Category: Business Day

With political campaigns for the 2027 general election scheduled to begin on Wednesday, political parties and their candidates are entering one of the most expensive phases of the electoral process, amid mounting concerns over where the billions of naira required to prosecute the contests will come from.

The funding question is becoming increasingly contentious as the Electoral Act 2026 has substantially raised the statutory limits on election spending. Political actors, civil society groups and anti-corruption agencies have warned that the rising cost of securing political power could create room for corruption and diversion of public resources.

Under the Electoral Act 2026, presidential candidates can spend up to N10 billion, against the previous N5 billion limit, while the governorship ceiling has risen from N1 billion to N3 billion. The limit for Senatorial candidates increased from N100 million to N500 million, while House of Representatives candidates can now spend up to N250 million, against N70 million previously.

State House of Assembly candidates can spend N100 million, compared to N30 million previously, while Area Council chairmanship and councillorship candidates can spend N60 million and N10 million, respectively.

Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader, said the upward review was designed to reflect prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of political campaigns while retaining statutory controls over election expenditure.

But the new ceilings have intensified a more fundamental question on how candidates would raise the enormous sums required to compete, and what those providing the money would expect in return?

The scale of the financial barrier was already evident prior to the parties’ primaries. Ahead of the 2027 primaries, the APC sold its expression of interest and nomination forms at N100 million for the presidency, N50 million for governorship, N20 million for the Senate, N10 million for the House of Representatives and N5 million for State House of Assembly positions.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) initially pegged its presidential expression of interest and nomination forms at N100 million before reducing the combined fee to N90 million. The revised fees were N30 million for governorship, N10 million for Senate, N5 million for the House of Representatives and N2 million for State House of Assembly.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) pegged its combined expression of interest and nomination fees at N60 million for the presidency, N30 million for governorship, N8 million for Senate, N6 million for the House of Representatives and N2.5 million for State House of Assembly. Sixteen ‘small’ parties equally generated huge sums of money from the sale of forms.

The corruption question

Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has provided perhaps, the clearest indication of the scale of the problem.

Olukoyede disclosed in Ilorin, Kwara State, that some governorship aspirants spent between N20 billion and N30 billion to secure electoral victory, warning that the enormous cost of political competition was becoming a threat to democratic governance and a driver of corruption.

Speaking at the inaugural High-Level Guest Speakers’ Series organised by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Olukoyede said huge investments made by politicians to win elections could create pressure on successful candidates to recover their expenditure after assuming office.

That, he warned, could lead to the diversion of public resources and further institutionalise corruption.

The EFCC chairman also said the commission remained committed to tackling vote-buying, financial inducement and other practices capable of compromising the credibility of the electoral process.

Jibrin Ibrahim, professor of Political Science and senior fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, has similarly warned that the growing influence of money is turning elections into contests increasingly dominated by wealthy politicians, godfathers and political financiers.

Ibrahim argued that poverty had made many voters vulnerable to financial inducement, turning the ballot into a commodity that could be bought and sold. He said the trend was weakening the legitimacy of the democratic system, encouraging voter apathy and creating the perception that electoral outcomes are increasingly determined by Nigerians with money, influence and access to political power.

Battle for campaign financing

For President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), pundits say the financing equation is complicated by the advantage of incumbency. The APC controls the federal government and 31 of the 36 state governments, giving the party access to a nationwide political structure, elected officials and a broad network of political supporters.

Dayo Israel, APC National Youth Leader and member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), acknowledged that the ruling party itself would depend on support from the presidency and APC governors to prosecute its 2027 campaign.

‘The party doesn’t have money. We know that the party has to rely on the administration, the president and our governors to support us. That is the reality,’ Israel said during the unveiling of the APC Youth Resource Centre in Abuja.

The opposition parties face a more difficult financial landscape. Dele Momodu, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain and supporter of Atiku Abubakar, has argued that the financial disparity between the opposition and Tinubu’s camp is enormous.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Momodu said, ‘Atiku does not have one per cent of Tinubu’s war chest,’ Momodu said. He argued that the President’s political influence and access to resources gave him a substantial financial advantage. The allegation has sharpened concerns about the impact of incumbency on the competitiveness of the 2027 election.

Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, also accused APC governors of diverting deductions from Federation Account allocations to finance President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, alleging that more than N800 billion had been raised through the deductions.

Felix Morka, National Publicity Secretary of the APC, however, dismissed the allegation as baseless. The issue of public resources and political campaigns has also attracted the attention of civil society organisations.

Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, has called for investigations into allegations that serving governors were mobilising public resources for political campaigns. Mamedu argued that using state resources for partisan political activities would be particularly troubling at a time of economic hardship, debt pressures, inadequate public services and widespread poverty.

ActionAid also called for impeachment where governors are found to have diverted public funds for political campaigns.

Adding another twist to the campaign-financing intrigues, Atiku Abubakar, ADC presidential candidate, recently disclosed that an unknown donor deposited campaign funds into his private account.

Kingsley Chinda, Rivers State governorship candidate and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, described the monetisation of political party nominations as arguably the ‘most corrupt phase’ of Nigeria’s electoral process.

Chinda questioned why nomination forms should cost millions of naira, arguing that the practice creates a financial barrier even before candidates begin campaigning. For many aspirants, the financial burden begins with securing a party ticket and continues through mobilisation, transportation, logistics, media advertising, agents, digital campaigns and voter outreach.

Chief Peter Ameh, senatorial candidate of the NDC and former national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), told BusinessDay that his party intended to rely heavily on grassroots mobilisation and donations from ordinary citizens.

‘If people are interested in a political movement, they will support it,’ Ameh said. He argued that the level of public engagement gave him confidence that the NDC campaign could be largely people-funded.

Meanwhile, multiple sources said investigations by the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have made some potential donors more reluctant to openly finance political activities.

The PDP also faces the challenge of replicating its historic fundraising capacity. The party generated about N21 billion at a 2014 fundraising event ahead of the 2015 election, although it subsequently clarified that the money was not exclusively for then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign and was also intended for party projects. However, the situation looks different today.

Jackson Lekan Ojo, political analyst, told BusinessDay that ‘many financiers are adopting a wait-and-see approach until the political landscape becomes clearer.’

For analysts, the central concern is no longer simply how much candidates are legally permitted to spend, but how the money will be raised and whether campaign financing will translate into obligations after elections.

With campaigns beginning on Wednesday, the scramble for political financing is therefore moving from the background to the centre of the 2027 contest. The question confronting Nigeria ahead of 2027 is consequently not only who will win the election, but who will finance the race, how much will be spent and what will be demanded in return.

Massive jubilation is currently ongoing in Osogbo, the state capital of Osun, in Ede, the hometown of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Accord Party, and other parts of the state, after recording a landslide victory at the just concluded governorship election.

BusinessDay reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party as the winner of the Osun State governorship election held on Saturday.

The incumbent secured a second term after defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, his closest contender, in a contest marked by allegations of vote buying, electoral irregularities and intense political rivalry.

‘Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeen of the Accord Party having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared the winner and his return elected,’ Joshua Ogunwole, Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, who is the returning officer for the poll declared on Sunday morning.

The governor secured a total of 511,067 votes, emerging victorious in 19 of the 30 local government areas in the state. He won with a margin of 66,252 votes.

The first runner-up, Oyebamiji of the APC, garnered 444,815 votes and won in 11 LGAs. Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) finished a distant third with 17,180 votes.

Our Correspondents, who monitored the exercise could see how supporters trooped onto the streets in singing, dancing and chanting in celebration of the governor’s victory.

At the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Centre in Osogbo, supporters were gathered in celebrating the return of Governor Adeleke for a second term as the final results from the state’s 30 local government areas were announced.

The celebrations had also begun in parts of the state as results were announced from individual polling units and local government areas.

Caleb Ajagba, chief of staff to the governor of Abia State, has commended him for the visionary leadership and deliberate efforts to reposition Abia youth through various initiatives, including TechRise, the Abia Leadership Academy and the establishment of smart schools across the state.

Ajagba made the commendation at Government House, Umuahia, when he received a delegation of the TechRise Cohort 2 State Employment Beneficiaries, who paid him a thank-you visit.

He said that the programmes demonstrated the governor’s commitment to preparing a new generation of young people for leadership and the demands of a technology-driven world.

Ajagba noted that the initiatives are designed to equip young Abians with the values and skills needed to become responsible leaders who understand and uphold technology, integrity, accountability and transparency.

He disclosed that the impact of the administration’s programmes have continued to attract recognition for the state.

He further explained that successful initiatives were made possible by people who were committed to making them work, and lauded the TechRise beneficiaries for choosing to honour the administration by drawing attention to the challenges they were experiencing, assuring that the concerns raised will be resolved.

Victor Onyebueke, the leader of the delegation, earlier in his speech, said that they came to thank Governor Alex Otti for his visionary leadership and compassionate policy of granting them automatic employment through the TechRise initiative.

He disclosed that the laudable intervention has not only secured their future but also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development across the state.

Igwe Alexander Uzo Onyido, the traditional ruler of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, has reportedly been forced to leave his palace following severe flooding caused by days of torrential rainfall.

The flood reportedly submerged the monarch’s entire palace, including several exotic vehicles parked within the premises.

The development comes amid persistent heavy rainfall across parts of Anambra State, which has disrupted economic activities and triggered flooding in several communities.

Ogidi has long faced challenges associated with flooding and erosion, particularly along portions of the old Awka-Onitsha Road.

Some residents in the affected areas have reportedly abandoned their homes because of the persistent flooding, while concerns have continued over the condition of the road.

The affected section of the road was reportedly visited by Governor Chukwuma Soludo during the 2025 governorship campaign, when he was said to have pledged to address the problem. However, work had yet to commence on the particular section at the time of the report.

The renewed flooding has sparked reactions from residents and social media users, with some questioning the prolonged failure to find a lasting solution to the problem.

A social media user, Iyke Orji, expressed concern over the situation, alleging that residents of Ogidi had contributed about N50 million during the 2025 election period but questioned whether the community’s pressing infrastructure challenges had received adequate attention.

He argued that the funds could have been used to address some of the community’s flooding challenges.

However, the claim regarding the alleged contribution and its intended purpose remains an assertion by the social media user and was not independently verified in the report.

As of the time of filing the report, the whereabouts of the traditional ruler after leaving the flooded palace were not immediately known.

The flooding has once again highlighted the urgent need for sustainable drainage, erosion control and road infrastructure in parts of Ogidi and other flood-prone communities across the state.

In Nigeria’s foodsystem, thousands of organisations, institutions and individuals are working to address challenges ranging from food production and market access to soil health, climate change, post-harvest losses and food security.

Yet, despite the volume of work taking place, development communication professional Feyi Adurogbangba believes there is a fundamental challenge that does not receive enough attention: the system is not communicating impact made enough.

Her experience working within the agricultural development space has shown her that valuable knowledge, innovations and lessons often remain within the organisations or projects that generate them. At the same time, different actors can sometimes work on similar problems without knowing what others are doing.

The result, she believes, can be silos, duplication of efforts, fragmented interventions and missed opportunities for collaboration.

It is this conviction that has led her to build Keselash Agricom, a strategic food systems communication and storytelling consultancy with a broader ambition: to use communication to connect people, knowledge and possibilities across the food system.

Its positioning is captured in a simple statement:

‘Amplifying voices. Transforming food systems.’

The experience behind the vision

Adurogbangba’s interest in communication and development is rooted in her professional journey.

With a background in development studies and international development, she has worked around agricultural development programmes and initiatives, engaging with farmers, development organisations, government stakeholders, private-sector actors and other players within the food system.

Through this experience, she began to see a recurring pattern.

There was no shortage of good work.

There were farmers developing solutions to real problems, for example Abraham a young farmer championing onion production in Oyo state. Organisations were testing innovations. Researchers were generating evidence as seen with NIHORT and Tomato wine.

Development programmes were producing lessons, fostering improvised livelihoods, Businesses were creating new opportunities. Government institutions catalysing change.

