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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that anyone who threatens, intimidates or harms the commission’s ad hoc staff, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members or permanent personnel will be brought to justice.

Amupitan gave the warning on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the South-South Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.

‘Insecurity may pose a challenge, but our collective constitutional resolve is far stronger. Let me again send a clear message from Port Harcourt: anyone who attempts to threaten, intimidate, or harm our ad hoc staff, NYSC members, or permanent personnel will be brought to justice under the full weight of the law,’ he said.

The chairman, who was accompanied by national commissioners, directors and technical aides, said the South-South meeting was the fifth in a series of zonal assessments, following those held in the South-West, North-West, South-East and North-East.

He said his physical presence in each zone reflected the commission’s field-first approach, noting that true electoral integrity was forged in the field across 123 local government areas in the six South-South states.

On election security, Amupitan said the commission had moved from reactive, election-day deployments to a proactive, intelligence-led arrangement.

‘We have moved away from reactive, election-day security deployments towards a proactive, intelligence-led security architecture that we term the ‘ICCES Tentacle.’ This framework extends inter-agency security coordination from national and state headquarters directly down to the most remote Local Government Areas and Registration Area Centres,’ he said.

He identified the three pillars of the framework as mapping and mitigating threats, ensuring safety and guaranteeing access to polling units.

He said the arrangement would provide a protective umbrella for all electoral personnel, technological assets, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and server infrastructure, as well as voters. It would also ensure that every polling unit remained safe and peaceful.

The chairman disclosed that the South-South security arrangement relied on approximately 60 major operational formations, headquarters and state commands operating under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), bringing together the military, naval, air, police and other security agencies.

‘Together, this integrated multi-agency network represents the operational backbone that guarantees intelligence-led protection across every riverine creek, coastal axis and land-based polling unit in the Niger Delta,’ he said.

Amupitan said the South-South accounted for the fourth-largest voting bloc, with 15,823,550 registered voters, representing 15.30 per cent of the national register. Rivers State alone has 3,736,434 registered voters across 23 local government areas.

He said the figures represented citizens whose constitutional right to choose their leaders in a secure and transparent environment must be guaranteed.

Giving an update on preparations, the chairman said the commission had completed nine of the 14 major statutory milestones in its timetable for the 2027 general election, which would involve more than 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

He said the commission had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to ensure the timely and secure deployment of personnel and materials to riverine and coastal communities. He added that new operational pick-up vehicles had been distributed to state and LGA offices.

On staff welfare, he said the commission had moved its workforce out of the civil service salary structure under the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, effective January 1, 2026, and approved a 150 per cent increase in monthly state overhead allocations, effective July 1, 2026.

‘To our field staff: you are the true face of INEC,’ he said.

He warned that partisan leanings, negligence, financial impropriety or absenteeism would attract swift sanctions. He also reminded staff that Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026 mandated an Oath of Neutrality.

‘False narratives only gain traction when administrative execution falters. When our field execution is flawless, and our data pipeline is clear, no digital algorithm can displace the physical reality of a transparent vote,’ he said.

In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Dr Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, said the engagement provided an opportunity to evaluate preparedness, identify operational gaps and develop strategies ahead of election day.

‘This is not merely an occasion to report activities undertaken. It is an opportunity to demonstrate readiness, identify outstanding tasks, establish clear priorities and strengthen mechanisms for monitoring implementation,’ he said.

He called for stronger collaboration between the headquarters and state offices and urged staff to remain vigilant against misinformation.

The Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Helen Ajayi, outlined the key objectives of the engagement to include securing the support of traditional rulers for grassroots mobilisation, boosting staff morale and assessing the level of electoral preparedness.

INEC to end late arrival of materials, lowers BVAS threshold

Meanwhile, Amupitan has assured Nigerians that delays in the delivery of election materials, which marred previous elections, will not be repeated in 2027.

He gave the assurance on Friday, October 30, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the King and Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, His Royal Majesty, Barr. Uchechukwu Isaiah Elikwu, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, in Rivers State.

‘The era in which elections were supposed to start by 8:30 am but materials sometimes arrived very late must come to an end,’ he said.

He disclosed that the voter threshold for deploying additional BVAS machines had been reduced from 1,250 to 850 voters per polling unit.

