INEC to Conduct Nationwide Mock Accreditation Exercise in November 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while receiving the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria, David Sproule, and other officials during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters.

Amupitan said the exercise would provide an opportunity to test the commission’s electoral technology and other equipment ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the mock accreditation will subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment to a rigorous field test across the country.

He said the exercise was designed to help INEC identify and resolve potential operational challenges before the general elections.

The INEC chairman stressed that the commission was determined to build on lessons learnt from recent off-cycle elections and improve its preparedness for the 2027 electoral cycle.

The nationwide exercise is expected to give INEC an opportunity to assess the functionality of its accreditation systems under conditions similar to those that will be experienced during the actual elections.

The commission has continued to carry out preparations for the 2027 general elections as political parties and candidates begin their campaigns for the presidential, National Assembly and other elections.

Peter Obi: Nigeria Can Work, and Nigeria Must Work

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said Nigeria can overcome its current challenges, declaring that “Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.”

Obi made the statement in an address marking the commencement of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaign period.

According to him, Wednesday, August 19, 2026, marked the official beginning of campaigns for the 2027 elections, describing the period as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy.

He said the campaign would give Nigerians the opportunity to assess the records, ideas and plans of candidates seeking their mandate at a time of what he described as grave uncertainty in a rapidly changing world.

“I consider myself quite privileged to be one of those seeking your mandate to deal with these challenges facing our country,” Obi said.

“I enter this contest with one firm conviction: Nigeria can work, and Nigeria must work.”

Obi highlighted poverty, food insecurity, internal displacement, unemployment, weak infrastructure, unreliable electricity, insecurity and the high cost of doing business among the major challenges confronting the country.

Citing figures attributed to the International Monetary Fund, Obi said 63 per cent of Nigerians, representing more than 140 million people, live at or below the national poverty line.

He also referenced humanitarian estimates indicating that about 35 million Nigerians would require food assistance during the 2026 lean season, while about 3.6 million people remain internally displaced, largely as a result of conflict and insecurity.

The former Anambra State governor said the figures represented more than statistics, arguing that they reflected the everyday struggles of Nigerian families, farmers, workers, students and businesses.

Despite the challenges, Obi said he remained confident in Nigeria’s ability to overcome them.

He said the country possesses the people, resources, market, talent and entrepreneurial capacity needed to build a prosperous economy, but stressed that these strengths must be converted into security, productivity and shared prosperity.

Obi said his experience in the private sector, studies in policy and business and his time as governor of Anambra State had shaped his understanding of public leadership.

According to him, government must manage public resources responsibly, establish clear priorities and measure the results of its decisions.

“Public office is not a reward; it is a responsibility to the people,” he said.

Reflecting on his record in Anambra, Obi said his administration prioritised education, healthcare, infrastructure, fiscal discipline and institutional capacity as foundations for long-term development.

He acknowledged that his record was not perfect but said it represented an experience from which Nigerians could draw their own conclusions.

Obi also highlighted the governing experience of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, describing their experiences as different but complementary.

He said Kwankwaso’s administration in Kano focused on education, technical training, scholarships, infrastructure and human-capital development.

According to Obi, investments in education and skills demonstrated the importance of treating people as the most important long-term resource of any state.

“Our experiences are different, but our conclusion is the same: Nigeria must invest in its people and manage public resources with discipline,” he said.

On the economy, Obi said Nigeria needed to move beyond reactive reforms and focus on whether government policies were actually improving the lives of citizens.

He questioned whether Nigerians were better off than they were four years ago, whether families could afford food, education and healthcare, and whether businesses could produce, expand and create jobs.

He also raised questions about opportunities for young Nigerians and the ability of farmers to work safely and transport their produce to markets.

Obi said these questions should remain central to the 2027 election debate as Nigerians assess the candidates seeking to lead the country.

