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Ogun Seeks Tunisia’s Help To Develop Football

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Dapo Abiodun
Governor Dapo Abiodun

By Ayodele Oni

 

Ogun State is reaching out to Tunisia to develop football at the grassroot and professional levels.

 

Governor Dapo Abiodun, called for stronger bilateral relations between the State and Tunisia, with particular emphasis on sports development, grassroots football and institutional collaboration.

 

Abiodun made the call on Saturday when the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mohsen Antit, visited Abeokuta, for the CAF Confederation Cup engagement between Shooting Stars of Ibadan and CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

 

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka said Ogun State was interested in learning from Tunisia’s experience, particularly the systems that have helped Tunisian clubs become major forces in African football.

 

He specifically sought collaboration on the development and repositioning of Gateway Football Club, saying the state was interested in understanding how Tunisia had transformed clubs such as Espérance Sportive de Tunis, Étoile Sportive du Sahel and CS Sfaxien into strong football institutions with established identities, sustainable structures and significant success in CAF competitions.

 

Abiodun revealed that Ogun State has abundant football talent and the infrastructure to support its development, adding that the state was looking for strategic partnerships that could convert its youthful population and sporting potential into sustainable opportunities.

 

He noted that Ogun has continued to invest in sports infrastructure and talent development, including the improvement of sporting facilities and hosting of major national and international competitions.

 

The state has also been positioning sports as part of its wider economic and youth-development agenda.

 

According to the governor, the proposed collaboration could cover areas such as technical development, coaching, scouting, youth academies, club administration, sports management and exchange programmes between Ogun and Tunisian football institutions.

 

He said the objective was not only to produce talented players but also to build football structures capable of competing successfully at the domestic and continental levels.

 

Abiodun further called for concrete steps to be taken towards establishing the partnership, directing relevant officials of the state government to engage with the Tunisian diplomatic authorities on areas of immediate collaboration.

 

The governor pointed out that Ogun’s ambition was to build a football system that could develop home-grown talents, strengthen local clubs and ultimately produce teams capable of making a mark in Nigerian and African football.

Retired General Ali-Keffi Tackles Defence Minister Musa Over El-Rufai

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Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi

By Adesina Soyooye

 

Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi,  a retired Nigeria Army Major General, has chided Defence Minister Christopher Musa over what he called the Minister’s unprofessional comments on a former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai.

 

Not a few people were taken aback by Musa’s comments during a television interview. While some people said he was unguarded, others said it was unbecoming of an army officer of his status,, retired or not, serving in  Government or not.

 

For Major General Ali-Keffi, “serving and retired military generals should not be drawn into partisan political disputes.

 

The Defence Minister had accused El-Rufai of  very untidy behaviours when he was the Governor of Kaduna State, including personally paying bandits, divisive policies, and worse, planning, deliberately, the killings of Southern Kaduna residents.

 

Ali-Keffi, who was a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, said Musa’s allegations boardered on  “plain politics”. With that in mind, the former GOC urged senior military officers to mind their language when commenting on political matters. He asked them to show some restrains.

 

Ali-Keffii in the interview with SaharaReporters expressed deep disappointed that Musa, according to him, whom he described as his erstwhile friend, publicly criticised El-Rufai and argued that senior military officers should understand the influence and authority attached to their statements.

Christopher Musa
Christopher Musa

He said: “ We Generals should be very careful how we comment on political issues. We are not professional politicians. I mean, we should leave politics for Retired Generals remain influential figures whose comments can easily be interpreted by the public as reflecting the position of the military establishment.

 

“Our words carry a lot of weight. Our words are listened to by so many people, right? So we should be very careful.

 

He threw a direct challenge at Musa to provide evidence to prove his allegation that El-Rufai paid bandits, instead of making  unsubstantiated claims.

 

Musa: “He alleged, CG Musa alleged El-Rufai paid bandits. How? You have facts? Present it! Why are you keeping it? Present it!”

 

Ali-Keffi also rubbished claims that El-Rufai negotiated with bandits or attempted to prevent military operations against criminal groups during his tenure as governor.

