Category: PM News

The Association of Energy Policy and Development Consultants (AEPDC) has retracted its earlier call for the removal of Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), saying further investigations showed that its initial position was based on incomplete and misleading information.

Dr Ibrahim Danjuma, national president of AEPDC, announced the reversal at a press conference in Kaduna on Friday, where he said the association had conducted further investigations, reviewed relevant documents and consulted industry stakeholders after issuing its initial statement.

Danjuma said the association’s subsequent findings revealed a high level of transparency in the management of NNPCL, particularly regarding the energy security expenditure and other financial obligations that had initially triggered its criticism of Ojulari.

‘We have called this press conference today because we owe Nigerians an important explanation. A few days ago, the Association of Energy Policy and Development Consultants (AEPDC) issued a statement expressing serious concerns about the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), particularly the figures relating to energy security expenditure, pipeline protection and other claims contained in the company’s financial records,’ he said.

‘In that statement, we called for the resignation of Mr Bayo Ojulari, group chief executive officer of NNPCL, arguing that the information available to us at the time suggested a disturbing level of opacity and weak accountability in the management of the nation’s petroleum resources.

‘Today, after conducting further investigations, reviewing additional documents and engaging with relevant industry stakeholders, we have come before you to formally retract that position.’

The association said its initial assessment had been influenced by ‘incomplete information, selective interpretations and narratives’ that did not adequately reflect the circumstances surrounding the expenditure under scrutiny.

Danjuma said AEPDC subsequently examined NNPCL’s financial disclosures, the legal framework governing its energy security obligations, under-recovery mechanisms, claims against the federation and the operational circumstances behind the expenditure.

‘What emerged from this exercise was substantially different from the picture initially presented to us. Our findings reveal a level of transparency in the current management of NNPCL that we believe deserves recognition rather than condemnation,’ he announced.

The group said the energy security figures should not be treated as unexplained expenditure simply because they involved large sums, arguing that they must be assessed within NNPCL’s statutory responsibilities, its role as an energy supplier of last resort, petroleum pricing interventions and exchange-rate movements.

According to Danjuma, the association also found that NNPCL’s financial disclosures contained explanations that could enable the claims to be examined and independently scrutinised.

‘On this basis, we believe our earlier characterisation of the NNPCL’s position as one of secrecy was unfair. We therefore apologise to the management of NNPCL, particularly Mr Bayo Ojulari, for the conclusion we reached before completing the level of investigation that this matter deserved,’ he said.

He stressed that the retraction did not amount to abandoning the group’s demand for accountability.

‘Our decision today is therefore not a retreat from accountability. It is accountability in practice,’ Danjuma emphasised.

The consultants maintained that legislative and independent scrutiny of NNPCL’s finances should continue, but urged stakeholders to approach the issue objectively and avoid drawing conclusions from isolated figures.

AEPDC also urged NNPCL to continue publishing comprehensive financial statements and providing clear explanations for major expenditures, while calling for stronger systems for independently verifying and reporting energy security costs.

Danjuma said the association’s revised position was based on its responsibility to correct itself after discovering that its earlier assessment was not sufficiently supported by the full facts.

‘We made a judgment. We investigated further. We found that the judgment was not sufficiently supported by the full facts. We are correcting it publicly,’ he said.

The association subsequently withdrew its demand for Ojulari’s resignation and reaffirmed confidence in his leadership of NNPCL, while urging him and his management team to sustain transparency, accountability and efficiency in the management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources.

Voters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, in a calm atmosphere, turned our early on Saturday to exercise their franchise in the governorship election even as a huge population of armed security personnel flooded all nooks and crannies of the city.

Heavy security presence is observed around polling units across the city of Osogbo.

It will be recalled that the Force Public Relation Officer at the Stakeholders’ Engagement meeting at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo on Thursday informed the public that over 15,000 personnel had been deployed in the state and that four personnel would man each polling unit.

There has also been an encouraging turnout of voters in Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Ede North, Boripe and Osogbo Local Government Areas.

Voters were seen as early as 6:40 a.m. at many of the polling units in the areas.

At Ward D1, Unit 8 in Ilesa West council area, INEC officials were on ground, while voters were seen checking their names on the pasted voters’ list.

The Presiding Officer at the unit, Mr Segun Adegbaju, said he and other officials arrived at the polling unit at 6:59 a.m.

