including the completion of the Naga Airport in Pili, Camarines Sur; the Almeda-Mabolo Bypass Road/Bridge by the first quarter of 2027; the dredging of Naga River, Sagop Creek, and opening and clearing of major waterways and the asphalt overlay of General Luna Street and other major roads in Naga.

Also included were the refitting of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum and the completion of the P400-million Center for Safety and Resilience in Naga City, which is also expected to receive funding from Sen. Joel Villanueva and SM City Naga.

Under Oplan Kotra Baha, the DPWH and local government units continue to clean, dredge, and desilt rivers, canals and other waterways in Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Naga, Cebu, Bacolod, Ilocos and Maguindanao, to ensure that waterways are clear of debris before the onset of the rainy season.

Dizon earlier said the DPWH is also expected to tap experts from the Project Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards and the Quezon City local government to improve the design and implementation of the Matalahib Creek Pumping Station in Barangays Talayan and Sto. Domingo.

Report to Congress

The rehabilitation work in Mindanao and the Oplan Kontra Baha program are expected to be among the priorities that the President is expected to mention in his State of the Nation (Sona) address on July 27, particularly because Mr. Marcos featured corruption in infrastructure projects in his last Sona.

Dizon said he was one of the sources of the revelations in 2025 Sona that also led to a Senate investigation that in turn led to a majority shift and reorganization in the chamber.

The Senate investigation derailed infrastructure projects amounting to P41.5 billion, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In fact, infrastructure spending suffered a prolonged slump in overall disbursements despite the government’s P72.1-billion allotment.

Data from the DBM showed infrastructure and other capital outlays plunged 52 percent to P41.5 billion in April from P85.8 billion in the same month last year.

This marked the 10th straight month of decline following the eruption of the flood control corruption scandal last year.

‘The contraction was attributed to the weak spending performance of the DPWH,’ the DBM explained.

Robredo said she also met with National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda on Saturday to discuss the proposed underground cabling project in the city.

She added that the collaboration of the DPWH and NEA is important in making the model for urban mobility ‘towards a safer and more resilient Naga.’

DICT links Mindanao to fiber backbone

Improved connectivity is now available to hundreds of key government offices in Mindanao as part of the Mindanao Integrated Government Network (MIGN) under the Marcos administration’s National Fiber Backbone Project (NFBP).

In a statement on Friday, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced the official launch of Phase 1 of the MIGN, with 500 government agencies and facilities connected across several cities and municipalities. These include Cagayan de Oro, Butuan, Davao City, Koronadal and Pagadian.

‘The launch marks a major milestone in fulfilling President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of seamlessly connecting Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao through a unified digital infrastructure that enables faster government services, stronger disaster resilience, and greater economic opportunities for Filipinos nationwide,’ the DICT said.

6 agencies linked

To date, the agencies connected to the MIGN are the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Office of Civil Defense, among others.

‘The impact of this connectivity extends far beyond government offices. By strengthening digital links across Mindanao, the project is expected to benefit approximately 5.3 million Filipinos through faster, more reliable, and more responsive public services,’ the statement read.

In particular, the MIGN is expected to also benefit the public through faster access to education, employment, and government services, while allowing government agencies and local governments to coordinate and respond more efficiently through real-time data sharing.

‘During earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and other emergencies, government agencies can coordinate more effectively, share critical information in real time, and respond faster to communities in need,’ it said.

The MIGN forms part of the NFBP, a big-ticket telecommunications project that aims to create a secure high-speed digital highway that links all government offices in the country into a single, integrated ecosystem.

‘By connecting government institutions across islands and regions, the DICT continues to build the digital foundations of a Bagong Pilipinas, one where no community is left behind, distance is no longer a barrier, and every Filipino can benefit from a more connected future,’ it said.

In May, the DICT announced it was on track to connect the NFBP’s phases 1 to 3 to Mindanao by July, with the project’s phases 4 and 5 at around 60 percent complete.

Let’s pray for the president!

JUST like the country he presides over, President Bola Tinubu looks run-down. The saying ‘like father, like son’ is mainly pejorative but it will be factual saying ‘like Nigeria, like its leader’. But the majority of Nigerians aren’t asking after his health or showing concern for his well-being. They just want him to ‘deliver’.

