Category: The Nation – Nigeria

The business investments of Mike Adenuga Jr. have contributed significantly to the development of Nigeria’s private sector, particularly in telecommunications, oil and gas and other capital-intensive industries, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dave Agboola, has said.

Agboola made the assessment while examining the role of major Nigerian entrepreneurs in the development of the country’s private sector.

He said Adenuga’s career demonstrated how indigenous capital could be deployed across strategic sectors, including telecommunications, petroleum, banking, real estate, aviation, sports and entertainment.

According to him, the significance of Adenuga’s business interests lies not only in their scale but also in the sectors in which they operate.

‘Among them stands Mike Adenuga Jr., one of the most consequential yet least understood figures in Nigeria’s economic history,’ Agboola said.

Adenuga is the founder of Globacom and Conoil Producing and has business interests across several sectors.

Agboola identified Globacom’s entry into Nigeria’s telecommunications market in 2003 as an example of the impact an indigenous operator could have on competition.

He said Globacom entered the market after the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry and introduced per-second billing as one of its early competitive strategies.

The development, he said, contributed to changes in market competition, with rival operators subsequently introducing similar billing systems and reducing starter-pack and tariff costs.

Agboola said the experience demonstrated how an indigenous company could challenge established market practices through pricing, technology and infrastructure investment.

He also cited Globacom’s investment in telecommunications infrastructure, including the Glo-1 submarine cable connecting West Africa with Europe.

He said such infrastructure had become increasingly important as telecommunications services underpin financial technology, e-commerce, digital media and business communications.

In the oil and gas sector, Agboola highlighted Adenuga’s activities through Conoil Producing and related interests, saying the growth of indigenous companies demonstrated the capacity of Nigerian-owned businesses to participate in an industry historically dominated by international oil companies.

‘Long before local content became a policy buzzword, Adenuga was already practising it,’ he said.

Agboola said indigenous participation should extend beyond asset ownership to include the financial, managerial and technical capacity to operate competitively.

He added that stronger Nigerian-owned companies could deepen local supply chains and increase domestic participation in strategic sectors.

Agboola also cited Adenuga’s former involvement with Equitorial Trust Bank, which subsequently became part of Sterling Bank, as evidence of his diversification into financial services.

According to him, investments in banking were significant because financial institutions play a major role in mobilising capital and providing access to financial services.

He identified real estate, aviation, sports and entertainment among Adenuga’s other interests, saying the wider economic impact of diversified business groups should be assessed beyond their headline assets.

Agboola said investments in real estate could stimulate activity in construction, engineering and professional services, while aviation, sports and the creative industries could create opportunities for professionals, athletes and entertainers.

‘The significance of his story is not simply the wealth he accumulated. Many people make money. Far fewer redefine industries,’ he said.

He said Adenuga’s business experience illustrated the potential of Nigerian-owned companies to enter competitive and capital-intensive sectors where multinational companies had historically maintained strong positions.

Agboola, however, said Nigeria’s broader challenge was creating conditions that would enable more indigenous businesses to grow from local enterprises into companies capable of competing internationally.

He identified access to capital, infrastructure, technology, human capital and effective management as critical factors in achieving such growth.

He said the objective should not merely be to increase the number of Nigerian-owned businesses but to build companies capable of developing technology, creating skilled employment, deepening domestic supply chains and competing in international markets.

‘Indigenous ownership must translate into sustainable corporate capacity,’ Agboola said.

He added that this would require continued investment in technology, infrastructure, innovation and human capital to enable Nigerian businesses to become more competitive globally.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Federal Government to deploy part of the additional revenue from rising crude oil prices to cushion the impact of surging fuel prices on workers and other Nigerians.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the increase in petrol prices had worsened the economic hardship facing households, with rising transportation and food costs further eroding workers’ purchasing power.

Ajaero spoke at the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit organised by XEM Consultants Limited in Abuja.

