Category: Nigerian Tribune

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Emem Coffie, has canvassed industrial training and job opportunities for youths in the state as part of measures to equip them with skills and make them self-reliant.

Coffie, a civil engineer with about 35 years of professional experience, said government must move beyond encouraging young people to acquire education by creating practical pathways for them to translate their knowledge and skills into productive employment.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, he urged Nigerian youths not to abandon education in pursuit of quick success, saying academic knowledge remained important for career development, specialisation and national growth.

He said the growing perception that education was a waste of time could undermine the development of young people, stressing that formal education provides the foundation for professional competence, particularly in technical fields.

Coffie, who said he had sponsored hundreds of students in Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Abuja, said his commitment to education and youth development was driven by the need to provide young people with the foundation and support required to discover their potential.

He said the development of advanced countries was partly built on education and structured systems, adding that the success of individuals who did not attend university should not be used to discourage young people from acquiring formal education.

According to him, education and practical experience should complement each other, particularly in specialised fields such as engineering and robotics.

‘The truth is that engineering is probably 90 percent from scientific theory and 10 percent empirical.

‘The truth is that education has created a system and whether you like it or not, the countries that are developed today worked with those systems and became what they are.

‘If you want to be a robotics engineer, for example, you must have an understanding of physics and chemistry. I don’t know if biology has to do with medical engineering, but for you to go into robotics, you must have those basic understandings and then have mechanical engineering, electronics engineering, electrical engineering by the corner before you now begin to do robotics,’ he said.

Coffie called for a system that would enable young people to complete their university education early, identify their talents and begin specialising in their chosen careers without unnecessary delays.

He said early identification of talents would also help young people establish themselves professionally and gain access to opportunities earlier in their careers.

However, he stressed that university education should not be the only pathway to success, urging the government to support vocational training, entrepreneurship and other trades.

‘Everybody doesn’t need to go to university; that’s why we get everybody wrong, but whatever level, whatever trade you should apply, the government should support you, train you, and make you relevant,’ he said.

On employment, Coffie called for greater investment in industrialisation in Akwa Ibom, saying young people should be trained in areas relevant to industries that could be established in the state.

He identified oil and gas, refineries, gas processing facilities and steel plants as sectors with potential to create employment opportunities, while advocating apprenticeship programmes to prepare youths for jobs in such industries.

He also proposed financial support for young people undergoing apprenticeship programmes, saying such assistance would encourage participation and enable trainees to remain economically active while acquiring skills.

‘You begin to prepare them, empower them to programme the way they will learn such skills, and within that period pay them, even if they are doing an apprenticeship scheme, pay them during that period so that you can encourage them to participate in such,’ Coffie said.

The PDP candidate also advocated support for small and medium-scale enterprises, including affordable loans to enable traders and entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

He proposed the establishment of cottage industries across the state’s local government areas to create jobs, utilise locally available raw materials and improve the incomes of residents.

Coffie identified palm oil processing and the production of briquettes from palm kernel waste among areas that could support small-scale industrial development in the state.

He further called for a return to Akwa Ibom’s original development master plan, urging successive administrations to sustain projects initiated by previous governments rather than abandoning them when administrations change.

He identified the deep seaport, science park, airport, road network and power plants among projects associated with the state’s development plans.

Coffie said Akwa Ibom needed to revisit its original development priorities and continue projects capable of improving the livelihoods of residents.

He argued that road construction alone could not address poverty without industries and businesses capable of providing jobs and sustainable incomes.

He said his proposed development agenda, ‘A New Drive Back to the Genesis,’ would focus on human capital development, industrialisation, skills acquisition and support for small businesses.

‘When I say Genesis, let’s go back to that master plan and start to execute it all over again.

‘Road construction is interesting but road construction does not put food on the table of people,’ he said.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a new deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers from the 2021 to 2025 admission exercises to accept or reject their offers.

The Board fixed November 30, 2026, as the new deadline, following a temporary disruption of its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which was unavailable for about 96 hours.

JAMB had earlier set September 30, 2026, as the deadline for affected candidates to take action on their outstanding admission offers.