But if the people are now expectant beyond empathy, blame the one who raised their hope to the mesosphere. He even said he wanted no pity because he asked for the job. Such hubris.

A friend of the president, very committed to his re-election, jokingly said ‘eniyan wa ti fi enu ja eran sobe ju’ (our man, the president, overboasted). If you ask for no pity, then meet your self-imposed delivery deadlines. You won’t be qualified for understanding or patience for delayed results. Both require empathy and the one carrying the presidential weight said ‘don’t pity me’. So why are his surrogates demanding from the Nigerian people what their principal said he didn’t need? He was very confident he would hit legend stuff as Nigeria’s leader. Before the boast, he possibly studied the pitfalls of those before him and saw what they could have done differently for results. However, there is this joke about spectators always seeing checkmate moves in games, but their sight and insight shrivel the moment they climb the hot seat as players. The Yoruba will say gbogbo oya lo npe ara e lodu (everyone tags self the best), to warn against premature self-salute and the race further encourages consistent humility with the saying about the one who hasn’t seen real battles priding self a real man.

President Tinubu who glittered as a critic and opposition leader is grappling with an ashen face poor governance has left him in three years and even his close associates can feel the hostilities in the street and homes, towards him. If the current raging emotions in the land; North and South, persist till ballot day next year, no primate or mamalawo is needed to predict the president’s fate. But his own still hold he’s an electoral magician who regularly pulls the chestnut out of fire at the last minute. I wish the president’s camp well.

Regardless of his performance so far, Nigerians can’t be insensitive to his well-being. They vested him with the assignment and must be concerned about his total health if he must deliver; if just to ensure there is no window for excuses.

His predecessor’s excuse was that he took the presidency late in life. He was 73. Then the country went and elected a successor again at 71, which disputants are pointing to as football age. Three years into his presidency, his health has remained suspect, and he had undertaken as many missions abroad as his predecessor, with fewer full disclosures by the incumbent, being the difference. Truthfully, the former was of sterner quality than the current, though neither made their medical records public like presidents in first world countries who can’t hide theirs, even if they try.

Poor or total absence of accountability from leaders to their people especially in Africa, is age-long. Even the ones the Yoruba will call f’oni ku, f’ola dide (constantly ailing) won’t go beyond ‘paying a state visit’ in explaining being wheeled off airport tarmacs and practically airlifted to America, Europe or Saudi. Some are even moved in wheelchairs! Yet they owe their people nothing in their thinking and those demanding, are branded enemies of the state that must be crushed.

Today, the oldest president in Africa is 93-year-old Cameroon’s Paul Biya. He was re-elected for the eighth term in October 2025 at 92. Incidentally, he is also the oldest country leader in the world.

The oldest president Nigeria has elected was Buhari. But one of the leading contenders for next year’s presidential election is poised to break that record. If former VP Atiku Abubakar is elected next year, he would be close to 80, taking office on May 29. He would be around 88 relinquishing the reins of power if he serves two terms. Even Atiku will be breaking the Biya record in a way; the Cameroon nonagenarian was a fresh-looking under-50 in 1982 when he transitioned from being prime minister under President Ahmadou Ahidjo to succeeding him. In Cameroon’s 66 years of existence as an independent nation, just two presidents have ruled it and one has been in charge for 44 years! Its shouting-distance neighbour, Equatorial Guinea, bears a similar burden of geriatric sit-tightism, in the hands of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been ruling since 1979 as the second president of the parlous nation. In fact, in sit-tightism longevity, Mbasogo takes the world record, though second to Biya in the oldest rulers’ metric. Mbasogo is the world’s longest-serving leader, clocking 47 years in power this year. He is 83. Atiku will however also be beating him in taking office as a gerontocrat, if he dumps the president next year because the Equatorial Guinea leader took office at just 36!

President Tinubu, a clear front-runner to secure re-election, will be 75 next year and about 79, rounding off his second and final term in 2031. Peter Obi, the last of the trio with a real chance of becoming president in 2027, is 64 and would be just 65 taking office next year if election fortune smiles on him in the February poll. Doing eight years of two terms, will make him about 73 and if he sticks to his one-term promise to Northern Nigeria where power should swing after South’s eight years of which Tinubu is about completing four, he would be under 70, bowing out. He has a real chance of maturing into a statesman after presidential service, just like his ‘kinsman’ Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. History awaits all of them.

