Politics

APC unveils 73-member National Convention Committee

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2026

Ahead of its national convention, scheduled for March 27 and 28, 2026, the All Progressives Congress, on Monday, unveiled a 73-member National Convention Central Coordination Committee.

The party announced Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, as Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, as Secretary of the committee, signalling intensified preparations for the convention, which will culminate in the selection of new members of the party’s National Working Committee.

APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, disclosed on Monday that the Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has been appointed Vice Chairman of the 73-member committee.

Last year, the APC released a comprehensive timetable for its 2025/2026 ward, local government, state, and zonal congresses across the country, all leading to the national convention.

The committee includes a wide array of governors reflecting the party’s national leadership structure.

Among them are Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Bassey Otu of Cross River, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, and Peter Mbah of Enugu State.

Other governors on the committee are, Muhammed Yahaya of Gombe, Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Abba Yusuf of Kano, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger, Abiodun Adedapo Oluseun of Ogun, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba.

Other notable committee members include APC Interim National Chairman Bisi Akande, former party chairmen Adams Oshiomhole, Abdullahi Adamu, and Abdullahi Ganduje, Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohamed Idris Malagi, and Minister of Defence Christopher Musa (retd.).

Also included are the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, former Senate Presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim, Ken Nnamani, and Ahmed Lawan, as well as former Speakers of the House of Representatives Aminu Bello Masari, Patricia Etteh, Dimeji Bankole, Yakubu Dogara, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele.

The announcement comes as APC intensifies preparations for its national convention, expected to set the party’s leadership agenda and pave the way for internal democracy in selecting new executives.

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Politics

US Firm Threatens Sanctions Against Politicians, INEC Officials Over Election Rigging

Published

24 seconds ago

April 9, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

A Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has vowed to recommend sanctions against Nigerian politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) found attempting to manipulate or undermine the country’s electoral process.

It was reports that the firm’s position comes amid growing international concern over rising cases of electoral malpractice in Nigeria.

In a statement posted on its 𝕏 handle on Wednesday, the firm said it would begin spotlighting electoral officials and individuals involved in election rigging in the country.

It added that such offenders would be recommended to the office of the United States President and Congress for global sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans.

The firm stated, “We will recommend to the Office of the President and Congress that Global Magnitsky sanctions be imposed on any Nigerian politician or official of INEC who engages in efforts to rig Nigeria’s ongoing electoral process.

“These measures should include freezing all foreign assets, restricting access to the global financial system, and imposing travel bans on individuals and their immediate family members.”

Firm Raises Concerns Over INEC

Von Batten-Montague-York said that although the US State Department had acknowledged that INEC possesses the institutional capacity to conduct credible federal elections, the electoral body had repeatedly shown weakness in the face of deliberate interference by political actors.

According to the firm, those vulnerabilities were exposed during the 2023 general elections.

It added that “current developments suggest the same pattern may be emerging again.”

The lobbying firm further disclosed that although the US Congress is currently on Easter recess, it has continued to share the State Department’s concerns with key lawmakers and plans to brief congressional leadership and senior officials at the US National Security Council early next week.

“Unlike the Biden Administration, which took no meaningful action in 2023, it is not in President Donald Trump’s nature to remain passive in the face of an election being openly undermined,” it stated.

The firm said its objective was to ensure accountability for any politician or INEC official found compromising the integrity of Nigeria’s elections.

Atiku’s Link To Lobbying Firm

The development comes on the heels of the recent engagement of the US firm by former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, to protect and strengthen his “reputational standing” in the United States.

The contract was signed by the firm’s Managing Partner, Karl Von Batten, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji on March 9 and 10, 2026, respectively.

According to documents filed with the US Department of Justice, one of the contract’s objectives is for the firm to “counterbalance” the Nigerian government’s “lobbying narratives” in the US.

Under the agreement, the firm is expected to facilitate and arrange meetings between Atiku and US government officials and members of Congress.

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Politics

INEC records over three million in second phase of voter registration

Published

13 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has recorded a total of 3, 441,121 completed registrations in the ongoing second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

According to the week 13 update released by the commission on Wednesday in Abuja, the figure comprises both online pre-registrations and physical walk-ins at various centres nationwide as of April 3.

The data revealed that 2,068,384 citizens completed their pre-registration online, while 1,372,737 voters opted for physical registration.

It also showed Jigawa leading with 201,047 representing 5.84 per cent of the total registrations; followed by Lagos with 181,095, while Kano State ranked third with 177,681.

The update further showed that participation of youths between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for 2,354,768, representing 68.43 per cent of the new registrants.

In terms of gender distribution, females accounted for 1,922,143, representing 55.86 percent of the total new voter registrants, while males accounted for 1,518,978, representing 44.14 per cent.

The occupational distribution also showed that students represented the largest single block of new voters at 1,235,931 (35.92 percent), followed by those in business at 701,912 (20.40 percent), and farming/fishing at 615,967 (18.28 percent).

The data further showed that 48,330 of the new registrants were Persons with Disabilities.

The commission explained that the 3,441,121 figure was a preliminary figure pending data clean-up during the period for citizens’ claims and objections, followed by the deployment of the Automated Biometric Identification System.

The commission emphasised that registration remained suspended in the Federal Capital Territory in compliance with Section 9 (6) of the Electoral Act 2022, following the Area Council Election held on Feb. 21.

It, however, advised eligible Nigerians who were yet to register to visit the official portals at https://cvr.inec.gov.ng or https://cvr.inecnigeria.org to do so.

NAN

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Politics

#OccupyINEC: Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso, others join ADC rally over INEC decisions

Published

15 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Leaders and members of the African Democratic Congress joined a large demonstration in Abuja on Wednesday, protesting decisions by the Independent National Electoral Commission that they said undermined democracy and the party’s internal leadership.

The protest, tagged #OccupyINEC, drew former presidential candidates and prominent politicians, including Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rauf Aregbesola, Aminu Tambuwal, and Dino Melaye, to Maitama Roundabout. Among others, hundreds of Kwankwasiyya members also participated.

Rotimi Amaechi at the protest. Photo credit: ADC

The demonstration saw participants singing Nigeria’s former national anthem, “Arise, O Compatriots!”, despite the fact that it was replaced on May 29, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu with the country’s 1960 independence anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee.”

Rotimi Amaechi and Dino Melaye at the protest.

The ADC further confirmed that the act was done “in an act of defiance.”

Several demonstrators also held placards supporting Senator David Mark, including ones that read, “In David Mark’s NWC we trust.”

Addressing the protest, former presidential candidate Peter Obi spoke on behalf of ADC members and other opposition leaders, urging Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy.

He said on X: “We, members and leaders of the ADC, and other well-meaning Nigerians, lovers of democracy, are saying that our democracy must not be killed.

“We say NO to a one-party system, and for that, today we’re calling out Nigerians who believe in unity, peace, and security of our country to join us as we defend democracy in our land.”

The protest follows INEC’s recent decision to no longer accept correspondence from either faction of the ADC led by Senator David Mark or Nafiu Bala, after a Court of Appeal judgment on the party’s leadership dispute. ADC and other opposition groups described the move as a restriction on party autonomy and an interference with internal party affairs.

National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, had earlier told The PUNCH the demonstration aimed to mobilise Nigerians in defence of democracy.

“This commission is now becoming the arbiter, judge, accuser and defender at the same time. Our major issue is the manner in which INEC has been going about creating disaffection in the opposition.

“The people are really angry and plan to show this anger by coming out. So, we’ll expect them to come out en masse for a peaceful rally. Then we’ll just demonstrate and protest,” he said.