But much of this knowledge was not travelling far enough.

‘Too many good things are happening in our food system that people do not know about, understand or connect with,’ Adurogbangba says.

‘That made me begin to think differently about communication. What if communication could do more than give an organisation visibility? What if it could help us understand who is doing what, what has already been learned, where the gaps are and where opportunities for collaboration exist?’

That question became part of the thinking behind Keselash Agricom.

Communication as infrastructure for connection

For Adurogbangba, communication is not an activity that comes after the ‘real work’ has been done.

It is part of the work itself.

She sees strategic communication and storytelling as an infrastructure that can help stakeholders share knowledge, identify complementary efforts, build relationships, reduce duplication and make better-informed decisions.

‘Sometimes the solution is already there, but the people who need it do not know that it exists,’ she explains.

‘Sometimes two organisations/projects are addressing the same problem without knowing about each other.

Communication and storytelling can help make those connections.’

This is where she believes Keselash Agricom can occupy a distinctive space.

The consultancy does not see communication simply as publicity. It sees communication as a tool for connection, knowledge exchange and systems change.

Breaking the silos

Nigeria’s food system brings together farmers, researchers, government institutions, development organisations, businesses, financial institutions, processors, marketers, consumers and many others.

Each has a different role, but the connections between them are not always strong.

Adurogbangba believes that stronger communication across these different groups can help create a more coordinated ecosystem.

She envisions a food system where an organisation does not have to start from scratch because another organisation has already tested a similar approach; where lessons from one project inform another; where innovations developed by farmers can reach wider audiences; and where stakeholders can identify opportunities to collaborate instead of unknowingly duplicating one another’s efforts.

‘The question is not only, ‘What are we doing?” she says. ‘We also need to ask, ‘Who else is doing this? What can we learn from them? What can they learn from us? And where can we work together?”

For her, communication can help answer those questions.

Beyond telling success stories

This philosophy also influences how Adurogbangba approaches storytelling.

Agricultural development stories are often presented through statistics, project achievements or narratives of challenges.

While these have their place, she believes the sector needs stories that reveal the people, knowledge, relationships and decisions behind transformation.

For Adurogbangba, an impact story should not simply say that a programme reached 10,000 farmers.

It should explore what changed, why it changed, what was learned, what worked, what did not work and what others can take from the experience.

‘That is the kind of storytelling I am interested in,’ she says. ‘Stories that don’t just make people aware, but help them understand, learn and act.’ Stories that facilitate change.

Through Keselash Agricom, she wants to help organisations turn their experiences and knowledge into communication assets that can inform stakeholders, attract partnerships and contribute to wider conversations.

What makes Keselash Agricom different

Keselash Agricom is being developed around four interconnected areas: Storytelling for Impact; Knowledge and Insights; Conversations and Connections; and Food Systems Transformation.

Its services include strategic communication, impact stories, documentaries, reports, stakeholder and partner outreach materials, positioning and visibility support, and social media campaigns.

But Adurogbangba says the underlying philosophy is more important than the individual products.

‘The product may be a documentary, a report, a campaign or an impact story,’ she says. ‘But the real value is what that communication enables.’

That could mean helping an organisation articulate its value, helping stakeholders discover one another, making knowledge accessible, preserving lessons from a programme or bringing a new perspective into a food systems conversation.

In this sense, Keselash Agricom is not being positioned simply as a communications service provider, but as a strategic partner helping organisations communicate their contribution to a larger system.

Giving the food system a better narrative

Another part of Adurogbangba’s vision is to influence how agriculture and food systems are represented in public conversations.

She believes Nigerian agriculture is often discussed primarily through its problems-food insecurity, low productivity, climate challenges, poverty and inadequate infrastructure.

Those challenges are real, she acknowledges, but they are not the entire story.

‘There are people doing remarkable things within our food systems,’ she says. ‘There are farmers innovating, researchers generating knowledge, businesses creating solutions and organisations testing new approaches. These stories need to be told-not to hide the challenges, but to show what is possible.’

For her, better storytelling can help shift perceptions while giving visibility to people and innovations that deserve wider attention.

