The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the resumption of the third phase of the Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in Ondo State.

According to a statement issued by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, the exercise commenced on Monday, May 11, 2026, and is being conducted nationwide through both online pre-registration and physical, in-person registration.

According to the statement, “the third phase would adopt the IVED rotation framework for the first 40 days of the exercise. The final five days would take place across all the 18 Local Government Area offices of the commission in the state.”

The Commission disclosed that the exercise, which is the final phase of the registration process, is scheduled to conclude on July 10, 2026, in line with its approved timetable.

The statement urged “eligible citizens who are yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity within the stipulated period.”

It also encouraged electorates seeking to update their voter information or transfer their registration details to participate in the exercise.

The commission noted that individuals with missing or defaced Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, could also use the exercise to request replacements.

Agboke also assured residents of adequate arrangements to ensure a smooth and inclusive process.

“INEC in Ondo State is poised to ensure robust public engagement with all the activities of the commission to enhance better participation and awareness,” the statement said.

Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has stated why he is confident of winning the governorship primary under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in Gombe State.

Speaking during an interview on TVC on Sunday, Pantami said he relied on strong evidence, not opinion.

According to him, the evidence includes polls conducted both physically and online, among which he emerged as number one in all 13 polls.

“I’m not just a member of APC, but I’m also a party leader. Tinubu appointed me as a special adviser in his campaign council for the 2023 election, addressed to me as a party leader.

“So why he addressed me as a party leader is that he knew very well the role I played during the merger of Congress for Progressives Change, CPC, on one hand and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, on the other, since from 2010.

“Furthermore, the reason why I’m optimistic is because of the fact that I rely on strong evidence. It’s not opinion. And you cannot counter an evidence with an opinion.

“This evidence is the pools that have been conducted physically and also online. In each and everyone in which we have a result of around 13 of them, I emerged as number one, with all sense of humility. And you may wish to go there and verify what I have said.

“Thirdly, the reason I feel people love me so much and they appreciate my modest contribution is because of the fact that when I got the opportunity to serve as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, I did my best for Nigeria in general and for Gombe in particular,” he said.

Human rights group, Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to launch an independent investigation into the death of six civilians reportedly killed during a military airstrike in Niger State.

In a statement issued on Monday, the organization condemned the incident, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday at Guradnayi settlement near Kusasu in Shiroro Local Government Area.

According to the organization, the airstrike allegedly hit a residential area around 5:00 a.m. during military operations targeting armed groups operating in the area.

The group said at least six civilians were killed, while several others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

“Nigerian authorities must promptly carry out an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the incident, make the findings public, and ensure accountability for any violations of international law,” the statement said.

Amnesty International expressed concern over what it described as the recurring loss of civilian lives during military air operations, warning that such incidents raise questions about Nigeria’s compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law.

The organization stressed the need for authorities to adhere to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution during security operations.

It also urged the government to provide medical care, humanitarian assistance, psychosocial support and reparations to victims and affected families.

“The Nigerian government must urgently review operational procedures governing aerial bombardments and put in place effective safeguards to prevent further civilian casualties during military operations,” the group added.

Amnesty International further maintained that civilians should never be exposed to danger during security operations.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the appointment of Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson, popularly known as BOVAS, as the new Chancellor of Osun State University, UNIOSUN.

The appointment of Mrs. Samson as the third Chancellor of UNIOSUN was announced in a statement by Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson, on Sunday in Osogbo.

Her appointment follows the completion of the tenure of the immediate past chancellor, Folorunso Alakija, whose service ended on March 18, 2026, after a decade in office.

The Osun State Government had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Alakija on May 8, 2026, expressing appreciation to her and her family for their contributions to the university’s development.

During the visit, Governor Adeleke commended the former chancellor’s impact, describing her tenure as a period marked by notable achievements and an enduring legacy.

He particularly highlighted the donation of the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital, describing it as a multi-billion-naira intervention that strengthened the institution’s infrastructure.

According to the statement: “Mrs. Samson, widely known as Mama BOVAS, is the founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas, a leading indigenous oil and gas firm.

