All eyes will be on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, today, Tuesday, as the commission holds a national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to mark 100 days to the 2027 general elections.

INEC said the meeting will provide updates on the voters’ register, candidate nominations, election logistics and measures being adopted to protect the integrity of the polls.

This is even as the political fate of several high-profile candidates who changed parties ahead of the 2027 general elections may come under renewed scrutiny.

DAILY POST reports that among those whose candidacies have attracted attention are Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Kingsley Chinda, Delta Central senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Ovie Omo-Agege; former Cross River State governor and Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, presidential candidate, Donald Duke and former Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Victor Ochei.

The issue stems from a recent Supreme Court judgment which restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 dealing with political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.

Recall that the apex court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on September 25, upheld INEC’s appeal and restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act, provisions which had earlier been struck out by the Court of Appeal.

The development has triggered questions over the eligibility of politicians who moved to new political parties after their previous parties had concluded, or were in the process of concluding, their nomination exercises.

DAILY POST reported that the controversy followed a Federal High Court judgment delivered in May, which invalidated aspects of INEC’s timetable for the 2027 elections.

The court had ruled that INEC could not shorten statutory periods provided by the Electoral Act for political parties to conduct primaries and submit, withdraw or replace candidates.

It also faulted INEC’s deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers.

The judgment created a window of uncertainty in the political process, with politicians changing parties and seeking fresh opportunities to contest under different platforms.

However, the legal position subsequently changed.

On July 16, the Court of Appeal overturned the Federal High Court’s decision and restored INEC’s timetable, holding that the commission acted within its powers in issuing the electoral guidelines.

The Supreme Court went further in September by restoring the disputed provisions of the Electoral Act concerning membership registers and candidate nominations.

Although INEC has not indicated that it intends to announce the disqualification of any particular candidate at the meeting, the commission’s position on nominations could provide important clues about what lies ahead for candidates whose emergence followed controversial defections, waivers and party primaries.

Chinda’s Rivers battle

In Rivers State, the case of Chinda, an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is one of the most closely watched.

Chinda emerged as the APC’s governorship candidate on May 21, 2026, shortly after the Federal High Court judgment that had invalidated parts of INEC’s electoral timetable.

The Supreme Court judgment did not expressly disqualify Chinda or any other candidate.

DAILY POST reports that supporters of the Rivers APC candidate have argued that the apex court ruling does not automatically invalidate his nomination.

Omo-Agege’s NDC ticket

In Delta State, Omo-Agege’s case presents another significant test.

The former Deputy Senate President contested the APC’s Delta Central senatorial primary in May but lost to Ede Dafinone.

He resigned from the APC on May 22 and subsequently joined the NDC, which granted him a waiver to contest its Delta Central senatorial primary.

He eventually secured the ticket through a consensus arrangement.

The question now is whether the restored provisions of the Electoral Act could affect such a nomination, particularly in relation to the party’s membership register and the statutory requirements governing participation in party primaries.

Omo-Agege is not alone.

Ochei, who also left the APC after its nomination process and joined the NDC, received a waiver and secured the party’s Delta North senatorial ticket.

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has described the loss of 32 Nigerian Air Force personnel in an aircraft crash in Ondo State as “a profound tragedy.”

The NAF ATR-42 aircraft, carrying 25 officers and seven crew members, crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday, October 5, 2026, while on a routine operational mission from Benin to Lagos.

Matawalle expressed condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the personnel involved in the crash.

“I received with profound sadness the news of the crash of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft, which occurred today, Monday, October 5, 2026, with 25 officers and seven crew members on board,” Matawalle said.

He described the incident as “a profound tragedy and a painful reminder of the sacrifices routinely made by members of our Armed Forces in the service of the nation.”

Matawalle said the Ministry of Defence joined President Bola Tinubu in mourning the personnel and prayed for strength for their families and colleagues.

“We honour the courage, dedication and service of all the personnel involved in this unfortunate incident. Their commitment to duty and service to Nigeria will not be forgotten,” he said.

The Nigeria Customs Service has auctioned 22,175 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, seized along the Lagos-Ogun border corridor during operations to curb the smuggling of petroleum products across Nigeria’s borders.

The auction was held on Monday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja and involved petroleum products intercepted by officers of Operation Whirlwind during recent anti-smuggling operations.

The seized products consisted of 887 jerry cans, each containing 25 litres of petrol, alongside five vehicles allegedly used to transport the products.

According to the Service, the interceptions were made at identified smuggling flashpoints, including Imeko, Ilara, Ilaro, Idiroko and Seme-Badagry. The Duty Paid Value of the seized petroleum products and vehicles was estimated at about N32 million.

