Category: Daily Trust

Presidential candidate of the National Salvation Front (FSNC), Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has claimed that ministers and members of government have reached out to congratulate him following his declaration of victory in the just-concluded presidential election in Cameroon.

In a statement released Saturday, Bakary expressed gratitude to those who have shown support, describing the moment as one of national significance.

‘I want to thank, from the bottom of my heart, the ministers and members of government who have personally called me in recent days to express their support.

‘The time is no longer for pretenses or calculations: when the stakes for our country and for national peace are this crucial, everyone must choose their side, and many have already done so.’ Bakary also claimed that some members of the military high command had pledged their loyalty to the people, rather than to privilege or power.

‘I also thank certain members of the High Command and our Armed Forces who, with responsibility and clarity, have made me aware of their determination not to betray their primary mission: protecting the people.

‘I hope that others will follow in the coming days, because history will remember those who chose the people rather than privileges.’

Addressing the media, Bakary urged journalists to resist becoming tools of misinformation, warning against compromising their role in shaping public opinion.

‘To our brothers and sisters in the press, I also make this appeal: do not allow yourselves to be turned into instruments of disinformation for the sake of favors or positions.

‘You carry a great responsibility toward the youth of this country, who look up to you as models. Do not become enemies of the people.’

Bakary added with a call for unity and vigilance, saying, ‘The times are grave, but hope is stronger. Together, let us remain standing, united, and vigilant. The future is in our hands.’

However, the official results of the presidential election are yet to be confirmed by Cameroon’s electoral commission.

Samson Itodo is a Nigerian lawyer, founder and executive director of Yiaga, Africa, a non governmental organisation for the promoting democracy in Africa. He explains why the proposal on holding elections early is apt, noting that it will enhance election process in Nigeria.

There’s a proposal before the National Assembly for the Electoral Act 2027 to ensure the next general elections is conducted in 2026. What is your view?

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The proposal to adjust the timetable for elections is driven by two reasons: The first one is that there’s a great need to resolve all electoral disputes because the Constitution provides that elections shall take place not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days.

What that means is that elections cannot hold 30 days before the end of the tenure of the incumbent. And why is that the case? There are instances where elections are not concluded on first ballot, and so you need to take a runoff. And so, when you get the runoff together, you discover that to avert constitutional crisis, it’s always good to give a vote.

It’s not the first time we’re having this proposal. It came up in the last amendment exercise, so it’s not new. It’s just that it did not pasts the last time but it is a proposal that enjoys support.

If you want electoral disputes to end before swearing-in on May 29, first, if you factor in 121 days from the date of the occurrence of the course of action, then factor in 180 days, that’s six months, and then factor in the 60 days on appeal, and then 60 days in the Supreme Court, it takes you relatively about nine to ten months to conclude electoral disputes. So, if you do nine to ten months, and elections are due to hold in February, nine to ten months will mean that elections will hold in 2026.

So, the best thing to do is to abridge the number of days for either the litigation process at the tribunal level, or the second thing to do is to limit the jurisdiction. So, you adjust the elections.

At what point should they start, and what will be the court of finality? So, for pre-election matters, do they have to go all the way to the Supreme Court, or they can terminate at the court of appeal?

It will give us the time to resolve all electoral disputes before swearing-in, to avoid issues around the bandwagon effect that comes as a result of the different dates for elections, or to give the judiciary a space to assert its own independence. Because when incumbents come to office, as we have seen in the past, they use the first three or four months to engage the judiciary as a way of currying favour, whether through granting them increase in salaries or promotion.

So, these conversations are a function of the fact that we have weak institutions, and these institutions are unable to withstand political pressure.

It means YIAGA Africa is in support of this amendment proposal?

Yeah, absolutely. YIAGA, Africa supports this, it aligns with some of the proposals that we have made.

Did you put into consideration other bodies that will be involved in the election, political parties, INEC itself, the security agencies. Do you think they have enough time to prepare?

