society
AGF Lateef Fagbemi Clarifies State of Emergency in Rivers State
AGF Fagbemi Explains Suspension of Governor Fubara, Others
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has, in detail, explained the declaration of the State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Fagbemi made clarification on the turn of events in the oil-rich state that led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials at a press conference on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at the State House Abuja.
Transcript of the engagement at the press conference is reproduced below…
It’s no longer news that the president of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, yesterday, took the bull by the horns to do what was required of a statesman, a patriot and a head of State and commander in chief of the armed forces.
The events in Rivers State started long ago, and he tried to intervene many times. Apart from that, well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, and concerned citizens have also attempted to settle the matter without any result. The president came out boldly yesterday to say the situation cannot be allowed to continue, a situation in which the critical economic life of the nation, what is giving lifeline to the nation to be, you know, criminally touched without any response from those who would ordinarily be expected to do so, cannot continue.
But don’t forget, the whole thing started or crystallised with the judgment of the Supreme Court that was handed down on the 28th day of February 2025 in which the Supreme Court, that’s the highest court in the land, made a categorical pronouncement after making very profound findings of breaches of the Constitution by the parties involved, particularly the governor of Rivers state, concluded that he was acting like a despot and that, as the situation is in Rivers State, there is no Government. These are very serious and very weighty allegations that only an irresponsible head of state or leader will fold his arms and ignore.
As I said, he made a very bold decision. We were all there when he addressed the public and chronicled all the facts from Genesis to Revelation.
So, I’m here. If there is any question to be asked on that, then I will be able to respond. But before then, don’t forget that the judgment of the Supreme Court had been widely reported and published in the papers. So, the President was not a party to it, so the question of trying to influence anything would not arise. And by virtue of certain provisions of the Constitution, everybody has a duty to ensure that the judgment of the court is obeyed, particularly coming from the highest court in the land; there is no other person to appeal to. There is no other body to appeal to. It’s not subject to any further test of validity. As things are, we all have a duty, collectively and individually to ensure that we give maximum respect and obedience to the judgment of the Supreme Court.
So, gentlemen, I’m available to answer any questions, clarify, or make observations. Thank you.
Q: Did the situation in Rivers State warrant the declaration of a state of emergency? Because some people say the president’s decision was hasty?
Let me start on a note of how we got to where we are today. How did it all start? That is about the genesis. We all know how we got there since 2023. Towards the end of 2023, things have not been going well to the extent that the governor took the law into his hands and demolished and brought down the House of Assembly. Don’t forget the role of the House of Assembly. They are the lawmakers. They are to consider the budget. They are to, you know, pass the budget. They are also to be approached in matters of appointment of commissioners for ratification and all other things. They are to do oversight functions. So, since that happened, things have not been the same at all.
In a community of 32, you expect that at least 15 or 16 people will be there to do the job. The governor, as I said, and it is no longer news, harboured three or four of the members, constituted them to the House of Assembly and gave them preferential treatment, and moved them to the Government House to perform legislative functions. This situation got to the court. There were about 10, 15, 16 cases, and at the end of the day, the Supreme Court came out and made very profound findings of breaches of the Constitution, mainly against the governor.
You see, you rise or fall based on what you took to court and what court decision is on it. The court came to the decision that the governor had long anticipated, wrongly, that he might be impeached, and because of that, he knew that the House of Assembly was a critical structure, or organ, so he brought down the House of Assembly. 14 months after that is as at yesterday, there was no effort to rebuild the House of Assembly.
The government stands on the tripod, the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary, and you have made the functioning of government impossible. It is not enough for the executive, to say, we are spending money, even the money you want to spend must have been appropriated for by the House of Assembly. These are some of the findings that the Supreme Court made. And at the end of the day, the Supreme Court said, or came to a decision, that the governor’s behaviour was like a despot, and that as the situation was, there was no government in Rivers. If there was no government in Rivers, what would we be looking for?
