The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has warned commission staff against partisan politics, insisting that electoral officials must remain neutral and professional ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amupitan gave the warning on Monday during an interactive session with INEC staff from the South-East region shortly after arriving in Enugu on a working visit to engage traditional rulers and electoral stakeholders.

He said the commission would not tolerate unethical conduct or actions capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

“You should not pick interest in any political party. Be neutral and firm. I am hearing that some of you are showing interest in some political parties. This is absolutely wrong.

“The commission wants you to be neutral and professional, both in your words and actions. The commission will not tolerate unprofessional or unethical electoral conduct from any staff,” he said.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission had introduced a reward and sanction mechanism covering its local government, state and national offices to strengthen discipline and accountability among personnel.

He announced plans to move staff from the conventional civil service salary structure to a special salary structure, which he said would take effect from January 1, 2027.

According to him, the move is intended to improve staff welfare and reduce the risk of electoral officials being induced before, during and after elections.

“We want the new salary structure so that you will not easily be induced before, during and after election.

“We are working with other relevant governmental agencies and commissions to make the cash backing for the new salary structure possible,” he said.

Amupitan urged staff to remain diligent and help rebuild public trust in the commission, stressing that their conduct was central to the credibility of elections.

“As an unbiased umpire, we need to improve the confidence and trust the people repose in us by being disciplined and diligent in the discharge of our duties at all times,” he said.

On preparations for the 2027 general election, the INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had provided its Enugu office with 10 new pickup vans, adding that more logistics would be made available.

He said non-sensitive election materials were ready, while contracts for other required materials, including sensitive materials, were being processed.

Amupitan also said massive training and retraining exercises would begin soon to prepare personnel for the new guidelines and regulations introduced under the amended Electoral Act.

“Massive training and retraining will commence soon. The retraining is imperative, given the new guidelines and regulations introduced into the amended Electoral Act,” he added.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, on Monday signed four laws strengthening legal provisions against cultism, rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, child exploitation and vandalism of public infrastructure.

The new legislation also provides for a sex offenders’ register, addresses offences involving electronic records and digital assets, and introduces restorative justice mechanisms to make offenders accountable for harm caused by their actions.

Otti assented to the four bills passed by the eighth Abia State House of Assembly at a ceremony held at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.

The laws are the Abia State Criminal Law No. 7 of 2026, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law No. 6 of 2026, the Restorative Justice Law No. 8 of 2026 and the Abia State University Amendment No. 2 Law No. 4 of 2026.

Explaining the crime-fighting provisions, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, said the new Criminal Law strengthened measures against unlawful societies and secret cults by addressing membership, sponsorship, meetings and the management of such groups.

He said the provisions extended beyond educational institutions to communities, widening the scope of the state’s response to cult-related activities.

The law also provides sanctions for vandalising government infrastructure and dealing in stolen public assets, while strengthening legal protections against rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and spousal violence.

Uwanna said the legislation recognised both male and female rape victims and provided for a sex offenders’ register to promote accountability.

Other provisions target kidnapping, child exploitation, corporate responsibility and offences involving electronic records and digital assets.

The Attorney-General said the reforms were informed by public concerns over cult violence, kidnapping, the destruction of public facilities, sexual violence and delays in criminal proceedings.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Otti said his administration was determined to ensure strict compliance with the new laws, noting that gaps in existing legislation had sometimes constrained the enforcement of government policies.

The governor lamented that some existing laws did not prescribe sufficiently stringent consequences for certain offences, citing illicit drug consumption as an example.

He argued that demand for illicit drugs sustained their supply, insisting that the law should adequately address the role of consumers in the drug trade.

Otti, however, acknowledged that enacting laws was only part of the task, assuring residents that his administration had the political will to enforce them.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, said the legislature had followed the necessary procedures in passing the bills, describing them as important measures for strengthening governance and improving the administration of justice.

Uwanna explained that the three justice-related laws addressed criminal conduct, procedures for handling criminal cases and mechanisms for repairing harm caused by crime.

He said the broader sentencing options provided under the Criminal Law would allow for restitution where appropriate, enabling offenders to make amends for the consequences of their actions.

The Attorney-General also disclosed that the government planned to translate the new laws into Igbo to make their provisions more accessible to residents.

Abia varsity campus relocation

On the Abia State University Amendment Law, Otti said the relocation of the Umuahia campus to the institution’s main campus at Uturu was intended to reduce administrative costs and enable students to benefit from infrastructure and other investments at the main campus.

The governor commended the eighth House of Assembly, members of the judiciary and other stakeholders for their contributions to the legislative process.

The Adamawa State Police Command has warned residents against cyberbullying, blackmail and the non-consensual sharing of nude images and private videos on social media, describing such acts as criminal offences.

The Command said the unauthorised posting, forwarding or distribution of nude photographs, sex videos and other private images of individuals violates the law and could attract prosecution.

In a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer,u Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, said police noted that, the Command had observed with concern the increasing cases of cyberbullying, blackmail and the circulation of private images on social media.

Nguroje explained that the sharing of explicit content without the consent of the individuals involved was punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, as amended, and other applicable laws.

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Kabir Umar Hassan, had directed Divisional Police Officers, Area Commanders and tactical teams to arrest and prosecute anyone found engaging in cyberbullying, sextortion or the unauthorised distribution of explicit content.

According to the statement, the directive is part of efforts to protect residents from online harassment, blackmail and violations of their privacy.

The Command also urged parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activities and guide them on responsible social media use to prevent them from becoming victims or perpetrators of cyber-related offences.

It further encouraged victims of cyberbullying, sextortion and the unauthorised sharing of private images to report such incidents to the nearest police station or contact the Command through its emergency lines.

The police assured residents that the Command would not tolerate any form of online harassment or invasion of privacy and urged members of the public to cooperate with security agencies in addressing the menace.