Really, advancing in age before presidential sojourn, may not be the whole problem but it’s definitely a substantial part of the whole. Buhari testified to it. He wished he was younger than 73 in 2015 when presidential fortune found him. He mourned the age disadvantage, because he knew the advantage of youthful agility, vigour and vitality. He was once young as a chiselled, ramrod army officer. He even had a chance at national leadership at just 41 years and 14 days, to make a difference as a military dictator. He fumbled it. Even the challenged eyes could see his ineptness and intellectual brevity practically surrendered real leadership to his now-late deputy; Tunde Idiagbon. The clearest proof of Buhari being a titular head of state was the junta being toppled during the second of only two times Idiagbon was abroad in the 20 months the regime lasted. While the second visit to Saudi Arabia on Hajj pilgrimage was the last, the first trip was a year earlier in 1984, when he led a high-level government delegation to the then USSR, meeting with then Soviet leader, Konstantin Chernenko.

Aging or not, Buhari was, at all times, a leadership fiasco and prepping Nigerians for his imminent failures with ageism after taking office, is what the Yoruba will qualify as a filthy wife using her husband’s death as an excuse not to run a bath. It is the unhygienic bathing while the husband was alive.

But age or more like aging (because much older famous people are still displaying a lot of agility including the Mbasogo man in Equatorial Guinea who is about 10 years older than the Nigerian leader), is likely a primary marker for President Tinubu’s debatable poor performance so far and this is not me doing the dog giving its puppy breast to suck while pouncing on cutlings of corpulent grasscutter for lunch (aja mo omo tire fun lomu, o mo todu oya ki mole) thing. With Buhari, a self-identified non-performer now enjoying a relishing nostalgia with some Nigerians when juxtaposed with the incumbent and considering he was the older of the duo at their presidential entry points, the age argument won’t favour my kinsman.

But aging, should.

Science describes aging as ‘the progressive, natural deterioration of biological functions over time. It leads to structural and physical changes, an increased risk of chronic diseases and cellular senescence-when cells stop dividing’.

When Tinubu was Jonathan’s nightmare as the leader of the opposition, vibrancy wasn’t lacking in him, always jabbing the administration animatedly. But during the Buhari years, something biologically inclement would appear to have befallen the former Lagos governor so much so that his campaign for president produced hilarious but painful-to-watch-for-alajobi memes and crude internet jokes. As he accepted his party’s nomination, his barely controllable hand jerks were too noticeable to miss. Now, the president is rarely seen publicly doing the job and also MIA at optically significant political events. For someone who needs to market his deeds to the electorate though the campaign hasn’t officially kicked off?

What’s really up?

Except someone with compromised faculties, no one comes into a job as prestigious and powerful as the Nigerian presidency, to fail, especially someone as addictive to power, control and legacy as the president. So we should believe he’s doing his humanly possible to fix the country and renew our hope in Nigeria’s tomorrow. But there is a limit to what anyone ailing bodily can do, no matter how bright the mind remains. Buhari returned from his London doctors and told the country he was advised to sleep more. That was a commander-in-chief no longer available for emergencies! And it would be foolish for him to disregard the doctors’ advice! At least he would need to be alive to be C-in-C! For his successor, we don’t even know what his doctors told him!

Infirmity grounds one’s grits. And I can relate.

Writing this column days back was a rigour because I was unwell for a while. Had to comb my entire being for strength to plough through it, propped. I was also in and out of sleep, wiping clean my appointment slate. My own allowed the allowance for restoration, to function optimally again. And thankfully I wasn’t Nigeria’s C-in-C.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown and by now the president must have realised he needs more than pity; he needs our prayers. I know Nigerians have been praying for a better country but God wants His children to also pray for their leaders (there are multiple biblical references I won’t be listing). Maybe that would bring the desired turnaround instead of lashing the president for everything that goes wrong. Job’s friends weren’t that helpful, but his story changed to glory when he prayed for them (Job 42:10). The intercession was in his pains.

The president is also being encouraged to have more love for his people. At whatever point he thinks his body is no longer obeying him, he should quit as a hero and history won’t forget his sacrifice. Nobody needs to die in the Villa again.

Does it sound like I’m preaching today? Well, it is the Lord’s Day and may His will be done over the president. Amen.

