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ADC, NDC accuse APC of fuelling political violence in Edo ahead of 2027 elections

The Edo State chapters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have warned against the growing threat of political violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating attacks, intimidation and destruction of opposition properties across the state.

The opposition parties described the alleged incidents as unacceptable, warning that Edo State must not be turned into a theatre of political violence where opposition members are denied the freedom to participate in the democratic process.

The parties raised the concerns on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during a joint press conference in Benin City, where they called on the APC leadership and security agencies to urgently intervene and prevent further escalation of political tension.

Speaking at the event, David Olukoga, Edo State NDC chairman, and Tony Alile, his ADC counterpart, alleged that opposition members, candidates and supporters had faced repeated attacks, harassment, threats and vandalism since the commencement of political activities.

Olukoga cited the alleged vandalisation of the NDC secretariat in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and the destruction of campaign billboards belonging to the party’s candidates, Hon. Bawa Mohammed Qaleeph and Hon. Frank Uyi Omosigho.

He also alleged that party members and structures had been attacked in different parts of the state, while commercial transport operators and business owners were being threatened with sanctions for allowing opposition parties to display campaign materials or organise political gatherings.

Similarly, Alile recounted alleged attacks on ADC leaders, including an incident involving Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, during which vehicles and other properties were reportedly damaged.

He further raised concerns over alleged attacks on the residence of Professor Oserieme Osunbor, destruction of ADC campaign materials and the reported shooting of Jerry Oliha during an attack on ADC chieftain, Kenneth Imansuangbon, at Igueben on October 6, 2026.

The ADC chairman also condemned alleged threats attributed to APC state chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, including remarks involving the use of AK-47 rifles against those who refuse to support the ruling party in the 2027 general election.

Both opposition leaders said the alleged incidents threatened democratic participation and called for responsible political rhetoric, insisting that political disagreements should not degenerate into violence or intimidation.

They, however, said their parties remained committed to peaceful political engagement and would not resort to self-help, disclosing that complaints had already been lodged with the Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The parties demanded an immediate end to political intimidation, impartial investigation of the reported incidents and prosecution of anyone found culpable.

They also called for neutrality by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), protection of opposition members and a level playing field for all political parties.

Police arrest lorry driver after Mtwara accident kills three

Mtwara. Police have arrested Ibrahim Joseph, 32, the driver of a lorry allegedly involved in an accident that killed three people and injured six others in Magomeni, Mtwara-Mikindani Municipality.

The driver is alleged to have fled the scene after the accident, which occurred at around 9 am on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, along the Mtwara-Lindi road.

Mtwara Regional Police Commander (RPC) Issa Suleimani said in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, that the accident involved a semi-trailer lorry belonging to GHW (T) Ltd.

He said the accident was caused by the driver’s negligence after he allegedly encroached on the opposite side of the road without taking precautions, colliding with an auto-rickshaw.

A resident of Salem in Mtwara Region, Mr Jamswai Nanyanga, 32, was driving the three-wheeler.

‘The auto-rickshaw was travelling from Mkanaledi Main Bus Stand towards the ferry, carrying five passengers, when a motorcycle carrying two passengers and following behind crashed into it, resulting in deaths and injuries,’ reads part of the statement.

The statement identifies the deceased as Amina Chinakufaa, 42, of Chinolela; Fatuma Bohora, 56, of Luhokwe; and Somoe Hassan, 40, of Madangwa, and that they are all residents of Lindi Region.

The six injured people were identified as a motorcycle taxi rider, Mr Sharifu Mambo, 36; Ms Rukia Lipongo, 34 Ms Hajra Mohamed, 26; Ms Esha Lipondo, 37; Ms Amina Kilimile, 39; and the auto-rickshaw driver Mr Jamswai Nanyanga, 32.

RPC Suleimani said the bodies of the deceased had been taken to the mortuary at Mtwara Regional Referral Hospital (Ligula), while the injured persons were receiving treatment at the Southern Zone Referral Hospital.

He said investigations were ongoing and the suspect would be taken before the relevant legal authorities once the necessary procedures had been completed.

‘We are conducting a thorough investigation into the accident and, after completing all the necessary procedures, the suspect will be taken before the relevant legal authorities for further action,’ said the RPC.

