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Election Timetable: INEC Talks Tough As 18 Parties Fail To Conduct Primaries

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has vowed not to extend the June 3, 2022 deadline for primaries even as none of the 18 political parties had conducted their presidential primaries three weeks before the deadline.

A document obtained from INEC on Monday showed that the Accord Party scheduled its primaries for June 2 while the Action Alliance fixed its own for June 3.

The African Action Congress is also expected to hold its own on June 3 while the African Democratic Congress and the Action Democratic Party will hold theirs on June 1 and May 30 respectively.

The All Progressives Congress will complete its presidential primary on June 1; the All Progressives Grand Alliance will conduct its primary on June 1 while the Allied Peoples Movement will conduct its primary on May 30.

The Action People’s Party stated its primary for May 27, the Boot Party will conduct its own on June 3, Labour Party on June 3, and the New Nigeria People’s Party on June 1 and 2.

The National Rescue Movement fixed its Presidential primary for June 1 and 2, the Peoples Democratic Party will hold its own on May 29, the Peoples Redemption Party will conduct its primary on May 28, and the Young Progressives Party will hold its own on June 1 while Zenith Labour Party will hold its primary on June 1.

It was gathered that the Social Democratic Party, which had fixed its primary for May 14, failed to do so.

Sources told our correspondent that parties had fixed their presidential primaries for the last minute to carry out negotiations and also lobby INEC.

A PDP chieftain said, “What many of these smaller parties usually do is to hold their primaries very late to adopt the candidate of one of the big parties. They use this to get funding. Also, because everyone is still lobbying INEC for an extension of time, everyone is trying to push their primaries towards the deadline just in case INEC obliges.”

Meanwhile, the PDP has again postponed its governorship primary, for the third time this month.

The opposition party had first fixed its governorship primary for May 21 and then extended it to May 23. However, in a fresh letter dated May 16 which was addressed to INEC, the party indicated that it would now hold its governorship primaries on May 25.

The party also shifted its House of Assembly primaries from May 7 to May 21 while the House of Representatives primary will take place on May 22. The PDP noted that its senatorial primary will be conducted on May 23 as against the initial May 14.

The letter which was signed by the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, read in part, “In the case of the South-East region, due to the sit-at-home order currently observed on Mondays, the Senate primaries will now hold on May 24, 2022, in the South-East zone.

Attempts to get a reaction from the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, proved abortive as he did not respond to repeated calls.

Terminal dates for primaries are firm and fixed, no going back – Commission

In a related development, INEC has said that it is too late to tinker with the schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.

Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman of, the Information and Voter Education Committee, stated this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

NAN reported that Okoye spoke against the backdrop of the two months extension of the deadline for the conduct of the parties’ primaries recently sought by the Inter-Party Advisory Council.

According to him, any change in the June 3 deadline will affect other activities for elections.

“The timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission are derived from the constitution, the Electoral Act, and the Regulations and Guidelines of the commission.

“The chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made it clear that our timetable and schedule of activities and the terminal date for the conduct of party primaries are firm and fixed.”

Why INEC won’t accept fresh requests by parties to change electoral timetable – Igini

Also, Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, said that INEC won’t accept fresh requests by political parties to change electoral timetables including June 3, 2022 deadline for parties to submit their candidates for the 2023 general elections.

Igini noted that the 18 political parties have been in the habit of constant requests for an extension of the deadline for the submission of candidates.

He said, “Within the broad outline of the timetable issued, political parties have been making changes and sending letters almost every day shifting dates, venues, and time. As disruptive as these changes to our internal workings, these shifts have all been accommodated by the commission to the extent that our staff now work in the field during weekends.

“These changes have been at a huge cost to the commission that deployed staff members to various states from Abuja and within states.

“If l may observe and ask, why is it that political parties decided to leave out the whole of April that they should have commenced the conduct of primaries? Why is it that some of these parties chose almost the last few days to the end of May for these all-important activities when they know that the submission deadline is the 3rd of June 2022? Haven’t they been hearing and reading the chairman’s consistent refrain of constitutional and statutory timelines are “fixed and firmed” at all stakeholders’ meetings?

“Look, as l have said, changes of venues and time within the framework of the already issued constitutional timetable by the commission, no problems and they have been doing that but a fundamental shift is what the commission has advised against to allow for the certainty of timeline for the 2023 elections otherwise we will continue to shift and shift the timetable.”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Super Eagles Legendary Goalkeeper Peter Rufai Dies At 60

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The Super Eagles have honoured former Nigerian goalkeeper and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Peter Rufai, following reports of his passing.

In a statement posted on Thursday via X, the national team referred to Rufai, popularly called “Dodo Mayana,” as an iconic figure in Nigerian football whose impact will always be remembered.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the statement said.

The statement praised Rufai’s outstanding career, highlighting his remarkable performances and influence beyond football.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond. Rest well, Peter Rufai,” it added.

Rufai was a key member of the celebrated Nigerian team that won the 1994 AFCON and qualified for the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup in the same year.

