The Enugu State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution endorsing the proposed establishment of state police in Nigeria, joining other state legislatures in advancing efforts towards decentralised policing and improved security.

The resolution was adopted on Tuesday following the consideration of a bill transmitted by the National Assembly seeking an alteration to the 1999 Constitution to provide for state police and related matters.

A member of the House representing Ezeagu Constituency, Rt. Hon. Chima Obieze, disclosed this in a statement, describing the decision as a historic step towards strengthening true federalism, community safety and constitutional reform.

Obieze said he was proud to have joined his colleagues in adopting the bill, which proposes amendments to several sections of the Constitution to establish a Federal Police Service and State Police Services for states willing to create their own forces.

According to him, the proposed legislation also provides for the establishment of State Police Service Commissions, strengthened oversight mechanisms, national minimum standards, accountability and cooperation between federal and state authorities.

He added that the bill incorporates safeguards against abuse, including judicial review and restrictions on the partisan use of state police.

The lawmaker maintained that decentralised policing could help address security challenges peculiar to Enugu State and the South-East, improve the protection of lives and property, create employment opportunities for young people and strengthen democratic governance.

Obieze clarified that the proposed arrangement would not automatically transform existing vigilante groups or local security outfits into state police, nor would it compel every state to establish its own police service.

He said states that chose to establish state police would have a constitutional framework for developing professionally trained, accountable and community-oriented security institutions to complement the Federal Police Service.

The lawmaker commended the National Assembly leadership for transmitting the bill, the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu, and his fellow lawmakers for supporting the proposal.

He also praised Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as his continued commitment to protecting lives and property in Enugu State.
Declaring the legislature’s position, Obieze said:

“Enugu State has spoken. We have agreed.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has dismissed allegations of a plot to assassinate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the claims as unfounded.

The council’s spokesman, Dele Alake, rejected the allegation while reacting to claims made by Timi Frank, a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the political platform under which Atiku is expected to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Alake maintained that President Bola Tinubu, the Presidency and the APC had no involvement in any alleged plan to harm Atiku or other opposition figures.

He challenged Frank to present any evidence in his possession to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation rather than make allegations without substantiation.

The APC campaign council also dismissed reports that security operatives attached to the former vice-president had been withdrawn, insisting that Atiku remained under the protection of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to Alake, Tinubu had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for candidates contesting the presidential, vice-presidential, governorship and deputy governorship positions ahead of the 2027 polls.

He accused those publicising the alleged assassination plot of attempting to inflame political tensions and attract international attention, describing the claims as “typical opposition rabble-rousing.”

The APC spokesman urged political actors to exercise restraint in their public statements and avoid allegations capable of heightening anxiety as political activities gather momentum.

“Let our political competition be peaceful, lawful, and focused on the big issues that matter to Nigerians, not character assassination or wild, baseless allegations,” the statement read.

The council reiterated its call for peaceful political engagement, urging candidates, political parties and their supporters to uphold democratic principles and concentrate on issues affecting Nigerians rather than resort to inflammatory rhetoric.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed confidence in its preparations for the 2027 general elections, assuring Nigerians that it is on course to deliver free, fair and credible polls.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Tuesday while addressing the Commission’s staff in the South-East during a readiness assessment exercise ahead of the elections.

Amupitan said the commission had adhered to its established timelines and operational checklists, noting that significant progress had been recorded across key areas of electoral preparation.

“We are on track and moving ahead with most of the checklist boxes ticked as done,” he said.

The INEC chairman disclosed that non-sensitive election materials had been procured and distributed, while steps were being taken to award contracts for the production and supply of sensitive materials.

He also said the commission was expanding its fleet of operational vehicles to facilitate the smooth movement of electoral personnel and materials before and during the elections.

According to him, training and retraining programmes for staff had commenced, with particular emphasis on new guidelines and regulations introduced under the amended Electoral Act.

Amupitan further revealed that the commission had upgraded its information and communication technology infrastructure and strengthened its security architecture as part of efforts to enhance electoral efficiency and credibility.

He added that committees comprising relevant government agencies, commissions and other institutions had been established to provide specialised support and services required for the successful conduct of the elections.

Earlier, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, outlined the scale of electoral operations in the state, which comprises 17 local government areas, 260 registration areas and 4,145 polling units.

Chukwu said the figures underscored the need for comprehensive planning, effective coordination and adequate deployment of personnel and resources at every level of the electoral process.

He explained that the successful conduct of elections across the state would depend on sufficient logistics, technology, infrastructure and security arrangements, alongside sustained engagement with stakeholders at the grassroots.