Some eyewitnesses alleged that the driver had been drinking alcohol before the accident and called on the government to take stronger measures against motorists who violate road safety regulations.

A resident of Magomeni Street, Mr Hassan Chipatu, urged the government to maintain the system of deducting penalty points from drivers who breach traffic rules, saying some motorists continued to disregard the safety of other road users.

‘This driver had been drinking alcohol there since the night before, meaning he had been drinking throughout the night. In the morning, he set off without caring about other people or vehicles on the road. The government should help us because we are being killed through negligence,’ said Mr Chipatu.

Another resident of Mangoela, Mr Aziz Juma, said he had arrived at the scene before the accident and witnessed some Good Samaritans warning the driver against proceeding because he appeared to be drunk.

He said the driver ignored their warnings and later hit a car parked nearby before the fatal accident occurred.

‘When I arrived in the area, I found the driver being advised by Good Samaritans not to drive because he appeared to be drunk. However, he ignored them and continued his journey, later hitting a car parked nearby. That made us fear for our safety because it was clear he was not in a sound condition to drive,’ said Mr Juma.

Luxury travel demand boosts hotels in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia remains a growth pillar for luxury travel amid the ongoing Middle East crisis as more travellers shift to the region, including Thailand, viewing it as a safe haven, according to global hospitality brand Accor.

Maud Bailly, chief executive of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems at Accor, said that despite global conflicts and soaring travel expenses, the appetite for luxury travel remains positive around the world.

“Luxury goods may face some challenges, but luxury travel and experiences have not,” said Ms Bailly.

The level of luxury travel is actually increasing, benefiting Southeast Asia because it is seen as a safe haven amid war in the Middle East.

Many travellers who used to visit the Middle East, particularly Dubai, are shifting to destinations such as Thailand and Vietnam, she noted.

The theme of luxury is about being inspirational, and is deeply rooted in local destinations and authenticity, making Thailand a perfect match in this regard, said Ms Bailly.

Luxury hotel performance in the region is expected to grow year-on-year, with Thailand and Vietnam leading the market, she said.

Despite Thailand’s mature market, where Accor brands are already established, there is still potential for luxury property development on lesser-known islands and in emerging destinations, said Ms Bailly.

The company wants to convert existing properties or partner with newly built projects to bring three Accor brands — Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems — to the region.

In Southeast Asia, Accor operates 30 hotels under these three brands, with another 26 in the pipeline. In Thailand, it operates two Sofitel and seven MGallery hotels, with two new properties in Phuket expected to open by the end of this year.

Globally, Accor operates roughly 250 hotels under Sofitel and MGallery, as well as its newest brand Emblems with two properties, and 100 hotels in the pipeline.

During the first half of 2026, Accor’s luxury hotel segment reported revenue per available room (RevPar) growth of 4.5% year-on-year.

In the second quarter, its luxury RevPar excluding the Middle East grew by 9.1%, while for the third quarter it posted an uptick of 10.6%.

This year, Accor expects total year-on-year RevPar growth of 2-2.5%.

As part of its development pipeline, the company plans to offer more facilities and room types suited to multigenerational travel, as luxury accommodation nowadays caters not only to adult couples but also to families, said Ms Bailly.

Sofitel hotels are launching campaigns and promotions targeting families with children. More than 40% of Sofitel hotels worldwide are undergoing renovations to modernise their facilities and elevate brand standards, including properties in Thailand. This has also helped to drive demand for new Sofitel hotels in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, boutique luxury brand MGallery is benefiting not only from leisure tourists but also from small business and meeting groups, a trend that has continued since the pandemic.

The brand has significant growth potential in the region, as each country offers a distinct culture that could help with hotel expansion.

Emblems remains a young brand within Accor, with only two operational properties in the UK and Canada. The brand favours tranquil, iconic destinations, making it well suited to Asia’s extensive range of wellness retreats and sanctuaries, said Ms Bailly.

Neftchi set 21st-century scoring record in Azerbaijan Premier League

Azerbaijan Premier League leaders Neftchi have scored 25 goals in their opening 10 matches of the season, setting a new scoring record for the Baku-based club in the 21st century.

According to the Professional Football League (PFL), this is the club’s most prolific start to a league campaign in more than two decades.