A bigger ambition

Adurogbangba’s ambition for Keselash Agricom goes beyond building a successful consultancy.

She envisions it becoming a trusted platform and partner within Nigeria’s food systems ecosystem-one that helps stakeholders communicate better, learn from one another and find opportunities to work together.

She wants Keselash Agricom to contribute to a culture where knowledge travels, innovations are visible, experiences are documented and stakeholders are better connected.

Ultimately, she envisions a food system where organisations do not operate as isolated islands.

‘A more connected food system is a more efficient food system,’ she says. ‘If we know what others are doing, we can build on existing work, reduce duplication and direct our resources where they can have greater impact.’

For Adurogbangba, that is the real opportunity presented by communication.

It is not merely about telling better stories.

It is about using stories, knowledge and conversations to create connections that enable better work.

And that is the vision driving Keselash Agricom:

Amplifying voices. Transforming food systems.

In intelligence, military affairs, corporate leadership, security, journalism and ordinary human relationships, determining who a person truly is and whether an account can be trusted can be more difficult than simply listening to what is being said. People describe themselves by their character, loyalty, experience and intentions, but a declaration alone does not necessarily establish the truth of that declaration.

It is against this background that Al-Ibenu’s Law, a principle for assessing identity, integrity, loyalty and factual circumstances, has been developed by Nigerian Merchant Navy officer and research journalist Mujahid Al-Ibenu. Its central proposition states:

‘The credibility of a person’s claimed identity, integrity or loyalty is determined by the convergence of their statements, consistency, independently verifiable evidence and conduct over time, rather than by their claims alone.’

The principle is concerned with the distinction between claimed identity and demonstrated identity. A person may claim to be loyal, honest, competent or committed to an organisation, but credibility can be examined through what the individual says, whether the account remains consistent, what can independently be verified and how the person conducts himself or herself over time.

In practical terms, the principle asks: Is the account consistent with the available evidence, or is the assessment resting primarily upon assertion?

The concept can be understood through simple geometric reasoning. A statement is a point of reference. It establishes a position but not the whole picture. Additional reliable evidence introduces further points. When independent points converge towards the same factual position, confidence increases. When they diverge, the distance between them becomes a reason for further examination rather than immediate condemnation. The geometric model is not a mathematical formula for truth, but an illustration of how evidence can progressively establish a defensible position.

Consider a hypothetical incident aboard a merchant vessel during a night watch. The Captain states that at approximately 2200 hours he observed unusual activity near a restricted area and instructed the officer of the watch to investigate. The officer states that the instruction was either not clearly received or was given at another time, while a crew member gives a third account.

A disciplined examination would begin by fixing the precise claims. The investigator might ask: ‘What exactly did you hear?’ ‘At what time?’ ‘Where were you standing?’ ‘Who else was present?’ ‘What did you do immediately afterwards?’ These are not ‘lie-detection’ questions. They establish a timeline and test whether an account can remain coherent when its details are examined.

The bridge log, watch schedule, communication records, CCTV, AIS information and operational records then provide additional points. A transmission record may establish that a message was sent, but not necessarily that it was understood. CCTV may establish presence, but not intention. A logbook may establish what was recorded, but not necessarily everything that occurred.

This distinction is crucial. If a record establishes that a transmission occurred at 2200 hours, that is a fact capable of verification. Saying that the officer therefore received and understood it is an inference. Saying that he deliberately ignored it is a further allegation. Treating all three as identical turns investigation into speculation.

Cross-examination, in the context of Al-Ibenu’s Law, therefore becomes a method of testing propositions rather than intimidating witnesses. One may establish the timeline first, test the account against specific facts, return to an earlier statement where necessary, expose material contradictions and then present independent evidence. A simple question such as ‘You said you were not there at 2200 hours; the watch record places you there. Can you explain the difference?’ gives the person an opportunity to reconcile the evidence before a conclusion is reached.

