A legal practitioner, Festus Ogwuche, has said that President Bola Tinubu will always place the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, at an advantage in the ongoing political tension in Rivers state.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Tuesday, Ogwuche, stated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara should have been more calculative when he was defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He said that Fubara lacks understanding of the level of the relationship between president Tinubu and the FCT Minister.

“Wike and Tinubu’s relationship goes beyond a godfather-godson relationship.

“It is deeper into certain undercurrents that we cannot fathom, and the president will always place Wike at an advantage in this crisis,” he said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has encouraged the media to intensify voter education, promote professionalism and uphold ethical standards in election coverage ahead of the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.

The call was made in Abuja on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at a forum for media executives, producers, reporters and on-air personalities, organised by the Commission as part of its ongoing stakeholder engagement for the forthcoming election.

Speaking at the forum, the Supervising National Commissioner for the FCT and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Haruna, underscored the central role of the media in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that voter participation and responsible reportage remain key to the credibility of elections.

He urged media organisations to use their platforms to educate and mobilise eligible voters, noting that effective election coverage requires not only a sound understanding of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC’s Rules and Guidelines, but also integrity, fairness and strict adherence to the Code of Conduct for Election Coverage.

Commissioner Haruna cautioned that while journalists, like all citizens, may hold personal views, such prejudices must never interfere with objective and professional reporting, adding that democracy thrives when the media places public interest above partisanship.

Providing an update on INEC’s preparedness, the National Commissioner disclosed that the Commission had successfully conducted 10 of the 13 key activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election. He said the most recent milestone was the publication of the final Register of Voters on January 14, 2026, copies of which have been distributed to all political parties participating in the election.

According to him, the remaining activities are the publication of the Notice of Poll on February 7, the end of political party campaigns on February 19, and Election Day on February 21.

Malam Haruna also highlighted other critical preparations not listed in the timetable, including the accreditation of observers and journalists, which have been conducted online since the lead-up to the 2023 General Election as part of INEC’s technological innovations. While the observer accreditation portal has closed, he noted that the media accreditation portal remains open until February 8, urging media organisations yet to apply to do so promptly to enable timely issuance of accreditation cards.

On logistics, he revealed that the Commission had acquired virtually all non-sensitive materials required for the election and batched them according to the six Area Councils, 62 Wards and 2,822 Polling Units in the FCT. He added that sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, would be printed ahead of time and formally received from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), FCT Branch, on February 18, in the presence of party agents, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media.

He further disclosed that adequate Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were being configured and prepared for deployment to all polling units.

Commissioner Haruna explained that although FCT Area Council elections are similar to Local Government elections conducted by State Independent Electoral Commissions, Section 299 of the Constitution applies the Constitution to the FCT “as if it were one of the States of the Federation.”

“In practical terms, FCT Area Council elections are conducted like governorship elections,” he said, noting that the FCT’s voting population is larger than those of Bayelsa and Ekiti States. He added that the Territory’s status as the political capital of Nigeria naturally attracts national and international attention.

He stressed that as the first FCT Area Council Election since the Electoral Act extended council tenure from three to four years, the Commission was determined to leave no stone unturned to ensure a free, fair and credible poll.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, described the forum as a strategic platform for strengthening collaboration and aligning expectations between INEC and the media ahead of the elections.

He noted that public confidence in elections is shaped not only by how the process is conducted, but also by how it is reported and communicated, stressing that INEC’s commitment to a peaceful, transparent and inclusive election cannot be achieved without the support of a responsible and professional media.

The REC outlined the Commission’s level of preparedness, listing activities already undertaken, including the monitoring of party primaries, publication of final lists of candidates, campaign monitoring, delivery and batching of non-sensitive materials, activation of BVAS devices, stakeholder engagements, voter education and sensitisation, collaboration with security agencies, and the training of election security personnel.

He disclosed that INEC had approved the replacement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Igu Ward in Bwari Area Council following the demise of the initial candidate, Zachariah James Danbaki, with Danbaki Titus emerging as the replacement.

Malam Idris also announced that the Commission would conduct a mock accreditation exercise in 289 selected polling units across the six Area Councils to test election technologies, including BVAS accreditation, voting procedures and dummy result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He called on the media to give the exercise wide publicity to ensure voter awareness and participation.

On voter statistics, the REC revealed that following the revision of the register, the total number of registered voters in the FCT now stands at 1,680,315. He added that INEC had approved the decongestion of large Registration Area Centres (RACs) in select wards of Bwari Area Council and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to enhance efficiency on Election Day.

He further clarified that elections would not hold in four polling units, hree in Garki Ward and one in Jiwa Ward, due to the absence of registered voters.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, commended INEC for convening the forum, describing it as timely in an era where misinformation spreads faster than facts.