Similarly at Ward 8, Unit 3 within the council area, a large number of voters were seen checking their names on the pasted list, while INEC ad hoc staff were also on ground.

The Assistant Presiding Officer, Mr Cestus Akilolu, while addressing the voters, said accreditation and voting would commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.

Akilolu urged the voters to remain orderly, assuring them that the process would be peaceful.

At Ward 4, Unit 6, Ede North Local Government Area, INEC ad hoc staff arrived early, while voters also turned out early for the exercise.

Also at Ward 4, Unit 6, Abere, Ede North, voters were seen as early as 7 a.m. checking their names on the pasted list, with INEC ad hoc staff on ground.

At Owode-Ede, voters had gathered at their polling units in large number as of 8:00 am, waiting to vote.

At Ward 4, Unit 13, Osogbo Local Government Area, voters arrived as early as 6:50 a.m., awaiting the arrival of electoral officials and voting materials.

At Ward 3, Unit 16, Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area, voters were also seen waiting for the arrival of electoral officials.

Some of the electorate expressed satisfaction with the early arrival of INEC ad hoc staff at the polling units.

As of the time of filing this report, voting had yet to commence at some of the polling units visited, as the exercise was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

The situation in Ejigbo Local Government Area, particularly at Moyofade Ward 14, also remained calm on Saturday as residents turned out well to participate in the election.

Large number of voters have arrived at many polling units by 8 a.m.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc personnel were already at their designated locations preparing for accreditation and voting.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were also observed to be functioning properly, while voters checked the voter register displayed on the walls ahead of accreditation.

Security personnel were also deployed to various locations within the ward, helping to maintain order and ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.

The atmosphere remained peaceful across the area, with no major incident recorded as voting activities continued.

Voters have also turned out largely in Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government Area with voting commencing at about 9:20 am. INEC ad hoc staff had just concluded education of voters on voting process.

In Iwo, voters turned out early at many polling units with security operatives manning all strategic places. The people have also conducted themselves peacefully, casting their votes seamlessly.

One of the voters at Ward 3 in Iwo who spoke with PM NEWS, Mr Ademola Adesoji, said ‘INEC officials arrived on time, and everything has been seamless. After accreditation, people vote immediately and leave without any issue. People have turned out very well.’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced restoration of four state House of Assembly constituencies in Delta and Kogi States.

INEC, in a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, its National Commissioner who also serves as its Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee said the previously suppressed state constituencies were restored based on court judgments directing the restoration of the additional constituencies in the two states.

Delta gained three new state constituencies while Kogi gained one under the arrangement.

The Commission identified the restored constituencies as Abraka, Isoko North II, and Ughelli South II State Constituencies in Delta State and Yagba West II State Constituency in Kogi State.

INEC also announced that it has fixed between 21st and 25th August 2026 for the conduct of party primaries for the restored constituencies.

‘This coincides with the period for the conduct of primaries for bye-elections to fill recent vacancies into Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies of Bauchi State, Udu State Constituency of Delta State, and Dawakin Kudu State Constituency of Kano State. Elections into these constituencies have been fixed for 19th September 2026,’ the Commission said.

It added that all other timelines and activities contained in the already published revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election will also apply to the restored Constituencies.

INEC therefore advised political parties to submit notices of their various primaries to the Commission before their scheduled dates.

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has disclosed that more than 70 per cent of persons with disabilities (PWDs) turned out to exercise their franchise at designated polling units monitored during the ongoing Osun State governorship election.

The observation was contained in the Hub’s preliminary election-day statement presented in Osogbo by representatives of the Kukah Centre (TKC), TAF Africa, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO).

The statement was presented by Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa, Barrister Asabe Ndahi of the Kukah Centre, Akin Akingbulu of CEMESO, Lanre Arogundade of IPC, Brenda Anugwom of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund and Jake Epelle of TAF Africa.

The Hub, however, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen measures to ensure that persons with disabilities, alongside other vulnerable groups, enjoy full and unhindered access to the electoral process.

According to the Hub, its observers found the voting process to be largely inclusive, with noticeable participation by women and PWDs across the polling units monitored.

It said more than 70 per cent of PWD voters turned up at the 12 designated PWD polling units observed by its field teams, indicating a significant level of participation among voters with disabilities.

The observers also reported that women accounted for about 59 per cent of voter turnout in the polling units monitored, while women constituted 36 per cent of polling officials and played important roles as polling agents.

