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Uzodimma appoints Onuegbu, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations

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The Source
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Hope Uzodimma- Governor of Imo State

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has named former Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu as his new Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations.

 

Onuegbu replaces Barr. Sydney Emeka Agbor who recently vacated the office to seek election as member representing Oru West in the Imo State House of Assembly.

 

Onuegbu had been communicated about his current designation through the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmas Iwu.

 

Onuegbu was Governor Uzodimma’s first Commissioner for Lands  in 2020, and later Commissioner for Power.

 

An astute politician with grassroot following, he was also at a point appointed the Chief Political Adviser and Head Political Bureau to Governor Uzodimma, a position he held before he was returned to the Lands and Survey ministry in 2024.

 

His political journey in Imo State, years ago, saw Onuegbu learning at the feet of one of Nigeria’s maverick politician, late Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe, and of late Governor Uzodimma.

 

Onuegbu was also at a time the Executive Chairman of Ngor Okpala Local Government Council during the administration of former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, and the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the early days of the Party in Imo State.

 

A lawyer by profession and holder of the traditional title of Ebekuo Dike, Onuegbu is proudly cherished in his Community as the Traditional Prime Minister (TPM) of Eziama Ancient Kingdom in Ngor Okpala LGA.

 

He is happily married to Hon Justice Chinemerem Onuegbu, JP, and blessed with children.

 

While his appointment takes effect from September 30, 2026, Governor Uzodimma expects Onuegbu to bring to bear his wealth of experience and love for teamwork in the discharge of the responsibilities which his new office demands, and  in line with the tenets of his administration encapsulated in 3R – Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery.

2027 Election: Rhodes-Vivour Clears Air, Says He Has No Issue With Obi, Backs Atiku To Be President

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Lagos State Governorship Candidate, has debunked insinuations that he has issues with Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi.

 

Recall that during the 2023 election, Rhodes-Vivour was the Labour Party, LP, Governorship Candidate in Lagos while Obi was the  LP Presidential Candidate.

 

Rhodes-Vivour has now declared his support for Atiku Abubakar for President come 2027.

 

Speaking on British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Igbo, Rhodes-Vivour said his primary political interest remained Lagos State while reaffirming his commitment to the ADC and its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

“I have no issues whatsoever with His Excellency Peter Obi, regardless of what happens at the top level. My first priority and my first love is Lagos State, and I must always make decisions based on Lagos first,” he said.

 

The ADC candidate recalled that his political journey had previously brought him into the same political camp with both Atiku and Obi, noting that the two politicians had occupied different positions in successive election cycles.

 

“The first time I ran for Senate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was a presidential candidate; His Excellency Peter Obi was his vice president,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

 

He added that the political configuration changed in the following election, when both Atiku and Obi contested the presidency separately.

 

According to him, his current political affiliation means that Atiku is his presidential candidate, and he would work to advance the interests of the ADC.

 

“I’m in the ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is my presidential candidate, that’s where I am, so we are going to do everything we can for our party as the ADC,” he said.

 

Rhodes-Vivour, however, urged Nigerians to vote according to their convictions, while calling for an electoral process in which citizens’ votes would be respected.

 

“Nigerians should vote for who they believe is going to take them forward, and let’s ensure as a people that our voices are heard, and our votes count,” he said.

 

On the description of Lagos as a “no-man’s land”, the ADC candidate rejected the claim, saying the state had never been one.

 

“Lagos has never been a no-man’s land,” he said.

 

Rhodes-Vivour questioned the basis for the description, particularly in relation to land ownership and transactions in the state.

 

“If it’s no-man’s land, who are they buying the land from?” he asked.

 

He described the claim as offensive, saying it went beyond him personally.