The last time Neftchi scored at least 25 goals in their first 10 league matches was in the 2000-2001 season, when they found the net 28 times over the same period.

With their latest tally, Neftchi have recorded their best scoring return in the opening 10 rounds of a league campaign in the past 25 seasons. In the other 24 campaigns during that period, the Baku side failed to reach an average of 2.50 goals per game in their first 10 matches.

However, the club’s all-time record remains even more impressive. Neftchi hold the highest scoring record in the history of the Azerbaijan championship, which was established in 1992.

During the opening 10 matches of the 1996-1997 season, the Baku outfit scored an astonishing 42 goals, a benchmark that remains the club’s best start to a league campaign.

With gains exhausted, Govt. must overhaul tax administration: IMF

Sri Lanka must move its revenue administration from a reactive, crisis-driven model to a modern, risk-based and digitally enabled one if the tax gains that doubled revenue to 15.4% of GDP since 2021 are to endure, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, with the next phase of revenue mobilisation dependent on compliance, data and enforcement rather than higher tax rates.

The findings are contained in the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department’s (FAD) Revenue Administration Diagnostic, published by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on 30 October, 2026 in fulfilment of a structural benchmark, or reform commitment, under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF).

The report, based on a mission to Colombo from 24 June to 7 July, 2026 led by Andrew Kazora Okello, sets out the revenue administration pillar of a government-owned Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS).

The recovery from 7.3% of GDP in 2021 was led by VAT, which rose from 1.8% to 5.3% of GDP and accounted for about half the increase, while income tax rose from 1.9% to 3.5%. The IMF said, however, that the gains were made from a weak institutional base and against still-large compliance gaps, with risk-based methods emerging across the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) and Sri Lanka Excise (SLE) but not yet consistently embedded in daily operations.

‘In Sri Lanka’s case, the MTRS should be seen less as a vehicle for short-term tightening and more as a platform for locking in recent gains, updating the legal framework needed for modern administration, and moving from a reactive post-crisis model toward a more modern and trusted revenue system,’ the report said. With the easier policy gains largely realised, the IMF said the strategy should not rely mainly on further statutory rate increases.

The data point to a deeper problem than late filing. In VAT, on-time filing improved between 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, from 80.1% to 85.7% for large taxpayers and from 45.9% to 55.9% for non-large taxpayers, yet non-filing rose from 12.3% to 19.1% among non-large taxpayers and from 0.3% to 4% among large ones. ‘These data suggest that recent compliance efforts have improved filing timeliness more than they have reduced non-filing, underscoring the need for stronger non-filer identification and follow-up,’ the IMF said.

Income tax filing is weaker still. In 2025, non-filing reached 52.7% for corporate income tax (CIT), 45.6% for personal income tax (PIT) and 67.8% for individual income tax (IIT), with more taxpayers failing to file than filing on time in all three. The IMF traced this to weaknesses in non-filer detection, follow-up and enforcement credibility rather than the availability of electronic filing, and described Sri Lanka as a clear outlier with the weakest on-time filing across all major taxes among selected South Asian peers. ‘Sri Lanka’s results suggest that a large proportion of registered taxpayers are either failing to meet their filing obligations on time or have become inactive while remaining on the taxpayer register,’ the report said.

That makes register cleanup central. VAT and CIT register cleanup is on track to meet the July 2026 structural benchmark, but IIT register cleansing can proceed only once adequate server capacity is available, given the volume of records involved.

The weakness extends to employer withholding. Of 47,662 employers required to file for 2025/26, on-time filing was 81% among those managed by the Large Taxpayer Office, but 38% among about 14,000 medium corporate taxpayers and 13% among some 27,600 employers managed by regional and metropolitan offices, which the IMF said reduces the IRD’s ability to detect under-withholding or non-remittance.

At the heart of the overhaul is compliance risk management (CRM), the practice of using data to direct audit, enforcement and service resources to the highest risks. VAT compliance improvement plans are in place, but risk registers, third-party data and analytics are not used consistently across tax types, the IMF said. ‘As a result, risk analysis does not yet consistently determine who is contacted, audited, assisted, or enforced against.’ Penalties, though available in law, are not applied consistently.