INEC declares APC’s Faduyile winner of Ondo South senatorial by-election

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election conducted on Saturday.

INEC Returning Officer, Prof Gbenga Solomon-Ibileye, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, announced the results on Sunday at the collation centre in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Solomon-Ibileye announced Faduyile as the winner of the election having polled the highest votes of 68, 474.

He said Adeolu Akinwunmi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) came second with 1,411 votes while Adesanya Olaoluwa of Action People’s Party (APP) and Clement Funso-Nejo of Boot Party (BP) scored 213 and 70 votes respectively.

The Returning Officer said that the total votes cast were 70,770 while 602 votes were rejected.

Speaking, Mr Mutiu Agboke, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, said that the by-election was a testing ground for the 2027 general election.

Agboke said that the little hiccups noticed would help the commission to prepare for the forthcoming elections.

‘The results of the election reflected the people’s voice and thank God that all INEC staff who went to the riverine came back safely and no negative report anywhere,’ he said.

The election was held in six local government areas of Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

The Ondo South senatorial by-election was conducted following the appointment of Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim as the Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

By-elections: PDP ahead in Rivers Southeast, APC leads in Nasarawa

A former member of the House of Representatives Olaka Nwogu is projected to emerge as winner of yesterday’s by-election in Rivers State Southeast Senatorial District as early results from the seven local government areas in the senatorial district appeared to be in his favour.

Nwoku is a member of the Nyesom Wike backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Rainbow Coalition in the state.

Early results of a similar election in Nasarawa North yesterday seemed to be going the way of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Danladi Haliru Envulunza.

Bye elections also took place in Ondo South Senatorial district,Enugu North Senatorial district, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State and Zuru for Kebbi State House of Assembly.

Nwogu, who hails from Eleme Local Government Area, faced competition from the

All Progressives Congress (APC), Action Alliance (AA) and the Labour Party (LP) all of which belong to the Rainbow Coalition.

Turnout of voters was low in many polling units following an early downpour.

But it was relatively high at units where leaders of the coalition cast their votes.

One of such was ward 16, Bera, Gokana Local Government Area, where the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Magnus Abe, cast his vote.

Abe praised the process, describing it as free, fair, peaceful and credible.

While acknowledging the impact of the weather in the exercise, Abe hailed voters who defied the rain to participate in the process and encouraged others to be part of the election.

He said: ‘You can see the election is very peaceful. There is really no problem here. The weather is improving. The exercise is going on well across the senatorial district’.

The former senator said he voted for the candidate of the Rainbow Coalition adding that elections were not conducted on the social media.

He said: ‘I want to say clearly that I voted for the candidate of the Rainbow Coalition in the state. It is not happening on radio or Facebook or social media. It is conducted here.

‘I am very happy for the commitment and dedication they have shown by coming out even in the face of rain to come and participate in the exercise. The exercise is transparent, it is very free and fair.

‘There is nothing that we can do if the people themselves do not show fate in the process. My appeal is to all the men and women to come out en masse and participate in this exercise. It is free. It is fair’.

Rivers State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Dumle Maol voted at Polling Unit 19, Ward 4B. Dere Community in Gokana Local Government Area.

Maol expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the exercise, describing the process as peaceful, free, and fair.

The candidate of AA, Dr Douglas Fabeke, who voted at Unit 15, Luwa, Ward 16, Khana LGA said he was encouraged by the peaceful conduct of voters and the smooth electoral process.

Envulunza in early lead in Nasarawa North

Results announced at many of the polling units showed Envulunza to be having the majority of the votes at press time.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule described the by-election as the smoothest and fastest he has ever experienced as a voter.

Governor Sule spoke to reporters after casting his vote at Polling Unit 002, Gudi Motor Park, alongside his wives, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule and Hajiya Farida Abdullahi Sule.

He said the entire process, from the moment he was captured by the card reader to the point he thumb-printed and cast his ballot, took barely three to five minutes.

He said this was historic, noting that it was the fastest he had ever witnessed in any election, noting that election materials arrived in Gudi as early as 8 o’clock, which allowed voting to start between 8:15 and 8:30.

The governor said he received this information even before he left for the polling unit, an indication, according to him, that this was one of the earliest and best planned elections held in the state.

