The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), says INEC is ready to conduct free, fair and credible polls in 2027.

Amupitan said this while delivering an address at the “Readiness Assessment for 2027 General Elections” with the Commission’s Staff in Enugu, on Tuesday.

He said that the commission, under his watch, had followed a strict timeline and checklist within its ongoing preparations.

“We are on track and moving ahead with most of the checklist. We have got our non sensitive materials ready and distributed while we are advancing on awarding contracts for sensitive materials.”

“The commission is getting more vehicular logistics for seamless movement of personnel and materials.

“Massive training and retraining have commenced especially on the new guidelines and regulations introduced into the Amended Electoral Act ” he said.

He said that the commission’s ICT had been upgraded and its security tightened.

The chairman noted that the commission had set up committees comprising governmental agencies, commissions and other bodies to provide specialised services and back up to ensure successful elections.

Earlier, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, said Enugu State consisted of 17 Local Government Areas, 260 Registration Areas and 4,145 Polling Units.

“Managing electoral activities across such a broad operational structure requires adequate personnel, logistics, technology, infrastructure, security arrangements and continuous engagement with stakeholders at the grassroots.”

“The experience of the commission has shown that every component of the electoral process is interconnected.

“Our preparedness at the Local Governments, Registration Areas and Polling Unit levels must therefore be properly coordinated with our zonal and national planning.

“We must continue to strengthen our systems, improve our processes and ensure that every officer understands his or her responsibility towards the successful delivery of the 2027 General Elections,” Chukwu said.

Representatives of the five states in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, made presentations on their various state’s readiness and challenges ahead of the general elections.

(NAN)

The Ogun State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the proposed establishment of state police, passing a resolution in support of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.

The resolution, titled “H.R. No. 194/OG/2025 – Consideration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 (Establishment of State Police Services),” was passed during plenary, following the consideration of a report by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Review.

The committee, chaired by a former Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, presented its report on 26 clauses and proposed amendments to various sections of the 1999 Constitution.

Presenting the report, Oluomo took the proposed amendments one after another, with lawmakers voting in favour of all the clauses and sections contained in the proposals.

The amendments covered various aspects of the bill, including the substitution, insertion and alteration of specific constitutional provisions aimed at providing a legal framework for the establishment of state police services.

Following the consideration of the proposed amendments, Oluomo moved a motion for the adoption of the committee’s report. The motion was seconded by Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju and subsequently supported by the lawmakers through a voice vote.

The House Leader, Hon. Yusuf Sherif, thereafter moved a motion for the adoption of the report as a resolution of the Assembly. The motion was seconded by the Chief Whip, Hon. Omolola Bakare, and unanimously supported by members through a voice vote.

Speaking after the passage of the resolution, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, said the Assembly had joined other state legislatures across the country in supporting the establishment of state police, describing the decision as historic.

Elemide said the resolution reflected the position of the lawmakers and the people of Ogun State on the need to strengthen the country’s security architecture through the establishment of state police services.

According to him, the initiative would help improve security measures and enhance the protection of lives and property, while promoting the social well-being and economic development of the state.

He added that the proposed establishment of state police was an important step towards addressing security challenges and strengthening the capacity to safeguard communities.

Following the passage of the resolution, the Speaker directed that a clean copy of the document be prepared and transmitted to the National Assembly to formally communicate Ogun State’s support for the proposed constitutional amendment.

The resolution forms part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process through which state legislatures are considering proposed changes to the 1999 Constitution, including the proposal to establish state police services.

The Ogun State Police Command has rescued 11 Ghanaian nationals allegedly held hostage in Sagamu after they were lured to Nigeria with promises of Canadian and Spanish visas.

The victims, comprising seven males and four females, were rescued during an intelligence-led operation by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the operation followed actionable intelligence received on October 19, 2026, about a hideout where the victims were being held.

Babaseyi said preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were allegedly deceived by a fellow Ghanaian national who promised to facilitate their travel abroad.

Each victim was said to have paid GH₵40,000 before being brought to Nigeria and held against their will.

He said the victims were receiving care and support, while detectives had intensified efforts to track down members of the criminal network.

Babaseyi quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, as commending the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for its prompt response and professionalism.

Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and combating transnational crime, stressing that Ogun State would not be a haven for criminals who exploit the hopes of unsuspecting people.

He assured the public that efforts would continue until those responsible were brought to justice.

The command urged the public to verify overseas travel and visa processing arrangements before making payments and to report suspicious activities.