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Akpabio speaks on when Tinubu will sign amended Electoral Act

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the amended Electoral Act into law before the end of February.

Akpabio disclosed this on Tuesday during an emergency plenary session of the Senate, where lawmakers set up a committee to harmonize the Senate’s version of the bill with that earlier passed by the House of Representatives, following public backlash over some of the amendments.

 

He expressed confidence that the process would be concluded swiftly, noting that the president would act once the harmonization exercise is completed.

 

“I believe that if you are able to conclude this within the next few days or one week, the President should be able to sign the amended Electoral Bill into an Act of Parliament within this month of February,” Akpabio said.

 

The Senate President explained that the 12-member committee would work closely with its counterparts in the House of Representatives to reconcile the differences in both versions of the bill.

 

He added that the expansion of the committee followed consultations with Senate leadership and was aimed at ensuring effective collaboration with lawmakers in the House of Representatives.

 

Nigerian Newsphere reports that the Senate on Tuesday amended the country’s Electoral Act. allowing both electronic and manual transmission of election results.

 

The decision comes after sustained protest against the removal of e-transmission of election results.

2027: How Akpabio-led Senate tricked Nigerians on e-transmission of election results – Ezekwesili 

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Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has strongly criticized the Senate over a provision on electoral result transmission recently passed by the National Assembly, describing it as an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians.

Ezekwesili argued that the clause undermines the collective will of voters and contradicts the principles of a functioning democracy, where elected officials must remain accountable to the people.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she warned that the provision creates a loophole that could be exploited to manipulate future elections, including the 2027 general polls. According to her, the move sends a dangerous signal that votes may not count.

She accused the Senate leadership, under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, of deepening public distrust in the electoral process by passing what she termed a “vexing” clause on result transmission.

Ezekwesili, however, praised the House of Representatives for passing a bill that mandates the real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IREV), describing the action as honest and transparent.

She warned that Nigerians’ patience is running out and urged senators to reconsider their position, stressing that transparency is critical to sustaining democracy.

 

“It is not wise for elected officials to play with fire by undermining public confidence in elections,” she cautioned, adding that transparency remains the best safeguard for democratic stability.

 

Recall that the Senate after about emergency session on Tuesday amended the electoral act allowing for electronic and manual transmission of election results which had stirred debate and protest.

Nigerian Grammy-winning Singer, Tems becomes first African female Artist to score Seven Billboard Hot 100 Entries

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Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has set a new record as the first African female artist to achieve seven entries on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The milestone was reached after her track What You Need made a surprise debut at number 93 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100, pushing her total appearances on the chart to seven.

With the feat, Tems is now tied with fellow Nigerian star Burna Boy and South African rock band Seether as the African artist with the highest number of Billboard Hot 100 entries.

Tems had earlier made history in 2022 when she became the first African artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, following her collaboration with Future and Drake on Wait For. U.

The singer is expected to break the tie soon, as Bunce Road Blues by J. Cole, featuring Tems and Future, is projected to debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart next week.

2027: Atiku, Seyi Makinde in close door meeting with IBB

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Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Tuesday held a private meeting with former Military President General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retd.) at his residence in Minna, Niger State.

Sources said Atiku arrived in Minna at about 1:30 p.m. and went straight to Babangida’s home. Governor Makinde later joined him around 2:10 p.m., after which the closed-door discussions began.

The purpose of the meeting has not been made public, and it remains unclear how long the talks will last.

The meeting comes amid intrigues ahead of the 2027 elections.

While Atiku has indicated interest in contesting as a presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress, Seyi also had a similar ambition in his faction of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Rivers: This’ll be the last time—Wike reveals details of meeting with Tinubu, Fubara

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the ongoing political crisis between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the state House of Assembly.

 

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Wike said the president’s latest intervention would be the second and final one aimed at resolving the dispute between the governor and the legislature.

 

According to him, Tinubu stepped in as a father figure to ensure peace and stability in the state whenever tensions arose between the executive and the legislative arms.