“Managing electoral activities across such a broad operational structure requires adequate personnel, logistics, technology, infrastructure and security arrangements, as well as continuous engagement with stakeholders at the grassroots,” he said.

The Enugu REC stressed that electoral activities at the local government, registration area and polling unit levels must be properly integrated with zonal and national plans to ensure seamless operations.

He urged INEC officials to continue strengthening internal systems, improving operational procedures and ensuring that every staff member understood their responsibilities towards delivering credible elections in 2027.

The readiness assessment also featured presentations by various INEC departments on their level of preparedness and innovations introduced to improve electoral operations.

Representatives from the five South-East states — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo — equally presented updates on their preparations, highlighting existing challenges and areas requiring further attention.

Among the key concerns identified were the need for additional training and retraining of electoral personnel and isolated security challenges in some locations.

Concerns over political intimidation and the safety of opposition parties have intensified in Edo State following reported attacks on campaign billboards, banners and posters ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The incidents have raised questions about the freedom of political parties to campaign without interference, with stakeholders warning that the destruction of campaign materials could heighten tensions and discourage participation in the electoral process.

The latest reported incident involved the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), whose campaign office along Stadium Road in Benin City was allegedly attacked by suspected thugs.

According to the party, the attackers struck at about 10pm, destroying banners, posters and billboards displayed at the office.

The NDC further alleged that the facility was attacked again days after repairs had been undertaken, with spent bullet casings reportedly found at the scene.

Reacting to the development, the NDC candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Hon. Frank Omoigho, condemned the alleged attacks, describing political intimidation as a threat to democratic participation.

Omoigho, however, acknowledged the efforts of Governor Monday Okpebholo in addressing security challenges in the state, urging the government to ensure that the incidents did not undermine public confidence or damage Edo State’s reputation.

He maintained that members of the NDC were law-abiding citizens entitled to carry out their political activities without fear of harassment or violence.

“As a party and person, I am not going to take it lightly with them. I dare anybody to come again because this is a campaign office and we are law-abiding citizens,” he said.

The candidate expressed concern over the alleged recurrence of the attacks, insisting that political disagreements should not be settled through violence or the destruction of opponents’ campaign materials.

A social commentator, Comrade Gbale, also condemned the incidents, stressing that democracy could only thrive when political actors respected the rights of others to seek public office and canvass for votes.

Gbale alleged that the attacks were intended to disrupt Omoigho’s political activities, arguing that candidates should compete on the strength of their programmes, public acceptance and capacity to deliver rather than resort to intimidation.

In a notable response, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oredo Federal Constituency, Dr Paddy Iyamu, pledged to replace the campaign materials belonging to Omoigho that were reportedly destroyed.

Iyamu, a former Edo State Commissioner for Education, made the commitment during a meeting with members of the Benin Journalists Forum in Benin City, describing the destruction of opponents’ campaign materials as unnecessary and incompatible with democratic values.

He called on politicians and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, warning against actions capable of escalating political rivalry into hostility.

According to him, electoral contests should be determined by voters’ assessment of candidates’ records, policies and contributions to society, rather than acts of aggression against political opponents.

Iyamu further cautioned that the destruction of campaign materials could inflame political tensions and weaken citizens’ confidence in their ability to participate freely in the electoral process.

As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, the reported incidents have renewed calls for security agencies to protect political parties and their supporters, investigate allegations of intimidation and ensure that all candidates enjoy equal opportunities to campaign.

Stakeholders have also emphasised the need for political parties to discourage violence among their supporters and promote peaceful competition as the state approaches another electoral cycle.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced plans to conduct fresh primaries to replace candidates who have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The party also accused the APC of enticing some of its candidates with money, political appointments and other material benefits to abandon its platform.

The NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, condemning what the party described as deliberate attempts by the ruling party to weaken its ranks ahead of future elections.

According to the statement, the NDC believes that some of its candidates were persuaded to defect for financial and personal interests rather than ideological conviction.

“It has come to the attention of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that some candidates of our party have been bribed by the APC to defect to the ruling and ruinous All Progressives Congress (APC), obviously for pecuniary reasons,” the statement read.

The party alleged that the APC had resorted to offering financial inducements, political appointments and other incentives to lure candidates away from the NDC.

Describing the alleged defections as a reflection of weak political commitment, the party said those who had left its fold did not share its values and principles.

“For those who have fallen for this bait, it is clear that they lack the values, virtues, and ideological commitment associated with our great party. They were never truly of us,” the statement added.