She noted that elections are not only won or lost at polling units, but also in the information space, urging journalists to prioritise accuracy over speed, reject hate speech and incitement, ensure fairness and balance, and uphold professionalism in their coverage.

Ms. Ike also emphasised the importance of the safety and protection of journalists, calling on INEC, security agencies, political parties and their supporters to respect the media and guarantee the safety of reporters and their equipment before, during and after the elections.

She further called for sustained transparency and effective communication from INEC to counter rumours and fake results, noting that information gaps often fuel misinformation.

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja has fixed April 30, 2026 for ruling on the application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for final forfeiture of a property owned by the former Acting Accountant General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku.

 

At Tuesday’s proceedings, defence counsel, N.I Quakers, SAN, informed the court of an application seeking the setting aside of the interim forfeiture order which the court granted on January 27, 2025, and another a notice of preliminary objection, dated August 15, 2025 bordering on the jurisdiction of the court.

He prayed the court to discountenance the prosecution’s final forfeiture application on the ground that the said property is also part of the reason for which he is facing criminal trial in another court. He questioned the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter and prayed the court to set aside EFCC’s application.

In response, prosecution counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, made reference to a motion dated May 6, 2024, and filed on the same date, that sought the final forfeiture order. He stated that the said property was reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crimes. The application, the prosecution noted, is supported by an eight paragraph affidavit, written by Chinyelu Vivian Okpara, an operative of EFCC with attachments marked Exhibit EFCC 1 to EFCC 7. Relying on all the paragraphs in the affidavit, the prosecuting counsel urged the court to grant the application for the final forfeiture of the property.

Explaining further, the prosecution counsel said, “My lord, the respondent at the material time of these transactions was the Director of Finance in the Ministry of Defence. Funds were released strictly for military operations in fighting Boko haram, of which part of it was sent to the Ministry of Defence. Part of the funds were diverted using fictitious accounts up to the tune of N900 million.”

“My lord, from that funds, about N355 million went to the respondent and it was sent through an account he nominated, belonging to his friend, M Davies Enterprises Ltd and it was from that account that the property in question was purchased and it is that property the defendant is currently living in. It was in the course of the investigation that the defendant on his own handed over the keys of the house to be forfeited, as well as refunded some of the funds. Surprisingly, when this proceedings commenced, he turned around to challenge the forfeiture of the property. We urge the court to grant the application,” he said.

Further in his argument, the prosecution counsel stated that, “We also filed another affidavit on May 16, 2024. Again, we urge your lordship to grant this application,” he said.

Justice Umar adjourned the matter till April 30, 2026 for ruling on the applications and judgment.

The anti-graft agency is also prosecuting Nwabuoku on amended nine-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N868, 465,000 (Eight Hundred and Sixty-eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-five Thousand Naira) before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has described as Campaign of Calumny, deliberate falsehood, unsubstantiated and economically irresponsible publications with headline “Farmers lost N5trillion to weather forecasts” and “Farmers lose N5trillion in 24 months”, by two media outlets.

The Agency said the bogus and alarmist claim attributed to The Foundation for Peace Professionals that Nigerian Farmers have lost “nearly N5trillion” in productive capital due largely to NiMet weather forecast is not supported by any verifiable data, transparent methodology or independent assessment.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has for over 140 years being providing credible and accurate climate weather forecasts, which has aided in policy planning for different sectors of the economy for 2024 and 2025 different development partners, world Meteorological Organization, WMO, stakeholders and indeed Farmers from the different geo political zones have all adjudged NiMet forecast to have eclipsed the 60 per cent threshold to over 90 per cent.

NiMet’s Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCPs), Early Warning Alerts, and localized agro-advisories have consistently empowered farmers across the country to make informed decisions on planting dates, crop selection, irrigation planning, and risk mitigation.

These services are disseminated through multiple platforms, including state governments, extension services, media outlets, and digital channels.

According to the executive summary from the 2025 Wet season Agricultural performance in Nigeria – collaboration of important stakeholders in the Agricultural value – chain like IAR, NBS, FDA, FDAE, P&PCD, FDF&A, NASC, IAR&T, NRCRI, NCRI, LCRI, NIFOR, NAPRI, DAC-ABU, NIFFR, ADPS, FMLD and State ministries of Agriculture, State ministries of Livestock Development, commodity based Associations, the Agricultural sector witnessed an increase in crop yields as well as livestock production.

