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Security has been beefed up at local government secretariats across Osun State, as factional council workers will resume today after eight-month strike over control crisis between All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nation recalls that members of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) embarked on strike since February 17, when the Appeal Court reinstated APC chairmen, which PDP kicked against, hence, council election was held, and members of the latter emerged.

Since February, councils have been shut, until recently when the Federal Government recognised the APC chairmen by releasing six months of withheld allocation to the local governments’ accounts opened by the reinstated executives.

The development made workers under the auspices of Association of Concerned Local Government Workers to fix October 6 to resume duty.

Osun State Police Command through its spokesman, Abiodun Ojelabi, speaking with The Nation yesterday, said: ‘We won’t have a repetition of February 17 incident in Osun State again on October 6.

‘Even before the issue of the release of funds, we have been on the alert, especially at our local governments. I have spoken with the Commissioner of Police, who has ordered our men to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.’

After 10 unbroken years as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s tour of duty comes to an end next month. But as his last days in the national assignment gradually draw close, his tenure for a record 10 years remains unprecedented in the nation’s democratic history.

A one-time lecturer and professor of Political History and International Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) as well as former executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Yakubu was first appointed head of the electoral umpire by late President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2015.

He assumed office on November 9, the same year, and after the first five years, his appointment was renewed in 2020 for another five-year term. His reappointment came a year after the highly disputed 2019 presidential election.

For the records, INEC was established in 1998 to oversee elections in Nigeria. The commission, as presently configured, was preceded by different electoral bodies at various times, such as the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) in 1958 and the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) in 1960, which organised elections in the formative years of Nigeria’s independence.

Under the military, different commissions managed elections, but were dissolved after change of governments.

In 1995, the late Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime created the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), but it was later replaced by INEC in 1998 under the then head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).

The outgoing INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who incidentally became the fifth INEC chairman since 1998 has not only become the longest serving head of the electoral umpire, he has the distinction of presiding over two general elections (2019 and 2023).

He also superintended over multiple off-cycle elections for governorship, state and National Assembly polls, among others.

In executing these assignments in the past 10 years, many have questioned the competence and neutrality of the electoral umpire and its leadership. This is especially so among politicians when things don’t go their own way.

In 2019, the outcome of the presidential election was highly contentious and the final winner, the late President Buhari’s mandate had to be validated by the apex court.

The 2023 polls, particularly the outcome of the presidential election drew even greater umbrage from a large segment of the populace. In the eyes of many, the infamous ‘technical glitch’ appeared to have diminished the innovations and achievements of the Mahmood Yakubu leadership of INEC.

However, under Yakubu, many have also applauded the technologies introduced by the electoral commission that greatly improved the credibility and outcome of several elections across the country.

One of the most significant technological tools is the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

In 2020, the electoral umpire also introduced INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), an online platform designed to promote transparency in the electoral process during the Edo State governorship election.

IReV allows for the easy dissemination of polling unit results, making the electoral process more transparent and accountable to citizens. The portal also provides accessibility for the general public to access and view official election results in real-time. The IReV provides an easy way for citizens to verify the results, increasing the credibility and preventing electoral malpractices in the electoral process.

Under Yakubu, there has been an increased participation of the civil society in real electoral process.

As part of efforts to promote electoral integrity, civil society organisations like Yiaga Africa have been involved in deploying statistics and information technology as part of its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) election observation interventions. The PVT deploys citizen observers to sampled polling units while providing accurate and timely information on the process through the feedback received via coded text messages and analysed via a technological database. Thus, the PVT can also verify the accuracy of election results that will be released by the electoral commission. This methodology has been used in multiple elections in Nigeria, including the 2019 presidential and other off-circle elections.

There are claims in some quarters that Nigerians have lost confidence in INEC. Such assertions may be unsupported by empirical facts.

In recent times, INEC has faced criticisms from various civil society and religious organisations, which raised concerns over what they perceived as growing public disillusionment with the electoral process.

Responding to these criticisms recently, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi argued that the evidence points in a different direction-highlighting robust public engagement in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

‘The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more of a myth than a reality, as those who proclaim it lack convincing evidence to support it,’ Oyekanmi said.

He hinged his argument on what he described as the high level of participation, particularly among young Nigerians, in the current voter registration drive as a strong indicator of public trust.

‘On the contrary, the high level of participation by Nigerians, especially the youths, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, which began on August 18 this year with online pre-registration, shows that citizens still have confidence in the process,’ he added.