Speaking during the auction, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Raphael Aliyu, said the exercise was carried out on the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

Aliyu said the auction reflected the Customs Service’s commitment to transparency and the lawful disposal of seized petroleum products. He described Operation Whirlwind as a targeted initiative focused on stopping the diversion and illegal movement of petroleum products across the country’s borders.

He said the operation was also aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economic interests and improving national energy security by preventing products intended for domestic consumption from being illegally exported.

According to Aliyu, the Service had stepped up surveillance, intelligence gathering and enforcement activities along routes identified as channels for petroleum diversion and cross-border smuggling.

He said the crackdown would continue, stressing that the operation would remain “resolute, relentless and intelligence-driven.”

Aliyu added that Customs would continue to track, intercept and dismantle smuggling networks, while suspects would be prosecuted in line with the law.

The coordinator commended officers of Operation Whirlwind Zone A for their efforts and acknowledged the support provided by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

He also called on residents of border communities to assist the authorities by providing intelligence on suspicious movements of petroleum products, noting that tackling smuggling required cooperation between government agencies and local communities.

Lagos State Government has announced the temporary closure of Freedom Park on Lagos Island from Monday, October 5, to Sunday, October 11, 2026, to allow for scheduled maintenance, clean-up, fumigation and upgrade works.

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture said the temporary closure was necessary to facilitate the planned works aimed at improving visitors’ experience and preserving the historic facility.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said Freedom Park would be reopened to the public immediately after the renovation exercise.

According to the statement, the park is currently undergoing rehabilitation and improvement works to enhance the overall experience of its members and visitors.

“As part of our ongoing maintenance programme, Freedom Park Lagos will be temporarily closed from Monday, 5th October, to Sunday, 11th October 2026, to allow for comprehensive clean-up, fumigation and related maintenance works,” the statement said.

The works also cover facility upgrades, beautification, routine maintenance and improvements to the park’s services and other areas to enhance visitors’ comfort and convenience.

“These ongoing improvements include upgrades to our facilities, beautification and general maintenance of the Park, as well as improvements to areas and services that will provide greater comfort, convenience and value for our members,” it noted.

The ministry appealed to members and visitors for patience and understanding during the period, assuring them that the works were being carried out to make Freedom Park a better place for recreation, culture, networking and community activities.

It added that normal activities would resume after the completion of the works.

The Permanent Secretary also stressed that the Lagos State Government regretted any inconvenience the temporary closure might cause members of the public.

The state government thanked members and visitors for their continued support and understanding as the improvement works are carried out.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Ogun State has warned its members to stop dragging the party to court over internal disagreements or risk paying at least N20 million in fines.

The party issued the warning in a statement on Sunday in Abeokuta, signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Olumide Onabajo.

Onabajo said the party was disturbed by the persistent resort to litigation over matters that should be resolved through internal mechanisms.

He alleged that some individuals who recently defected to the ADC from other parties were behind the litigation, with possible sponsorship from outside interests afraid of the party’s growing strength in Ogun.

“ADC is too strong to be destroyed from within. It is troubling that almost every disagreement within the party appears to generate another lawsuit,” he said.

The party cited Section 83(5) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides that no court shall entertain jurisdiction over any suit pertaining to the internal affairs of a political party.

It added that Section 83(6)(b) prescribes a cost of not less than N10 million against the counsel who filed the action and N10 million against the plaintiff, plus costs incurred by INEC.

Onabajo said the warning had become necessary following recent court decisions where judges slammed heavy costs on parties and lawyers for frivolous political suits.

He referenced the Federal High Court dismissal of the suit by the Adolphus Wabara-led PDP Board of Trustees, where the court imposed N140 million in costs on the plaintiffs and N10 million on their counsel for abuse of court process.

Similarly, he cited the Federal High Court in Lagos’ dismissal of suit FHC/L/CS/1651/2024, where Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered a Senior Advocate to personally pay N2 million for filing a vexatious action.

He also cited the dismissal of Abejide’s suit challenging the Senator David Mark-led ADC leadership, where the court awarded N10 million in costs against the claimant’s counsel under the Electoral Act.

The Ogun ADC said it had confidence in the judiciary but urged courts to stop allowing political actors to weaponise the legal process against parties.

The party called on all aggrieved members to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, stressing that every unnecessary court action drains resources meant for mobilisation and election preparation.

“Enough of the litigation. Enough of the division. Enough of the distractions. It is time to build, reconcile and move ADC forward,” Onabajo said.

The Accord Party governorship candidate in Kebbi State, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Bunza, has promised to use Islamic injunctions as part of his approach to tackling banditry and kidnapping if elected in 2027.

Bunza made the promise on Saturday at a candidate engagement forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kebbi State Council.

He said passages from the Qur’an, if applied with sincerity, could help end banditry and kidnapping in the state.

