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INEC Fixes Feb, 21st 2026 for FCT Area Council Polls ……Says Preparation for Anambra Guber Poll takes off March20,2025

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2 months ago

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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

 

By George Mgbeleke

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the 2026 Area Council elections for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be held on Saturday, 21st February 2026.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this declaration during the Commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on Wednesday.

Prof. Yakubu highlighted the importance of planning well ahead of the elections, noting that “the tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors ends next year,” thus making the scheduling imperative.

He stated, “The Commission has approved that the 2026 Area Council election in FCT will hold on Saturday 21st February 2026. Voting will take place in all the designated Polling Units across the 68 constituencies to elect the six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councilors.

“In compliance with the mandatory legal requirements, the notice for the election will be published next month i.e. 26th February 2025. Party primaries will be held from 9th – 30th June 2025. The candidate nomination portal will open from 9.00am on 21st July 2025 to 6.00pm on 11th August 2025.

“The final list of candidates will be published on 22nd September 2025. Campaign in public by political parties will commence on 24th September 2025 and end at midnight of Thursday 19th February 2026.”

The INEC Chairman further disclosed that the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the  election as well as the list of constituencies and type of elections in the FCT will be uploaded to the Commission’s website before the end of this meeting.

Reflecting on the previous year’s election activities, Yakubu elaborated, “Overall, the Commission conducted 51 re-run elections, bye-elections, and off-cycle elections in 2024.”

He also shared insights into the challenges faced in conducting elections, including flooding at the Commission’s office in Benin City and attacks on two local government offices in Benue and Delta States. Yakubu assured stakeholders that despite these hurdles, INEC had successfully conducted various elections and maintained its stakeholder engagement.

Yakubu also informed political parties that the Anambra Governorship Election Primary election is expected to kick-off in the next two months, between 20th March to 10th April 2025, stressing the urgency for political parties to submit their schedules for exercise.

“In terms of elections and electoral activities, the year 2025 is going to be busier than 2024. You may recall that at our fourth regular consultative meeting held on Thursday 17th October last year, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Anambra State Governorship election holding on Saturday 8th November 2025.

“The next activity is the conduct of primaries by political parties. May I remind leaders of political parties that primaries for the nomination of candidates for the Anambra State Governorship election begins in the next two months i.e. 20th March to 10th April 2025.

“You may similarly recall that at our last regular meeting, we agreed that you will forward your schedule of activities for the election to the Commission to enable us work together and plan better for the deployment of personnel and resources for the monitoring of your party primaries and campaign activities in order to avoid the last minute rush with the attendant inability to meet deadlines and unnecessarily dissipate our energy and lean resources,”

Also speaking at the meeting, Mamman Dantalle, National Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), noted the importance of credible elections for the future of Nigerian democracy.

He stated, “We must get it right in the November 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election, and plan adequately for the 2027 general election,” urging all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to the electoral process.

Dantalle also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence preparations for the 2027 general elections without delay

He emphasised the need for early planning to ensure the Commission meets all necessary requirements and fulfills the expectations of Nigerians.

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Politics

IPU cannot consider Natasha’s petition – Jimoh Ibrahim

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1 day ago

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March 14, 2025

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Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chairman of the Senate Inter-parliamentary Committee, remarked that the purported petition from the suspended Senator Natasha is “dead on arrival.”

He emphasised that Nigeria, rather than Senator Natasha, is the member of the IPU.

A petition can only be lodged against another member state by a member state.

This implies that the IPU cannot consider petitions from individuals who are not members.

The suspended Senator Natasha is not a member of the IPU, but Nigeria is!
Additionally, the suspended Senator cannot represent the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I served as the interim president of the IPU in Geneva in 2023, and I am familiar with how the IPU operates after presiding over its proceedings.

Furthermore, as Chairman of the Inter- parliamentary Committee in the Nigerian Senate, I did not approve or authorise the suspended Senator Natasha to attend the IPU on behalf of Nigeria to the Senate President.”

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Senate moves to establish Early Voting for Nigerians on essential duties during elections …..As Bill scales 2nd reading 

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1 day ago

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March 14, 2025

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By George Mgbeleke
The Senate on Thursday passed to second reading a Bill to amend the Electoral Act to provide opportunity for Nigerians on essential duties to perform their civic duties.
The Bill sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz zMusa Yar’adua seeks to amend the Electoral Act tagged “Electoral Act(Amendment -Early Voting Bill) 2024.