The same gap shows in arrears. Tax defaults stood at about Rs. 2.1 trillion as at 31 December, 2025, compared with about Rs. 1.1 trillion in 2024, with about Rs. 1.6 trillion in dispute. ‘For debts not in dispute, continued aging points to staffing constraints, weak prioritization, and the absence of a risk-based framework to distinguish collectible debts from low-value, disputed, low-probability, or administratively uneconomic cases,’ the report said. The IRD cannot write off bad debts without submission to the Ministry of Finance.

Systems are the most immediate risk. The maintenance contract for the Revenue Administration Management Information System (RAMIS), the IRD’s core platform for registration, filing, payment, arrears, audit, refunds and taxpayer services, expires on 31 January, 2027, and the planned transition to a Sri Lanka-based support model has not begun. Foundational actions under the IRD’s IT Strategic Plan for 2025-2027, including data warehouse procurement and defining RAMIS 3.0 requirements, have also not progressed as envisaged. ‘Any interruption in vendor support, system maintenance, or operational troubleshooting could disrupt essential tax administration processes and put recent revenue gains at risk,’ the IMF warned.

Administrative readiness should also set the pace of policy. Before lowering VAT thresholds or bringing materially more taxpayers into the system, the IRD should substantially improve register quality, digital filing and payment, taxpayer service and refund risk management, the IMF said.

If sustained, the overhaul could pay off. The IMF estimated that lifting Sri Lanka’s score on the Operational Strength Index (OSI), a measure of revenue administration capability, from 0.39 to 0.55 over five years could generate additional internal revenue of about 1.9 percentage points of GDP. It cautioned that the figure is illustrative, is not the MTRS revenue objective, excludes Customs, Excise and tax policy measures, and should not be treated as revenue additional to the baseline without further analysis.

Over the longer term, the report recommended considering a modern tax procedures code covering registration through to appeals and taxpayer rights, but cautioned against reaching for structural fixes first. ‘Options such as a revenue authority model, or other forms of closer structural integration, may merit consideration, but they should follow, and not substitute for, the operational, legal, and institutional foundations needed to make such reforms effective,’ it said.

The IMF identified loss of momentum once the immediate crisis context fades as the principal implementation risk, and called for credible early wins, including cleaner taxpayer data, stronger filing and payment controls and more predictable treatment of compliant taxpayers, to sustain support for reform.

Interest rate on deposits from households up, consumer credit down, according to CBC

The interest rate on deposits from households with an agreed maturity of up to one year in September recorded an increase to 1.62%, compared to the previous month, while the interest rate on consumer credit decreased to 6.45%, according to the Statistics on Interest Rates applied by Monetary Financial Institutions (MFIs) issued by the Central Bank of Cyprus.

The CBC refers to the main developments in interest rates on new deposit and loan contracts, including contracts which were renegotiated, for the reference month of September 2026.

Regarding deposit rates it notes that the interest rate on deposits from households with an agreed maturity of up to one year recorded an increase to 1.62%, compared with 1.35% in the previous month.

The corresponding interest rate on deposits from non-financial corporations registered an increase to 1.70%, compared with 1.56% in the previous month.

Regarding lending rates, it says that the interest rate on consumer credit decreased to 6.45%, compared with 7.12% in the previous month.

The interest rate on loans for house purchase decreased to 3.88%, compared with 4.16% in the previous month.

It is noted that, the portfolio of loans for house purchase of the MFIs contains various types of loans, such as loans for primary residence, for vacation houses etc, which bear different risk and interest rate.

The composition of the housing loans portfolio varies from month to month, resulting in changes to the level of the weighted average interest rate, independently of the increases or decreases of the interest rates of the MFIs.

The interest rate on loans to non-financial corporations for amounts up to pound 1 million increased to 4.76%, compared with 4.45% in the previous month. The interest rate on loans to non-financial corporations for amounts over pound 1 million registered an increase to 4.40%, compared with 3.67% in the previous month.

Regarding amounts of pure new loans, the Statistics show that pure new loans recorded an increase to pound 596.2 million in September 2026 (from total of pound 896.8 million), compared with pound 251.4 million (from total of pound 390.1 million) in the previous month.