I’m so sorry for bringing in this issue. In the Bible, they asked Jesus Christ, are You the Son of God? And he said, Yes. Then others chorused, what further evidence do we need from this man? So the stage is set, but no action was taken immediately in the expectation or hope that good sense will prevail, the governor would create an enabling environment, and that the House of Assembly too would be reasonable enough to ensure that the people of Rivers got a return for their voting of members of the House of Assembly and the governor and other elected officials to enjoy dividends of democracy. We are in a democracy.
So then, there was what I will call telegraphing of the militants, I will say, by the governor. And I said so when he beckoned to them that, oh, he will let them know when it was time to act, to the militant. Let us say it was wrong. Did he come out to disown them? The answer is no. And a week after, they swung into action; you see or witness the vandalisation of oil pipelines.
Don’t also forget that before now, that is when this government came into office. Nigeria was producing about 900,000 barrels of oil a day. With the efforts and all the ingenuity that the President had, he ensured that the production rose to about 1.5 million barrels per day. That’s about 45% increase; governors were smiling home at the end of the month with about 60% increase in their take home to their various states. Then somebody rose or encouraged or became inactive when he was supposed to act. There was not a word dissuading the militants who issued this threat.
In today’s Nigeria, maybe with the efforts of Mr President, Agriculture will come in. But as at today, we still rely largely on oil. Anyone who touches these pipelines is not only the enemy of Rivers but he is also the enemy of Nigeria. All Nigerians in all 36 states, share in what comes in from the production of this oil. And I believe that the decision of Mr President is anchored on the decision of the Supreme Court .
The second one is the inability of those involved, both the House of Assembly and the governor, to create an enabling environment for the people of Rivers to enjoy the dividends of democracy. The third part of the series is about the security situation in that place. You know, if the President had waited maybe a day longer, only God knows what would have followed. And as a result, he came out to say, I am not only the head of state, I’m commander in chief of the armed forces, and declared a state of emergency.
Q: What would you say to those who said Mr President’s decision was hasty?
I will ask rather rhetorically, when do you think he should have acted? When everything has collapsed? No, the law envisages that you come in when there is imminent danger to the security of lives and property. People were killing themselves. It’s no longer news. It’s not a question of making up the story. We all read papers every day. Those who live there are living in fear. So, there is undoubtedly the need to come in. We have about two years into the administration in the state, if he didn’t come in now, when do you think he should come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so.
The President has acted timeously. He had allowed all the people involved, the parties involved, to make amends; before then, he assembled them, he tried to mediate. Some said he had no constitutional power after agreeing. And what they agreed to at the meeting were not implemented. So, to answer your question, I am certain that the President has acted timeously after giving them enough rope, and as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, it was a tough decision for him to make.
It doesn’t present anybody with joy, to disrupt the flow of democracy or practice of it. But the Constitution itself envisages that there may be this type of situation, and that was why it is provided in section 305 of the Constitution that extraordinary situations might arise. This is one of such extraordinary situations.
Q: People have expressed divergent views about the suspension of the governor, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly. How legal would you say the suspension was?
You see, you decide each case on its own peculiar facts and circumstances. Who are the people involved? Who are the parties involved in this saga? They are the governor and members of the House of Assembly. So, who else should have been affected? I’ve heard this funny argument. I’m sorry for saying it. It’s funny because it doesn’t make any sense to me. Oh, that the President should have just gone there to secure the pipelines and then come back when some people are there encouraging vandals to come in. The action of the President, you know what happened, is the effect of a fundamental cause, and you cannot be treating the effect to cure the cause. What was the cause? The governor and members of the House of Assembly. So, you have to behave responsibly, and you must have the gut. If it happens again, I will encourage Mr President to do the same, maybe this time with even greater vigour and vitality. So, the question of separating, treating, or giving preferential treatment to anybody does not arise. If you give preferential treatment to anybody, you are giving preferential treatment to hooliganism. Just call a spade a spade.
