By Our Correspondent

Contrary to the ongoing strike largely by techers in the Federal Capital Territary (FCT) Abuja for alleged poor welfare provision, delayed promotion among others,Teachers in both public and private schools in Enugu State have resoundingly endorsed the Governor of the state, Dr. Peter Mbah, for a second term, citing improved teachers’ welfare, increased education funding, promotions and other interventions.

The teachers also endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose economic reforms, Mbah said, had made more resources available to states to embark on massive projects such as the construction of over 267 Smart Green Schools across all the 260 political wards of Enugu State.

The teachers made their position known through over 12,000 of their members, who marched through parts of Enugu metropolis before holding an endorsement rally at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Saturday under the auspices of Teachers for Grassroots Movement (TGM).

In his address, the Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Theophilus Odo, described Mbah as a Godsend, reeling out the concrete steps taken by the Governor to address the challenges that had bedevilled the education sector in the state before now.

“On behalf of the NUT, I want to say that we are happy today because God has given us a caring governor, Peter Mbah.

“He was instrumental to the domestication of the harmonised retirement benefits for the teachers even before he became governor.

“The building of over 260 Smart Green Schools is a very positive change. Our teachers and children can now compete favourably with their peers in other places.

“He has started recruiting thousands of teachers, and he is also building smart teachers by ensuring that they attend symposiums and other training programmes to gain more knowledge.

“There are no outstanding promotions, and our salaries are coming at the appropriate time.

“So, we, the teachers, are endorsing our governor for a second term in office. The votes of our teachers are only for Governor Mbah,” Odo stated.

On his part, the Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) in Enugu State, Nelson Agu, said private school teachers were joining such a rally in the state for the first time ever to encourage what he described as Mbah’s revolution in the education sector.

He noted that the introduction of Smart Green Schools had challenged private schools in the state to improve.

“When you came and started the idea of over 260 Smart Green Schools, we thought we were out of service. But we went and upgraded our schools to meet the required standards.

“Importantly, the idea of allocating 33 per cent of the budget to the education sector for three consecutive years is something to laud your administration for,” Agu told Mbah.

The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Simeon Akaeme, said the Mbah administration had restored the dignity of teachers and made life better through huge investments in infrastructure and social services.

The Director-General of the Teachers for Grassroots Movement, Dr. Nwakaego Aja, described education as a springboard to liberation, self-reliance and economic development amid the systemic collapse experienced by the nation.

Aja assured him of the total support of the over 30,000 teachers in the state.

“Through experiential learning and innovation, you brought answers to the quest by our nationalists, elevating education to a catalyst for economic development,” she asserted.

“We, the teachers, are not ingrates. We see what you are doing. You promised disruptive innovation, and you have delivered disruptive innovation. That is why we are here.

“We promise you this: we will take your good news to the communities, to the staff rooms, to every market, to every polling unit, and we will deliver. Our vote is for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from bottom to top,” she stressed.

The Commissioner for Education and patron of TGM, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, said the endorsement by the teachers in their thousands was a tip of the iceberg of the support coming his way and that of the President ahead of the 2027 general election.

He added, “On behalf of every teacher gathered here today, I have one message, and that is to thank you for believing and investing in the vision that it is through education that Enugu State will attain greater heights. You have committed so many resources to giving every Enugu child a future.”

In his remarks, Governor Mbah said the endorsement meant so much to him beyond the 2027 polls, as the future his administration wanted to build for the state depended on education and the teachers.

“Today’s endorsement carries a particular significance, and that is because everything we do, all the promises we have made, all the projections we have made — growing Enugu’s economy, becoming one of the top three states in terms of GDP, making Enugu State the number one state in terms of investment, business, living and tourism — are in the hands of our teachers.

“That is why it appears as if we are insane about education when you consider what we are doing in the sector —building over 7,000 classrooms. And we are not talking about the details because we do not talk about 464 furniture items, we do not talk about 25,000 desktop computers, we do not talk about over 5,000 tablets or the free feeding and uniforms, among others.

“For us, it is about transformation —transforming an education system. And that whole transformation, whether we fail or succeed, would lie largely in your hands.

“That is why, when I say that I see you and I value you, it comes from the depths of my heart because I understand what you go through to inculcate this knowledge into our children so that we can become that great state. So, we love you and appreciate you dearly,” he emphasised.

