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APGA adopts Option A4 voting system for 2027 primaries to enhance transparency
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA has announced the adoption of the Option A4 voting system for its primaries ahead of the 2027 elections. This move aims to curb "mercenary politics" and promote transparency within the party. Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, stated at the South-East Zonal Stakeholders’ Meeting that the system would eliminate rigging, reduce vote-buying, and foster openness. He warned party leaders and members that the forthcoming primaries would not be "business as usual," emphasizing the goal to cut wastefulness and ensure the party's credibility. Under Option A4, aspirants' support will be visible through physical alignment, discouraging deceptive practices associated with secret ballots. Governor Soludo also prohibited aspirants from pursuing multiple political offices simultaneously, stating that such actions undermine governance and party discipline. He further declared that aspirants are forbidden from visiting state executive members at home for inducement, requiring all engagements to occur at designated party offices. National Chairman of APGA, Sly Ezeokenwa, reinforced the reform agenda, unveiling a code of conduct. He mentioned that the party's modernization, in line with Nigeria’s Electoral Act, includes digital registration, direct primaries, Option A4 adoption, and the abolition of bundled nomination forms. Aspirants must now obtain an Expression of Interest form and pass screening before purchasing the nomination form. Party offi
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Actress and adult entertainment consultant, Seyi Hunter, highlights Nigeria's complex relationship with sexuality, noting that many Nigerians privately consume sexual content despite public denials. In an interview with Saturday Beats, Hunter described this behavior not as hypocrisy, but as Nigerians being private individuals, often leading "double lives" to align with societal or religious expectations. She pointed out that Nigeria frequently tops charts on adult entertainment sites, yet few admit to watching such content. Hunter also emphasized the importance of communication for sexual compatibility in relationships, stating that 50 percent of sex and intimacy relies on it. She shared a personal experience, noting that attraction alone does not guarantee compatibility.
Must ReadThree individuals, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, are facing life imprisonment after the Federal Government filed a 10-count terrorism charge against them for their alleged involvement in the abduction of 44 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, include conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, kidnapping, participating in terrorist acts, belonging to a proscribed terrorist group, providing material support for terrorism, concealing information, inciting terrorist acts, engaging in cyber-related activities for terrorism, and illegal mining to finance operations. The Federal Government stated that the offenses contravene various provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. Two teachers abducted during the May 15 attack were later killed in captivity. Meanwhile, retired two-star general Ishola Williams supported Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for an independent international investigation into the abduction and rescue. Williams noted that such calls have historical precedent, referencing the Chibok schoolgirls' abduction. He suggested that internationally recognized independent organizations like Amnesty International would be better suited for such an investigation, as a state governor constitutionally lacks the authority to formally invite the United Nations. Williams also questioned intelligence failures that allowed the abduction to
Must ReadThe Federal Government announced plans to increase Nigeria's annual grain output from 11 million tonnes to 25 million tonnes through the Renewed Hope Smallholder Agricultural Financing Programme. This initiative, launched in Zaria, Kaduna State, aims to boost local food production and reduce food inflation by improving access to quality farm inputs, increasing crop yields, and strengthening national food security. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, stated that the government is committed to reducing food inflation by increasing production rather than relying on imports. The program will distribute about two million bags of agricultural inputs through registered farm aggregators, who will also provide extension services and implement a Guaranteed Minimum Price mechanism. The Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sotinrin, explained that the intervention would provide farmers with subsidized fertilizers, certified hybrid seeds, and other essential inputs through the bank’s single-digit, nine percent interest financing facility. The pilot phase will benefit approximately 500,000 farmers, with plans to expand to two million farmers next year and eventually five million nationwide. The Group Managing Director of Arzikin Noma Africa, Adeoluwa Michael Adeshola, emphasized that sustained private sector participation and prompt loan repayment are crucial for the initiative's long-term success.