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Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, patron and legal adviser to many professional and socio-cultural groups across the country, is also an Associate Lecturer, at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin. In this interview by BIOLA AZEEZ, the eminent lawyer bares his mind on the proposed amendment of the nation’s Electoral Act, intraparty crises; issues surrounding election petitions and the fallouts.

HOW do you see the proposed amendment on Electoral Act being embarked upon by the National Assembly?

Subject to confirmation, we are likely to have a brand new chairman of INEC very soon. And then, we also have new set of parties that were not part of the last dispensation in 2023, who are also coming into the frame. So this is a good time to look at the electoral act. Tave a second look, a third look, and then come up with something that will help us to sustain, not only the electoral process, but even the democratic process itself. If you all pay attention, you will recall that even when in 1989, we were told that we were going into civilian regime, not democratic regime. All these words are very important in politics. So, I think by now we should be talking about democratic space, not what it was called then, just civilian rule. Civilian rule is different from democratic dispensation. If you look at it, they are two different things. Having said that, I want to salute the National Assembly for even coming up, at this time, with these proposals that we want to put in the electoral act. But many people who are stakeholders may not have the opportunity to attend the public hearing whenever it holds. And I know as a matter of fact, due to time constraint, not every person who has something tangible to say may be heard. So, that’s why I want to thank you for coming around.

You may want to ask, what are my own views? I think I’m a stakeholder in so many respects. I’ve been a player, as a lawyer, in electoral resolutions since 1999, even before then. So, going forward, I’ve taken part as a lawyer in most of the electoral disputes from different levels: House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, governorship, and then the presidents. I’ve been in one team or other in some of these. I think going forward, and we are seeing, just recently at a lecture organised in my honour by the Faculty of Law, Kwara State University KWASU, where the former Vice-President was the chairman, and Chidi Odinkalu was the guest lecturer. The issue of the judiciary came out in bold prints about what the courts are doing and so on and so forth.

Most of the negative perceptions of most people about our courts arose as a result of the courts taking part in making their decisions in electoral disputes. The adverse comments of most people are as a result of one judgment or the other that came out of electoral disputes. So, that’s why it’s quite necessary we must not treat the symptom, but we must treat the disease.

What do you consider the most problematic issue?

The most problematic to my mind about the involvement of the courts in electoral dispute resolution is the power given to the courts, the tribunal, and the courts, generally, that if somebody challenges the election under section 136 of the Electoral Act and is found not to be qualified or didn’t score the required lawful votes, then you declare the person who came second as duly elected. I think that’s problematic. That is why many people believe that there is a lot of arithmetic that they could work to achieve their own purpose as politicians; that anybody who came second, and I had the instance of somebody who actually came third or fourth being declared as governor. So, for me, I think the simple solution to that is let’s remove the powers of the courts from declaring anybody as winner. If you bring your election petition and you succeed, people should go back to the electorate. And like Odinkalu said in his book, ‘The Selectorate,’ we should not give the franchise of five million or 10 million voters to just three people to upturn and make a declaration. I think that’s the first thing that we must hold on to. So, there must be amendment of section 136 and remove the power of either the tribunal or the court from declaring anybody as winner of any election.

Once you succeed in your petition, go back to the electorate. Because you start to question itself, actually, whether that will also be democracy. When five million people vote and then three persons will sit, not only set aside the votes but to declare somebody they have rejected at the polls as a winner.

My own sense of democracy and justice is a bit affected. So, I think that National Assembly should please, I hope, they will find the courage to do it. The powers of the court to declare anybody as winner should be removed. And you will be surprised about the very magical thing that will happen. Number one, the number of challenges to elections will reduce dramatically. Then number two, the powers given to the court, even for issue of inter-party disputes for nomination, we should go back to the position of the Supreme Court in that you don’t interfere in internal affairs of parties. If you join a political party, if they decide to maltreat you, you can go elsewhere. That’s the number one prescription I want to make. That’s okay; if the parties cannot even observe their own internal democracy and things, leave them to it because that’s another problem that is causing a lot of people to think that the courts are not doing what they should do. Two people who fight in their party over who was rightly nominated. You are not the person who was nominated; court will say you are the person that has been nominated.