He said the government should introduce intervention measures similar to those adopted by other oil-producing countries facing the effects of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ajaero said: ‘As one of the oil-producing countries, they are making trillions because of the problem in the Strait of Hormuz. You can see that oil was pegged at maybe $70 or whatever dollars. It’s $100, so they are making an extra $30 or $40.

‘Now, can’t you use this money to embark on some interventionary measures like other countries where this is affected, so that we’ll now be alive till the time when they will say minimum wage?’

On the proposed review of the minimum wage, Ajaero cautioned against focusing solely on the nominal amount, saying inflation, fuel prices and food costs should determine workers’ real purchasing power.

He said: ‘Negotiations are not just figures,’ he said, adding that workers could receive a higher nominal wage while being unable to afford basic necessities because of inflation.

‘Assuming one naira is equal to $1, I would advise Nigerian workers to remain at ?70,000 because that would be big money for them, but you can see that you can equally get one million naira and a bag of rice is ?500,000, so what of that? What happens?’

Ajaero advocated the indexation of wages and pensions to inflation or the cost-of-living index, arguing that such a mechanism would allow incomes to adjust automatically as prices rise.

‘Unless you index it either based on cost of living index or inflation, immediately inflation goes like this, automatically it will adjust to this,’ he said.

He said the three-year minimum wage negotiation cycle was necessary to allow workers respond to changing economic conditions, noting that the current agreement was due for review around March or April.

‘This minimum wage is supposed to expire March-April, so the conversation ought to start early. That’s a three-year cycle,’ Ajaero said.

However, he said labour was currently more concerned about immediate survival than the next wage negotiation.

‘But now we are more concerned on ‘give us this day’ – how to survive today before that time. Because these policies of the fuel going up, jumping up, and the Nigerian government is making a whole lot of money from it,’ he said.

Ajaero also questioned the effectiveness of policies introduced to reduce transportation and energy costs, including the compressed natural gas initiative.

‘Where and where can you refill your tank? How many vehicles have been converted to CNG? How many electric vehicles are on the road?’ he asked.

Also speaking, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, called for an urgent review of workers’ wages, saying the current N70,000 minimum wage was insufficient to withstand the economic pressures facing employees.

Keyamo urged the Federal Government to meet labour halfway in the ongoing wage discussions, noting that unions were demanding as much as N500,000.

The minister recalled his involvement in previous minimum wage negotiations, which resulted in an increase from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024, but said rising costs had continued to undermine workers’ purchasing power.

Keyamo also criticised heads of government agencies who, according to him, deny workers small travel allowances while approving substantial sums for their own international trips.

‘I will have none of it. Without these workers, we will not have a country,’ he said.

He stressed that workers’ welfare should be prioritised by government agencies and ministries, arguing that the human factor remained central to productivity and national development.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of XEM Consultants, Dr Eugenia Ndukwe, said the summit was designed to equip senior professionals with financial, health, entrepreneurial and digital skills for productive retirement.

Ndukwe said the programme focused on financial management, health and wellness, entrepreneurship and investment, estate and wealth management, and agricultural enterprise systems.

She added that XEM Consultants had partnered Galaxy Backbone to provide participants with digital skills and tools to explore opportunities for income generation after retirement.

Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has spoken on the role he aspire to play as from May 29, next year.

He said: ‘At 62, I look ahead with renewed purpose, knowing that there is still much to do and an even greater Lagos to build.’

Hamzat, who recently celebrated his birthday, reflected on the journey so far, thanking God and his family for support.

He said:’Today, I woke up in deep reflection of my journey through life. As I celebrate yet another birthday, I’m indeed thankful to Almighty Allah (swt) for His blessings, guidance, protection and good health.

‘To my dear wife Oluremi, I say thank you for holding my hands, cheering me on, and supporting me. Thank you for keeping the sanctity of our home. My dear, the journey ahead is long, and might be challenging, but continue to keep the faith.

‘To my dear children, I say a big thank you for your kind understanding that I was built and made for service.’

The deputy governor also thanked family, friends, associates and Lagosians for their support and vote of confidence in his capabilities and capacity to serve.

He said: ‘Every chapter of my life has been a learning curve, and everyday I wake up with a renewed zeal for commitment to the people I serve.

