SDP, Obidient Movement, and allies advocate for electoral and constitutional reforms before 2027 polls
via Punch Nigeria5 min read
The Social Democratic Party, the Obidient Movement, and a coalition of pro-democracy groups and civil society organizations have called for significant electoral and constitutional reforms ahead of Nigeria's 2027 general elections. This call emerged from a June 12 Democracy Anniversary dialogue in Lagos, where participants emphasized the need for a credible electoral process to ensure citizens can freely choose their leaders. The communiqué, titled “Agenda for a Valuable Nigeria,” was read by Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Founder of Human Rights Africa, and endorsed by Dr. Tanko Yunusa, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, and Professor Sadiq Umar Gombe, SDP National Chairman. The groups highlighted declining public trust in the electoral process, flaws in the Electoral Act Amendment 2026, worsening insecurity, rising poverty, and growing disillusionment among citizens. They stressed that a credible electoral framework must be established before the 2027 elections through an urgent review of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly. Dr. Abayomi argued that the success of democracy should be measured by citizens' ability to freely determine their government, not by which party wins. The coalition also raised concerns about the disproportionate allocation of public funds to government maintenance versus critical sectors, and called for modern, intelligence-driven approaches to tackle insecurity. Furthermore, they warned that rising hunger and low agricultural productivity pose
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Federal Government has successfully conducted the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination for admission into Federal and State Technical Colleges. During this exercise, the Federal Ministry of Education piloted a computer-based test CBT, coordinated by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board. The examination was held nationwide and conducted smoothly across various centers. Mrs. Patricia Ogungbemi, Director of Technology and Science Education, representing the Minister of Education, monitored the exercise and encouraged candidates to pursue technical and vocational education for self-reliance, innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment. She emphasized the opportunities for technical college graduates, including practical, industry-relevant skills and government initiatives for job creation. The pilot CBT session, conducted after the conventional examination, aimed to assess readiness for a future transition to a fully computer-based examination system, reflecting the Federal Government's commitment to digital transformation and quality technical education. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to digitalize entrance examinations in Nigeria, following similar reforms in other examination bodies.
Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh stated that Morocco could have beaten Brazil 3-1 if they had players similar to Nigeria's Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman in their squad. Oliseh shared this comment on his X handle after Morocco's 1-1 draw with Brazil in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage match. He described Morocco's performance as impressive, highlighting their tactical balance in both attack and defense. Oliseh noted that Brazil's result flattered them, attributing the respectable scoreline to their star players like Vinicius Jr and Raphinha. Morocco secured a point against the five-time world champions in the match where Vinicius won the Superior Player of the Match award.
The air component of Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 27 terrorists in separate air interdiction missions in Borno. An operational report from the Nigerian Air Force indicated that strikes were conducted following Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions. On June 10, an air interdiction mission at Dawoshe, a known terrorist enclave in the Southern Tumbus area, resulted in the destruction of vehicles and the neutralization of 12 terrorists. On the same day, a precision strike on terrorist positions at Metele in the Northern Tumbus area of Guzamala Local Government Area, Borno, confirmed 15 terrorists were neutralized. These operations are part of ongoing efforts to degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and deny insurgents freedom of action across the North-East theatre. The Armed Forces of Nigeria are committed to sustaining offensive operations against terrorist strongholds.