Month: April 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled Saturday, June 20, 2026, for the conduct of bye-elections across six states, while also intensifying preparations for upcoming governorship elections through enhanced training reforms.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed the date on Thursday in Abuja during the formal reception of a newly sworn-in National Commissioner, Jamila Malafa. He noted that the bye-elections would be held simultaneously with the Ekiti State Governorship Election.

According to him, the exercise will fill vacant senatorial seats in Enugu State, Nasarawa State, Rivers State, and Ondo State, alongside a State House of Assembly seat in Kebbi State and a House of Representatives seat in Kano State.

Amupitan described Malafa as a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both military and electoral operations, emphasizing her previous contributions to logistics within INEC and her legal expertise from service in the Nigerian Navy. He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering credible and transparent elections nationwide.

In her remarks, Malafa expressed gratitude for the warm reception and pledged to support efforts aimed at strengthening democratic processes and ensuring successful elections.

Meanwhile, INEC has deepened its electoral training reforms with a two-day Post-Election Training Audit (PETA) and Pre-Training Assessment (PRETA) workshop held in Abuja, as part of preparations for the 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

The workshop, organized by The Electoral Institute (TEI), reviewed training conducted during the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election and the 2026 FCT Area Council polls.

Acting Director-General of TEI, Ibrahim Sani, stressed that the credibility of elections largely depends on the competence of poll workers. He warned that inadequate training could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Other officials, including Nasiru Umar and Helen Ajayi, emphasized the need for critical evaluation of past training exercises to address gaps and improve future performance.

Also speaking, Binta Kasim Mohammed highlighted that the audit covers key aspects such as recruitment, logistics, stakeholder engagement, and election-day performance of ad hoc staff.

INEC said the combined PETA and PRETA initiative reflects its commitment to institutional learning and continuous improvement, expressing confidence that the exercise will strengthen its capacity to deliver free, fair, and inclusive elections across the country.

Civil society organisations and organised labour have issued a strong communiqué calling for urgent reforms to address Nigeria’s worsening energy crisis, following a strategic roundtable held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Crispan Hotel in Jos.

The roundtable, convened by Equity International and CYPA Africa in partnership with organised labour, brought together stakeholders across policy, industry, and development sectors to examine the rising cost of energy and its far-reaching impact on Nigerians.

In the communiqué released at the end of the meeting, participants identified structural governance failures, weak regulatory systems, policy inconsistencies, exchange rate instability, and infrastructure deficits as the primary drivers of the country’s persistent energy challenges. While acknowledging the influence of global geopolitical tensions on oil prices, the stakeholders stressed that Nigeria’s crisis is largely homegrown.

They described as alarming the paradox of a major crude oil-producing nation battling unaffordable fuel prices, rising transportation costs, and deepening economic hardship. According to the communiqué, the increasing cost of energy has become a major driver of inflation, significantly affecting food prices, production costs, and the survival of small and medium-scale enterprises.

The forum emphasised that energy should not be treated merely as a market commodity but as a fundamental economic and social necessity tied directly to livelihoods, productivity, and national development. Participants warned that stagnant incomes amid rising costs are worsening poverty levels and weakening citizens’ purchasing power.

The communiqué further raised concerns that despite subsidy removal and market liberalisation, Nigeria has yet to achieve a transparent and competitive energy market, with lingering questions around pricing systems, crude allocation, and regulatory oversight.

To address these issues, stakeholders outlined key recommendations including improving transparency in the petroleum value chain, cushioning the impact of rising energy costs on citizens and businesses, investing in public transportation, and strengthening domestic refining capacity through rehabilitation of refineries and support for modular refinery development.

They also called for exchange rate stability, tax relief for affected sectors, stricter market regulation, and the reactivation of depot systems to improve distribution nationwide.

During the dialogue, in their remarks, Amb. Chris Iyama of CYPA Africa attributed the crisis to global oil market volatility and domestic inefficiencies, stressing the urgency of practical, solution-driven engagement.

Gad Shamaki, a university academic, described the situation as a governance and social challenge, urging both government and citizens to take responsibility.

Labour representative James Ugochukwu highlighted inconsistencies in fuel pricing across regions and questioned why Nigeria’s costs remain unstable despite being an oil-producing nation.

Kenneth Shama of organised labour linked rising energy costs to insecurity and poverty, advocating for hardship allowances and fiscal relief for workers and businesses.

Concluding, the stakeholders reaffirmed that Nigeria’s energy crisis is not only an economic issue but also a governance and social justice concern, pledging sustained advocacy and engagement toward transparent, people-centred reforms that prioritise citizens’ welfare and economic resilience.

The Plateau State Police Command has successfully conducted the written examination for the ongoing Constable recruitment exercise, marking another significant step in the nationwide recruitment process.

The examination, held on Tuesday at the Police Staff College, Jos, was organized by the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Police Service Commission. The exercise witnessed an impressive turnout, with 7,248 applicants participating out of the 7,478 candidates scheduled for the examination.

Officials overseeing the process, including Sati S. Dang, Bello Yahaya, and Bassey Ewah, monitored the exercise closely to ensure transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to established guidelines.

The Command praised the applicants for their exemplary conduct, discipline, and cooperation throughout the exercise, noting that the peaceful atmosphere contributed to the smooth and successful completion of the examination.

Candidates have been advised to remain patient and await further information regarding the next stage of the recruitment process through official Nigeria Police Force communication channels.

The Berom Diaspora Coalition (BDC), alongside allied groups, has called on the Federal Government to declare Mahanga in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State a terrorist hideout, describing it as a major stronghold for armed groups allegedly responsible for persistent attacks across the state.

Speaking during a press conference held in Jos on April 28, 2026, under the theme “Reclaiming Our Lost Ancestral Lands and Resettlement of Our People,” Representing the coalition, Barnabas Dazi expressed deep concern over continued violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises affecting Berom communities.

The group alleged that hundreds of lives have been lost between November 2025 and April 2026, with several communities in Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Jos South, Bokkos, and Bassa Local Government Areas repeatedly attacked. According to the coalition, more than 70 Berom villages have been displaced, with some reportedly occupied by armed groups.

A key demand highlighted during the briefing was the urgent designation of Mahanga as a terrorist enclave. The coalition argued that such a move would enable security agencies to carry out decisive operations to dismantle what it described as a long-standing base for violent attacks.

Beyond security measures, the BDC emphasized the urgent need for the reclamation of ancestral lands and the safe resettlement of displaced persons. It criticized the slow pace of government intervention, noting that many affected families remain homeless while their lands are allegedly occupied.

The coalition urged both the Federal and Plateau State governments to move beyond assurances and take immediate action to restore displaced communities to their original homes. It also called for stronger prosecution of suspects linked to attacks and compensation for victims.

Reaffirming its stance, the group appealed to the international community and human rights organizations to intervene and help end the violence, stressing that the protection of lives and restoration of ancestral lands must remain a priority.