The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, who was represented by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, said the endorsement was a great reward for a government that had made education the cornerstone of its development agenda.

The event attracted senior government officials, political and community leaders, among others.

By Our Correspondent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the procurement of 5,720 election devices, ongoing staff training and infrastructure upgrades across the country.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, disclosed this while briefing stakeholders on the commission’s preparations for the forthcoming elections, urging eligible voters to verify their registration details, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the electoral process.

Agwu said the commission’s preparations covered all 36 states of the federation, stressing that Anambra State was actively participating in the nationwide arrangements to ensure credible elections.

With the countdown to the January 2027 electoral milestone standing at 97 days, she said INEC was committed to providing regular updates on its preparations to keep citizens informed and prevent misinformation.

She called on the media, traditional rulers, community leaders, local government officials and civil society organisations to assist in disseminating accurate information about the electoral process.

According to her, sustained stakeholder engagement would enable residents to obtain information directly from the commission rather than rely on unverified reports.

INEC procures 5,720 election devices
On technological readiness, the REC disclosed that INEC had procured 5,720 additional beavers for distribution to 5,720 designated units across the state.

The equipment is expected to support election operations, with the procurement intended to replace damaged or missing devices and strengthen the commission’s technological capacity ahead of the polls.

She said staff training had also received priority attention, with the majority of personnel having undergone training at different stages.

Agwu described training as a continuous process, emphasising that the commission would continue to invest in personnel to ensure they understood their responsibilities and could operate the equipment effectively.

She added that the commission was upgrading its technological capacity compared with previous electoral cycles.

The REC said the distribution of the devices would proceed as operational arrangements were finalised.

Infrastructure audit completed
Agwu further disclosed that INEC had completed an infrastructural audit across the federation to assess the condition and adequacy of facilities required for election administration.

The exercise covered buildings, offices, storage facilities and other infrastructure supporting electoral operations.

She said the audit identified facilities requiring renovation, construction and improved storage arrangements, adding that contracts had been awarded for some of the necessary works.

Procurement of election materials and vehicles was also ongoing, while previously acquired vehicles were being distributed to support operational requirements.

According to her, the commission was implementing the recommendations of the infrastructure audit, with development works expected to address identified needs across local government areas.

She stressed that effective logistics, adequate storage and the availability of functional equipment were essential to the successful conduct of elections nationwide.

Voters urged to verify registration details
The REC also announced the commencement of the display of the voters’ register for claims and objections, urging residents who participated in the second and third phases of voter registration to visit their registration centres to verify their information.

She said the exercise, scheduled to run from October 9 to 15, would enable registered voters to identify errors in their personal details and request corrections before the register was finalised.

According to her, discrepancies identified during the exercise would be documented and forwarded to the appropriate INEC offices for correction.

Agwu explained that the exercise was particularly important for voters whose PVCs had yet to be printed and issued.

She also disclosed that PVCs arising from transfers, corrections, reprinting and replacement requests were available for collection.

The REC urged affected voters to visit the designated centres to obtain their cards, stressing that possession of a valid PVC remained essential for voting under the current electoral system.

She advised registered voters to keep their cards safe, warning that replacement could take time.

Agwu commended Anambra residents for their participation in previous registration exercises, noting that the accuracy of the voters’ register depended significantly on the quality of information supplied by registrants.

INEC opens recruitment portal
The REC also called on eligible Nigerians interested in working as ad hoc electoral personnel to register through the commission’s designated recruitment portal.

She said applicants seeking deployment to Anambra State could register even while residing elsewhere, provided they indicated their preferred state of deployment and met the commission’s requirements.

Eligible categories, she explained, included qualified former and serving National Youth Service Corps members, federal public servants and students of tertiary institutions who satisfied the stipulated conditions.

Agwu said registration was necessary to ensure that applicants’ details were captured in the commission’s database before deployment.

She urged community leaders and other stakeholders to encourage qualified residents to register, noting that adequate personnel were required to support the electoral process across the state.

Warns political parties against vote-buying
On campaign conduct, Agwu cautioned political parties and candidates against abusive language, personal attacks and the use of private matters to discredit opponents.

She urged contestants to focus on their manifestoes, leadership experience, proposed policies and plans for addressing the needs of the electorate.

The REC said campaigns should provide voters with relevant information to enable them to make informed choices rather than degenerate into character assassination and offensive allegations.