No, quite frankly, there is no time. And you know, that’s why we’ve been screaming and advocating that the entire process of amendment ends early. Because the situation we find ourselves is such that INEC is going to be under intense pressure to deliver. Two, the political parties would also have issues, you know, trying to organise themselves. Because if elections hold in November, it means we will have primaries earlier than we think. So that itself is problematic. The amendment process has several proposals. And we’re trying new things at the same time.

We have to be careful so the system does not collapse or crash. There are innovations coming up, and we don’t have time. So, the earlier the National Assembly concludes the amendment, the better it is for everyone. They can pass the amendment and then move implementation to the next round of elections if it becomes too complicated.

Another fear people have is on governance itself. You know, once INEC blows the whistle, governance stops as everyone focuses on the election. If, it is held earlier, don’t you think it will impact negatively on governance?

Campaigns, vigorous campaigns started a few months ago. We’ve already started feeling like the elections are on. Why? Just because of the attitude of our political class. So, I think that governance has ended for the most part. This is just going to reinforce it. Every action of government is now geared towards 2027. I do not know if it will make any difference because campaigns for 2027 started months ago with all sorts of endorsements. You move around cities across Nigeria, there are billboards. You even feel that the election …

YIAGA Africa and other civil society, have called on INEC several times to wield the big stick to regulate this early commencement of campaigns. If this thing sails through now, it will make it worse.

But you see, our duty is to continue to call the attention of stakeholders to perform their duty. Secondly, it is to continue to hold them to higher standards. For instance, why is it that the security agencies have not pulled down the billboards, you know, across the FCT or across states? It is not INEC’s duty to pull down those billboards. It is the security agencies, right?

The law needs to be strengthened to criminalise these campaigns by third parties. Because what the law says and what INEC’s guidelines says, even though there isn’t any ambiguity, there is a gap that is being exploited by political actors, and that’s something that we need to address.

Asides fitting into the legal requirement for participating in the election, what other advantages does this proposal offer?

It provides clarity for INEC and other institutions, so they don’t also get distracted, you know, with the whole business of settling down. So, for instance, when you conduct elections early, once the elections are concluded, it’s all reverse logistics. There’s also the post-election dispute.

It gives the institution the opportunity to conclude everything that it has to do with the post-election audit. And that can be done devoid of any sort of pressure or political interference. Secondly, it does provide some level of clarity, even for the other security agencies, because when you conclude an election, they have time to settle, and plan before swearing in. Once the disputes are being resolved, the coast becomes clearer for all the actors to know where they stand before they get into office.

So, they begin on a clean slate.

If this bill sails through would you advise INEC to go ahead with registering new political parties?

If this bill passes, it will alter a lot of timelines. The first thing the lawmakers must ensure is that they have to cross-reference effectively, so that the time is not affected by other activities. For instance, the law says the registration of political parties must end 12 months before the date of an election.

Merger must end nine months, right? So, if, for instance, the law is passed, say, in December, like the Senate amendment, will the president assent to it? Because it only takes a second to get the president to sign it. If it slows into a negative, the implication is that some of those activities, those timelines, would have been bridged. Therefore, some of these actions can no longer be implemented unless the lawmakers now change or amend the timeframe in the act.

So, they have to be conscious of the chain reaction, or what we call consequential amendments that would be required to be made in the law. If they don’t do that, we might head for a crisis, and perhaps we’ll end in the courts, because there is a conflict in the law. Without proper attention to cross-referencing, we might end up in the courts, and we now empower the courts to make some judicial pronouncements, which can also impact or lead to disruption of the entire electoral calendar activities.

What would be your advice to politicians in case this proposal comes through?

I think the first thing they need to do is, study the law once this is passed, and check what is the implication of it for their own operations. So, they need to seek legal opinion, and then start preparing. They should not wait. If they have any issues with the law, they have the courts to adjudicate on matters of this nature. But first, they shouldn’t allow the law pass without engaging the National Assembly, and make their case. So, they have the opportunity to do that now, they don’t need to wait.

The National Assembly members represent three sets of people, so they should engage them strategically, and make their case, and ensure that they direct attention to some of these issues.

The Arewa Think Tank has condemned United States Senator Ted Cruz for alleging a systematic genocide against Christians in Nigeria, describing his comments as false, reckless and divisive.

