Category: PM News

Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has urged youths to desist from political thuggery and cyber bullying, as the Kano state police Command carried out medical outreach and public enlightenment on maintenance of peace and order as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Youth Day.

Mr. Bakori reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to youth Inclusion, community policing, and peaceful coexistence.

The commemoration was held from Tuesday, 19th to Thursday, 21st August 2026, in compliance with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and in line with the United Nations theme: ‘Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.’

As part of the three-day commemoration, the Command conducted free medical outreach at Sharada Phase II Quarters, Kano Municipal Local Government Area.

Medical personnel from the Command’s Medical Services and partner health professionals provided free consultations, medications, vital checks, and health education to residents.

The initiative was aimed at promoting healthy living and strengthening Police-Community relations.

The Command featured live public enlightenment programs on Dala FM 88.5 Kano and Freedom Radio 99.5FM Kano.

The programmes focused on youth involvement in crime prevention, the dangers of political and digital thuggery, responsible use of social media, and available channels for reporting security concerns.

Members of the public, especially youth, were urged to partner with the Police by providing timely and credible information.

The grand finale was a major Police-Youth Dialogue held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Bompai, Kano.

The engagement provided a platform for young people to interact directly with Police leadership and Divisional Police Officers, DPOs, on issues of security, public trust, crime prevention, responsible citizenship, and Police-Youth partnership.

During the dialogue, the Command formally launched the Kano State Campaign: ‘My Future Is Greater Than Political and Digital Thuggery.’

The campaign is designed to discourage youth involvement in political violence, electoral thuggery, digital manipulation, misinformation, and all forms of online exploitation.

The engagement brought together diverse youth groups including Young Lawyers, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, Student bodies from NANS and NAKS, Assistant Superintendents of Police – Graduates of Nigeria Police Academy Wudil, Young Journalists, Youth Female Bodies, National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Youth Persons with Disabilities, Young Marketers, Kungiyar Kare Mutunci, Young Footballers, Youth Media Influencers, and other community policing stakeholders.

The Commissioner of Police personally supervised all the activities to ensure adequate security, effective coordination, media coverage, and active participation of stakeholders.

In his address, the Commissioner reiterated the Command’s commitment to the IGP’s agenda of proactive, public engagement-driven policing and youth inclusion in national security. He charged the youth to take ownership of the initiatives and to serve as ambassadors of peace, law, and responsible digital citizenship.

‘Our youths are the greatest asset of Kano State and Nigeria. We must protect their future by rejecting violence, rejecting manipulation, and embracing dialogue, education, and lawful enterprise,’ Mr. Bakori stated.

Kano State Government has formally handed over the School of Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship Development, Rano, to the steering committee overseeing the establishment of the proposed Federal Polytechnic in Rano.

This was contained in a statement issued by Governor Abba Yusuf’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Sunday.

Tofa said Governor Yusuf disclosed this during the handover ceremony, where he met with members of the steering committee and inspected facilities earmarked for the development of the proposed polytechnic.

The Governor assured that the state government would provide the necessary support to facilitate the successful establishment and prompt take-off of the institution.

He stressed the importance of technical education and skills development in preparing young people for employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

Governor Yusuf said the Kano State Government would also upgrade facilities and improve the learning environment at the school’s new location in Sumaila Local Government Area to enhance effective teaching and learning.

The Governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Kawu Sumaila and Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum for their commitment and efforts towards the actualisation of the polytechnic.

He also commended members of the steering committee for their sustained efforts and dedication, which he said had contributed significantly to moving the project closer to realisation.

In their separate remarks, Senator Kawu Sumaila and Rt. Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum thanked President Tinubu for approving the establishment of the Polytechnic and Governor Yusuf for providing the necessary support and enabling environment for its actualisation.

Also speaking, a member of the steering committee, Senator UK Umar, called for the provision of additional hectares of land to accommodate the future expansion of the polytechnic and provide adequate space for academic and supporting infrastructure.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 101-year-old great grandmother for allegedly dealing in cannabis in Ogun State.