The survey also revealed that Nigerian agriculture remains a vital source of stability and opportunity, contributing to food security and economic growth. Production of rice, maize, cowpea, yam, cassava, and groundnut increased over 2024 levels, while food prices fell across all zones, reflecting improved supply and the effectiveness of ongoing interventions.

The NiMet, said it remains committed to supporting national food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agricultural development. The Agency will not be deterred by sensational narratives and urges stakeholders, civil society organizations, and the media to engage responsibly, constructively, and factually on matters of national importance.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has claimed that the government of Oyo State has damaged its railway assets in Ibadan, the state capital, which are valued in millions of Naira.

The NRC also stated that one of the local government chairmen in the state was present on the ground during the destruction.

The NRC described as worrisome the removal of railway fixed assets worth several millions of Naira along its right-of-way in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

It stated that the destruction took place on Monday, 2nd February, 2026, and was carried out by the Chairman of the Ibadan South-West Local Government Council, Hon. Kehinde Adeyemi Amanda.

Amanda was alleged to have led a group made up of hoodlums, individuals wearing Nigerian Army uniforms, and operatives of Amotekun to vandalize NRC properties along the Mile One-Ten axis.

“The Council Chairman claimed to be working on the instructions of the state Governor,” the statement added.

Rail assets such as rails, sleepers, signal poles, billboards, and fences owned by NRC tenants along the corridor were reportedly damaged and removed.

The Corporation mentioned that the affected area is a clearly defined and legally protected railway right-of-way.

“The NRC Police Command’s attempts to counter the action were reportedly met with resistance, leading the officers to withdraw from the scene,” it added.

The statement signed by Callistus Unyimadu, Chief Public Relations Officer, NRC, described the incident as a serious violation of federal railway assets and stated that it is documenting the matter comprehensively.

The Corporation also mentioned that it will take suitable security, administrative, and legal steps to protect its assets and stop any future unauthorized use of railway right-of-way across the country, particularly in response to this act of vandalism.

The Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa pledged the continued maintenance of law and order in the face of provocation.

The internal crisis within the Labour Party, LP, intensified on Monday after the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee, NWC, firmly rejected reconciliation efforts initiated by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, describing the move as dishonest and ill-timed.

The Abure faction maintained that the leadership dispute remains unresolved, stressing that ongoing legal proceedings have not been exhausted.

It also accused Governor Otti of playing a central role in triggering the crisis currently engulfing the party.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, dismissed Otti’s reconciliation proposal, questioning both its sincerity and timing.

“We are not interested in any reconciliation move being proposed by Governor Alex Otti because he is largely responsible for the crisis facing the party today,” Ifoh said.

He added that the reconciliation call was premature, noting that the court ruling being celebrated by the opposing faction was only a judgment of a lower court.

“What we witnessed was a decision of a court of first instance. Why can’t he wait for the outcome of the appeal before talking about reconciliation?” He asked.

Ifoh accused Otti of acting in haste, insisting that the Abure-led leadership would eventually prevail.

“Why is he suddenly in a rush? As far as we are concerned, their celebration is a pyrrhic victory. It will fade away, and Nigerians will soon see the authentic leadership of the Labour Party. The battle is far from over,” he stated.

The strong rejection emphasises the deepening divisions within the party, despite recent court rulings and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, decision to recognise the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee.

The Abure camp’s response came hours after Governor Otti publicly lamented the exit of the party’s former presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, describing his departure as a significant blow to the Labour Party.

Otti made the remarks in Abuja during a meeting involving members of the party’s Board of Trustees, leaders of the National Caretaker Committee, and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

The meeting followed INEC’s recognition of the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee, a move earlier criticised by the Abure faction as rushed and prejudicial.

Addressing stakeholders, Otti said the party’s new leadership was committed to healing internal divisions and restoring unity after its court victory.

“We have agreed that there is a need to establish a reconciliation committee. The interim National Working Committee will advise on the appropriate time to set it up. The goal is to reconcile all members who are willing to return,” he said.

He appealed directly to the Abure-led faction to reconsider its position.

“We call on Julius Abure and his team to sheathe their swords and return to the party. As long as they are willing to abide by the party’s rules, we will gladly welcome them back,” Otti added.

The Abia governor also disclosed that the Labour Party would not participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory, FCT, council elections and ruled out any plan to join a broader opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Labour Party is already a coalition, a coalition of Nigerian workers and progressive-minded citizens. We have no intention of joining any other coalition,” he said.

Otti also commended INEC for complying with the Federal High Court judgment by replacing the Abure-led executive committee with the Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee on its official portal.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted a central coordination committee for its 2026 National Convention, in a move aimed at ensuring a smooth and well-organised party congress.

The committee was announced in a statement signed by the APC National Secretary, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru.

