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FirstBank has honoured distributors in the fast-moving consumer goods sector at its annual Key Distributor Forum for the South West region.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Segun Alebiosu, stated that the Forum was an important avenue for the bank to recognise its customers.

The Forum rides on the back of Key Distributorship Finance, which is a FirstBank-structured finance product designed to provide financial support to distributors of FirstBank-approved FMCG principals, addressing their working capital needs.

He said, ‘It’s part of our customer experience, our relationship management initiative. They are our partners, our friends, and part of our own financial ecosystem. They support us and support our customers, and because of the wonderful job they are doing, we want to honour them. They are key to our business.’

Addressing the distributors, Alebiosu told them, ‘You are much more than a distributor. We are partners. We are friends. We are friends because we belong to the same ecosystem. We have a common principle. The people you buy from, we support them to grow, and we support you to buy from them to grow.’

The Group Head, Transaction Banking Division, First Bank, Mobolade Ojeahere said, ‘At First Bank, we believe firmly in the power of partnerships, the feedback that you give us that makes us better, and what we can offer you as well that will make the business grow and continue to grow up to greater heights. For us, we’ll continue to innovate, enhance our services and continue to proudly serve and work with you across all our entire footprints, across all our branches, where we are present, so that your own objectives can also be achieved. As we look forward to the future, we remain dedicated to continuing to support you and to fostering and building the relationship.’

The PoS Business unit at FirstBank also introduced the Firstmonie merchant wallet solution to the gathering, describing it as a robust solution, as it provides inventory services, cash management and more.

The MV Sapphire, Nigeria’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered container yesterday arrived at APM Terminals in Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s maritime industry, as the country moves towards embracing cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

The MV Sapphire’s arrival demonstrates the terminal’s commitment to accommodating environmentally friendly vessels and promoting sustainable shipping practices.

With a carrying capacity of 7,800 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), the MV Sapphire is a state-of-the-art vessel that boasts advanced LNG propulsion technology. This eco-friendly propulsion system significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with global efforts to mitigate climate change.

The berthing of the MV Sapphire at APM Terminals Apapa underscores Nigeria’s growing importance in the global maritime industry. As the country continues to invest in its port infrastructure and embrace sustainable technologies, it is poised to become a hub for maritime trade in West Africa.

The arrival of the MV Sapphire is a testament to the country’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its determination to play a leading role in the global maritime industry.

Speaking at the event, Todd Rives, Managing Director of Lagos and Niger Shipping Agency Limited (LANSAL), which represents Gold Star Line in Nigeria, described the berthing as a historic milestone. He recalled that Gold Star Line, incorporated in 1958, remains one of the oldest shipping agencies operating in Nigeria, with a longstanding commitment to customer service.

He stressed that the arrival of the MV Sapphire was more than just a routine docking, but rather a symbol of progress and partnership, designed to reduce voyage costs, promote operational efficiency, and reinforce environmental sustainability. According to him, the vessel is the beginning of a new era in Nigerian maritime trade, and he expressed optimism that her sister ships would also call at the port in the near future.

Kayode Daniel, Commercial Manager of APM Terminals Apapa, described the moment as a significant achievement for the port and underlined the shared commitment to sustainable maritime practices.

He explained that shipping lines globally are working together to reduce emissions, in line with international sustainability targets.

He praised LANSAL for deploying LNG-powered vessels in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, reaffirming that it was aligned with the global APM Terminals ESG goals, to move to cleaner sources of energy thereby reducing carbon emissions.

The Port Manager of the Lagos Port Complex Apapa, Adebowale Lawal, represented by the Chief Port Security Officer, Bukar Kaumi, commended Gold Star Line and LANSAL for their foresight.

China has congratulated the Nigerian government and Nigerians on the 65th anniversary of independence.

The Chinese Ambassador in Nigeria, Yu Dunhaa, in a message on his official X account (formerly Twitter), said, ‘I extend our warmest congratulations to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the occasion of its 65th Independence Anniversary.

‘This day carries a unique significance, as China and Nigeria share October 1st as our respective National Day and Independence Day – a special bond that connects our two nations’.