The Captain’s rank may establish authority, but it does not, by itself, establish the factual correctness of every statement. Equally, the junior status of an officer or rating does not make that person’s account unreliable. Rank may establish authority; it does not, by itself, establish the truth of a statement.Suppose the communication system is subsequently found to have experienced intermittent faults and the officer’s duty record places him elsewhere when the instruction was allegedly received. The apparent convergence weakens. The investigator must therefore reconsider the original conclusion. The same logic applies to suspected theft. Suppose engine-room spare parts disappear. The Chief Engineer says they were present at 1800 hours; a rating says he left at 1900; another crew member denies entering the space. Access records, CCTV, stores documentation and physical recovery may provide additional points. An identification card used at 1938 hours establishes use of the card, not necessarily the identity of its user. If the cardholder had lent it to another person, that evidence must be reassessed.

If CCTV subsequently places another crew member inside the space, the timeline corresponds with the disappearance, and the missing equipment is recovered from a container in that person’s possession, the evidence converges across several dimensions. The conclusion is not based on one fact but on the relationship between the facts.

Yet Al-Ibenu’s Law requires one further question: What evidence could prove our present conclusion wrong? This is its safeguard against confirmation bias. An investigator who only seeks supporting evidence can become committed to a conclusion before the investigation is complete. A conclusion that survives reasonable attempts to disprove it has a stronger foundation than one protected from contradiction.

The same framework applies to intelligence, military leadership, journalism, corporate governance, recruitment and ordinary relationships. The essential questions remain: What was claimed? Is it consistent? What can be independently verified? What conduct supports or contradicts it? What alternative explanation exists? What remains unknown?

Al-Ibenu’s Law does not claim that nervousness, confidence, body language, silence or a single contradiction can reveal dishonesty. One inconsistency may have an innocent explanation; one mistake does not define integrity.

Its practical progression is therefore: The practical reasoning of Al-Ibenu’s Law is progressive rather than instantaneous. It begins with the claim, examines its consistency, seeks independent corroboration, tests the reliability of the evidence, considers alternative explanations, determines whether the available facts converge towards a coherent position, and concludes only with an assessment proportionate to the evidence.

This progression is intended to remain applicable regardless of whether the person being assessed is a Captain, military officer, executive, intelligence source, journalist’s source, employee or an ordinary individual.

Al-Ibenu’s Law remains a proposed principle, not an established statute, judicial doctrine or universally recognised scientific law. Its credibility will ultimately depend upon academic criticism, professional scrutiny, independent application and empirical testing.

Its central lesson, however, is simple: a person’s description of himself or herself establishes what that person claims to be; it does not necessarily establish what that person is. The more defensible assessment comes from what is said, what can be verified and what is demonstrated over time.

In that sense, Al-Ibenu’s Law seeks to replace assumption with examination, assertion with evidence and premature judgment with a disciplined search for the most coherent explanation supported by the available facts.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 presidential election, Peter Obi, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, describing the victory as a significant democratic achievement and a demonstration of the power of the people.

Obi, in a statement by Idris Zekeri Jnr, titled ‘Osun: When the People Stand, Democracy Wins,’ stated that the people of Osun State had ‘spoken with courage and clarity,’ reaffirming that the power to choose their leaders belongs to the people.

He noted that Adeleke’s renewed mandate reflected his commitment to the people, compassion for their needs, and the strength of his work and achievements in office.

The NDC presidential candidate particularly commended the youth of Osun State for what he described as the courageous and peaceful defence of their democratic mandate.

According to him, their vigilance and determination demonstrated that when citizens stand firmly to protect their votes, ‘the forces of good can overcome the forces of darkness.’

Obi emphasised that the lesson from Osun was that democracy is strongest when citizens are alert, aware of their civic responsibilities, and determined to ensure that their votes are counted. He stressed that every genuine vote must be respected and every lawful mandate upheld.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general election, Obi urged Nigerians to stay informed, participate actively, vote, and, most importantly, protect their votes. He pointed out that Nigerians are the ones experiencing hunger, deprivation, insecurity, and hardship and, therefore, hold the power-through their votes-to bring about the change necessary to address these challenges.

He also called on political actors to prioritise the interests of the people over partisan considerations and to embrace peace, unity, and the rule of law. Elections, he said, should not be battles of violence but contests of ideas, competence, character, and service.