 

He dug into his experience as GOC 1 Division and said El-Rufai never instructed him to halt military operations against criminal elements in Kaduna State.

 

Musa: “El-Rufai never negotiated with bandits. El-Rufai never prevailed on us military people while I was the General Officer Commanding not to carry out operations against the Fulani. In fact, he said criminal Fulani person should not be spared!”

 

 Military operations, he said,  were conducted in different parts of Kaduna during his tenure as GOC, and added that the state government provided intelligence that supported security operations.

 

He particularly commended Samuel Aruwan, the then Kaduna Commissioner for Internal Security who he said  maintained regular communication with military commanders and provided intelligence.

 

Ali-Keffi said he personally contacted El-Rufai before some military clearance operations to ask that civilians be warned to stay away from areas where troops would be deployed.

 

Initially, he explained, El-Rufai  resisted the request, with the arguement that some people remaining in the forests were complicit in criminal activities.

 

But according to Ali-Keffi, the military had a responsibility to minimise civilian casualties and collateral damage. El-Rufai later after which the former governor cooperated with the military.

 

He said not for once did El-Rufai attempt to stop the operations, and questioned the basis on which the embattled former Governor is being  portrayed now as an obstruction to military action against banditry at the time he was in office.

Ali-Keffi also questioned why  Musa chose now to pounce on El-Rufai and  suggested  that his allegations are politically motivated because of El-Rufai’s current situation.

 

To Musa, he said: “Where’s your chivalry? The man is down. Why didn’t he say that when [he] was up? He didn’t have the liver, no stomach. The allegations are  “far-fetched and “plain politics. Senior military officers should avoid allowing political disagreements to damage their professional credibility or drag the armed forces into partisan disputes.”

 

He pointed out that his defence of El-Rufai does not mean he agreed with all the former governor did while in Officer.

 

For the records, he recalled that El-Rufai  demolished a property belonging to him at the National Eye Centre, Mando, but maintained that the personal disagreement did not justify allegations he considered unsupported by his own experience.

 

Ali-Keffi: “I would not have said these things I am saying but it is very unfair for the Minister of Defence Christopher Musa to have gone after El-Rufai, I don’t support some of the things that El-Rufai did, no..

Senator Fadahunsi Who Ordered The Killing Of Accord Party Members In Osun Congratulates Adeleke

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Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi
Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi

By Adesina Soyooye

 

Remember him? Senator Francis Fadahunsi, the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District who, in the run-up to the August 15 Governorship election, recklessly and mindlessly ordered his supporters to kill any Accord Party supporters that came their way.

 

He seems to have  suddenly repented and seen the light. Governor Ademola Adeleke’s light, for which he is fondly called Imole, has shone on him brightly.

 

So, with the light showing him the way, he has sent a congratulatory message to the Governor who roundly defeated Fadahunsi’s preferred candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

In  a statement the Senator issued on Friday, September 4, he  congratulated Governor Adeleke on his victory at the Governorship polls.

 

He, also, rather than continue to toe his pre-election stand which sparked outrage, assured the Governor of his readiness to work with him and  other stakeholders for peace, progress, and prosperity of Osun State.

 

Fadahunsi’s statement reads: “Permit me to use this medium formally, on behalf of myself, political family, associates, and the good people of Osun East Senatorial District to heartily congratulate Your Excellency, Distinguished Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on your well-deserved re-election as Governor of Osun State.

Governor Ademola Adeleke
Governor Ademola Adeleke

“Your Excellency, having won the confidence and electoral franchise of the people for a second-term, I pray that God Almighty will grant you the wisdom, strength, and grace to surpass your achievements. I also pray that you will consolidate the gains of your first-term and deliver even more dividends of democracy to our people especially my Senatorial District.

 

“Please accept my assurances of support, collaboration, and partnership as we – you, me, and other stakeholders – work together for the peace, progress, and prosperity of our dear State.”

 

Adeleke defeated Fadahunsi’s candidate with over 66,000 votes.