Despite its pitfalls, Oyekanmi said the 2023 polls marked a major improvement in the country’s electoral system, particularly in terms of diversity.

‘The 2023 general election, more than any other election, demonstrates this fact. The election produced the most diverse National Assembly since the restoration of democracy in 1999,’ he said.

He buttressed this further with statistics, adding that in the Senate, seven political parties secured seats: All Progressives Congress-59, Peoples Democratic Party-36, Labour Party-eight, New Nigeria People’s Party -two, Social Democratic Party-two, All Progressives Grand Alliance-one, and Young Progressives Party-one. In the House of Representatives, eight parties won seats: APC-177, PDP-117, LP-35, NNPP-19, APGA-five, African Democratic Congress-two, SDP-two, and YPP-two.

That pattern, he noted, continued at the state level, with nine parties winning seats in state assemblies. These included APC-533, PDP-355, LP-38, NNPP-29, APGA-20, YPP-eight, SDP-seven, A-one, and ADC-one. In the gubernatorial elections, APC won 16 states, PDP-10, LP-1, and NNPP-1.

The recent bye-elections were proof that ‘Nigerians have kept faith with the electoral process,’ he stated.

What Oyekanmi did not lose sight of was what he described as a contradiction in the behaviour of some INEC critics.

‘Ironically, some of the most ardent critics of INEC are also in the forefront of calling for electoral reform to transfer Local Government elections to the same commission. Surely, they cannot continue to walk on both sides of the road,’ he said.

There has never been perfection in any human enterprise, including INEC.

There are certainly grey areas in the electoral ecosystem and elections management that need to be improved upon, but INEC under Yakubu has recorded remarkable successes in the last 10 years.

Many have suddenly forgotten that it was under him that an INEC returning officer, Prof. Peter Ogban was convicted by a High Court in Akwa Ibom State last year.

Over the years, the job of an INEC chairman has become (as we say in this part of the world) a thankless job. Yakubu is not an exception. He has laid the building blocks for greater credibility in the electoral umpire.

The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Chief Executive Officer of Fine and Country West Africa, Mrs. Okonjo Udokanma, to pay Providus Bank Plc the sum of $97,982.19.

It affirmed that she fully utilised an overdraft facility linked to her World Elite Card.

The suit, FHC/L/CS/901/2025, filed by Providus Bank, centred on whether the defendant accepted and utilised an overdraft facility under the account-opening terms and whether the bank was entitled to recover the outstanding balance with interest.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa held that Mrs. Okonjo voluntarily executed her Account Opening Form, agreeing to Clauses 12 and 23A-B, which authorise the bank to grant and recover overdrafts with interest.

Her repeated withdrawals in excess of her account balance, the court said, confirmed full acceptance and use of the facility.

The court upheld the bank’s claim of indebtedness but described the 26 per cent interest rate sought as excessive, reducing it to 10 per cent per annum until the debt is fully liquidated.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa observed that while banks are entitled to charge interest on overdrafts, ‘courts will intervene where rates become unnecessarily exorbitant.’

The judge agreed with the submissions of counsel to Providus Bank, Mitchel A. Aribisala, that the defendant’s consistent use of the World Elite Card and failure to dispute her account statements amounted to an acknowledgement of the overdraft facility and its attendant obligations.

A related application by Fine and Country International Realty (West Africa) Ltd, seeking to lift a post-no-debit (PND) restriction on its account linked to the defendant’s Bank Verification Number (BVN), was dismissed.

Relying on the UK Supreme Court’s decision in JSC BTA Bank v. Ablyazov [2015] UKSC 64, the court held that even where assets are not legally or beneficially owned by a debtor, they may still be frozen if the debtor exercises direct or indirect control over them.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa reasoned that Mrs. Okonjo, as CEO of Fine and Country, exercised control over the company’s funds; hence, the freezing order was valid and constitutional.

Christiana Kayode, popularly known as Berbiedoll, has reaffirmed the vision behind her athleisure brand, BerbieBeauty, as she celebrates a decade of success with the launch of its 10th official collection, Drop 10.

For the CEO and creative force behind the brand, BerbieBeauty goes far beyond clothing.

‘It’s not just fashion, it’s energy,’ she explained. ‘When a woman wears BerbieBeauty, she feels like that girl. Every piece is made to flatter, empower, and turn heads.

