By George Mgbeleke

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for heightened security coordination and vigilance as Nigeria enters a busy electoral season leading up to the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at the first regular meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for 2026, held on Friday at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the rising tempo of electoral activities places increased responsibility on security agencies to ensure peaceful, credible and violence-free elections.

Professor Amupitan noted that 2026 would be particularly demanding, with Area Council elections, bye-elections and off-cycle governorship elections scheduled across several states. He stressed that effective planning, intelligence gathering, inter-agency collaboration and professional deployment of personnel were critical to securing the electoral process.

The INEC Chairman commended security agencies for their role in the successful conduct of the Anambra State off-cycle Governorship Election held on 8 November 2025, describing the peaceful outcome as a testament to their professionalism and dedication. He said the ability of the Commission to declare a winner on the first ballot, despite the state’s history of election-related security challenges, underscored the importance of proactive and coordinated security operations.

Ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 2026, Professor Amupitan disclosed that 1,680,315 registered voters are expected to vote across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils. He said INEC had concluded major preparations, including the delivery of non-sensitive materials, training of Electoral Officers and election security personnel, and commencement of ad-hoc staff training.

He added that a mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on Saturday, 7 February 2026, in 289 selected polling units across the FCT, while sensitive materials would be delivered under strict security arrangements. However, he cautioned that administrative readiness alone was not enough, urging security agencies to maintain constant communication and rapid response, especially in flashpoint areas.

The INEC Chairman also reminded the meeting that bye-elections would hold the same day in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State, as well as Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State, further underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and adequate manpower deployment.

Looking ahead, Professor Amupitan said preparations were already underway for the Ekiti State Governorship Election on 20 June 2026 and the Osun State Governorship Election on 8 August 2026, stressing that early security planning was essential to preventing avoidable challenges.

He further disclosed that INEC would soon embark on a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise, alongside ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, noting that both exercises would require robust security support to protect facilities, personnel and citizens.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and Co-Chair of ICCES, the Director of Internal Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Hassan Abdullahi, congratulated INEC and security agencies on the successful Anambra governorship election. He said the outcome reflected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to free, credible and violence-free elections.

Abdullahi assured that the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, in collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies, was mobilising resources to secure the forthcoming FCT Area Council elections and bye-elections in Kano and Rivers States. He said adequate personnel would be deployed to polling units and high-risk areas, while political thugs, vote buyers and individuals with violent tendencies would be identified, restrained or prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, warning that any acts capable of undermining the electoral process would be dealt with decisively. He also called on the media, civil society organisations, community leaders and citizens to actively support peaceful elections as a shared national responsibility.

In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by the Commissioner of Police in charge of Elections, CP Abayomi Shogunle, reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to massive deployment for all elections nationwide, assuring that adequate security would continue to be provided for INEC personnel, facilities and materials across the country.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by INEC and security agencies to sustained collaboration, vigilance and professionalism in securing Nigeria’s electoral process throughout the demanding 2026 electoral calendar.

By Owei David, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Executive Council, on Friday, held a special valedictory session in honour of a former Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Ken Kayama, in Government House, Yenagoa.

Mr. Kayama, who died on June 24, 2025 at the age of 61, was a member of the state cabinet between 2001 and 2003 during the administration of the late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

In his tribute, Governor Douye Diri said the deceased was not only a supporter of his administration, but also a friend and worthy ally.

The Bayelsa governor noted that the ex-commissioner rose above narrow affiliations and partisanship and was optimistic about the success of his ASSURED Prosperity Agenda for the state, stating that this was a rare embodiment that stood him out among his contemporaries.

Governor Diri stressed the need to recognise and appreciate those who offered their talents, energy, passion and knowledge to advance the common good, and that the late Kayama served the state with sincerity and distinction.

He expressed his condolences to the family, on behalf of the government and people of the state.

“To his immediate family, dependents, and all who held him dear, I extend, on behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, our heartfelt condolences. We know that words may seem insufficient in the face of such a loss, but we offer them nonetheless as a token of our solidarity and our respect. Your husband, father, brother, and relation was a worthy son of Bayelsa, a committed public servant, and a man who left a legacy of service,” the governor said.

Speaking on behalf of his 2001/2003 cabinet colleagues, a former Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Francis Igodo, described Kayama as a compassionate friend who loved his people and community.

Igodo said his departed colleague introduced friendly football match between the state executive council and the House of Assembly and was among the four youngest commissioners, including himself.

In his tribute, the Commissioner for Sports, Dr. Daniel Igali, said Kayama’s life was the celebration of a pioneer, whose legacies continued to echo through sports, politics and community life in the state.

Igali noted that the deceased, fondly called “001” by sports commissioners, earned the title as the first Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the state, and that he laid the foundation for others, including the current governor who was a former commissioner in that ministry.

The Bayelsa Sports Commissioner said his relationship with the deceased revealed an exceptional and brilliant personality, who loved sports, especially wrestling, adding that the state lost a great family man, mentor, and bridge builder.

The special valedictory session was attended by a former Speaker of the House of Assembly and deputy governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Peremobowei Ebebi, former Secretary to the State Government, Amb. Felix Oboro, and former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Talford Ongolo as well as immediate and extended family members of the deceased.

NIGER AT 50: NLC Congratulates Niger State Govt,Nigerlites

BY UTHMAN BABA-NASEER,MINNA
Chiaman Nigeria Labour Congress Niger State Chapter, Comrade Abdulkareem Idris Lafeni has congratulated Niger state government and the Nigerlites for the celebration of fifteenth anniversary since the creation of the state
Comrade Lafene stated this in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna,the Niger state capital.

He explained that since the creation of the state, it has achieved both human and economic development ranging from agriculture, social amenities as well as infrastructure to making the state one of the major producers of farm input that will cater for Niger and beyond with its fertile land spread across the state.

The Labour Chairman also called on the state government to put more effort in boosting the capacity training of its workers in various cader so that they can do more on capacity building and make the state viable for socio economic development.

He explained that as Union members, they are ready to give the needed support from the state government to every policy and program that is aimed towards improving efficiency and productivity of the state civil service adding that workers are the engine room for development and progress to strive in any state.

He therefore called on the state civil servant to reciprocate the good gesture being exhibited by governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s led administration and carry out their work diligently adding that one good turn deserve another and the union is ever ready to fight for what is due for them to have a memorable and conducive working relationship with the state government.

The NLC Chairman explained that since the coming on board of this administration, the union has fought and achieved so many benefits for civil servants across the state ranging from allowances and salary increment and it would not relent to do so when the need arises to make sure the state civil servants are not sub charged thereby enhancing their social wellbeing in the state.