 

“But for anybody to say Lagos is a no-man’s land, that’s a very big insult. It’s an insult not just to me, it’s an insult to my ancestors,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

Lagos Beats Kano, Records Highest Number Of Voters, Ekiti Lowest – INEC

By
Ayodele Oni
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

By Ayodele Oni

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has released a breakdown of registered voters preparatory to 2027 genereal elections, revealing that women account for 49.9 million of the 103.4 million registered voters.

 

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday at a stakeholders meeting and press conference in Abuja, where he presented an update on the national voters’ register, following the completion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and biometric clean-up.

 

Amupitan disclosed that the register now contains 103,428,715 voters, comprising 53,528,218 males, representing 51.75 per cent, and 49,900,497 females, representing 48.25 per cent.

 

“The top 10 states by number of registered voters are Lagos State in first position with 7,488,633 registered voters; followed by Kano State with 6,570,276. Next is Kaduna State with 4,662,640 voters.

 

“Katsina followed with 3,876,051 registered voters, while Rivers ranked fifth with 3,736,434. Oyo had 3,588,111 voters, Delta 3,525,988, Benue 3,057,225, Ogun 3,037,981 and Bauchi 3,012,547.

 

“The three leading states — Lagos, Kano and Kaduna — therefore account for more than 18.7 million registered voters, making them the states with the largest voter populations on the updated register.

 

Amipitan said the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations before the final biometric verification and cleaning of the register.

 

On the age distribution, Amupitan revealed that voters aged between 35 and 49 years constituted the largest group, with 43,265,946 voters, representing 41.83 per cent of the register.

 

“Those aged 18 to 34 years accounted for 29,777,576 voters, representing 28.79 per cent, while voters between 50 and 69 years numbered 22,982,900, or 22.22 per cent.

 

“Voters aged 70 years and above formed the smallest age category, with 7,402,291 registered voters, representing 7.16 per cent.

 

“At the lower end of the state-by-state distribution, Ekiti had the fewest registered voters with 1,055,708, followed by Bayelsa with 1,200,691.

 

“The Federal Capital Territory ranked third from the bottom with 1,732,043 voters, followed by Ondo with 1,733,641 and Gombe with 1,768,560.

 

The INEC chairman also disclosed that 232,658 persons with disabilities were captured in the register across 10 categories, representing about 0.23 per cent of the total electorate.

 

He stated that the largest category was classified as “others”, with 101,183 registered voters, followed by persons with albinism at 44,023 and those with physical impairment at 27,141.

 

“The register also contains 19,936 persons with visual impairment, 14,326 with hearing impairment, 8,832 with autism and 7,723 classified as having cognitive or learning disabilities.

 

“Others include 5,755 persons with limb impairment, 2,008 with Down syndrome and 1,656 with spinal cord injuries.”

 

Meanwhile, INEC has announced that nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards will begin on October 9, 2026.

 

The commission will also display the register for public scrutiny from October 9 to 15, in compliance with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.

 

Amupitan said the exercise would enable Nigerians to examine the register and raise claims or objections ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

“The register of voters will be displayed for public scrutiny from the 9th to 15th of October 2026, not later than 90 days before the general election,” he added.

Crashed Military Aircraft Pilot Was UNIBEN Student …Course Mates Mourn

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Site of Military plane crash in Ondo

By Adesina Soyooye

 

Squadron Leader Mahmud Aburimen, the Pilot of the ill-fated Airforce Aircraft and who perished along with 24 others was a student of the University of Benin.

 

He was a postgraduate student of the Department of Mass Communication of the University and his death in the plane crash have thrown his colleague-students into deep mourning and agony and grief.

 

Recall that the nation was thrown into  mourning on Tuesday, October 5, when the news of the crash at Igbokoda, Ondo State.

 

The Airplane was on its way from Benin to Lagos, on what was said to be a routine mission.

 

According to the reports, the Pilot, Squadron Leader Aburimen was at the University last Friday to make up  for a test organised by one of his lecturers.

 

Desmond Odiah, his class representative, described Aburimen as “a gentle and disciplined student who, despite the demands of his military duties, made efforts to attend classes.”