 

“This is the second time Mr. President is intervening, and I believe, by the grace of God, this will be the last,” Wike said, adding that all parties involved have been directed to respect and comply with the President’s decisions.

 

He expressed confidence that both the lawmakers and Governor Fubara would adhere to the agreement reached, stressing that the governor would also play his part to ensure lasting peace.

 

Wike’s comments followed reports that President Tinubu, Wike, and Governor Fubara met on Sunday night at the Presidential Villa in Abuja to discuss the crisis. The reports further claimed that after the meeting, Fubara visited Wike’s residence to seek reconciliation as part of efforts to resolve the dispute.

 

Wike, however, maintained that the president’s intervention should mark the end of the political discord, assuring that Rivers State would no longer witness such conflicts

BREAKING: Nigerian Senate bows to pressure, allows e-transmission of election results

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The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday bowed to pressure and amended Section 60 of the Electoral Act to permit presiding officers at polling units to electronically transmit election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Results Viewing Portal (IREV).

 

The amendment was adopted during an emergency plenary session, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio explained the operational framework for the revised provision.

 

According to Akpabio, presiding officers are required to electronically upload results from each polling unit to the IREV portal after Form EC8A has been duly signed and stamped and countersigned by candidates or their polling agents where available.

 

He, however, noted that the law provides a fallback option in cases of network or communication failure.

 

“If electronic transmission fails due to communication challenges, the manually signed and stamped Form EC8A shall serve as the primary source for collation and declaration of results,” Akpabio said.

 

The amendment, adopted as Clause 60(3), followed a motion moved by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, seeking to reverse the Senate’s earlier decision that rejected real-time electronic transmission of results.

 

Prior to the amendment, the Senate had retained provisions of the 2023 Electoral Act that restricted electronic transmission.

 

Under the new arrangement, electronic transmission will be used where technology permits, while the signed Form EC8A will remain the authoritative document in the event of technical difficulties.

 

The decision generated debate on the Senate floor, with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe initially calling for a division before later withdrawing his request.

Late Nigerian Lawmaker Ojougboh Foundation donates N2.7m for students’ SSCE fees

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A group photo of the Ojougbohs with the beneficiary students during the event in Agbor, Delta State, recently.

Dr. Cairo Ojougboh Foundation has strengthened its focus on driving initiatives that enhance the government’s efforts for educational development in Nigeria.

The foundation was established in honor of the late medical doctor and member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.

As part of the initiative, the Foundation recently held a special program at St. Columba’s Grammar School, Agbor, the headquarters of the Ika South Local Government Area in Delta State, with the theme “Your Future, Your Choice,” where the Foundation presented a cheque of N2,700,000 to cover examination fees for students sitting for the West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), and the Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3 examinations.

The Foundation also rewarded academic excellence by giving cash gifts to the best students across the nine academic arms of the school. In addition, notebooks and writing materials were distributed to support effective learning among the students.

 

 

 

Beyond the financial support, the program stood out as a strong investment in the academic and personal development of the students, while also celebrating the enduring legacy of discipline, excellence, and service that Dr. Cairo Ojougboh was known for.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Foundation, Mrs.Bose Ojougboh, emphasized the importance of giving back to the institution that helped shape Dr. Cairo’s life and values, noting that St. Columba’s Grammar School played a significant role in shaping Dr. Cairo’s life.

She added that the Foundation is committed to inspiring current students to remain focused and hardworking while reminding the students that obstacles should not be seen as roadblocks but as stepping stones for growth, encouraging them to turn challenges into opportunities.

She also encouraged students to take responsibility for their future by making intentional and positive life choices, both academically and personally, underscoring the importance of hard work and consistency as ingredients for success.

Ojougboh, who had her two sons, Mr. Nkem Ojougboh and Mr. Orieka Ojougboh, as active participants at the program, urged students to understand that every decision they make contributes to their future, emphasizing that discipline, consistency, and focus are non-negotiable success factors.

