Politics

US to closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 elections — Congressman

Published

1 month ago

July 5, 2026

The United States’ administration of President Donald Trump will closely monitor Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 general elections, US Congressman, Riley Moore, has said

Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, while responding to questions about Nigeria’s next general election, described the conduct of the polls as an issue that Washington will be paying “very close attention to.”

He made the remarks in an interview with NoireTV posted on the platform’s social media pages on Sunday.

Asked whether the United States could do more to support credible elections in Nigeria, Moore said, “What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to.”

The lawmaker also disclosed that the US House of Representatives was considering an appropriations bill containing provisions relating to Nigeria, particularly on religious freedom and US security assistance.

“We’re working on Chris (Smith)’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor of that bill. But I’d say, more importantly, what people need to pay attention to is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor today,” Moore said.

According to him, the proposed legislation contains “pretty strong and aggressive language” on Nigeria’s relationship with the United States.

“There’s a lot of language that I put on that bill that’s inside of it that relates to Nigeria and the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps that they have to take.

“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that here today. And so there’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward,” he added.

Moore said he would continue engaging the Trump administration on Nigeria-related issues and revealed he was scheduled to meet the US president.

“I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight. I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” he said.

Moore is a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, introduced alongside Congressman Chris Smith in February.

The proposed legislation seeks to require the U.S. Secretary of State to submit periodic reports to Congress on efforts to address religious persecution and mass atrocities in Nigeria.

The Smith-Moore bill proposes assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations, U.S. security assistance, sanctions, humanitarian support, and measures taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute perpetrators of attacks.

PUNCH Online also reports that the US House Appropriations Committee in April 2026 passed provisions in its annual State Department funding bill that impose stricter oversight and conditions on financial assistance to Nigeria.

The bill, forwarded to Congress for consideration, stipulates that 50 per cent of funds earmarked for Nigeria under foreign assistance titles will be withheld until it is certified that the government is taking “effective steps” to curb religious violence.

It also demands that funds must support investigations and prosecutions of violence committed by Fulani militia groups.

It further states that the government must facilitate the safe return of displaced persons.

Source: punchng.com

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Politics

Adeleke Maintains Lead As Collation Of Osun Governorship Results Continues

Published

12 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The current Governor of Osun State and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, is holding a commanding lead in the ongoing collation of results from Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

According to Punch, a check on the Nigeria Elections Intelligence System showed that with results in from 303 of the state’s 332 wards, Adeleke had amassed 177,572 votes, representing 50.5 per cent of the total.

His closest rival, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, trailed with 158,588 votes, or 45.1 per cent, putting the incumbent firmly ahead as collation neared its final stretch.

Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) occupied a distant third position with 5,917 votes at the time of filing this report.

Data from the exercise showed that of the 845,100 registered voters in Osun State, only 361,500 were accredited, putting voter turnout at 42.8 per cent.

Of the votes cast, 351,500 were declared valid, while 7,200 ballots were thrown out as rejected.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that 43.41 per cent of the state’s polling units had submitted their results by the time collation entered its concluding phase.

INEC’s Returning Officer for the state is expected to formally declare a winner at the state collation centre once results from all outstanding wards have been received.

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Politics

Osun Election: Tension As Accord Agent Accuses APC Of Monitoring Voters

Published

12 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Security forces were forced to intervene and calm the situation after tension arose at AUD Primary School, Atile, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State.

It was gathered that some voters protest the alleged clustering of party agents around the voting area.

Ajayi Ayodele, identified as an Accord Party agent, claimed that agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are allegedly monitoring voters as they cast their ballots.

This allegation generated concern among some voters at the polling location, prompting security personnel to step in and restore calm.

Following the intervention of security operatives, voting continued at the polling unit.

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Politics

Gov. Adeleke Wins His Polling Unit For Accord Party

Published

12 hours ago

August 15, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has been declared the winner of his polling unit 009, Abogunde/Sagba, Ede North Local Government.

According to results announced by the Presiding Officer, Adebimpe Susan Dunsin, Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, scored 421 votes to defeat other contestants.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji, won 29 votes while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Najeem Salaam, got only one vote

Only 457 of the 1082 voters registered at the unit came out to cast their vote, and voting concluded at 4:15pm.

Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke on Saturday, condemned the arrest of the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Sunday Bisi.

Naija News reports that Adeleke, who is a former member of the political party, called for his immediate release.

Adeleke, in a statement released through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed that Bisi was arrested at his residence in Ilesa shortly after returning from voting.

According to the Governor, it came to his notice that the PDP chairman was taken to an undisclosed location, adding that no reason was given for his arrest.

Governor stated that Bisi’s arrest is an attempt to intimidate his supporters.

Adeleke, who is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of working with compromised security agents to restrict voters from monitoring the collation of election results.

He stated, “This latest sweep on my supporters, I have authoritatively learnt, is part of a broader plan to give the APC unhindered access to change results at collation centres and upturn our wins at the poll.”

He called for the immediate release of Bisi and other persons he described as political prisoners across Osun State.

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