The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr Sam Amadi has said President Bola Tinubu should not be blamed for the controversy surrounding the voter register recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Amadi maintained that the responsibility for addressing the alleged irregularities in the voters register rests with INEC, insisting that the President should be treated like every other political competitor.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News, he argued that the President has no direct responsibility for managing the electoral process and should not be expected to intervene in the commission’s affairs.

He said, “This is where the parties should come in. Look, the voter register is the most important document framework mechanism for credible election. It’s what the BVAS works on.

“So I think the first thing is the INEC chairman himself coming out to say, you know what, we are going to do an independent audit.

“This one is not from Mr President. The president is a competitor, so don’t ask the president to come and do anything.

“It’s not the president’s fault. The president is judged like every competitor. If the regulator has screwed up, the regulator should clear the mess.”

According to him, INEC is the institution responsible for overseeing every aspect of elections in Nigeria, including the activities of its permanent and ad hoc staff.

Amadi expressed concern that the controversy could undermine the growing interest among Nigerians, particularly young people, in participating in elections. He noted that there had been an encouraging increase in citizens’ willingness to vote and a reduction in voter apathy.

He, however, warned that the latest development could weaken public confidence in the electoral process, stressing that INEC must avoid anything capable of creating distrust ahead of the next general election.

The political analyst recalled that INEC’s current leadership started its tenure under difficult circumstances, particularly regarding public confidence in the commission, and said rebuilding its credibility should be a major priority.

He urged the commission to accept responsibility for the controversy, apologise to Nigerians and establish a clear timeline explaining how it intends to clean up and verify the voters register.

Amadi raised concerns over allegations of suspicious increases in the number of registered voters in some polling units, including claims that figures had risen from about 400 to 1,500.

He also noted that questions had been raised about the credibility of the overall figure of 103 million registered voters.

The director called on INEC to consider an independent audit of its systems and processes, urging political parties to demand a transparent and non-partisan professional assessment.

He suggested that professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, could contribute to the exercise.

The Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reacted to the controversy that trailed the visit of the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr Peter Obi, to the state last week.

 less than 24 hours before Obi’s visit for a town hall meeting, the NDC camp alleged that the state government had instructed the owners of the venue booked for the event to deny them access.

However, the event was eventually held, with the venue owners categorically stating that the NDC had not booked the facility but had instead used a medical organisation as a front.

In a statement on Sunday, Steve Oruruo, Spokesperson and Director of Public Communications of the Enugu APC Campaign Council, accused the NDC of contriving layers of spurious allegations.

According to Oruruo, “Silence could have been golden, save for the brazen frivolity that characterised the chronicled and dramatised falsehood intentionally deployed to embarrass and impugn the image of the entire state, and invariably validate their next lie in the sequence of street-level mendacities, while an unsuspecting section of the populace may remain confused.”

He called on the people of the state to rise above what he described as barefaced antics, gimmicks and shenanigans from the pit of hell.

He said the explanation by the event centre owners had exposed the NDC’s alleged lying machinery, stressing that “one Dr Sabastine Chuks Eze, a disguised client who paraded himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, in which he assented to the right of the aforesaid management to halt any activity, meeting, or event not conducted strictly in accordance with the stipulated rules of engagement, eventually metamorphosed into an NDC contract to host a town hall meeting at the behest of former Governor Peter Obi.”

Oruruo stated that, in a fruitless bid to deceive what he described as a highly elitist and intellectually persuaded Enugu electorate, Mrs Ada Ogbu and her dramatis personae threw caution to the wind in what perhaps turned out to be an attempt to muddy the waters through unforced errors.

“Where is the ecclesiastical rectitude, untainted probity, and self-acclaimed morality that former Governor Peter Obi preaches? Have they not been cascaded to Enugu NDC members?” Oruruo queried.

He further stated that “Enugu NDC has failed on arrival. It is almost non-existent in Enugu and perhaps gains its only infinitesimal traction whenever the state government or the name of our erudite Governor is mentioned in its tales of woes.

“Mischievously linking uncharitable words or deeds, without verifiable facts, to a revered state that the NDC purportedly intends to govern is antithetical to the minimum acceptable trust values and the widely acknowledged enviable security profile of Enugu State.”

While urging Mrs Ada Ogbu to apologise to the people of Enugu State, the APC said she would realise the extent to which she had offended the sensibilities and temperament of residents.

Oruruo said the 2027 elections should be about issues, ideas and the definitive capacity to deliver, stressing that the state remained peaceful and accommodating.

The Executive Chairman of Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Mallam Mas’ud Umar, has died in a road accident along the Bauchi-Maiduguri Federal Highway.

Umar reportedly died in the accident at about 7:30 pm on Sunday around Konkiyal axis in Darazo Local Government Area while returning to Zaki after attending a stakeholders’ meeting of the Allied People’s Movement, APM.

The meeting was presided over by Bauchi State Governor and National Leader of the APM, Senator Bala Mohammed.

His death has thrown the political and administrative circles in the state, particularly Zaki Local Government Area, into mourning.

Governor Mohammed, in a condolence message, expressed shock over the incident, describing the late chairman as a dedicated public servant, committed grassroots politician and compassionate leader.

The governor, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, said Umar’s contributions to public service and community development would remain indelible in the state.

He recalled that before his election as Zaki council chairman, Umar served as Director-General of the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, where he contributed to emergency response, disaster management and humanitarian interventions.

