We congratulate the presidential candidates of all the political parties for the 2027 presidential election. Practically all the presidential candidates in their acceptance speeches highlighted and almost agreed on the key areas and sectors that require particular attention to develop, secure, and unite Nigerians notwithstanding our ethnic, religious and sectional diversities.
The 2027 general elections promise to witness robust and vibrant electioneering campaigns. The presidential election promises to be an epic encounter.
We urge the politicians and their supporters to remain focused on issues and eschew the resort to acerbic and inflammatory rhetoric.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has the onerous tasks to deliver to Nigerians credible, transparent, free, and fair elections. Nigerians expect nothing less. The world is watching. The security agencies must not allow themselves to be compromised. Nigeria currently has several flash points, and the citizens are restive at this time as a result of many existential challenges. Politicians, INEC, and security agencies must not exacerbate an already incendiary and potentially explosive polity by their actions and utterances.
The Igbo Agenda Dialogue, IAD, a non-partisan socio-political and prodemocracy organization, has already embarked on a nationwide advocacy to urge our people who are eligible to take advantage of the ongoing last phase of the continuous voters registration exercise by INEC to register and to come out enmass in January and February 2027 to vote massively for candidates and political parties of their choice. We urge similar organizations to join in this patriotic effort.
Finally, we wish to caution that any attempt to manipulate the electoral process or to shortchange the electorate during and after the elections may result in an uncontrollable anarchy that may threaten the very foundation of our country.

Chief Chekwas Okorie
Convener/ National Chairman

Jonathan Elendu
Executive Secretary
Igbo Agenda Dialogue, IAD.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) paid condolence visits to two it’s members Mrs. Elmelda Abidde and Mr. Ikiemoye Iniamagha, over the deaths of her husband and his father respectively.

Led by State Chairman, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, the delegation first visited Mrs. Abidde at her Mike Okpokpo Street residence in Yenagoa.

Yemoleigha urged the family to “cry if you must, but don’t cry too much,” while assuring them of the Union’s support. He described the deceased as a man who fulfilled his purpose on earth and prayed for the repose of his soul.

Elder Elton Abidde who responded on behalf of the family, thanked the NUJ for identifying with the family and used the opportunity to announce that the burial date has been scheduled for June 27, 2026.

The delegation later visited Mr. Ikiemoye Iniamagha at his Imgbi Road residence. Yemoleigha encouraged him to take heart, hold onto his father’s intangible legacies, and noted it was a blessing that the children are burying their father.

Mr. Iniamagha, who is also Bayelsa State Co -ordinator of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), thanked the Union. He disclosed that his father took ill a month ago, was hospitalised, and passed away days later.

The NUJ chairman pledged the Council’s support for both families during the burial arrangements.

By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared that the State Secretariat Complex which is undergoing massive reconstruction will be ready for use by the first quarter (Q1) of 2027.

The Governor stated this on Monday after a tour of the multiple and expansive high rise buildings, located in the Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, Governor Fubara who had undertaken a similar tour of the project earlier this year, said he decided to revisit the site to confirm the extent of the job that has been done so far.
“We just did a tour of the renovation of the Secretariat. I have been seeing the outer part of it wearing a new look, but I wanted to really confirm how much job is going on, most importantly, the inside and that is what I just went to inspect myself.
I think that with the progress of work here, by the grace of God, I believe that by the first quarter of next year, it will be handed over to the government. Like I did promise, every job that we are handling, we will ensure that we put them to completion,” he said.
The Rivers State Secretariat was constructed in the 1970s, shortly after Rivers State was created in 1967. It is a massive complex consisting of multiple high-rise buildings, including the 17-storey “Point Block”, the 10-storey “Podium Block” along with three other 7-storey buildings tagged “Blocks A, B and C”.
The ongoing renovation is a comprehensive and transformative upgrade aimed at modernizing the entire complex. It involves structural rehabilitation, improved office layouts, installation of modern facilities, and upgrading of utilities to meet present-day administrative standards. The project is designed to create a more conducive, efficient, and technology-driven work environment for civil servants.