The event was further enriched by the strong presence of the Old Boys of St. Columba’s Grammar School, led by Elder Ndudi Agholor, who were fully represented at the program. Many of them shared memories of their time in school, recalling their experiences with deep nostalgia and pride.  The alumni reflected on their years in the school and appreciated the current school leadership for maintaining the high standards the institution has always been known for.

In their remarks, the school principal, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ugboh, and the Chairman of Ika South Local Government, Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior, commended the Cairo Ojougboh family for the initiative and encouraged them to sustain it, noting that it is a meaningful way to preserve and honor Dr. Cairo’s legacy.  They applauded members of the Foundation for a ‘commendable and impactful’ initiative.

They expressed deep appreciation to the Foundation for the generous support and for honoring the legacy of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, adding that the gesture had greatly inspired and motivated the students to work harder towards their goals.

The program ended on a very hopeful note, with students leaving the event feeling motivated and determined to make better decisions about their future.

Ojougbohs

Sit-at-home cancellation: ‘Unseal Onitsha Main Market traders’ shops ‘now’—IPOB warns Soludo

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday accused Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, of enforcing his threat to seal shops belonging to traders at Onitsha Main Market who complied with the sit-at-home order.

 

In a statement by IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful, the group described the governor’s actions as “authoritarian and reckless” and called on him to reverse the decision immediately.

 

Governor Soludo had previously warned that traders who continued to observe the sit-at-home order would face the closure of their shops. The market was earlier shut for a week over the same issue, with Soludo threatening a month-long closure if traders persisted in staying home on Mondays.

 

IPOB noted that in protest against the governor’s actions, it declared a sit-at-home on February 5, 2026. Traders who observed the order were now facing the sealing of their shops. The group, however, recently announced the permanent cancellation of the weekly Monday sit-at-home in the South-East, following directives from its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

 

The statement said the sealing of shops amounted to collective punishment and warned that such actions could escalate tensions and economic losses. It read in part:

 

“Governor Soludo, as an economist and self-professed intellectual, should understand that societal patterns and public responses cannot be changed overnight through threats or intimidation. People are citizens, not automatons.”

 

IPOB further argued that the governor’s move mirrored tactics that have historically humiliated and economically undermined Igbo communities in other parts of Nigeria. The group emphasized that leadership should be based on justice, respect, and persuasion, not coercion.

 

The statement concluded by urging the governor to act in a way that promotes unity, healing, and respect for the rule of law.

Electoral Act: Amaechi clashes with Nigerian Police during Abuja Protest 

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A standoff unfolded on Tuesday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja as former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, engaged in a heated exchange with police officers during an ongoing protest.

Amaechi joined demonstrators demanding the real-time electronic transmission of election results, a key issue that sparked public outrage after the Senate rejected the proposal in the ongoing electoral reform debate.

The protest, tagged “Occupy the National Assembly,” saw Nigerian youths gather in Abuja to push for what they described as credible elections and enhanced democratic transparency.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had also joined the protest a day earlier in solidarity with the call for electoral reforms.

The demonstration adds pressure on lawmakers to reconsider their stance on e-transmission of election results, amid rising national concern over electoral integrity.

https://x.com/emmaikumeh/status/2021152257081770110?s=46

Electoral Act: Why I brought my son to protest—Amaechi 

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Former Minister of Transport and ex-Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, explained why he attended the “Occupy the National Assembly” protest with his son.

Speaking at the protest ground on Tuesday, Amaechi said he brought his son, a medical doctor, to provide immediate help in case the demonstration turned violent and injuries occurred.

He stressed that leaders should actively participate in major protests alongside their families to set an example. Amaechi also called on Nigerians and opposition parties to join the streets in opposing the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results.

Amaechi accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of opposing electronic results transmission because it fears losing elections.

“I believe opposition parties—PDP, ADC, everyone—should come out to protest against the attempt of one party to control the process. If they claim the opposition is hijacking the protest, what about APC? Are they not hijacking? What are they afraid of?” Amaechi said.

He added that true politicians gauge their success by the support of the people, contrasting the current leadership with past administrations.

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