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BIG STORY

When Lagos Drew The Line On Plastic Waste, It Chose The Harder, Better Path — By Babajide Fadoju

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On July 1, 2025, the Lagos State Government began full enforcement of its long-announced ban on single-use plastics less than 40 microns in thickness. These included styrofoam food packs, polystyrene cups, plastic straws, and thin carrier bags. This was not just another policy roll-out. It marked a significant environmental turning point for one of Africa’s most densely populated cities.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, had spent months leading the charge. At every forum and press briefing, he maintained that the state would not shift the enforcement date. And when that date arrived, the government kept its word. What many had assumed would be delayed or softened became a reality across markets, food vendors, eateries, and shopping outlets. Lagos had drawn the line.

The decision did not happen overnight. In January 2024, the government had announced the ban on styrofoam products, warning that other forms of non-biodegradable single-use plastics would follow. Manufacturers, food service businesses, and packaging companies were given an 18-month window to adapt. By January 2025, after multiple consultations with key industry players including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Restaurants and Food Services Proprietors Association of Nigeria (RFSPAN), and the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), the government granted a six-month extension. That grace period ended on June 30, 2025. The very next day, enforcement began.

Commissioner Wahab consistently emphasised that the decision was not driven by convenience or popularity, but by necessity. Lagos, with its coastal geography, had become especially vulnerable to the effects of plastic pollution. Thin plastics and styrofoam containers were not just littering the streets; they were choking the city’s drainage systems, causing repeated flooding, and disrupting the natural flow of water across low-lying areas. The government had been forced to spend billions clearing clogged drains, dredging canals, and evacuating waste. These were resources that could have supported education, housing, or healthcare. Continuing with the status quo would have been reckless.

Across the world, over 70 countries had adopted similar bans or restrictions. Some had introduced taxes on plastic bags. Others had outright prohibited the use of certain materials. Lagos joined that global conversation not to make a statement, but to solve a real problem. For years, markets like Mile 12 and Oyingbo had been overwhelmed by plastic waste. Waterways like the Ogun River and Lagos Lagoon had carried tonnes of microplastics downstream. With each rain, the damage multiplied.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) played a central role in translating policy into action. In the weeks leading up to enforcement, LAWMA organised community outreach campaigns, market sensitisation, and stakeholder meetings. Waste collectors were briefed on how to spot banned items and how to separate recyclable materials. LAWMA officials worked directly with traders, waste vendors, and informal sector recyclers to ease the transition. Educational materials were printed in English, Yoruba, and Pidgin to reach as many residents as possible.

Despite all these efforts, resistance remained. Some business owners argued that alternatives were more expensive. Others claimed they had not received enough notice. But Wahab was unflinching. He stated clearly that any manufacturer or distributor who had failed to find a safer, eco-friendly alternative after 24 months was simply not ready to comply. The policy had been public knowledge since 2024. The time for excuses had passed.

There was also concern about job losses, especially in the plastic production and distribution chain. The government responded by highlighting the opportunity for innovation. Biodegradable packaging, paper alternatives, reusable food containers, and local compostable materials were now in demand. New jobs could be created in eco-friendly product design, waste sorting, and recycling infrastructure. Wahab noted that Lagos would support businesses willing to shift in this direction, but would no longer subsidise pollution in the name of economic convenience.

The path Lagos chose was not the easiest, but it was the most responsible. It took political will to push through a decision that affected thousands of daily transactions, from street food sales to major retail chains. It took environmental clarity to say no when delay would have been more comfortable. And it took administrative strength to follow through on enforcement, when doing nothing would have been easier.

Now, the hard part continues. Enforcement must be consistent. Public awareness must be sustained. And alternatives must remain within reach of ordinary citizens. But with this bold step, Lagos signalled that it would no longer be held hostage by harmful habits and unchecked commercial practices.

The story of July 1, 2025, was not just about plastic. It was about leadership. It was about vision. And it was about protecting a city that refuses to collapse under the weight of its own waste.

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BIG STORY

AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

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The Asset Management Company of Nigeria has confirmed the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

Gbenga Alake, managing director and chief executive officer of AMCON, revealed the details of the transaction during a media briefing with journalists on Thursday.

In April 2024, the federal government announced plans to sell five electricity distribution companies managed by banks and AMCON.

Ibadan DisCo, which was under AMCON’s management, is among the five companies listed for sale. Others include the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

During the briefing, Alake stated that the company was sold for N100 billion.

He mentioned that AMCON would soon transfer the company to the preferred bidder.

“Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it has already been sold. It was sold for how much?” Alake said.

“We got in and said no, it cannot be. We said they should go and submit a new offer that we were not going to sell for that.

“At the end of the day, we got almost double of what Ibadan DisCos was going to be sold for.”

He explained that the sale has sparked legal disputes, with “so many interests now fighting and writing”.

Alake maintained that despite the matter being in court, AMCON remains confident that the process was properly handled.

“We have sold it… and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it,” he said.

On May 15, reports emerged that the African Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust, a civil society group, had filed a suit at the federal high court in Abuja against AMCON, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and Ibadan DisCo over an alleged planned sale of a 60 percent stake in the company for $62 million.

The civil society group, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/866/2025, described the sale as “secretive and illegal,” claiming the price was “corruptly undervalued”.

The group also argued that the transaction would result in a $107 million loss compared to the $169 million paid for the same stake during the 2013 privatisation of Ibadan DisCo.

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