This is where I believe that we should put up our patriotism cap. It shouldn’t be about individuals. It should not be about anybody. It should be about the entity called Nigeria, but in this case, it is Rivers State. So, it is Rivers State’s turn today, it can be anybody’s turn tomorrow. Let the signal be clearly sent for those who want to foment trouble, who want to make the practice of democracy and enjoyment of democracy a mirage, to think twice.
So, I will answer the question by saying, I return resounding no to the quest that the governor and deputy governor should have been spared, or the members of the House of Assembly, they were all in it.
Q: Would you say, that the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State was some compromise to save the governor and his deputy from impeachment?
It appears so. Don’t forget, I think yesterday (Tuesday), there was a notice of impeachment from the House of Assembly. If that impeachment had been allowed to take its full course, then the governor would have lost wholly and entirely. So, in a way, if you say it’s a compromise, I will agree that instead of allowing the impeachment process to continue, and which in the end, would have seen both the Governor and the deputy governor out of office and would have been out for the entirety of the four-year term with the remainder of what it we have. We are one year, I think about nine months now, leaving a balance of two years and three months. So, if normalcy returns, Fubara Sim may come in. But for now, it could be a compromise. I will agree.
What do you say to people who feel the President has a stake in this and he appears to be playing the playbook of the minister of the FCT, Wike, who appears to be the one that is winning in all this?
About the playbook of the Honourable Minister of Federal Capital Territory. You see, there are occasions especially when it comes to national issues, we have to come out plainly and sincerely. Where do you put the Minister of FCT in this case? Was he the one who asked for the demolition of the House of Assembly? Was he the one who said the governor should not present his budget to the House of Assembly? Was he the one who advised the governor not to go through the House of Assembly to ratify the commissioner-nominees? I don’t know. Because if you want to look at a case, you look at the facts presented. The Supreme Court made these critical findings. The FCT minister did not feature. Whatever the situation, assuming he featured, he would have featured, maybe on the side of the legislators. But you have is: let everybody go home for the first six months. So I don’t see his hands here in what we have.
Look, I will encourage you to read that judgment of the Supreme Court. There were about 11 of 12 findings against the governor. What sentiments are we bringing on this matter? There isn’t any sentiment. If the National Assembly feels that the President has not done well, then you won’t have the two-thirds majority required to validate his action. Certainly, you know it is like a situation in which they veto, veto usually is on the side or with Mr President when a bill is presented. But the converse is the same here: It is the President who is initiating a move: I want to declare a state of emergency. He has to make that move. He made that clear in his speech and broadcast yesterday that I’ve made this decision and referred the matter to the National Assembly. It is for the National Assembly to now say we veto. That is to say, we don’t give you approval. And since the National Assembly is still in session, we expect that within 48 hours, something will come out for it.
So, whoever has any misgiving or concern, I will say, should channel it to the National Assembly to say, don’t give the required two-third approval. Otherwise, we should all, like I said, continue to put up our patriotism cap.
Q: When Mr. President was in the opposition, particularly in 2014, he criticised the declaration of state of emergency by then President Goodluck Jonathan on three states for elections to take place due to security emergencies. What has changed? Did the President explain to you why his position has changed on declaring the state of emergency and suspending an elected governor, his deputy and the entire legislature of the state.
About what happened during President Jonathan’s period. Don’t forget, like I said, every matter depends on the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. You can declare an emergency in a variety of ways. It is like a man who is suffering from a disease, they say oh it’s cancerous, they say, oh, I hope it has not spread to so-so area, then you now excise the portion affected. I think that was what happened during President Jonathan’s period. If it’s about the COVID period, it has its own, Boko Haram has its own. Boko Haram was located or confined to a particular area. The governor then said please come to our aid. But the governor who is at the centre of it here has not made any such request and it would have been grossly irresponsible for Mr President to fold his arms. So, the situation in the era of former President Goodluck Jonathan is different from what we have here. What we have here is everybody is involved. You can exercise your rights but don’t forget, there are always lines, you don’t cross them, if you cross them, then you also suffer the consequences.