‘But beyond the clothes, women resonate with the journey. They’ve seen me build this from scratch – being transparent, vulnerable, and real. They see themselves in me, and that connection has made our community one of the strongest I’ve ever seen.’

Launched as both a celebration and a milestone, Drop 10 reflects BerbieBeauty’s evolution from humble beginnings to a global brand embraced by women across continents. ‘Drop 10 is everything to me,’ Berbiedoll said. ‘It reminds me how far I’ve come – from sketching designs and hand-packing orders to seeing thousands of women around the world wear BerbieBeauty. It feels like a reward for not giving up.’

Since its inception, BerbieBeauty has distinguished itself with bold, trend-setting athleisure pieces that not only inspire confidence but also foster community. Each collection has sparked viral moments, embraced by women seeking to feel powerful and effortlessly stylish. With Drop 10, Berbiedoll believes she has captured the very essence of the brand while setting new standards in athleisure and lifestyle fashion.

The growth of BerbieBeauty, she noted, has been entirely organic – driven by word of mouth, reposts, tags, and unwavering support from women who see the brand as a reflection of themselves. ‘That’s the most beautiful kind of growth,’ she added.

Looking ahead, Berbiedoll envisions BerbieBeauty as more than a fashion label. To her, it is a legacy. ‘I want BerbieBeauty to remind people that dreams are valid – especially the big, scary, ‘how dare she think she can do that?’ kind of dreams,’ she said. ‘I want women, especially African women, to know we can build luxury, global brands from the ground up. We don’t have to water ourselves down to fit in. We can slay and succeed.’

With Drop 10, BerbieBeauty not only celebrates ten years of persistence, vision, and cultural impact but also positions itself for the future – a future where fashion meets empowerment, and style becomes a statement of resilience, ambition, and self-belief.

Nigeria has set September 2027 deadline to begin full implementation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 9, which requires market-to-market valuation of all assets.

Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, at the weekend the outlined key modalities guiding Nigeria’s transition to the market-to-market (MTM) valuation of assets in the fixed income space of the capital market.

According to him, the transition framework was a result of engagements with market participants.

He noted that the October 2, 2025, deadline for the submission of implementation plans would enable the commission to assess each institution’s preparedness and capacity, while the September 2027 deadline remains the target for full transition to IFRS 9.

He said: ‘Timelines have been carefully considered, you know, especially with the concerns being raised by market participants. For us at the SEC, it is important that while we try to introduce new rules and regulations, we also listen to the market and say, okay, how do we meet, how do we meet at the junction where we can all agree to move forward?

‘Requesting for implementation plans is not a bureaucratic exercise-it’s to gauge capacity, identify challenges, and meet operators at the point where we can all achieve compliance with one purpose and one goal.

‘Equity funds are already reported at fair value. The aspect of the Fund Management that was not aligned with international best practice was in the Fixed Income Funds space and that is what this policy alignment covers.

‘Nigeria has come of age, and we must be seen to be doing things according to global standards. IFRS 9 requires market-to-market valuation of assets, and we cannot be left behind among the comity of nations.’

He added that the reform would ensure that Nigerian assets are comparable globally, allowing investors to assess market performance more accurately.

According to him, the goal is to create a market that is internationally competitive as adoption of IFRS 9 enables ease and compatibility among assets from different nations, clearly positioning Nigeria within the global market space.

Responding to criticisms that the shift to market valuation could expose investors to short-term volatility, Agama said the move is intended to strengthen, not destabilise, the market.

He said: ‘Some have expressed concerns about volatility, but our intention is not to disadvantage Nigerian investors. It is to expose them to global standards and transparency. Over time, as the market adjusts, these concerns will ease off and everyone will benefit from a more transparent and credible system’.

He explained that beyond IFRS 9, the SEC is also leading Africa in adopting the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) framework.

He noted that Nigeria was among the first countries to accept and begin implementing the ISSB standards, emphasising their importance for climate and sustainability disclosures.

He said: ‘We pride ourselves as performers-first among nations to accept and adopt the ISSB standards. But we are not oblivious of our contextual issues. We are taking a gradual approach so that our companies are not unduly burdened’.

He added that the Commission’s objective is to implement standards that attract rather than restrict capital.

‘We will not implement standards that will shut companies out of capital. Instead, we are implementing those that will help bring in capital and promote sustainable growth,’ Agama said.

He expressed optimism about the Nigerian capital market’s performance in the final quarter of the year, citing the government’s macroeconomic reforms and the enactment of key laws such as the NIIRA 2025 and ISA 2025 as catalysts for stability and investor confidence.