Olorunda LCDA Faces 7-Day Ultimatum Over Alleged N300 Weekly POS Levy

A human rights activist, Comrade Alfred O. Some-fun, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Badagry, Lagos, demanding the immediate cancellation of a N300 weekly levy imposed on Point-of-Sale (POS) operators.

Some-fun, who is the Lead Human Rights Advocate of NEWS-SKY TV Reporters and Alfred-Speaks Movement, said he led a delegation of members of the public and POS operators to the Olorunda LCDA Secretariat on Wednesday, August 19, to challenge the levy.

According to him, the delegation was responding to a notice dated April 22, 2026, signed by the council chairman, Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, and the council treasurer, Awusinu Olayinka.

Some-fun said the Executive Chairman was unavailable when the delegation arrived, while officials of the council and a media aide attended to them but were unable to provide what he described as a concrete official explanation or legal basis for the levy.

He said the delegation subsequently submitted a written petition addressed to the council chairman.

Some-fun said copies of the petition would also be sent to the Lagos State Government, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The activist argued that the council lacked the legal authority to impose a weekly levy specifically on POS operators, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution and other laws.

He referenced the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act 1998 and laws governing financial institutions in making his argument.

According to him, POS operations fall under the regulatory framework of the CBN and are not listed among the revenue sources available to local councils.

He also argued that the levy could place additional financial pressure on POS operators and, ultimately, customers who depend on their services.

Some-fun rejected the council’s reported description of the levy as part of its “civic responsibility” obligations, arguing that such a justification cannot override existing laws.

He also maintained that reducing an earlier levy of N1,200 to N300 per week would not make the levy lawful if there was no legal authority for its collection.

The activist said the delegation had given the council seven days to provide a written response.

He is demanding the immediate cancellation of the N300 weekly POS levy, a written apology and public notice to affected operators, as well as the refund of money allegedly collected since May 4, 2026.

Some-fun warned that failure by the council to meet the demands within seven days would lead to further legal and administrative action.

He said the group would consider filing a Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit at the Federal High Court and petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Lagos State House of Assembly over what he described as abuse of office and illegal revenue collection.

The activist stressed that his group was not opposed to development but insisted that revenue collection and other government activities must be carried out within the law.

Olorunda LCDA had not, at the time of this report, issued a detailed public response to the allegations and demands contained in the petition.

Shemariah Media will continue to monitor the matter and report any response from the council.

“I Don’t Even Know If I Will Make It to 85” - Sowore Replies Datti Baba-Ahmed

African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has responded to Datti Baba-Ahmed’s criticism of his comments on former military ruler Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, saying he does not even know whether he will live to the age of 85.

Sowore made the remarks in a lengthy response to Datti after the former Labour Party vice-presidential candidate criticised his comments on Babangida, who recently marked his 85th birthday.

Sowore said his criticism of Babangida was not motivated by the former military ruler’s age, but by his record in power and the consequences of decisions taken during his administration.

“I do not even know if I will make it to 85,” Sowore said.

He, however, said that wherever he might be at that age, Nigerians would have every right to examine what he did with whatever power or influence he possessed.

According to him, reaching old age should not shield any public official from scrutiny over their past actions.

“If I betray the democratic will of Nigerians, they should say so. If I impoverish people through disastrous policies, they should say so. If I violate their rights, they should say so. If I leave behind institutions weaker than I found them, history should record it,” he said.

Sowore said the same standard he was applying to Babangida should also apply to him or any other Nigerian who eventually exercises political power.

He maintained that his position was not about wishing Babangida ill health, stressing that he did not wish illness on the former military ruler.

“I wish no illness upon Ibrahim Babangida, but I will not participate in rewriting his record simply because he has grown old,” Sowore said.

The AAC candidate argued that age does not erase history or the consequences of decisions taken while someone was in a position of enormous power.

He also rejected the idea that compassion for an elderly person should require Nigerians to overlook controversial aspects of their political record.

“Growing old is a privilege. It is not immunity from history,” Sowore said.

