🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Labour Party demands reversal of Osun REC redeployment, cites constitutional breach
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Abayomi Arabambi, the National Vice Chairman South West of the Labour Party, has called for President Bola Tinubu to reverse the transfer of Mutiu Agboke, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, to Ondo State. Arabambi described the redeployment as unconstitutional and expressed concern over administrative actions within the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC that he believes threaten Nigeria's democracy. He argued that the appointment, tenure, and removal of RECs are not at the discretion of the INEC chairman, referencing the 1999 Constitution as amended which states that RECs are appointed by the President and require Senate confirmation. Arabambi alleged that INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan SAN, exceeded his constitutional authority by acting on a petition from the Osun State APC Chairman, thereby allowing a partisan figure to influence electoral officials. He challenged Amupitan to provide evidence that Agboke was given a fair hearing before his removal and warned that this action sets a dangerous precedent. Arabambi urged the President to direct Amupitan to reinstate Agboke to Osun State and to issue a directive preventing the transfer or removal of any REC within 90 days of an election without the full constitutional process.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 10 countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadMilitary commanders are increasingly vulnerable to terror attacks due to troop shortages and poor welfare, according to findings by Saturday PUNCH. Soldiers, security analysts, and retired military officers suggest these attacks aim to disrupt the military's command structure and instill fear. The Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP intensified its campaign in 2025, leading to the deaths of at least 10 senior military officers, including two brigadier generals, between October 2025 and April 2026. Incidents include the deaths of Brigadier General Oseni Braimah and Captain Ismail in Benisheikh, Borno State, on April 9, 2026, and a commanding officer and six soldiers in Monguno on April 12, 2026, due to an improvised explosive device. A soldier in the North-East attributed declining morale to poor welfare and manpower shortages, stating that many units lack adequate personnel and that insufficient compensation affects motivation. The Nigerian Army faces challenges in attracting new recruits, with low enlistment figures in some regions. Security experts link the targeting of senior officers to a deliberate strategy by insurgents to exploit inadequate troop strength and the increased exposure of commanders on the frontlines. A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Abdulwahab Ademola, explained that while commanders operate close to combat zones for coordination, the dynamics of asymmetric warfare and the use of ambushes and IEDs make this risky. He noted that insurgents target the mil
An operative of the Department of State Services DSS, Michael Jego, testified in a Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the arrest of John Agbo, accused of sending threat messages to elite schools in the Federal Capital Territory. Jego, the first prosecution witness, stated that the DSS received petitions from three schools in 2024 concerning text messages threatening students, teachers, and property. The affected schools were identified as Premier International School, The Regent Secondary School, and Oakland International British School. The DSS alleged that Agbo used multiple mobile phone numbers to send these threats, claiming attacks would take less than a minute. Jego testified that his team began an investigation after a petition from Oakland International British School dated November 28, 2024. Forensic analysis led to Agbo's arrest in Otukpo, Benue State, where a Techno Android phone and SIM card were recovered. Agbo was arraigned on March 17, 2026, on a two-count charge under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, etc Amendment Act, 2024. The prosecution tendered the recovered phone, school petitions, a compact disc with audio-visual recordings of Agbo's interview, and his extra-judicial statement, which were admitted as exhibits. While Agbo admitted familiarity with the phone, he denied ownership. Under cross-examination, Jego confirmed the petitions did not name Agbo, but maintained Agbo admitted involveme
The Federal Government has released emergency hotlines for reporting school bullying, following a consultative dialogue in Abuja organized by International Alert Nigeria. The event, attended by students, parents, school owners, and government officials, addressed the widespread issue of bullying in Nigerian schools, with studies indicating that 70 to 85 percent of students have experienced it. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, represented by Assistant Director Gender Augustina Apakasa, announced two hotlines: 09012660044 for calls and 08052536133 for WhatsApp messages, along with an email address, antibullying@education.gov.ng. Additionally, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, represented by Director, Violence Against Persons Prohibition, Rebecca Enwusoyele, provided a toll-free short code, 627, and an email address, @naptip.com.gov. NAPTIP stated that while bullying is not explicitly mentioned in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015, sections on intimidation, threat, and willfully placing someone in fear provide a legal basis for intervention. The National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, represented by Special Assistant Adebola Adeoye, also shared its hotline: 09131232323. Programme Manager of International Alert Nigeria, Sunday Jimoh, indicated that a communiqué and advocacy note would be produced to engage policymakers on the implementation of an existing anti-bullying Bill.
Must ReadThe Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has completed the second phase of its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration CVR exercise, recording a total of 3,748,704 completed registrations. This figure, announced by INEC's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Etta-Messi, includes both online pre-registrations and physical completions. Specifically, 2,259,288 Nigerians registered through the online portal, while 1,489,416 finalized their registration in person. INEC noted that these figures are provisional and subject to further verification. Following the registration phase, INEC will now focus on displaying the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections. This display exercise will take place nationwide from April 29 to May 5, 2026, allowing citizens to verify their details and raise objections, such as duplicate registrations, deceased persons, or non-citizens. INEC encourages all registrants from the second phase to participate in this verification process to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the voter register ahead of the 2027 general election. The first phase of the CVR ran from August 18, 2025, to December 19, 2025, and the second phase from January 5, 2026, to April 17, 2026. The commission will announce details for the third phase in due course, reaffirming its commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections.