The South West leads the nation in the initial phase of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) online voter pre-registration exercise, contributing over 61 percent of the total 1,379,342 applications submitted between August 18 and 24, 2025.

The commission began the physical registration stage on Monday, August 25, 2025, following the online process.

According to INEC’s latest data released on Monday, Osun State topped the pre-registration list with 393,269 applicants, followed by Lagos with 222,205 and Ogun with 132,823.

Oyo recorded 66,951, Ekiti had 29,685 and Ondo contributed 3,426 registrations, bringing the South West total to 848,359.

Trailing behind, the South South zone logged 169,377 applications, while the South East recorded the lowest with 64,696.

Within the South East, Anambra accounted for the bulk of registrations with 62,698, whereas Abia (772), Ebonyi (261), Enugu (484) and Imo (481) showed significantly lower participation.

In the northern regions, the North Central zone, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led with 243,768 registrations, largely driven by the FCT’s 107,682 and Kogi’s 58,546.

The North West followed with 145,490, while the North East was the lowest among northern zones with 77,652 pre-registrations, making up just 5.6 percent of the national total.

Overall, southern Nigeria accounted for 66.2 percent (912,432) of total registrations, with the North contributing 33.8 percent (466,910).

Demographically, youths aged 18 to 34 years dominated the registrants with 62.37 percent (860,286).

Middle-aged voters (35–49 years) made up 24.76 percent, seniors aged 50–69 years accounted for 11.41 percent, while those 70 and above represented just 1.46 percent.

Gender-wise, women slightly outnumbered men, representing 52.04 percent (717,856) compared to 47.96 percent (661,486).

In terms of occupation, students formed the largest group at 27.15 percent (374,534), followed by business people at 24.82 percent (342,363) and traders at 11.68 percent (161,137).

Artisans made up 10.12 percent, while farmers and fishers contributed 9.23 percent.

Civil and public servants combined accounted for less than five percent.

It is important to note that these figures only reflect the online and initial phase of the registration.

Candidates must complete their registration in person at designated INEC physical registration centres before they can be officially included in the voter register.

INEC had set up 811 physical registration centres nationwide, including offices in all 774 Local Government Areas and state capitals, operating from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday.

The 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference in Enugu was disrupted on Monday by a peaceful protest demanding the release of Hon. Bright Ngene, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly representing Enugu South Urban Constituency.

Ngene, a lawyer and lawmaker elected under the Labour Party (LP), is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence handed down by an Enugu Magistrate Court.

His supporters claim the conviction stems from a politically motivated case that resurfaced shortly after his election.

Protesters, largely from his constituency, carried placards with messages such as “Free Bright Ngene, a political prisoner of conscience”, “NBA, speak for the voiceless,” “Enugu judiciary must be independent,” “Let Bright Ngene represent his people,” and “Say no to judicial persecution” among others.

Addressing journalists at the protest, community leader Mr. Benedict Kachukwu described Ngene’s incarceration as a blatant miscarriage of justice.

According to him, the charges were weak, the trial was rushed and the appeal process has been deliberately stalled.

“Since July 28, 2024, Hon. Bright Ngene has been unjustly detained,” Kachukwu said.

“Two judges have already recused themselves from handling the appeal and the Chief Judge has yet to reassign the case. It appears there’s a deliberate effort to silence a freely elected representative.”

He added that despite being behind bars, Ngene won a re-run election held on August 16, 2025, further demonstrating public support for him.

Kachukwu urged the NBA, senior lawyers and human rights advocates to intervene, naming prominent legal figures such as Femi Falana (SAN) and Barrister Monday Ubani as already aware of the situation.

“We are not avoiding the courts, we want the law to take its course,” Kachukwu emphasized.

“But keeping a man in prison indefinitely without allowing the appeal to proceed is a travesty.”

Although security prevented the protesters from entering the main venue of the NBA Conference at the International Conference Center, they staged a peaceful demonstration outside before dispersing.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South while keeping the national chairmanship in the North.

This was part of major decisions taken at the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Monday in Abuja.

The NEC also officially confirmed Ambassador Iliya Umar Damagum as the substantive national chairman, a position he had held in an acting capacity since 2023.

He will continue in that role until the party’s elective national convention in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025.

According to a communiqué issued by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the NEC approved the report of the Zoning Committee, maintaining the current regional structure of national party offices and formally assigning the presidency to the South for the 2027 general election.

Each region was also instructed to begin micro-zoning internal positions in preparation for the upcoming convention.

In addition, the NEC received reports from the Constitution Amendment Committee and ordered that draft amendments be distributed to state chapters for broader consultation and input.