“An indigene of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, she was born on December 5, 1949.

“Under her leadership alongside her husband, the company expanded from a single petroleum products service station to over 200 outlets nationwide, employing more than 2,000 Nigerians as of December 31, 2025.

“Mrs. Samson also owns the Texaco Petroleum franchise and became the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990.

“She reportedly recorded the highest sales performance across both West Africa and Latin America during the period.

“Her professional career includes service as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria at the NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot in Ejigbo, Lagos, and Apata Depot in Ibadan, as well as membership of the Board of Trustees of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association.

“She holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing and attended leadership programmes at Harvard Business School and IESE Business School in Barcelona.”

Remarking through the statement, Governor Adeleke said, “We recognise with appreciation your distinct effort to make life easy for consumers of petroleum products. We celebrate you as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity, and humanity in our society.”

The governor also congratulated Mrs. Samson on behalf of the government and people of Osun State and urged her to bring her experience and leadership to bear in her new role at the university.

The Taraba State Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, has charged principals, invigilators and supervisors across the state to ensure a malpractice-free conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Dr. Godwin gave the charge on the weekend during the WAEC 2026 sensitization meeting organised for principals, invigilators and supervisors from Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils. The meeting was held on Saturday at the Government Technical and Training School, Jalingo.

Speaking, the commissioner stressed the importance of professionalism, discipline and integrity in the administration of the examination. She noted that the Taraba State Government, under Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, remains committed to promoting quality education and restoring public confidence in the examination system.

She warned examination officials and school administrators against all forms of examination malpractice and urged them to strictly comply with WAEC rules and guidelines.

“Taraba State must continue to stand out in academic excellence through hard work and credibility. We must collectively ensure zero malpractice during the conduct of WAEC examinations,” she stated.

On his part, the WAEC Branch Controller in the state commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his continued support for the education sector.

According to him, Governor Kefas is the first governor in the state to clear all 2026 WAEC-related fees, a move he said had eased the burden on parents and boosted students’ participation in external examinations.

The branch controller also praised the governor for donating a utility van to the WAEC office and for providing other forms of support aimed at improving the operations of the examination body in the state.

The sensitization meeting was observed to have attracted principals, invigilators and supervisors from secondary schools across Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils.

Policy Strategist and Group CEO, Global Investment and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, has stated why the Peter Obi and Rabi’u Kwankwaso ticket may not win the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’ on Friday, Yusuf said they may be able to get numbers of voters but the numbers would not spread across the North and South to give them the constitutional requirement to win.

Recall that Obi and Kwankwaso dumped the African Democratic Congress, ADC, for the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, last Sunday citing court cases and internal divisions as reasons for their exit.

Airing his own opinion, Yusuf said, “If you look at the spread of Peter Obi with profound respect to him and Kwankwaso, they won’t be able to win the presidency.

“They may be able to get numbers of about 70 million voters that didn’t vote in 2023 which I reckon people will come out and vote.

“But will those numbers have the spread across the North and Southern Nigeria to give them the constitutional requirement to win the election as Peter Obi and Kwankwaso? I expect a lot of consultations and negotiations that will lead to that.

“The ‘me me’ attitude will not cut it. And I expect maybe Peter Obi and Kwankwaso to sit down with an elder statesman like Atiku Abubakar to say, look, how are we going to share this power?

“It’s a negotiation, but when you come with this attitude of ‘we don’t need you’, it will not yield any positive result,” Yusuf said.

Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside National Chairman of the NDC, Henry Seriake Dickson, paid a courtesy visit to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at his residence in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday night.

The visit was disclosed in a statement issued by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Hon. Saifullahi Hassan.

According to the statement, the political figures held discussions on political developments in the country, although details of the meeting were not made public.

Among those who received the visitors alongside Kwankwaso were former Kano State Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna; Senator representing Kano Central, Rufa’i Sani Hanga; prominent NNPP chieftain, Buba Galadima; and member of the House of Representatives representing Kura, Madobi and Garun Malam Federal Constituency, Yusuf Datti Kura.