Mohammed said the deceased also demonstrated commitment to grassroots development, particularly in youth and women empowerment and improving the livelihoods of residents of Zaki Local Government Area.

Although his tenure as council chairman was relatively short, the governor said his passion for service, accessibility and commitment to the welfare of his constituents distinguished his leadership.

He described his death as a major loss to his family, Zaki Local Government Area and the entire state, particularly the public service and local government administration.

The governor extended his condolences to the deceased’s family, the people of Zaki, the Katagum Emirate Council, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Bauchi State chapter, and his political associates.

He also prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased’s shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

The funeral prayer for the late chairman is scheduled to hold at 2pm , November 2, 2026, at the Palace of the District Head, Mur Mur, in Zaki Local Government Area.

Benue State Governor, Rev.Fr.Hyacinth Alia has constituted a five-member Benue State Primary Health Care Board, BSPHCB, and approved 23 appointments to fill positions previously occupied by appointees who resigned from his administration.

The two categories of appointments reflect the Governor’s decision to strengthen the state’s primary healthcare administration and ensure continuity in the operations of government.

The appointments were disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula.

The five-member Board has Dr Kadev Kenneth Kelvin as Executive Secretary and Dr Tolough Godfrey as Chairman.

Other members are Hon. Chiangi Anongu, representing Zone A; Mr Gabriel Ugber, representing Zone B; and Dr. Obeka Ochim Jo-Lewis, representing Zone C.

Meanwhile, the second category, which is for replacement, has the following: Hon. Jonathan Iyoo Igbondo, Special Adviser on Unions and Labour Relations, Rt. Hon. Dickson Ocheokwoi Benjamin, Special Adviser on Works, Housing and Urban Development; Engr. Iko Benjamin, Special Adviser on International Investment, Michael Nyamtsam Mtseve, Special Adviser on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and Akaavah Augustine Liam, Director General, Social Investment.

Others are Fabian Luvin, Personal Security Assistant, Protocol and Wardrobe; Attah Mark Ochoga – Personal Special Assistant on Digital Economy and Job Creation, Hon. Eric Ameh, Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Office of the Deputy Governor; Agbanyi David Sixtus, Senior Special Assistant on Rehabilitation Centre, Apir and Hon. Linda Ene Dirisu, Coordinator, Benue State Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

The governor also appointed Dr. Abutu Tolbert Tordue, Director of Research, Benue State Planning Commission; John Mimi Ihyembe, Personal Special Assistant on Local Government Area Coordination and Monitoring, Linus Madugu, Member, Benue Investment and Property Company Board, Hon. Unongo Simon, Government Liaison Officer, Guma Local Government Area and Hon. Ikyereve Benjamin Aondonenge ,Government Liaison Officer, Tarka Local Government Area.

Others include Igba Terna Dominic, Personal Assistant, Office of the Chief of Staff ; Ayongol Terhemen Abraham, Personal Assistant on Youth and Media Mobilisation, Terzungwe Yina – Special Adviser on Sanitation, Mrs. Maureen Hembadoon Iortyer, Government Liaison Officer, Makurdi Local Government Area and Jacob Tertsea Agede, Special Adviser on Agriculture.

Others are Mr. Andy Terfa Agbavanger, Secretary, Benue Independent Electoral Commission; Hon. Patience Erube, Personal Special Assistant, Protocol, Office of the Deputy Governor and Dr. Apenda Isaac Tersoo ,Executive Secretary, Benue State Scholarship Board.

The statement said all the appointments take immediate effect.

The Governor, who congratulated the new appointees, explained that “You must understand that your appointment underscores my administration’s commitment to maintaining an effective government structure and ensuring that vacant positions do not create gaps in the delivery of public services.

“Therefore, you must study the vision of the administration and work strictly in line with the direction and principles of the vision; you must always put the interest of the state first in all your official undertakings”.

Sir Kula said the appointments are expected to strengthen coordination and service delivery across the affected offices and institutions.

Two persons lost their lives in road accidents that happened at two different locations in Aba, Abia State on Friday and Sunday.

The first incident happened at Osisioma Flyover junction, when a truck crashed into a shop, killing one male victim on the spot and injuring about six other persons.

The truck which, was ladden with goods, according to an eyewitness, was at high speed when it suddenly lost control and crashed into the busy area, hitting traders and pedestrians.

The injured persons were rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention.

It was not officially established if the incident was caused by reckless driving on the part of the driver, or if the vehicle suffered a break failure.

When contacted by DAILY POST, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Abia State Sector Command, CC Ngozi Ezeoma confirmed the Osisioma road crash, saying that the victim was a male adult.

In another road accident, an unidentified man lost his life at Port Harcourt Road in Aba on Sunday morning.

The deceased, who was going to church, was hit from behind by a fast moving motorcycle, resulting in his death.

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashir Obasa, has declared that the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Dr Obafemi Hamzat has what it takes to succeed the current Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Obasa made this declaration while addressing journalists at Hamzat’s formal manifesto presentation.

The event was held at Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

 Hamzat is the current deputy governor of the state.

He eyed the position in 2019 before he was persuaded to deputise the current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Obasa while speaking at the event on Friday, expressed confidence in Hamzat’s ability to deliver on his campaign promises.

He explained that Hamzat’s educational background and wealth of experience in private and public offices are enough for him to deliver.

Obasa while speaking said, “He has the competence, character, and most importantly, the determination to rewrite the Lagos State socio-economic narrative”.