He said: ‘Markets do not operate in a vacuum, they thrive on stability. With the micro- and macro-economic stability being championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the market is positioned for significant growth.

The NIIRA 2025 is a game changer that provides the framework for sustainable expansion.

‘We are on a path of progress and growth. The President’s reform agenda is already taking shape, ensuring that Nigeria’s capital market becomes a global reference point for transparency, regulation, and investor confidence’.

He enthused that t SEC’s ongoing reforms, particularly the IFRS 9 transition and the adoption of sustainability standards, are part of a broader agenda to globalize Nigeria’s capital market, enhance transparency, and ensure wealth redistribution through a more resilient financial system.

BetKing, Nigeria’s leading gaming and entertainment brand, has announced the launch of the country’s largest Virtuals Jackpot, giving players the chance to win life-changing rewards every hour, every day, and every month. The campaign offers over 120 million naira in cash prizes monthly, making it the most rewarding and inclusive Jackpot ever introduced in Nigeria’s gaming industry. Izzz plenty!

The Virtuals Jackpot will feature three exciting tiers of winnings. The King Monthly Jackpot crowns one lucky winner with 50 million naira every month, while 12,000 additional players will share 10 million naira monthly. The Royal Daily Jackpot guarantees 1 million naira for one winner every single day, and the Duke Hourly Jackpot delivers 50,000 naira to one winner every hour. In total, more than 12,000 Nigerians will benefit from this campaign each month.

With this campaign, BetKing is expanding the players’ circle, ensuring that every BetKing customer has a genuine opportunity to win. By creating multiple entry points to life-changing rewards, the brand continues to redefine accessibility in Nigeria’s gaming industry.

The Virtuals Jackpot builds on BetKing’s recent track record of innovation. Late in 2024, the brand introduced Danfo Lagos, a culturally immersive mobile game inspired by Nigeria’s most iconic transport system, while JJBallx, the Jay Jay Okocha themed football game, launched earlier this year, has added a fast-paced, engaging option to BetKing’s growing iGaming portfolio. These products demonstrate the company’s commitment to blending culture and innovation to deliver unparalleled entertainment experiences.

Speaking about the impact of the revamped jackpot launch, Head of Marketing, BetKing, Nengi Akinola, commented ‘This campaign is about creating consistent, life-changing opportunities for our players. With cash prizes available every hour, every day, and every month, Virtuals Jackpot reinforces BetKing’s mission to make winning more accessible, while celebrating the excitement of play.’

Alongside this, our growing iGaming lineup, including fan-favorites like Danfo Lagos, JJBallX, and the Fame House campaign inspired by Big Brother Naija, continues to push the boundaries of entertainment and give our players even more engaging ways to win.’ She added.

As the largest Virtuals Jackpot in Nigeria, this campaign sets a new standard in the industry, combining scale, inclusivity, and innovation to create more winners than ever before. So, are you the next Virtuals jackpot millionaire? For players across the country, one click could be the moment that changes everything. Play now on https://m.betking.com/virtual

The Steering Committee of the Southwest Citizen-Government Engagement Summit has announced the postponement of the summit originally scheduled for October 9-10, to October 29-30.

Invited participants are expected to attend on the new dates, with arrival scheduled for October 28.

The summit with the theme: ‘Strengthening Democracy Through Dialogue: Assessing Progress, Charting the Future’, will still be held at the International Conference Centre (The Dome), Akure, Ondo State, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as chief host.

Dr. Akin Onigbinde, SAN, the chairman of the Steering Committee, says the decision reflects the committee’s commitment to ensuring the summit provides a truly meaningful platform for engagement between citizens and the government.

‘The additional time will enable us to conduct comprehensive consultations with participating ministries, agencies and stakeholders; ensure optimal logistical arrangements that facilitate substantive dialogue; and coordinate effectively with the six Southwest state governments and participating institutions,’ he said.

Onigbinde apologised for any inconvenience the postponement might cause and assured stakeholders and the public of commitment to deliver an impactful, inclusive and productive summit that would serve as a landmark platform for citizen-government engagement in the Southwest.

The United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, has said she has not heard President Bola Ahmed Tinubu complain about the challenges he inherited from his predecessor since he assumed office as President.

Mohammed said this at an award dinner at Nigeria House in New York to celebrate Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary and the Independence Day Parade and Carnival.