 

The two of them, Odiah explained  started the Master’s Degree programme together from the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) level.

He said “We were currently doing our Master’s together, but we actually started from Postgraduate Diploma. We did PGD together for one year and, after the results, we went for Master’s together too.

 

“I became closer to him when I became the class representative for the Master’s programme. He was always reaching out to me privately about classes, anything that had to do with academics.

 

“Aburimen was a perfect gentleman who  was not confrontational and preferred to keep a low profile in class.

 

“He didn’t have issues. Every single time he was in the class, he was always at the back with his cap on. So he was a perfect gentleman that didn’t want issues, didn’t want any problems.

 

“His demanding military responsibilities did not prevent him from making efforts to keep up with his academic work.

 

“Regardless of his tedious work and responsibility, he was able to try as much as possible to attend classes. He was even around on Friday, this last week Friday, for a make-up test.

 

“I actually reached out to him about the test, so that was the last time we spoke. He told me that he was in school already for the make-up test. He was somebody who believed in due process.”

 

Sadly, he has gone.

Court To INEC: Olawepo Is Accord Party Presidential Candidate

By
James Orji
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Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 general election.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a judgment delivered in a suit filed by Olawepo-Hashim against Accord Party and INEC, directed the party to submit his name to the electoral commission in line with Section 86 of the Electoral Act 2026.
The court held that the provision was violated when Accord Party allegedly failed to forward Olawepo-Hashim’s name to INEC after he emerged as the sole aspirant at the party’s May 30 presidential primary.
Accord Party had denied conducting the primary. However, Justice Umar rejected the claim, citing evidence that the party accepted N50 million paid by Olawepo-Hashim for the expression of interest and nomination forms.
The judge also noted contradictions in the party’s submissions regarding the disputed primary.
Olawepo-Hashim, through his counsel, Henry Akunebu (SAN), had asked the court to compel Accord Party to upload his name to INEC’s nomination portal and direct the electoral body to accept his nomination.
Akunebu also challenged the authenticity of documents tendered by the party and INEC, particularly a letter purportedly cancelling the presidential primary. He argued that the document did not bear the party’s official stamp and was addressed to the INEC chairman but received by an unnamed national commissioner.
In his affidavit, Olawepo-Hashim said he was a registered and financially committed member of Accord Party, adding that he contributed N7 million towards the party’s electronic membership registration and paid N50 million as nomination fees.
He maintained that he emerged as the sole aspirant at the May 30 presidential primary, which he said was monitored by INEC officials, but that the party subsequently failed to forward his name to the electoral commission.

Lagos, Kano Top List Of Registered Voters

By
James Orji
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Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan - INEC Chairman

Nigeria’s voter register has risen to 103.4 million, with Lagos, Kano and Kaduna leading the states with the highest number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja.
Amupitan said the figure followed the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise and the final biometric cleanup of the register.
According to him, the CVR exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations after the completion of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise.
Lagos tops the list with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed by Kano with 6,570,276 and Kaduna with 4,662,640.
Katsina comes fourth with 3,876,051 registered voters, while Rivers has 3,736,434. Oyo follows with 3,588,111, ahead of Delta with 3,525,988.
Benue, Ogun and Bauchi complete the top 10, with 3,057,225, 3,037,981 and 3,012,547 registered voters respectively.
Amupitan said the register comprises 53,528,218 male voters, representing 51.75 per cent, and 49,900,497 female voters, representing 48.25 per cent.
Voters aged between 35 and 49 constitute the largest age group, accounting for 43,265,946, or 41.83 per cent of the register. They are followed by those aged 18 to 34, who number 29,777,576.
The INEC chairman said the register also contains 232,658 persons with disabilities across 10 disability categories.
He added that the national register would be displayed for public scrutiny from October 9 to 16, in line with the Electoral Act 2026, to allow eligible voters to raise claims and objections.
The first phase of the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at local government centres will also commence on October 9.
With more than 103 million registered voters, Nigeria remains Africa’s largest democracy, according to the INEC chairman.