Q: With the state of emergency, who is going to reconcile them?
The people themselves, now that this situation has arisen, I believe, will call themselves to order. The President has intervened, 1,2,3, times without any result, and he alluded to this in his broadcast, that he had done his own. Well-meaning Nigerians have done their own to no avail, and that was why he had to come out and make the decision that he took yesterday. So, the people are left to allow good sense to prevail, so it is left to them to decide what they want, whether they want reconciliation or a continuation of the ugly situation.
Q: Are we going to see FCT Minister playing a role in this reconciliation journey?
That will be an affair of the people of Rivers State, if they want. They can call him. If he likes, he can call them. But I assure you that with this situation, a platform has been created for them to come together in the interest of the good people of Rivers State who have voted to have dividends of democracy.
Q: The NBA argued that the political crisis in Rivers State does not justify the emergency rule. What’s your reaction to that nation?
When you talk of a state of emergency, it is an extraordinary situation, demanding the suspension or putting in abeyance the normal situation that would have been. Normally you allow the legislature, the executive and the judiciary to continue to function. But like I said, section 305 envisaged that there might be a situation in which extraordinary matters or events will come up which will require suspending the normal rights or privileges of those who are involved, and that is why the justification for suspension of the people involved comes in.
I don’t see how you would have spared the governor and the legislature, they are both involved. Things are not working in Rivers. So, the justification is those who brought this to be, who caused this must be shown in clear terms that you don’t do it and get away with it. There must be consequences for our action. If section 305 were to be absent, then you can be talking of what justification do you have. But section 305 clearly spells out conditions in which the government, the President, will come out and say, I am suspending the normal operation of things. In times of war between Nigeria and another country, God forbid, that can come in. In other situations, yes, and you expect the governor to make supplication to Mr President, to say the situation I have in my state is such that we need you to come in, and that was why the President alluded to this in his broadcast. He said, the governor had failed to make the request, and I, as the President, have assessed the situation. I believe that a state of emergency should come in. A state of emergency presupposes the suspension of ordinary rights and privileges that you enjoy.
Q: Will the seized funds be released to the Rivers State Sole Administrator?
An extraordinary situation has arisen in Rivers State. When the administrator comes, he may request for these funds, and to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund, because the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things.
Transcript Released by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy
Lt General Waidi Shaibu; an Epitome of Selflessness, Altruistic and Unalloyed leadership.
By Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi.
” This initiative is also central to my “Soldier First Concept”, which seek to deliberately prioritize the welfare and living condition of our officers and soldiers. It is worth reiterating that my Soldier First Concept is premised on the understanding that operational success is directly linked to the level of care and support provided to those entrusted with the defense of our beloved nation. The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks Phase Two, therefore, stands as a practical expression of my command philosophy”. Lt General Waidi Shaibu during the flagging off of the Phase Two of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Barracks Construction Project in Abuja.
At the inception of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, one thing was clear to all, here was an enigma and a master strategist coming to tackle a most difficult and daunting job, after our economy, the task of winning the remnant of the war against terrorism and violent crimes in the Country.
Before the Tinubu administration came into the office, the previous administration for the most part have been able to contain the issue of insecurity to their best of abilities, but politics and ethnicity mixed with religion have also been a clog in the wheel of decisively dealing with this cankerworms.
Although the reins of governance fell into Tinubu’s way through a landslide victory at the 2023 elections, the task of fighting the last batch of terror has now be given to a certain General Waidi Shaibu by his appointment as the 25th Chief of Army Staff, (COAS, Nigerian Army) in October 2025 and by extension the man upon whom the biggest responsibility yet, in recent times fell upon not only to win a most unconventional warfare against terror and violent crimes, but to organize the Nigerian Army, in organization, motivation and infrastructure, more than in the fronts fighting terror. Therefore the tasks were legion.
Changing The Military With Servant Leadership Style.
