By George Mgbeleke

Following The release of 2027 election timetable, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has welcomed INEC’s announcement of the February 20, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections but urged the Commission to give Nigerians clear assurances on the real-time electronic transmission of results. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the credibility of the polls would depend not just on the timetable but on transparent processes, calling on INEC to outline concrete safeguards against manipulation and on the National Assembly to pass a binding legal framework to remove ambiguity around real-time electronic transmission.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, notes the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fixing February 20, 2027 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

We welcome the early release of the timetable, which provides political parties, stakeholders, and the Nigerian electorate with needed clarity for long-term planning and democratic preparation.

However, the credibility of the 2027 general elections will ultimately not be judged by the timeliness of the timetable alone, but by the Commission’s demonstrable commitment to transparency, technological integrity, and strict adherence to due process throughout the electoral cycle.

Of particular importance is the question of real-time electronic transmission of results. While the Commission has indicated that it will operate within the ambits of the law, the current Electoral Act still leaves procedural discretion in critical areas that directly affect public confidence.

In his recent engagement with the media, the INEC Chairman acknowledged the Commission’s technological capacity to deploy electronic transmission and affirmed that the Commission will continue to use technology in the conduct of elections. The ADC therefore respectfully urges INEC to provide early and unambiguous clarity to Nigerians on its readiness to adopt real-time electronic transmission of results should the necessary legal amendments be enacted.

Beyond this, the Commission should clearly outline the specific guardrails, both manual and electronic, that will be deployed to safeguard the integrity of results management and prevent any recurrence of the irregularities that have troubled recent off-cycle elections.

The ADC also reiterates its call on the National Assembly to urgently pass a binding legislative framework that removes ambiguity around electronic transmission of results and strengthens the legal architecture for transparent elections.
Nigerians have shown, time and again, that they are ready to defend the sanctity of their votes. What is now required is for the electoral umpire to match that civic vigilance with institutional clarity, operational transparency, and administrative excellence.

As a party committed to democratic deepening and credible elections, the ADC will continue to engage constructively with INEC, the National Assembly, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 elections reflect the true will of the Nigerian people.

By George Mgbeleke

HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) at the weekend demanded the immediate release by the federal government of Nigeria of the 176 citizens violently abducted by terrorists from Kwara state.

The Rights group has also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency to effectively implement holistic security measures to crush the terrorists that have invaded many rural areas of Kwara state.

It argued that governance has invariably collapsed in Kwara state which is characterised by cocktails of bloodbath and clearly the Kwara State governor doesn’t have what it takes to protect his people.

“Isn’t it a big shame that the Kwara State government allegedly claimed that only few citizens were kidnapped whereas the terrorists have reportedly played video evidence to disprove this poor propaganda put up by Kwara state government and these terrorists have claimed based on video evidence that over 176 citizens were violently kidnapped by terrorists? Are government officials both in Kwara and the federal government of Nigeria not ashamed that terrorists are operating freely wherever they chose to operate in Nigeria? This is tragically shameful,” it said.

HURIWA quoting media report alleged that suspected Boko Haram terrorists, formally known as Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, have circulated a disturbing video showing 176 abducted victims — including women, children and a nursing mother — allegedly taken from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

It reacted thus: “It is so unfortunate and disgraceful that the Kwara State governor has demonstrated a lack of ideas and zero knowledge of any sort of workable modalities, strategic approaches and efficient measures to protect the good people of Kwara state. The truth is that there is no functional government right now in Kwara state.

“With the killings of over 300 citizens this year alone in Kwara state, we think it is time that President Tinubu should impose a state of emergency and put security infrastructure in place to decimate, degrade and destroy the terrorists. The most important task for President Tinubu is to ensure the safe return of the 176 citizens kidnapped by terrorists and are being kept in intolerable situation of emotional, psychological and cruel physical torture by the terrorists. “We demand that the mass murderers and terrorists must never be allowed to go without facing the wrath of the law if Nigeria is not a failed state. Only in a failed state can you see terrorists kill citizens at will and no kind of justice is imposed to punish the killers of citizens.”

HURIWA recalled that not a person was killed in Rivers state before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu imposed a state of emergency leading to the illegal suspension of the governor and Rivers state House of Assembly for 6 months which some incompetent and pliant justices of the supreme Court of Nigeria okayed. So the situation is long overdue for a declaration of security emergency in Kwara state.”

HURIWA cited media report as saying that in the video, one of the terrorists is seen interrogating the captives, asking them to state where they were kidnapped.

Responding in Hausa language, three women, including a nursing mother, answered one after the other that they were abducted at Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The footage shows dozens of women and children arranged in rows, many appearing visibly distressed. Their clothing looked dirty and worn, while some of the children were seen without trousers, suggesting the harsh conditions in which they are being held.

During the display of the captives, one of the terrorists accused the Kwara State government of misleading Nigerians and the international community about the scale of the abduction.

According to the terrorist in the video, the state government claimed that only between 20 and 30 people were kidnapped, whereas he insisted that 176 victims were in their custody.

“The Kwara State government lied to Nigeria and to the whole world,” the terrorist alleged, insisting that the number of abducted persons was far higher than officially acknowledged.

In a media statement on Saturday, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the National Coordinator of HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) called for the swift rescue of the captured Nigerians by the federal government of Nigeria and for concrete steps to be adopted to put to an end the constant bloodshed in Kwara state.

HURIWA lamented that the president of Nigeria is being allowed to violate his constitutional oath of office which obliges him to primarily protect the lives and property of the citizens. “Protecting lives and property of the good people of Nigeria is the fundamental legal obligation of the government and consistent failures to arrest the tides of cruel killings in massive scale of citizens by terrorists and armed non-state actors in Nigeria is absolutely appalling, despicable and condemnable.”

By David Owei,Bayelsa

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced a 29-year-old man, Ebimie Ajalla of Polobubo Community, Oporoma, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to 12 years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl.

Ajalla, who is a relative of the victim, committed the offence at the child’s residence in Polobubo Community.

The court held that he repeatedly inserted his fingers into the minor’s vagina—an offence that the prosecution successfully argued constituted rape under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Bayelsa State.

The court found him guilty on all three counts bordering on rape, arson, and stealing.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CR/6C/2024, Hon. Justice Enegesi held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and consequently sentenced the defendant to 12 years’ imprisonment.

In his ruling, Justice Enegesi commended the prosecution team for their diligence and professionalism in handling the case.

Reacting to the judgment, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, described the judgment as a clear affirmation of the law’s protection of minors against all forms of sexual abuse.

He added that it underscores the State Government’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable children and strengthening the fight against sexual violence in Bayelsa State.

On her part, the prosecution team lead, Deputy Director at the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Pere Amanda Egbuson, Esq., stated that the court’s pronouncement reinforces the legal position that fingering constitutes rape under the Bayelsa State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021, and not only penile penetration.

Mrs. Egbuson further stated that the conviction sends a clear message that child sexual abuse will be met with severe consequences and that this will serve as a deterrent to perpetrators of such despicable acts across the State.