He added that over the past 65 years, Nigeria has demonstrated remarkable resilience and vitality, achieving significant progress in national development, emphasising that as comprehensive strategic partners, China and Nigeria have fostered extensive cooperation across all sectors, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Yu said, ‘As we celebrate this shared milestone, China remains firmly committed to deepening our partnership.

‘We look forward to strengthening our joint efforts in promoting peace, development, and shared prosperity, and contributing to a China-Nigeria community with a shared future.’

Over 1000 youths drawn from Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu (U3) Federal Constituency on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Hon. Rev. Francis Waive, citing their ‘exemplary performance’ in office and endorsing them for reelection in 2027.

The resolution was taken during a youth summit held at T’Nero’s Place (Sakpra Hall), DSC Township, Udu Local Government Area, where over 1,000 young people gathered for empowerment and political engagement.

Key political figures from the Delta APC attended the event, including Hon. (Rev.) Francis Waive, Olorogun John Oguma, Olorogun Eddy Ono-Sorhue, Chief Henry Afure Sakpra, and Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo and others.

Speaking at the event while presenting the report of his stewardship, Hon. Waive thanked the youth for their support over the years and pledged continued empowerment programs, noting that provisions for youth initiatives were already captured in the 2025 budget.

‘We have future leaders among us, those who will one day become Governors and Senators,’ Waive said. ‘Our youth empowerment initiative is included in the 2025 budget, and those present today will be among the first beneficiaries.’

He lauded Governor Oborevwori’s role in sustaining the Federal Medical Centre, Udu, and expressed confidence in his re-election bid for 2027. He also reaffirmed support for President Tinubu, citing the progress of work on the Benin-Effurun road expressway.

‘I salute my Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for his total support. He is a humble leader, and we will continue to support him. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also deserves our backing and continued support to enable him to deliver on his promises,’ Waive said.

The lawmaker further urged unity within the Delta APC, dismissing perceived rifts between old and new members, while also seeking youth backing for his reelection bid.

‘My signature of excellence is visible throughout my federal constituency,’ he declared.

In an interview with the newsmen, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Olorogun John Oguma, praised the performance of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, and Hon.Waive, urging patience with the governor, whom he said would deliver on all promises.

According to him; ‘President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and Waive’s reelection will be easier in 2027 because of their excellent performance.

‘I can boldly tell you that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock and Delta Government House, and with the youths solidly behind Hon. Waive, one can’t stop them.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chief Ejiro Hope, National Youth Leader of U3 Federal Constituency Youth, described the occasion as ‘Youth O’clock.’ He stressed that the program was not a political rally but an empowerment platform:

‘This is a youth summit and not a political gathering. It is an opportunity to hear from our member, Hon. Francis Waive, to interact with him one-on-one. Numerous employment opportunities have been created for our youth, and we urge continued peace across Delta State.’

Chief Hope also presented Waive with an award for ‘Most Friendly House of Representative Member,’ recognising his legislative contributions and support for grassroots projects.

Other leaders at the summit echoed their support, Evang. Eddy Ono-Sorhue praised Waive’s ‘hard work and commitment,’ while Chief Henry Afure Sakpra described him as a ‘square peg in a square hole,’ urging youths to register to vote.

The summit ended with a resounding call for unity, empowerment, and active participation of U3 youth in shaping the future of their constituency and Delta State at large.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after his diplomatic mission representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and some ‘strategic engagements’ in Germany.

On arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja the Vice President was received by top government officials and some of his aides.

During the week-long international engagement, the Vice President delivered President Tinubu’s national statement at the United Nations calling for comprehensive UN reforms, championed Africa’s sovereignty over its $700 billion mineral resources, and strengthened strategic partnerships with the United Kingdom, Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders.

Later, Shettima met with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and secured his commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent Security Council seat.

In another engagement, he showcased the country’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors.

The Vice President also assured the Nigerian diaspora community of robust engagement in the President Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes before his engagements in Germany.

Jigawa State is steadily positioning itself as Nigeria’s emerging hub for date palm production.

It is blessed with a unique soil composition that allows date trees to produce fruits twice a year, unlike many other countries where harvest comes only once.

Findings have shown that the state is leveraging on this natural advantage to drive job creation, boost internally generated revenue and diversify its economy.