The courts can never take the position of political parties and their members. That’s number one prescription. But if that power must remain, that the court can declare between A and B on who is the rightful candidate of the party, then the power to say that it must be A should be removed. And you see in the case of Ugukwe and Ararume, where the politicians demonstrated the limitations of the powers of the court to dabble in political affairs. If you recall in Imo State, Ugukwe and Ararume belong to the same party. They went for their primaries. Ugwu was the person declared. Ararume challenged. And the one in the Supreme Court said yes, you are the rightful candidate of the party. What did they do? Even the then president of Nigeria, who belonged to the same party, went to Imo State and told the electorate to vote for the opponent. And that was probably what informed the Supreme Court later when they were deciding Rotimi Amaechi against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). They didn’t stop at, ‘oh, Amaechi was the right candidate.’ They declared him. So, the judiciary needs to take its hands off, because the judiciary is too important. It’s just too important. Before we got to the level where people will no longer at all believe in judicial process, we should do something. These are things we can do. These are things that are within us to do.

I honestly believe, given my little experience about electoral jurisprudence and as an active participant in national political matters. I believe these suggestions, if they are carried one way or the other, will go a long way. So that, at least, we free our judiciary, let them face the normal work of settling disputes between individuals, between government and individuals, commercial transactions, contractual obligations. They will still be doing election petitions. Their job will just stop at, ‘they have not been validly elected, go back to the people. Not for anybody to start to push the court, manipulate the court to achieve certain ends, which will not be by the law and the facts.

If you now ask the courts to tell them to go back for fresh election, wouldn’t that be a burden on the electorate, and the resources to conduct another election?

No amount of money is too much to run a proper democratic dispensation, because the alternative is anarchy, which you can never quantify in monetary terms. And it’s also good to give the people the confidence that they are the people electing those who are representing them. Not for people to go to the polls and then, that’s one of the reasons why people are arguing that the votes are not counted. So, if you want the votes to count, the people must own the process. And the only way they can own the process is that if they have to conduct the election 10 times, it must go back to those who are supposed to vote. Otherwise, what are we talking about? If you recall the case of Al Gore against George Bush, the Supreme Court of U.S. stopped the counting of the votes. Even though it was clear Al Gore was going to overtake Bush. But you see, you have to take deliberate decisions to safeguard systems, to safeguard processes.

Clearly, the decision of the Supreme Court of U.S. in Al Gore against Bush was a policy decision, but to safeguard democracy. So, we can’t be an exception. If it’s a sacrifice we have to make, let’s make it.At least we will isolate the courts from all these unnecessary abuses, name callings. Many of them may be unfounded, but the fact that people are making them, it eats some of us. I mean, when we joined this profession slightly over 40 years ago, it was almost unheard of to say a judge took money or whatever. Now these things are freely said even when they have no substance. So, I quite honestly believe that as much as possible we should be taking steps that will not only strengthen our democratic practices, but will give a lot of credibility to it as well.

Please enlighten Nigerians, civilian regime, democratic regime. What’s the difference?

When you say civilian regime, when Babangida was doing his Option A4 and doing that, that was a civilian regime. Even though, it was supervised by soldiers. There were governors in position. That was a civilian regime. That’s not democratic. When you talk about democratic dispensation, you talk about the totality of what you do are determined by the majority of the people speaking through their votes, through their franchise. That is why it doesn’t look too democratic that 20 million people will vote for and against and three or five people will determine who will occupy the position. If you want to be democratic, then at every time you must go back to the electorate.

Are your proposals to the Electoral Act amendment not indictments against the nation’s judges?

No, they are not. What you push to them is what they say. I argued on the day of that event in my honour. I said lawyers cannot take the lion’s share of the blame. Judges don’t just go on the streets and pick issues to tackle. It’s lawyers like me who go and say these things to them. So, if I do not come before you as a judge to say A, you have no reason to say A because there is no issue before you. Many lawyers don’t care what they take there as long as there is money involved. So, I’m not indicting anybody, not even lawyers, but I’m just saying that if we want survival of what we’re doing, if we want to have a country where you can either practice law or practice whatever, then there must be fidelity to the truth and to what is decent.