Obi expressed hope that the Osun experience would bolster Nigerians’ confidence in the democratic process and inspire citizens nationwide to remain vigilant and committed to building a just, secure, prosperous, and truly people-centred nation.

Scholars at Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola, have called for a more strategic Nigeria-China partnership focused on technology and knowledge transfer to accelerate local manufacturing, skills development and economic growth in Nigeria.

The call was made during a seminar organised by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) in collaboration with Contemporary World Nigeria Magazine.

The event, themed ‘Bridging Africa-China Dialogue Through Scholarly Exchange,’ formed part of IPCR’s Advancing Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series across Africa.

Speaking at the seminar, Iliya Audu, a Professor, and deputy vice-chancellor (Academics), commended the organisers for creating a platform for intellectual engagement on issues affecting Nigeria, Africa and the global community.

He said that scholarly exchanges should go beyond academic discussions and contribute practical solutions to challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and international conflicts.

Delivering the keynote address, Ubale Jibrin, an assistant professor of International Relations, described knowledge diplomacy as a powerful instrument for deepening Africa-China relations.

He stressed the need for stronger collaboration in higher education, research, innovation and academic mobility to address common development challenges.

Jibrin noted that future partnerships should be based on mutual benefit and equity, enabling African institutions to move beyond being consumers of knowledge to becoming active contributors to global research and sustainable development.

He said joint research efforts could provide solutions in critical sectors such as public health, agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Abraham Okolo, former deputy vice-chancellor of MAU, challenged Nigeria to focus on building its own technological capacity through research, industrialisation and practical skills acquisition.

He argued that technological advancement would not come solely through dependence on foreign nations, urging the government to establish training centres across the country’s geopolitical zones to equip young graduates with productive skills.

Okolo also proposed short-term technical training programmes in China for Nigerian graduates, saying such initiatives would expose young professionals to modern technologies and enable them to contribute meaningfully to local industries upon their return.

Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Political Science, Madi Abba, acknowledged China’s contribution to infrastructure and development across Africa but stressed that Nigeria must negotiate partnerships that prioritise technology acquisition, local production and skills transfer.

He further advocated the establishment of skills-training centres to tackle youth unemployment and strengthen the country’s industrial base.

On her part, the Head of the Adamawa State Peace Commission, Jamila Suleiman, urged African scholars and policymakers not to be discouraged by the existing power imbalance between Africa and China. Instead, she called for the creation of strategic partnerships capable of fostering mutual growth, innovation and sustainable development.

Representing the Director-General of IPCR, Joseph Ochogwu, Olalekan Babatunde said that Nigeria must adopt more strategic approaches in its bilateral and multilateral relations to maximise the benefits of international cooperation.

He explained that Contemporary World Nigeria Magazine was established to promote scholarly dialogue among African, Chinese and global researchers while encouraging policy-oriented research that addresses pressing challenges such as insecurity, climate change, public health and youth unemployment.

The seminar attracted academics, journalists and civil society representatives from different institutions. A major highlight of the event was the presentation of copies of Contemporary World Nigeria Magazine to the management of Modibbo Adama University, Yola.

The African Action Congress (AAC), Kogi State Chapter, has condemned the campaign signage fees recently approved by the Kogi State Government ahead of the 2027 general election and the forthcoming local government poll, describing the policy as anti-democratic move.

In a statement issued by Abel Emmanuel, the party’s state chairman, made available to journalists in Lokoja, pointed out that the newly approved charges could shut out grassroots candidates and opposition parties with limited financial resources from effectively participating in the electoral process.

The fees were announced earlier by Kingsley Femi Fanwo, commissioner for Information and Communications, who said the state government approved N150 million for presidential candidates, N50 million for senatorial candidates, N30 million for House of Representatives candidates, N5 million for State Assembly candidates, N2 million for chairmanship candidates, and N300,000 for councillorship candidates. The charges cover campaign signage and related materials to be displayed across the state.

