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Olubadan, Bedridden, To Be Flown Abroad

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Oba Lekan Balogun, the Olubadan of Ibadan Land is battling with an unknown  ailment that has, for weeks  been of concern to the Oyomesi (Kingmakers).

The health of the recently crowned Monarch has turned bad. He is to be flown abroad for proper Medical Care.

The 42nd Olubadan who was installed on March 11, 2022 amidst fanfare has since been moving in and out of hospitals in the past few weeks.

Sources at the Ali-Iwo compound family house of the King revealed  that ‘Kabiesi’s sickness is related with his age.

The Monarch is presently in his 80s, as the Royal House is waiting earnestly for an approval from the Governor Seyi Makinde led Oyo State Government before he is flown to the United Kingdom for treatment.

The sickness of the Olubadan became obvious weeks back when one of his children got married in London, United Kingdom. The King was absent and was represented by his younger brother, Senator Kola Balogun.

The Olubadan was a former Presidential Aspirant on the platform of Social Democratic Party(SDP). He was also a Gubernatorial Candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State in the present political dispensation and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic before he ascended his father’s throne as the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Trouble At The Senate: PDP Senators  Walkout, As Senate President Shuts Down Motion On Insecurity

By
Akinwale Kasali
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PDP Senators Walk out

By Akinwale Kasali

There is trouble in the Senate. Aggrieved and disappointed at Senate President, Ahmad Lawan’s, handling of a motion raised on the unprecedented insecurity in the country, Senators elected on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, staged a walk-out.

The PDP Lawmakers walked out following Lawan’s dismissal of Minority Leader, Phillip Aduda’s motion on insecurity.

Senate President Lawan failed to allow Senator Aduda, representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Senatorial District to present his motion on security.

Lawan said Aduda did not speak to him about the motion as required by their rules. As the Senators walked out, they chanted: “All we are saying, Buhari must go.”

It would be recalled that a couple of  days ago, the Federal Ministry of Education on Monday ordered the immediate closure of the Federal Government College located in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who gave the directive said the closure became necessary following a security breach on Sheda and Lambata Villages, suburbs of Kwali Area Council, which also threatened FGC Kwali.

According to the Minister, the timely intervention of Security Agencies saved the situation.

Adamu Adamu also directed that arrangements should be made for final year students to conclude their NECO examinations.

The Minister also directed Principals of Unity Colleges across the country to liaise with Security Agencies within their jurisdictions in order to forestall any security breach in  schools.

Earlier, the Management of the College, had asked parents to evacuate their wards from the school over the fear of attack by terrorists, which has caused panic among the management, staff, students and parents of the school.

This was followed by the threat by terrorists to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

And, on Friday, terrorists ambushed a group of officers and soldiers of the elite Guards Brigade in Abuja. They killed two officers – a Captain and a Lieutenant – as well as eight soldiers.

Akwa Ibom: Lawyer Sent To Prison In Case Against Gov Emmanuel

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Ekaette Obot, has sent a human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, to prison.
Effiong who is handling a case for his client, Leo Ekpeyong before Justice Obot’s court in Uyo disclosed this in a message he posted on his WhatsApp status around 10:40 a.m. on Wednesday.
Recall that the rights lawyer had last month accused the judge of bias in handling the libel suit filled against his client by Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state.
The governor sued Ekpeyong for accusing him of buying judgment.
“I have been sent to Uyo prison by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for one month for defending Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel,” Effiong said in the message.
The Lagos based lawyer later posted on his twitter what transpired in the court before Justice Obot ordered that he be sent to prison.
He said: “Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times reporter to leave the court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the proceeding is public, that members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceeding. My Lord asked me to proceed with cross examination,” he wrote.
“I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even opportunity to say anything before the “conviction”. Two lawyers in court appealed to the Hon. Chief Judge but my Lord insisted that I must be jailed.”
Effiong had last month accused the judge of bias in her handling of a libel suit filed against him by the state governor.
The governor had sued Ekpenyong for defamation of character over a publication in which he accused the governor of “buying judgment” from the 2019 National Assembly Election Tribunal.

In a motion on notice filed by Effiong, he asked Justice Obot to reassign the case to a neutral judge.

He accused the Chief Judge of impunity, bias and violation of the code of conduct.

“AN ORDER of the Honourable Court for this Court (CORAM:HON. JUSTICE EKAETTE FF OBOT) to disqualify and release herself from further hearing and or presiding over the proceedings of this case, that is suit no: HU/279/2019 between DEACON EMMANUEL GABRIEL UDOM VS LEO EKPENYONG, ESQ on grounds of fair hearing, particularly for bias,” the court document read.