NAF Mourns 25 Lives Lost In NAF 931 Aircraft Accident

By
The Source
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Sunday Kelvin Aneke

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has expressed profound condolences to the families of the personnel and passengers who lost their lives following the accident involving Nigerian Air Force (NAF) ATR 42 aircraft, NAF 931, in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State. The CAS described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the nation, expressing heartfelt sympathies to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who lost their lives. He assured the bereaved families of the Service’s full support during this difficult period.

 

NAF 931 had 25 persons on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers. The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search-and-rescue procedures were immediately activated, with response efforts conducted in coordination with relevant authorities to locate and account for all persons on board. No survivors have been found. The crew members were:

 

CREW

1. Squadron Leader MI Aburime (Flight Captain)

2. Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje (Co-pilot)

3. Flight Lieutenant IS Bako (Co-pilot)

4. Warrant Officer Abubakar A (Aircraft Technician)

5. Corporal Uguru HC (Aircraft Technician)

 

PASSENGERS

6. Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus

7. Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye

8. Flying Officer IM Adeshina

9. Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F

10. Master Warrant Officer Matini BA

11. Warrant Officer Nuhu FS

12. Flight Sergeant James RB

13. Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI

14. Sergeant Ani AE

15. Sergeant Izibenikien SI

16. Sergeant Alafuka C

17. Sergeant Mbadugha AN

18. Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC

19. Lance Corporal Eledan GE

20. Mrs Ezeh Nneka

21. Godstmine Tarabina

22. Joy Micheal

23. Sunday Micheal

24. Ukeme David

25. Gideon Omotola

 

The CAS has directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Nigerian Air Force will continue to provide timely and verified updates as the investigation progresses and urges the public to refrain from speculation and the circulation of unverified information, while respecting the privacy and dignity of the affected families. A condolence register has also been opened at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Abuja, for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies, and other well-wishers who may wish to pay their respects and convey messages of sympathy to the families of the deceased and the Nigerian Air Force.

 

Ehimen Ejodame

Air Commodore

Director of Public Relations and Information

Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force

 

6 October 2026

NOTAP Holds  Innovation Summit In Lagos

By
The Source
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NOTAP Summit in Lagos

The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, NOTAP, will tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, hold the second edition of its Technology and Innovation Summit, NTIS 2.0, in Lagos.

The two-day summit, scheduled for October 7 and 8 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is expected to bring together policymakers, technology experts, innovators, researchers, startups, investors and other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s science, technology and innovation ecosystem.

The summit will feature ministerial and keynote addresses, high-level policy dialogues, technical sessions, innovation exhibitions, strategic breakout sessions, startup showcases and stakeholder engagements.

Key areas of focus will include research commercialisation and technology transfer, intellectual property management and protection, innovation financing and investment, artificial intelligence and workforce transformation, local content development and technology sovereignty, as well as international collaboration in science, technology and innovation.

According to NOTAP, the summit is designed to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and explore opportunities in research collaboration, technology exchange, capacity development, investment promotion and innovation partnerships.

The event is expected to provide a platform for discussions on how Nigeria can strengthen its technology ecosystem, promote local innovation and harness emerging technologies for economic development.

Pilot Of Ill-fated Military Aircraft Died Few Days After Wedding

By
Ayodele Oni
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Airforce Pilot

By Ayodele Oni 

 

The family and brand new wife of Nigerian Air Force pilot, Squadron Leader Ahamefule Aham Man Ugwueje, one of the victims of Nigerian Air Force aircraft which crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday are in deep mourning.

 

The  Officer was among the 25 people confirmed dead. Sadly, he wedded his sweetheart, Flight Lt. Damilola Adekunle, at an elaborate ceremony on September 19 in Abuja. He was the co-pilot.