The Board described the latest extension as the final one and urged all affected candidates to complete the process before the new deadline.

It warned that candidates who fail to accept or reject their outstanding offers by November 30 will no longer be able to do so under the current window.

JAMB added that any subsequent request to update an admission record would attract the applicable penalty fee.

The Board said the extension was particularly important for candidates whose admission records were not reflected on the matriculation list, noting that such discrepancies could affect their eligibility for certain benefits, including participation in the National Youth Service Corps scheme.

Candidates who accept their outstanding offers will be able to print their admission letters, while those who reject them will have their status reverted to ‘Not Admitted’ on their CAPS dashboards.

JAMB said the exercise would enable it to update its records and ensure that the national admission database accurately reflects candidates’ current admission status.

The Board also clarified that candidates who are no longer studying at institutions where they were previously offered admission, or who have changed programmes, may accept the outstanding offers and subsequently apply for the appropriate correction or deletion of the previous admission where necessary.

Candidates currently pursuing a second degree but holding unaccepted admission offers from previous years may also reject those offers without affecting their ongoing studies.

JAMB further assured candidates who have received admission offers for the 2026 academic session but still have outstanding offers from previous years that rejecting the earlier offers would not affect their current admission.

According to the Board, all outstanding offers from the 2021 to 2025 admission exercises that remain neither accepted nor rejected by the new deadline will automatically revert to ‘Not Admitted’ in its records.

JAMB therefore urged all affected candidates to take advantage of the extension and regularise their admission records before the final deadline.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has supported the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Sokoto State Branch, in training 90 volunteers on safety and security during humanitarian operations.

The Safer Access Framework training, held from September 22 to 29, 2026, brought together volunteers from the Sokoto North, Sokoto South, and Wamakko Local Government Areas.

The training was designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to operate safely and effectively while providing humanitarian assistance, particularly in sensitive and challenging environments.

Speaking on the program, an NRCS official said the training was necessary because volunteers often work directly with vulnerable communities and may be exposed to various operational and security risks.

According to the official, ‘Volunteers must understand that their conduct, communication, and relationship with communities can have a direct impact on their safety and the acceptance of humanitarian activities.’

The official said the training would also help participants improve their understanding of risk management while carrying out their humanitarian responsibilities.

‘We want our volunteers to be adequately prepared to operate safely, maintain trust, and uphold the principles of the Nigerian Red Cross Society wherever they are deployed,’ the official said.

The Safer Access Framework is designed to help national societies strengthen their preparedness and capacity to operate safely and effectively during armed conflicts, internal disturbances, tensions, and other challenging situations.

Participants were trained on issues including acceptance, security, communication, perception, appropriate conduct, and responsible engagement with communities and other stakeholders.

The NRCS said the ICRC’s support reflected its continued commitment to strengthening the capacity and preparedness of humanitarian personnel and volunteers in Nigeria.

The Sokoto branch appreciated the ICRC for supporting the training, saying improved preparedness would contribute to safer humanitarian operations and more effective assistance to vulnerable populations.

The branch also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the capacity of its volunteers and ensuring they are adequately prepared and protected while serving communities across the state.

Cross River State has won eight awards at the 2026 Nigeria eGovernment Excellence Awards, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The awards recognised the state government’s digital policy initiatives, eGovernment service delivery, mobile government solutions, digital innovation and technology-driven revenue administration.

Among those recognised were Governor Bassey Otu; Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Associate Professor Justin Beshel; Cross River State Government; MyCross River App; and the state’s technology partner, Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited.

Otu received the Governor of the Year Award for Digital Revenue and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Innovation.

Beshel was also honoured as the state Digital Policy Leader of the Year, while the state government received the Best State Mobile Government Initiative Award and the Most Improved State eGovernment Service Deployment Award.

The MyCross River App won two awards – GovTech Innovation of the Year and Best Government Payment Solution Award.

Nugi Technologies Nigeria Limited, the state’s technology partner, was recognised as E-Government Technology Partner of the Year and E-Government Startup of the Year.

The awards, according to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, reflected the administration’s efforts to deploy technology in governance, revenue administration, payment systems and public service delivery.