For Jigawa State, date palm farming is more than an agricultural pursuit, it is a deliberate strategy to tackle unemployment, discourage irregular migration among youths.

More youth take up date farming

In September 2025, the state trained more than 2,000 young people under its Date Palm Development Programme. At least 400 of them were empowered with land, seedlings and farming tools, while 1,042 others received half a hectare of land each.

Governor Namadi emphasized that the programme is not just about farming but also creating a generation of agricultural entrepreneurs who will redefine Jigawa economy,’ the governor said.

Experts say the economic potential of Jigawa’s date palm industry is vast. Dr Abdulhamid Hamza Muhammad of the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) noted that a single tree could yield up to 70 kilograms of dates annually. With large-scale planting, a hectare could generate earnings of over N20 million yearly.

An agricultural economist, Malam Mu’azzam Musa added that Jigawa’s comparative advantage could soon make it West Africa’s top producer of dates.

‘With advanced technology and from what we have seen on the state’s commitment, date palm farming in Jigawa is not just profitable but also a pathway to transforming the state into a tourist and agricultural hub,’ he said.

The recent development, according to another agricultural economist, Mr Patrick Yelda, is that date palm fruit and trunk of date palm are utilised in local industries, which supply packing materials for local marketing of fruits and vegetables, as well as for many other uses, adding that with the recent commitment, date farmers are now exposed to these benefits along the value chain of the fruit.

He explained that the tree and fruit byproducts offer an extra income as various parts of the date trees have been used for the preparation of animal feed, construction materials, household goods and paper. And the trunk of a date tree is usually used to erect bucolic houses. These, according to him, mean additional income to the farmers.

He emphasized that there is a need for stakeholders to equip farmers with various marketing skills to fully explore the date palm business.

‘Marketing assists in providing income at the local, state, national and international levels. It is also aimed at providing support to producers and helps them increase production by adopting new and improved technologies. Moreover, any development in the volume of trade characterised by enhanced marketing will generate the government further support by providing basic amenities, such as roads, infrastructures and water storage facilities, among others; which will finally improve marketing efficiency,’ he said.

Farmers and beneficiaries speak

For farmers and trainees, the programme is already rewriting their future and changing their economic status. Abdullahi Babaro, a beneficiary from Birniwa Local Government Area expressed optimism thus: ‘I believe I will become a millionaire within three years. Date palm production is like gold in Jigawa.’

Another trainee, Ibrahim Sani, highlighted the training in processing, packaging, and creating date-based foods and drinks. ‘We now see endless opportunities in the value chain,’ he said.

A veteran farmer, Malam Shehu Umar, who has cultivated dates for over 30 years, praised the initiative. ‘Previous governments overlooked the sector, but this administration’s intervention is already changing the economic narrative of Jigawa,’ he said. he further revealed that with the present support date farming will no doubt take op the shape it ought to have taken years ago, stressing that in Nigerian history, Jigawa State is now synonymous to date palm.

Saudi partnership sparks new hope

In February 2025, Jigawa struck a strategic partnership with a Saudi Arabian business delegation to scale up date palm production. Receiving the team at Government House, Dutse, Governor Namadi described the deal as ‘a game-changer’ that would reposition the state’s agricultural economy.

‘This partnership is expected to boost agricultural productivity and economic growth in the region. Saudi Arabia is among the world’s top three producers of dates, and by tapping into their expertise, Jigawa can maximise its unique potential,’ the governor said.

He stressed that the collaboration would reduce dependence on federal allocations, strengthen Jigawa’s revenue base and open the state to foreign investments in cultivation, processing, packaging and marketing of dates.

Abdul’aziz Abdurrahman Al-Awf, who led the Saudi delegation, pledged support through expertise-sharing, technology transfer and global best practices. He said, ‘We believe that by sharing our expertise and technology we can help Jigawa State achieve its agricultural goals.’

This partnership had triggered new hope in the state, taking into consideration that various governments have come and left with little or no consideration given to the sector. The move by the state government had rekindled a light of hope as new farmers were being encouraged to complement the old hands in the business.

A future written in dates

Jigawa’s experiment with date palm production may soon become a model for agricultural transformation in Nigeria. If current efforts continue at this pace and with strategic partnerships, youth empowerment and modern farming techniques adopted, the state is on course to redefine its economic identity and become a key player in Africa’s agricultural map. Therefore, for Jigawa State, the path to prosperity may well be lined with date palm production.