This is coming as operatives also intercepted cocaine concealed inside edible cassava flour popularly known as fufu and seized illicit drugs worth billions of naira across the country.

The agency also seized 1,490.5kg of cannabis indica, popularly known as Loud, valued at more than N4.4 billion at the Apapa and Lekki ports in Lagos, in what it described as its first seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through the maritime corridor.

The NDLEA Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Babafemi said operatives arrested the centenarian, identified as Esther Ogunmabo, at Ilisan, Ogun State, on Saturday, August 15, 2026, after she was found with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in retail sachets.

He said the woman admitted selling the substance to local residents, explaining that she ventured into the illicit trade after her provisions shop was destroyed by fire.

According to Babafemi, Ogunmabo also revealed that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied the cannabis to her every four days, which she subsequently sold in small quantities.

He stated that following the development, the NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), directed that the 101-year-old suspect be granted bail and subjected to counselling because of her advanced age.

Babafemi added that the woman’s daughter had, however, been arrested in connection with the case.

In another major interception, he said NDLEA operatives in Akwa Ibom State, acting on credible intelligence on Friday, August 21, intercepted a wooden boat on the high seas carrying illicit drugs to fishing settlements in Cameroon.

He revealed that three suspects were arrested aboard the boat, which was heading towards Ine Isu, Ine Mbah and Ine Ikot Itie Udung fishing ports in the neighbouring country.

The suspects, Babafemi said, were Etima Effiong Eekpo, 29, who had 1.120kg of skunk; Otobong Eyoh Etukudoh, 33, who was found with 42.060kg of skunk; and Kingsley Effiong John, 27, who was caught with 20 grammes of cocaine concealed inside a large wrap of edible cassava fufu.

He added that John was also found with 435 grammes of skunk, bringing the total quantity of narcotics recovered from the three suspects to 42.622kg.

Babafemi said the agency also recorded a major breakthrough at the nation’s seaports with the interception of two containers containing Thai Loud at the Apapa and Lekki ports.

He stated that the combined street value of the cannabis indica seized from the two containers was estimated at more than N4.4 billion.

According to him, both containers were loaded at the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand, indicating the emergence of a new maritime route being exploited by international drug trafficking syndicates.

At the Apapa Port, Babafemi revealed that a container declared to contain dry fish, rice, vehicle spare parts, turmeric soap and inverter batteries was subjected to a joint examination by NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other stakeholders on Friday, August 21.

He said the inspection uncovered 1,090.5kg of Thai Loud packed in 54 cartons containing 2,181 sachets of 500 grammes each.

At the Lekki Deep Sea Port, another container placed on the NDLEA watchlist was intercepted after being monitored by the agency’s Marine Special Operations Unit.

Babafemi said the container was jointly examined on Wednesday, August 19, leading to the discovery of seven pallets wrapped in black nylon.

He stated that four of the pallets contained Thai Loud, with 96 cartons made up of 400 parcels weighing 400kg in total, while the remaining three pallets contained 798 rims of A4 paper used to conceal the illicit consignment.

The NDLEA spokesman further disclosed that operatives in the Federal Capital Territory intercepted three waybill packages containing 24,410 pills of tramadol capsules inside a Hummer bus travelling from Enugu to Zuba on Saturday, August 22.

He said a follow-up operation in Niger State led to the arrest of the owner of the consignment, 28-year-old Sunday Eze, in Kontagora, after which he was transferred to Abuja.

In Ondo State, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives raided a cannabis farm in Ijare forest, Ifedore Local Government Area, on Wednesday, August 19, following the earlier arrest of three suspected cannabis cultivators at the same location.

He revealed that the operation led to the destruction of 10,000kg of skunk cultivated across four hectares of forest.

He added that in a separate operation at Ita-Ogbolu, Akure North Local Government Area, the same day, operatives recovered 210kg of skunk and a Toyota Camry with registration number AGL 223 JH.

