News
2027: 4 INEC National Commissioners’ Seats Vacant
Four National Commissioner positions are currently vacant at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), barely a year to the 2027 general elections, a senior official of the commission has disclosed.
Report says while speaking on Saturday, the official said three National Commissioners had already completed their five-year tenure and left the commission on September 14, while another is expected to leave this month.
He said the vacancies would not prevent the commission from taking decisions because the remaining commissioners could still form a quorum, but acknowledged that the absence of the commissioners had increased the workload of those still in office.
“Obviously, we should have the commission with the full complement. But that doesn’t mean that it’s an adverse effect because there was a precedent. Elections were held without the full complement, but the most important thing is that there is quorum,” he said.
According to him, after the four commissioners have left, INEC will still have eight National Commissioners, which is sufficient to form a quorum for the commission’s decisions.
“Because after the four have left, we still have eight. And the quorum is also there, so the decision, it doesn’t affect decisions in the quorum,” he said.
However, the official said the vacancies should be filled as soon as possible because serving commissioners were having to take on additional responsibilities.
He said the absence of commissioners resulted in taking over some of the responsibilities of the affected commissioner, including the supervision of states and chairmanship of committees by those on ground.
“So that means more work, of course, for those who are there. So that underscores the need for the government as quickly as possible to fill in those vacancies,” he said.
The names according to the source are; Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru from the North-West. He was the Chairman, Operations and Logistics committee; also, Professor Sani Adam from the North-Central. He was the Chairman, Legal services, clearance and compliance committee; while the third person who left already is Dr. Baba Bila, from North – East. He was the Chairman, Finance and General Purpose Committee.
The one person who is expected to leave this month is Professor Kunle Ajayi, who represents South-West. He is the Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee. Although, the source could not immediately confirm the exact date of his departure.
The official stressed that the affected commissioners left because their statutory five-year tenure had expired.
“Their tenure expired. They were sworn in exactly five years ago. To the date, their tenure expired. The three I told you, their tenure expired September 14th.
“So they were sworn in five years earlier, exactly five years earlier. So when it is on the dot, when your tenure expires, you leave,” he said.
On the process of replacing the commissioners, the official said INEC had no role in appointing either National Commissioners or Resident Electoral Commissioners, stressing that the responsibility rested with the government.
“You know the procedure. The President nominates, submits it to the National Council of State. If the National Council of State approves, then the Presidency sends it to the Senate.
“So INEC has absolutely no role in the appointment of its commissioners, whether they are National or Resident Electoral Commissioners,” he said.
He added that the process included security clearances, including screening by the Department of State Services (DSS), before the nominees could proceed through the constitutional process.
Asked whether the Presidency was aware of the vacancies, the official said he could not speak on behalf of the Presidency.
“I wouldn’t know. They should know, but I cannot speak for the Presidency,” he said.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed ownership of the aircraft which crashed on Monday in Igbokoda area of Ondo State.
Ehimen Ejodame, NAF Director of public relations and information, said the aircraft was on a “routine mission” when it crashed in the early hours of Monday.
In a statement, the air force spokesperson said a rescue operation is underway.
“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026,” the statement reads.
“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred.
“Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.
“The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing Search and Rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course.”
The Ondo state police command had earlier confirmed the incident, but said details surrounding the crash were still emerging.
Residents had, however, informed that the crash occurred in a swampy terrain opposite a naval base.
International News
Portuguese Economy Minister: Ronaldo’s Value Is Greater Than Football, Many People Know Our Country Because Of Him
Portugal’s Economy Minister, Manuel Castro Almeida, says Cristiano Ronaldo matters to Portugal in ways that reach far beyond football. “Many people know Portugal only because of Cristiano Ronaldo,” he stressed.
His comments land as the fallout from Ronaldo’s sudden exit from the national team camp continues to dominate the headlines.
Speaking in remarks carried by the Portuguese website The Resident from the Now channel, the minister painted Ronaldo as a huge asset for Portugal’s image on the world stage. “Cristiano Ronaldo has an enormous impact in promoting and highlighting Portugal’s image,” he said. He went further still, likening the Portugal star to “the most famous company in Portugal”
On the row between Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus, Castro Almeida pleaded ignorance. He insisted he was “not an expert” and refused to judge who was in the right.
His focus stayed on Ronaldo’s wider worth to Portugal and its standing abroad.
That global recognition, the Economy Minister argues, makes Ronaldo “a value and an asset” to the country. “It would be good if Portugal could continue to rely on this asset,” he said.
He added: “From the angle of enhancing Portugal’s image and reputation, Cristiano holds extremely important value, and it would be very good for Portugal to continue to benefit from this potential.”
There is palpable apprehension in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, following the killing of three persons in suspected cult clashes between Friday and Sunday, forcing residents to flee and traders to shut their businesses.
The latest violence has heightened fears across the city, with residents and other stakeholders calling on the state government and security agencies to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed.
The first incident occurred on Friday evening at a lounge around Owo-Eba, in the Owode-Ilesa Garage area.
Report quoted sources as divulging that a rival gang stormed the lounge where Adebayo Taoreed, popularly known as Small Rugged, and others were relaxing and opened fire.
Taoreed, who was alleged to be linked to the Eiye confraternity, although the claim could not be independently verified, was killed alongside another man identified only as Osha.
Four other persons sustained gunshot injuries when the assailants allegedly fired sporadically while fleeing the scene. The shooting triggered panic along the Ilesa Garage-Ayepe axis, as residents ran for safety and shop owners hurriedly closed their businesses.
Confirming the incident, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, described it as a suspected cult clash.
Ojelabi said: “The command is aware of a shooting incident suspected to be cult clash around Owo-Eba area, Osogbo. Two persons died at the spot, one identified as Small Rugged, while the other’s name is yet unknown. Four other people sustained gunshot injuries and have been rushed by the police to a nearby hospital for treatment.”
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan Zungura, had directed tactical teams to apprehend those responsible. No arrest had been announced as of press time.
About 48 hours later, violence erupted again in the Ita-Olokan area of Osogbo on Sunday morning, leaving a man identified as Taoheed Ojoiku dead.
Residents said the incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m., throwing the area into chaos.
Ojoiku was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment but was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
The circumstances surrounding the attack were not immediately clear. However, sources said it might have been connected to Friday’s killings, raising fears that the incident could be a reprisal attack.
Residents have urged the state government and security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations across the city to prevent further clashes and restore normalcy.
-
Health & Wellness1 year agoPresident Tinubu Directs Cut in Dialysis Cost from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000
-
International News6 months agoIndian Police Arrest Nigerian Over ₦290m Drug Haul
-
News2 years ago
CBN Debunks Fake Circular on New ₦5,000 and ₦10,000 Notes
-
Business6 months agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Gantry Price To ₦1,200 Per Litre
-
Business6 months agoAfter Plea Bargain, Court Discharges Stella Oduah of ₦2.5bn Fraud
-
Business2 years ago
Dangote; We Did Not Fix ₦600/Litre Petrol Price
-
Trending News1 year agoNELFUND Disburses ₦86bn To 449,000 Beneficiaries
-
News1 year agoPICTURE: In Lagos Couple Sentenced to 22½ Years for Cannabis Trafficking