Fulham FC organised a get-together party for the club’s Nigerian players, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze and staff members to celebrate the country’s Independence Day.

The get-together was held at Motspur Park, the club’s training ground, for its small Nigerian community.

The three players were present at the event alongside some of their non-Nigerian teammates.

An estimated N63 billion of the six months’ withheld allocations from the Federation Account may have been disbursed to the ‘sacked’ All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen of the 30 local government areas of Osun State, records from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) have shown.

The records which were obtained by Daily Trust from the website of the OAGF, revealed that a total sum of N46.98 billion was disbursed to the councils covering March to June 2025. The funds were released together with July and August allocations whose details have not been published on the website.

The councils might have received at least N16 billion for July and August, going by previous allocations they got during the same period in the post-subsidy era. For July and August 2023, the local governments received N7.5 billion respectively. They got N9.8 billion for July 2024 and N9.7 billion for August 2024.

Based on the records from the OAGF, cumulative funds received by each council between March and June 2025 were: Atakumosa East LG, N1.42 billion; Atakumosa West, N1.38 billion; Ayedade, N1.7 billion; Aiyedire, N1.47 billion; Boluwaduro, N1.48 billion; Boripe, N1.64 billion; Ede North, N1.41bn; Ede South, N1.42bn; Egbedore, N1.41bn; Ejigbo, N1.61 billion; Ife Central, N1.28 billion; Ife East, N1.88 billion; Ife North, N1.76 billion; Ife South, N1.61 billion; Ifedayo, N1.26 billion; Ifelodun, N1.54 billion and Ila, N1.34 billion.

Others were Ilesha East, N1.50 billion; Ilesha West, N154 billion; Irepodun, N1.56 billion; Irewole, N1.67 billion; Isokan, N152 billion; Iwo, N1.85 billion; Obokun, N1.56 billion; Odo-Otin, N1.82 billion; Ola-Oluwa, N1.41 billion; Olorunda, N1.65 billion; Oriade, N1.69 billion; Orolu, N1.51 billion and Osogbo, N1.67 billion.

The state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees had, on Sunday, accused the federal government of disbursing the withheld six months’ allocation from March 2025 to August 2025 into accounts opened by the APC-led chairmen and councilors amidst pending court cases on the issue.

But the Osun APC, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Olabisi, said the funds were disbursed into the accounts of the local government councils, not private accounts.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Tuesday about the insinuations that the tenure of APC council chairmen would have ended this month even if they had not been sacked, the spokesperson for the APC in Osun State, Kola Olabisi, said: ‘It is not a problem because when we get to the river, we will devise a means of crossing the bridge. It is not about extension; it is about determination. Do the reinstated chairmen and councilors have a constitutional right to spend their three years? It is for the court to determine if they have that right under the prevailing law of the country to spend three years.

‘And if Governor Adeleke (of PDP) agrees that the tenure will elapse in October, it means he has shot himself in the leg. It means he has agreed that there was indeed an election (in October 2022), that the February 10 Appeal Court judgement actually reinstated our chairmen and that the election his party held was an effort in futility because no election can be held when another set of people are still occupying the office,’ he said.

Early in September, ‘the reinstated’ council executives filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Osun State Governor, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, and the State House of Assembly, seeking an extension of their tenure beyond its scheduled expiration in October 2025 to February 19, 2028.

They argued that under the Constitution and the Osun State laws, their tenure should commence only from the date they were inaugurated as elected council members in February 2025; not from October 2022 when they were first elected but denied office.

The APC spokesman told our correspondent on Tuesday that the allocations were released to the councils, but said he did not know the exact amounts, contradicting the Monday’s denials by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

‘I don’t know the actual amount that has been released, but my understanding is that a substantial part of the money has been released to the local governments’ accounts, and not the council chairmen’s accounts,’ Olabisi said.

An Oyo State High Court had, on Friday, restrained the UBA from paying out any money from accounts opened in the names of the 30 local governments in Osun State by the APC council chairmen and councillors. The State Assembly also cautioned commercial banks in the state on Monday against granting unauthorised access to allocations belonging to local government areas.