“AN ORDER of this Honorable Court reassigning this case, that is suit no: HU/279/2019 between DEACON EMMANUEL GABRIEL UDOM VS LEO EKPENYONG, ESQ to another Judge of the Akwa Ibom State High Court to be heard de novo.”

Justice Obot in 2021 lashed out at the defence lawyer, Effiong who said the court had breached the Nigerian Constitution in its December 15, 2020 judgment against his client.

The court on December 15, 2020, ordered the defendant to pay N1.5 billion to the governor as general damages for libel.

Effiong however challenged the judgement and one other involving a former senator, Effiong Bob and successfully persuaded the court to set them aside.

“You don’t stand before me and talk nonsense.

“I’ve been on this side of the law for over 30 years and you don’t come and teach me the law from there,” Justice Obot told the lawyer on one occasion.

Human Rights Lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, Jailed

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Inibehe Effiong

By Adesina Soyooye

When Inibehe Effiong, a Lagos-based Human Rights Lawyer, flew into Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Wednesday morning, his mission was to defend a client in Court and fly back to Lagos.

But that did not happen.

Instead, Inibehe has been thrown into jail by the Chief Judge of the State, the Honourable Justice Ekaette Obot. He will spend one month at the Uyo Correctional Centre.

The Lawyer went to defend Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit filed against him by the State Governor, Udom Emmanuel.

As the case began, the CJ, allegedly, asked a Premium Times Reporter in the Court to leave.

Trouble started for the Lawyer when he interjected and told the CJ that since the case is public it was good for the public to observe it.

Inibehe in a message on Whatsaap to make public his plight narrated:

“The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom ordered a Premium Times Reporter out of the Court. I said my lord, we were thinking that since the procedure is public, the members of the public should be allowed to observe the proceedings.

My Lord asked me to proceed with cross examination.”

Inibehe did not, however, say if he continued with the cross examination or argued with the Chief Judge.

But he informed: “I will be going to the Uyo Correctional Centre now. I have not done anything. I wasn’t even given the opportunity to say anything before this “conviction’. Two lawyers in Court appealed to the Honourable Chief Judge, but my lord insisted I must be jailed.”

It is not known yet what the reaction of the Nigerian Bar Association. NBA,  both in the State and  the National level will be.

Interview: We Import 80 Per cent Of What We Consume-BUA Chairman

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group Speaks on Nigeria’s food crisis In the wake of the Russia-Ukraine War

High inflation, food insecurity, energy prices: What are you going to do to solve some of these issues?
Rabiu: Part of the problem is that we import 80% of what we consume. For example, Africa imported over 55 million tons of wheat last year, and wheat is one of the commodities that has really been hit hard in terms of high prices. Since the Ukrainian-Russian (conflict) started, we have seen a situation where the price (of wheat) got from $250 to almost $600 per ton. And you know Africa relies heavily on Russian and Ukrainian wheat.

So how is your input being affected?

Rabiu: If you import and the price is double, what do you do? You have to increase the prices. And a lot of people cannot really afford that. So we are seeing a decrease in terms of production, processing and consumption, and that is a big issue. That is why I keep saying that we have to look inwards, do as much as we can to add value to what we have. We have to increase (our) production for the food security of the continent.

You have been in the pasta business, for example. Why haven’t you already gotten into farming? I know wheat is difficult to grow.

Rabiu: Wheat is difficult to grow but we are also into sugar and we’re building the most advanced sugar plantation in Nigeria. It’s a 20,000-hectare, four-in-one, fully integrated sugar plantation with sugar mill, sugar refinery, ethanol and power plant. We decided to do that because we realized we were spending a lot of money to import raw sugar and that is something that could be easily planted and produced in Nigeria. Our inputs as far as raw sugar is concerned will come down drastically.
Now for the hard part, says Secretary General of African Continental Free Trade Area
Now for the hard part, says Secretary General of African Continental Free Trade Area

The African Continental Free Trade Area went live (in 2021). Have you seen a real impact on your business?

Rabiu: The free trade area is an amazing arrangement. We all need to come together to enjoy the benefits. Of course, we also have challenges as far as infrastructure is concerned, and for the agreement to succeed, you need to fix your infrastructure space, especially in areas like ports.

You still find that challenging?

Rabiu: I give you an example: it’s more expensive to ship goods from Nigeria to, say, Lomè (in Togo, West Africa) than from Nigeria to Brazil. And that’s because we have the vessels without the ports. So those issues are there and we need to fix our infrastructure.