How do we get the amendment signed by the President when some Nigerians see the National Assembly as rubber stamp?

You know in relative terms, the National assembly is far far a better shade than the state assemblies. I don’t agree that the National Assembly is a rubber stamp. If you want to believe that the only time we believe the National Assembly is working is when they are antagonistic to the executive, then it is the progress of the country that we are negotiating. They can work harmoniously, but once the agenda is clear, the interests of Nigerians, please let the harmony continue as long as the people are the beneficiaries of the outcome. So, I do not see the National Assembly as a rubber stamp. There are individuals there who are makers and shakers of the environment. We have so many former governors, former ministers, people who have their own names in their respective places. And people don’t want to go down in history as nonentities. So I believe the National Assembly will do what is right if they are properly guided and their attention is directed to the core areas. And I believe the National Assembly does what is right because the President will not have much difficulty in agreeing with them as long as there is altruism in everything.

From your experiences on sitting on election matters, what would you say are the common agitations of Nigerians?

Well, let me first tell you that Nigerians are bad losers. They do it in sports, even in play. Nigerians never believe they can lose fairly and squarely. I’ll give you an example. Other countries of the world have been preparing for the world Cup, immediately the last one ended.

We will start our own at best midway into the new one and Nigerians will expect that we should defeat countries that have worked for more than three years before we started our own. That’s cheating! So, that’s our sense of it. And then Nigerians don’t believe they can lose anything fairly. Unfortunately, for us, even when we lose a match, we must ascribe it to something. We are as bad as that. So it’s the same thing in our politics. This inability to accept that you win-some, you lose-some is a very great problem for our democracy and for our country. As long as somebody wins. And that’s another problem that will be tied to the judiciary, unfortunately. Those who win in court believe the judiciary is the best thing to happen. Those who lose, they think it’s the worst. So, this attitude, I’ve said this in public lectures as well. We must get to a level where we think that, oh, for people for decency sake, it’s not every time your wife looks at you somehow you slap her. You overlook some things and just move on. Otherwise, there will be no home. So, that’s the attitude of our politicians, unfortunately. For every misadventure of wives, it’s like kill them. I don’t say that is the correct attitude. You must have this elasticity of behavior. That, oh, well, give and take. And then you must be able to realize there is always a tomorrow. If you lose today, you’ll win tomorrow and vice versa. All this ‘winner takes all’. And everything must be finished now. I think there is no tomorrow. We must invest in the future. If you don’t win today, tomorrow will be better for you. Is it a new trend or is it a present trend? I think, as far as my knowledge carries me, I think we have this peculiarity. I’m sure in most other countries, when you compete in an election. Frankly, of course, I can say it’s an African problem because I’m also aware that in Kenya or somewhere, something like this happens. Look, presidential election, if you say the winner did not score the majority of the vote, just send them back. Okay, we agree, he didn’t score the majority of the vote. And when you say somebody was not qualified to contest the election, don’t give it to another person. No. Let the party give it to another person who qualifies and contest with the person who has one excuse. Yes. And the kind of quarrel we have about qualification. Yes, very funny. I’m Yusuf Olaolu Ali. My certificate says Yusuf Ali. Olaolu Ali. And you say I’m not the owner of the certificate. Those are the kind of things we confuse here. And based on that one, then you declare him. When no other person has come forward to say I’m not the owner of the certificate. So, sometimes some of these things are like jokes. So, when somebody is not qualified, either by way, by academic qualification, or by their own classified documents, okay, remove him from the thing, let him face trial for his criminal conduct, and then tell the party to bring another person to come and face the man who has won in court. You will see the magic. Next time, I’m sure, 60% of election petitions will not happen. And I’ll share an experience with you. Some years ago, I won’t mention the state. They came to me, they wanted to challenge the election; one of the rich states. At that time, there were two versions of the Electoral Act. Nobody was sure which one was working. There was one where there was no provision for declaration. So, they didn’t come

back. They said nobody will be declared. So I’m actually speaking from experience. So, we should do everything possible to simplify our democratic practice, make it more transparent, make it more acceptable, and make it less expensive.