In a statement yesterday, the state chairman of the PDP, Sunday Bisi, asked the Inspector-General of Police to probe an alleged attempt by the ex-APC council chairmen in the state to pay out almost N12.75 billion, out of the six months allocations paid into the local governments’ UBA accounts, to a senior lawyer.

Bisi alleged that the chairmen had directed the bank to pay the lawyer the amount as the legal fees incurred on the local government litigations.

‘The APC has descended to the lowest level with outright impunity and deliberate trampling on the law and the constitution. Despite court order and subsisting case before the Supreme Court, the APC is violating all known laws and public finance rules and regulations.

‘I call on the state government to open criminal investigations against the illegal APC chairmen. All perpetrators of this illegality must be brought to book,’ Bisi stated.

APC denies alleged attempt to pay out N12.75bn

Reacting, the spokesman for the APC in the state, Olabisi, told Daily Trust on the telephone yesterday that the allegation was unfounded

‘It remains in the realm of conjecture. So, it is nothing to be relied upon. It is baseless and unfounded and it should be discountenanced.

‘There is no element of truth in it. It is just a way of weaving lies together to portray our party in a bad light,’ he said.

Background to the LG leadership crisis

The Federal High Court in Osogbo had, on November 25, 2022, nullified the October 15, 2022 local government election conducted after the then Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had lost his re-election bid. The election produced APC chairmen and councillors. The Court of Appeal in Akure later overturned the Federal High Court’s ruling which sacked the executives.

The state government had argued that the Appeal Court’s judgment did not amount to the APC council chairmen’s reinstatement. The government conducted a fresh local election on February 22, 2025 in which only PDP candidates contested and were declared winners.

These PDP officials were subsequently sworn in but instructed by the governor not to assume physical control of the council secretariats to avoid conflict.

Relying on the appellate court’s verdict, the APC chairmen and councillors returned to their council secretariats in February 24. The situation led to a clash that claimed the life of an APC chieftain and former chairman of Irewole Local Government Area of the state, Remi Abbas, and four others. Governor Ademola Adeleke shut down all local government council secretariats in the state to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

The APC later asked the federal government to withhold the council allocations, arguing that the elections were unlawful. In May, the state government took the Attorney-General of the Federation to the Supreme Court over the seizure of the LG allocations. The matter has not been determined by the apex court.

President Bola Tinubu says cancellation of the 65th Independence Day military parade afforded him the opportunity to sleep well and enjoy ‘nice breakfast’ on Wednesday.

Daily Trust reports that the Federal Government had cancelled the parade earlier scheduled to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, October 1.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

‘The Federal Government wishes to announce the cancellation of the Independence Anniversary parade, previously scheduled to mark the 65th Independence on Wednesday, 1st October. The cancellation is in no way a diminishment of the significance of this milestone anniversary,’ the statement, signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Segun Imohiosen, read.

Speaking on Wednesday at the unveiling of the renovated Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre in Lagos, Tinubu said he slept well after the parade’s cancellation.

The president said he had a pleasant evening at the inauguration of the renovated Centre funded and overseen by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee.

The event, he said, broke what he called the monotony of the usual military parade on the independence day anniversary.

‘I’m more than grateful for tonight. I enjoyed the evening.

‘Happy 65th Independence Anniversary. This has broken the monotony of military march-past, parade and everything. By cancelling this programme, I was able to have a good sleep, have a nice breakfast and wait for this evening. And the evening is well spent,’ he told the gathering.

Tinubu arrived at the venue at about 6:24 p.m for the reopening ceremony of the monument.

The President had in July 2024 renamed the edifice the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts in honour of the Nobel Laureate.

At the unveiling, Tinubu was joined by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, H.E. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Emir of Kano, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, and the host of the occasion, Professor Wole Soyinka.

Tinubu expressed his satisfaction to have renamed the centre after Soyinka who he described as one of the greatest assets of the world, Africa and Nigeria.

He said the literary icon has contributed greatly to nation building and freedom.

‘So, it couldn’t have been anything else and I know definitely you (referring to Soyinka) will not disobey this president. I said it has to be Wole Soyinka Centre,’ Tinubu said.