The vehicle, he said, belonged to Sylvester Dibiagu Anthony, who remains at large.

In Kwara State, Babafemi said operatives on patrol along the Ogbomosho-Ilorin Expressway intercepted a Toyota Starlet without a registration number on Friday, August 21.

He stated that a search of the vehicle uncovered 1.325kg of methamphetamine wrapped in black nylon bags, alongside quantities of cannabis sativa.

A 22-year-old suspect, Muhammadu Usman, was arrested in connection with the seizure, he added.

Babafemi also disclosed the arrest of a 65-year-old woman, Adebayo Kaosarat, in the Akobo-Ojuirin area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, August 21.

He said the woman was found with a cocktail of illicit substances comprising 1.795kg of Scottish Loud, 1.66kg of tramadol, 600 grammes of codeine syrup, 125 grammes of diazepam and 50 grammes of flunitrazepam, with a combined weight of 4.68kg.

In Kano State, the NDLEA spokesman said a raid at Hadeija Road on Monday, August 17, resulted in the arrest of 31-year-old Chibuzor Madueke, from whom 98 blocks of skunk weighing 73.3kg were recovered.

He said operatives also arrested three members of the same family at Ashipa, near the Seme border in Lagos State.

The suspects, identified as Nasiru Tijjani, 52, and his two relatives, Moshood Tijjani and Salami Tijjani, both 27, were arrested with 48kg of skunk, Babafemi stated.

In Abia State, he revealed that NDLEA officers raided the residence of 36-year-old Ikechukwu Anthony Iwuno at Umuobia Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area, on Thursday, August 20.

The operation, he said, yielded 14.4kg of Loud, 2.3kg of Colorado, 386 grammes of tramadol and 134 grammes of Rohypnol.

Babafemi said Marwa commended officers and men of the Ogun, Apapa, Lekki, Seme, Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Kano, Abia and FCT Commands for their successful operations.

He stated that the NDLEA chairman urged officers across the country to sustain the agency’s current balanced approach to drug control, combining enforcement operations with prevention, sensitisation, counselling and other measures aimed at tackling the illicit drug problem.

President Bola Tinubu will lead a major African initiative aimed at ensuring the continent derives greater economic value from its vast mineral resources swhen he chairs a high-level critical minerals summit in New York next month.

The Third High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa is scheduled for September 21, 2026, in Manhattan, alongside the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Tinubu, who chairs the General Assembly of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), will preside over the meeting, which is expected to attract African government leaders, ministers, investors, development finance institutions and representatives of multilateral organisations.

Executives from the mining, technology and logistics sectors are also expected to attend the summit, which is themed, ‘From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition’.

The gathering comes as competition intensifies among major global economies for reliable supplies of minerals needed for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and defence technologies.

In a statement on Sunday, the AMSG said the meeting would strengthen Africa’s efforts to gain greater control over the development and use of its mineral resources.

It said, ‘Africa is set to make a major push for greater control over its critical minerals future as the Africa Minerals Strategy Group convenes its Third High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa in Manhattan, New York, on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

‘The Roundtable will be chaired by His Excellency Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the AMSG General Assembly, underscoring Africa’s determination to place critical minerals at the centre of the continent’s industrial, economic and geopolitical agenda.’

Africa possesses significant deposits of minerals including lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite, manganese and rare earth elements. Yet, much of the continent’s mineral output has traditionally been exported with little or no processing.

This has meant that countries outside Africa often capture a larger proportion of the economic benefits through refining, manufacturing and the production of finished goods.

The AMSG wants to reverse that trend by encouraging African countries to develop processing and manufacturing capacity and build interconnected mineral value chains across the continent.

‘The Roundtable will focus on how African countries can move beyond the traditional extract-and-export model to build integrated mineral value chains, attract transformative capital, strengthen continental cooperation and secure a greater share of the economic value generated from Africa’s mineral resources,’ the group said.

The New York summit will also advance the Mutual Assured Development framework introduced earlier in 2026 at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja.