In a statement signed by its convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, the group noted that Senator Cruz’s claim was ‘a dangerous and deliberate falsehood designed to poison our national unity and undermine our sovereignty.’

Yakubu noted that terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP had attacked Nigerians of all faiths, adding that ‘bandits slaughter Muslims and Christians alike.’ He said Cruz’s remarks distorted Nigeria’s complex security realities and were driven by ‘foreign political games, not truth.’

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The group commended the National Assembly for rejecting the US senator’s comments, and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain focused on securing the country.

‘We echo the Presidency’s clear statement that terrorism respects no religion. Nigeria is not a pawn in anyone’s political theatre,’ the statement noted.

Arewa Think Tank also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage US authorities and demand an end to what it described as ‘irresponsible commentary’ on Nigeria’s internal affairs.

He said, ‘Nigeria’s resilience is forged in the fire of our diversity. We will not be broken by lies. We remain focused on a secure, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria for all.’

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has expressed concern that many politicians across the country have shifted their focus from governance to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such neglect is worsening poverty, insecurity, and hardship for ordinary Nigerians.

Speaking during the 2025 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Anambra State, the monarch lamented that early politicking had taken precedence over efforts to address the nation’s pressing economic and social challenges.

‘The attention of the political class has become literally diverted to the 2027 general elections,’ Achebe said. ‘New alliances are being forged as political fortunes rise and fall. There is a distinct impression that these efforts are largely for self-preservation and material benefit.’

He noted that the growing political distractions have come at a cost to ordinary citizens, who continue to grapple with rising food prices, unemployment, and insecurity.

‘Ordinary Nigerians are paying the price of neglect as hardship deepens nationwide despite ongoing economic reforms,’ the monarch said. ‘Our poverty rate has risen from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, translating to about 104 million Nigerians now classified as poor, according to the World Bank Development Report on Nigeria.’

Achebe warned that continued insecurity, especially in rural areas, was crippling agricultural production and threatening food security. ‘The reality on the ground is dire,’ he said. ‘The unending violence in most parts of the country continues to affect the agricultural sector very seriously.’

While acknowledging that the Federal Government had introduced ‘laudable macroeconomic stabilisation measures,’ he urged transparency and fairness in the distribution of palliatives. ‘Relief materials must reach the intended beneficiaries directly and not be derailed by corruption or bureaucracy,’ he advised.

Turning to the South-East, Achebe described insecurity in the region as a major obstacle to development and investment. He referenced a report by SBM Intelligence, Four Years of Disruption, which estimated that the region had lost about ?7.6 trillion since 2021 due to violence and sit-at-home disruptions.

‘The scourge of violence and kidnapping in the South-East continues to mutate in different forms,’ the monarch said. ‘We pray that the recent conviction in Finland of Simon Ekpa will contribute to a general reduction of violent crime in the region.’

He called on Igbo leaders to engage in ‘deep reflection’ and to unite for peace and progress. ‘Nigeria and the world are leaving us behind due to the deliberate actions of a few purveyors of violence among us,’ Achebe cautioned.

On the upcoming Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 8, the traditional ruler urged peace, transparency, and greater voter participation, expressing worry over low turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

‘In the first week of the INEC registration exercise, only 2,482 persons pre-registered online across four South-East states, excluding Anambra, compared to 848,359 in the South-West. This is alarming and demands urgent mobilisation by our leaders,’ he said.

Despite the challenges, Achebe said the 2025 Ofala Festival – his 24th since ascending the throne in 2002 – remained a symbol of resilience, unity, and cultural pride.

‘Our theme last year was ‘Better. Stronger. Together.’ It was a call on our people to consolidate on our breakthroughs and galvanise for the challenges ahead,’ he said. ‘That message remains as relevant today as ever.’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after participating in the Aqaba Process Heads of State and Government-level Meeting in Rome, Italy.

The Aqaba Process, a counter-terrorism initiative launched by His Majesty, King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2015, and co-chaired by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of Italy.

The Rome edition focused on strengthening regional and international collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, with particular attention to West Africa.

