2027: INEC seeks quick passage of electoral reforms bills

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the National Assembly to speed up work on electoral reform proposals to avoid uncertainty in preparations for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the appeal yesterday in Abuja while receiving the European Union (EU) Election Observation Follow-up Mission, led by Mr. Barry Andrews, a Member of the European Parliament.

Yakubu, who is approaching the last weeks of his second and last tenure, said early passage of amendments to the Electoral Act would ensure smooth planning for the polls.

‘We appeal to the National Assembly for an expeditious consideration of the electoral reform proposal. An early passage of law is critical to our planning for the elections,’ he said.

‘Uncertainty over the legal framework for the election can unsettle the work of the Commission as the election draws nearer,’ he added.

The INEC Chairman explained that the commission had acted on the recommendations addressed directly to it in the EU’s 2023 report.

‘Action has been taken on aspects of the recommendations that only require administrative action to implement. Similarly, action is being taken on cross-cutting recommendations that require collective action between INEC and other bodies and stakeholders while waiting for the conclusion of the ongoing legal review by the National Assembly,’ he said.

In his remarks, Mr Barry Andrews praised Nigeria’s importance in global democracy, describing the 2023 EU mission as one of the largest deployments to any country.

‘Our task is to assess progress made in implementing the recommendations from the 2023 elections. We have noted significant improvements in several areas, though some challenges remain, particularly those requiring judicial, administrative, and constitutional reforms,’ he said.

Over 4,000 Kagadi residents face eviction threat

More than 4,000 residents of Kagadi District are embroiled in a wrangle with a woman who claims they are illegally occupying her land.

The contested land covers the villages of Lyanda A, Lyanda B, Katerera A, Katerera B, Muzizi, Muruha, Katoma, and Kyaterekera Town Council in Kagadi District.

The locals, some of whom say they have lived on the land in question for 70 years, accuse Ms Agnes Korugyendo of attempting to grab what is legally theirs.

‘Three weeks ago, local leaders got phone calls warning that we’ll be kicked off the land. Since then, our lives have been full of fear. No one wants to buy land here anymore because of fake land titles. But we’re not going anywhere. If we have to die here, so be it,’ said Ms Noume Ahumuza, a resident of Katerera A.

Mr Enock Tembo, the LC1 chairperson of Lyanda A, said Ms Korugyendo called him in September, telling him to order people off the land.

‘I asked her who sold her the land, who signed the documents, and how long she has had the land title. She couldn’t answer clearly. She just said she got it five years ago, but people were already living there. I’ve lived here for 40 years, and her title is only 20 years old. So, who really owns this land?’ Mr Tembo asked.

He added that his family officially settled on the land in 1989, after buying it in 1987 from a man named Ibrahim Genura, who even donated part of the land for building a church.

‘Mr President, the people here are strong. We’ve survived hard times before. Please help us. Some local leaders are helping these land grabbers,’ Mr Tembo said.

Mr John Malai, the chairperson of Katerera A Cell, said someone tried to bribe him with Shs5m to sign off land in Muruha, near Kangombe Forest, but he refused.

‘I couldn’t betray my people or put future generations at risk. I’ve lived here for 70 years with my family, including 16 children and 67 grandchildren. We’re living in fear every day,’ he said.

Another resident, Mr Christopher Ntanda, said he is being targeted because he is on the local land committee and has rejected bribes from people trying to grab land.

‘These land titles are fake. In all my years on the land committee, I’ve never seen such documents brought in for approval. I’ve lived here for 35 years and bought my land from local people,’ he said.

Mr Alex Turyasingura from Katerera remembered a similar situation in 1990, when a man named Raphil burnt down homes, claiming the land was his. The residents went to court in Masindi and won the case.

‘Now this woman, Korugyendo, is doing the same thing. She’s just another land grabber. We know the President is aware of our situation, and we’re asking him to step in,’ he said.