The ministry said the recognition of Governor Otu for Digital Revenue and IGR Innovation was an acknowledgement of the administration’s use of technology to strengthen revenue administration and improve the ease of doing business in the state.

It added that the award to Beshel as State Digital Policy Leader of the Year recognised his efforts towards providing policy direction and institutional support for the state’s digital transformation agenda.

The ministry said the awards for mobile government and eGovernment service deployment also highlighted the state’s efforts to use technology to improve access to public services.

At the centre of the state’s digital transformation programme is the MyCross River App, which provides digital platforms for government services and payment-related transactions.

The ministry said its partnership with Nugi Technologies had also contributed to the development and deployment of digital solutions for government operations and citizen engagement.

The state government said it would continue to expand digital public services in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), while strengthening technology-driven systems for efficiency, transparency and sustainable development.

The Commissioner for Science and Technology, Justin Beshel, congratulated Governor Otu on the recognitions, saying the awards reflected the administration’s determination to place technology at the centre of governance and development in Cross River State.

The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN) and the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Foundation have restated their commitment to the realisation of state policing, an idea strongly advocated by the late former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, during his lifetime.

The two organisations are marking what would have been Akeredolu’s 70th birthday with a colloquium titled, ‘Fundamentals and Governance of State Policing: Towards a New Architecture for National Security in Nigeria.’

The programme, scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, is expected to bring together governors, lawmakers, security chiefs, traditional rulers, academics and civil society actors to discuss policing and national security in Nigeria.

Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan on Tuesday, a representative of the Akeredolu family, Mr Taiwo Adewole, said the family decided to commemorate the late governor through ideas and conversations around issues he championed during his lifetime.

According to him, Akeredolu, who would have turned 70 on July 21, 2026, was a lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and two-term governor of Ondo State.

Adewole described the former governor as ‘a man of courage,’ saying Akeredolu spoke when silence was safer, acted when waiting was easier and stood up when others sat down.

He said Akeredolu remained committed to the security and welfare of the people, particularly during periods of insecurity in the South-West.

‘When farmers were killed on their farms, he did not look away. When criminals made our forests their hiding places, he drew a line. When terror came to Owo, his own hometown, he stood with his people and grieved with them,’

Adewole recalled that Akeredolu, as Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, played a leading role in the establishment of Operation Amotekun despite opposition and doubts from some quarters.

‘He believed security begins at home. He believed the people closest to a community are best placed to protect it,’ Adewole said.

He added that the family had chosen not to mourn Akeredolu with tears alone but to honour him by continuing conversations around the ideas and causes he championed.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Dr Seye Oyeleye, said the commission was proud to convene the Aketi@70 Colloquium in partnership with the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Foundation.

Oyeleye said the event was aimed at keeping alive Akeredolu’s contributions to the debate on state policing and national security.

He said Nigeria’s security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes and attacks on farms, highways and places of worship, had made the debate on policing increasingly important.

According to him, Nigeria’s centralised policing structure is under strain, making it necessary to have a serious conversation about how state policing can be implemented, funded, regulated and made accountable.

‘The debate on state policing is no longer about whether. It is about how.

‘How do we fund it? How do we train and equip it? How do we guard against abuse? How do we keep it accountable to the people, not to politicians?

‘These are the questions this colloquium will tackle,’ he said.

Oyeleye said the discussion was not a regional or Yoruba agenda but a national issue that went to the heart of Nigeria’s federal structure.

He said the experience of Operation Amotekun had demonstrated the potential of regional cooperation and the importance of local knowledge in addressing security challenges.

‘Amotekun showed what is possible. Regional cooperation works. Local knowledge saves lives,’

He urged Nigerians and the media to participate actively in the discourse, saying Akeredolu’s death should not mark the end of the ideas and conversations he started.

‘Honouring Aketi is not about the past. It is about the Nigeria we must build,’

The Secretary-General of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Mrs Naomi Olabode, described Akeredolu as a ‘strong and dogged fighter’ who believed deeply in Nigeria.