Ahead of this public hearing, what do you think is salient, apart from this position of maybe the judges, because you don’t declare..

Another salient thing is about the uploading and uploading results. In this day and age, it shouldn’t be difficult for us in order to promote transparent and credible elections. It should be transmitted. My position is that if there is difference between the transmitted result and the hard copy, you must just throw out the whole of the election and let people go back. The court should not be saddled with the problem of having to do mathematics, having to examine electoral documents. The court should just deal strictly with straight facts, marry with the law. All these verbal and intellectual gymnasium should not happen.

What will your advice be to the new INEC chairman?

I can assure you that for the INEC chairman, I have access to him. So if I want to give him an agenda, I won’t have a problem. I’ll probably talk to him. He’s my colleague. He’s a brother. If you recall, last year at the KWASU lecture, he was the first person who gave a lecture, he was the discussant of the paper. He was the person who discussed the paper and he came because I invited him. So, I have access to him. Now, all I’m trying to say is that all the impediments that make our democracy a bit awkward, we should discuss them. All the things that promote transparency, we should do. All the things that bring our judiciary into ridicule and odium concerning election matters, we should not allow it to happen. And that is the basis of my call. And to remove most of the allegations of corruption, rightly or wrongly, that people label against the judiciary when it comes to election matters. I say rightly or wrongly because Nigerians are very good in making allegations. They are not ready to substantiate. That’s one of our predilections as a nation. We are people who can never hold on to what they think is happening somewhere. Even when there are witnesses to it, they won’t want to be part of being in it there. All these proposals will strengthen democracy and it will make it easier for people to understand where we are going. You know for sure that if A challenges B on election and B is called back to contest or his election is nullified, he is not going to be declared. Let him go back to those who are entitled to elect people, the electorate. There should be no shortcut.

The Bauchi State Government-owned Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Gadau, has cautioned students, parents, and the general public not to relate with Malam Sani Wada, the erstwhile Academic Secretary of the institution.

The warning became necessary, according to the institution, because Sani Wada is no longer in the employment of Sa’adu Zungur University.

A statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Auwal Hassan, made available to journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday, stated, ‘To this end, students, parents, and the general public are advised, in their own interest, to avoid engaging Malam Sani Wada in any business on behalf of the university.’

According to the PRO, ‘It follows that anybody who transacts any business with him on behalf of the university does so at his or her own risk. You are advised, please.’

A former governorship candidate in Lagos State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor, has urged the Igbo living in the state to disabuse their minds of the perception that the Yoruba in Lagos hate them and, therefore, should not see their hosts as enemies.

Jandor, who addressed Igbo leaders and members of Team Jandor from the South-East resident in the state at the Liberty House, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, on Tuesday, gave the assurance, urging the Igbo living in the state to forget the past and discard such perceptions.

While giving the assurance, Jandor asserted that Lagos State had been hospitable to all, adding: ‘What you cannot get in many other states, we freely give you here.’

He said: ‘I want to let you know that the people and government of Lagos State don’t hate you. Forget what happened at the opposing camp then.

‘Let me first remind you of how hospitable we have been in this state. What you cannot get in many other states, we freely give you here.

‘We sell our lands to you, which shows how hospitable we are. Lagos is the first state that accommodated non-indigenes in the state cabinet.

‘We are all living witnesses to it. You might have issues with the then governor, now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; it doesn’t change the fact that he is a nice man.

‘Other states have started copying him. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has Yoruba people in his cabinet, just like Imo State. It started from here,’ he said.

The former governorship candidate, who is also the Lead Visioner of Lagos4Lagos, urged the audience not to listen to politicians who, he said, were instigating the belief that the Yoruba don’t like them, stressing that if the state government didn’t like them, they would not sell land to them.

Jandor, who hails from Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, said the majority of people doing business there are Igbo, pointing out that they were making money because the Yoruba sold land to them and allowed them to live and work there.

‘If we have issues because a few of you have gone to the wrong side of the law and the government takes action, people should not think it is about the Igbo.

‘The demolition going on in Lagos is not targeted at the Igbo. The office of the Oba of Lagos was demolished because it was built under power lines, yet he is a Yoruba man.