According to Fanwo, the figures were arrived at after a peer review process and are intended to regulate political advertising, ensure compliance, and generate revenue for the state. He warned that any campaign material placed without payment would be removed and offenders prosecuted.

Richard Osaseyi, general manager of the Kogi State Signage and Advertisement Agency (KOSSAA), has also announced that full enforcement of the policy would begin in the new week.

But the AAC in Kogi State faulted the policy, pointing out that democracy is meant to provide a level playing field on which parties and candidates compete on the strength of their ideas, policies, competence and character, not on their financial muscle. The party said excessively high administrative charges could make it difficult for emerging political movements and grassroots candidates to take part meaningfully in elections.

‘A regulation that is financially prohibitive can restrict political competition and reduce the ability of citizens to hear alternative voices before making their electoral choices,’ the party said, warning that KOSSAA risked becoming a mechanism that makes political participation accessible only to the financially powerful.

The Nyesom Wike led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State over his resounding victory in Saturday’s gubernatorial election contested by 15 candidates representing various political parties

The party, in a statement, signed by Jungudo Mohammed the National Publicity Secretary NPS, said it acknowledges the significance of this victory and the ‘confidence reposed in him by the good people of Osun State.’

Recall that Governor Adeleke who was in 2022 elected on the platform of the PDP, had left the party and defected to Accord Party to pursue his ambitions, following its unresolved internal crisis.

The party noted that ‘ While Governor Adeleke has chosen to pursue his political journey under the platform of the Accord Party, the PDP remains proud of its contributions to the democratic development of Osun State’

The PDP prayed that’this victory mark the beginning of an even greater chapter of progress, unity, and prosperity for the people of Osun State’

The PDP, while wishing Governor Adeleke success as he continues to serve the people of Osun State, urged all political actors to place the interests, peace, and progress of the state and the nation above partisan considerations.

Although Wike group did not field any candidate in the election, the group loyal to Tanimu Turaki however secured a last minute Court of Appeal in Abuja, just three days to the election on Wednesday that cleared its candidate, Adebayo Adedamola, to contest governorship election as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, for Osun State.

But the Turaki group, while reacting to the judgement, said it would prefer to back Adeleke, as time was too short to embark on electioneering campaigns

The Abuja Court of Appeal ruling, had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately include the party’s logo on the ballot for the Saturday August 15, 2026, election.

The panel of the Court held that the party having duly conducted primaries which were monitored by INEC, and the name of the winner forwarded to the commission, there was no legal impediment to the participation of the candidate in the elections.

Ini Ememobong, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki’s Interim National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the judgement ‘ specifically, held that the access code for nomination on the portal was a mere administrative formality which cannot override the statutory provision of forwarding names to the commission, which PDP had done’

‘This judgment confirms the persistent bias and unceasing opposition by INEC against the legitimate leadership of our party, in favour of pretenders who are working for the ruling party.

‘The primaries that produced our candidate was peaceful, transparent, and the result uncontested. It was duly monitored by INEC, but the Commission blatantly refused to recognise our candidate thereafter and withheld the codes for the upload of candidates from us.’ he stated

He stated that the ‘party approached the court and today the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal by the Turaki-led PDP and directed INEC to include the party’s logo on the ballot papers for the elections.

‘Though justice has finally been done, in this case the grant of justice is akin to a denial as there is no opportunity for our candidate to undertake campaigns in preparation for the elections.

According to him, ‘This ugly situation would have been avoided had INEC chosen to act responsibly and not in the very partisan way that it did and continues to do. We reiterate our position that INEC is not a neutral umpire, but more of an interested party with the goal of achieving an uncontested or weakly contested elections by the opposition parties, in favour of the ruling party.

‘To this end, faced with the unimaginable difficulty that this situation puts on us, the Interim National Working Committee has chosen not to throw its hands up in defeat, which would only align with APC’s wicked playbook’

‘ As a true opposition party and in defence of multi-party democracy, and after exhaustive consultations with key stakeholders, the Committee has decided to support the candidature of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord Party for Saturday’s governorship elections.

He noted that Governor Adeleke ‘left because of the state-engineered and funded leadership conflict in our party.’