Despite the encouraging participation, the Hub stressed the need for INEC to continue improving accessibility and ensuring that voting arrangements adequately respond to the needs of elderly voters, pregnant women and persons with disabilities.

It specifically recommended that INEC monitor the availability and use of priority voting arrangements and assistive devices for PWDs and other vulnerable voters to ensure that the facilities are available and effectively used.

The Hub’s recommendations came against the backdrop of other challenges recorded during the election, including security incidents and electoral irregularities.

As of noon, the observers had recorded 38 security incidents, comprising 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and nine cases of voter intimidation allegedly involving security personnel.

Across the 726 polling units observed, the Hub also recorded 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities. These included 103 cases of vote trading, 12 cases of multiple voting, 28 incidents involving inducement of polling and security officials, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units, 14 cases of voter impersonation and seven cases of misconduct by election officials.

Other incidents included 31 cases of obstruction of voters and 85 cases involving exposure of ballot papers.

The Hub urged security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality while ensuring that their presence at polling units remained visible but restrained.

It also called on political parties and candidates to ensure that their agents focused on lawful observation rather than intimidation or vote trading.

For voters, including PWDs, the observers urged them to vote independently, reject inducements and promptly report incidents of vote buying or other electoral offences to INEC officials, security personnel or accredited observers.

The Hub further advised INEC to deploy necessary technical support and backup BVAS devices to polling units where biometric accreditation devices failed, while ensuring that election materials and personnel reached all polling units promptly.

It also called on the commission to ensure that results forms are displayed at polling units after voting and that relevant results are promptly uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

The observers said sustained attention to inclusion, accessibility, security and electoral integrity would be critical to ensuring that the participation of PWDs and other vulnerable groups translates into meaningful and unhindered political participation throughout the electoral process.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called on voters in the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, saying the region should recognise the Federal Government’s ongoing infrastructure projects with its votes.

Umahi made the appeal on Saturday while inspecting construction work on the Calabar-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway at Nwedeoga-Ndidenyi-Ishieke, near the Ebonyi-Benue border.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, saying the completion of the major highway projects would significantly improve transportation, connectivity and economic activities across the affected states.

The inspection covered Sections One and Two of the superhighway in Ebonyi, which provides a major link between the state and Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory. The minister also inspected the Isieke-Onueke-Calabar Highway.

Umahi said the projects formed part of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which he said was already having a positive impact across the country.

He described the projects as part of the administration’s efforts to tackle Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, improve movement of goods and people, and create conditions for stronger economic growth.

The minister consequently appealed to residents of the South-East to reciprocate the administration’s efforts by voting for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

‘Let us show our loyalty and love to Mr President through our votes in 2027. The Renewed Hope Agenda has touched lives positively across the six geopolitical zones.

‘We must appreciate what the President is doing and ensure that the projects and programmes of his administration are sustained,’ Umahi said.

Giving details of the road construction, he said Section One covered approximately 125.5 kilometres from the Ndibe Beach axis, passing through communities such as Akpoha, Abomege, Amudo and Onueke, as well as parts of Ezza North and Ebonyi Local Government Areas.

He said sections of the route were being dualised because of increasing commercial activity and urban expansion, pointing to an 8.9-kilometre stretch around Afikpo and a two-kilometre portion at Abomege as examples.

According to him, Section Two extends into Benue and other states and spans about 173.6 kilometres, with the contract valued at approximately ?683 billion.

‘The Federal government had already paid 30 per cent of the contract sum,’ Umahi explained.

The minister said the inspection was also intended to monitor contractors, assess the quality and pace of construction, identify obstacles and ensure compliance with approved standards and completion schedules.

He maintained that the projects would have wider benefits beyond road transportation by opening up communities, supporting agriculture, facilitating trade and strengthening economic links between states.

Umahi also said the Tinubu administration was committed to addressing concerns about the South-East’s development.

‘The President has the intention to end the marginalisation of the South-East. We must stop attacking the legacy projects of the present administration. Show Tinubu appreciation through your vote.

‘I am happy with the progress of work. Section two of the Ebonyi section of the Superhighway is 40 per cent complete, while 30 per cent of the contract payment has been made by the government.

‘I commend some state governors, who have supported the settlement and payment of compensation to affected property owners at all the project sites across the country,’ the minister said.