‘As a citizen of Nasarawa State and a registered voter, I have just exercised my right by voting for my choice,’ the governor said.

Asked whether the by-election served as a litmus test for the APC and for him as the party’s preferred candidate ahead of 2027, Governor Sule said he saw it differently.

According to him, the election presented an opportunity for the people of Nasarawa State to show appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, noting that it is the first general election since the President assumed office that allows citizens to assess the impact of his economic reforms and the dividends of democracy delivered through the resources made available to the state.

‘This is the first time the people have the opportunity to come out and prove that they want to say thank you to Mr. President, thank you to APC, and thank you to the governor,’ he said.

Labour Party candidate in the by -election, Labaran Maku alleged attempt to manipulate the process in favour of the APC candidate.

Maku,a former Information Minister said that despite the alleged rigging attempt, he was confident of emerging victorious if the process was free, fair and credible.

‘Elections are not a theater of war but should be an avenue where electorate will vote candidates of their choice,’ he told journalists.

Envulunza was confident of winning

‘I am going to emerge victorious. Inshallah,’ he said. He added: ‘I will say with every sense of humility, that all my life, I’ve been rendering services to humanity. And that speaks volume. That is why I am the most favored candidate to win this election because we’ve gone round all the 35 wards.’

Low turnout of voters in Ondo South

The Ondo South Senatorial by-election was marred by low turnout of voters.

The election took place across the six local government areas of Okitipupa, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Irele, Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo.

It was generally peaceful, with security personnel employed at most of the polling centres.

Speaking after casting his vote at his ward 6 polling unit 5 in Ode Ikoya at LA Primary School in Okitipupa LGA, the candidate of the APC, Prof Dayo Faduyile commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise across the senatorial district.

Faduyile, who explained that there were no reports of violence throughout the by-election exercise, expressed strong confidence in securing a decisive victory.

‘The assessment is a great one. We have had so much information coming from a lot of the polling units and it has been very favourable,’ he said.

The candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adeolu Akinwumi said that the low voter turnout affected the exercise.

Adewumi also described the election as largely calm and transparent but noted that the participation of electorates in the exercise fell below expectations.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Mutiu Agboke, who spoke while monitoring the exercise, said most polling units opened on time, with electoral officials arriving early to begin the voting process.

He noted that some polling units were fully operational as early as 7:43 a.m., reflecting the commission’s preparedness.

‘We observed early enthusiasm among voters, and our officials were on ground promptly. Largely, most polling units opened as scheduled,’ he said.

He added that security personnel were adequately deployed across the six local government areas involved in the by-election, with no reported cases of violence or casualties.

Agboke acknowledged the network issues that affected the voter accreditation in some areas, describing the situation as a technical challenge currently being addressed by INEC’s support team.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said that the political atmosphere in the district remained active following the primary election conducted about three weeks ago by the APC.

According to him, the party’s candidate, Prof. Faduyile remained unbeatable in the Saturday’s by-election exercise.

He explained that the APC candidate had already undertaken some extensive mobilisation efforts ahead of the poll.

Conflicting claims trail Enugu North senatorial by-election

Conflicting accounts emerged over the conduct of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Barr. Nestor Ezeme, alleged widespread violence and electoral manipulation while the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) in the state described the exercise as largely peaceful.

It accused the PDP of deploying forged party agent tags.

Speaking with journalists after monitoring the election, Ezeme expressed confidence that he was heading for victory, claiming reports from across the district showed massive support for his candidacy.

‘So far, from the reports I am getting all over the senatorial district, the people are voting for me massively. It is so massive that it looks like it will be a landslide,’ he said.

The PDP candidate, however, alleged that the electoral process was being undermined by intimidation and interference from government officials.

‘Virtually in all the local governments, you see local government chairmen, commissioners and other government officials moving from one polling unit to another trying to manipulate the system,’ he alleged.

However, the State Chairman of the CRPP Dr. Afam Ani, gave a different assessment, saying the election had been peaceful in most areas visited by election observers.

‘We are here to monitor the by-election going on in Enugu North today and, so far so good, from what we have seen, the election has been going on well apart from one or two incidents here and there. So there is no problem so far,’ Ani said.

While acknowledging isolated incidents, Ani accused the PDP of engaging in electoral malpractice through the alleged use of forged party agent identification tags.