The NDC, however, said the development would not derail its political activities, announcing that it would immediately organise fresh congresses to select replacements for the affected candidates.

“In line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, the party will immediately conduct fresh congresses to elect credible, competent, and trustworthy candidates to replace the defectors in the affected constituencies,” Director said.

The party urged its members, supporters and Nigerians sympathetic to its cause not to be discouraged by the defections, insisting that the alleged moves by the APC would not undermine its electoral prospects.

It further described the ruling party’s alleged recruitment efforts as signs of political desperation, expressing confidence that the APC could be defeated in future elections.

Reaffirming its commitment to its political agenda, the NDC said it remained determined to challenge the ruling party and promote good governance, improved security and economic prosperity.

The party maintained that the defections would not distract it from what it described as its mission to rescue Nigeria from poor governance and provide Nigerians with better leadership.

Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner, Mike Igini, has accused some politicians of manipulating National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) personnel lists and producing fake corps members to compromise the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Igini made the allegation during an interview on ARISE News on Tuesday, calling on the NYSC to strengthen its verification mechanisms and ensure that only genuine corps members are deployed for electoral duties.

He warned that political interference in the recruitment and deployment of election personnel posed a serious threat to electoral credibility, particularly at the polling-unit level, where presiding officers play a critical role in the voting process.

According to the former INEC commissioner, his experience in election administration revealed that politicians sometimes infiltrated NYSC personnel lists, especially at the state level, to introduce individuals who were not legitimate members of the national service scheme.

“What we found by way of experience in places I’ve worked was that the NYSC is usually infiltrated. The list is infiltrated, and that’s why the recommendation has really been the DG of NYSC.

“You must certify the integrity of the list of NYSC because what politicians do is that they infiltrate the list, either at the state level, then we bring in people and sew NYSC uniforms for them,” Igini said.

He alleged that such individuals were subsequently presented as election officials through compromised arrangements, raising concerns about the impartiality of personnel responsible for conducting elections at polling units.

Igini emphasised the importance of technology in strengthening electoral safeguards, arguing that institutions that failed to adopt technological innovations risked becoming vulnerable to manipulation, inefficiency and institutional decline.

He maintained that technological solutions, alongside effective verification procedures, would help protect the electoral process from political interference.

The former INEC commissioner also urged Nigerians to recognise their responsibility in safeguarding the integrity of elections, stressing that voters could play a decisive role in ensuring transparency at polling units.

He noted that only four electoral officials were typically assigned to each polling unit, while voters usually outnumbered them, giving citizens considerable leverage to monitor proceedings and demand accountability.

“But the good news to the Nigerian people is that at the polling unit you have only four officials,” he said.

Igini cited Nigeria’s 176,846 polling units as opportunities for citizens to protect their votes by remaining vigilant and ensuring that electoral officials adhered to established procedures.

“The power of the people at the polling unit is awesome,” he said, adding that voters would normally outnumber polling officials.

He urged Nigerians to take an active interest in the electoral process rather than leave the responsibility for credible elections entirely to INEC and other institutions.

Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, a respected elder statesman and prominent leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has died at the age of 100.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, announced the death on Tuesday in a condolence message, paying tribute to the late political leader for his contributions to the development of Ondo State, Yorubaland and Nigeria.

Aiyedatiwa described Fasoranti as a symbol of wisdom, integrity and selfless service, noting that his principled commitment to justice and good governance distinguished him throughout his public life.

The governor said the late elder statesman’s fatherly guidance and counsel would be greatly missed, particularly by those who looked up to him for direction on matters of leadership and national development.

On behalf of the Ondo State Government and its people, Aiyedatiwa extended condolences to the Fasoranti family, the people of Akure Kingdom and the entire state over the loss.

He also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased’s soul.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has mourned former Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, describing him as an elder brother with whom he shared a cordial relationship during their years in public service.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, expressed his grief in a condolence message published on his X handle on Tuesday, recalling their collaboration in advocating for the award of the contract for the Second Niger Bridge.

He described Uduaghan as a respected leader who treated him with warmth and brotherly affection despite their different political backgrounds.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my very dear elder brother, His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State. In my interactions with him, he treated me like his junior brother,” Obi stated.

The former Anambra governor recalled that their relationship during their respective tenures was marked by cooperation, particularly in their collective efforts to secure the Second Niger Bridge project.

According to him, both leaders recognised the strategic importance of the bridge to national integration, economic activities and improved connectivity between the South-East and South-South regions.

