The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19 for the conduct of five by-elections in four states; Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Tunde Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Oketola said that the by-elections comprised one federal and four state constituencies.

According to Oketola, the by-elections will take place at Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe, while the state constituencies shall take place at Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State; Udu and Dawakin Kudu in Delta and Kano State Constituencies respectively.((NAN)

The Chief Executive Officer of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has donated 34 campaign vehicles to a support movement mobilising for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Katsina State.

Tompolo made the donation during the official unveiling of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement in Katsina, describing the initiative as part of efforts to build grassroots support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The founder and convener of the movement said Katsina was chosen as the first state in northern Nigeria for the unveiling of the initiative.

As part of the launch, 34 local government coordinators were inaugurated and presented with campaign vehicles at the People’s Square in Katsina.

Represented at the flag-off and inauguration by High Chief Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, Tompolo said the relationship between Tinubu and Katsina was founded on trust, confidence and inclusion.

•PRP presidential candidate, Donald Duke

Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) presidential candidate Donald Duke has said Nigerians were better off in 1999 than they are today, arguing that 26 years of constitutional democracy have failed to deliver meaningful economic improvement.

Duke, a former Cross River State governor, made the assessment during an interview on the Policy Without Politics podcast, a clip of which circulated on Sunday.

Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 after years of military government, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo taking over from the then Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The country has since had six civilian presidents, with President Bola Tinubu currently seeking re-election.

However, Duke argued that the country had become poorer despite population growth and larger nominal budgets, describing the democratic system as a façade.“We’re really not in a democracy. It’s a facade. And with each cycle, we get poorer,” he said.

“I can say to you very clearly that in 1999, the people were better off than they are today, in 2026. They were much better off. The country was more affordable.”