Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has stated that the issues facing Nigeria today did not originate with the administration of President Bola Tinubu, but are the result of long-standing national challenges.

Speaking on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at a special service held at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, Akume emphasized that nation-building is a shared responsibility.

“Each Nigerian has a role in building the Nigeria that we deserve,” he said.

Akume praised President Tinubu for initiating what he called bold and overdue reforms, including the controversial removal of fuel subsidy, which he said should have been done decades ago.

“What President Bola Tinubu is doing today could have been done 39 years ago. But I believe that at the end of the tunnel, there is light,” the SGF added.

He called on Nigerians to rally behind the President and support efforts aimed at transforming the country.

The SGF also stressed the importance of unity and collaboration across all arms of government, the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary, to ensure that reforms are successful and sustainable.

“We must always cooperate: the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary,” he urged.

Akume noted that Independence Day is not only a time for celebration, but also a moment for reflection and appreciation of the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s founding fathers in securing freedom from colonial rule.

“Today is not just about celebrating our independence, but honouring those who made it possible,” he concluded.

Renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has launched a strong critique of Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, stating that Labour Party’s Peter Obi remains more popular, even in Umahi’s home state of Ebonyi.

In a detailed post on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Adichie responded to what she described as several unflattering remarks Umahi has made about Obi.

She asserted that Obi’s credibility and popularity far outweigh Umahi’s, particularly in the Southeast region.

“Even in Ebonyi, should you contest against Peter Obi, the people will choose him over you,” she wrote.

Adichie described Umahi as a “failed engineer”, criticizing his emphasis on concrete and cement infrastructure which she claimed have largely been substandard or unsuccessful.

She also pointed to what she described as political inconsistency on Umahi’s part.

Recalling his 2020 defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umahi claimed at the time it was in protest of PDP’s failure to zone the presidency to the Southeast.

However, Adichie argued that five years later, no Southeasterner has emerged as president—and Umahi now claims “it’s not yet our turn.”

The award-winning author drew a sharp contrast between Umahi and Peter Obi.

She described Obi as a symbol of accountability, fiscal discipline, and genuine leadership, while Umahi, in her view, has failed to deliver basic services.

“Leadership is not about glittering projects erected on shaky foundations; it is about systems that work, schools that function, hospitals that heal, pensions that pay, and workers who are treated with fairness. You failed at this,” Adichie said.

Adichie was also critical of Umahi’s time as governor of Ebonyi State.

She alleged that during his administration education declined, healthcare services deteriorated, pension payments were neglected and civil servants suffered poor welfare.

She described flagship projects like the Ebonyi Mall as “a graveyard of failed promises” and said the state airport remains “dormant three years after completion.”

Adichie concluded by warning that Umahi cannot deliver votes for the APC in the 2027 general elections if Obi runs again.

She said that the people remain “Obidient” and would not be swayed by concrete-heavy projects with little human impact.

“We will remind you, Senator Umahi, that in 2027 we remain Obidient,” she declared.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has firmly rejected claims circulating on international platforms and social media suggesting that terrorists in the country are committing systematic genocide against Christians.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, condemned the allegations as false, divisive, and harmful to national unity.

He emphasized that Nigeria’s security challenges are not rooted in religion and should not be framed as such.

“Portraying the security crisis as a targeted campaign against Christians is a misrepresentation of the facts,” Idris said.

He noted that terrorists attack Nigerians regardless of religious affiliation, affecting both Muslims and Christians, as well as non-religious individuals.

He explained that these violent actors are primarily driven by extremist ideologies rather than religious motivations.

Between May 2023 and February 2025, Nigeria’s security agencies neutralized over 13,500 terrorists and criminals, rescued nearly 10,000 hostages, captured top leaders of terrorist groups such as Ansaru and achieved over 700 convictions in Boko Haram-related prosecutions.

Idris also highlighted Nigeria’s inclusive leadership, noting that Christian leaders currently head both the Armed Forces and the Police.

He dismissed any narrative of Christian marginalization, citing international recognition of Nigeria’s interfaith harmony, including the 2025 Commonwealth Peace Prize awarded to Nigerian Christian and Muslim leaders for their peacebuilding efforts.

The Minister urged the international community and media outlets to verify facts, avoid sensational reporting and support Nigeria’s anti-terrorism initiatives instead of spreading narratives that fuel division.

“We call for responsible reporting and a commitment to truth,” he said.

As the tenure of INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and several National Commissioners winds down ahead of the 2027 general elections, a growing coalition of civil society groups is calling for a radical overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral system, starting with who appoints the INEC leadership.

A joint platform of 17 civil society organisations, including Yiaga Africa, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has proposed a comprehensive set of electoral reforms aimed at strengthening the independence, professionalism and transparency of elections in Nigeria.

The proposals were unveiled last week in Abuja during a roundtable where the group released a document titled:

The Citizens Memo outlines 37 key recommendations across 15 strategic objectives, spanning constitutional and legislative changes, as well as shifts in electoral culture.

At the heart of the memo is the demand to remove the president’s sole authority to appoint the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

The stakeholders argue that the current system undermines public trust and leaves the electoral body vulnerable to political manipulation.