He noted that their advocacy eventually yielded results, with the completion of the bridge serving as a testament to the importance of cooperation among public officeholders in pursuing projects of national significance.

“I recall with fondness the cordial working relationship I enjoyed with him during our time in public service. We worked together as brothers in the collective effort to promote and advocate for the award of the contract for the Second Niger Bridge, recognising its importance to national integration, commerce, and the development of the South-East and South-South,” he said.

Obi expressed satisfaction that the collective efforts eventually contributed to the realisation of the project, describing the bridge as a symbol of what purposeful collaboration could achieve in national development.

He said Uduaghan’s death was a significant loss not only to his immediate family and the people of Delta State but also to Nigeria as a whole.

The NDC presidential candidate extended his condolences to the deceased’s family, the Delta State Government and the people of the state, while praying for God to grant the former governor eternal rest and comfort those grieving his demise.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, while declaring that Rivers State would support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Wike made the declaration on Tuesday during a rally organised by youths of the Rivers Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, where he questioned the credibility of Atiku and dismissed Obi’s political popularity as largely driven by social media.

The former Rivers State governor, who said he had belonged to the same political party as Atiku, accused the former vice-president of inconsistency and failing to keep his promises.

“I have been in the same party with Atiku Abubakar. He is not a man who keeps to his words. What he says in the night is not what he says in the morning,” Wike said.

He also faulted Atiku’s repeated attempts to become president, alleging that his ambition was motivated by personal interest rather than a commitment to national development.

Turning his attention to Obi, Wike described him as a social media politician and mocked what he characterised as an attempt to build a presidential image through online popularity and public appearances.

The minister challenged the youths at the gathering to consider the records of political leaders rather than their public image when deciding whom to support in the 2027 general election.

Wike said his backing for Tinubu was informed by what he described as the benefits Rivers State had received from the Federal Government under the current administration.

According to him, no previous administration since the return to democratic rule had provided Rivers State with comparable federal representation and development opportunities.

He claimed that at least 49 Rivers indigenes currently occupy prominent positions in the Federal Government, describing the appointments as evidence of Tinubu’s recognition of the state.

Wike also pointed to the Bonny-Bodo road and bridge project as an example of the administration’s intervention, arguing that the project had improved access to communities previously difficult to reach by road.

“We’re not looking for those who are fine or finer. We’re looking for those who will do something that will positively impact on Nigerians and also impact on Rivers people,” he said.

Reaffirming his political position, the minister declared that Rivers State would support Tinubu regardless of the presidential ambitions of Atiku and Obi.

“Whether you are Atiku, whether you are Obi, Rivers State is for Tinubu!” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Wike further announced that the Rivers Rainbow Coalition would formally unveil its candidates on October 27, urging members to intensify grassroots mobilisation among residents, community leaders and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

The APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, also addressed the gathering, promising to prioritise youth participation, vocational training and community development if elected.

Chinda said the coalition’s support for Tinubu reflected what he described as the collective position of Rivers youths.

“The message we are sending out today is that the youths of Rivers State are unapologetically, unconditionally standing firm with Tinubu for President,” he said.

He pledged to reform the state’s education system by giving greater attention to technical and vocational education, arguing that developing practical skills would create employment opportunities and strengthen the local economy.

Chinda lamented that people seeking skilled technical services often looked beyond Nigeria, including to neighbouring Cotonou, and expressed optimism that Rivers State could become a centre for quality craftsmanship.

He also said elected local government chairmen across the state’s 23 councils would be expected to prioritise youth development and establish vocational training centres.

Several youth leaders at the rally pledged to mobilise support for Tinubu and other candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition.

The coalition’s youth coordinator in Rivers State and South-South coordinator of City Boys, Chima Aguma, assured Wike that the group would rely on its grassroots network to advance the coalition’s political objectives.

Aguma described the gathering as a meeting of loyal supporters who had stood by Wike during previous political struggles, promising to work towards the victory of Tinubu and the coalition’s candidates.

Similarly, the Rivers State chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Bani Nwisabari, presented a recognition plaque to Wike, citing his contributions to political inclusion and unity.

Nwisabari, who recalled that Wike had appointed him to the state’s Senior Secondary School Board, described himself as a beneficiary of the minister’s empowerment initiatives and pledged support for the coalition ahead of 2027.

The president of the National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), Justice Uranta, also promised to mobilise students across the 23 local government areas, tertiary institutions and Rivers communities in the diaspora in support of Tinubu and Chinda.