Recalling controversies surrounding campaign conduct during the 2025 governorship election, she warned against a repeat of such incidents during the next electoral cycle.

She also cautioned political parties against vote-buying, describing the practice as an electoral offence and calling on members of the public to assist in identifying and reporting offenders to the appropriate authorities.

Agwu stressed that the responsibility for protecting the integrity of elections could not be left to INEC alone, urging voters, political parties and security agencies to play their respective roles.

She said the commission was monitoring campaign activities, including compliance with applicable regulations governing campaign expenditure.

The REC further urged elected officials and political officeholders to maintain contact with their constituents throughout their tenure and address community needs rather than wait until election periods to seek public support.

Assures stakeholders of credible elections
Agwu expressed confidence in the security arrangements for the elections, saying security agencies had assured the commission of their readiness to protect voters, electoral personnel and election materials.

She maintained that INEC was committed to conducting free, fair, credible, inclusive and conclusive elections without favouring any political party or candidate.

The REC explained that Nigeria’s electoral system remained based on physical voting, with prescribed technological devices used to verify voters’ identities and facilitate the documentation and transmission of results in accordance with established procedures.

She urged political actors and their supporters to avoid actions capable of disrupting voting, counting and the proper recording of results.

Agwu called on the media, traditional rulers, community leaders, local government representatives and civil society organisations to sustain public enlightenment efforts as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.

She said regular stakeholder briefings would remain a key part of the commission’s information strategy over the coming weeks, ensuring that residents received timely updates on registration, logistics, personnel training and other preparations.

The REC urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards an electoral process in which eligible voters could exercise their franchise freely and electoral officials could discharge their responsibilities without intimidation

The meeting, held at the INEC state office on Friday, was attended by representatives of security and other government agencies, political parties, local government councils, civil society organisations and the media.
Those in attendance included representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Immigration Service, as well as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly was represented at the meeting, which also attracted political party representatives, representatives of local government mayors, civil society organisations, media practitioners and electoral officers from various local government areas across the state.
The gathering provided an opportunity for INEC to brief stakeholders on preparations for the 2027 general elections and enlist their support in disseminating accurate electoral information, mobilising eligible voters and promoting peaceful and credible elections.

By George Mgbeleke
Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured the Nigerian Army of his administration’s continued support in the task of providing adequate security for oil and gas facilities as well as other critical national assets located in the state

In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor,Onwuka Nzeshi, Fubara gave the assurance on Friday while receiving the new Commander, 6 Division Garrison and Sector 3, Joint Task Force (South-South), Operation Delta Safe, Brigadier General Ismaila Sule, at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Governor congratulated the senior officer on his posting to Rivers State and noted that the State has, across different administrations, maintained a wonderful and mutually beneficial relationship with the Nigerian Army.

He described the partnership as a win-win relationship, stressing that government’s support to security agencies is not an extraordinary gesture, but a normal responsibility, given the importance of security to the social and economic development of the country.

Governor Fubara expressed appreciation for the new military formation being created and sited in Ahoada, describing it as a strategic decision that will help reduce agitation, tension and security challenges prevalent in that part of the state. He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu for the favour done to Rivers State.

The Governor emphasized that his government will never ask the military to do anything that will undermine its professional and statutory responsibilities or oppress any citizen, adding that his only interest is peace, progress and the development of Rivers State.

He said Sector 3, which is responsible for protecting critical national assets including oil pipelines, has always enjoyed massive support from the Rivers State Government, and assured that the support will not only be sustained but improved in the current dispensation.

In his remarks, Brig. Gen. Sule thanked Governor Fubara for the warm reception and for the consistent support of the State Government to the Army, pledging to strengthen synergy during his tour of duty in Rivers State.
Brig. Gen. Sule disclosed that he had been briefed by his predecessors on the consistent support the Army had received from the Rivers State Government, and conveyed the appreciation of the military high command to the state.

The Commander said his visit was to officially introduce himself to the Governor as the Chief Security Officer of the State, and to inform him of his plans to tour all 23 Local Government Areas in the State as well as nearby military formations.

Brig. Gen. Sule further disclosed that following the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand the Nigerian Army from eight to twelve Divisions, Rivers State will benefit from the expansion with a new Brigade to be stationed in Ahoada along with its affiliate battalions.

He said the new formation will help tackle security challenges in that axis and assured that under his command, the Army will do its best to ensure lasting peace and security across Rivers State.