Most people in Kagadi are farmers. Even though the government has brought electricity and schools to the area, people are afraid that everything they’ve built could be lost.

Last Friday, Kagadi Resident District Commissioner, Ms Caroline Nanshemeza, visited the villages to calm the situation.

‘My job is to protect you and your land. No one is going to evict you. Go back to your work and continue living here. ..,’ she told residents.

She promised that any fake land titles would be cancelled after proper checks and asked locals to register their land with the district land office.

When contacted, Ms Agnes Korugyendo said she legally acquired the land. She added: ‘I visited the place and found people occupying my land. I want them to leave.’

Locals said this is not the first time someone has tried to take the land. In 2016, a similar situation happened, but leaders failed to find a lasting solution.

Mathematics and the Nigerian dream: From disillusionment to empowerment

As Nigeria marks her 65th Independence Anniversary in 2025, the mood across the nation is not one of triumph but of tension. For many young Nigerians, this milestone is less about celebrating progress and more about confronting the bitter truth of unfulfilled promises. From underfunded schools in rural villages to urban centers where survival requires daily hustling, the same question echoes: What does the Nigerian Dream look like today? For too many, the Nigerian Dream seems invisible – if it exists at all.

The Nigerian Dream cannot be borrowed from foreign models of white-picket fences or suburban comfort. For us, it must mean a life of dignity, opportunity, and contribution where citizens have a chance to earn a decent living through honest work, have access to education and skills that unlock potential, enjoy freedom from fear, hunger, and systemic neglect, and possess the ability to build, create, and leave a legacy.

But this dream often clashes with Nigeria’s current realities: failing schools, an economy strained by inflation and unemployment, and institutions too slow or unwilling to reform. The result is widespread disillusionment – especially among the youth, who make up over 60 per cent of our population.

Yet, hidden in plain sight, there is a tool that can help us reclaim agency. Ironically, it is the very subject many young Nigerians fear most: mathematics.

Mathematics is not simply a classroom subject. It is a way of thinking – about problems, possibilities, and progress. It teaches us to identify patterns in chaos, ask the right questions before making decisions, measure progress with clarity, and break big problems into solvable steps. As the late Professor Chike Obi, the first Nigerian to receive a PhD in Mathematics, demonstrated, mathematics can shine even in the hardest conditions. At a recent event, distinguished academic Ibidapo-Obe declared: ‘Mathematics is fundamental to all other disciplines . it is very important to have a calculative and analytical mind where everything has to be measured; the economy has to be measured, productivity has to be measured .’ He urged young people not to shy away from mathematics. Ajoritsedere Josephine Awosika, a former Permanent Secretary , reminds us: ‘The biggest impediment to a progressive society is a malnourished mind, and the best medicine for a malnourished mind is education.’

In a nation where dreams are often dismissed as unrealistic, Mathematics provides both the logic and the structure to transform disillusionment into empowerment. Too many Nigerian youth believe, ‘I can’t do math.’ We face real obstacles such as math anxiety and poor teaching that leave many students convinced they ‘can’t do math.’ Added to this is the issue of digital divides in the education sector. This divide means that millions of young people lack stable electricity, reliable internet access, or digital devices. Systemic neglect – from diversion of funds to infrastructure decay – further proves that personal effort cannot and must not replace the need for sound policies and functioning institutions. These barriers matter. Unless we face them, mathematics risks sounding like an abstract ideal instead of a practical tool.

So how do we build the Nigerian Dream with mathematics? How do we move from possibility to practice? We should begin from the foundational level by making mathematics not just a classroom subject, but a national strategy for empowerment. Femi Gbajabiamila, speaking on grooming young people to be leaders rather than dependents, once said: ‘For me, youth empowerment is the real empowerment because it prepares you for the future.’ By reframing the narrative of mathematics, we should move successfully from fear to freedom. Learners at all levels will then realise that mathematics is not punishment, rather, it is power.