‘We may have people in government who are overbearing, but the law is the law. If Yoruba people in other states go on the wrong side of the law, it would not stop the government from taking action. We should use whatever is happening at this moment to our own advantage.

‘It was not the entire Trade Fair that was demolished – only a few structures that went on the wrong side of the law were affected.

‘We want to appeal that we should know that the government and the people of Lagos State don’t hate you. It is only here that we have made someone who is not from Lagos a local government chairman.

‘Don’t see us as enemies. If we hate you, we would not admit your children into our primary and secondary schools or allow you to work as teachers or civil servants in our state,’ he said.

Jandor, however, said that some of the issues bothering Igbo people living in the state were sensitive and promised that an avenue for dialogue would be created.

He also promised to visit all the places affected by recent demolitions to explain where wrongdoings occurred and to present his observations to the state government.

He said the parley was not about politics but about ensuring that the APC continued to win in Lagos State after the 2027 general elections, irrespective of who was on the ballot.

While promising to take the lead and finance the process, he urged them not to allow outsiders to destabilise the state.

Responding, a leader of the group, Chief (Dr) Sunday Udeh, who said he had been with the progressives since the days of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) through to the APC, said the body of the Igbo-speaking community in Lagos State was not partisan.

Udeh said they knew where they were going and could never fight the government or the party in power, assuring that the Igbo were ready to work and were already working.

He said the Igbo and Yoruba had been working together and should continue to do so.

‘Igbo are ready to work and they are working. I want to appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning under him, as Lagos State governor, was an Igbo man.

‘Igbo and Yoruba have been working together. In Igbo-speaking communities during the time of the late Lateef Jakande and Sir Michael Otedola as governors, we worked together.

‘Igbo and Yoruba work together and there is nothing that should stop that. Your message will go round because we have our leaders here,’ Udeh said.

‘After the 2023 general elections, those of us on the field understood what was happening. It was as if there was a demarcation between the Igbo and Yoruba. It is not hatred, but the election created that demarcation. We know that demolition happens everywhere once a structure is in the wrong place.

‘We, however, believe that it got worse after the 2023 general elections.

‘We used to have an Igbo man in the State House of Assembly; we had a Special Adviser to the Governor and an Igbo commissioner, but after the 2023 general elections, we don’t have anyone. We want you to help us pass our message to them,’ he added.

Also speaking, HRH Eze Dr Okey Anorue, Eze Ndigbo Igbogbo/Baiyeku LGA, and the Babaloja of Tejuosho Market, told Jandor that the remaining peace would start from him, urging him to protect them and propagate the ideals of peaceful coexistence in the state.

Dr Anorue prayed that God would help Jandor accomplish his dreams during his political journey, promising to work for his success.

Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Tuesday, performed the groundbreaking for the reconstruction of the Warri-Sapele-Benin Dual carriageway in Uvwie and Okpe local government areas, declaring the project a symbol of renewed collaboration between the federal and state governments for the benefit of Nigerians.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Oborevwori said the project represented ‘another major step forward in the infrastructure renewal drive of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Delta State government.’

He described the Warri-Sapele-Benin road as a critical national infrastructure connecting major cities across the South-South and providing access to Edo and other parts of the federation.

‘The section we are flagging off covers a dual carriageway with reinforced concrete pavement, expanded shoulders and extensive stormwater drainage systems, all designed to provide durability and ensure the safety of road users,’ he said.

Governor Oborevwori noted that the initiative underscored the gains of synergy between the two tiers of government, emphasising that development becomes faster when governments work together in the interest of the people.

‘Although this road is a federal route, the users are Deltans and Nigerians, and their safety and comfort are what matter most to us,’ he said.

The governor further disclosed that the Delta State government had paid ?10 billion in compensation to facilitate the ongoing construction of the Second Niger Bridge access road project, aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving connectivity between Asaba, Onitsha and adjoining communities.

He lamented the hardship long suffered by commuters and transporters on the Warri-Sapele-Benin route due to its deplorable condition, noting that the reconstruction will enhance mobility, reduce travel time and spur economic growth.

