News
Senate Passes Electoral Act Amendment Bill
The Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026.
Before its passage, the upper chamber witnessed a rowdy session as proceedings resumed with a demand for division over Clause 60 raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South).
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that he believed the demand had previously been withdrawn, but several opposition senators immediately objected.
Citing Order 52(6), the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, argued that it would be out of order to revisit any provision on which the Senate President had already ruled.
This submission sparked another uproar in the chamber, during which Senator Sunday Karimi had a brief face-off with Abaribe.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, stressing that decisions previously taken by the Senate were no longer valid following the motion.
He maintained that, consistent with his motion, Abaribe’s demand was in order.
Akpabio further suggested that the call for division was merely an attempt by Abaribe to publicly demonstrate his stance.
The Senate President sustained the point of order, after which Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.
Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), particularly concerning the provision that where electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis for collation. He called for the removal of the proviso allowing manual transmission of results in the event of network failure.
During the division, Akpabio directed senators who supported the caveat to stand. He then asked those opposed to it to rise.
Fifteen opposition senators stood in opposition.
However, after counting the votes, the Senate President announced that 15 senators voted against the proviso, while 55 senators voted in support of it.
Earlier, proceedings were momentarily stalled as lawmakers began clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, following a motion to rescind the earlier amendment.
The motion to rescind the bill was formally seconded on Tuesday, paving the way for the Senate to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and re-enactment of the proposed legislation.
During the session, Akpabio reeled out the clauses one after another for deliberation.
However, the process stalled at Clause 60 when Abaribe raised a point of order, drawing immediate attention on the floor.
Following his intervention, murmurs spread across the chamber as lawmakers gathered in small groups and approached the Senate President’s desk for consultations.
The Senate subsequently moved into a closed-door session.
Before rescinding the Electoral Act, the red chamber had raised concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections and certain technical inconsistencies in the legislation.
Rising under Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion to reverse the earlier passage of the bill and return it to the Committee of the Whole for fresh deliberations.
He explained that the development followed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of a timetable fixing the 2027 general elections for February 2027, after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly.
According to him, stakeholders had raised concerns that the proposed date conflicted with provisions of the amended law, particularly the requirement that elections be scheduled not later than 360 days before the expiration of tenure.
He further noted that a critical review of the passed bill showed that the 360-day notice requirement prescribed in Clause 28 could result in the scheduling of the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections during the Ramadan period.
He warned that holding elections during Ramadan could negatively affect voter turnout, logistical coordination, stakeholder participation, and the overall inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.
The motion also highlighted discrepancies discovered in the Long Title and several clauses of the bill, including Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143. The identified issues reportedly affected cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency within the legislation.
News
Lagos Residents Protest Unreliable Power Supply, Demand Immediate Action
Residents of Lagos on Friday took to the streets to express their frustration over persistent electricity outages, condemning the state’s power supply as “epileptic” and unsustainable for daily life and business activities.
A video circulating on social media showed dozens of mainly young protesters marching through the Fadeyi area, holding placards and chanting for a consistent electricity supply.
The demonstrators criticised what they described as the collapse of the nation’s power sector, stressing that erratic electricity is undermining livelihoods and making life increasingly difficult across Lagos.
Placards displayed messages such as “No More Estimated Billing,” “No More Epileptic Power Supply,” “No Light, No Life, No Nation,” and “You’re Destroying Businesses; Give Us Regular Light.”
One protester declared, “We are not asking for too much. Give us light!”
Local business owners also highlighted the severe impact of inconsistent power supply on their operations, noting that reliance on fuel-powered generators has significantly increased operating costs.
A shop owner at the protest lamented: “We cannot continue like this. Every day we spend money on fuel because there is no electricity. Many small businesses are closing because they cannot cope.”
The demonstration underscores growing public dissatisfaction with electricity supply in Lagos, as residents call on authorities and power operators to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.
News
Tinubu Mourns Former Super Eagles Coach Festus Onigbinde
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Super Eagles head coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President extended his condolences to the late coach’s family, associates, and the entire Nigerian football community.
Tinubu also sympathised with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission, professional colleagues, and football fans across the country over the loss of the respected football administrator.
The President described Onigbinde as a trailblazer whose contributions significantly advanced the growth and development of football in Nigeria.
He noted that the late coach made history as the first indigenous coach of the Super Eagles in 1982, praising his leadership and dedication to the sport.
“Chief Onigbinde distinguished himself as the first indigenous coach of the Super Eagles in 1982,” the statement said.
Tinubu further highlighted Onigbinde’s role in guiding Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the achievement as a landmark moment in the country’s football history.
The President also commended the late Modakeke High Chief for his commitment to grassroots football and his efforts to strengthen football administration in Nigeria.
He said Onigbinde would be remembered for his discipline, integrity, foresight, and passion for the game.
Tinubu prayed for the repose of the late football icon and asked God to grant comfort to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.
News
Again, Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol To ₦1,175/Litre, Diesel To ₦1,620/Litre — Report
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has revised its ex-depot prices, increasing the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to ₦1,175 per litre, while Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, has been raised to ₦1,620 per litre.
The latest revision marks the fourth consecutive price review in less than two weeks amid global market volatility, according to a report by Petroleumprice.ng.
Quoting industry sources, the report noted that the new pricing template has been communicated to marketers, following earlier adjustments this month.
Under the revised structure, the ₦1,175 per litre petrol price reflects a significant jump from the previous ₦995 per litre, while diesel has surged sharply from its prior ₦1,430 per litre level, underlining the continued upward trend in domestic fuel pricing.
The increases coincide with a sharp rise in international crude oil benchmarks as of 1:00 pm WAT: Brent crude at $102.8 (+10.91%) and WTI crude at $101.0 (+11.08%), driven by the Middle East energy crisis.
The development is likely to have a ripple effect across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, as depot operators and fuel marketers adjust supply costs in response to the revised prices announced by the country’s largest refining facility.
The refinery had yet to issue an official statement on the development as of the time of filing this report.
Oil prices surged by 30 per cent on Monday on fears over supply disruptions in the Middle East, as the US-Israeli war against Iran continued into a second week with no sign of easing.
Concerns that the conflict could drag on intensified after US President Donald Trump said only the “unconditional surrender” of Iran would end the war.
He added over the weekend that the spike in prices was a “small price to pay” to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, reiterating the White House’s insistence that the rise is temporary.
Since the beginning of the war, WTI has risen by more than 75 per cent, while Brent has increased by over 60 per cent.
Attacks on oilfields were reported in southern Iraq and in the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, forcing a US-run oilfield to cease production. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have begun reducing output.
This comes as maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of global crude oil and gas supplies pass — has been halted since the war began on February 28.
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