Sowore further argued that if he were to reach 85, Nigerians should not be expected to praise him simply because of his age. Instead, they should examine the impact of his actions and decisions.

He said that if he betrayed Nigerians, violated their rights, impoverished citizens through bad policies or weakened institutions, such actions should remain part of his historical record.

His comments were part of a broader response to Datti Baba-Ahmed, in which Sowore defended his criticism of Babangida and rejected what he described as attempts to rewrite the history of Nigeria’s military era.

Sowore particularly referenced the June 12, 1993 presidential election, arguing that Nigerians have a right to remember the annulment of the election and other events associated with Babangida’s time in power. Babangida ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993 and remains a controversial figure in the country’s political history. 

Sowore said his position was ultimately about accountability rather than hatred, insisting that Nigerians should be free to interrogate the records of those who have exercised power over the country.

He also criticised what he described as a political culture in which powerful figures are treated with excessive reverence, arguing that public office should never place individuals beyond scrutiny.

The exchange between Sowore and Datti follows a wider debate over how Nigerians should remember Babangida at 85, with political figures and members of the public expressing sharply different views about his legacy. 

For Sowore, however, the passage of time should not erase the responsibility of leaders to answer for the consequences of their decisions.

“History should record it,” he said, stressing that the same principle should apply to him if he ever becomes a holder of public power.

Peter Obi: Those Seeking to Be Addressed as “His Excellency” Must Behave Excellently

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on political candidates and their supporters to embrace peaceful conduct ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the call after joining other presidential candidates to sign the first National Peace Accord for the 2027 Presidential Elections.

The NDC presidential candidate said his decision to sign the accord reinforced his commitment to ensuring that candidates conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the offices they aspire to occupy.

He urged political leaders to reject violent rhetoric and take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters.

“Leaders must eschew all forms of violent rhetoric and rein in their followers to do the same,” Obi said.

According to him, the 2027 election should focus on issues directly affecting Nigerians, including national unity, insecurity, poverty, the rising number of out-of-school children and the need to restore hope to citizens.

Obi also urged supporters of all political parties to recognise the commitment made by the candidates to free, fair and credible elections based on issues and devoid of rancour.

He stressed that those seeking public office must demonstrate the qualities expected of the offices they want to occupy.

“Those of us wishing to be addressed as ‘His Excellency’ must behave excellently, and, more importantly, the process of attaining public office must be excellent,” he said.

The NDC candidate said his party takes seriously the commitment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

He also noted the pledge by law enforcement agencies to remain unbiased throughout the electioneering process.

Obi called on his supporters to remain peaceful and determined as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“I call on my supporters to remain firm, determined, and peaceful,” he said.

He concluded his message with his familiar political slogan: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”

Obi became the NDC’s presidential candidate after the party formally affirmed him as its flagbearer at its special convention in May 2026. He later named Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 election. 

Sowore Accuses DSS of Discrimination at Presidential Peace Accord Event

African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has accused operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) of discriminatory treatment after he was reportedly stopped at the entrance of the National Peace Committee’s Peace Accord signing event.

Sowore said he arrived at the venue without a convoy of expensive vehicles or heavily armed security escorts but was stopped at the gate by DSS operatives.

According to him, one of the officers demanded to see his invitation letter, despite later acknowledging that he knew Sowore was a presidential candidate.

He said the situation became more concerning when another presidential candidate arrived with a long convoy and was allowed into the venue without facing similar checks.

Sowore said he was subsequently told that his staff would not be allowed into the venue, followed by another instruction that his camera crew could not enter either.

He described the treatment as discriminatory and said he refused to accept what he considered unequal treatment of presidential candidates.

“If this is supposed to be a ‘Peace Accord’ involving presidential candidates, then every candidate must be treated with equal dignity and respect,” Sowore said.

He argued that candidates should not be treated differently based on the size of their convoys, the number of security vehicles accompanying them or the level of privilege they display.

Sowore said he insisted on his rights and refused to submit to what he described as discriminatory conduct by the security operatives.

