By Tony Nwafor

Contrary to insinuation in some quarter that Abia state Assembly was yet to pass State Police Bill,Abia State Government has clarified that the State House of Assembly has passed the State Police Bill into law, dismissing reports suggesting that the legislation is yet to receive the Assembly’s approval.

The government made the clarification in a press release issued on Thursday, by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha in Umuahia.

According to the statement, reports circulating on some media platforms claiming that Abia State had not passed the State Police Bill were inaccurate and did not reflect the true position of events in the state.

The government stated that the Abia State House of Assembly had already passed the bill as part of the constitutional reform process aimed at strengthening community-based policing and improving the security of lives and property.

It added that the passage of the legislation demonstrated the state’s preparedness to embrace state policing, an initiative championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The government urged members of the public, media practitioners and other stakeholders to disregard the reports and obtain information from verified official government channels.

Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accurate public communication, the Abia State Government said it would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government and other states to ensure the successful implementation of state police in Nigeria.

The government also appealed to media organisations to verify information before publication to prevent the spread of misleading reports.

By Abubakar Yaro, KEBBI

Ahead of 2027 election,Presidential Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has called on the electorate in Kebbi State and Nigerians across the country to turn out in large numbers during the general elections and ensure that their votes are protected throughout the electoral process.

Atiku made the declaration on Thursday while addressing party supporters at the ADC presidential campaign rally in Birnin Kebbi, where he urged voters to mobilise their families, friends and associates to participate actively in the forthcoming elections.

He stressed that voting should not end with casting ballots at polling units, urging supporters to remain vigilant and follow the electoral process through the various collation stages.

“I urge you to go out and vote for ADC. Mobilise your loved ones and families to cast their votes, protect them and escort them to the unit, ward, local government and state collation centres,” he said.

The former Vice-President declared that the 2027 elections presented an opportunity for Nigerians to make decisions about their future, adding that protecting their votes was essential to safeguarding their democratic rights.

“It is time to protect your votes and your future,” he said.

Atiku also outlined some of the policy priorities of the ADC, saying the party would focus on addressing insecurity, economic hardship, poverty and hunger if elected into power.

He said an ADC-led government would work towards restoring peace, particularly to enable farmers to return to their farms, while also promising to reinstate fuel subsidy and reopen the country’s land borders.

“If you truly want peace for farmers to return to the farms, subsidy to be returned, borders to be opened, and poverty and hunger to be tackled, just vote for ADC in the forthcoming 2027 general elections,” Atiku said.

His remarks come amid preparations by political parties for the 2027 general elections, with economic hardship, insecurity, agricultural productivity and the cost of living expected to feature prominently in political debates. End.

By George Mgbeleke
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the completion of nine out of the 14 key activities contained in its revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, as it seeks enhanced technical cooperation with the United Kingdom to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter Vowles, and his delegation to the commission on Wednesday.

Amupitan said the commission had moved beyond the planning stage and was now implementing critical operational activities to ensure adequate preparations for the 2027 polls.

He explained that INEC was intensifying efforts to strengthen the national register of voters through continuous voter registration, data verification, transfer of voters and the removal of ineligible entries.

The chairman also disclosed that the nationwide collection and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were ongoing as part of measures to ensure eligible Nigerians could exercise their franchise during the elections.

According to him, political parties had also completed the submission of their candidates for the 2027 general elections in compliance with the Electoral Act and relevant statutory deadlines.

He further noted that preparations were progressing across the six geopolitical zones, with the commission focused on ensuring effective coordination and operational readiness ahead of the polls.

On electoral technology, Amupitan said INEC was prioritising improvements to the reliability and efficiency of its existing technological infrastructure, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic transmission of election results.

He stressed that the commission was more interested in strengthening existing systems than introducing an entirely new technological framework ahead of the elections.

The INEC chairman identified cybersecurity, specialised training for electoral personnel, strategic communication, voter education and combating misinformation as critical areas where the commission would benefit from additional technical support from the United Kingdom.

He also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration with security agencies to guarantee the safety of electoral officials, facilities and sensitive election materials throughout the electoral process.

Addressing concerns over voter apathy, particularly among young people, women and persons with disabilities, Amupitan said the commission was pursuing initiatives aimed at promoting broader participation and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process.

He specifically highlighted a university debate initiative being implemented across the country’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to stimulate political awareness among young Nigerians and encourage their involvement in democratic governance.

Earlier, the British High Commissioner, Peter Vowles, said his visit was aimed at gaining a better understanding of INEC’s mandate, responsibilities and level of preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

Vowles, who disclosed that he had spent approximately eight weeks in Nigeria, described the country’s democratic development as significant not only to its estimated 240 million citizens but also to the wider West African region and the international community.

He noted that the 2027 general elections would offer Nigeria an important opportunity to demonstrate how democratic institutions could function effectively in a large and diverse society.

The British envoy reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic development, expressing interesthis response, Amupitan described the relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom as one founded on shared interests and a common commitment to democracy, electoral integrity and institutional development.