Participants are expected to present a proposed Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration, known as CIEAD, aimed at establishing a common framework for cooperation in the critical minerals sector.

The proposed declaration will address policy coordination, investment mobilisation, domestic value addition and supply-chain security, while seeking to improve Africa’s bargaining power in the international minerals market.

A proposed CIEAD Finance Window will form part of the initiative. It is intended to attract funding for mineral processing, infrastructure, technology and other areas required to establish competitive value chains within Africa.

The AMSG said the objective was to ensure the initiative moved from broad policy commitments to practical investment and implementation.

‘Building on the Mutual Assured Development Framework, the New York gathering will mark a transition from strategic dialogue to structural execution,’ the group said.

The summit will be convened by the AMSG leadership, including Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, who chairs its Ministerial Steering Committee, and Secretary-General Moses Michael Engadu.

The Africa Finance Corporation, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations and private-sector companies involved in mining, technology, mineral traceability and logistics are also expected to participate.

The AMSG was established in January 2024 by African governments as a continental intergovernmental organisation responsible for coordinating critical minerals policies, aligning investment strategies, strengthening minerals security and improving Africa’s engagement with international partners.

The organisation seeks to strengthen African control over the continent’s mineral resources and ensure that a greater share of the wealth generated from them remains within Africa.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has renewed the tenure of the Director-General of the National Television Authority (NTA) and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for another three-year term.

President Tinubu first appointed Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos of the NTA and Ali Mohammed Ali of the NAN on October 20, 2023. Their second term will begin on October 20, 2026.

Salihu Dembos, from Yola, Adamawa State, is a former National President of the Radio, Television, Theatre and Art Workers Union (RATTAWU). He previously served as the executive director of marketing at the NTA after his retirement in 2017.

He joined the NTA as an announcer at the Kaduna Station after his National Youth Service in 1989. He rose through the ranks and, at various times, served as General Manager at NTA Lokoja and NTA Kano. He retired as the acting Zonal Director, NTA Kaduna Network Centre, in 2017.

Ali Mohammed Ali is a veteran journalist and media manager with over 30 years of experience. He has a keen interest in media evolution and content development in a digital world, meeting the needs of a diverse population with alternative news feeds.

With a first degree in English from Bayero University, Kano, Ali also holds a graduate degree in International Affairs from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communications from Bayero University, Kano.

President Tinubu has urged the two chief executives to justify his confidence in them by continuing to demonstrate commitment to their organisation’s mandates and the promotion of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Colleagues of veteran Yoruba actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have expressed grief over his death.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Hassan’s family confirmed his passing on Sunday at the age of 66.

Hassan, who rose to prominence in the 1990s, was celebrated for his roles in Yoruba action and epic films such as Ogogo, Eegun Mogaji and Igbekun.

He was known for his commanding screen presence and dedication to promoting Yoruba culture through cinema.

Renowned actor, Jide Kosoko, mourned ‘Ogogo’, noting that the late thespian left an indelible mark on Yoruba cinema.

Actor and President of Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr Latin, also paid tribute to Ogogo.

In a statement, he said: ‘Today, we mourn the passing of a great icon, a legend and a father to many.

‘Taiwo Ogogo Hassan lived a remarkable life, touched countless hearts and left an indelible mark on our industry and culture.

May his legacy live on forever, and may God grant his family, colleagues and loved ones the strength to bear this painful loss.’

Actor Saidi Balogun expressed grief over the passing of Ogogo, describing him as a brother.

In an emotional tribute shared online, Balogun wrote: ‘You can rest now my brother, Taiwo Hassan Ogogo. May Almighty Allah guide you through Aljannah. This is truly painful.’

Balogun said Ogogo was not just a colleague but family, and prayed that Allah grants him eternal rest.

Similarly, actor Femi Adebayo described Ogogo as a true pillar of Yoruba cinema whose impact would live on for generations.

‘Thank you for the years, the stories, the lessons and the moments that made us fall in love with the craft,’ Adebayo said.