He said: ‘Beyond these economic benefits, the project will also strengthen security. Criminals often exploit bad roads to commit crimes. Once completed, this highway will make movement safer and improve the response of security agencies.’

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making Delta one of the safest states in Nigeria through strategic investments in infrastructure, peace and security.

He also promised that the requests of the people of Uvwie Kingdom partaining to the Mother and Child Hospital and provision of 500KVA transformer, will be looked into.

‘At over sixty years of age, I am not here for personal gain but to leave lasting legacies that generations will remember me for. By the time I leave office, I want Deltans to proudly say, ‘Oborevwori did this, Oborevwori did that,” he said before officially flagging off the project from Effurun Roundabout by-spare parts market to after Ohore, before Ometan bridge.

Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, said the project is the brainchild of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori whom he described as a visionary leader determined to transform Delta’s infrastructure landscape.

‘This 10km project stretches five kilometres on each side and features an 8.8-metre-wide carriageway on both lanes, far beyond the standard 7.3 metres,’ Izeze said, praising the governor’s foresight and commitment.

He said the project will be completed within 12 months, adding that the state will celebrate another landmark achievement that will enhance trade, transportation and community life.

General Manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Thomas Feng, thanked Governor Oborevwori for the confidence reposed in the firm, promising to deliver the project in record time and to the highest standards.

Earlier, Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area of the state, Chief Anthony Ofoni, flanked by his Okpe Local Government Area counterpart, commended the governor for his people-centred leadership and announced that the Airport Road in Effurun will be named as ‘Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori Way’ in recognition of his vision and enduring legacy.

Also, the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom and Chairman of the Urhobo Council of Traditional Rulers, Emmanuel Sideso Abe I, lauded the governor’s administration for prioritising key infrastructure projects in Uvwie and across the state.

He noted that ongoing works such as the three flyovers and road expansions in Effurun and Warri had transformed the urban landscape and accelerated economic activities.

Representative of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Okakuro Mike Afe, joined in commending the governor for his developmental strides, praying for his successful completion.

The Nigerian equities market sustained a cautious advance at the midweek session as renewed buying interest in select large- and mid-cap stocks lifted the benchmark index marginally.

The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose by 0.02 per cent to close at 147,742.22 basis points, maintaining year-to-date returns at 43.54 per cent.

Similarly, market capitalisation appreciated by ?19.84 billion to close at ?93.78 trillion, reflecting sustained investor optimism in market fundamentals despite a slowdown in activity.

Market sentiment remained positive, as 33 gainers outpaced 27 decliners. On the performance board, Royal Exchange gained 7.4 per cent, International Energy Insurance rose by 6.1 per cent, while SFS Real Estate Investment Trust, Julius Berger, and Omatek Computer also led the gainers’ chart. Conversely, Tripple G shed 9.9 per cent, Industrial Medical Gases dipped by 9.9 per cent, while UAC Nigeria, Ellah Lakes, and Japaul Gold topped the losers’ list.

Across sectors, performance was broadly mixed. The Consumer Goods, Industrial Goods, and Oil and Gas indices each advanced by 0.1 per cent, buoyed by gains in Transnational Corporation, which rose by 4.2 per cent, and Stanbic IBTC Holdings, which appreciated by 1.6 per cent.

Conversely, the Banking and Insurance indices declined by 0.2 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively, following mild profit-taking in tier-one lenders and insurers. The Commodities index closed flat.

Trading activity weakened across all indicators, as the total volume traded fell by 21.41 per cent to 389.11 million units, valued at ?12.48 billion, exchanged in 23,017 deals – representing a 10.25 per cent decline in the number of transactions.

Fidelity Bank emerged as the most traded stock by volume with 46.87 million shares, while Zenith Bank led by value at ?1.42 billion.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Nigeria’s economic growth forecast, projecting a 3.9 per cent expansion in 2025 and 4.2 percent in 2026, reflecting renewed optimism about the country’s reform-driven economic rebound.

The revised figures were announced on Tuesday during the launch of the World Economic Outlook (WEO) 2025 at the ongoing World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C.

