The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has appealed to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, to use his exalted platform to counsel political parties, candidates and their supporters on the imperative of non-violent, issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC chairman made the appeal on Sunday during a courtesy visit to the Emir’s palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, as part of the Commission’s nationwide Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement for the 2027 general elections.

“Elections must never be treated as do-or-die affairs, but as a peaceful celebration of civic choice,” Prof. Amupitan said, urging the monarch to “strongly counsel our youth not to allow themselves to be used as tools in the hands of politicians or instruments of political violence and thuggery.”

He further called on the Emir to encourage the people of Zazzau Emirate to actively participate in all stages of the electoral process, from the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to turning out peacefully to vote on election days, stating that “a vibrant democracy requires an engaged, informed, and participating electorate.”

Amupitan explained that the visit was part of the Commission’s established tradition of deep engagement with traditional rulers, recalling similar consultations with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti during the Ekiti governorship election, more than 50 Osun monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife and the Ataoja of Osogbo, ahead of the Osun governorship election, and the Oba of Lagos and the White Cap Chiefs during the Commission’s South-West Zonal Assessment tour.

He noted that conducting a national election in “Africa’s largest democracy,” with a national voter register rapidly approaching the 100 million mark, required early planning, operational discipline and deep stakeholder engagement.

He added that the Commission had moved away from last-minute logistics in favour of testing, auditing and strengthening its operational readiness well ahead of time.

He disclosed that the Commission had fixed the statutory dates for the 2027 general elections, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, and the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

He stressed that all administrative, technological and logistical frameworks were being fortified across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The INEC chairman assured the Emirate that under his leadership, “INEC remains unreservedly committed to absolute neutrality, fairness, and transparency,” stating that the Commission had “no candidate, no political party, and no interest other than the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”

Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended the INEC chairman for leading the Commission’s delegation to the palace and for providing timely information on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The Emir described the engagement as remarkable and important, noting that the visit had helped the Emirate and its people gain a clearer understanding of the Commission’s preparations and the election calendar.

He identified fairness, justice, a level playing field, security, timely dissemination of information and the prompt release of results as critical elements for a successful electoral process.

The Emir also urged INEC to address concerns arising from previous elections, particularly the late distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials and technical challenges associated with election technology.

He called for election equipment to be adequately tested before deployment and for election officials and materials to arrive at polling units on time, saying such measures would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

The Emir further appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly during the campaign period and minimise hate speech and other actions capable of threatening peace and national cohesion.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would continue to remain united and sustain democratic governance.

The INEC chairman and his entourage are in Kaduna in continuation of the nationwide readiness assessment and are expected to meet with staff from the North-West states on Monday, September 28, 2026.

Human rights lawyer and political commentator, Deji Adeyanju, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately comply with the recent Supreme Court judgment on the Electoral Act.

Adeyanju, in a statement issued on Monday, urged the commission to remove from its official portal the names of candidates of political parties affected by the judgment.

He said the commission was constitutionally obligated to enforce the decision of the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to him, the constitutional provision requires all authorities and persons to give effect to decisions of the Supreme Court.

Adeyanju therefore urged INEC to take immediate steps to implement the court’s orders in full, stressing that compliance should not be selective or delayed.

“The names of all candidates affected by the judgment should be removed from INEC’s official portal as part of the steps required to give effect to the Supreme Court’s decision,” He said.

He further called on the commission to ensure that all necessary administrative actions were taken to achieve full compliance with the judgment.

Adeyanju maintained that INEC’s implementation of the court’s decision should be guided by the constitutional requirement for strict enforcement of Supreme Court judgments.

He urged the commission to act without further delay and ensure that its official records accurately reflect the effect of the judgment.

The call comes amid developments surrounding the interpretation and application of provisions of the Electoral Act following the Supreme Court’s recent decision.

It would be recalled that, the seven member Supreme Court panel, recently unanimously allowed INEC’s appeal and restored Sections 77(5), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which has earlier been invalidated by the Court of Appeal.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Borno State chapter, has called for the immediate rescue of 78 schoolchildren and others who have spent more than 100 days in captivity across the state.

The CAN Chairman in the state, John Bakeni, made the call on Sunday during a prayer session organised to mark the association’s 50th anniversary in Maiduguri.