Pure new loans for consumption increased to pound 32.2 million (from total of pound 33.7 million), compared with pound 19.3 million in the previous month (from total of pound 20.7 million), while pure new loans for house purchase recorded an increase to pound 135.1 million (from total of pound 163.7 million), compared with pound 114.4 million in the previous month (from total of pound 141.9 million).

In addition, pure new loans to non-financial corporations for amounts up to pound 1 million increased to pound 45.4 million (from total of pound 56.6 million), compared with pound 35.5 million in the previous month (from total of pound 42.8 million).

Pure new loans to non-financial corporations for amounts over pound 1 million registered an increase to pound 376.7 million (from total of pound 635.7 million), compared with pound 77.0 million in the previous month (from total of pound 178.1 million).

As far as the Cyprus interest rates in a European context is concerned, it says that the interest rate level on outstanding loans in Cyprus is close to the respective Eurozone median, with the spread standing at -0.1% (marginally lower than the Eurozone median) for households and to 0.3% for non-financial corporations.

In contrast to the loans interest rates, interest rates on outstanding deposits in Cyprus are considered as outlier, standing at the lower level within Eurozone. This might be attributed to the excess liquidity of credit institutions in Cyprus, which is among the higher ones within Eurozone, it says, adding that indicatively, the Liquidity Coverage Ratio – LCR in Cyprus in September 2026 stood at 305%, compared with 182% (median) and 158% (mean) in European Union in June 2026 (latest available data), as well as to the short range of the banking sector in Cyprus.

Regarding the interest rates on new deposits, the situation is similar to that of outstanding deposits, due to the same reasons.

The pass – through of increases and decreases of interest rates in deposits in Cyprus appears to be weak as compared with almost all other Eurozone countries, both for households and non-financial corporations.

The share of new loans t? households for house purchase with variable interest rate is aligned with the Eurozone. The said share follows a sharply declining trend in recent years.

From almost 100% at the beginning of 2022, it has fallen to 9.8% in September 2026 and it is below the Eurozone median.

This may be partly affected by the choice of fixed-rate lending in the early years (e.g. 3-5 years), and their subsequent conversion to a floating rate. Consequently, there is a change in the behaviour of borrowers regarding interest rate risk, an element that should be taken into account in banks’ risk management policies.

The share of new loans to households and non-financial corporations with floating interest rate compares favourably with the Eurozone. The said share follows a declining trend in recent years. From almost 100% at the beginning of 2022, it has fallen to 73.8% today, which is slightly above the Eurozone median.

This may be partly affected by the same reason mentioned above and should be taken into account in banks’ risk management policies, the CBC says.

Over 250 Raid Amazones participants arrive for international adventure challenge in Kalutara

Over 250 international women have arrived in Sri Lanka for the globally recognised adventure challenge Raid Amazones 2026, which began yesterday in Kalutara.

The contingent included competitors event organisers, media representatives and medical personnel. The 2026 Raid Amazones will be conducted until 10 November bringing international attention to the country’s adventure tourism potential, natural landscapes and distinctive hospitality.

Founded in 2001 by French adventure event specialist Alexandre Debanne, Raid Amazones is an internationally recognised women-only adventure challenge that combines physical endurance, teamwork and outdoor exploration with cultural discovery. The event encourages women to step beyond their comfort zones, build connections and experience destinations through meaningful interactions with local communities.

Returning to Sri Lanka for its eighth edition, the event will take participants through the diverse landscapes of Kalutara, including its coastline, rivers, wetlands, tropical vegetation and rural communities. Beyond the adventure activities, participants will have opportunities to discover Sri Lankan traditions, cuisine and the warmth of local hospitality.

Connaissance de Ceylan, one of Sri Lanka’s leading destination management companies, is serving as the official ground handling partner for Raid Amazones Sri Lanka 2026. The company is coordinating local ground operations, transfers and logistical arrangements, working closely with the international organising team and relevant stakeholders to ensure a seamless experience for the visiting participants and delegation.

Connaissance de Ceylan Director – Marketing and Business Development Maxime Wickramasinghe said: ‘Welcoming an international community of this scale is a wonderful opportunity to showcase what Sri Lanka has to offer. As the official ground handling partner, Connaissance de Ceylan is working closely with the Raid Amazones team to ensure that participants enjoy a smooth and memorable experience from the moment they arrive in the country. Beyond the operational aspects, we want every participant to experience our hospitality, discover our diverse landscapes and take home a genuine appreciation of Sri Lanka.’

