By Our Correspondent

Apparently worried by the presentation of palliatives to the electorate to win their votes during electioneering campaign by politicians, an aspirant to Idemili North/South Federal constituency, Anambra state, kene Igboebisi, Friday, reminded the electorate that such presentation of bags of rice to them means buying their votes not caring for them.

The politician further noted that sponsored candidates should not be voted for because on getting to the office the candidate has to dance to the tune of the sponsor, (god father/patron).

His words, “Spreading bags of rice should not be reason for voting a candidate during election. How long will the rice last for you. All they are doing is just buying your votes and not actually caring for you as a person.

“You should not be in politics if you are being sponsored by a god father or a patron. As an aspirant what has he done to the people for the past 10 years and not when election will come up in two years’ time he starts to share palliatives to buy your votes.

“Representing people is not about you enriching yourself but to serve people who send you there to represent them. My foundation, Igboebisi Empowerment Foundation, that provides scholarships, empower youths among others has been in existence more than 10 years ego. We watch elections come and go. They say charity begins at home. What have you done to your community that deserve your being there.

“I am an accomplished man, in my own private life. Ask the aspirant what has he done to the people for the past 10 years not two years because one who has been for two years sharing palliatives does that because he knows election is near.

“I am going there to serve because I have something to offer. I am not going to owe anybody, I am going on myself not sponsored. People who started to share palliatives in 2024 to 2025 know there is an election coming up in 2026, just two years.

“Again having wealth does not translate to quality representation. Politics should be for those who have accomplished in public life and they are coming to serve the people. We need somebody that is with strenght, capacity to go there and fight for our right. One who can represent us fully,” Igboebisi stated.

By George Mgbeleke

As the nation draws close to 2027 election, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Joash Amupitan has admitted that the commission faces a significant “trust deficit” with the public and on the media to help reshape the national narrative ahead of a busy cycle of polls.

The INEC Boss made this declaration during a courtesy visit from the Executive Committee of the INEC Press Corps in Abuja on Wednesday.

Recall that this was the first formal meeting between the commission’s leadership and the specialist media group since Professor Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was appointed to the role in late 2025.

On rebuilding Public Confidence,Professor Amupitan commended the media for their professional support, noting that the commission remains acutely aware of the skepticism often held by the Nigerian electorate.

He urged the media to partner with INEC in ensuring that the transparency of the electoral process is effectively communicated to the 200 million-strong population.

Earlier,Chairman of the Press Corps, Segun Ojumu, who led the delegation, praised the “transparent manner” in which Professor Amupitan has managed the commission since taking office.

Mr. Ojumu described Nigerian elections as a “huge logistical challenge” that requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to succeed.

The Chairman was accompanied by:
John Onah, Assistant Secretary of the Press Corps and
Chux Ukwuatu, Welfare Director.

The Road to 2027 and Beyond

The meeting comes as INEC ramps up preparations for several high-stakes elections. Nigeria is currently following a revised electoral roadmap following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.

The 2027 General Election

The commission has scheduled the next nationwide polls for early 2027:
January 16, 2027: Presidential and National Assembly elections.

February 6, 2027: Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
Off-Cycle Governorship Polls
Before the general elections, the commission faces critical “litmus tests” in two southwest states where the electoral cycles are out of sync with the rest of the country.

These “off-cycle” elections are often seen as indicators of the commission’s readiness for the national stage:
Ekiti State: Scheduled for June 20, 2026.
Osun State: Scheduled for August 8, 2026.
Professor Amupitan, who succeeded Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has pledged to deliver “free, fair, and inclusive” polls as the country enters this intensive electoral window.

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has responded to the latest Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026 report, stating that Nigeria’s ranking as the 4th most terrorism-affected country in the world is clear evidence of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led government to secure the nation.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party cited data from the report, including a 43 percent rise in attacks and increasing civilian deaths, and said the findings point to a breakdown in governance, not just a security lapse.

To address the crisis, the ADC outlined a three-part strategy focused on improving intelligence coordination, decentralizing policing to bring security closer to communities, and shifting from reactive responses to preventive, intelligence-led security operations.

The full statement read:

Against the deeply troubling backdrop of yet another deadly terrorist attack in Borno State, where dozens of Nigerians have been killed and many more injured, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reviewed the newly released Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2026, which delivers a clear and troubling verdict on the state of insecurity in Nigeria today.

Nigeria is now ranked the 4th most terrorism-affected country in the world. That is not an abstract statistic. It is a direct reflection of the failure of the Bola Tinubu-led APC government to secure the country.

At a moment when Nigerians are grieving and communities across the country are living under constant threat, Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Defence are abroad. The contrast is clear: a country in crisis, and a leadership that is absent.

Nigerians should take note of this moment. It raises a fundamental question about Tinubu and the APC’s priorities. At a time that demands focus, discipline, and urgency, the Tinubu government appears more concerned with pageantry, paparazzi, and propaganda — rather than real performance .

The Global Terrorism Index confirms what Nigerians already know from lived experience. Terror attacks have surged by 43 percent, rising from 120 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025. Violence is increasingly concentrated in Borno State, which now accounts for 67 percent of attacks and 72 percent of deaths. Most concerning, civilians now make up 67 percent of those killed. That is a measure of how exposed ordinary Nigerians have become.

The threat to Nigerian families is also evolving. ISWAP is responsible for over half of all attacks and deaths across the country. Boko Haram remains active and deadly. New groups like Lakurawa are emerging, showing that Tinubu’s national security strategy is not containing the insecurity problem but expanding it.

These outcomes point to something deeper than isolated security lapses. They reflect a breakdown in governance. The GTI identifies weak governance, internal instability, and economic hardship as key drivers of terrorism. That is not a political talking point. It is the assessment of an independent international body.

A government that is truly focused on protecting its people would demonstrate coordinated and visible leadership during crises strengthen local security architecture and address the economic and social conditions that fuel recruitment into extremist groups. Instead what Nigerians see is a leadership class that is more preoccupied with political positioning than with the urgent business of governance.

This is why the ADC will take three decisive steps to fix Nigeria’s broken security system and restore safety across the country.

First, we will fix coordination. Nigeria does not lack intelligence, it lacks coordination. Today, agencies operate in silos, warnings are missed, and response is delayed. The ADC will establish a legally mandated national intelligence coordination system, led by a Coordinator of National Intelligence, and a unified Joint Terrorism Task Force. The goal is simple: no more missed signals, no more confusion, no more excuses.

Second, we will bring security closer to the people. Nigeria cannot be policed effectively from Abuja alone. The ADC will implement a decentralized policing system with federal, state, and community layers, each with clear roles and national standards. This will ensure faster response, clearer accountability, and security that reflects the local realities of the 774 local government areas.

Third, we will shift from reaction to prevention. Today, Nigeria reacts to attacks after lives are lost. The ADC will build an intelligence-driven, preventive security system that is powered by data, early warning systems, and rapid response units in every state.

Our focus will be to stop attacks before they happen, not merely respond after tragedy strikes.