Olabode, who served as an executive assistant to the late governor, said Akeredolu always placed Nigeria at the forefront of his actions and stood for equity, fairness and justice.

She urged people across the South-West to attend the colloquium to honour the late governor.

‘This is a legacy we must keep,’ she said.

The Head of Special Projects and Funding at the DAWN Commission, Prince Adetayo Adeleke-Adedoyin, said the theme of the colloquium reflected the issues to which Akeredolu dedicated his life, including justice, activism, fairness and equity.

The Federal Government has set December 15, 2026, as the deadline for completing the national ranking of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee under the Federal Ministry of Education.

The ranking is expected to provide a framework for measuring the performance of tertiary institutions, identifying areas that need improvement and encouraging competition among public and private institutions.

The Chairman of NiTERAC, Prof. Peter Okebukola, disclosed this in a presentation on Nigeria’s performance in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, dated September 30, 2026.

According to Okebukola, the exercise followed a directive from the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and would cover universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

He said, ‘As directed by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee has started the process of the 2026 ranking of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

‘The national ranking is intended to stimulate healthy internal competition among Nigerian tertiary institutions and to position the Nigerian tertiary education system for improved global ranking in the coming years.

‘The university ranking will use 22 indicators, with weightings agreed with the League of Directors of Academic Planning, and the three sub-sector rankings are scheduled for completion before 15 December 2026. Section 13 describes the exercise.’

The exercise will assess all three major categories of tertiary institutions, expanding the government’s ranking system beyond universities.

Nigeria’s performance in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings was also highlighted in Okebukola’s presentation.

According to the presentation, 29 Nigerian universities featured in the rankings, compared with 24 in the previous edition. This made Nigeria the most represented country in sub-Saharan Africa.

The University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Covenant University were placed in the global 801-1,000 band, while four other Nigerian universities were placed in the 1,001-1,200 category.

Another 32 Nigerian universities were listed in the Reporter category, bringing the number of institutions that submitted data or engaged with the ranking process to 61.

Reporter status means an institution provided data but did not meet one or more requirements for inclusion in the ranked tables.

The presentation noted that only 29 of the 328 universities listed by the National Universities Commission appeared in the ranked category.

It identified research funding, publication productivity, institutional data management and international collaboration as areas that require attention.

It also noted differences among institutions in teaching, research quality, industry engagement and international outlook.

The national ranking is expected to give tertiary institutions a domestic benchmark for measuring their performance, identifying gaps and planning improvements.

The exercise will involve data collection, validation and finalisation of the assessment framework ahead of the December 15, 2026 deadline.

Residents of Sokoto State have expressed concern over the reported deaths of children suspected to have contracted diphtheria amid the ongoing outbreak in the state.

The development has heightened fears among residents, particularly parents, who are calling for urgent measures to contain the spread of the disease and prevent further deaths.

The concerns followed an earlier alert by the state government, which urged residents and school authorities to take precautionary measures against the spread of diphtheria.

However, some residents who spoke with our correspondent said they were worried that the response to the outbreak was not enough to address the situation.

In Kwalkwalawa community, a resident, who requested anonymity, said his six-year-old son died after developing symptoms which he suspected were linked to diphtheria.

He said the boy’s condition suddenly worsened on a Sunday morning, prompting the family to take him to a hospital.

‘It was on Sunday morning that his condition deteriorated. We quickly took him to the hospital, but unfortunately, we were told that there was no provision to adequately manage his condition,’ he said.

The grieving father said the family subsequently turned to traditional medicine after being informed that the required treatment was unavailable.

‘We did not just give up. We resorted to herbal medicine in an attempt to save him, but unfortunately, he lost his life,’ he added.

Similarly, residents of Rikina village reportedly said two children had died after developing symptoms suspected to be associated with the disease.

The reported cases have sparked calls for increased surveillance and immediate intervention by health authorities to prevent further transmission, particularly among children.

A medical doctor in the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that children were reportedly dying amid the outbreak and called for a stronger response from the relevant authorities.

‘The increasing number of suspected cases should prompt immediate intervention by the relevant authorities,’ the doctor said.

