INEC chairman, Amupitan says commission will comply with court judgment as preparations continue for elections involving more than 103 million registered voters.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it will respect the Federal High Court judgment directing it to include Accord Party presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo- Hashim, on the final list of candidates for the 2027 presidential election.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday at an event organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), stating that another candidate had been added to the presidential race, bringing the total number to 19.

According to Amupitan, the commission would comply with the court’s decision concerning Hashim’s candidacy.

The development follows a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on October 5, 2026, directing Accord Party to recognise Hashim as its presidential candidate and submit his name to INEC.

The commission’s position marks a development in the dispute over Accord’s presidential ticket and confirms Hashim’s inclusion in the contest, subject to the official updated list.

Speaking at the NOA event, Amupitan described the 2027 general election as potentially the largest democratic exercise on the African continent and one of the most complex administrative undertakings in the world.

He cited Nigeria’s more than 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units across 774 local government areas as indicators of the scale of the exercise.

The figures underscore the logistical demands facing the commission as it prepares to conduct elections across the country.

The 2027 elections will involve multiple levels of voting, including the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Hashim’s addition takes the presidential candidate count from 18, as reflected in the list published in September, to 19, according to the INEC chairman’s announcement.

The commission is expected to reflect the change in its official candidate records in compliance with the court judgment.

Oyo Governor Says Sustainability Study Will Be Conducted as Ahmed Raji Hails Development in Oke Ogun

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has promised to initiate the process of granting autonomy to the Iseyin campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, following a request by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and President of the Oke Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF), Alhaji Ahmed Raji.

Makinde gave the assurance on Wednesday during the commissioning and handover of the Alhaji Kazeem Owonikoko Building at L.A. Primary School, Oke Esa, Iseyin, a facility donated to the Oyo State Government by Raji.

Responding to the appeal for the Iseyin campus to become a full-fledged autonomous university, the governor said his administration would engage the National Universities Commission (NUC) and conduct a sustainability study to determine the feasibility of the proposal.

“Regarding your request on the Iseyin Campus of LAUTECH becoming an autonomous university, we will go through the process. We will apply through the NUC, and I will carry out a sustainability study too. So, what you have asked for is done,” Makinde said.

Earlier, Raji commended the Makinde administration for its developmental projects across Iseyin and the wider Oke Ogun Zone, particularly the Moniya–Iseyin Road, Oyo–Iseyin Road and Iseyin–Fapote–Ogbomoso Road.

He also praised the establishment of LAUTECH’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources in Iseyin, describing it as a significant contribution to educational development in the area.

“When those who call themselves progressives were in government, they didn’t give us this. You came and gave us what they could not,” Raji said, while urging the governor to take further steps towards granting the campus autonomy.

The donated Alhaji Kazeem Owonikoko Building, equipped with classrooms, offices, solar power, furniture and modern learning facilities, was also commended by Makinde, who described it as a demonstration of the importance of private contributions to public education.

The governor reiterated his commitment to development across Oyo State, irrespective of political affiliation, and highlighted ongoing industrial activities in Iseyin, including the sugar factory near Fasola Farms, which he said was undergoing test running.

The event was attended by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin; and other government officials, traditional rulers and community leaders.

The police said the victim, identified as 40-year-old Azeez Tajudeen from Oke Amu in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, sustained a severe injury to his right eye during the attack.

He was rushed to the State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, where he was examined and confirmed dead. His remains have since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has directed the Command Monitoring Unit to investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

The attack occurred on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, shortly after the supporters left Molete for Iwo Road, where Hamzat’s Agidigbo FM office is located. Earlier reports said some supporters were injured and vehicles in the convoy were vandalised during the incident.

The police have urged political aspirants, party leaders and event organisers to notify the command at least 48 hours before planned processions or public gatherings to enable adequate security arrangements.

The command also appealed to members of the public with credible information about the attack to assist the ongoing investigation. The identities of the suspected attackers and their motive have not been officially established.

A tanker crash in Lagos has resulted in the spillage of approximately 33,000 litres of groundnut oil, prompting the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to issue a public warning against consuming the spilled product.

The incident raised concerns over public safety, possible contamination and the risks associated with the collection or consumption of products involved in road accidents.

LASTMA urged residents to avoid scooping or purchasing the spilled oil, while motorists were advised to exercise caution around the affected area.
The incident highlights the need for proper emergency response and safe handling of food products involved in road accidents.

Chaos erupted in the Molete area of Ibadan, Oyo State, following a clash involving suspected political thugs allegedly associated with the Accord Party and members of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

An eyewitness who spoke to Oduduwa News said the incident triggered panic in the area as the two groups reportedly engaged in a violent confrontation.

Security operatives were subsequently seen mobilising to the scene in an effort to restore order and prevent further escalation.

While one person was feared dead and several others were reportedly injured, the casualty figures have yet to be independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Further details surrounding the cause of the clash and the identities of those involved were still emerging as of press time.

The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abidakun Oluwatosin, who lost her life in a fatal road accident involving an articulated truck in Ibadan on Monday.

The deceased, who had only recently resumed her primary assignment at the Oyo State House of Assembly, was on her way home after the day’s work alongside another corps member, who also recently resumed service at the Assembly, when the unfortunate incident occurred around Agodi Gardens, behind the Oyo State Government Secretariat.