‘Therefore, at 62, I look ahead with renewed purpose, knowing that there is still much to do and an even greater Lagos to build.

‘I thank the people of Lagos for the trust and support over the years. The journey continues and I am ready for the work ahead.’

There is no room for fake results announcement during next year’s election, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, said yesterday.

He urged editors of newspapers and online practitioners to fact-check any information on the polls before publication to avoid misinforming the general public.

Amupitan, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), spoke on modalities for election results announcement at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) 2026 holding in Enugu, capital of Enugu State.

The theme of the conference is: ‘The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive.’

He said under the Electoral Act, the statutory authority to declare election results rests exclusively with INEC.

Amupitan added: ‘Amplifying unverified, privately collated figures published by political actors on social media creates conflicting public narratives that undermine official outcomes. In national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first.’

At the conference, the guest speaker, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja John Cardinal Onaiyekan called for the setting up of special election tribunals for resolving election disputes within clearly defined timeframe.

Also, while former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), said Nigeria should find ways of reducing courts’ involvement in electoral outcomes, Prof. Pat Utomi emphasised the importance of building democratic institutions.

Amupitan warned that synthetic disinformation poses an existential threat to public trust and democratic stability ahead of the polls, urging newsroom leaders to erect an unyielding firewall of rigorous fact-checking and digital verification against artificial intelligence-driven deepfakes.

He also warned against rushing to publish unverified election results in the name of being the first to break the news, insisting that such publications or broadcast can have negative impact on public trust.

Amupitan, who was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, also warned against publishing election results generated by political actors and posted on the social media, saying that such results are capable distorting facts.

He said generative AI, voice cloning, and deepfake video synthesis had democratised mass deception, enabling political saboteurs to produce photorealistic videos of election officials, cloned audio files, and doctored result sheets designed to incite public outrage and delegitimise democratic outcomes.

The INEC boss stressed the need to institutionalise specialised fact-checking desks, deploy forensic image analysis software and strictly adhere to statutory protocols requiring that official election results be verified exclusively through INEC before publication.

Amupitan said: ‘Malicious operatives no longer need a printing press or broadcast license to deceive millions. With modest computing power, they can produce a photorealistic video of an electoral official purportedly declaring false results in a dark room; a cloned audio file of an INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner instructing staff to manipulate voting devices on election eve;

‘Manipulated result sheets engineered to mimic official security features, flooded onto social media minutes after polling closes to create an illusion of fraud before collation even begins.

‘The primary danger of synthetic disinformation is not merely that it tricks citizens into believing a specific falsehood, but it causes the systemic destruction of public trust. When everything can be faked, citizens begin to doubt genuine, verified facts provided by constitutional authorities.’

He added: ‘When deepfakes render lies believable, real truth is greeted with skepticism. Cynicism replaces civic engagement, leading voters to ask: Why stand in line for hours if the outcome is already manipulated on a screen? That mental retreat is where democracy begins to decay.

‘Disinformation attacks the electorate’s cognitive sovereignty, turning elections from a peaceful contest of ideas into a volatile battleground of manipulated emotions, ethnic tension, and pre-packaged outrage.

‘For an election management body, administrative success on the ground can be instantly erased on a smartphone screen by a well-timed, algorithmically boosted

Amupitan disclosed that INEC had transitioned from defensive anxiety to a proactive technological offensive by establishing a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department and deploying automated AI auditing tools within the Results Management process to detect discrepancies before final verification.

Noting that automated checks remained strictly governed by a five-pillar AI Governance Framework and subjected to mandatory human auditing, he cautioned media organisations against publishing or amplifying privately collated election results ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

He said such reports could create conflicting narratives and undermine confidence, urging editors to ensure that their platforms does not become channels for unverified election figures.

Amupitan added: ‘Let’s resist premature result declarations. Under the Electoral Act, statutory authority to declare election results rests exclusively with INEC. Amplifying unverified, privately collated figures published by political actors on social media creates conflicting public narratives that undermine official outcomes.