The high-level meeting held on Wednesday, October 15, at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rome.

Many heads of State and Government attended, including King Abdullah II of Jordan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the Presidents of Nigeria, Chad, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Azouz Nasri, President of Algeria’s Upper House, delegations from Côte d’Ivoire, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Senegal, and Uzbekistan, special envoys, and security experts were also in attendance.

The meeting held behind closed doors.

On the sidelines of the event, President Tinubu held bilateral meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos.

President Tinubu also met with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to discuss religious harmony in Nigeria.

In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said the meeting addressed the widespread disinformation campaigns that falsely portray the country as intolerant of religious diversity.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Aqaba Process has convened 33 meetings at various levels, from Heads of State summits to technical expert sessions. It is built on three core pillars: prevention, coordination, and closing operational gaps in counterterrorism efforts.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), under the special enforcement initiative, Operation Whirlwind, has intercepted two trucks carrying a total of 120,000 litres petrol suspected to have been diverted from their documented destination.

According to the coordinator of Operation Whirlwind for Zone B, Kola Olawole, the trucks – each loaded with 60,000 litres of petrol – were intercepted along the Sokoto-Illela road on October 4. The fuel was originally documented for delivery in Kano but was diverted en route Sokoto State.

Speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Friday, Olawole revealed that the drivers of the trucks, bearing registration numbers DKA 309 XA and GSW 321 XA, fled the scene when operatives attempted to apprehend them.

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‘Our investigation indicates that petrol was being diverted for smuggling through the Illela border. The offences involve irregular routing and documentation anomalies, which are clear violations of existing laws,’ Olawole said.

He stressed that fuel diversion was more than an economic crime as it undermines national development, energy security and the general welfare of citizens.

Olawole further noted that Operation Whirlwind had significantly contributed to stabilising petrol supply across the country by curbing smuggling and related illicit activities

The seized tankers were handed over to Mr Ali Ajimi, the Sokoto/Kebbi coordinator for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

In Nigerian homes, where vows of love were once exchanged has increasingly seen violence claim lives. The lives of 136 spouses who once professed love to one another have been lost in just four years Weekend Trust reports from data compiled by Daily Trust Library This analyses cuts across all the states, where the statistics reveal a pattern of domestic conflicts often turning fatal over reasons such as food, phone arguments or accusations of infidelity.

The findings underscore a disturbing reality, where beneath the surface of family life lies a growing wave of lethal domestic violence that cuts across regions, religions and social classes.

The data, compiled from national dailies between 2021 and 2025, shows that wives were overwhelmingly the victims, accounting for 96 out of the 1364 deaths, husbands made up 39 victims, while a single case involved a ‘wife-to-be.’ One incident was recorded where both man and wife died.

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From the 134 recorded cases of spousal killings across Nigeria between 2021 and 2025, Lagos State has the highest cases, with 17 recorded. Almost all the victims in Lagos were wives (16 out of 17), pointing to a persistent pattern of women bearing the brunt of intimate partner violence.

Behind Lagos are Edo, Ogun and Adamawa states, each recording 10 deaths within the same period. These states, though in different regions, share common triggers: domestic violence, jealousy and economic frustration. In Lagos, for example, one woman was set ablaze by her husband, another killed for refusing to cook, while a third one was murdered after requesting repayment of a loan. One shocking case involved a man who removed his wife’s oxygen mask while she lay on a hospital bed.

In Edo, the causes ranged from domestic violence, refusal of sex and financial disputes, to more bizarre reasons like ‘refusing to lend him N2,000.’ Similarly, in Ogun, where 10 cases were documented, triggers included infidelity, control over family property and extra-marital affairs.

Adamawa, the leading state in the North, also recorded 10 killings. Here, the motives reflected deep-rooted gender conflicts. From the data, one woman was killed ‘for denying her husband sex,’ another ‘for taking his phone,’ and another one after she accused her husband of infidelity. These cases paint a vivid picture of fragile relationships, where simple disagreements escalate into deadly confrontations.

Other states with high numbers include Anambra (9 cases), Delta (7) and Ondo (7), all in the southern belt, showing that the problem cuts across both urban and rural areas.