The candidate also promised to raise the minimum wage for Kebbi workers to N500,000 monthly if elected.

He said the proposed wage was aimed at improving workers’ welfare and addressing what he described as hardship among civil servants.

Bunza urged Kebbi residents to vote for candidates based on their plans and programmes ahead of the 2027 election.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Cross River State, has described last weekend’s shooting of members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Calabar as deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

In a formal reaction to the unfriendly development, the state IPAC Chairman, Effiom Edet Okon, said political consultation is not warfare, campaigns are not battles, and political opponents are not enemies.

Recall that governorship candidate, Arthur Jarvis Archibong, had led a consultation visit to the paramount ruler when the gunfire allegedly disrupted and dispersed the PDP supporters.

Many supporters and bystanders were reportedly injured and vehicles damaged during the stampede that ensued.

The state Police Command had confirmed the incident and reinforced its presence in the area, and commenced investigations.

The IPAC chairman, in a reaction to the incident, said, “The democratic process gives every political party and every aspirant the constitutional and democratic right to consult with citizens, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders without intimidation, harassment or violence.

“IPAC therefore calls on all political parties, aspirants, candidates, supporters and political actors across Cross River State to exercise the highest level of restraint as consultations, party activities and preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.”

It warned that no disagreement within a political party or between political parties should ever degenerate into physical confrontation, destruction of property, threats, intimidation or the use of weapons, and advised political parties to resolve internal disagreements through dialogue, reconciliation and the established mechanisms of their respective parties.

“Similarly, disagreements between political parties must be handled through mature political engagement, negotiation and lawful dispute-resolution mechanisms.

“There must be no politics of violence in Cross River State.”

IPAC particularly appealed to political party leaders to caution their supporters against provocation and retaliation, cautioning that political leaders have a responsibility to control their followers.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 38-year-old businessman, Philip Tunde, with 4.80kg of cocaine concealed in the soles of shoes and railings of travelling bags at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The suspect was arrested on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at the joint screening point of Terminal 2 while preparing to board a Royal Air Maroc flight to Milan, Italy.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, the operatives recovered 16 parcels of white powder concealed in the soles of eight pairs of trainers and canvas shoes.

A further 195 wraps of the substance were found hidden in the railings of four travelling bags. The substances tested positive for cocaine and weighed a combined 4.80kg.

During interrogation, Tunde reportedly told investigators that he paid N16 million in cash for the cocaine concealed in the shoes, while the consignment hidden in the bags was intended for delivery to his partner in Italy.

He reportedly said he raised the money from compensation he received following an injury sustained while working at a plastic manufacturing company in Italy, where he lost the tips of two fingers.

Meanwhile, NDLEA operatives also intercepted large consignments of illicit drugs at the Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne ports, with the seized substances having a combined street value of more than N5 billion.

At the Apapa port, operatives acting on intelligence subjected two containers from Bangkok, Thailand, to 100 per cent examination alongside Customs officials and other stakeholders.

A search of one of the containers on Saturday led to the recovery of 161 parcels of Thai Loud, a strong strain of cannabis, weighing 124kg and valued at N372 million. The drugs were concealed inside two refrigerators and two cartons.

At the Onne Port in Rivers State, two containers placed on the NDLEA watchlist were jointly examined with Customs and other security agencies.

Operatives recovered 40 packs of Loud weighing 22kg from a travelling bag and three of five vehicles — a Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra — shipped in one of the containers.

The second container contained 109,600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup weighing 16,440kg. According to the NDLEA, the container originated from India and was routed through Saudi Arabia, where its history of origin was allegedly deleted to avoid detection.

The agency said the Loud and codeine consignments recovered at the Onne Port had a combined street value of N833.2 million.

At the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, NDLEA operatives on Tuesday, September 29, conducted a joint examination of a watch-listed container from Montreal, Canada.

The operation led to the recovery of 2,595 parcels of Canadian Loud weighing 1,297.5kg. The drugs were concealed in a Toyota Sienna and a Hyundai Elantra, alongside 24 blue drums and six jumbo bags in the container. The consignment was valued at more than N3.8 billion.

In Osun State, NDLEA operatives destroyed 20,234kg of skunk from 8.0936 hectares of cannabis farm in Area 4, Ife South Local Government Area, on Wednesday, September 30.

In Plateau State, a 41-year-old suspect, Agbo Dennis, was arrested on Tuesday, September 29, at the West of Mines area of Jos North following the seizure of 33 bags of skunk weighing 385kg.

In Lagos, operatives on Monday, September 28, raided an unoccupied compound at Divine Estate, Ago Palace, where they recovered 209,000 tablets of tramadol.