The UN deputy chief said President Tinubu ‘fought hard to get to that seat’, even though he said ‘it was his turn’.

She added: ‘But he also told us that he wasn’t going to complain about what he got. I have not heard him complain.

‘People around him complain about what he inherited, but he doesn’t.’

Mohammed stressed that Tinubu ‘is the President of Nigeria. It is God that put him on that seat. It is, therefore, incumbent upon us to get behind him and do the best we can for Nigeria, except you’re trying to tell me that God made a mistake’.

The UN deputy secretary-general congratulated Nigeria and Nigerians on the nation’s attainment of its 65th independence anniversary.

She expressed the confidence that the future is bright for the country.

‘We are a work in progress, and we are 65 years old as a country.

‘However, unless you are part of building a nation, no one else is going to do it for you.

‘It doesn’t matter whether you are in the country or outside the country,’ Mohammed said.

She called for concerted efforts to build the country and not pull it down, saying: ‘If we get into the pull-down syndrome, then who else is going to pull us up?

‘What else are we telling our children? What else are we telling people that we want as our partners?

‘If we are the first people to say that we’re no good, we’re not good enough, and I hope that we just stop doing that.

‘This is because Nigerians are the hardest working, most ambitious, and proud people.’

Super Eagles Numero Uno Stanley Nwabali was on the receiving end yesterday as Richards Bay FC thrashed Chippa United 4-1 and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout in South Africa.

The Natal Rich Boys reportedly took only five minutes to make the presence felt as Bomelo pounced on a misplaced ball in the area and beat Nwabali from close-range.

The fine start continued two minutes later when debutant Mutizwa rose on the end of a curling delivery from a corner-kick and headed in the roof of the net.

Chippa got a lifeline in the opening-quarter as Tshobeni halved the deficit with a smart finish from a tight angle after attacking a probing cross by Nga.

However, there was no comeback as the host added a third ten minutes to halftime when a turnover in midfield saw Bomelo run forward and teed-up Mutizwa to register his brace.

The Chilli Boys made a double change at the break with Thabang Malaoa on for Seun Ndlovu before Giovanni Philander stepped aside for Bandile Dlamini.

But despite spirited efforts by Chippa after the interval, it was Richards Bay that wrapped up the victory in added time when Lundi Mahala ran in-behind a through pass and finished from close-range.

Legend Internet Plc, an indigenous broadband service provider, has been assigned a long-term corporate rating of ‘Bbb-‘ and a short-term rating of ‘A3’ with a Stable Outlook by Agusto and Co.

Agusto and Co. noted that Legend’s strategic pause in customer activations during Abuja’s city-wide construction works has positioned the company to scale more efficiently as disruptions subside.

The recently approved 50 per cent tariff hike by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is also expected to boost earnings and cash flow in the near term.

Chief Executive Officer, Legend Internet Plc, Aisha Abdulaziz said the rating marked Legend’s inaugural rating since its incorporation in 2021 and represented a strong validation of the company’s business fundamentals and growth strategy.

She said the rating reflected Legend’s satisfactory financial condition, supported by its cash-driven operations and low leverage.

According to her, the rating also reflected robust infrastructure investments across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), passing 250,000 homes with 22,000 connected and 10,000 currently active, improving profitability margins, with gross profit rising to 63.9 per cent in for year ending 2024-2025.

She pointed out that the exemplary rating was the outcome of cost optimisation measures and strong expansion prospects, including planned entry into Lagos via merger and acquisition, alongside organic growth in Abuja and future rollouts in Kano and Port Harcourt.

She said: ‘ This is first-time rating from Agusto and Co. is a milestone achievement for Legend Internet Plc. It validates our resilience, prudent financial management, and commitment to building Nigeria’s most reliable broadband network. As we expand into Lagos and other key markets, this rating reinforces the confidence of our investors, partners, and customers in Legend’s ability to grow sustainably while powering digital lifestyles across Nigeria’.

She said Legend Internet, which transitioned to a public limited company in April 2024, is advancing plans for a dual listing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange.

She added that the company continues to diversify its ecosystem with complementary solutions such as LegendMail-Nigeria’s first commercial email platform; MailPay – proprietary fintech application, and Legend Omni-Fibre-to-the-Room – (FTTR) services introduced in partnership with Huawei.

She said that with the rating, Legend Internet has strengthened its position as one of Nigeria’s leading broadband providers, building a stable foundation to accelerate growth, attract investment, and deepen digital inclusion nationwide.