Opposition and civil society leaders on Wednesday voiced strong doubts about Nigeria’s electoral future, warning that reforms are unlikely under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Speaking at a virtual national electoral reform summit, they resolved to mobilise strategies to prevent what they described as attempts by the ruling party to ‘rig’ its way back to power in 2027.

A former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, said bluntly that no meaningful electoral reform could take place under President Bola Tinubu’s government. He argued that politicians in power were never committed to reform, as it threatened their grip on office.

Amaechi, who served as minister of transportation in the last administration, spoke at the meeting with the theme ‘Critical constitutional amendments for credible elections in 2027.’ He declared, ‘There is absolutely nothing anybody can do about electoral reform in Nigeria in the present government.’

The former governor, drawing from his experience, said politicians consistently resist reform once they win power. ‘Everybody ensures that once he wins, he will not do electoral reform so that he can bring himself back for a second tenure. Then, when he is out of government, he will start shouting for electoral reform. It takes commitment and patriotism to know that votes should count. Politicians will not do that because politics has become a source of revenue, a source of income. Electoral reform would mean you are taking power back to the people, so they can hire and fire.’

Reflecting on the Muhammadu Buhari years, Amaechi said little progress was made despite opportunities. ‘Did we achieve anything when President Buhari was there? There was nothing we did in terms of electoral reform. If those in power at that time had acted, we would not be here today.’

Amaechi also accused some past government officials, now clamouring for reform, of previously working against such measures. ‘The people who served in Buhari’s government and are now crying for electoral reform are the same ones who went to him to convince him not to sign the reform that came from the National Assembly,’ he said.

According to him, some invited guests avoided the virtual summit out of fear of government backlash. ‘There are those who can’t answer the question of what they did when they were in government,’ he added.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, listed as chairman and keynote speaker for the event, were absent.

Turning to the opposition, Amaechi accused many of pursuing personal gain rather than systemic reform. ‘What we have currently in the opposition are people who want to win primaries in their different parties, look for public money, then lose elections and keep the money. That’s my suspicion. I may be wrong, but in APC we knew Buhari would win. So, all of us worked for him. Now, if we want anything to happen, it will be after I emerge as a candidate. Then I would know the type of election I want to run,’ he said.

Amaechi dismissed suggestions that reforms could come through the National Assembly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio. ‘If it’s what people are saying about going to the National Assembly led by Akpabio, I know him too well. He was my colleague. I was his chairman in the Governors’ Forum,’ he said.

‘From Abacha’s writing of results till today, the South-South and South-East are yet to come out of writing results. So, if something has to be done for me, I will wait until I have my primaries,’ he remarked.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, stressed the need for having a proper electoral system that can guarantee free and fair election for the engendering of democracy in the country.

Also speaking, Dr Usman Bugaje, a former presidential aide and public affairs analyst, said reform efforts had failed repeatedly because those in power had no interest in genuine change.

Bugaje described the current administration as unwilling to open the door for credible amendments. ‘This is one regime that has shown they are not even prepared to conduct an election,’ he added.

On her part, former education minister Oby Ezekwesili criticised the judiciary, accusing it of worsening Nigeria’s political crisis. ‘We have to take the war to the gate of the judiciary. It’s like elections are now an industry for the judiciary,’ she said.

She urged reforms in how electoral cases are handled. ‘We need to implement an automated system for assigning electoral cases to judges. It will reduce manipulation and strengthen the process. We must also prevail on the NJC to investigate and discipline judges where necessary and restore public confidence,’ she added.

Nigeria’s former ambassador to Ethiopia, Nkoyo Toyo, noted that while technological innovations had raised hopes in past elections, the 2023 polls reversed much of that progress.

‘What we thought was significant progress hit the rocks, and confidence has fallen. Many people today have very little faith in the process,’ she said.

Toyo called for urgent action before 2027, warning against neglect of critical issues. ‘The appointment of the next INEC chairman is another critical process we cannot ignore. We must not sit back and watch,’ she stressed.

Former presidential candidate Prof Pat Utomi added that no government perceived to lack legitimacy could effectively govern.

The summit ended with a consensus among opposition leaders and civic voices that without urgent reforms, Nigeria risked repeating the failures of the past. Yet, as Amaechi and others warned, the chances of meaningful change under the present administration remain slim.