“You Are Interfering In My Marriage”: Man Accuses Gumi Over Moroccan Wife, Seeks Intervention By Security Agencies

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Sheikh Ahmad Gumi

By Ayodele Oni

 

Islamic scholar, Sheik Ahmad Gumi is entangled in a marriage controversy.  Nasiru Musa Idris, husband of a Moroccan woman has accused the cleric of interfering in his marriage and abducting his wife.

 

He also alleged that Gumi has been preventing security agencies from investigating the allegation.

 

Gumi has denied the allegation, saying that he would sue Idris.

 

Idris, who spoke on the matter in an interview with RFI Hausa, explained that he met Gumi at a pharmacy on Isa Kaita Road in Kaduna, where he had gone with his family, and that he later introduced his Moroccan wife to the cleric.

 

 According to the accuser, his wife had never known anyone in Nigeria before he brought her into the country after he travelled to Morocco to seek her hand in marriage.

 

He revealed that their marriage was conducted with the approval of her parents and relevant authorities, including the Nigerian embassy.

 

“For Dr Gumi, I believe in him because of his character as a religious scholar and leader. I met him at a pharmacy on Isa Kaita Road with my family.

 

“The Moroccan girl had never known anyone in Nigeria and nobody knew her except through me.

 

“I went to seek her hand in marriage in her country, and we had an engagement with the approval of the embassy and the approval of her parents.”

 

Idris stated that the dispute started when Gumi allegedly insisted that he obtain another marriage certificate from a Sharia Court despite his having documents relating to the marriage from Morocco and Nigeria.

 

He said he told Gumi about his marriage documents, including those obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian embassy in Morocco, as well as other documents and a police character report.

 

“I told him that I did not agree with the marriage certificate he told me to obtain. Later, he went to the Sharia Court in Malali and asked them to issue one to him.”

 

He further alleged that Gumi subsequently sought the separation of his marriage and  attempted to prevent security agencies from investigating the disappearance of his wife.

 

Idris called on the cleric to honour a police invitation and allow the matter to be investigated.

 

“My complaint is that he should come forward and answer the invitation of the police so that an investigation can be conducted.

 

“If he is right, there is nothing stopping him from going to the authorities to clear his name.”

 

He further alleged that his wife had been in Gumi’s custody for about 11 months, describing the situation as unjust.

 

“For 11 months now, my wife has been in his hands through injustice and ill-treatment. He has no relationship with her; she had never known him. The only place they knew each other was through me.”

 

Idris also disputed claims that his wife’s mother came to Nigeria and took her daughter away, saying he had personally processed her documents to enable her travel to Nigeria.

 

He alleged that he took his wife to Gumi after the cleric asked him to bring her for counseling because she is young.

 

“Because I trusted him, I took her there. From then on, whenever I called, she did not answer the phone,” he alleged.

 

 Gumi has however denied the allegation but declined to discuss the details, saying the matter was already before a court.

He, however, said he would sue Idris for defamation.

 

“But I will take him to court for defamation against me. As for the issue of the girl, she has already left Nigeria and she is in Morocco happily with her parents.

 

“I don’t want to say much on an issue already in court, but I will sue him for defamation,” Gumi said.

 

Also speaking on behalf of Gumi, the chairman of the Volunteers of Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna, and the cleric’s personal assistant on special assignment, Malam Nasiru Ayuba, popularly known as Dan Agaji, denied the allegation that Gumi kept Idris’ wife in his house.

 

He said the woman approached Gumi herself to seek help over a personal problem.

 

“The allegation that Malam kept his wife in his house is not true. It was the woman herself who went to Malam to ask him for help,” Ayuba said.

 

He added that Gumi intervened because the woman, being a Moroccan national, sought assistance and said she could go anywhere if she was not helped.

 

“She brought the matter herself because she knew what she was going through. Therefore, Malam did what he could and took the matter to court,” he said.

 

Ayuba said Gumi’s supporters should remain patient until the matter is determined, insisting that the cleric had been targeted on the social media.