While northern states recorded fewer numbers, analysts caution that the data may not reflect the true scale as many northern families settle domestic tragedies privately, without police or media reporting.

Similarly, regional analysis shows that what happened between 2021 and 2025 spanned all the six geopolitical zones, though at varying levels of intensity. The data shows that South accounts for nearly two-thirds (about 88 cases), while the northern regions collectively account for 46.

The South-West recorded the highest regional total with 45 deaths, led by Lagos (17), Ogun (10), Ondo (7), Oyo (6), Ekiti (4), and Osun (1). Here, domestic violence, infidelity and arguments over food or household duties were the dominant causes. In one Oyo case, a husband was killed ‘over dinner,’ while in Ondo, another man was murdered ‘after an argument over how to spend their earnings.’ The pattern shows that high literacy or urbanisation has not diminished the culture of domestic aggression.

Furthermore, the South-South followed closely with 33 cases, spread across Edo (10), Delta (7), Rivers (6), Bayelsa (2), and Akwa Ibom (2). Many of these cases were linked to domestic quarrels, financial stress and accusations of infidelity. In Delta, one husband slit his wife’s throat for ‘coming home late,’ while another woman was murdered ‘over a N55,000 debt.’

Edo State stood out for the number of men who also became victims, with one husband stabbed to death ‘after catching his wife with another man.’

In the South-East, a total of 16 killings were recorded: Anambra (9), Ebonyi (5), and Enugu (1). Infidelity and domestic violence were the major drivers. In Anambra, a woman was killed ‘over a loaf of bread,’ while in Ebonyi, another was murdered ‘for roasting yam instead of cooking it.’ These small domestic quarrels, often fueled by economic tension, continue to escalate into tragic outcomes.

The North-East recorded 20 cases, with Adamawa (10) topping, followed by Yobe (4), Borno (3) and Gombe (3). The region’s stories reflect deep emotional and gender struggles. Reports in the region show how a man killed his wife ‘for denying him sex,’ another ‘for accusing him of theft,’ while one woman was slain ‘because she hated marriage.’ Domestic violence and forced marriage were among the reported causes, pointing to the persistence of traditional gender expectations that sometimes turn deadly.

The North-Central region had about 16 cases spread across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) (4), Niger (5), Nasarawa (3), Benue (2), and Kwara (1). Here, many killings stemmed from domestic disagreement, jealousy and misunderstanding. In Nasarawa, a woman was killed ‘for inviting a carpenter to fix a window net,’ while another was murdered ‘over a second wife.’

In the FCT, one man lost his life after an ‘argument over a phone charger.’ The killings in the region suggest that even the country’s administrative heart is not immune to marital violence.

The North-West recorded the fewest cases (10) spread across Jigawa (2), Kano (1) and Kebbi (1), with others possibly unreported. Even within these smaller figures, domestic violence and non-consensual sex appeared as key causes.

The underlying causes of the 136 spousal killings reveal a disturbing mix of anger, economic hardship, mistrust and cultural expectations. Across the cases, domestic violence accounted for the largest share with over 40 incidents, while infidelity and jealousy appeared in about 30. Another 20 cases were linked to financial disputes, hunger and sexual denial, among others.

Cleric reflects on hidden triggers

For Rev Amos (not real name) of St Matthias Anglican Church, Ushafa, the stories behind most spousal killings are not sudden explosions of rage but slow-burning fires that had long been left unattended.

‘Spousal killings rarely happen suddenly. They are often the tragic end of a long process of emotional decay. Beneath every act of violence is a history of anger, silence, pride and neglect,’ he noted.

According to the cleric, one of the most common tendencies that sow the seeds of violence is poor communication. He explained that many couples approach conversations like competition rather than opportunities for understanding.

‘Many couples do not talk to understand, they talk to win arguments. Over time, resentment grows and what begins as a small misunderstanding becomes a deep wound. When tempers flare and egos take over, peace gives way to rage,’ he added.

Amos also linked the growing trend of domestic violence to emotional rigidity and unforgiveness within marriages. For him, refusal to let go of past wrongs often turns love into resentment.