Equally, there is a need for teachers of mathematics at all levels to understand that they have a duty to teach the subject as an empowerment tool. Mathematics teachers especially those at the foundational level must be trained not just in content but also in pedagogy that builds problem-solving, curiosity, and resilience. There should be recognition, rewards, and funding for those using mathematics to solve real-life problems through mathematics-driven innovation challenges. Parents also have a stake in helping their children see this. And importantly, the media must, as a matter of national development, present mathematics as a tool for solving life problems such as budgeting, farming, and trading – not merely as a subject for passing exams.

Another important point is that the government, in collaboration with private organisations, companies, and non-governmental groups, must ensure that digital tools are not only available but accessible. This can be achieved by expanding low-cost access to digital resources. Offline math resources – such as booklets, radio programmes, and community learning hubs – must also reach rural and underserved communities. Youth should be taught to use math to run micro-businesses, organise community projects, and plan personal goals. Civic groups can apply statistics and data analysis to hold leaders accountable. Policymakers must integrate financial literacy, data literacy, and problem-solving into school curricula. Community leaders and private sector partners should sponsor math-driven innovation challenges that reward practical solutions. Progress must be measured not only in exam pass rates but also in how mathematics improves income, reduces waste, and inspires entrepreneurship.

At 65, Nigeria’s future cannot be sustained by slogans or symbols alone. Patriotism today must be about building where things are broken, teaching where knowledge is missing, and creating where opportunities are denied. Mathematics, often dismissed as irrelevant, is in truth a liberation strategy. It gives us the ability to design the Nigerian Dream ourselves, instead of waiting for it to be handed down from above.

Because sometimes, the best way to fix a broken nation is to first fix how its citizens think, plan, and act. And that begins with logic. With structure. With mathematics. If Nigeria is to move from disillusionment to empowerment, we must reclaim mathematics – not as a subject, but as a strategy. As a people, we owe that to ourselves.

What is at stake as NUP losers defy party?

The National Unity Platform (NUP) party will once again face a turbulent time in this political season as many of the party aspirants who missed out on getting the party flag have vowed to run in their respective constituencies, in total disregard of the party’s advice to them not to stand.

Political commentators say the squabbles within the party, especially the incumbents who missed out on the party flag, could cause a rift within the party and possible division of votes, which will favour the NRM.

Dr Fredrick Golooba, a political scientist from Makerere University, says it is not obvious for either the incumbents running as independents or the NUP candidates as well.

‘They will have to divide the votes, which will obviously create a chance for the NRM candidates,’ he says. The NUP constitution is silent on how to handle party members who defy the leadership position on carrying the flag, especially at parliamentary elections. It is rather categorical on the President’s position.

On several occasions, leaders of the party have always said that whoever defies the party position on the flagbearer decisions and runs as an Independent ceases to be a party member and would have to go through the normal restoration processes back into the party.

Some of the members who have already made clear their positions include Allan Ssewanyana, who lost the Makindye West flag to Zahara Luyirika, the KCCA speaker.

‘The people of Makindye West sent me to Parliament to represent them, and they are the ones who can get me away from there. I will still go back to them to allow me to go back and finish the job I started,’ he said.

Both Ms Joyce Bagala, the Mityana Woman MP, who was replaced by Ms Proscovia Nabbosa, and Bukoto East MP Medard Ssegona, who was replaced by Mathias Walukaga, the Kyengera Town Council mayor, have also insisted that they will take the people’s choice and not the party’s.

‘Due to the call from my people of Bukoto West, I will be content as an independent, but I will continue to support my president (Bobi Wine) because his ideas resonate with what an ideal Uganda ought to be,’ Mr Sseggona said.

The NUP has established a desk at their party headquarters to receive petitions from any complainants with a view to scrutinising the concerns. But party leaders say none of the incumbents who lost have reached out, save for the media interviews that they have seen.

By last evening, a member of the petitions committee, who indicated that he is not permitted to speak to the media, intimated that they had received only about 20 complaints and that they were waiting to get more within the week.