 

“He only wants to tarnish Malam’s image on the social media,” he alleged.

He said they would not disclose private information about Idris unless it became necessary.

 

“We will not expose anyone’s secrets, but if it becomes necessary to expose the secrets, we will do so because we have everything recorded,” Ayuba said.

Comments On Presidential Candidate: Wike-backed PDP Demands Apology From Arise TV’s Rufai Oseni

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Rufai Oseni
Rufai Oseni

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Following remarks he, allegedly,  made on Professor Sandy Onor, of the Peoples Democratic Party, Arise TV’s Anchor Rufai Oseni, has been asked for an apology.

 

Professor Onor is the Presidential Candidate of Minister Nyesom Wike’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate. The PDP has claimed,`

 Prof. Sandy Onor, the Party has described the remark as derogatory against the person of Onor.

 

The party had in a  statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, stated that Oseni’s remark was unacceptable, alleging that it was capable of damaging the reputation of its Presidential Candidate.

 

Oseni had allegedly made the remark during Thursday’s edition of The Morning Show on Arise TV.

 

According to the party, Oseni’s co-presenter on the programme, former Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, had immediately cautioned him over the potential defamatory nature of the comment.

 

The PDP said while Journalists has the right to scrutinise political actors and express opinions on public affairs, such freedom should not extend to insulting or ridiculing political candidates.

 

The Party is, therefore, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the remark and a public apology from Oseni to Onor.

 

It also stressed that the Management of Arise TV should caution its presenters/journalists from using its platform to ridicule or disparage its Presidential Candidate under the guise of political commentary.

 

The PDP further threatened to consider legal options to protect Onor’s reputation if what it described as defamatory remarks continued.

 

“No journalist, regardless of his platform or perceived influence, is above the law,” the party said.

 

Speaking further, the Party in the statement  urged journalists and broadcasters to uphold what it described as responsible journalism in their coverage of political candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

For the records, Wike is not supporting his PDP faction’s Presidential Candidate. He is supporting, very strongly,  APC’s President Bola Tinubu who is seeking a second term in office.

Show Evidence Pastor Kumuyi Told Members Not To Watch TV, Get N1m – Man Defends Deeper Life Founder

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Pastor Williams Kumuyi
Pastor Williams Kumuyi

By Akinwale Kasali

An X user has thrown a challenge to anybody who claims that Pastor William Kumuyi, the Founder of Deeper Life Ministry, was against members of his Church watching or owning a television set to show proof when the revered Clergyman said that.

 

Anybody who does that with proof, he said, will get the sum of One Million Naira from him.

 

All whoever needs to do to get this reward is to provide a video or audio recording showing Pastor Kumuyi, telling his Church members not to watch television.

 

He threw this challenge amid the ongoing discussion about the Cleric’s teachings on television and whether he had previously discouraged members of Deeper Life from watching it.

 

He called on X user, @MathiasIgonor, a strong critic of the Clergyman and anyone else with evidence to present the recording.

 

He said: “I’ll give you or anyone ₦1m if you/they can provide a video clip or Audio clip where Pastor Kumuyi told his members not to watch TV.”

 

He, however, added that the evidence would not simply be accepted at face value. He explained that the recording would first be examined to establish whether it is genuine or not.

 

“Video clip will be authenticated and checked for originality. Date of the Sermon (Preaching) will also be confirmed,”he added.

 

There has been insinuations that in the early years of Pastor Kumuyi’s propagation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he allegedly stopped his Members from watching TV, because he dubbed them things of the world that could make them lose focus in making heaven.

 

Till date, this has not been verified, prompting the  placement of a N1 Million bounty for anyone with any recordings where the Clergyman made preached this..

Ebonyi PDP To Gov Nwifuru: You Are Reckless For Threatening Council Chairmen Over Election

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Ebonyi State Governor - Francis Nwifuru
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru

Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the recent threat by Governor Francis Nwifuru to remove any local government chairman who fails to win his area for the ruling  All Progressives Congress, APC, in next year’s election, as a recipe for chaos.