He said early detection and prompt treatment remained critical in reducing complications and deaths associated with the disease.

The doctor also called for intensified disease surveillance, public awareness campaigns, early referral and treatment of suspected cases, as well as closer coordination among health authorities, schools and communities.

Residents are also demanding regular updates from the state government on the outbreak, including the number of confirmed and suspected cases, reported deaths, treatment facilities and measures being implemented to contain the disease.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the state Ministry of Health were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Sifawa, when contacted, directed our correspondent to the Director of Disease Control in the ministry.

The director said he was attending a meeting when contacted. Subsequent messages sent to him seeking clarification on the reported deaths and the government’s response to the outbreak had not been answered as of press time.

itel, the technology empowerment brand for masses, officially unveiled its new product A300+, brand’s first interactive dual-screen smartphone in its price range. itel A300+ comes with a comprehensive set of features – a 7000mAh marathon battery, IP65 military-grade durability, and satellite communication capability, demonstrating that innovation and complete product strength can coexist at an accessible price point.

A First-of-Its-Kind Rear Screen Experience: Interactive Innovation for a New Generation

itel A300+ coming with an interactive rear display is a rare feature in this price category, designed to deliver a smart entertainment experience for young generations. Far from being a cosmetic gimmick, the rear screen provides practical functions built around real everyday scenarios. Users can frame selfies using the higher-quality rear camera with a live preview on the back screen, glance at incoming messages and alerts without waking the main display, and play, pause, or skip tracks directly from the rear screen. The rear display also supports customizable clocks, photos, and designs, giving users a personal window to express their individual style. Complementing the rear screen, the A300+ features a 6.78-inch immersive punch-hole main display, offering a cleaner, more expansive viewing experience for streaming, gaming, browsing, and social media.

Performance and Value in Balance: Delivering Fresh Technology Despite Industry Pressure

Even amid rising industry costs, itel has chosen to bring fresh technology to its products while continuously improving performance and keeping pricing accessible. The A300+ is powered by a 7000mAh marathon battery engineered for long-term reliability, supporting up to 1,200 charging cycles – far exceeding the industry standard, and designed to retain healthy capacity. AI Charging Protection intelligently manages charging patterns to reduce battery degradation, while Smart Power Management optimizes power consumption across apps and hardware to extend usage time between charges.

The device also features 300% ultra-volume DTS stereo speakers, delivering rich, room-filling sound for music, videos, FM radio, and everyday entertainment. Built to withstand daily life and beyond, the A300+ carries IP65 water and dust resistance certification and meets military-grade durability standards, resisting splashes, dust, and accidental drops. Notably, the A300+ includes satellite communication capability, ensuring users can still send basic messages via satellite when cellular networks are unavailable – a safety net in remote areas, during natural disasters, or in other critical situations, setting it apart in its price segment.

The A300+ is built on a clear product philosophy, rather than relying on a single headline feature, it combines its key strengths into one complete product story. The rear screen captures attention first, while battery life, durability, and practical usability make the overall value proposition convincing. With the A300+, itel once again demonstrates its commitment to using innovation to meet the needs and desire for novelty among young users in emerging markets.

The Managing Director of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday has reaffirmed that the Agency is working to ensure that the banking system in the country remains safe, sound and resilient.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Sunday said ‘over three decades, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation has remained a critical pillar of Nigeria’s financial safety-net architecture.

‘Through our mandate of deposit guarantee, bank supervision in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, failure resolution and bank liquidation, the NDIC has worked to ensure that the banking system remains safe, sound and resilient.

‘These responsibilities have direct bearing on the resilience of the nation’s economy as every thriving business needs a trusted financial system that can safeguard its working capital, facilitate payments and support access to credit for investment and expansion. This is where the NDIC comes in’.

He explained that to ‘strengthen confidence in the banking system, the Corporation enhanced its deposit insurance coverage in 2024 with the maximum insured limit increased to ?5 million per depositor per Deposit Money Bank (DMB) and Mobile Money Operator (MMO), and ?2 million per depositor per Microfinance Bank (MFB), Primary Mortgage Bank (PMB) and Payment Service Bank (PSB).