‘If they don’t [complainants] file petitions, it becomes hard for us to track them from social media or other media platforms. Most of the petitions are coming in from the first-time MP aspirants, and we can wait and see how this week ends,’ the source says.

The Opposition party is yet to heal from the conundrum they got themselves into in the just-concluded local government and mayoral flag race. Many of the party’s top cadres vowed to run as independents in the coming elections.

Ms Harriet Chemutai, the NUP Election Management Committee chairperson, said: ‘We played our part and we know the candidates we have given to our people are the best. Those who are running as independents will only prove that what we are telling them is actually the truth.’

In the last elections, many of the NUP aspirants who were denied party tickets went on to run as independents, but no one made it to Parliament.

Dr Golooba says: ‘If NUP did the due diligence that they are talking about here, even if they run as independents, they will certainly not go through. There is also a group of some NUP members who still want their candidate, and that makes everything complicated, but this is what is happening in all the other political parties.’

Analysis.

‘If NUP did the due diligence that they are talking about [vetting process], even if they [who lost party flags]run as independents, they will certainly not go through. There is also a group of NUP members who still want their [old] candidates, complicating things,” Dr Fredrick Golooba, political scientist from Makerere University

Okpebholo splashes N10m on Team Edo for NYG feat

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has rewarded Team Edo with the sum of N10 million for their outstanding performance at the 9th National Youth Games held in Asaba, Delta State.

Team Edo finished third overall, behind Team Lagos (second) and Team Bayelsa (first), after winning 33 gold, 18 silver, and 28 bronze medals.

Receiving the athletes at Government House in Benin City, alongside his deputy Denis Idahosa, Governor Okpebholo praised the team’s resilience, dedication, and impressive achievements.

‘I congratulate our team for putting in their best and securing third position with 33 gold, 18 silver and 28 bronze medals. This is an impressive achievement. But, I challenge you to do more and put in your best to claim first position in the next edition. Edo deserves first place, and with commitment and discipline, we will get there,’ the governor said.

He explained that the N10 million cash reward was in recognition of the athletes’ dedication and resilience, stressing that their efforts had brought pride and honour to Edo State.

‘For your efforts, I am pleased to reward you with the sum of N10 million. I believe with harder training, greater victories await Edo,’ he added.

Governor Okpebholo further assured the athletes of continuous government support but urged them to show greater commitment in future competitions.

‘My administration will continue to support you, but I want to see stronger dedication and more commitment in the coming years,’ he noted.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Mr. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, commended the governor for his unwavering support of sports development.

He highlighted that Governor Okpebholo’s prioritization of athletes’ welfare was key to the team’s improved outing.

‘With continued government support, Edo athletes will surpass their current achievement and position the State as a dominant force in national sports,’ Enabulele said.

Low wages, informal activities hindering service sector growth – Kakande

The Secretary in the Office of the President, Mr Yunus Kakande, has stated that low wages and widespread informal activities pose significant obstacles to the growth of the service sector.

Speaking at the pre-Apex dialogue on service sector performance analysis in Kampala on Friday, Kakande noted that despite the sector’s significant contribution to Uganda’s GDP, its growth has not been matched by corresponding improvements in quality, productivity, and inclusiveness.

“This is the contradiction we must confront, robust sectoral growth without transformation in jobs, productivity, and equity,” he said. He added, “If services remain dominated by low-wage, informal activities, we risk an economy where GDP expands, but household incomes and livelihoods stagnate.”

Kakande highlighted that the service sector is the largest employer, yet many people, especially youth, remain trapped in informal, low-value work, such as the boda boda industry.

“The Boda Boda industry illustrates both the scale and the limitations of informal sector employment; it absorbs labor but offers limited income security and productivity,” he said.

Minister of State for Economic Monitoring, Beatrice Akello, underscored the importance of strengthening public service delivery at the grassroots level, specifically highlighting understaffing inefficiencies.