 

The aircraft, identified as NAF 931, was on a routine flight from Benin City, Edo State to Lagos when it crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda on Monday, October 5.

 

The Nigerian Air Force confirmed that all 25 people on board, comprising five crew members and 20 passengers, died in the incident.

 

Ugwueje was listed among the five crew members who died in the crash.

 

Following the incident, the Nigerian Air Force ordered a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.

 

The death of Man Ugwueje, coming less than three weeks after his wedding, has left his family, colleagues and others who attended the ceremony heartbroken.

Makinde Presidential Ambition Is Smokescreen For Negotiation – Sen Alli

By
Ayodele Oni
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Senator Sharafadeen Alli

By Ayodele Oni 

 

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation in Oyo state has described Governor Seyi Makinde’s presidential ambition as dead on arrival.

 

Makinde is contesting for the presidency under the banner of the Allied Peoples Movement,  (APM).

 

The senator pointed out that the latest commendation of President Bola Tinubu by Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has further exposed the emptiness of the governor’s presidential project.

 

Governor Mohammed, who is the national leader of APM, publicly acknowledged that President Tinubu has “done so well” in several areas, particularly finance, health and security.

 

A statement by Bisi Oladele, Director Media and Publicity for Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), said for the pillar of Makinde’s own political camp to be truthful in publicly acknowledging the achievements of the President spoke louder than all the contrived rhetoric coming from the Makinde presidential campaign.

 

“The question Nigerians should now ask is simple: if one of the principal promoters of Makinde’s presidential ambition truthfully admits that President Tinubu is doing well, what exactly is the justification for Makinde asking Nigerians to replace the President?

 

“The contradiction is glaring. Governor Mohammed deserves commendation for having the courage to acknowledge the truth, rather than engaging in opposition for opposition’s sake.

 

“His remarks merely confirm what millions of Nigerians can increasingly see: President Tinubu’s reforms are producing results, strengthening the fiscal position of states and enabling governments at the subnational level to undertake development projects.

 

“For Governor Makinde, however, the political message could not be clearer. His presidential campaign is collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions before the real contest has even begun.

 

“We have always maintained that Makinde’s so-called presidential ambition appears less like a serious pathway to Aso Rock and more like a political bargaining chip designed to enhance his negotiating position in the unfolding 2027 political equation.”

 

Alli noted that Makinde’s candidacy is increasingly becoming clearer as a smokescreen for negotiation, more like an attempt to arrive at the political bargaining table claiming a national following that simply does not exist.

 

“How does a candidate seriously expect Nigerians to believe he can defeat an incumbent president when prominent leaders within his own political family are publicly applauding that President’s performance?

 

“Even more instructive is the fact that Governor Mohammed had previously endorsed Makinde and described him as the leader Nigeria needed. 

 

“His latest acknowledgement of President Tinubu’s performance therefore raises legitimate political questions about the cohesion, conviction and sustainability of the so-called coalition behind Makinde.

Seyi Makinde
Governor Seyi Makinde

“Makinde may continue to erect billboards, commission campaign offices and make grandiose declarations about ‘resetting’ Nigeria, but politics is ultimately about structures, numbers, credibility and alliances.

 

“A presidential candidate whose own political allies are validating the achievements of the incumbent has a serious credibility problem,” the campaign organisation said.

 

“The Alli Campaign Organisation, therefore, advises Governor Makinde to concentrate on accounting for his stewardship in Oyo State and preparing for the transition of power in 2027 rather than using an improbable presidential project to distract the people from the issues confronting his administration.

 

“The people of Oyo State are more interested in his legacy —the state’s debt profile, the condition of the local economy, infrastructure, education, healthcare and the welfare of workers—than in a presidential adventure whose political foundations are already crumbling.

 

“Governor Makinde is free to aspire to the highest office in the land. That is his constitutional right. But he should not mistake ambition for viability, publicity for popularity or political bargaining for a genuine national movement.”

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