CNN

LAHA Approves Oshungboye As Acting Boss Of LAHASCOM

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Otunba Richard Akin Oshungboye

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved the appointment of Otunba Richard Akin Oshungboye as Acting Chairman of Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM).

The appointment, through a letter dated Thursday, 21 July, 2022, became necessary owing to the vacuum that emananted in the office of the cha3irman and the need for effective management  of the Commission.

Otunba Oshungboye, before his recent elevation, was Commissioner 1 at LAHASCOM.

It is believed that Oshungboye will bring his experience garnered over many to bear on the effective running of the  Commission.

Oshungboye, born on April 14, 1959, had earlier spent 28 years in the banking sector and recognised as a human resources expert.

He had also worked as a Special Adviser on Budget and Economic Planning to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa between 2015 and 2019.

Insecurity: Buhari Escapes Impeachment

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has escaped impeachment from the Nigerian Senate over the worsening insecurity in the country.

The president who returned from Liberia on Tuesday, where he attended the country’s Independence Day ceremony, has come under severe criticism from not a few Nigerians for his failure to rein in bandits and terrorists who have taken over many parts of the country, particularly in the North, and are now trying to launch an attack on Abuja, the nation’s capital.

On Tuesday, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC raised an alarm of plan by Boko Haram, Islamic State’s West Africa Province, ISWAP and bandits to attack some States in Nigeria including Lagos, the nation’s economic capital.

According to a memo signed by the Deputy Commandant General, DCG of Operations, DD Mungadi dated July 24 titled “Heightened Plots By Terrorists To Stage Coordinated Attacks in Parts of the Country,” the NSCDC said it is in possession of intelligence showing that the terrorists “have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGS)”.

Recall that terrorists, last month attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre where they freed over 40 boko haram prisoners and over 400 other inmates.

The prevailing insecurity situation in the country is said to have riled many senators who mobilized themselves with the intention of removing Buhari from office.

The magazine learnt that the move enjoyed a bipartisan support from senators, who on Tuesday expressed their unhappiness with the security situation, particularly following the attack on Presidential Guards Brigade, in Abuja. Many soldiers were killed during the attack.

According to Vanguard, the senators were said to have approached Senate President Ahmad Lawan of their intension to raise the matter at Plenary, but were rebuffed by Lawan who told his colleagues that the issue was not in the Order Paper for the day.

A source said:  “We were not happy that the issue of insecurity did not come up today (yesterday) for discussion and with this, we shouted out to the President of the Senate that it must be discussed and when he refused, we threatened that we will begin impeachment move against President Buhari because the country is not safe.

”This forced Lawan to succumb, assuring that the matter will come up for discussion tomorrow (today) in the open and not at closed door session.”

This is not the first time the National Assembly has tried to impeach Buhari. In 2016, plot by some lawmakers to remove the president for mismanaging the country was thwarted by then Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Also in 2018, Saraki averted yet another impeachment of President Buhari after some senators accused him of spending the funds in Excess Crude Account without the approval of the National Assembly.

Matthew Uroghide, Chairman Senate Committee on Public Accounts, had moved the motion for the impeachment of Buhari for approving the withdrawal of $496 million from the ECA without the lawmakers’ consent.

Citing Order 15, 42 and 52, Uroghide said the approval without National Assembly’s input was a violation of the Constitution and should be punished with impeachment.

He said: “There are serious consequences for violation of our Constitution. As a consequence, the only thing we can draw from on this is that we call on you, Mr President, to invoke section 143 of the constitution. Because, what it means is that this matter is not to be investigated. It is clear that this offence has been committed by Mr President.

“I want this Senate to resolve that what the President did is procedurally wrong and a violation of our constitution, it must be condemned and of course, the consequences of section 143 of our Constitution should be invoked. I so move, Mr President.”

Discordant Tunes Over New CAN President

By
Ayodele Oni
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Daniel Okoh Rv

By Ayodele Oni

There are contradictory reports over the emergence of a successor to outgoing President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Olusupo Ayokunle.

A report stated that Kano state-born Most Rev. Daniel Okoh has emerged as the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

This was contained in a statement by CAN spokesman, Joseph Daramola.

Okoh is the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church, also known as Nation Builders (Odozi-Obodo).

CAN is made up of five blocs: Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN)/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), (TEKAN and ECWA Fellowship).

The association is scheduled to hold its general assembly on July 27 which would usher in the new administration.

The assembly also marks the end of the tenure of Samson Olusupo-Ayokunle.