“We have candidly recognized, service-led growth has not always delivered the broad-based transformation that Ugandans expect. Growth has often outpaced structural change. Productivity exists in pockets, but serious gaps remain,” she said.

Akello added, “The most urgent of these is the human resource gap, particularly in critical areas such as primary health care. While the productivity of health services is evident, staffing shortages continue to undermine delivery. If left unaddressed, these gaps not only weaken our health outcomes but also have ripple effects on the entire economy, including trade and other service subsectors.”

Uganda’s service sector has experienced significant growth over the past 15 years, now contributing nearly 50 per cent to the country’s GDP. The sector employs millions of Ugandans across diverse industries, including ICT, finance, trade, tourism, education, healthcare, transportation, logistics, and the creative arts.

Kakande reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing urgent policy and structural reforms to revamp.

“Government is clear on the way forward; we are deliberating to move beyond low-productivity activities and invest in high-value subsectors that can generate wealth, create decent jobs, and drive global competitiveness.”

Sahel crisis deepening, CDS Musa warns

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has raised an alarm over the deepening crisis in the Sahel region, warning that the conflict poses a major threat to Nigeria’s security and stability.

He urged greater regional cooperation to confront insurgents and criminal groups who exploit porous borders.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of Exercise Haske Biyu, a multinational security training organised by the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, General Musa stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges cannot be solved by unilateral action.

‘The crisis in the Sahel is intensifying, and the enemies we face do not respect national borders,’ he said. ‘If we hold on to our borders alone, we will continue to suffer. But if we unite and work across, it makes it better.’

Citing the Multinational Joint Task Force in Chad, Musa noted that collaboration between neighbouring countries had proven effective in combating insurgents who move freely across borders.

He insisted that such partnerships remain essential to restoring peace in the region.

‘At the end of the day, the only thing we must do is to look for the bad guys and take them out. That is the only way we can have peace,’ he declared.

The Defence Chief also highlighted the need for civil-military cooperation, urging local communities to deny criminals safe havens. ‘Once communities deny these elements the ability to stay, they will not be able to stand,’ he explained.

General Musa warned personnel to remain professional, free of corruption and partisan influence, stressing that discipline and integrity were key to defeating armed groups.

Kyagulanyi demands EC explanation after being blocked in Iganga

The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, has demanded an explanation from Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Byabakama over why he was blocked from holding a campaign rally in Iganga Municipality.

Mr Kyagulanyi was scheduled to address supporters in Iganga on Friday, but was intercepted by police and the UPDF while traveling from Mayuge District, where he had earlier held a rally.

He questioned why he is being singled out, claiming his rival presidential candidates have freely campaigned in the same area.

‘I want Justice Byabakama to tell me why only I am being mistreated,’ Kyagulanyi said. ‘I am a presidential candidate like the others, and I am entitled to be treated the same.’

Mr Kyagulanyi added that ever since he arrived in Busoga sub-region, he has been barred from using tarmac roads and holding rallies in urban centers.

‘I have tested the potholes on rural roads, which has delayed us from reaching other venues on time due to long distances and poor road conditions,’ he lamented.

Mr Nasser Mudyobole, the NUP flag bearer for Iganga Municipality MP, said the actions of the police and army show that NRM’s presidential candidate, Mr Yoweri Museveni, lacks support in the region.

‘We defeated him in Busoga in 2021, and we are going to do it again,’ Mr Nassa claimed.

Ms Mercy Walukanba, NUP flag bearer for Bugweri District MP , said she wasn’t surprised by the blockade, noting that Mr Kyagulanyi had also been prevented from opening a party office in Namutumba Town Council on Thursday.

‘We are not scared. This only strengthens our resolve and shows Busoga loves its candidate,’ she said.

Mr Chris Wakalanga, NUP chairperson for Namutumba District, emphasized that Mr Kyagulanyi deserves equal treatment like any other presidential candidate.