‘We should use our platforms to educate citizens on spotting synthetic content, fake letterheads, and algorithmically generated rage-bait.’

Apparently reacting to a statement credited to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the party would establish its own election viewing portal similar to the IREC, the INEC chairman warned that amplifying unverified, privately collated figures published by political actors on social media could create conflicting public narratives capable of undermining official election outcomes.

He said the media should protect the integrity of the electoral process, because artificial intelligence and social media are making it increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic information from manipulated content.

Amupitan said: ‘The pressure on modern newsrooms to be first is immense. But in national elections, it is vastly more important to be right than to be first.

‘Rushing to publish unverified, sensational claims whether a fake result sheet on social media, a doctored video, or an unconfirmed statement grants institutional legitimacy to deliberate deception, causing damage to public peace that is almost impossible to reverse.

‘I appeal to the Nigerian Guild of Editors to view media gatekeeping as a critical component of national security and democratic defense. To effectively combat AI-driven disinformation before, during, and after elections, we must build a collaborative firewall.’

Drawing attention to the economic conditions of Nigerian journalists, he said: ‘A poorly compensated journalist is vulnerable; a financially neglected newsroom is fertile ground for compromise.’

He stressed that journalists who receive decent remuneration and structured welfare are better positioned to resist financial inducement, interrogate false narratives and report elections objectively.

Amupitan said the commission has applied a similar principle to its own workforce by introducing measures aimed at improving the welfare of election officials.

He disclosed that the Commission established the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), thereby separating its workforce from the regular Civil Service salary structure with effect from January 1, 2026.

Onaiyekan National Assembly to establish special election tribunal

Cardinal Onaiyekan urged the next National Assembly to establish a special election tribunal for resolving electoral disputes within a clearly defined timeframe.

He said the tribunal wouldrestore confidence in the electoral process and prevent the determination of election outcomes by courts instead of polling stations.

Onaiyekan, who called for an improved legal framework for election, urged the next National Assembly to make electoral reform a priority.

He said the special election tribunal should settle election cases with minimum delay, stressing that prolonged litigation and technicalities should no longer undermine electoral justice.

Onaiyekan said: ‘We need to set up a special election tribunal whose duty will be to do nothing else but to settle all election cases with minimum delay.’

Onaiyekan further proposed that, where the conduct of INEC is being challenged, the burden of proof should be placed squarely on the electoral commission, adding that the present system places an excessive burden on candidates challenging election results.

He also called for anamendment that would allow ordinary voters to challenge election results, adding that citizens whose votes were at stake should have a legal avenue to seek redress.

Onaiyekan added: ‘Our laws should make provision for the citizen as citizen and as electors to challenge results of the election at tribunals. As at now, only candidates have locus standi to challenge election results.’

He said post-election litigation should be concluded before elected officials are sworn- in, stressing that it is unfair for a candidate to assume office and thereafter use state resources to defend the legitimacy of the election that brought him to power.

Onaiyekan added: ‘More seriously, we must do all that is necessary to dispose of all tribunal cases before swearing in any candidate. There should be no room left for clever lawyers to play technical delay tactics in this matter.’

Osigwe, Utomi seek stronger institutions

Osigwe and Utomi called for stronger democratic institutions, clearer electoral laws and reforms capable of restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria’s estimated $700 billion mineral wealth must translate into jobs, thriving local businesses and improved livelihoods for Nigerians, as the country deepens mining cooperation with the United States.

The President said his administration would not allow Nigeria to remain merely an exporter of raw minerals, insisting that investments in the sector must increasingly cover processing, refining and manufacturing within the country.

Tinubu stated this yesterday in a message posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, while welcoming an agreement signed between Nigeria and the United States to deepen American investment in the country’s mining sector.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the Nigeria Mission House in New York by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and the United States Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

‘Under our Renewed Hope administration, Nigeria remains open to partnerships that deliver meaningful benefits at home and create opportunities for our people.