Another statement, signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, a media aide to outgoing president a successor to Ayokunle would still have to fulfill some constitutional provisions guiding the Christian body.

The statement reads “The attention of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to the story going the rounds that the Most Rev. Daniel Okoh has emerged the new President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“According to reports, the announcement is contained in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the CAN’s General Secretary, Barrister Joseph Daramola. Nothing can be farther from the truth.

“For the record, Daramola is not the spokesman of the Association but the General Secretary.

“The letter being referred to was the Invitation Letter sent to the members of the National Executive Council and the blocs’ leaders of the Association to complete the process that will lead to the emergence of the new President.

“According to the CAN’s Constitution, Article 17 (9) viii-xi, the National Executive Council and the General Assembly must ratify the nomination of the candidate before the new President emerges. So, the process is still ongoing and it will be completed on Thursday.

“It is true that the Most Rev Okoh has emerged the candidate from the Electoral College but this must be ratified by the National Executive Council and the General Assembly.

“Perhaps, it is imperative to state what the Constitution says about the remaining process:

“According to Article 17 (9) (viii), ‘The candidate who secures majority vote of the Electoral College for each office shall be recommended to the National Executive Council.’

“Article 17 (9) ix states ‘The National Executive Council shall accept the recommended candidates for the offices of the President and the Vice President and present them to the General Assembly for ratification by the majority of votes of those qualified to vote at the General Assembly.’

“Article 17 (9) x states, ‘In the event that any candidate fails to secure the majority vote of the General Assembly, the procedure in paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (8) herein shall be repeated by the Electoral College to reconsider the suitability or otherwise of all the candidates based upon the reasons adduced by those who opposed the candidature.

“The Electoral College may or may not substitute any candidate for any position based on majority vote of its members.’

“Article 17 (9) xi states, ‘In the event of a deadlock in which case the candidate represented is rejected by the General Assembly, a combined meeting of the Electoral College and the President-in-Council of the Association will examine the issue(s) and make a final choice from all the nominated candidates for the office.’

“CAN is scheduled to hold its General Assembly on July 28  where the new President will be made known to the public.”

I won’t Succumb To Non State Actors, Says Uzodimma

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma Flagging Off Road Construction in Imo

“Imo agog as he flags off two more signature road projects”

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has emphasised that no amount of blackmail or posturing by the opposition will make his Government surrender to the antics of non state actors.

The Governor spoke at Orlu and Owerri respectively while flagging off the construction of two new signature road projects:  Orlu/Mgbee/Akaokwa to Ugah road and Owerri/Mbaise/Obowo to Umuahia road, both to be handled by Craneburg Construction.

Imo was agog during the flag off which took the Governor and his crew to Orlu, Owerri and Mbaise respectively.

Governor Uzodimma said despite the unnecessary distractions of the opposition and non-state actors his government is determined to reduce the infrastructural deficit in Imo to the barest minimum.

He described the two roads as important economic roads to Imo people,  connecting many Local Government Areas to neigbhouring States of Anambra and Abia States.

Governor Uzodimma reiterated that he has come to serve the people, hence his determination,  in spite of all odds, to give them the best in terms of infrastructure as key dividend of democracy.

At Orlu, he recalled with nostalgia that he came to power with a Development Plan to develop the three zones of Imo  simultaneously and regretted that the enemies of progress stood their ground that he will never succeed.

He, however, described them “as people dreaming malaria dreams,” as he is  determined to achieve the mission and vision of that Development Plan. “I will not shy away from my primary responsibility of being the Governor of Imo State at this point in time.”

He did not shy away from blaming the so-called political leaders in Imo State who have refused to speak out on the evil deeds of hired killers of innocent Imo citizens and sponsors of insecurity in Imo.

Regardless, he appealed to those sponsoring banditry, kidnapping, blackmail and cannibalism, as well as  those behind the burning and destruction of public and private property in the State for no just cause to think twice as “the economic waste is on the head of Imo State and a waste to all.”

He noted that if Orlu, Okigwe or Owerri develop, it is for all.

He regretted that because of the activities of non-state actors INEC registration was stopped in Orlu zone, an area that has 12 Local Government Areas in Imo State, as the people were directed to go to Owerri to register, noting that “the resultant effect is that when the results are published the first will become the last.”

He solicited the support of all Orlu people, traditional rulers, the clergy, men, women and youths to cooperate with Government and the Contractor handling the newly flagged off road to enable them start the work and finish it on schedule.