According to Mr Kyagulanyi’s campaign schedule, he is expected to campaign in Namayingo and Bugiri tomorrow.

Defending champion Gauff into China Open last four

Defending champion Coco Gauff beat Eva Lys in straight sets to reach her third consecutive China Open semi-final.

The world number three took one hour and 28 minutes to overcome her German opponent 6-3 6-4.

The American, a two-time Grand Slam winner, broke Lys three times in the opening set, converting three of her four break point opportunities.

Gauff, who has struggled with her serve at times this season, had an impressive 79% first serve percentage throughout the match.

The 21-year-old, who was knocked out of the opening round of Wimbledon after winning the French Open earlier this year, is now the highest-ranked player left in the competition.

She will face either Amanda Anisimova or Jasmine Paolini in the final four.

Supreme Court halts execution in Patrick Bitature $10m loan dispute

The Supreme Court has granted an interim order staying execution of a Court of Appeal decision that struck out an appeal by businessman Patrick Bitature, his companies, and associates in their long-running loan dispute with South African investment firm, Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership.

Justice Elizabeth Musoke, delivering the ruling, said the stay was necessary to preserve the status quo pending determination of the applicants’ substantive application for stay of execution.

‘This Court has powers, under Rule 2 (2) of the Rules of the Supreme Court, to make such an interim order to stay the status quo until the hearing and determination of the substantive application for stay of execution,’ Justice Musoke held on Friday.

The case stems from a December 11, 2014 agreement in which Vantage Mezzanine Fund II Partnership advanced $10 million to Simba Properties Investment Co Ltd, with Bitature and his companies Simba Telecom, Elgon Terrace Hotel, and Linda Properties as guarantors.

The lenders alleged default and initiated arbitration before the London International Chamber of Commerce.

On July 31, 2023, an arbitral tribunal issued a final award against Simba Properties, later supplemented with an addendum on 9 August 2023.

Vantage subsequently moved the Commercial Division of the High Court seeking recognition and enforcement of the award.

In November 2023, Justice Ocaya issued interim orders restraining Simba companies and their guarantors from altering ownership of mortgaged properties or shareholding, to secure Vantage’s interests.

Bitature and his associates filed a notice of appeal but Vantage challenged it. On August 22, 2025, Court of Appeal Justices Egonda-Ntende, Luswata, and Nambayo struck out the appeal, ruling that the Arbitration and Conciliation Act did not allow such an appeal.

The applicants then petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking both leave to appeal and stays of execution.

Counsel for the applicants, Brain Moogi Brian, argued that they had filed a competent notice of appeal on August 28, 2025 and a substantive stay application, satisfying conditions for an interim stay.

Vantage, represented by Kirunda and Co. Advocates, opposed the application, claiming the notice of appeal was defective and that there was no imminent threat of execution.

Justice Musoke disagreed, finding that while there may be some formalistic defects in the notice of appeal, it nonetheless indicates that the applicants are interested in appealing the decision in Court of Appeal Civil Application No. 305 of 2025 and is therefore sufficient for the relevant purpose.

On execution, the judge observed that ‘it should be possible to draw a reasonable inference that every successful party has an interest in ensuring the immediate execution of the decree.’

‘I therefore find, on a balance of probabilities, that there is a likelihood of imminent execution,’ the judge added.

Ruling

The Supreme Court therefore issued the following orders:

An interim stay of execution of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Civil Application No. 305 of 2025 pending determination of the substantive stay application.

Costs of the application to abide the outcome of the substantive stay application.

Justice Musoke stressed that questions over the court’s jurisdiction and competence of the intended appeal would be decided later.

‘The main purpose of an interim order is preservation of the status quo to avoid rendering nugatory the determination of the substantive application for stay of execution and the appeal itself,’ she stated.

The ruling, delivered means Bitature and his companies retain a temporary reprieve from enforcement of the Court of Appeal decision as they pursue further remedies in the Supreme Court.