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By Opeyemi Akinyemi, Ekiti The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has approved a comprehensive operational order aimed at ensuring law and order and guaranteeing maximum security for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming Ekiti State Governorship Election. The operational plan is designed to provide a safe and secure environment before, during, and after the election through the deployment of adequate personnel and security resources across the state. This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Ekiti State 2026 Governorship Election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, while representing the Inspector-General of Police at a press briefing organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) in Ado-Ekiti. Shogunle explained that the operational order is anchored on a multi-layered security framework carefully designed to address the peculiar security challenges of different commu...

By Opeyemi Akinyemi, Ekiti As preparations intensify for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election, the civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and anti-corruption bodies to take decisive action against vote buying and electoral malpractice. The Leader of the 2026 Ekiti Election Observation Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, made the call during a pre-election press conference held in Ado-Ekiti, ahead of the governorship election. Dr. Abdullahi described the election as a crucial test for Nigeria's democratic institutions, noting that it comes barely seven months before the 2027 General Elections and just two months before the Osun State off-cycle governorship election. According to her, the Ekiti election will serve as a critical assessment of INEC's operational readiness, the commitment of security agencies to electoral integrity, and the confidence of voters in the democratic process. She di...

By Opeyemi Akinyemi, Ekiti With less than 48 hours to the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials to Electoral Officers across the state's 16 Local Government Areas. The exercise, which began on Thursday at the Central Bank of Nigeria branch along New Iyin Road in Ado-Ekiti, forms a critical part of the commission's final preparations to ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible electoral process ahead of Saturday's poll. The distribution process was witnessed by Electoral Officers, security personnel, election observers, civil society organizations, representatives of political parties, and other stakeholders to guarantee transparency and accountability throughout the exercise. Addressing journalists during the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omosehinde, expressed confidence in the level of preparedness demonstrated b...

The Court of Appeal has suspended the execution of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu deregistering the ADC and four other political parties. In a brief ruling appellate court described the development as the highest form of judicial impertinence, stating that the trial judge brazenly disregarded the appellate court’s earlier order. The other parties affected are Actions People's Party, APP, Action Alliance, AA, Zenith Labour Party, ZLP and Accord Party, AP.  The order of the court subsists pending the determination of the appeal before it. More details later. . .

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osun State, Dr. Najeem Folasayo Salaam, has urged members and supporters of the party to remain calm following a Federal High Court judgment reportedly ordering the deregistration of the ADC and some other political parties. Salaam, in a statement issued on Monday, described the judgment as incapable of standing, insisting that it does not mark the end of the legal process or the party's political aspirations. According to him, the Nigerian Constitution provides clear avenues for appeal and judicial review, expressing confidence that the judicial process would ultimately protect the democratic rights of Nigerians who have identified with the ADC. "The judgment is neither the end of the legal process nor the end of our political journey. Democracy is governed by the rule of law, and we are confident that the appropriate legal processes will correct any miscarriage of justice," he stated. The former Spea...

The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties over their failure to meet constitutional requirements for continued recognition. The affected parties are the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators, which challenged the continued registration of the parties despite what it described as their poor electoral performance. In the suit, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC was under a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that failed to satisfy the performance benchmarks outlined in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations. The former lawmakers argued that the five po...

The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned the arrest and detention of its Secretary, Mr. Olalekan Akindoju, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the action as disturbing and unacceptable. Mr. Akindoju, who is also the Head of News and Current Affairs at Rave 91.7FM/WSTV, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday and later released following interventions by concerned stakeholders. In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, the NUJ expressed concern over what it described as the arrest of a professional journalist without adequate investigation and verification. The Council noted that the incident raised serious concerns about respect for press freedom, fundamental human rights and the rule of law. According to the statement, journalists carrying out their constitutional responsibilities deserve protection and respect rather than harassment or intimidation. The Council condemned what it termed the...