‘I welcome the agreement signed in New York by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau to deepen American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector and help unlock the potential of our mineral resources, estimated at about $700 billion’, Tinubu said.

The President said his administration had, from inception, deliberately sought to change the structure of the mining industry by moving the country away from simply extracting and exporting raw minerals.

According to him, the government tied the issuance of new mining licences to local value addition while intensifying efforts to attract investments into domestic mineral processing and refining.

‘From the beginning, we made a deliberate choice to move Nigeria away from simply extracting and exporting raw minerals. We tied new mining licences to local value addition and have worked to attract investment into processing and refining here at home’, he said.

Tinubu said the policy was already yielding results, with new processing plants being established, billions of dollars in investment commitments entering the sector and growing investor interest in Nigeria’s critical minerals.

He said the next phase of the administration’s programme would be to deepen development across the entire mining value chain, covering exploration, extraction, processing, refining and manufacturing.

The President stressed that Nigerians must derive tangible benefits at every stage of the process, particularly through employment, skills acquisition and opportunities for indigenous businesses.

‘At every stage, Nigerians must benefit. Our geologists, engineers and technicians must find work. Our young people must acquire new skills. Local contractors, transporters and suppliers must have opportunities to build businesses’, Tinubu said.

He added that locating processing facilities closer to mining areas should stimulate industrial activity, attract infrastructure and improve livelihoods in communities hosting the country’s mineral resources.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor, Christopher Osakwe, has urged entertainment operators to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and other party candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Osakwe made the call on Friday during a courtesy visit by members of the Entertainment Movement for Oshimili North and South (ENFONS) in Asaba.

He said President Tinubu’s reforms had brought changes to the country, adding that their effects were also being felt in Delta State.

According to him, the reforms had helped address some of the challenges Nigerians had previously faced, including salary arrears and fuel scarcity.

Osakwe said Governor Oborevwori and his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, have continued to support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by implementing programmes in the state.

‘Our Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, are champions of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President in practical terms, and all of us are beneficiaries.

‘Continue to send out the message through your professional activities,’ he said.

The Deputy CoS stressed the importance of grassroots mobilisation in strengthening communication between government and citizens.

He urged the group to expand its membership and reach, saying: ‘Going forward, grow your numbers, grow your reach, and let the people feel your impact.’

Osakwe said sustained grassroots engagement would raise awareness of government programmes and policies while giving citizens opportunities to communicate their concerns to government.

He added that the government would welcome groups supporting the President and the state administration.

Earlier, ENFONS leader Hon. Frank Otoide said the group was ready to mobilise support for President Tinubu and Governor Oborevwori ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has called on the Code of Conduct Tribunal to probe former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over an alleged undeclared $500,000 foreign transaction made while he was in office.

The call followed revelations contained in a recent International Chamber of Commerce arbitration award on the disputed 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, IMPI said its review of the 616-page arbitral award showed that $500,000 was transferred on January 30, 2003, from China Castle Investments, an offshore company linked to Sunrise Power promoter, Leno Adesanya, into a United States Citibank account belonging to Atiku’s then-wife, Jennifer Douglas.

The group said the payment was made about two weeks before Sunrise Power submitted its tender for the multi-billion-dollar Build, Operate and Transfer contract.

According to IMPI, the tribunal noted the close timing between the payment to Douglas and the alleged award of the BOT contract to Sunrise Power on May 22, 2003.

While Atiku’s legal team argued that the ICC tribunal did not make an explicit finding of bribery against him, IMPI said the tribunal rejected the explanation that the payment was a domestic foreign-exchange swap, citing the absence of supporting financial documentation.

The group said the circumstances surrounding the transaction warranted investigation under Nigeria’s Code of Conduct framework.

The statement read, ‘Under Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, public officers are strictly prohibited from maintaining foreign bank accounts.

‘If the former Vice President was the ultimate source of these foreign funds routed through a third-party offshore shell entity, or if he maintained undeclared foreign accounts to service his family abroad while in office as evidenced by Adesanya and his former wife, Jennifer, it constitutes a clear constitutional breach.’