In its July 2025 update, the IMF had forecast Nigeria’s economy to grow by 3.4 percent in 2025. The new projection marks a 0.5 percentage point upward revision, signaling increased confidence in Nigeria’s macroeconomic policies and reform momentum under the Tinubu administration.

The IMF also upgraded Nigeria’s 2026 growth forecast to 4.2 percent, compared to 3.2 percent previously predicted in July.

The improved outlook places Nigeria ahead of South Africa, whose growth is expected to edge slightly from 1.0 to 1.1 percent in 2025, but fall to 1.2 percent in 2026, while the Sub-Saharan Africa regional average was lifted to 4.1 percent in 2025 and 4.4 percent in 2026.

The IMF attributed Nigeria’s stronger growth prospects to ‘supportive domestic factors,’ notably higher oil production, improved investor confidence, and a more favorable fiscal stance projected for 2026.

‘Whereas growth in Nigeria is revised upward on account of supportive domestic factors-including higher oil production, improved investor confidence, a supportive fiscal stance in 2026, and given its limited exposure to higher U.S. tariffs-many other economies see significant downward revisions because of the changing international trade and official aid landscape,’ the IMF stated.

The upward revision follows a period of key policy adjustments in Nigeria, including exchange rate unification, subsidy reforms, and a tightened monetary stance by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to curb inflation and stabilise the naira.

Globally, the IMF projects 3.2 percent growth in 2025, slowing slightly to 3.1 percent in 2026. Although this represents a modest improvement from the July 2025 update, it remains 0.2 percentage points below forecasts made before the October 2024 global policy shifts.

‘This is an improvement relative to the July WEO Update-but cumulatively 0.2 percentage point below earlier forecasts, with the slowdown reflecting headwinds from uncertainty and protectionism, even though the tariff shock is smaller than originally announced,’ the Fund noted.

Advanced economies are expected to grow by around 1.5 percent during 2025-2026, with the United States slowing to 2.0 percent, while emerging markets and developing economies are projected to expand just above 4.0 percent.

Global inflation is forecast to ease to 4.2 percent in 2025 and 3.7 percent in 2026, as world trade volume grows at an average rate of 2.9 percent-down from 3.5 percent in 2024, reflecting ongoing trade fragmentation and weaker global demand.

In July, the IMF concluded its 2025 Article IV consultation with Nigeria, reaffirming confidence in the government’s reform agenda and forecasting 3.4 percent growth for the year. The Fund also backed the CBN’s tight monetary policy stance, describing it as crucial for containing inflation and ensuring macroeconomic stability.

The latest WEO update suggests that Nigeria’s ongoing structural and fiscal reforms are beginning to yield measurable gains, setting the stage for stronger, more sustained growth over the medium term.

As political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to gather momentum across the country, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohamed Ndarani Mohammed, has called for the investigation of retired civil servants and former public office holders before they are allowed to contest elective positions.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Ndarani expressed concern over the growing trend of former public servants amassing unexplained wealth toward the end of their tenure in preparation for political ambitions.

According to him, while the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) mandates all public servants to declare their assets, there is often no follow-up investigation after they leave office, adding that, ‘After retirement or resignation, no one checks whether their post-service assets align with what they declared when they joined public service.

‘This lack of scrutiny allows many to plunder public funds with impunity’, the senior lawyer said and lamented that many public officials exploit their positions to divert public resources into private accounts, using such funds to finance expensive election campaigns.

He noted that despite the provisions of Section 88(2-7) of the Electoral Act 2022, which sets limits on campaign expenses, politicians continue to flout these laws without consequence.

The senior lawyer expressed worry that politicians are not being sanctioned for violating campaign finance limits, which he said explained why so many public servants, as their retirement nears, resort to corrupt practices in anticipation of their entry into politics.

Outlining several measures to curb this trend and promote transparency ahead of the 2027 polls, Ndarani said, retired civil servants and former political office holders should undergo a thorough investigation to determine the sources of their assets and income after leaving office.

‘Retired public servants should be barred from contesting elections for at least one year to allow anti-corruption agencies sufficient time to investigate them. Heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) who have retired or been relieved of their duties should also face financial investigations, regardless of whether they plan to contest elections’.