‘We realise that the true dynamics of democracy are shaped in the field, within our local communities, across riverine channels, at Registration Area Centres and at polling units where citizens exercise their sovereign right,’ he said.

He said the commission had prioritised direct engagement with traditional rulers, describing royal fathers as anchors of grassroots peace, civic engagement and community stability.

He listed the monarchs visited so far to include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli; the Ogadagidi I of Edem-An Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu; and the Emir of Gombe, Dr Abubakar Shehu III.

Amupitan appealed to royal fathers to help mobilise residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and turn out to vote in 2027. He also urged them to educate citizens on the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence.

In response, Eze Epara Rebisi XII assured the commission of the support of traditional rulers and urged it to remain steadfast, fair and impartial.

‘Do the right thing, and we assure you of our support. We will mobilise our people to collect their PVCs and come out to vote. We assure you of our unflinching support,’ he said.

Oando Plc has increased its average daily oil and gas production by 14 per cent to 42,985 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) in the first nine months of 2026, as revenue rose by nine per cent to N2.78 trillion on the back of higher crude oil liftings, increased gas and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) sales, and improved realised prices.

According to the company’s unaudited financial results for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, operational performance improved across its upstream portfolio, with growth in crude oil, natural gas, and NGL production.

Average daily production rose from 37,614 boepd in the corresponding period of 2025 to 42,985 boepd in 2026, reflecting increased investment, improved operational efficiency, and better facility reliability.

Crude oil production also increased by 12 per cent to 12,193 barrels per day, while gas production rose by 13 per cent to 28,689 boepd.

Its NGL production recorded the highest growth, increasing by 53 per cent to 2,103 barrels per day.

The improved output also translated into higher sales volumes. Crude oil liftings increased by 43 per cent to 3.97 million barrels, while natural gas sales rose by five per cent to 34.01 billion standard cubic feet (Bscf).

NGL sales surged by 90 per cent to 0.57 million barrels, pushing total exploration and production sales volumes up by 21 per cent to 10.21 million barrels of oil equivalent.

Commenting on the performance, Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, said the results reflected the impact of disciplined execution under the company’s operatorship and renewed investment drive.

He said production growth was supported by improved efficiency, higher facility uptime and lower operating costs across the company’s expanded upstream portfolio.

According to him, facility uptime improved to 96.1 per cent from 85 per cent in the corresponding period of 2025, while production operating costs declined by 22 per cent to $15.39 per barrel of oil equivalent.

The company, according to him, also recorded a significant improvement in profitability, moving from an operating loss of N109.7 billion in the first nine months of 2025 to an operating profit of N159.7 billion in the review period.

Gross profit increased by 483 per cent to N174.5 billion from N29.8 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Tinubu attributed the improvement to higher production, better operational reliability, lower unit costs and increased efficiency across the company’s assets.

On its investment programme, he said the company had committed N110.7 billion to capital expenditure during the period, largely directed towards drilling activities across Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 60-63.

‘The company’s seven-well drilling programme for 2026 is progressing across its operated assets. Two wells, Idu 6ST and Idu 15, have been completed and brought on stream, while workovers at Samabri 4T and Samabri 7T have also been completed.

‘ Drilling is ongoing at Idu T and Samabri A50, with the final well, Ogbainbiri, scheduled to commence in December,’ the company said.

On completion, the company said the drilling campaign is expected to add between 16,000 and 20,000 boepd gross production, helping to offset natural field decline and sustain output growth.

The programme is also expected to support Oando’s medium-term ambition of increasing production to approximately 100,000 boepd within the next four to five years.

Meanwhile, the company reported that total borrowings declined to N2.16 trillion, representing a 22 per cent reduction from the peak recorded at the end of 2024.

Cash generated from operations stood at N285 billion during the review period.

In the clean energy segment, Oando’s electric mobility partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) recorded more than 212,000 passenger journeys in the first nine months of 2026, with average capacity utilisation of 73 per cent.

‘An additional 11 electric buses, the first batch of a planned 50, have arrived in Lagos, bringing the fleet to 13. The expanded fleet is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter, with LAMATA operating the buses on behalf of Lagos State,’ the statement read.