Actress Toyin Adewale described Hassan as a ‘gem’, saying his life and legacy were remarkable.

‘We lost a gem. Sir T, you came, you saw, and you conquered. What a remarkable life and legacy,’ Adewale said.

She prayed for the veteran actor to rest peacefully, adding that his memories would remain in the hearts of those who knew him.

A lecturer familiar with the ongoing controversy surrounding allegations of missing students’ results and delayed graduation at Lagos State University (LASU) has said the matter is already being handled at the university level.

The lecturer, who spoke with our correspondent as an insider in the development, declined to comment further on the details of the matter but assured that the challenges would be resolved soon.

‘I’m not open to discussions on this. It’s been handled at the university level and the challenges would be resolved soon,’ the lecturer said.

The response comes amid growing concerns from some students who alleged that missing result uploads had affected their graduation process, with claims that some students could be forced to spend an additional academic year due to unresolved academic records.

The controversy gained attention after claims surfaced online alleging that more than 100 students were affected by a lecturer’s failure to upload results dating back to their 300-level studies.

Following the allegations, the management of Lagos State University confirmed that it had commenced investigations into the matter.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Saturday, the university acknowledged the concerns raised and said the issue was being looked into.

‘The attention of the University Management has been drawn to this allegation, and the matter is currently being looked into. Thank you for bringing it to our attention,’ LASU management stated.

The university’s response followed online claims by an X user, @TheAjakeManger, who alleged that several students had been affected by unresolved result issues.

The user further claimed that the situation extended beyond the initially reported cases, alleging that some students in different levels of the department were facing similar challenges.

However, the university has not confirmed those additional claims and has not released details on the outcome of its ongoing inquiry.

Meanwhile, student representatives have also engaged with the university management over the matter.

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, said discussions had commenced with the institution’s authorities and urged affected students to remain calm.

‘To all LASU students that are affected with this, please remain calm as discussions have been opened with the management by the leadership of NANS and JCC Lagos Axis,’ he said.

He added that the university management had assured student leaders that the concerns would be addressed.

The Nigerian Army said troops neutralised 40 terrorists, foiled attacks and recovered weapons in operations across the country in the last 24 hours.

The operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, said the successes were recorded between Aug. 21 and Aug. 22.

In the North-East, the report said the troops of Operation HADIN KAI received five JAS fighters who surrendered in Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

It said the surrendered fighters handed over 358 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and three rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition to the troops.

The report said troops also foiled an attempted terrorist attack on commuters along the Gajiram-Mairari road in Nganzai Local Government Area.

It added that the terrorists opened fire on a truck and damaged one of its tyres before troops responded with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon the attack.

According to the report, troops subsequently assisted the truck driver and successfully extricated the vehicle from the scene.

‘In separate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, the military’s Guardian aircraft neutralised 38 suspected terrorists in precision strikes in Borno.

‘One strike neutralised 16 terrorists clustered around a makeshift hut, while a follow-up strike neutralised 10 others who fled the area.

‘In another operation, Guardian tracked 12 suspected terrorists to a hut and neutralised all of them, according to battle-damage assessment,’ the report said.

In the South-East, the report said the troops of Operation UDO KA neutralised one IPOB/ESN terrorist during a dawn operation in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra.

It said the troops recovered two pump-action guns, two motorcycles and materials suspected to be used for making improvised explosive devices.

‘In another operation in Bassa Local Government Area, troops arrested a civilian and recovered a locally fabricated Dane gun following a reported shooting incident.

‘The recovered items and suspects remained in military custody for further action,’ it added.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given INEC seven days to disclose political donation limits, party finances and its 2027 monitoring plans.

In a Freedom of Information request dated August 22, 2026, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, to disclose whether the commission has exercised its statutory power under Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2026 to prescribe limits on political contributions.

SERAP demanded that, where such limits have been prescribed, INEC should immediately publish them and widely communicate them to political parties, candidates, donors and the Nigerian public.