Exactly four months after, the very unassuming gentleman and a General, Shaibu can be said to have equally achieved in legionary and legendary proportions by bringing his uniqueness into changing the Nigerian Army with his purposeful servant-leader military style of leadership in which the high morale of the soldiers was brought back and trust restored between the rank and file and the commanding officers.
Today, there is no organized terror attacks of the kind we used to see, only isolated soft-target attacks and ambushes as the capacity of Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits and other enablers of violent crimes have practically been decimated and reduced to nothingness.
How Was General Shaibu Able To Do This?
There are a number of significant difficulties for today’s military – the global war on terrorism, weapons system acquisitions and personnel drawdowns have been a hindrance with Nigeria denied access to sophisticated weapons in the past and some past administration, mismanaging and embezzling of funds meant for weapons procurement.
The focus of this article is on one strategic component of the exemplary leadership of General Waidi Shaibu, who in spite of some odds, and international support and morale of our troops was still able to shape the Nigerian Army significantly as to make it functional, professional and a worthy army, a pride to the noble profession of the military, recognized all over the world for bringing violent crimes to its knees. And in just such a short time too.
Effectiveness Of General Shaibu’s Leadership.
As earlier stated, Shaibu’s servant leadership has been the major turning point in making the huge difference, from the period of his appointment, to date.
The Army’s definition of leadership is the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization.
Therefore an army leader is required to inspire and influence people to accomplish their goals.
General Shaibu simply put himself in the place of his soldiers, feeling their pain as his pain, knowing their needs as his needs — He wasn’t the boss who stayed to far from his troops, he lived among them.
Shaibu is a leader who motivates people both inside and outside the army to help them pursue their goals, focus on their thinking, and shape decisions for the better of the army.
General Waidi Shaibu took his unique leadership style to the world, appearing on the world stage in Liberia, when he reaffirmed Nigeria’s enduring leadership in regional peace and security, declaring that Liberia’s current stability was a direct result of Nigeria’s delibrate intervention , African solidarity and military sacrifices. In his speech at the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, where he was the Special Guest of Honor at the event marking the 69th Armed Forces Day Anniversary of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Here he was at the international stage strengthening not only the Nigerian Army but deepening Nigeria’s democracy by telling the whole world his resolve to exterminate terror as well as defend Nigeria’s democracy, a deep resolve to which he has played an exemplary role.
Such is the kind of servant leader that Shaibu is, his loyalty to Nigeria and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, never in doubt. He’s a soldier’s soldier.
Loyalty As Shaibu’s Watchword.
In leadership loyalty, although a vital ingredient, can only be acquired by those who are innately and inherently loyal. In the army, loyalty is perhaps more than just a need, it is a pillar upon which the military structure rests.
But Shaibu to date, has left no one in doubt where his loyalty lies, to the country, and to the President and the Commander in Chief.
In all the six zones of our dear country, the Army under General Shaibu has stayed true to the indivisibility of the country. Our country is safer today because of the unique leadership style, loyal and selfless service provided by the Chief of Army Staff.
Shaibu’s philosophy seems to echo the very words of the great military strategist, Napoleon Bonaparte, “as long as there is the self-determination to do what is best for the nation, every other consideration is secondary”.
These are the type of characteristics he said the army under him aims to instill in each solider, and to all intents and purposes, General Waidi Shaibu has done all of these.
Lesson From Having A Leader Like General Shaibu.
Being an exemplary leader in the army requires having mental strength. There is a common misconception that people who are physically strong are the only ones who make great leaders. But again, we have seen in the ever smiling gentle General that his greatest strength lies in his mental faculty and capabilities.
We have also seen in the example of Shaibu, a good leader needs to be mentally strong and able to make firm and sound minded decisions.
Fighting terrorism is more of intelligence gathering and counter-espionage, more of a game of wits than bare braggadio, when the enemy you are fighting is not the conventional Army and may even be lurking in the market place, mosques, churches, where civilians reside. Perhaps, this is where Shaibu in four months have won.