He further criticised what he described as a culture of intimidation, class discrimination and arbitrary treatment by Nigeria’s security agencies.

“This culture of intimidation, class discrimination, and arbitrary treatment by Nigeria’s security agencies must end,” he said.

The incident has raised questions about the treatment of presidential candidates at an event specifically organised to promote peaceful participation ahead of the election.

Shemariah Newsroom will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Peace Accord and the reactions from the parties involved.

Adeleke Denies Electoral Deal With ADC, Says Osun Victory Was Driven by God and Voters

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied having any electoral deal or political partnership with the African Democratic Congress ADC before, during or after the recent governorship election.

Adeleke made the clarification while reacting to claims surrounding the role of the ADC in the election that secured his re-election as governor of Osun State.

The governor said the credit for his victory belongs to God Almighty and the people of Osun State, whom he described as responsible for giving him overwhelming support at the polls.

“For the sake of history, it is important to clarify that the ADC was never part of the rainbow coalition that canvassed, mobilised, and supported our campaign in the battle leading to last Saturday’s election,” Adeleke said.

He maintained that the ADC was not part of the political coalition that worked for his re-election, stressing that the party did not participate in the mobilisation and campaign efforts that preceded the election.

Adeleke, however, commended the political partners who supported his campaign and contributed to his victory.

He said their sacrifices, commitment and hard work were instrumental to the outcome of the election.

“I commend all our political partners who sacrificed, worked tirelessly, and went all out to make Saturday a victory day for all Osun people,” he said.

The governor’s statement comes amid discussions over the political alignments and alliances that shaped the Osun governorship election.

Adeleke also used the opportunity to extend an olive branch to residents across political divides, saying the election was now over and his responsibility was to govern the entire state.

“Now that the election is over, I remain the Governor of all Osun people, irrespective of political affiliation, religion, or tribe,” Adeleke said.

He pledged to focus on uniting the people of Osun State and continuing his administration’s work towards the progress and prosperity of the state.

Adeleke’s clarification is expected to further shape discussions about the alliances that influenced the election and the political relationships that may emerge ahead of future elections in Osun State.

Sowore Slams IBB on 85th Birthday, Says His Legacy “Ruined Nigeria”

Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has criticised former military Head of State Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida as he marks his 85th birthday, accusing him of making decisions that damaged Nigeria during his time in power.

Sowore, in a message shared on social media, described Babangida as “the man who did Nigeria dirty” and questioned the celebrations surrounding the former military ruler’s birthday.

“He lived long but is no longer living well,” Sowore wrote, while arguing that Nigeria would not be facing some of its present challenges if Babangida had not, in his words, been “wicked and selfish” in the exercise of power.

Sowore accused the former military ruler of leaving behind a legacy characterised by decisions that, according to him, deepened corruption, weakened democratic institutions and created consequences that Nigerians continue to deal with decades later.

He argued that Babangida’s legacy should not be assessed solely through the birthday celebrations organised by his supporters and associates, but also through the impact of the decisions made during his years in power.

“History should remember not just the birthday celebrations, but the consequences of the choices he made while holding power that ruined Nigeria,” Sowore said.

Babangida, who ruled Nigeria as military president from 1985 to 1993, remains one of the country’s most influential and controversial political figures.

His administration introduced major economic and political reforms, including the Structural Adjustment Programme, while his decision to annul the June 12, 1993 presidential election remains one of the most controversial events in Nigeria’s political history.

Sowore’s comments reflect the continued criticism of Babangida’s administration by activists and other Nigerians who argue that the policies and political decisions of the military era contributed to some of the institutional and economic problems confronting the country today.

The former military leader, however, has continued to maintain his place as an influential figure in Nigeria’s political history, with former colleagues, politicians and associates celebrating his 85th birthday.

The contrasting reactions to Babangida’s birthday once again highlight the deeply divided assessment of his years in power and the lasting debate over his role in shaping modern Nigeria.