Looking ahead, Oando said it has narrowed its full-year production guidance to between 40,000 and 45,000 boepd, while projecting capital expenditure of $90 million to $100 million for 2026, primarily targeting high-impact, short-cycle upstream activities.

Tinubu said the company’s priorities for the remaining months of the year included completing its drilling programme, sustaining operational reliability and strengthening shareholders’ funds through an impending equity raise.

He added that the initiatives would help reduce leverage, improve the company’s capacity to finance future growth and support potential shareholder distributions.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that his administration has ended the era of political profiteering, intimidation and irresponsibility in the state, insisting that Abia would never return to what he described as years of bad governance.

Governor Otti made the declaration on Sunday at the formal flag-off of his re-election campaign at the Umuahia Township Stadium, where thousands of Labour Party supporters from the 17 local government areas of the state converged for the ceremony.

The event, which transformed the Abia capital into a carnival-like atmosphere, attracted various support groups, organisations and dance troupes, as party faithful expressed solidarity with the governor’s bid to secure another four-year term.

The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, disclosed this in a statement titled ‘The world now knows that Abia is on the right track: Never shall we return to the era of irresponsibility’, made available to the Nigerian Tribune.

Addressing supporters, Governor Otti recalled his unsuccessful attempts to rescue the state from what he described as years of man-made hardship in 2015 and 2019, declaring that the political siege on Abia was eventually broken in 2023.

‘We ended the era of political profiteers. We defied intimidation to liberate Abia and break Abia from the era of siege. Never shall we go back to the era of irresponsibility. Nothing will make us go back to Egypt,’ he declared.

Recalling the experiences of residents whose properties were allegedly demolished because of their political affiliations, the governor assured Abians that such incidents would not happen again, declaring: ‘Never again will anyone’s fence be pulled down on account of political choices. I declare Abia free.’

He said his administration required another four years to consolidate its achievements and establish enduring institutional safeguards that would protect ongoing reforms, promote transparency and eliminate what he described as the remaining vestiges of mediocrity in the state.

‘The only battle worth fighting is the one geared towards leaving Abia better than I met it, and I enjoin you to join me as we continue to fight that fight. I appeal to you to join me in fighting that battle in the next four years in order to consolidate on our records of performance,’ Governor Otti said.

Unveiling his campaign manifesto, ‘The New Abia: From rescue to consolidation’, the governor said it contained detailed plans for sustaining the achievements of the past three and a half years, adding that institutionalising transparency remained a major priority of his administration.

Highlighting his administration’s performance, Governor Otti disclosed that about 400 road projects covering more than 1,000 kilometres had been completed across the state.

He also listed improvements in primary healthcare, the employment of over 9,000 teachers, the construction of smart schools and investments in Abia State University, Uturu, and Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.

Other areas, according to him, included the revival of industries in Aba, support for small and medium-scale enterprises and investments in agriculture to promote food sufficiency.

Governor Otti further declared that his administration had restored the dignity of Abians, urging supporters to vote for the Labour Party in all elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.

However, in a demonstration of political tolerance, he extended goodwill to candidates of other political parties and directed state functionaries to make public facilities available to any political party seeking to use them for campaign activities, provided the required fees were paid and applicable regulations observed.

Governor Otti also urged his supporters to focus their campaigns on issues, policies and records of performance, warning against political brigandage and other electoral misconduct.

The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has unveiled a renewed enforcement drive to strengthen regulatory compliance across the state’s commercial transport sector targeting public safety.

The initiative, being executed through its Directorate of Public Transport and Commuter Services (PTCS), is aimed at enhancing public safety, commuter security, accountability and effective enforcement of transportation standards.

Disclosing this, the Director, Public Transport and Commuter Service, Mr. Nuhman Edu, said the new framework captures a coordinated operational synergy between the PTCS, the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

According to him, the collaboration will address critical safety compliance gaps, including; lack of proper commuter vehicle registration, lack of vehicle body tags, stage carriage permits, driver’s badges and conductor badges among commercial drivers.

