The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the APC-led Senate of being afraid of free and fair elections after rejecting key electoral reforms meant to strengthen transparency and integrity in Nigeria’s voting process.

This was contained in a statement signed and released by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Bolaji Abdulahi on Wednesday.

The party criticized the Senate’s rejection of electronic transmission of election results, saying it signals yet another effort by the APC to manipulate future elections.

Other rejected reforms included the electronic download of voter cards from the INEC website, a reduction in election notice periods, and a shortened timeline for the publication of candidates from 150 days to 60 days.

“The proposed provisions were intended to provide safeguards against electoral abuse and restore voter confidence.

“But the Senate’s action amounts to tampering with the law, creating opportunities for rigging and imposing logistical challenges on INEC that could weaken future elections,” the statement read.

The ADC accused the APC of exploiting its majority in the National Assembly to entrench malpractice, warning that the party’s fear of free and fair elections is driving legislative manipulations.

“By rejecting reforms meant to improve election conduct, the APC has shown its desire to cling to power by all means,” the statement added.

The opposition party urged Nigerians to hold the APC accountable and called on the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act to reject the Senate’s submissions.

It also appealed for amendments that reflect democratic principles and the will of the Nigerian people.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed its readiness to conduct the FCT elections, confirming delivery of non-sensitive materials and are At the moment being batched at each Area Council.

The Commission has also concluded the training of Electoral Officers and their Assistants and the INEC/ICCES collaborative training of Election Security Personnel.

The INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the update at the first regular media consultative meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

“Recruitment of Adhoc Election officials has been concluded and the Training of Trainers took place on Monday 2nd February, 2026 in preparation for the training of Adhoc Personnel commencing on the 6th of February, 2026 in the FCT, Kano and Rivers States.

“Furthermore, BVAS devices are being configured for accreditation and upload of results to the IReV portal, and sensitive materials will be delivered a day before the election.” Amupitan said.

He also announced that there will be a mock accreditation on Saturday, 7th February 2026, in 289 selected Polling Units (PUs) across the six Area Councils.

The selected PUs will be made available on the Commission’s website. While 83 domestic and five (5) foreign observers have been accredited for the FCT council elections, the online accreditation for journalists intending to cover the polls remains ongoing until 8th February 2026. All interested media organisations are hereby enjoined to register before the portal closes.

Also on 21st February, 2026, the Commission will conduct bye-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State.

The vacancies in Ahoada East II and Khana II arose from the resignation and death of the elected members, respectively. In Ahoada East II, voting by 41,085 registered voters will take place in 87 (eighty-seven) polling units (PUs) across six wards, while in Khana II, 71,865 registered voters are expected to vote in 155 polling units across eight wards.

Similarly, the INEC will be conducting bye-elections on the same day for the Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies of Kano State as a result of the death of the two serving members.

In the Kano Municipal constituency, 330,228 registered voters will vote in 630 polling units (PUs) across 13 wards, while in Ungogo constituency, 205,418 registered voters will vote in 384 polling units (PUs) across 11 wards. Ten political parties are participating in both bye-elections.

Furthermore, in compliance with Section 28(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, the Commission, on 25th June, 2025, announced that the Ekiti State Governorship Election will be held on 20th June, 2026, across 2,445 polling units in the 16 LGAs of the state.

Of the 13 activities outlined in the election timetable, eight (8) have already been completed. In addition, the Osun State Governorship Election is scheduled for Saturday, 8th August, 2026.

For that election, the third activity in the approved timetable is presently underway.

On upcoming general elections, he said Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 empowers the Commission to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before the date of the poll.

While the National Assembly is currently working on amendments to the Electoral Act, the Commission has made its submission as required.

“We are mindful of the growing public interest and anticipation surrounding the release of the timetable and wish to assure the media, political parties and the Nigerian public that the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election has been finalised by the commission in full compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2022. Having said that, we seek your support in urging the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.” he said.

Amupitan, also noted that. credible register of voters remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections, saying, “No electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters’ register.”

Nigeria’s national register, first compiled ahead of the 2011 General Election, has since been continuously updated and deployed in the General Elections of 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023, as well as in several off-cycle governorship and bye-elections. As of the 2023 General Election, the register stood at 93,469,008 voters. However, persistent challenges —including duplicate registrations, registration by non-citizens, deceased voters and incomplete or inaccurate records— continue to generate legitimate concerns.

“Such anomalies undermine public confidence in the electoral process. In response, the Commission will embark on a thorough clean-up with a view to further sanitising and strengthening the integrity of the register. Accordingly, the Commission will soon embark on a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election.” Amupitan assured.

Speaking further, he said, “In the first phase of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted from 18th August to 10th December 2025, the Commission registered a total of 2,782,587 eligible voters. The second phase commenced on 5th January 2026 and will run until 17th April 2026.

“The entire CVR exercise is scheduled to span one year and will be concluded on 30th August 2026. We are encouraged by the strong public response to the exercise, which affirms the continuing belief of Nigerians in the democratic process and in the efforts of the Commission to ensure that every eligible citizen is afforded the opportunity to register and vote.

“However, those who engage in double registration will be identified, removed from the voters’ register and barred from participating in future elections. Double registration is against the law, and INEC will no longer condone it. Nobody should register twice because our system will detect it. We will not just detect it; those involved in double registration will be removed from the register.”

On party registration, he said “You will recall that the Commission received a total of 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties. The associations were assessed in line with Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79(1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022. Several of the Associations were unable to fulfil the constitutional requirements and the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties. The successful association(s) will soon be announced by the Commission. “

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello continued on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the cross-examination of Prosecution Witness Seven (PW7).

Bello is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 19-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of ₦80,246,470,088.88.

At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday,  prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, informed the court that the matter was slated for the cross-examination of PW7, adding that the prosecution had three witnesses available.

PW7, Olomotane Egoro, a compliance officer with Access Bank Plc, was led to the witness dock and affirmed that he remained under oath.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, J.B. Daudu, SAN, the witness confirmed that he testified pursuant to a subpoena and tendered Exhibits 32, 33(1–11), and 34. He also confirmed that he had previously testified before another Federal High Court in relation to the same exhibits but could not recall the specific defendants or whether he testified as PW2.

While the defence sought to tender Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents from the other court, Pinheiro,  noted that the prosecution had no objection to the documents but raised a procedural issue regarding the absence of receipts evidencing payment for the CTCs. He also maintained that the witness had been consistent in his testimony.

Meanwhile, Justice Nwite held that the documents could only be admitted upon the presentation of the required receipts, agreeing with the prosecution. The defence subsequently informed the court that efforts were ongoing to retrieve the receipts.

Further cross-examination centred on bank transactions involving Keyless Nature Limited, Fazab Oil, and Abba Adaudu. The witness confirmed a counter cheque payment at the Otukpo Branch of Access Bank and transfers, including ₦200,000 and ₦8 million, made in favour of Abba Adaudu.

On local government inflows, the witness testified that payments were made for specific purposes, including: ₦7,500,144.61 from Okehi Local Government for the supply of medical items; ₦10,863,247.50 from Omala Local Government on June 3, 2022, for the supply of sporting materials; and ₦12,228,400.10 from Yagba East Local Government on June 6, 2022, for the procurement of medical consumables.

He also stated that entries in Exhibit 33(11) were consistent with normal banking transactions and that the account opening package of Fazab Oil was not immediately available but could be retrieved.

Justice Nwite thereafter adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 5, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of PW7.

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.