‘This significant enhancement provides full coverage for over 98 percent of depositors across the insured institutions, thereby protecting households, small businesses and other vulnerable depositors from the immediate consequences of bank failure.

‘For depositors whose balances exceed the insured limits, the NDIC continues to pay liquidation dividends from recoveries realised through the recovery of debts owed to the failed institutions as well as the disposal of their physical assets. Our objective is straightforward: no depositor should lose confidence in the banking system merely because an insured institution has failed.

‘We are also transforming the way depositors are reimbursed. Through the deployment of technology, including the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Single Customer View (SCV), NIBSS infrastructure and other digital solutions, the Corporation has moved from cumbersome, manual processes towards faster and seamless reimbursement. Today, verified depositors of failed banks receive their insured deposits within days of bank closure’.

The MD reiterated that the NDIC has positioned itself to serve as not merely a payer of claims after bank failure, but as a Risk Minimizer. ‘One that identifies vulnerabilities early, strengthens safeguards and works to prevent institutional problems from escalating into systemic crises.

‘Accordingly, the Corporation has continued to re-set and strengthen its institutional framework in line with global best practices. These initiatives include the deployment of Risk-Based Supervision (RBS), an enhanced Differential Premium Assessment System (DPAS), the Single Customer View (SCV) Framework, a full Distress Resolution suites, and the Bank Liquidation Management System (BLMS), alongside stronger inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other members of the financial safety net architecture.

‘It is against this backdrop that I wish to seize this opportunity to make a simple but important appeal to Nigerians. Please, keep your money in licensed and regulated financial institutions.

‘There are still Nigerians who keep substantial funds outside the formal banking system or entrust their savings to unlicensed fund managers, attracted by promises of extraordinary and unrealistic returns. Please note that the consequences of this can be devastating.

‘The proliferation and collapse of Ponzi schemes have demonstrated, time and again, the enormous financial and emotional cost of placing hard-earned resources in unregulated schemes. If an investment promise sounds too good to be true, Nigerians should pause, ask questions and verify before committing their money’ he stated.

Sunday therefore encouraged businesses and members of the public to strengthen their financial literacy, embrace digital financial services responsibly, maintain sound financial practices and engage with relevant regulatory institutions whenever they require guidance. ‘The more informed the public becomes, the stronger our collective capacity to build a resilient financial system’.

The bid by the member of the House of Representatives representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Ali Isa JC, to return to the House has suffered a temporary setback as a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe on Wednesday nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election which produced him as the party’s candidate.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Vera E. Ibrahim, the court ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary election within 30 days and barred Ali Isa JC, a former Chief Whip of the House, from participating in the rerun.

The court held that Ali Isa JC was not eligible to contest the primary because his name was not contained in the APC membership register submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within the period prescribed by law.

The court found that Ali Isa joined the APC 16 days before the party’s primary election held on 16 May 2026, and that there was no evidence before it establishing that his name was included in the membership register submitted to INEC 21 days before the primary, as required under Section 77 of the Electoral Act.

Justice Vera Ibrahim further said the issue before the court was not merely whether Ali Isa was a member of the APC, but whether the party complied with the statutory requirements governing the submission of its membership register to INEC.

The court consequently nullified the primary that produced him as the APC candidate and directed the party to conduct a fresh primary in accordance with the law.

Ali Isa, who was elected to the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), served as Minority Whip before defecting to the APC shortly before the party’s primary.

He subsequently emerged as the APC candidate for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency.

The legal challenge was instituted by Alfred John Atajiri, who approached the court after Ali Isa was declared the winner of the APC primary.

Alfred Atajiri had argued that Ali Isa was not a valid member of the APC at the time of the primary and therefore lacked the qualification to participate in the election.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Alfred Atajiri, Mr Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, welcomed the decision, saying it was consistent with the reliefs sought by his client.

The judgment has now paved the way for a fresh APC primary to select the party’s candidate for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, subject to any appeal arising from the decision.

Efforts to get the reaction of Ali Isa JC failed, as he could not be reached as of the time of filing this report. Neither could any of his legislative aides be reached.