Mahatma Gandhi was an exceptional leader in that he was able to satisfy the basic psychological needs of his followers. Ghandi, a small frail man whom was soft spoken and practiced resolute leadership style, is a prime example of dexterity in leadership. He was able to move thousands of people to action in India and at the same time inspired the entire globe with his non-violent methods.
General Shaibu, with his soft spoken, almost shy nature, has been able to gain the confidence of his men, that today, under his leadership, the Nigerian Army is the pride of our dear Nation.
Today, we salute this exemplary leader, consummate soldier and meritorious Chief of Army Staff who came when his country needed him most and has continued to serve humanity and has impacted positively on this generation. His name in the annals of history, we are very sure of worthy, most irreproachable place in which he will be remembered for his selfless services rendered to motherland, saving Nigeria from being consumed by violent crimes and from political destabilization. A certain General Waidi Shaibu has continued to stand firmly behind the country and behind his President.
Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, an entrepreneur and an opinion moulder contributed this article from Ibadan, Oyo State.
Senate’s Electoral Reform Bill Risks Opening Door to Voting Errors, NBA’s Ubani Warns
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“As harmonization talks continue in Abuja, legal experts and civil society leaders warn that ambiguities in the Senate’s draft amendment could undermine electronic result transmission and weaken public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
Abuja, Nigeria – The ongoing controversy over the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026 has erupted into one of the most consequential political flashpoints in Nigeria’s democratic journey ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the centre of the storm is the Senate’s version of the bill, which critics (including Monday Ubani, SAN, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Electoral Reform Committee) say leaves open critical loopholes that could invite systematic electoral errors and manipulation.
On Saturday, Ubani raised pointed concerns during a televised interview on Arise Television, arguing that the Senate’s draft, as passed on second reading, “leaves room for electoral error”. He explained that electronic result transmission and result transfer processes in the bill still rely on manual collation at collation centres, leaving the possibility for discrepancies between what voters see at the polling unit and what is declared later.
“The people have witnessed a situation where a different result will be declared at the collation centre, different from what happened at the polling unit,” Ubani said. “The Senate proposed bill leaves room for electoral error and there are concerns about communication failures that can be illegally taken advantage of.”
The uproar stems from the Senate’s decision not to include language that mandates real‑time electronic transmission of election results from polling units with a reform widely championed by civil society, legal experts, opposition parties and advocacy groups. Instead, the Senate retained a provision that allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretion in determining the mode of results transfer, similar to what existed under the Electoral Act 2022.
For decades, Nigeria’s elections have been plagued by allegations of manipulation and result tampering, particularly during the transportation and collation of results away from polling units. In the 2023 general elections, electronic tools like the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) were deployed to upload results online, allowing citizens to view them in real time. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that such electronic transmission lacked a statutory basis, since the Electoral Act did not expressly mandate its use.
This legal lacuna has invigorated reform advocates to push for legislative clarity. As one election law expert told TheCable in an in‑depth legal analysis, “the absence of ‘real‑time’ language, the undefined communication failure exception, and the designation of manual results as primary when technology allegedly fails transform what should be a strong transparency mechanism into a discretionary system vulnerable to abuse.”
Yet, rather than enshrining real‑time electronic transmission as a legal requirement, the Senate retained the existing discretionary framework, prompting outrage. Civil society organisation #FixPolitics Africa argued that this amounts to a “brazen betrayal of electoral reform and the rule of law,” stating that ambiguities in the bill erode public trust and risk hollowing out Nigeria’s democracy.
Prominent voices have weighed into the debate. Former Minister of Education and activist Oby Ezekwesili warned that the Senate’s approach amounts to “playing with fire” ahead of elections that Nigerians hope will be more credible than past cycles. Critics argue that removing mandatory electronic transmission and retaining discretionary language hands back power to old practices that have facilitated manipulation.
On the political front, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the Senate’s decision as “most shameful and unfortunate,” stressing that the majority of Nigerians want electoral sanctity bolstered through electronic safeguards. The party’s statement argued that without clear legal requirements, result manipulation remains possible.