Addressing concerns over the award of road contracts, Umahi said the projects currently being executed by the Federal Government had gone through the required procurement procedures.

He urged critics of the administration to base their objections on facts and offer constructive criticism.

‘All the federal road projects currently ongoing went through due process for procurement. I want those criticising the government to do so properly,’ he advised.

A Nigerian lawyer, Olubunmi Uluba has said she is embarking on a 220-hour Guinness World Record reading marathon to raise global awareness of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) laws across Africa significantly.

Uluba, said this at a news conference in Abuja.

The lawyer said the initiative would focus on SGBV laws in Nigeria and 14 other African countries, promoting awareness and legal understanding.

She said the marathon would involve reading legal frameworks from 15 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe respectively.

Other countries covered in the exercise are Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia and Botswana, reflecting a broad continental effort to deepen understanding of legal responses to SGBV.

Uluba said the comparative analysis was not intended to rank jurisdictions but to identify best practices capable of strengthening SGBV laws, survivor protection mechanisms and institutional responses across Africa.

‘We can pick the best practices and imbibe in our laws,’ she said, adding that the initiative would examine survivor protection, access to justice and institutional responsibilities comprehensively.

She said the exercise would continue beyond the record attempt through a post-dialogue process involving stakeholders, with findings developed into recommendations capable of informing policy and legislative reforms.

‘We want to move from conversation to knowledge, from knowledge to evidence, from evidence to recommendations, and from recommendations to reform,’ she said.

Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative, said knowledge of SGBV laws was essential for citizens to assert their rights and for duty-bearers to effectively implement them nationwide.

‘If you don’t know the laws, if you don’t know what has been written about sexual and gender-based violence, you cannot assert your rights,’ Eyong said.

She said citizens needed to understand laws, policies and international commitments against SGBV to demand protections guaranteed under them, while duty-bearers required knowledge for effective implementation nationwide.

Eyong said the initiative would enable African countries to learn from one another, identify best practices and create wider awareness of the continent’s commitment to combating gender-based violence.

Jessica Duru, Legal Officer, FCT WES, said the Federal Capital Territory Administration would translate momentum from the initiative into stronger strategies and interventions against SGBV across communities.

She said the FCTA had recorded more than 3,072 reported SGBV cases on its national dashboard in Abuja, reflecting increasing reporting and public confidence in seeking support.

‘The number might be high, but I think it’s because people are actually having confidence in speaking out,’ Duru said during the stakeholders’ engagement meeting.

She said the FCTA would ensure existing legal frameworks were actively implemented across the six Area Councils, while expanding shelters, safe spaces and emergency support services.

‘We’re going to make sure that this momentum is going to help in the increase of shelters and emergency survival hotlines,’ she said.

Duru said grassroots education would be strengthened through simplified communication of legal provisions in local languages, helping communities understand rights, reporting channels and available support services.

Dr Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, said the initiative was important because increased awareness of SGBV laws would strengthen efforts to protect victims, promote justice and encourage stronger implementation.

The organisers said the initiative was designed to move beyond the record attempt and contribute meaningfully to practical policy reforms and legislative improvements addressing SGBV challenges.

Wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Dr Sekinah Oyebamiji, has commended the conduct of the ongoing governorship election, describing the voters’ turnout as impressive and expressing confidence in her husband’s victory.

Dr Oyebamiji spoke shortly after casting her ballot at Polling Unit 003, Ward 9, AUD Primary School, Atile, in Irewole Local Government Area of the state.

She said the electoral process had so far been peaceful and orderly, while commending officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what she described as professional conduct.

‘The voters’ turnout is quite impressive. The INEC officials are conducting themselves professionally. There are police officers around.

‘I think the process is good so far. The expectation is that Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji will carry the day.’

Recall that Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji had earlier urged security agencies to remain proactive in preventing violence and ensuring that voters are allowed to exercise their franchise without intimidation.

He also commended the turnout of voters after casting his ballot at Ward 9, Polling Unit 011, Open Space Gantry, Ikire.

The APC candidate, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has campaigned on a platform of economic development, improved infrastructure and better public services, while seeking to unseat the incumbent.

Dr Sekinah Oyebamiji has also been actively involved in the APC campaign, particularly in mobilising women and educating voters ahead of the election.

She recently joined other party women leaders in market-to-market engagements across Osogbo to encourage voter participation and support for the APC candidate.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defeated the Accord Party at the polling unit of former Osun State Governor and founding interim National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, in Saturday’s governorship election.

The APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, secured 181 votes at Polling Unit 12, Ward 4, in the Atogbade area of Ila-Orangun, Ila Local Government Area, where Akande cast his ballot earlier in the day.

Incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, polled 121 votes at the polling unit.

The result gives Oyebamiji a 60-vote lead over Adeleke at the former governor’s polling unit.

Akande, fondly known among his political allies and supporters as ‘Baba Omokeekeeke,’ meaning ‘father of small children,’ was governor of Osun State from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

He later emerged as the founding interim National Chairman of the APC, one of Nigeria’s major political parties.

The outcome at his polling unit is significant given Akande’s long-standing influence in Osun politics and his prominent role in the APC.

The result comes as counting and collation continue across the state following the conclusion of voting in the Osun governorship election.

Massive jubilation erupted in Ede, Osun State, on Saturday after Governor Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Accord Party, recorded a landslide victory at his polling unit in the ongoing governorship election.

Adeleke polled 421 votes at Ward 02, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound, Ede North Local Government Area, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured just 29 votes.

The result triggered celebrations among Adeleke’s supporters, and residents gathered around the polling unit, with the crowd chanting the governor’s campaign slogan, ‘Imole.’

Adeleke had earlier arrived at the polling unit and was accredited by the Presiding Officer at about 8:35 a.m. before casting his ballot.

Speaking shortly after voting, the governor expressed confidence in his chances of securing victory in the election and urged residents across the state to turn out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.

He also called on voters to protect their votes throughout the electoral process and remain vigilant during voting, sorting, counting and collation.

According to Adeleke, the election provides the people of Osun with an opportunity to freely determine who will govern the state for the next four years.

He appealed to voters and political supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, while urging them to stay at their polling units to monitor the process in line with guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The governor expressed optimism that the election would be peaceful, credible and reflective of the wishes of the electorate.

However, following the announcement of his overwhelming victory at the polling unit, supporters erupted in celebration, chanting ‘Imole’ and taunting the APC.

Some supporters also mocked the opposition party over an unverified allegation that it allegedly offered ?50,000 to voters in Ede to influence their votes.

The claim could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.

Adeleke’s wide margin at his polling unit is expected to heighten the excitement among his supporters as counting and collation continue across Osun State.

The Police have listed 65-year-old man suspected secessionist, Ifeanyi Ogbuagbo, among seven suspects recently arrested by its operatives in two operations in Anambra State

Ogbuago was arrested Umudioka, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit of Anambra Command.

The other six suspected criminals, including a female were nabbed during a raid on identified black spots in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA of the state.

The spokesperson for Anambra Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Awka.

According to him, continuous raid of suspected criminal hideout in the state was carried out in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police (I-G) Olatunji Disu.

‘The operation was also in furtherance of the command’s intensified operational strategy against violent crimes, cultism and illicit drug trafficking.

‘Acting on credible intelligence on Thursday, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested a 65-year-old male, Ifeanyi Ogbuagbo, in Umudioka.

‘A careful search of his residence led to the recovery of an army uniform and expended shells of ammunition concealed in a black polythene bag.

‘Preliminary information linked the suspect to a criminal gang agitating for self-government,’ he said.

The police spokesman said that the suspect has been taken into custody for investigation, while efforts are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the recovered items and his alleged activities.

According to him, in the evening of the same day, operatives acting on credible intelligence and in furtherance of the directive to raid identified black spots and criminal hideouts, stormed a suspected criminal hideout in Ekwulobia, Aguata LGA.

‘The operation resulted in the arrest of six suspects identified as Chisom Okafor, female, 25; Onyedika Moses, male, 36; Iruka Nwaonu, male, 30; Joseph Nwankwo, male, 36; Chukwujekwu Nwoso, male, 32; and Akanimo Orok, male, 40,’ he said.

He said that during the operation, a sizeable quantity of dried weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and other substances suspected to be illicit drugs were recovered.

Ikenga quoted Anambra Commissioner of Police Nnanna Ama, as saying that the command would continue to deploy intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols and coordinated raids to dismantle criminal networks and deny criminals safe havens across the state.

The commissioner further directed that the ongoing raids operation of criminal hideouts, drug-selling spots and other identified areas of criminal activities in the state be intensified and sustained.