The two corps members were reportedly riding on the same motorcycle when an articulated truck rammed into them.

While Abidakun Oluwatosin died in the crash, her fellow corps member sustained injuries and is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital.

The Speaker described the incident as a painful and devastating loss, noting that the death of the young corps member was particularly heartbreaking given that she had only just begun her national service with hopes and aspirations for the future.

Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin lamented that the life of a promising young Nigerian had been cut short in such tragic circumstances, describing the incident as a loss not only to her family and friends but also to the Oyo State House of Assembly, where she had recently commenced her service year.

He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends, colleagues and fellow corps members of the deceased, praying that Almighty God would grant them the strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The Speaker also expressed concern over the condition of the surviving corps member, praying for a speedy and complete recovery.

President Tinubu has appointed Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as Osun State coordinator for his 2027 presidential re-election campaign.

Ademola Adeleke will lead campaign coordination for President Tinubu in Osun State under the revised All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council list.

The campaign council is scheduled to be inaugurated at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

The reshuffled campaign list also includes Nyesom Wike (Minister of the FCT) as coordinator for Rivers State and the FCT, and Chukwuma Soludo (Governor of Anambra State) as coordinator for Anambra. Meanwhile, Adegboyega Oyetola was named Deputy National Coordinator I for Stakeholders’ Mobilisation in the South-West.

Reacting to his appointment, Governor Adeleke noted that his support is anchored on regional alignment as a fellow Yoruba man from the South-West rather than a formal pre-election political pact, pledging a strong electoral push in the state.

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has questioned whether the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has the appropriate educational background to manage Nigeria’s economic policies.

Abdullahi made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he discussed the Federal Government’s proposed 30-day petrol price reduction initiative and its approach to fuel subsidy.

“I’m not saying he’s incompetent, but I think he doesn’t have the right education,” the ADC spokesman said, arguing that economic policymaking requires specialised knowledge of economic theories and policy frameworks.

He acknowledged Oyedele’s intelligence and expressed respect for him but maintained that accounting and economics offer different perspectives on managing an economy.

“The way an accountant reviews an economy is not the same way an economist reviews it,” Abdullahi said, adding that policymakers should have the relevant training to make decisions on complex economic issues.

Oyedele holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Finance from Yaba College of Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. He also spent 22 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he rose to become Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

Abdullahi’s comments come amid public debate over the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, particularly its proposed temporary petrol price reduction and the broader implications of government intervention in fuel pricing.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has appointed Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff following the resignation of his predecessor, Segun Ogunwuyi.

The appointment marks a change in the leadership of the governor’s office, with Akinwole taking over the role previously held by Ogunwuyi, a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives.

Ogunwuyi’s resignation and Akinwole’s appointment come amid a change in the composition of the governor’s immediate administrative team.

Further details regarding the circumstances surrounding Ogunwuyi’s resignation, the effective date of the appointment and any official statement from the Oyo State Government were not immediately available.

The development is expected to attract attention within Oyo State’s political circles as stakeholders await further clarification from the government.

Says Use of Foreign technology must strengthen not replace local capacity

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has welcomed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s directive requiring financial institutions and payment service providers to store and manage payment transaction data generated in Nigeria within the country, describing the policy as an important step towards strengthening Nigeria’s digital sovereignty and economic security.

The CBN circular, issued on June 15, 2026, sets January 1, 2027, as the deadline for full compliance. The Bank reaffirmed on October 9 that the deadline remains unchanged.

PeacePro Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said Nigeria must move beyond being a major consumer of foreign digital services and begin building the infrastructure, technical expertise and domestic industries needed to control and benefit from its growing digital economy.

“A country that generates critical financial data but depends on infrastructure outside its borders to store and manage that data must ask serious questions about its digital sovereignty. Nigeria cannot afford to remain merely a market for other countries’ technology while its own digital economy continues to expand.”

Hamzat said the policy could create opportunities for investment in Nigerian data centres, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, software development and specialised technical services, provided implementation is accompanied by deliberate policies to develop local capacity.

He stressed, however, that keeping data physically within Nigeria would not, by itself, guarantee digital sovereignty if critical infrastructure, intellectual property, technical expertise and strategic decision making remained excessively dependent on foreign providers.

“Data localisation must be more than a change of address for servers. It must become part of a national strategy to build Nigerian capacity, develop our technology workforce, strengthen local enterprises and retain more economic value within the country.”

PeacePro also urged the Federal Government and relevant regulators to ensure that Nigerian owned technology companies and qualified professionals have a fair opportunity to participate in the emerging market, rather than allowing the transition to become an exclusive commercial opportunity for a small number of established foreign technology providers.

PeacePro acknowledged concerns from banks and payment companies that migrating complex systems within the available timeframe could create operational and cybersecurity risks.

Hamzat said these concerns should be addressed through constructive engagement and clear technical standards, without abandoning the strategic objective of keeping Nigerian payment transaction data under appropriate domestic control.

Hamzat concluded that Nigeria’s digital sovereignty should be measured not only by where its data is stored, but also by its ability to secure that data, understand the systems managing it, develop domestic alternatives and ensure that Nigerians share meaningfully in the economic value created.

“Nigeria must own its digital future not necessarily by excluding foreign technology, but by ensuring that foreign participation strengthens rather than replaces our domestic capacity.”