The organisation also asked the commission to disclose the systems, personnel and procedures it has put in place to monitor, investigate and enforce compliance with political contribution and campaign expenditure limits during the 2027 electoral process.

It further demanded details of INEC’s methodology for monitoring political financing, particularly its arrangements for identifying and addressing cash and in-kind contributions, digital and social-media financing, third-party expenditure and donations made through intermediaries that could be used to circumvent statutory limits.

SERAP said greater transparency in political financing was essential to ensuring that the 2027 elections were conducted on a level playing field and that citizens could make free and informed political choices.

It argued that INEC’s constitutional responsibility goes beyond merely receiving financial statements from political parties, stressing that the commission is required to examine party finances, conduct necessary investigations and report to the National Assembly.

According to SERAP, publishing those reports would enable Nigerians to determine whether INEC had effectively discharged its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

The organisation warned that voters, journalists and civil-society groups could not effectively scrutinise political financing if applicable contribution limits were not easily accessible or if there was no publicly known mechanism for monitoring compliance.

SERAP also raised concern over what it described as the increasing monetisation of Nigeria’s elections and the potential misuse of state institutions, saying these posed serious threats to democratic integrity and electoral competition.

It said the requested information would allow citizens to identify excessive, undisclosed or potentially illicit political financing before such funding could distort electoral competition.

The organisation maintained that effective political-finance regulation was necessary to safeguard constitutional democracy, equality of political participation, freedom of expression and association, electoral integrity and meaningful participation in public affairs.

SERAP further cited longstanding challenges in regulating political finance in Nigeria, including excessive campaign spending, opaque funding sources, weak disclosure and reporting mechanisms and limited enforcement of statutory spending and contribution rules.

It said previous assessments of Nigerian elections had identified gaps between the country’s legal framework and its practical implementation, including concerns that spending limits could be circumvented, political-party expenditure was insufficiently regulated or transparently disclosed, and violations were rarely identified and effectively sanctioned.

SERAP said it remained unclear whether INEC had prescribed, clearly published and effectively monitored applicable contribution limits and whether political parties and candidates could be held accountable for contributions and expenditure exceeding the limits or deliberately concealed.

The organisation specifically referred to Section 91(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which empowers INEC to place limitations on the amount of money or other assets an individual can contribute to a political party or candidate and to demand information on donations and their sources.

It also noted that Section 91(2) provides sanctions where an individual, candidate or political party exceeds the applicable limit prescribed by INEC.

SERAP therefore urged the commission to clarify whether it had exercised its powers under Section 91 and, if so, publish the limits prominently and make them easily accessible, including on its website.

The organisation also asked INEC to explain the methodology and criteria used in determining the limits, including whether considerations such as excessive financial influence, fair electoral competition, corruption risks and illicit political financing were taken into account.

On political-party finances, SERAP invoked Sections 226(1), 226(2) and 226(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

It said Section 226(1) requires INEC to prepare and submit an annual report to the National Assembly on the accounts and balance sheets of political parties, while Section 226(2) requires the commission to conduct investigations necessary to determine whether proper books of account and records have been maintained.

Section 226(3), it added, gives INEC and its authorised agents access to party books, accounts and vouchers and allows them to demand information and explanations necessary for the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

With INEC having released the Notice of Election and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general elections, SERAP said transparency in political financing was particularly important as parties and candidates mobilise resources for the electoral contest.

SERAP asked INEC to publish the latest detailed statements submitted by political parties on their assets and liabilities, sources of funds and other assets and expenditure.

It also demanded the publication of parties’ annual statements, audited accounts and election expenditure returns for 2023 to 2025, as well as INEC’s Section 225 and 226 examination and audit reports, including annual reports submitted to the National Assembly for the same period.

The organisation further requested disclosure of enforcement actions arising from political-finance and expenditure violations and INEC’s 2027 political-finance monitoring plan, including arrangements for real-time or near-real-time monitoring and cooperation with relevant anti-corruption, financial-intelligence, regulatory and law-enforcement agencies.