‘In our counselling sessions, we see spouses who carry grievances for months, even years, refusing to let go. They rehearse their hurts until they explode. Once the heart becomes hardened, even a minor provocation can lead to violence. As the scripture says, ‘The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God,” he said.

He further pointed out that economic hardship had become a silent driver of conflict in many homes.

‘With the rising cost of living and unemployment, financial strain has eroded patience and emotional stability. Many homes are under intense financial pressure. When men or women feel inadequate or disrespected because of poverty or job loss, frustration can easily turn to aggression. Poverty by itself does not cause murder but it magnifies every other weakness in the home.

‘Nothing breaks trust faster than betrayal, either real or imagined. Accusations of cheating are behind many domestic quarrels that ended in tragedy. When couples stop trusting one another, the home becomes a war zone. Jealousy, combined with anger and alcohol often leads to irreversible actions,’ he further said.

Beyond personal failings, Rev Amos also identified some misconceptions that enable violence. He lamented that some men still view physical domination as a mark of authority.

He also said, ‘Some men believe that ‘disciplining’ a wife through violence proves authority, while some women respond with defiance that escalates conflict. When love is replaced by power struggle, both sides lose sight of God’s intention for marriage, which is companionship, not competition.

‘I always tell couples that seeking help early is not weakness, it is wisdom. The home is sacred, but silence in the face of abuse is not holiness.

‘No marriage collapses in a day. Every act of violence begins as a thought – a seed of anger watered by silence, pride and neglect. When that seed is not uprooted, it grows into tragedy. We must rebuild homes on forgiveness, patience, prayer and mutual respect.’

A viral video and social-media posts have propelled allegations of domestic violence into the public eye, placing the marriage of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels and politician Senator Ned Nwoko under intense scrutiny.

In footage circulating online, Daniels is seen in tears and being consoled by friends as she says she can no longer tolerate alleged mistreatment by her husband.

‘In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing, but in my house, I am a queen. Not again, I cannot stand the violence, it is too much,’ she says in the clip.

The matter gained further attention after Sammy West, Daniels’s brother, posted on his Instagram story accusing the senator of physically assaulting his sister, fleeing the scene and later sending men to intimidate the family.

West – who described the incident in blunt terms and said it was not the first time – wrote in Pidgin that he would defend his sister and condemned any man who hits a woman.

The claims made on social media remain allegations. As of publication, neither Senator Ned Nwoko nor a representative had issued a public response.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has debunked a report alleging that the cancellation of activities marking the Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was a plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The DHQ described the report as false and a deliberate attempt to stir tension in the country.

It specifically clarified that the cancellation of the 65th Independence Anniversary parade was to allow the President to attend some key functions outside the country and had nothing to do with any coup attempt.

In a statement on Saturday, the Director, Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the military urged members of the public to disregard the report, describing it as falsehood being circulated by the enemies of Nigeria.

The statement read, ‘The attention of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has been drawn to a false and misleading report by an online publication insinuating that the cancellation of activities marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary was linked to an alleged attempted military coup.

‘The report also made spurious references to the recent DHQ press release announcing the arrest of sixteen officers currently under investigation for professional misconduct.

‘The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) wishes to categorically state that the claims by the said publication are entirely false, malicious, and intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace. The decision regarding the cancellellation of 65th independence anniversary parade was to allow Mr President attend a strategic bilateral meeting outside the country and for members of the AFN to sustain the momentum on the fight against terrorism, insurgency and banditry.’

The DHQ stated that the ongoing investigation involving its officers was a routine internal process aimed at promoting discipline and professionalism, noting that a panel had already been constituted to investigate the matter.

‘Furthermore, the DHQ wishes to reassure Nigerians that the ongoing investigation involving the sixteen officers is a routine internal process aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism is maintained within the ranks. An investigative panel has been duly constituted, and its findings would be made public.’

The military further urged Nigerians to continue to support security operatives in the fight against insecurity in the country.

While reaffirming its commitment to operating within the confines of the Nigerian constitution, the DHQ emphasised that democracy has come to stay in the country.