Yet Senate leaders have downplayed the criticism. Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed that the process is not complete, noting that the Senate will reconvene to approve the Votes and Proceedings of its sessions before the final text is settled. He cautioned against premature judgments, characterising public outrage as misguided given that legislative harmonisation with the House of Representatives is still underway.
Senators like Ireti Kingibe have also sought to reassure the public. Kingibe, a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, said the core reforms (including electronic transmission) remain part of the discussions and will be clarified in a harmonised version of the bill.
As a harmonisation committee meets to reconcile the Senate and House versions, the stakes could scarcely be higher. If the differences are not resolved clearly and transparently, the final Electoral Act may lack the very reforms most Nigerians believe are necessary to restore confidence in the electoral process.
Legal scholar Dr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, writing in a recent analysis, captured the moment perfectly: “Nigerians invested in technology and raised expectations about transparency, but the legal framework must now match that investment and failing to enshrine real‑time transmission risks a repeat of the very irregularities reformers sought to eliminate.”
The 2027 elections loom large on the calendar. With trust in democratic institutions fragile and public impatience with political elite promises at an all‑time high, the final form of Nigeria’s electoral law may prove as decisive as any campaign rhetoric or political rally. The tension between tradition and technology, discretion and certainty, could well determine whether the next general elections are a triumph of democracy or another missed opportunity.
society
Bishop Chidi Anthony Appointed National President of CPFN Stakeholders Forum at 8th Bi-ennial Convention, Ibadan 2026
Bishop Chidi Anthony Appointed National President of CPFN Stakeholders Forum at 8th Bi-ennial Convention, Ibadan 2026
Ibadan, Oyo State – The Christian Police Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN) has appointed Bishop Chidi Anthony as the National President of CPFN Stakeholders Forum, following his outstanding contributions to ministry, global evangelism, and humanitarian impact.
The appointment was made at the 8th Bi-ennial National Convention of CPFN, held from February 11-13, 2026, at Men of Issacar Vision Ministry, Olororo-Ojo, Ibadan, Oyo State. The convention was themed “Christian Police as Repairer of the Breach” (Isaiah 58:12).
Bishop Anthony, General Overseer of Kings in Christ International Ministries and National President of the Pentecostal Ministers Forum (PMF), expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “When I received the letter… I was not surprised, so pleased with the letter, because this is the reason why God called me.”
He emphasized his commitment to promoting CPFN’s good image and changing public perception of the police, stating, “I have to protect the good image of CPFN… When a police man does a little mistake, you find out it will go viral, but when a police man does something good, you find out, it will not go viral and the people are seeing it that the police are bad.”
Bishop Anthony praised AIG Emmanuel Adegbola Aina’s performance as CPFN National Coordinator and expressed admiration for CPFN founder, retired AIG Michael O. Daniel, saying, “I was surprised that with his age, he still came and participated actively at the convention… great evidence of his passion of things of God.”
To CPFN members, Bishop Anthony offered encouragement: “My encouragement to them is that they should not relax, it is not easy when you are into Christ… our reward is over there in heaven.”
The 8th Bi-ennial Convention marked a turning point for CPFN, ushering in renewed vision, stronger leadership, and deeper spiritual commitment. With Bishop Chidi Anthony at the helm, CPFN looks forward to greater impact in spreading the gospel, fostering integrity, and building a police force anchored in faith and service to humanity.
-
celebrity radar - gossips6 months agoWhy Babangida’s Hilltop Home Became Nigeria’s Political “Mecca”
-
society6 months agoPower is a Loan, Not a Possession: The Sacred Duty of Planting People
-
news6 months agoTHE APPOINTMENT OF WASIU AYINDE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS AN AMBASSADOR SOUNDS EMBARRASSING
-
Business6 months agoBatsumi Travel CEO Lisa Sebogodi Wins Prestigious Africa Travel 100 Women Award