Senate in session in the chamber

In his lead debate Senator Yar’adua noted that the Bill seeks to enfranchise a significant group of Nigerians who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are denied the opportunity to exercise their most fundamental democratic right; the right to vote.
He said,”This very important bill seeking to introduce early voting in the Electoral Act 2022 to enhance the inclusion, participation and integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, and for related matters, was read for the first time on Wednesday, the 15th day of May  2024.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, due to the far-reaching nature of this Bill, let me crave your indulgence to extensively highlight the background, which I believe will not only provide a proper context for this legislative initiative but also motivate this hallowed chamber to accelerate the legislative process in enacting the Bill.
“Background and Rationale
In any democratic process, equal opportunity must be given to all citizens to participate in elections regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation or socioeconomic status. This ensures the true reflection of the will of the people thereby enhancing the stability of the democratic process. Unfortunately, a huge number of Nigerians who are involved in making Nigeria’s elections a success are excluded from the crucial decision-making of choosing their leaders through the ballot.”
The lawmaker further observed that,”Over one million citizens who play critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections are disenfranchised.
” These include INEC officials, including ad-hoc staff, the security personnel, journalists, observers and others who work on election day to uphold the integrity of the process are effectively denied their right to vote because they are deployed to polling units far from where they registered. This is an irony that should not be lost on us, and this bill seeks to correct that by making provision for early voting for such citizens.
“Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, this exclusion has characterised all elections in the Fourth Republic and became more alarming in the 2023 General Elections with over 1 million ad-hoc staff, 310,973 police personnel, 93,495 military and Department of State Service (DSS) personnel, 51,000 personnel from the National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), 21,000 from the Federal Road Safety Corps, 11,336 from the Nigeria Correctional Service, 9,447 from the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and 350 personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission who were actively engaged in election activities were disenfranchised. Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission reported that 144,800 observers were deployed by 196 national and domestic organisations, with the implication that those citizens were also unable to vote. This is in addition to journalists and others involved in elections in various capacities. The number of those excluded from voting could change the outcomes of election results.”
Continuing he said,”Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the figures highlighted above makes this bill a necessity to address the ‘disenfranchisement’ of eligible voters. As lawmakers, it is our duty to ensure that every Nigerian citizen, regardless of their profession or duty on election day, has the opportunity to participate fully in the electoral process. Incorporating early voting in our electoral legal framework shall strengthen universal adult suffrage as our Constitution guarantees every eligible Nigerian the right to vote.
” Furthermore, this Bill strengthens democratic values as democracy thrives when participation is broad, inclusive, and representative. By preventing those on election duty from voting, we are limiting the breadth of participation and undermining the very principles of democracy.
“Distinguished Colleagues, here are the highlights of the bill:
Provision for eligibility and registration of early voters:  Political parties will receive a list of registered early voters to ensure transparency.
Eligible individuals include security personnel, electoral officials and those deemed eligible by the commission who must apply 30 days before the early voting date (Clause 44A (2)-(6)).
“Implementation and Voting Procedure.
A designated early voting date will be set, not more than 7 days before the general election (Section 44A (1)).
Voting centers will be established in every ward, with early votes counted on the official election day (Section 44A (10)-(17))Cross-Country Survey.”
The Lawmaker noted  that early voting has been part of the electoral legal frameworks in other jurisdictions with its attendant huge success stories in promoting voter participation, reducing election day pressure, and increasing accessibility.
” In the United States, early voting varies by State, with some states allowing a few days to several weeks (up to 45 days) in advance of election day. In Australia, early voting starts about 2-3 weeks before the election, with the 2019 federal election recording 40% of voters that cast their ballots early. In Canada, early voting takes place 12 days before election day allowing voters greater flexibility. In Germany, Postal voting is initiated four to six weeks before the election, enabling voters to participate ahead of time.
“Distinguished Colleagues, it is interesting to note that early voting has also gained traction in several African countries as a tool to improve electoral efficiency, increase voter turnout, and enhance inclusivity, especially for marginalized groups. In South Africa, the Independent Electoral Commission allows early voting 2 days before the general election for individuals such as the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, security forces, and those working on Election Day.
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Politics

No Individual Bigger Than PDP, Says Diri

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2 days ago

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March 13, 2025

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PDP zonal caretaker C'ttee members with Gov Douye Diri (2nd from the Rt)

By David Owei ,Bayelsa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was bigger than any individual and that its internal challenges would be fixed once the members resolve to tackle them.

Speaking to journalists at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday after the inauguration of the party’s South-South zonal caretaker committee led by Elder Emma Ogidi, the Bayelsa Governor said the political will to confront those fomenting trouble in the party resided with the members and not solely on the leadership.

Diri, who is also Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, stated that for the party to be competitive as the oldest in the country, it must look inwards and fix its internal issues.

He said: “For me, we have to look inwards before accusing those outside our party. We have to first fix our internal issues.

“It is very easy to point accusing fingers. But the PDP has to sit back and tackle its internal challenges. That is only when we can stand to compete with others.

“I want the PDP to be competitive with other political parties. We are the oldest political party in Nigeria. So we have no reason to be accusing outsiders.”

On whether the party’s leadership had the political will to discipline those fomenting trouble, Governor Diri averred that such will resided with the members.

“We are all members of the party. The moment we all resolve that we need to fix our party, there cannot be any one person that is bigger than the party.”

He stressed that the newly inaugurated zonal caretaker committee had the mandate of the National Working Committee to look into every issue affecting the party in the South-South.

The Bayelsa helmsman expressed the hope that the event was a step forward for the party.

“In our zone, which is the only area in the country you have four governors of the party, we have all resolved and are together on this. You can see the deputy governor of Delta State, who represented the governor. I have also received messages from the governors of Akwa Ibom and Rivers. It shows that we are together and what we need to do is to show leadership and work with the zonal committee so that our zone will again become safe and strong for the PDP.”

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