The PDP caautined the governor to stop issueing what it decsribed as a merciless order,saying the state does not belong to the governor.

The magazine reports that Governor Nwifuru made the remark on Tuesday while swearing-in the newly elected 13 local government chairmen inthe state. He had orderd the council chairmen to ensure that their domain is totally secured forthe APC, failure which they will lose their positions.

He also ordered the council bosses to dealmercillessly any opposition members whotries  to take over their local governments.

“If you allow anybody to come to your local government and mess up, deal with that person mercilessly. It is either you are with me or you are against me,” Nwifuru said.

He also  warned the council bosses that ‘we will remove you’ if they lose their areas to the opposition.

Since the governor made the controversial remark he  has drawn trenchant criticism form the opposition and other well meaning Nigerians who said such comment is capableof heating up the system ahead the general election in 2027.

 

The governor’s remark has drawn sharp criticism from not a few Nigerians who said such is capable of heating up the political space ahead next year’s election.

Reacting, the state PDP chairman Ige Chikwuma cautioned the governor tostop making such reckless comment, accusing Nwifuru of giving  an open charge to visit official hostility upon citizens for no offence beyond the fact that they chose their choice of party instead of the ruling APC, the governor’s party.

The governor’s remark is intentional, the PDP said, saying such isan invitation to violence during the election, adding that the governor had made similar inciteful remark in the past,which led to violence in some parts of the state, including attacks on journalists.

 

The party said it willnot be intimidated,and is prepared to resist any unconstitutional and unlawful steps taken by the state government, urging security agencies in the state toensure tht they are not used to intimidate opponents because ‘security architecture does not exist to serve one political entity. That principle is non-negotiable,” PDP said.

Meanwhile, analysts have urged politicians in the country to act responsibly ahead the election, saying inciteful remarks are capable of setting the country on fire, that what’s reuired most at the moment is a peaceful and violence free election.

 

“We will not be intimidated into silence. We will resist, through every lawful and constitutional avenue, any further assault on our members,” it added.

 

“Don’t Stay And Endure An Unhappy Marriage, God Hates It” – Pastor Kumuyi

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Pastor W F Kumuyi

By Akinwale Kasali

 

Following the spate of unhappiness in marriages that often leads to domestic violence, deaths and injuries, Pastor William Kumuyi, General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, has rejected the idea that couples should simply endure unhappiness in marriage.

 

The Clergyman said that God desires husbands and wives to experience happiness in their unions, and not unhappiness. He stressed that the idea of enduring unhappiness in marriage is uncalled for.

 

The revered  Clergyman made this remarks in a  sermon on love, commitment, forgiveness and family fellowship, where he openly criticised the belief that remaining unhappy in a marriage should be regarded as a cross to bear.

 

“God hates, ‘okay, I cannot divorce. That’s my cross. I’ll bear it.’ God hates that. He wants you to be happy in the marriage,” he said.

 

Pastor Kumuyi’s message further highlights the role of love, forgiveness and renewed commitment in strengthening family relationships.

 

The Cleric urged couples to remember the love, trust and joy they shared at the beginning of their relationships.

 

He also encouraged spouses to forgive one another, avoid keeping records of offences and work towards reconciliation rather than allowing repeated disagreements to damage their homes.

 

Recall that earlier this week, an Evangelist and Shepherd-in-Charge of a Celestial Church of Christ in Ibogun, Ogun State, Evangelist Abidemi Odukoya had engaged in a domestic violence after heated argument with his wife, Adenike Odukoya, beat her to a pulp, and left her unconscious till she passed away.

 

As he made to escape the scene, he was knocked down by an oncoming vehicle. He, too, died.

Rufai Oseni: Arise TV’s ‘The Morning Show’, Yanks Wike’s Media Aide Off Air

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Lere Olayinka and Rufai Oseni on Arise TV

By Adesina Soyooye

 

What began Friday morning like any other interview segment on the popular Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’, ended dramatically when the guest, Lere Olayinka, Minister Nyesom  Wike’s Media Aide, was abruptly “yanked” off air.