SERAP also wants INEC to disclose the political parties that submitted reports of contributions received following the 2023 general elections, the dates of submission and actions taken against parties that failed to submit the reports within the statutory deadline.

It warned that failure to provide the requested information within seven days of receiving or publishing the letter would prompt SERAP to take appropriate legal action to compel compliance in the public interest.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has explained why he would not have accepted the role of Director-General of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, saying his priority is to secure victory in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory rather than pursue a campaign title.

Wike spoke on Saturday while inspecting ongoing rehabilitation and construction works on the Apo-Karshi and Kubwa-Bwari roads in Abuja.

His comments came a day after the Presidency announced the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election and appointed former Zamfara State Governor and serving Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General.

Yari has since accepted the appointment, promising to immediately commence work and lead the campaign with discipline, unity and respect for Nigerians.

However, when asked whether he would have preferred to head the campaign council, Wike dismissed the idea, citing previous campaign directors-general who, according to him, lost their states while campaigning for presidential candidates.

The former Rivers State governor recalled that in 2015, then-Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi served as Director-General of Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign and subsequently lost Rivers State to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

‘In 2015, the Minister of Transport was the governor of Rivers State. So, he was the DG of Muhammadu Buhari. Before you knew, I pulled the carpet off his feet. He lost. He didn’t get 25 percent,’ Wike said.

He further recalled that Amaechi again served as campaign DG in 2019 but lost his state, while former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who headed Atiku Abubakar’s campaign in the same election, also lost his home state of Kwara.

‘In 2019, he was Minister of Transport, he became the DG, and he lost his state too. Bukola Saraki was the DG of Atiku campaign in 2019. He was running around doing ‘Atikulated’.

‘I called him, ‘Why are you doing Atikulated? Go home!’ He lost his state! Lost his own seat, too!’ Wike said.

He also cited former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, who served as Atiku’s campaign DG in 2023 and lost Sokoto State, as well as former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, who headed the APC campaign and lost Plateau State in the same election.

‘In 2023, Aminu Tambuwal became DG of Atiku. He lost his state! In the same 2023, Lalong was the DG of APC, the present president. He lost his state!’ Wike said.

‘I Don’t Want to Lose My State’

Wike said he was unwilling to become another example of a campaign DG losing his political base, stressing that his attention would remain on delivering electoral victories for President Tinubu in Rivers State and the FCT.

‘I don’t want to lose my state! I will be in my state. I have two states: FCT and Rivers. What is important is that you are able to deliver those two states. So it is not about being DG,’ he said.

The FCT minister questioned the value of occupying a prominent campaign position if the individual is unable to deliver his home state.

‘If you are DG and you don’t win your state, what is the essence of the DG?’ he queried.

Why Wike Won’t Join APC Campaign Council

Wike also pointed to his political status outside the APC as another reason he could not head the party’s presidential campaign council.

‘I am not a member of APC. So the issue of their Presidential Campaign Council is out of the question,’ he said.

He, however, stressed that his decision not to join the APC campaign council would not prevent him from supporting Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

‘When we were fighting for the President to be president in 2023, we were not members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, but we were fighting.

‘So, we had our own strategies on how the president would emerge,’ Wike said.

Wike Backs ‘Rainbow Coalition’

The minister said his support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election would instead be pursued through the cross-party ‘Rainbow Coalition’, which brings together politicians from different political parties who support the President while retaining their respective party affiliations.

‘Mind you, when we formed the Rainbow Coalition, so many parties were coming together, working together in some states to make sure that the President wins,’ he said.

Wike also argued that political influence should ultimately be measured by electoral performance rather than campaign appointments, saying the outcome of the 2027 election would determine which politicians successfully delivered their respective states.

‘Nobody should use that as a yardstick to judge who will be the governor of any state. I think there is only one state that is clear that will produce a governor. It is my state. It is very clear.

‘The other ones, we don’t know what will happen,’ he said.