The event is being delivered through a collaborative partnership between Raid Amazones, SriLankan Airlines and Connaissance de Ceylan, with the support of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. Turyaa Kalutara serves as the official accommodation partner, hosting participants and the international delegation throughout the event.

Raid Amazones 2026 provides another valuable opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka as a destination where adventure, nature, culture and authentic experiences come together.

Kimi Antonelli becomes F1’s youngest world champion in Mexico City

Kimi Antonelli has become Formula One’s youngest world champion at 20 years and 68 days old with his third-place finish for Mercedes at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

The first Italian champion since 1953 sobbed with joy over the team radio as he took the chequered flag at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the red-flagged, restarted race for his second win of the season, but Antonelli’s overall lead reached an unassailable 119 points after finishing third.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton started from pole position and took a close second place – after clashing with teammate Charles Leclerc – on an afternoon of drama, with two safety cars, multiple crashes and an agonising 33-minute halt with 25 of the 71 laps remaining.

‘Get in there, Kimi. Champion of the world,’ said his race engineer Peter Bonnington, a regular target for the young driver’s practical jokes.

‘We did it. Thank you so much,’ gasped the Italian, whose parents and sister were there to embrace him when he stepped out of the car. He was then mobbed by his pit crew.

The previous youngest champion was Germany’s Sebastian Vettel, who took the first of his four with Red Bull at 23 years and 134 days old in 2010.

The last Italian champion was Alberto Ascari, 73 years earlier. ‘On the last lap, I just backed off, because I just couldn’t see the track. I was getting emotional,’ Antonelli told a later news conference. ‘So it was just good to bring it home.’

Leclerc finished fourth, McLaren’s outgoing champion Lando Norris fifth, and Antonelli’s teammate George Russell only sixth in a race he had to win to have any chance of staying in contention.

That also meant that Verstappen went second in the overall standings, with Hamilton third and preseason favourite Russell plummeting to fourth, 130 points behind Antonelli.

Mercedes have 630 points in the constructors’ standings to Ferrari’s 504 and could clinch that title in Brazil next weekend.

The race was stopped after a brief safety car deployment on lap 46 of 71 after Valtteri Bottas suffered a high-speed front-left suspension failure down the straight, with his Cadillac pitching uncontrollably into the barriers at turn one.

Bottas received medical attention in the car, but then walked to an ambulance, giving a thumbs-up, as the rest of the field returned to the pits. He went to the medical centre and was released.

Verstappen led from the restart, challenged by Hamilton, with Antonelli passing Leclerc. There was then another safety car when Lindblad and Piastri collided, with the field released to race again with nine laps to the chequered flag.

Hamilton had led away from the original pole position for the 105th time in his career, but the first for Ferrari at a full Grand Prix, with Leclerc slotting in behind from third on the grid.

The British driver held him off as they went side by side through the opening corners, but Leclerc cut turn four and went across the grass as they battled for the lead, with Verstappen then taking second from Hamilton as the Ferrari looped wide.

‘Pushed out by own teammate,’ Hamilton said over the radio.

The stewards handed Leclerc a five-second penalty, but that did little for Hamilton, who remained behind his teammate after their respective stops on laps 28 and 29, with the Monegasque taking his penalty.

Russell, who had lined up on the front row, made a poor start and dropped to fifth. He also collided with Hadjar, punting the Red Bull off, and the stewards handed him a 10-second penalty.

Accord Party prays court to dismiss suit seeking candidates’ disqualification

The Accord Party has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking disqualification of all its candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The party challenged the competence of the suit filed by its National Secretary, Adebukola Ajaja, on the grounds that the case was statute barred, having been instituted outside the 14 days allowed under the law.

The party, in a preliminary objection marked: FHC/ABJ/CV/2524/2026 and filed by Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, also queried the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

Adetunbi argued that the issue of candidates’ nomination falls within the internal affairs of a political party.

The senior lawyer, while querying the plaintiff’s locus standi to file the suit for not being an aspirant in the primary election conducted on May 29, also faulted the competence of the suit on the grounds that proper parties were not included.