The PDP used the opportunity to criticize the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), accusing it of “state capture” and alleging electoral misconduct including intimidation and militarisation during recent bye-elections in Kaduna, Taraba, and Zamfara States.

The party warned that such actions threaten democracy and could lead to a de facto one-party state.

In a related development, during the preceding Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting, BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara (represented by Senator Ahmed Makarfi) emphasized the need for unity and reconciliation within the party.

He urged leaders to reach out to estranged members and warned that no political party can succeed with prolonged internal exclusion.

Chairman Damagum echoed this in his NEC address, stressing the importance of internal cohesion, especially at a critical time in Nigeria’s political development.

He reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to gender inclusion, highlighting its support for the affirmative action bill currently before the National Assembly.

Speaking on the zoning outcome, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who chaired the Zoning Committee, stated that the decision followed wide consultations with governors, past leaders, and party stakeholders.

He explained that the move is consistent with the PDP’s constitution and long-standing practice of rotational justice.

In its closing resolutions, the NEC reiterated its readiness to “reclaim power in 2027,” vowing to defend democratic values, promote citizen welfare, and offer Nigerians a credible alternative to the APC’s governance.

The next NEC meeting has been scheduled for October 15, 2025, as the party intensifies preparations for the November convention.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that no Igbo candidate will challenge President Bola Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.

The group insists that the Southeast’s opportunity to produce the country’s next president lies in 2035 not 2027.

In a statement released in Abakaliki, signed by Deputy President-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and National Spokesman Chief Thompson Ohia, Ohanaeze explained that this decision followed extensive discussions with Southeast political stakeholders.

The group endorsed Tinubu’s re-election effort and claimed that approximately 95% of Igbo voters would rally behind him.

Ohanaeze stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains the most viable platform for an Igbo presidency, should the zoning arrangement change by 2035.

Among several capable Igbo leaders including Peter Obi, Ifeanyi Okowa, Pius Anyim, Hope Uzodinma, Chukwuma Soludo and Rochas Okorocha, Senator David Umahi was singled out as the most promising contender for 2035, based on his track record in governance and political leadership.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clarified the reasons behind its decision to declare Abdullahi Bashir Haske, a businessman and son-in-law to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, wanted.

Dismissing speculation that the move was politically motivated due to Haske’s relationship with the 2027 presidential hopeful, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the allegations were baseless.

“The idea that Haske is being targeted because of his connection to Atiku is complete rubbish,” Oyewale told Weekend Trust in a phone interview on Friday.

“He has been under investigation for several years and was granted administrative bail, which he violated. That’s why he was declared wanted.”

Haske, 38, is being sought in connection with allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering, according to an official notice issued by the EFCC on Thursday evening.

In the statement signed by Oyewale, the commission appealed to the public for information that could help locate the suspect. Haske was last known to reside at No. 6 Mosley Road, Ikoyi, and 952/953 Idejo Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The EFCC encouraged citizens to report any useful leads to its offices across the country, including branches in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Sokoto, Enugu, and several other locations, or contact the agency via its hotline or official email.

The commission reiterated its commitment to following due process in the investigation and urged Nigerians to avoid politicising the matter.

The House of Representatives has raised serious concerns over the disbursement and use of ₦59 billion meant for the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), questioning the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Meristem Wealth Management Ltd, and NESI-Stabilization Strategy Ltd (NESI-SSL) for alleged mismanagement of the funds.

The probe is being led by the Joint Committee on Banking Regulations, Power, Rural Electrification, and Housing, chaired by Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, who represents Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency.

According to Hon. Okonkwo, preliminary findings suggest that while ₦55.4 billion of the total ₦59.2 billion loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been disbursed, the programme has failed to meet its key goalsgoals, including bridging Nigeria’s metering gap, promoting local meter manufacturing, and ending estimated billing practices.

He revealed that Meristem Wealth Management was appointed as the fund administrator, while NESI-SSL served as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) overseeing implementation.

However, both firms, along with NERC, are under scrutiny for not providing adequate documentation or results to justify the funds received.

“Our investigation uncovered inconsistencies and contradictions that point to poor execution of the metering programme,” Okonkwo said.

The lawmakers are also questioning a clause that reportedly allows Meristem Wealth Management to collect 0.5% of electricity Distribution Companies’ (Discos) annual revenue up to 2030, a move they say lacks transparency and justification.

Despite evidence that several Discos including those in Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ibadan, Ikeja, Jos, Kano, and Yola, remain indebted to the CBN for funds issued for meter installation, the committee noted that NERC has yet to verify the number of meters actually installed.

Okonkwo warned that the committee would invoke relevant constitutional powers if stakeholders fail to cooperate fully with the investigation.

The committee summoned officials from Meristem, NERC, NESI-SSL and other involved parties to appear before it at the next hearing.