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma was appointed Chairman of the committee, while Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will serve as Vice Chairman. Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State was named Secretary of the committee.

The committee is made up of 73 members drawn from across the country, including serving governors, senators and other key party stakeholders. The list include governors from Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Plateau, Katsina, Sokoto, Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa states, among others.

Prominent members include Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and several others.

The party noted that details regarding the inauguration of the Central Coordination Committee, as well as other activities leading up to the 2026 National Convention, would be announced in due course.

President Bola Tinubu has identified with Nigeria’s afro beat king, Fela Anikulapo Kuti as a fearless voice of the people.

Tinubu, praised the late legend as the world of music honoured him.

In his words, Tinubu described Fela as more than a musician but a fearless voice of the people, a philosopher of freedom, and a revolutionary force whose music confronted injustice and reshaped global sound.

His courage, creativity, and conviction defined a generation and continue to inspire the world and in Yoruba mythology, he has transcended to a higher plane as an Orisa and he is now eternal.

Fela Kuti has blazed the trail with the Recording Academy of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming the first African to receive this honour, though posthumously. The award is an affirmation of his enduring global influence and the foundational role he has played in the evolution and impact of Africa on modern music.

“He defined Afrobeat, and you can hear and see his influence in generations of Nigerian musicians and in Afrobeats and beyond.” Tinubu wrote.

As part of the renewed onslaught on the activities of some human traffickers across the Country, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raided a popular, highly rated Hotel (Name withheld) located around the famous 33 areas of Onitsha, Anambra State, arrested four suspected traffickers, and rescued 17 alleged victims of human trafficking.

Also, during the coordinated operations, which was carried out with the support of the Military, two suspects allegedly involved in the selling and buying of babies within the States of the South East Region, were apprehended.

Sadly, 4 of the victims were said to be infected with HIV and are currently being counselled by a Team of Caregivers from NAPTIP and volunteers from the Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA).

It would be recalled that the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, OON, had few weeks ago read the riot act to human traffickers in the Country and promised to make the year 2026 unpleasant for them if they failed to desist from their nefarious activities.

The latest operation followed a credible intelligence by a non – State Actor based in Anambra State which indicated the presence of some underage girls within the said facility and the health status of the victims, having carried out a voluntary screening on them after proper counselling.

Investigation revealed that residents of the area have, before now expressed worried over the unwholesome activities of the operators of the Hotel which has about 45 rooms most especially the influx of men who daily throng there to cool off with the underage girls.

During the operation, while some of the victims were caught in the act with the randy lovers, other victims were seen in skimpy wears and bump shots apparently waiting for their usual customers.

During interrogation, the Victims disclosed that they were recruited from Benue, Imo, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom States and trafficked to Onitsha for alledged prostitution.

They added that each of them remits the sum of N20, 000 to N25, 000 to their “Madam” daily by sleeping with about 5 men with multiple sex rounds.

“It was my boyfriend who said he saw a job for me here in Onitsha. When I arrived here, the Madam sent someone to pick me at the park and she introduced me to this hustling job. She said I will work for her and pay N20, 000 daily and that at the end of the year, she will buy me a box filled with assorted clothes and the sum of N500, 000 so that I can be free to go and start my own work. It is not with a good mind that I am doing this job, but it was too late for me to refuse”, one of the Victims narrated.

Another Victim whose status is compromised stated that “When the people care here to test us. They told me that I have been infested, and they advised me and my friends that we need to start treatment to flush out the infection. They gave us medicine. But, after they left, our Madam beat us seriously because we came out of the rooms to see the people who tested us. She collected the medicine they gave to us and warned us that we should never go out for any treatment again. I cried and cried for hours, and the more I cried, the more she beat me”, another victim ,narrated her ordeal with a bitter lamentation.

Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed sadness over the plights of the victims and most especially their deteriorating health status.

“I want to sincerely thank the Military in Onitsha for their support to NAPTIP during this operation, and also the Gender and Human Rights State Response Team (GHR-SRT) domiciled under the Anambra State Aids Control Agency (ANSACA) in the Office of the Governor who provided timely intervention and collaboration that led to the rescue of the underage girls.

“I am most devastated by the health status of the rescued victims and the action of their so-called Madam who not only collected the Antiretroviral medicines that were given to them by the good spirited Organization that visited the hotel, but also prevented them from assessing any further medical opportunity. This is a criminal act and NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for her.

“The Agency has also invited the Owner of the Hotel for interrogation with a view to determining the next sanction on the facility.

“As said few weeks ago, NAPTIP shall continue to double its efforts and scale up activities to ensure a good chase for the human trafficking criminal elements in the Country”, the NAPTIP Director General stated.