IMPI also cited US State Department diplomatic cables reviewed during the arbitration proceedings, which described Adesanya as an ‘Atiku insider’ with direct access to the executive branch and said he accompanied official state delegations to China.

The group noted that although Atiku was not a direct signatory to the procurement process, his position as Vice-President gave him substantial influence over economic affairs.

It argued that undisclosed payments to a public official’s proxy around a critical procurement period raised questions about transparency and conflict of interest.

‘Even where direct quid-pro-quo instruction cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt in civil arbitration, the existence of unverified, off-record offshore transfers creates an untenable conflict of interest.

‘It compromised the integrity of the original administrative process and set a dangerous precedent for major infrastructure concessions in Nigeria,’ the statement said.

IMPI also urged anti-corruption agencies to strengthen safeguards against the negotiation of major infrastructure projects outside statutory ministerial frameworks.

On possible sanctions, the group said that upon a successful prosecution, the CCT could order property forfeiture and impose a 10-year ban from holding public office, alongside possible criminal proceedings.

Ola Aina, Arthur Okonkwo and Moses Usor have spoken of their excitement at being part of the Super Eagles squad ahead of Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in Uyo.

Aina is back with the national team after a lengthy injury absence and is pleased with the competition created by the arrival of new players.

‘It feels good to be back,’ the Nottingham Forest defender said. ‘I’ve been out for quite a while, so it’s nice to see the boys again and be around the team.’

He also praised the quality of the new faces, including George Ilenikhena, Usor and Isaac James, but stressed that attention must now be on the task against Madagascar.

Goalkeeper Okonkwo is equally pleased to be back after making his senior Nigeria debut at the Unity Cup earlier this year. The Charlton Athletic goalkeeper has set ambitious targets for his international career.

‘I want to win the AFCON and compete in the World Cup,’ Okonkwo said.

The 24-year-old, who faces competition from Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, said his immediate objective is to keep learning and improving.

For Usor, the latest camp carries extra significance. The LASK forward missed an earlier opportunity to join the national team because of injury and described his first senior camp as a dream come true.

‘I feel good and I am really happy to be here,’ he said. ‘It was an amazing feeling because it was everyone’s dream to play for the national team.’

Usor said the players are fresh and motivated but warned against thinking about the September 29 trip to Guinea-Bissau before dealing with Madagascar.

‘It is one game after the other,’ he said. ‘We focus on Madagascar and talk about the Guinea-Bissau game after.’

The Supreme Court has upheld an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against a Court of Appeal decision that voided provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party primaries and membership registers.

A seven-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Adamu Jauro, held that Sections 77(5) and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026 are not inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

The court consequently set aside the July 16, 2026 judgment of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which had partly upheld an appeal by the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and restored the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

It also awarded N2 million in costs against the ZLP.

The ZLP had, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/509/2026, challenged Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act, arguing that the provisions amounted to unconstitutional interference in the internal affairs of political parties.

Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) deal with political parties’ membership registers, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods through which parties may nominate candidates.

The party argued that the provisions conflicted with the 1999 Constitution.

However, the Federal High Court, in a May 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar, dismissed the suit.

The Court of Appeal subsequently allowed the ZLP’s appeal in part and voided some of the contested provisions, prompting INEC to approach the Supreme Court.

In a separate development, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) against INEC after hearing the matter on its merits.

The apex court also struck out an appeal filed by the Youth Party against INEC, after upholding the commission’s preliminary objection that the appeal was incompetent. The court held that the appeal was filed one day outside the period prescribed by law.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, has said he has no disagreement with Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, amid the ongoing controversy over the state’s debt obligations.

Obi also urged governors across the country to allow democracy to thrive by permitting presidential candidates and other political contenders to campaign freely in their respective states.

The former Anambra governor made the remarks in a statement posted on his X handle on Friday and made available by the spokesman of the Peter Obi Media Office, Idris Zekeri.

Obi said he had remained silent in recent days because he was mourning the death of his ‘beloved brother and friend,’ Chief Okey Ezeibe, but decided to address issues that had generated public discussion.