‘In some of the places we’ve gone, we saw party tags being worn by people we don’t know. When you ask them, they will say PDP gave it to them. They forged them and it is fraudulent. If you want to win an election, you campaign and talk to people to vote for you, not by using fraudulent means,’ he alleged.

The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC Ben Nwoye, called the by-election peaceful despite early logistical and technical challenges experienced in some polling units.

Nwoye said voter turnout was encouraging.

Reacting to the delayed commencement of voting in some polling units, the APC chieftain said the situation was not unusual and should not affect the credibility of the exercise.

APC candidates declared winners of Kano,Kebbi by -elections

INEC last night declared Shuaibu Rabiu of APC as winner of the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa House of Representatives by election in Kano State with 35356 votes ,and Rabiu Garba Aiki as that of Zuru of the Kebbi State House of Assembly.

Aiki polled 4871 votes as against 168 for his Labour Party opponent.

INEC, security adjudge Kano election peaceful, hitch-free

The Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Amb. Abdu Zango, adjudged the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa House of Representatives by-election as peaceful and hitch-free.

He spoke to reporters at Warawa, headquarters of Warawa Local Government Area, shortly after monitoring the ongoing election exercise.

The resident electoral commissioner described the exercise as smooth and peaceful devoid of violence and rancour.

He also said it recorded no case of malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the election process went smoothly.

He said three political parties, namely the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), participated in the election.

‘So far, so good. You have seen things for yourself. The Warawa and Dawakin Kudu bye-election has gone on very well. No violence, no rancour.

‘We witnessed a massive turnout, especially in Warawa. It’s a reflection of the planning and coordination, particularly in terms of security.

‘And I want to thank the lead agency, the police, and other security agencies for meticulous planning. We have not recorded any incidents of violence whatsoever,’ he said.

INEC officials idle, low turnout recorded in Zuru Town

There was also a low turnout of voters for the Zuru Kebbi State House of Assembly by election.

Electoral officers had little to do in view of the situation.

UNN don to academics: Master power dynamics

A Professor of Public Health and Health Systems Economics at the University of Nigeria, Prof. Chima Onoka, has urged academics seeking to influence public policy to combine technical expertise with humility, strategic communication and political awareness, warning that knowledge alone is insufficient in government and policy circles.

Delivering his 241st inaugural lecture at the university recently, Onoka said many academics fail in public service because they do not understand the systems they seek to reform.

‘You cannot reform a system that you do not understand,’ he said, stressing the need for academics appointed into government positions to first study civil service rules, procurement guidelines and financial regulations.

Drawing from his experiences in policy and governance spaces, the professor outlined what he described as ‘pro-academic proverbs of power’ practical lessons for navigating the intersection of academia and government.

He cautioned academics against competing with political leaders or senior officials for attention, engaging in sycophancy, compromising their independence, or publicly contradicting those they advise.

According to him, successful engagement in policy circles requires professional discipline, ethical conduct and respect for institutional boundaries.

Onoka also emphasized the importance of strategic communication, arguing that academics must learn to present complex ideas in ways policymakers can easily understand.

‘Information without advocacy is inert, but advocacy without evidence is dangerous,’ he said.

The professor further called for reforms to Nigeria’s research funding architecture, arguing that the country lacks institutions dedicated to commissioning and funding independent research.

He cited the roles of the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), saying they currently compete with universities for research grants instead of primarily funding and coordinating research.

‘There is no organisation in Nigeria that is there to commission research,’ he said, adding that the absence of such a system weakened the country’s research response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘It is because of its absence that the COVID research money ended up in the Central Bank of Nigeria. Why should the Central Bank of Nigeria be commissioning research during COVID?’ he asked.

Onoka said strengthening independent research institutions would improve evidence-based policymaking and support Nigeria’s quest for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

‘Achieving UHC in Nigeria is not a destination we reach by chance; it is a structure we build by choice,’ he said.

Reflecting on his personal journey, the professor disclosed that he recently turned 50 and survived a serious road accident last year, an experience he said reinforced his commitment to public service and national development.

He urged academics and policymakers to work together to bridge the gap between research and governance, insisting that lasting reforms would only come through collaboration between the ‘ivory tower’ and the ‘corridors of power.’

