Senate amends Electoral Act to clarify jurisdiction in election disputes
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Nigerian Senate has passed an amendment to the 2026 Electoral Act Bill, aiming to establish a clearer legal framework for pre-election disputes. The bill, which amends Section 29 and introduces a new Section 29A, seeks to address persistent jurisdictional issues in pre-election matters. Senator Simon Lalong, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, stated that the amendment is necessary due to ongoing legal and constitutional controversies surrounding the interpretation of pre-election cases. He highlighted that the current situation leads to conflicting court decisions, abuse of judicial processes, and delays. The revised Section 295 allows aspirants to file actions in the Federal Capital Territory or where the cause of action arose, which Lalong described as practical and equitable. The new Section 29A establishes a distinct hierarchy for adjudication: disputes for National Assembly, governorship, and state Houses of Assembly elections will originate at the Federal High Court, with appeals to the Court of Appeal. For presidential and vice-presidential elections, matters will originate directly at the Court of Appeal, with appeals to the Supreme Court. This arrangement is intended to promote judicial efficiency and align with the constitutional importance of presidential elections. Lalong also noted that the amendment would curb the practice of litigants filing multiple suits and introduce certainty and procedural discipline into
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches for the men’s national U-20 and U-17 teams, respectively. These appointments follow a reshuffling of the backroom staff across all age-grade national football teams. Abdu Maikaba, who will lead the U-20 Flying Eagles, has a history of coaching prestigious Nigerian clubs like Enyimba FC and Kano Pillars, and previously served as an assistant coach for the U-20 team and head coach for the U-17 Golden Eaglets. Eboboritse Uwejamomere, the new head coach for the U-17 Golden Eaglets, has extensive experience as a coach-analyst for the senior men's national team, Super Eagles, and the senior women's national team, Super Falcons. He currently heads the academy at Sporting Lagos FC and has worked with English clubs such as Millwall FC and Nottingham Forest FC in youth development roles.
Yeshua’s Arm, a non-governmental organization, has voiced concerns regarding the diminishing reading culture among Nigerian children, attributing it to increased social media use and limited access to books. This concern was raised during the commissioning of a library at St Theresa School in Epe, Lagos State, as part of a literacy intervention project in collaboration with Dow Chemical Company. Mrs. Kemi Williams, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Yeshua’s Arm, noted that children are spending more time on social media than on reading. The organization's response includes establishing libraries and expanding mobile library services to improve literacy, reading habits, and critical thinking by providing access to books and learning materials. Williams stated that these efforts are currently reaching over 2,000 children. The libraries are designed to foster independent learning and cognitive development, aiming to enhance classroom learning outcomes and the quality of education nationwide. Williams emphasized that Nigeria's most valuable resource is its human capital, advocating for greater investment in education and literacy. The organization is working with schools to ensure the project's sustainability through continuous literacy support and has already introduced mobile libraries in several schools, impacting 20 to 30 schools and establishing about 10 permanent libraries. Toby-Lade Valmon, Site Implementation Leader for Global African Affinity Network, Dow Industrial
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade commended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her consistent support of Nigerian sports, particularly for women athletes. Olopade's remarks came as the First Lady received the Nigerian women's wrestling team, who achieved a record-breaking performance at the Africa Wrestling Championship in Egypt, securing their 15th continental title with eight gold and two silver medals. Olopade highlighted that Tinubu's dedication has been crucial to the continuous success of female athletes at continental and global competitions, describing her as a driving force. The First Lady has been a significant supporter of sports development in Nigeria, including being installed as Grand Patron of the 2025 Africa Women’s Volleyball Club Championship and promoting opportunities for para-athletes. The recent wrestling triumph further solidifies Nigeria's dominance in African wrestling.
Former WBA super-middleweight champion George Groves has urged organizers to stage the Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury heavyweight fight at Wembley Stadium. Groves believes the national stadium is the natural home for such a significant contest, especially for two British fighters who have previously headlined there. He expressed a desire for the fight to occur on British soil so that local fans can easily attend and witness the two best British heavyweights of their era compete. While acknowledging that both fighters have previously boxed at Wembley and might consider other international venues like Saudi Arabia, Vegas, New York, or Dublin, Groves feels they would ultimately be proud to have fought at Wembley. Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, has confirmed the fight agreement, targeting October, with Wembley as the current preferred venue. The bout, set to be streamed on Netflix, is contingent on Joshua's performance in his July 25 warm-up fight against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fury may also have a tune-up bout. Groves remains confident the fight will eventually happen despite delays, noting the significant public investment and anticipation for the matchup.