He reminded his audience that  President Muhammadu Buhari will be in Imo State in August to commission the first two flagship roads: Owerri/Okigwe and Owerri/Orlu –  which the same Contractor, Craneburg, undertaking to construct the Orlu/Mgbee/Akaokwa/Uga road did.

At the Fire Service/Mbaise road, Governor Uzodimma expressed joy that he was  flaghing-off Owerri/Umuahia road as a “signature project that will bring about economic boom and illuminate the road to the benefit of those local governments and communities living along the road.”

He recalled how on assumption of office on January 15, 2020 Owerri was in a mess with bad roads littered all over and the people were making mockery of his name in relation to the bad roads.

“I took all the bullets and today my heart is gladdened by our performance that  has shown people that this Government is working.”

He recalled all efforts made by the opposition to remove him from office which failed, saying “one with God is majority”

Insisting that he “cannot be harassed out of office, ” he reminded the people destroying Imo State by sponsoring insecurity and other forms of crimes to destabilise the government to stop because “when they destroy Imo State and come to power they will not have a State to govern.”

He noted that Owerri/Umuahia road is one of the most important economic roads in Imo State, insisting that though “it is an expensive project, by the Grace of God my Government will complete it.”

He urged the people to cooperate with the Contractors to realize the project within the scheduled time frame, reminding them that he does not have thugs who work with him but will  enforce peace using the legal security agencies like Army, Police, Air Force, Navy and others as established in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic as

“I will do my best to create jobs by bringing back Nsu Tiles, Adapalm, and E-economic job creations,” assuring that in no distance time his government will create 50,000 jobs.

At the Enyiogugu Mbaise axis of the flag- off, the Governor reiterated that the road linking over seven Local Government Areas of Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Obowo, Owerri North, Owerri Municipal and Ihitte Uboma is “one of the most critical economic roads in Imo State.”

He reasoned that when the road is completed the Umungwa Obowo Malaysia International Market will be more functional.

“If we do one road, we know we have done one road that will pass the taste of time, not 200 roads where you cannot account for one.”

He however noted that the road projects are an opportunity to open the 3’R packages so that Imo people will see light.

The Governor seized the opportunity to warn those bringing strangers to Mbaise to cause problems ahead of the  forthcoming election to desist from such acts, noting that “when elections come we will meet at the field and iron it out.”

Again he pleaded with Mbaise people to cooperate and protect the Contractors to ensure that the project is completed as scheduled, saying “when completed it will be to the interest of everybody.”

He also highlighted the magic behind the funding of the projects saying through a PPP arrangement oil companies will pay for the construction of the road and enjoy tax holiday granted them by the Federal Government while Imo State will provide the seed fund for the take off.

At all the flag-off venues, Governor Uzodimma thanked the people for keeping faith with his government, particularly the traditional rulers and political leaders, reminding them that they all have a role to play in making Imo  a place for all to live.

The Commissioner for Works,  Barr. Ralph Nwosu explained that “it is the love the Governor has for Imo people that has propelled him to continue to embark on the critical road construction in spite of the economic down turn in the country today.”

He said that the Orlu/Mgbee/Akaokwa/Ugah road is 22.1kilometer, while the first phase of Owerri/Mbaise/Umuahia road is 46 kilometers.

In the same vein, Craneburg Construction also assured that they will deliver a quality job, noting that the Governor is a stickler to quality.

The member representing Aboh Mbaise in the Imo State House of Assembly,  Chief Eddy Obinna thanked the Governor on behalf of all the Mbaise elected and appointed officials, especially for the ambitious project.

He assured him of their continued support in the 3-R administration and prayed God to guide and protect him as he pilots the affairs of the State.

INEC Gives Update, Says Over 10 Million Eligible Voters In Nigeria

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new figures of registered voters, Preparatory to next year’s general elections.

The Commission stated that fresh registration in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration hit 10.4 million as at 7 a.m., on Monday, July 25.

In its weekly update on Tuesday, INEC also disclosed that 11 million registrants have completed their registration.

According to the update, 3.3 million of the registrants did online registration, while 7.6 million registrants did physical registration.

The Commission gave the gender breakdown of those that completed their registrations to include 5,453,071 males and 5,558,048 females, out of which 80,101 were People Living with Disabilities.

The age distribution also revealed that 7,828,570 were youth; 2,192,897-middle age, and 871,690 elderly, while 117,962 of the registrants were old.

INEC also said that it has received 28.4 million applications including applications for voter transfer, requests for replacement of Permanent Voter Cards, updates of voter information records.

Continuous voters registration is expected to end on July 31.

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