Israel and Eli: Oppressive sons, silent victims — until heaven finally said enough

A little story that many people merely skim over. For 40 years, between 1115 and 1075 BC, Israel was led by Eli the high priest. Pre-monarchy days. Eli was a fusion of executive, priestly, legislative, and judicial power, all exercised at the Sanctuary at Shiloh. Towards the end of the 40 years, as his sun began to set, Eli, old and tired, began to relinquish control of the nation to his sons Hophni and Phinehas. His biggest mistake – which caused catastrophe for the nation, and eventually brought down God’s judgment in devastating fashion.

Being a great leader doesn’t always mean your children have the ability to fit in your shoes – or are even worthy to try them on for size. The two boys were a ‘gruesome two-some’: a joint enterprise of criminality, corruption, and oppression. Hophni and Phinehas wrought oppression in Israel with incredible arrogance and ‘what-can-you-do?’ impunity. They robbed worshippers, intimidated people, and treated God’s house and the State as private property. They even sexually exploited women who served at the tabernacle. The victims were ordinary people.

See, as a theocracy, everything in Israel rotated around the Sanctuary. People came to worship or seek justice – and encountered predators. The very institution that should have protected them became the source of their suffering. Naturally, the Israelites were like, ‘Where is God?’ ‘Does He not see?’ ‘Does He not care?’ ‘What did we do to Him that He should forsake us so?’ ‘Who can stop them?’ ‘Who will investigate them?’ ‘Who will judge the judge’s sons?’ Theory cats posit that justice delayed is justice denied; but this is not always the case with the Lord, because His ways and timing are often at odds with those of humans. Because of that, those with power often mistake God’s seeming silence and delay for approval.

Eli, old and comfortable, ignored the cries of the people and the warnings of the Lord. He let his sons continue their impunity. When power becomes concentrated, and impunity becomes a governing philosophy, and those entrusted with oversight become protectors of wrongdoing rather than guardians against it, ordinary people begin to feel helpless. Israel was desperate. Human accountability had failed because the accountability mechanisms themselves had been captured. The father, who should discipline them, would not. The institution that should restrain them was controlled by them. The victims had nowhere to appeal. But the Bible is clear here: when you oppress the helpless, you insult the God who made them. So, heaven intervened, with both immediate and long-term consequences.

A simple, routine battle against familiar and inferior foes – the Philistines – unexpectedly went south! Hophni and Phinehas, the untouchables of Israel, were killed. Eli, shocked at the unexpected news, collapsed, falling backwards and breaking his neck. God was not merely judging a negligent father; He was judging a national leader who allowed impunity to flourish on his watch. Eli was not the perpetrator, but he was the enabler. On hearing Phinehas was dead, his wife went into labour prematurely and, after delivering the baby, died in bitterness and anguish. That is why unchecked evil is so dangerous: by the time judgment arrives, it sweeps through far more lives than those who started the wrongdoing.

In a single day, the family that had dominated Israel’s religious and judicial life for 40 years was wiped out, its grip on power effectively extinguished. And the Lord imposed a curse: every descendant of Eli would die in their prime – none would get grey hair, and they would no more lead Israel. God’s judgment on Eli’s house was not merely death; it was the destruction of continuity, inheritance, and future influence. The succession plan was terminated. The dynasty ended right there. The old order collapsed; a new one emerged – Samuel took over.

The story of Eli is many things. Impunity. The accountability and vicarious liability of a parent. Authority sorely abused. The failure of State institutions. More critically, Eli’s story speaks sharply to the certainty of divine judgment: the Lord may seem afar off and silent. But, at the appointed time, He strikes with a firmness and finality that reminds humans that this world has an Owner and He is always watching.

’MUSICAL THEATER UPPED MY GAME’ | Jett Pangan on The Dawn’s 40th anniversary and his own career odyssey

Jett Pangan has had the privilege of fronting The Dawn, one of the country’s most enduring rock bands, and also becoming a competent theater actor.

In this exclusive QandA, he narrates the circumstances behind the Dawn’s breakup in 1995, his theater debut, singing Burt Bacharach and Steely Dan, and what to expect at The Dawn’s 40th anniversary concert on June 27 at The Theater at Solaire.