He said:

‘I have remained silent over the past few days because I have been grieving the loss of my beloved brother and friend, Chief Okey Ezeibe. However, the time has come for me to address some of the matters that have occupied public discussion in recent days.

‘I respectfully urge everyone to concentrate on the existential challenges confronting Nigeria and the hardships endured by its citizens, rather than on the needless distractions that have become widespread in our politics.

‘I wish to assure the public that I have no disagreement with my dear elder brother, Governor Soludo, or with any governor in Nigeria. I am not seeking the office of governor in any state, and I will not seek that position again, even if the Constitution is amended.

‘Accordingly, I appeal to governors to support whichever presidential candidate they choose while also permitting and assisting other presidential candidates and contenders for other offices to campaign freely and without interruption in their states. Ultimately, voters should be allowed to determine whom they wish to serve.

‘Regarding the multilateral funding inaccurately described as ‘debt owed by Peter Obi’ in Anambra State, I wish to state unequivocally:

‘As Governor of Anambra State, I did not approach any financial institution to borrow funds or issue a bond on behalf of the state. Indeed, at his farewell ceremony, the then Director-General of the DMO, Abraham Nwankwo, appointed me chairman and declared that, during his 10 years in office, I was the only state governor who had not approached him for a loan facility.

‘When I left the office, the Anambra State Government owed no unpaid salaries, gratuities, or pensions. Neither did it owe any contractor or supplier who had completed work that the government had verified and certified.

‘Regarding development financing from the World Bank, these are concessionary development-support funds secured by the Federal Government for states selected by it to address specific needs. Repayment is spread over 25 to 30 years.

‘The Anambra State Government must therefore differentiate among three separate figures: the total amount approved for the multiyear development programme; the amount Anambra State actually drew during my tenure; and the funding balance outstanding when I handed over on 17 March 2014.

‘The government has combined these distinct categories, added them together, and described the resulting US$123.77 million as ‘loans left by Peter Obi.’ That is an incorrect application of public-sector accounting.’

Obi said the eight facilities identified were mainly World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) programmes negotiated by the Federal Government.

‘They were not conventional commercial loans that I personally secured during my tenure,’ Obi said.

The former governor also questioned the debt figures cited by the Anambra State Government, saying Debt Management Office records showed the state’s external debt at about $18 million when he assumed office in March 2006 and about $30 million when he left office in March 2014.

‘The clearest contradiction appears in the government’s own figures. It states that the original facilities amounted to approximately US$123.77 million and that US$92.35 million remained outstanding in June 2026,’ he said.

‘However, the DMO’s published records showed Anambra’s total external debt at approximately US$18 million when I began my tenure in March 2006, about US$30 million in March 2014, when I left office, and approximately US$45.15 million as of 31 December 2014, nine months after my departure.’

Obi therefore challenged the state government to explain how the $123.77 million figure could have been attributed to his administration when, according to the figures he cited, Anambra’s recorded external debt was about $30 million when he left office.

‘The Anambra State Government must therefore clarify how a state whose recorded external debt was about US$30 million in March 2014 and US$45.15 million in December 2014 could supposedly have inherited US$123.77 million from Peter Obi, who left office in March of that same year,’ he said.

Obi also said he left more than $150 million as the dollar component of his investments in Anambra State when he left office.

‘On the day I left the office, I left more than US$150 million as the dollar component of my investment in Anambra State as governor. I hereby provide documents that can be verified with the various banks,’ he said.

He claimed the investment was expected to generate about $10 million annually for the state and argued that the funds could have been used to reduce the alleged debt.

The Anambra State Government has, however, maintained that external facilities associated with projects undertaken during Obi’s tenure amounted to about $123.77 million, with $92.35 million outstanding as of June 2026.

Obi said he would not engage further in a public exchange over his tenure as governor.

‘Through this clarification, I wish to state categorically that I will neither engage nor trade words with anyone regarding my tenure in Anambra State. My focus will now be on issues affecting the suffering Nigerian masses, which is the reason for my presidential ambition,’ he said.