 

The interview began well as one of “The Morning Show’s” Anchors, Dr. Reuben Abati, asked the first question. His was followed, after Olayinka answered, by that of the second anchor, Ayo Mario-Ese which Olayinka, also, answered. But things went awry when the third anchor, Rufai Oseni, asked his own question which boarderd on the inclusion of some names in the APC Presidential Campaign Council, considered inappropriate by not a few people, but which his principal, Wike, robustly, defended during his Media Chat in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

 

Instead of answering Oseni’s question, Olayinka went off the handle. He said he would not speak to any question from Oseni because he wanted to respond to only reasonable human beings. Meaning that Oseni was neither a human being, nor reasonable.

 

Olayinka: “I am sorry to say this Rufai Oseni, but I do not want to answer any question from you. I want this conversation to be among reasonable human beings, people who will not come and describe other people as Gbewudani. I want this discussion to be among reasonable people.”

 

Attempts by Mario-Ese to bring back Olayinka to a reasonable state failed as he continued his derogatory remarks on Oseni.

 

Offended by Olayinka’s provocative comments, Mario-Ese interjected in defence of Oseni, and reminded Olayinka that when he accepted to appear, he was aware that there are three anchors, and knew he was expected to take questions from each of them.

 

She, thereafter, told him the session with him was over, and that he would be welcome anytime he would be ready to answer questions from all the hosts. She ended the session abruptly.

 

Oseni did not dignify Olayinka’s unprovoked attack with a comment.

 

For the records, in 2025 when Olayinka, appeared on same programme, he, also, had it rough with the anchors when he descended on Dr. Abati who, incidentally, was absent that day, as soon as he was asked the first question. It was Oseni who tackled him by putting up a strong defense in favour of Abati.

 

On this Friday of September 4, it was Oseni’s turn to test Olayinka’s bitter tongue.

INEC To Delist Under Age, Dead Voters From Register

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Prof Joash Amupitan - INEC Chairman
Prof Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman

One of the cardinal decisions the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has taken ahead the 2027 general election, is to remove the names of underage voters from its regsters, so that it can have a clean copy of the register.

To achieve this, the Prof Joash  Amupitan-led commission has urged Nigerians to identify the under age voters in their communities so that they can be delisted from the register before next year.

Those who know insist that the problem of under age voters is mostly predominant in the norhern part of the country,and it’s a welcomedevelopment that the commissionhas decided to take action as part of its efforts to make the election credible.

According to the election umpire, it will also ensure that double registrations, dead persons and other ineligible names are removed fromthe register before the election begins early next year. the commission has slated January 2027 as the date to start the election across the coutry.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, IVEC, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, made the revelation during an interview with Nigerian Tribune newspapers, saying the commission decided to end the Continous Voter Regsitration early to enable it takecare ofthis problemsbefore the election kicks off.

Haruna said the commissionwill require the assistance of wellmeaning Nigerians tobeable to remove underage voters from the register,urging the public to notify the commission ‘if you are aware that someone is underage and is on our voters register.’

He said the commission will publish the temporary list of voters before the election, so that those who have information will be able to make it before the final list is published.

 

“We have to confirm first if there are underage. That is why we have to stop the CVR. You know some people were saying we must extend it. But there are backend need that we need to do, including this cleanup,” he said. When asked to provide an update on voters register cleanup and speak about what the Commission was doing about questions around the underage in the register,” Haruna said.

 

“You know we have ABIS where we clean up if somebody has registered more than once. Of course, we will publish the list. When we publish the list, we expect members of the public to make claims and raise objections.”

 

He explained that the public will have about one to two weeks to scrutinise the register after publication.

 

“For instance, if you are aware that someone is underage and is on our voters register, you draw our attention to it so that we clean it or a situation where someone is dead. This takes a week or two so that people can respond, raise objections and make claims,” Haruna stated.

 

“Underage are not the only category of people that should not be on the voters register. Foreigners too should not be on the voters register and somebody who has registered more than once. In the process of that cleanup, that is where we raised those questions,” he stated..