Edu explained that the synergy with VIS and LASTMA will strengthen verification of safety documents, especially during routine enforcement operations.’Where a vehicle is found to be non-compliant, enforcement or compliance procedures will be initiated strictly in accordance with extant laws, regulations, approved guidelines and established operational procedures,’ he said in a statement signed by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Director, Public Affairs.

He stressed that properly identified vehicles and drivers will be traceable, a move that will enhance accountability of transport operators, aid investigation of vehicles used to commit crimes and ensure prompt resolution of commuter complaints.

To ensure effective compliance, Edu noted that the framework will clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all agencies across six key areas: verification of prescribed PTCS products and documentation; recording and documentation of vehicle compliance status; identification and documentation of non-compliance cases; initiation of appropriate enforcement or corrective measures; reporting, information exchange and data-sharing among the agencies; and referral of cases requiring further administrative or regulatory action to the appropriate authority.

The Director added that commuter safety and security remain the major motivation for regulating public transportation. He said the Ministry will engage transport unions and associations through stakeholder meetings, media campaigns and sensitization programs to help operators understand the objectives, requirements and procedures of the compliance initiative.

Edu further disclosed that the Ministry has resolved to establish continuous monitoring, evaluation and assessment of compliance levels statewide, with a clear reporting and feedback mechanism for communicating compliance gaps and emerging issues for timely resolution.

Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has been dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over its alleged refusal and failure to release the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the asset declaration form submitted by the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi Gregory.

In a notification letter dated 30th October 2026 and made available to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend, counsel to the plaintiff, Fort Legal and Co., informed the Chairman of the CCB of a pending suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2504/2026, between Dr. Arabambi Abayomi v. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and 3 Others before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

According to the letter signed by O. Peter Asimegbe, Esq., the suit concerns the CCB’s refusal to issue the CTC of Peter Obi’s asset declaration form, submitted to the Bureau in 2006 or at any other time, covering the period of 17th March 2006 to 17th March 2014, when he served as Governor of Anambra State under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The letter reads in part: ‘Pursuant to our client instruction, we hereby bring to your notice our client pending legal suit against you for your failure and refusal to release to our client the Certified True Copy of the asset declaration form of Mr. Peter Obi Gregory, he submitted to your office containing his assets declaration particulars and all attached documents to the asset declaration form he submitted to your office in 2006 prior and when he was sworn in as the Governor of Anambra State for the period of 17th March, 2006 to 17th March, 2014 when he served as the Governor of Anambra State under the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).’

According to the document, the claimant, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, is described as a Nigerian citizen and a registered voter in Ogun State. His counsel said the suit is predicated on his legal right under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, and the Freedom of Information Act 2011.

The letter addressed to the Chairman of the CCB further stated that: ‘In the said suit, the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Chairman CCB are the 1st and 2nd Respondents. The suit is predicated on our client’s legal right under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and the Freedom of Information Act 2011, and we urge your office to take the processes herein annexed as notification of the pending suit filed by our client at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

‘Find attached the Originating Motion duly filed on 15th day of October, 2026 and all its accompanied documents and processes as annexure A for ease of reference.’

The CCB and its Chairman are listed as the 1st and 2nd Respondents in the suit. The letter urged the Bureau to treat the annexed processes as notification of the pending suit filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

It added that the Originating Motion was duly filed on 15th October 2026, with all accompanying documents and processes attached as Annexure A for ease of reference.

The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) has admitted award-winning public relations practitioner, Yushau A. Shuaib, as a Fellow, conferring on him the prestigious post-nominal FIPRA designation.

IPRA President, Esther Cobbah, signed Shuaib’s Fellowship certificate, which recognises his more than six years of professional membership of the major global network founded in May 1955.

IPRA Secretary-General Philip Sheppard said the Fellows status is bestowed on associates who have maintained a long-term affiliation while demonstrating commitment to global public relations standards and ethical practice.

The foremost organisation has members in up to 95 countries and has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council and UNESCO since 1984 and 1983, respectively.

Shuaib is the CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR)-publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, and Spokespersons Digest-which has earned numerous honours from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), African Public Relations Association (APRA), SABRE Awards Africa, and IPRA’s Golden World Awards (GWA).

The Fellowship comes weeks after IMPR recorded its biggest international achievement at the 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards in Athens, Greece, where it won multiple prizes, including the coveted Grand Prix, for its work on ‘AI in Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy.’