A follow-up operation at Ladipo Spare Parts Market on Wednesday, September 30, also led to the arrest of 23-year-old Ekundayo Taiwo after the seizure of 61g of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, and 24g of methamphetamine.

The drugs were concealed in a bottle of energy drink and sent as a waybill package from a commercial bus driver along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway the previous day.

In Kogi State, NDLEA officers on patrol along the Okene-Lokoja Highway on Wednesday, September 30, intercepted a Lagos-Abuja commercial bus and recovered two sachets containing methamphetamine weighing 1kg.

A follow-up operation led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the consignment, 29-year-old Michael Chukwuemeka Uzoma, at Utako, Abuja.

In Edo State, NDLEA operatives raided the residence of 35-year-old Saturday Omimi at Uyere community, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, on Friday, October 2, recovering 32.2kg of cannabis sativa.

The same day, operatives arrested 23-year-old Osazuwa Iyabor Michael at Auchi Bypass, Benin City, with 59g of Loud, 12g of Colorado, 19g of tramadol, 16g of methamphetamine, 4g of Swinol and 4g of Molly.

The agency also announced the arrest of 47-year-old Idris Mohammed Kurra, a fugitive who allegedly jumped bail six years ago.

Kurra was arrested on Tuesday, September 29. He was facing trial before the Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, over alleged possession and dealing in 198kg of skunk.

The NDLEA said he had been on the run since December 2020 after allegedly jumping bail granted by the court.

The agency also continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns across the country, with officials visiting schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.

The campaigns were held at institutions including St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oji, Enugu; Olu-Odo Primary School, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Lagos; Government Junior Secondary School, Tsamiya, Kano; Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti; and Government Science Secondary School, Lokoja, Kogi State.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers and men of the affected commands for what he described as intelligence-driven operations.

He urged them and other personnel across the country to sustain efforts against drug trafficking networks while maintaining the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.

Ogun State has taken its investment pitch to the global stage, wooing international investors and development partners with its expanding industrial base, strategic infrastructure, agricultural potential and business-friendly reforms at a high-level side event on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.

Representing the State at the engagement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Development Partners Coordination, Dr. Bayo Adenekan, said Ogun was strategically positioned to attract increased domestic and international investment, citing its growing industrial clusters, infrastructure development, agricultural opportunities and economic reforms under the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Adenekan said the State was seeking stronger partnerships to unlock opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure, innovation, climate and green financing, youth empowerment and artificial intelligence, among other priority sectors.

He said Ogun’s participation at UNGA provided an opportunity to showcase the State’s economic potential to a global audience while strengthening relationships with international investors, development institutions and strategic partners.

According to him, sustained collaboration between government, investors and development institutions remained essential to unlocking Ogun’s economic potential, addressing emerging development challenges and creating opportunities for businesses, young people and communities.

Adenekan also highlighted the importance of innovative financing mechanisms, particularly climate and green financing, in supporting infrastructure development and building a more resilient and sustainable economy.

The engagement, which focused on innovative financing mechanisms for climate action and the acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the Global South, also highlighted Nigeria’s growing commitment to climate governance, climate financing and sustainable development.

Adenekan said Ogun’s investment proposition was strengthened by the development vision of the Dapo Abiodun administration, anchored on the ISEYA pillars, as well as the State’s expanding infrastructure and industrial ecosystem.

He noted that the State’s engagement at the UNGA was part of its broader effort to attract strategic investments, deepen development partnerships and position Ogun as a destination for sustainable investment, innovation and industrial development.

As part of the engagement, Adenekan presented a copy of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration’s achievements brochure to Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim.

Ibrahim, according to Adenekan, promised to make the publication available as a reference document at the United Nations, Nigeria Office and the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, as well as a guide to investment opportunities in Ogun State.

Also speaking at the event, the Secretary of the UNGA High-Level Global Executive Roundtable and Director-General, Civil Society Organisations on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI), Chief Kunle Yusuff, highlighted Nigeria’s evolving climate-governance framework and efforts to mobilise climate financing.

Yusuff cited the strategic revitalisation of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), noting its relevance to tackling desertification, improving carbon sequestration, strengthening climate adaptation and enhancing livelihood resilience in vulnerable communities.

He said the initiatives aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Paris Agreement and the country’s obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

According to him, strengthening Nigeria’s climate-financing architecture could help attract green bonds, carbon-credit investments and climate-adaptation financing.

The engagement brought together prominent Nigerian business, diplomatic and public-sector leaders, including Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim; former Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru; Group Managing Director, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa; Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Hon. Titilayo Oshodi; and Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, among other stakeholders.

The Ogun delegation used the engagement to further position the State’s investment opportunities within the broader global conversation on sustainable development, climate finance, innovation and inclusive economic growth.