Several other key figures within the Kwankwasiyya movement were also present during the meeting.

Although the exact issues discussed were not disclosed, the development is expected to further fuel speculation over ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, especially amid reports of possible alliance talks involving Obi and Kwankwaso on a joint presidential ticket.

Power outages in parts of Kebbi State have persisted for months, leaving communities in prolonged darkness, crippling businesses, worsening living conditions and deepening economic hardship across affected areas.

Residents across multiple local government areas have decried that the situation has gone beyond occasional power failure, describing it as an unending blackout that has paralyzed homes, shops, and small businesses.

DAILY POST gathered that the recurring power outage has become one of the most pressing challenges in the state, with many communities reporting little or no electricity supply for weeks.

Small business owners say the situation is severely affecting their livelihoods, particularly those who depend on electricity for cooling systems, cold storage, and daily operations.

A shop owner in Badariya, Musa Abdullahi, who sells frozen foods and beverages, said the blackout had forced him into heavy losses, adding that he has been unable to preserve perishable goods due to the prolonged lack of electricity supply.

“I cannot afford a solar system that can carry my fridge and other appliances. I am losing customers every day because I have no way to preserve my goods,” he said.

Another business owner in the Kara area of Birnin Kebbi lamented declining sales and rising operational costs.

“Business has dropped seriously. Without light, customers don’t come like before. Even buying fuel for the generator is too expensive for small traders like us,” she said.

Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, KAEDCO, which serves as the primary electricity distribution company covering Kebbi State under its franchise area, alongside Kaduna, Sokoto, and Zamfara, has for years remained the main operator responsible for transmitting and distributing power to residents of the state.

Despite its statutory role in ensuring steady electricity supply, the company has repeatedly come under criticism over persistent load shedding, unstable distribution, and inadequate power allocation to Kebbi communities.

KAEDCO has previously attributed its poor supply to low power allocation from the national grid, transmission constraints, and revenue shortfalls, factors it says have continued to cause frequent electricity interruptions across its franchise areas, including Kebbi State.

In response to the worsening situation, the Kebbi State Governor in early April approved the constitution of a Multi-Stakeholders Committee to engage KAEDCO over the lingering electricity challenges.

The decision followed an intensive town hall meeting involving stakeholders and KAEDCO representatives, where issues of epileptic and low power supply in the state were discussed.

The committee was mandated to examine the actual quantum of electricity supplied to Kebbi State in relation to payments made and services rendered, as well as to review billing compliance issues and other operational challenges affecting distribution.

However, DAILY POST gathered that the committee is yet to submit its official report, despite being given a clear timeline by the state government.

The government had directed the committee to submit its findings within two weeks, effective from April 16, 2026.

Weeks after the deadline, there has been no public release of the report, leaving residents uncertain about any concrete solution.

Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Kebbi State Governor, Yahaya Sarki, issued a strong statement, calling for urgent action from the electricity distribution company.

“KEDCO, wake up! People have been in darkness for days, this is unacceptable. Please act now. Your culture of silence is unbearable,” he was quoted as saying.

The statement has generated widespread reactions, with residents across affected communities sharing similar accounts of prolonged blackout.

In Kawara community, residents said they have been without electricity for months due to a damaged transformer, with no immediate intervention from authorities.

Many also complained that the cost of solar power systems capable of running refrigerators and other appliances is beyond their financial reach.

Findings by DAILY POST indicate that the ongoing blackout is largely attributed to neglect and poor infrastructure maintenance over time.

The power outage has also affected several parts of Birnin Kebbi, including GRA and Kara feeders, where supply remains unstable or completely absent.

Communities along the Gesse to Rugga axis also report over a month of continuous blackout, further worsening living and economic conditions.

Meanwhile, the state government had earlier suspended its monthly N150 million support to the electricity distribution company, citing poor service delivery.

Officials said the decision followed persistent complaints from residents and businesses over unreliable electricity supply across Kebbi State.