He called on Nigerians to play active roles in holding their leaders accountable and ensuring transparency in governance, and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should invoke Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to strengthen the fight against corruption.

Ndarani emphasized that Nigeria’s political class must begin to view public service as an avenue for nation-building, not personal enrichment.

‘Nigerians deserve leaders who live modestly, account for every naira spent, and put the nation’s welfare above personal gain,’ he said, and urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to begin proactive investigations into potential political aspirants well ahead of the 2027 elections.

He appealed to President Tinubu to create an enabling platform that would prevent retired public officials from using ill-gotten wealth to contest for political offices, stressing that such reforms were vital to Nigeria’s progress and democratic integrity.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has inaugurated a five-member committee to address issues of land grabbing and related offenses in the city.

The committee, which will approach the problem from a legal perspective, includes Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Barrister Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Yinka Okunade, Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem, and Tunji Thomas.

According to a statement by the monarch’s media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, Oba Ladoja authorised the committee to co-opt experts from other fields – including town planning, surveying, security, and the legal sector – to support their work in combating land grabbing.

Barrister Musibau Adetunbi, one of the members, was in court during the inauguration, which took place in the presence of the Olubadan-in-Council.

Oba Ladoja said both the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan-in-Council shared the same commitment to rid Ibadan of the land-grabbing menace.

According to him, ‘land grabbing is like an interlocking web of complex connections involving diverse interests that need to be unravelled. I know each of you very well. While we entertain no illusion as to the gravity of your responsibility, I have no doubt in my mind that you have the capacity to carry out the responsibility.’

The monarch directed the committee to begin work immediately and submit its recommendations within 21 days. He clarified that the legal advisory committee would work alongside the existing land matters committee led by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori.

Supporting the Olubadan’s position, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, said it was time for decisive action against land grabbing, which had repeatedly endangered residents.

He said, ‘If it were possible, we should seek the establishment of anti-land grabbing tribunals in all eleven local government councils in Ibadanland.’

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) thanked the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council for the opportunity to serve. He described the appointment as a call to duty and appealed for cooperation from the Oyo State Government and Ibadan residents in tackling land grabbing.

He added that the committee’s work would align with the state government’s position, as the administration also opposes land grabbing.

The meeting, presided over by Oba Rashidi Ladoja, was attended by several members of the Olubadan-in-Council, including the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Otun Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola; Otun Olubadan-Designate, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Oba Olubunmi Isioye-Dada; Osi Olubadan-Designate, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Asipa Olubadan-Designate, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Oba Akeem Adewoyin; and Ekerin Olubadan-Designate, Oba Adebayo Akande.

Also present were the Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, Chief Tajudeen Aremu, as well as the Ajiroba, Professor Soji Adejumo.

As part of effort to strengthen its industrial base, the Ogun State Government has signed an agreement with two leading renewable energy service companies (RESCOs) to generate about 1,100 MW of solar power in the state.

The companies are: Tranos Contracting Limited, which is to establish a 600MW solar panel manufacturing plant and battery pack in the state, and Vision Gas and Power Limited, which is also to establish a 500MW solar panel manufacturing plant with potential expansion to 1GW.

The partnership was sealed at the instance of the Vice-President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, during the Nigeria Renewable Energy Innovation Forum(NREIF) 2025, held in Abuja.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, stated that the forum was convened under the Federal Ministry of Power and co-organised with the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) with Vice-President Kashim Shettima as Chairman for the year 2025.

With the theme: ‘Implementing the Nigeria first policy: Facilitating Local Content Development and Manufacturing in the Renewable Energy Ecosystem NREIF2025’, the forum, according to the statement, is Nigeria’s premier platform to shape the future of renewable energy manufacturing in Nigeria by bringing together global leaders, investors, and policy mas, among others.

‘These partnerships will ultimately spotlight Ogun state as a leader in innovation, industrial readiness, and inclusive growth, while affirming our state’s commitment to economic diversification and environmental sustainability.

‘This is in tandem with our vision to attract investments that drive a robust economic base, create jobs, and ensure that our State remains a model of innovation and sustainability.

‘By expanding local capacity for clean energy production, we are reducing dependence on imports and laying a foundation for inclusive industrial growth,’ the statement read.