Bakeni said the abductions and persistent insecurity had made the celebration a sober one for the association, with many residents facing the combined challenges of insecurity and economic hardship.

“CAN is 50. There are lots of events and activities that have been lined up. Sadly, at the state level, our celebration is a sober one,” he said.

He said the association had been using advocacy to draw the attention of the authorities to the plight of people held in captivity.

“These kids have spent over 100 days in captivity. You can imagine the pain, agony and trauma their parents are going through,” Bakeni said.

He urged the Federal Government, Borno State Government, security agencies and other stakeholders involved in the rescue efforts to intensify their efforts to secure the release of the abducted persons.

“It is a responsibility that rests on their shoulders. We urge them to do something to rescue the abducted persons because it is long overdue,” he said.

Bakeni also said CAN would continue to pray for the return of peace and the safe release of those in captivity despite the security challenges confronting the state.

DAILY POST reports that 42 students and pupils were abducted on May 16 after suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

On June 29, suspected Boko Haram terrorists invaded Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the same local government area and abducted 36 students and one teacher.

The two incidents brought the number of schoolchildren reported missing in the two attacks to 78.

The National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has given the Federal Government 14 days to address their welfare and other demands or risk a strike.

The doctors issued the ultimatum after their 46th Annual General Meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State.

NARD President, Dr Emmanuel Ogar, who read out the resolutions, said the government had been slow in implementing agreements already reached with the association.

The doctors said that despite several meetings and assurances, many of the issues affecting their work had remained unresolved.

They warned that if nothing was done within two weeks, peace in the health sector could be disrupted.

The unresolved issues, according to them, include salaries, promotions, allowances, heavy workload, shortage of personnel and general welfare.

“The government concluded the review of existing remuneration and professional salary structures for doctors, saying the current framework no longer adequately reflected prevailing economic realities,” the resolution reads.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has impounded 84 commercial and private vehicles for various traffic violations during a major enforcement operation carried out at key traffic-prone locations across the state.

The weekend operation covered Idumota, Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Costain and Onipanu, with the agency targeting areas where repeated violations by motorists and commercial bus operators have continued to disrupt the smooth movement of traffic.

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the agency was particularly concerned about commercial buses driving against traffic and reversing unlawfully along the one-way section between Iddo and Idumota through Cater Bridge.

He warned that the practice posed significant danger to motorists, commuters and pedestrians using the route.

“Motorists and other legitimate road users approaching the bridge may have little or no forewarning that a commercial vehicle is unlawfully reversing against the prescribed direction of traffic, thereby creating an extremely hazardous situation with the potential to precipitate devastating collisions, injuries and fatalities,” he said.

The enforcement operation was met with resistance in some locations, with some LASTMA officers reportedly assaulted and injured while carrying out their duties.

Bakare-Oki confirmed that suspected miscreants who allegedly attacked the officers and damaged operational vehicles belonging to the agency were arrested during the exercise.

He said the continued enforcement was necessary to address what he described as a growing disregard for traffic regulations and restore order along major traffic corridors.

The LASTMA general manager also said the agency had repeatedly warned transport operators, commercial bus drivers and other road users against converting under-bridge areas, road setbacks and other unauthorised spaces into illegal garages.

“We have repeatedly cautioned transport operators, commercial bus drivers and other road users against occupying under-bridge spaces, road setbacks and unauthorised locations as illegal garages as such practices constitute serious impediments to effective traffic management and pose considerable risks to public safety,” he said.

Bakare-Oki assured that LASTMA would continue its enforcement operations to improve compliance with traffic regulations, discourage dangerous driving practices and safeguard motorists, commuters, pedestrians and other road users.

He stressed that public roads, bridges and spaces beneath bridges would not be allowed to be used for illegal loading, parking, vehicle repairs or garage operations.

The LASTMA boss consequently advised commercial bus operators, motorists, transport unions and other stakeholders to avoid driving against traffic, dangerous reversing, illegal parking, indiscriminate loading and the use of unauthorised areas as garages or loading points.

He warned that offenders would face appropriate sanctions in line with existing Lagos State traffic laws.

Bakare-Oki also called on residents to report dangerous driving, traffic obstructions, reckless motorists and other violations through LASTMA’s toll-free short code, 3367, to facilitate swift intervention and help prevent avoidable incidents on the state’s road network.