‘The DHQ calls on all peace loving citizens to continue to provide necessary support to the security agents. The FG, the legislature and the judiciary are working closely for the safety, development and well being of the nation. Democracy is forever.

‘The DHQ urges members of the public to disregard the falsehood being circulated by the purveyors of misinformation and enemies of our nation. The Armed Forces of Nigeria remains firmly loyal to the Constitution and the Federal government under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.’

The recent exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) upon the completion of his two-term tenure as chairman and the immediate appointment of Professor Josh Ojo Amupitan as replacement are significant developments that necessitate an evaluation of the electoral body’s performances, vis-a-vis the challenges ahead.

Many Nigerians will now wait to see how he would shape INEC, especially by subjecting its activities to a critical review to identify the various challenges that have continued to be inimical to the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.

It is noteworthy that Professor Yakubu is the first among all the past chairmen of the commission who served out his two term tenure that spanned 10 years, within which he presided over the conduct of two cycles of general elections (2019 and 2023) and a number of off-cycle elections. He also ensured an increased deployment of technology for the purpose of raising the quality of elections, especially with the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal, a feat for which he will continuously be remembered.

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However, even with all these accomplishments, there are still huge public concerns over some unresolved issues and unanswered questions about the operations of the electoral body the new chairman should strive to address.

As the country inches towards the 2027 general elections, there is the compelling need for the commission to put itself on a scale, with a view to establishing the extent of its genuine capability for the conduct of credible elections.

We note that the new chairman, who is a university administrator, an academic and legal luminary, is widely considered as sufficiently competent for the job. Thus, it is expected that he would quickly initiate an internal process of evaluation so that all the flaws in the operations of the commission can be identified. The INEC under him should be both sincere enough to admit its inadequacies and courageous enough to confront all the issues that have caused the crisis of confidence over its capacity and readiness for the conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria.

The new chairman must have been adequately aware that for too long, the electoral body is being accused of bias towards certain political party or parties complacent in the face of clear breach of the electoral law or even complicit in the perpetration of malpractices during elections.

Critical segments of the Nigerian population have been raising their voices over perceived and real deliberate abuse of the electoral process by INEC officials, in collaboration with some fraudulent political actors and security agencies.

These are complaints the new chairman should consider as a challenge that calls for real actions, which is fundamental towards strengthening the existing electoral system.

Moreover, INEC should strive to build on the technological advancements deployed in the conduct of elections so far and which majority of Nigerians believe to have added value to the electoral system. Every effort must be made to ensure that all defects that have continued to hinder the process at the stages of voting, collation, transmission and announcement of results are rectified.

Having been appointed at this critical time when the country is gearing up for 2027 general elections, Professor Amupitan may face the twin challenges of image-making and reputation management much more than any of his predecessors had ever done. It is his approach to this particular aspect of the commission’s mandate that will determine the kind of perception Nigerians will have about INEC between now and the time of the elections and even beyond. He needs to take the right steps to erase any doubt or suspicion about his credibility and competence to handle the job.

Daily Trust acknowledges the fact that management of election matters, which is the core mandate of INEC, is one of the most complex and sometimes complicated national assignments. The combination of the desperation of individual power seekers and political parties, as well as the disturbing low level of awareness among the voters has, over time, constituted a drawback for the electoral body.

It is true that the tendency of contestants and parties for the subversion of the rules of the game, which originates from their desire to capture or retain power at all costs, is the reason for much of the controversy that trails the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

The do-or-die syndrome, which has become a dominant feature of the disposition of a lot of political actors, is not only condemnable but also terribly inimical to a reliable electoral system in particular and the country’s democracy in general.

We hope the new INEC leadership would address all these tendencies if it puts in place, mechanisms for the improvement of the quality of elections. The commission must avoid such acts that make it easy or even justifiable for Nigerians to associate it with a bias or favouritism.

As he prepares to assume duties, Professor Amupitan should come to terms with the fact that INEC is an independent body saddled with the task of organising and conducting elections that should ideally give birth to government of the people, for the people and by the people. He should ensure that the commission is allowed to enjoy its independence and not reduced to an extension of government or any arm of it.