The Dawn came into the scene at a time when OPM was at a low point. But the group prefigured the explosion of Pinoy alternative music in the 1990s. What were your thoughts when the likes of the Eraserheads, Yano, Parokya Ni Edgar, Teeth, Color It Red, and the rest were suddenly drawing a mass audience?

I knew that those bands you mentioned would gain a much bigger audience because most of their lyrics spoke deeply to the everyman.

But just when the live music scene was peaking, the Dawn stopped performing in ’95, and you became a label manager at Viva Records before forming the Jett Pangan Group. What’s the story there?

The wave of new bands gaining popularity in the early ’90s got us into some sort of existential crisis. I was also already in my late 20s, which I believed was the best time to get married, resign from the band after eight active years, and start a new leaf.

The plan was to get a job away from music, but as my wedding day neared, I received an offer to manage Neo Records, [a sub-label of Viva Records. A year into the role, my then-boss suggested that I release my own album. After my solo album ‘Spell, I needed a band to tour with. The JPG was formed.

Four years later, the Dawn got back. Was there a new motivation, or did you just miss playing with each other?

When we disbanded in ’95, I thought it was a closed book. Then, sometime in ’97, we did a reunion concert at the Ultra. We had fun, but saw it as just a one-time thing because we were busy with individual stuff. It wasn’t around ’99 that everyone agreed to give it one more shot. More than missing the jams, I guess we felt there were still more songs to make.

When did you get into theater, and why?

Playing Pontius Pilate in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ (directed by Soxy Topacio for ’70s Bistro) sometime in 2000 made me realize that I really dug participating in theater. Around 2002, I received a call from Bobby Garcia of Atlantis Productions to play one of the leads in the musical ‘Tick, Tick… Boom.’ You could say I got hooked ever since.

You seemed to have enjoyed it as you did more plays and musicals. What are the similarities and differences between performing as an actor and as a musician?

The most important thing musical theater blessed me with was how much it improved my singing and confidence, which really helped me up my game as a performer for The Dawn and other projects. With theater or acting in general, it’s fun to disappear into a role. With being a musician, the room to write and express yourself is the best gift of all.

Your most recent music stint outside The Dawn was the Burt Bacharach tribute with Ryan Cayabyab conducting you, Bituin Escalante, Gigi De Lana, and Sofronio Vasquez. That’s a pretty complex type of pop concert, right?

Yes! Burt Bacharach had the incredible ability to make odd meters and weird chord changes sound like ear candy. Mr. C stayed true to the form while adding his own signature rhythm to the show.

Your own voice is pretty different from the typical guttural, snarling rock singer. Do you think it’s an advantage in the sense that you can cover a wider range of styles?

Thanks to the New Wave and New Romantic movements of the ’80s, my type of voice had a place in contemporary rock music. Voice lessons in the past, plus doing musical theater, further developed my range. I still can’t do stratospheric notes like our rock gods can, but I’m happy staying in my lane.

You pulled off a wonderful surprise singing ‘Deacon Blues’ with the Black Cows at 19 East. What other left-field material are you game enough to cover?

I also love to sing Sinatra and similar standards. But yeah, jamming Steely Dan with the Black Cows was awesome!

What have you discovered about yourself and the Dawn while on tour abroad?

I’ll always miss home by the second week, no matter how beautiful and First-World other places are. Also, I eat too much when I’m in another country.

What do you want the fans to expect at ‘Kwarenta’?

Director Paolo Valenciano is staging the concert in a visually trippy way that shows the band’s history as we dish out songs that defined our career over the decades. We got a musical director for the concert, the venerable Gino Cruz. He has the unenviable position of getting headaches and possibly indigestion from helping us stitch together the best setlist possible, given the sheer number of songs in our catalog.

There will be tributes to members who passed away, bassist Mon Legaspi, and THE Man who started it all, Teddy Diaz. We’re also very excited to have on board some former members who’ll jam with us: guitarist Kenneth Ilagan, bassists Buddy Zabala and Carlos Balcells, plus some of our session musicians in the past: keyboardists Dodo Fernandez and Leni Llapitan, and drummer Kurt Floresca. For wind instruments, we’re happy to have Ronald Tomas.

For the core fans, we hope to bring back memories of a time when it was all sweat, rain, moshing, and loud fun. For the younger generation, we’ll embrace them with the energy that powered our music through the years.