He argued that while the plaintiff wants the court to nullify the nomination of its candidates, none of the candidates to be affected by the outcome of the suit were made parties to afford them the opportunity of being heard.

He also faulted the competence of the suit on the grounds that it is allegedly premature because the plaintiff failed to give it the required 21 days’ pre-action notice.

Accord, listed as the 2nd defendant, argued that its primary was conducted in accordance with all relevant laws and guidelines.

It added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had since recognised its outcome and the list of candidates duly submitted to the electoral umpire in the prescribed format.

It further argued that, as against the plaintiff’s contention, the National Chairman and the National Organising Secretary could validly sign and submit candidates’ lists and forms to INEC where the National Security is unavailable in line with Article 18 of the party’s constitution and Regulations 25(3), 28(2) of INEC’s Guidelines.

‘INEC Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties did not in any way specify that the plaintiff herein must sign the forwarding letter, neither did the Constitution of the 2nd defendant require her (the plaintiff) to sign.

‘The National Executives of the party expressly authorised the 4th defendant to co-sign with the 3rd defendant. No wrong has been done,’ it said.

Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Jegede v. INEC, Accord Party argued that even if it was only its National Chairman that signed, ‘the plaintiff’s case is still bound to fail because the signature of the National Chairman suffices on the authority of Jegede v. INEC.’

Accord Party’s National Chairman, Maxwell Mgbudem, stated in a counter-affidavit that contrary to the plaintiff’s claim that her responsibilities were usurped by the National Organising Secretary, she actually abandoned her duties.

Mgbudem, who queried the plaintiff’s handling of the party’s funds, accused her of making false claims about the number of cases pending in court in relation to the primary election, stating that not less than 16 were filed.

October tourist arrivals hit all-time monthly high

Sri Lanka recorded its highest-ever monthly tourist arrivals in October, welcoming 168,625 visitors as demand strengthened ahead of the winter season, although the increase in visitor numbers has yet to translate into higher tourism earnings.

The latest figures released by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) show October arrivals surpassing the previous monthly record of 165,193 set in 2025, marking a 2.08% year-on-year (YoY) increase.

The performance lifted cumulative arrivals during the first 10 months of 2026 to over 1.86 million, although the total remained 1.5% below the corresponding period last year.

The October recovery is particularly significant given the disruption to international travel caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have affected long-haul air traffic from Europe and contributed to higher travel costs across several markets.

However, industry stakeholders remain cautious about the record arrivals, pointing to the continuing weakness in tourism receipts, which are a more significant measure of the sector’s contribution to foreign exchange earnings and the wider economy.

India provided the strongest impetus to October’s performance, with arrivals from the market rising 19.79% month-on-month to 62,211, accounting for 37% of total visitors. This was the highest monthly contribution from India so far in 2026, surpassing the previous peaks of 60,342 in May and 52,062 in January.

The UK followed with 12,402 visitors, representing 7% of arrivals, while China contributed 11,190 (7%), Australia 8,509 (5%) and Germany 8,027 (5%). Russia, France, Bangladesh, the US and the Maldives were among the other significant source markets.

Sri Lanka registered an average of 5,440 arrivals per day in October, compared with 5,329 during the same period last year. The highest daily influx was 7,045 visitors on 17 October.

India continued to consolidate its position as Sri Lanka’s largest source market during the first 10 months, contributing 499,625 visitors, or 27% of total arrivals. This represented an increase of 76,220 Indian travellers compared with the corresponding period last year.

The UK ranked second with 173,129 visitors , followed by China with 123,740, Germany with 105,305 and Australia with 95,498.

Although arrivals from India and Australia registered growth, the UK and Germany remained below their corresponding year-earlier levels. China, meanwhile, posted an improvement against the previous year’s comparable period.

The latest October performance comes against a more challenging outlook for the full year, following the SLTDA’s downward revision of its 2026 arrival projections in early September amid the continuing Middle East conflict, higher energy costs and uncertainty surrounding international travel.

Under the revised scenarios, full-year arrivals are projected to range between 2,377,370 and 2,603,311, depending on how external conditions evolve during the remaining months.

The lower-end projection would place arrivals only marginally above the 2025 record, while the upper scenario of around 2.6 million would still fall short of the original three million target by nearly 400,000 visitors.