Chaos broke out on Wednesday in Tarabu village, Kirikasamma Local Government Area of Jigawa State, as angry youths attacked top government officials during the flag-off ceremony of a road project led by Governor Umar Namadi Danmodi.

The event, which marked the commencement of a 23.4-kilometre road construction from Tarabu to Gafta, turned violent shortly after the ceremony.

Eyewitnesses reported that aggrieved youths pelted stones at the governor’s convoy and other official vehicles, damaging several cars, including those belonging to security personnel and senior government officials.

Among those who narrowly escaped unharmed were the Chairman of Kirikasamma LGA, Alhaji Muhammad Maji, and Hon. Abubakar Fulata, who represents Guri/Kirikasamma/Birniwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Locals said the attack was aimed primarily at Hon. Fulata, who they accuse of neglecting his constituency and failing to deliver developmental projects, unlike his peers in neighboring areas.

In another disturbing event in the same community, a man known as Malam narrowly escaped lynching after he was allegedly caught trying to remove the eye of a corpse at a local cemetery.

A local resident who had gone to the cemetery to cut grass witnessed the act and quietly alerted others.

The suspect fled to the palace of the District Head of Kiri-Kasamma seeking refuge, but a crowd quickly formed and began to beat him. Security forces intervened and rescued the suspect, who is now in police custody for investigation.

Eyewitnesses said the angry mob also damaged the security vehicle used to transport the suspect.

The police have yet to issue an official statement, as attempts to reach the Jigawa State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful.

In a related case, the Bauchi State Police Command reported the arrest of 17-year-old Auwalu Muhammad, who allegedly gouged out both eyes of his sister, Rukayya Muhammad, for a suspected money ritual.

The incident occurred on October 17 in Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area.

According to police, the suspect lured his sister into the bush and mutilated her in a failed bid to acquire wealth.

Nigeria’s Senate has proposed a significant change to the country’s electoral legal framework that would shift the burden of proof in election petitions from candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This proposal came during the second reading of the Electoral Act Repeal and Enactment Bill, 2025 (SB. 903), which aims to overhaul the existing Electoral Act, 2022.

The new bill seeks to strengthen electoral integrity by making INEC directly accountable for the credibility of elections it conducts.

At Wednesday’s plenary, Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) argued that INEC, as custodian of election materials and processes, should be required to prove that elections are free, fair and transparent, rather than shifting that responsibility to petitioners.

“We must move away from the principle that he who alleges must prove,” Dickson said.

“INEC should be made to demonstrate that elections were peacefully and transparently conducted.”

He also urged the National Assembly to empower INEC with the legal authority to expand the use of technology in elections and ensure it is adequately funded.

Senator Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South) supported the bill but stressed that poor enforcement, not the absence of laws, is the real problem with Nigeria’s electoral system.

He called on politicians to embrace integrity and treat their roles as a public trust.

Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South) advocated for transferring the conduct of local government elections from State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) to INEC.

He also criticized political defections and called for a reduction in the number of registered political parties to no more than ten.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed the proposed reform, emphasizing that INEC should be held accountable for the elections it oversees.

“They are in charge of logistics and election materials,” he said.

“They must prove that the process complied with the law.”

Key highlights of the electoral bill;

– Burden of proof in election petitions may now fall on INEC.

– Mandatory use of technology, including electronic transmission of results.

– Legal backing for BVAS (Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System).

– Diaspora voting to be introduced for Nigerians living abroad.

– Creation of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute vote rigging and related crimes.

– Reforms to INEC’s structure and appointments to enhance independence.

Unlike previous piecemeal amendments, the 2025 bill proposes a full repeal and replacement of the existing electoral law, signaling a bold attempt to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has announced a series of monetary rewards aimed at motivating voters and party supporters ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

Speaking during an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) rally in Anambra East Local Government Area, Soludo declared that the local government area (LGA) that delivers the highest number of votes for APGA will receive a ₦10 million cash reward.

In addition to the top prize, Soludo outlined other incentives:

The LGA with the second-highest votes will receive ₦5 million

The third-placed LGA will get ₦3 million

Any ward that secures a win for APGA will receive ₦1 million

Soludo also referenced promises made during the last House of Assembly elections, where campaign or council chairpersons were promised ₦500,000 for each ward won.

He confirmed that those payments are now being calculated and disbursed.

“We are targeting to win all the polling units everywhere,” the governor said, expressing confidence in APGA’s chances.

A heated exchange unfolded in the Senate on Tuesday when Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, and Natasha Akpoti‑Uduaghan (Kogi Central) collided during debate on the Criminal Code Amendment Bill, which proposes stiffer penalties for individuals who facilitate abortions.

The amendment, previously passed by the House of Representatives and now before the upper chamber for concurrence, recommends raising the jail term from three years to ten years for those supplying abortion‑related instruments or drugs.

As debate intensified, senators diverged sharply on what qualifies as “unlawful abortion.”

For example, Senator Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central) argued that abortion may sometimes be medically necessary or justified on religious grounds.

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) warned the bill might restrict doctors’ ability to give critical care.

After the exchanges, Akpabio intervened: he stepped down the bill and referred it to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters for further review.

When Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan attempted to make her contribution, she appealed: “Mr Senate President, please may I speak? I am a woman and abortion has to do with women. It is very important, sir.”

However, Akpabio ruled her out of order, citing Rule 52 (Subsection 6) of the Senate Standing Orders which prevents reconsideration of a matter once it has been concluded.

After the session, Senator Akpoti‑Uduaghan expressed her disappointment and said she would await the committee stage to raise her inputs.