“The Constitution should be amended to introduce a multi-stakeholder process for INEC appointments,” the memo states, adding that consultation should go beyond the Council of State to include traditional rulers, religious leaders, and civil society.

The group also wants to revamp INEC appointment criteria, stating that the current focus on “non-partisanship and unquestionable character” is insufficient.

Instead, future appointees should also meet professional, gender, age, and health requirements, bringing skills in law, IT, logistics, statistics and communications to the table.

Another demand is for the Constitution to set firm deadlines for appointments to INEC, within 30 days of any vacancy, to avoid unnecessary delays that weaken the Commission’s stability.

The memo extends to the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), which have long been accused of lacking autonomy.

Recommendations include Removing governors’ control over SIEC appointments, Involving state assemblies and independent panels in selecting SIEC members, Ensuring financial independence by charging their funding to the state Consolidated Revenue Fund as well as expanding SIEC powers to include monitoring primaries, campaigns, and civic education at the local level.

To ease INEC’s burden and improve performance, the memo proposes splitting its responsibilities: Party registration and regulation should go to a new Political Party Commission while Electoral offences prosecution should be handled by a proposed Electoral Offences Commission, independent of the Attorney-General’s office.

Critically, they argue that nolle prosequi powers (used to drop charges) should not apply to electoral offences, citing the need for deterrence and accountability.

To prevent prolonged post-election disputes and ensure that winners emerge before inauguration, the memo recommends:

– Elections be held between 240 and 90 days before the end of the current officeholder’s term (currently 150–30 days).

– Election petitions be resolved within 90 days, down from 180.

– Appeals in pre-election matters should end at the Court of Appeal, especially for state and federal legislative seats.

They also propose ending forum shopping by requiring suits to be filed where the dispute originated.

In a bid to make elections more inclusive, the memo backs Out-of-country voting for Nigerians in the diaspora, Special legislative seats for women as a temporary measure to increase female political participation and Stronger representation of youths and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process.

Alongside constitutional reforms, the Citizens Memo also outlines 16 proposed amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, focusing on practical and procedural improvements.

Key Proposals:

– Allow other legal IDs (e.g. driver’s license, passport) in place of PVCs during voting, given the biometric BVAS system.

– Mandate a public, independent audit of the voter register.

– Introduce early voting for INEC staff, security personnel and journalists.

– Make election info accessible to PWDs (e.g., braille formats, sign language).

– Require INEC to review and adjust polling units every 5 years.

– Strengthen constituency delimitation by introducing a 15% deviation limit.

– Impose sanctions on parties that fail to submit member registers 30 days before primaries.

– Limit last-minute substitution of candidates, except in the event of death.

– Mandate electronic transmission of results, with clear legal provisions and timelines for mock tests of electoral technology.

– Require media fairness, including discounted airtime for women, youths and PWDs.

Clarify liability in media campaign breaches penalizing only the offending media houses, not their executives.

At the roundtable unveiling the memo, speakers including Cynthia Mbamalu (Yiaga Africa), Lanre Arogundade (IPC), Dr. Akin Akingbulu (CEMESO) and Tony Onyima (Paul University, Awka) called on the National Assembly and political leaders to treat the reforms as a national priority.

“Our elections need more than law, they need public trust. And that begins with genuine independence for INEC,” Mbamalu said.

The event, moderated by Ms. Anikeade Funke-Treasure Akintoye, also stressed the need for attitudinal shifts among stakeholders, beyond just legal reforms.

The coalition is now engaging with lawmakers and key institutions to push the memo into the formal amendment process.

With the 2027 elections drawing closer, they argue, the time to act is now.

“We must reform now or risk losing the people’s confidence in democracy altogether,” the Citizens Memo warns.

Former Governor of Kano State and ex-National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has launched a strong attack on his former political ally, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and the current Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, accusing them of inconsistency and poor leadership.

Speaking at an APC stakeholders’ meeting held in Kano on Thursday, the first such gathering since Ganduje left office, he dismissed recent speculations about Kwankwaso potentially rejoining the APC.

Citing a report by BBC Hausa, Ganduje said Kwankwaso’s previous criticisms of the party discredited any such move.

“We’ve heard the rumours, but we don’t take them seriously,” Ganduje said. “In politics, there’s little difference between a fake cleric and a thief. Kwankwaso once said only a madman would join APC.”

“He even mocked President Tinubu, claiming all he achieved was in Lagos. Now they want to come back. If they return, we’ll welcome them as madmen who have eaten their words.”

When asked about the possibility of reconciling with Kwankwaso and another former governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, Ganduje said it could be considered if unity becomes necessary, adding that all three have leadership experience that could benefit the current administration.

Turning to his successor, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Ganduje was sharply critical, calling his administration directionless and focused on revenge rather than development.

“Unlike him, I didn’t start my tenure by launching probes into my predecessor’s administration,” Ganduje said. “But Governor Yusuf came in with investigations and nothing to show for it.”

“In just six months, they’ve received more federal allocations than I did in eight years. What have they achieved with that money?”

He went further to describe Yusuf’s government as “a government of vendetta, lacking in leadership and filled with confusion,” accusing it of spending public funds wastefully on low-impact projects.

On his own removal as APC National Chairman, Ganduje downplayed the matter, saying it was part of a routine political rotation based on zoning.