Led by Shuaib, the campaign evolved from a 107-page empirical study on the application of artificial intelligence in crisis communication in Nigeria, and was supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and other stakeholders.

The win in the historic city where IPRA adopted its Code of Athens in 1965 followed a decade of IMPR’s participation in the GWA. In 2016, in Doha, Qatar, Shuaib received a Golden World Award for Crisis Management, while IMPR was ranked the most creative PR agency worldwide in the 2020 PRovoke Media Global Creative Index.

Shuaib graduated in Mass Communication from Bayero University, Kano, in 1992, winning the NIPR President’s Prize as the Best Graduating Student in Public Relations. He was named PR Person of the Year for Kano and Jigawa States in 1995, and obtained a Master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Westminster, London, in 2010.

Prior to private practice, Shuaib built an extensive career in government communication. He served as Public Relations Officer at Government House, Asaba, Delta State, and in communication roles at the Federal Ministries of Information, Finance, and Health.

The expert subsequently headed the public relations department at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), before retiring from public service.

Shuaib convenes the annual National Spokespersons Awards (NS-Awards) and the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (PYCF), initiatives dedicated to recognising excellence in strategic communication and mentoring emerging journalists and communication professionals.

He is the author of several books on media, public relations, and crisis communication, including A Dozen Tips for Media Relations, Financial Public Relations in Nigeria, Strictly Personal: Writings for the Media, Award-Winning Crisis Communication Strategies, and MNI versus MNIPR in NIPSS.

The 12th Lagos auction will showcase works by Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ablade Glover, Uche Okeke, and other top artists, highlighting Africa’s modern and contemporary art.

SOGAL invites a new generation of collectors to explore the legacies of African art’s modern masters at its 12th auction, ‘Echoes of Legacy’, which brings together artists who have shaped the continent’s art scene.

The auction will be held online today, Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, after public previews at Signature Beyond Gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos, from October 28 to 30.

Signature Beyond Gallery, Sogal’s parent company, organizes the auction to show how African art has evolved from early modernists to today’s leading artists. The selection spans generations and highlights the lasting impact of artists like Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ablade Glover, and Uche Okeke.

The gallery sees this theme as a chance to celebrate artists, honour their legacies, and inspire collectors. ‘Echoes of Legacy’ aims to link the history of African art with the interests of today’s growing market for modern and contemporary works.

‘For the discerning collector, this is a chance to find remarkable works, connect with important artistic legacies, and add something meaningful to a collection,’ the gallery said. ‘Discover the works and own a piece of the legacy.’

The auction will take place only online at auction.sogalart.com. Anyone who wants to bid must register to join the live sale.

Those unable to attend the online auction may submit absentee bids by email to [email protected]. Such bids must include the bidder’s full name and contact details, the relevant lot numbers and the maximum amount they are willing to offer for each work. All submissions are subject to verification and acceptance by Sogal.

New bidders need to provide valid ID and finish the registration steps. The gallery notes that incomplete submissions may not be processed.

Absentee bids must arrive by 4 pm on Saturday, November 7. The gallery reminds bidders that submitting an absentee bid does not guarantee a purchase, as all offers follow Sogal’s terms and conditions.

It also asked prospective buyers to review the catalogue and ask for condition reports if needed before bidding because bidders are responsible for checking the condition, authenticity, and suitability of each lot.

The Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has instituted a suit against the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mohammed Mamman Nami and Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, SAN, before the Minna Division of the Federal High Court.

The suit followed the defection of the two politicians, alongside their supporters, from the ruling APC to their present political parties.

The case was instituted by a team of 11 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), led by Jacob Johnson Usman of OJOCHOGWU Chambers, Abuja.

Also joined in the suit are the PDP, SDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and several individuals.

Those individuals named in the originating summons include Peter Jiya, Sadiq Mohammed Rabiu, Musa Mamman, Alhassan Adamu Sonfada, Umar Isah, Abubakar Ndanusa and Zango Danlami Idris.

Prior to their defection, Nami and Ndarani were prominent stakeholders in the APC but abandoned the party following disagreements arising from the state primary election.