• INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan during the signing of the peace accord. Photo: INEC

THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, has declared that today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026, marks the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 general election.

According to INEC’s revised timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

Amupitan declared the political campaign take off during a peace accord signing ceremony in Abuja by political parties and presidential and National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The peace accord ceremony was organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.

“Before the first campaign flag is unfurled, before the first rally is staged, and before political rhetoric fills our public space, it is necessary that those who seek to lead this nation first gather to establish the ethical boundaries of their contest,” Amupitan said.

According to him, Nigerians were expecting political parties and candidates to use the campaign period to discuss the challenges confronting the country rather than engage in personal attacks and inflammatory rhetoric.

The INEC chairman said information gathered by the National Peace Committee’s Election Security Information Hub had shown an “alarming resurgence” of hate speech, toxic polarisation, coordinated misinformation and personality-driven political discourse.

He said the trend was particularly disturbing as Nigeria approached what was expected to be one of the most fiercely contested elections since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Amupitan challenged the candidates to make the economy, national security, infrastructure, healthcare, education and social inclusion central to their campaigns.

He likened elections to a competition for public office rather than warfare.

“Electoral contests in a constitutional democracy are not total wars; they are competitive job interviews before the electorate. Nigerians do not want insults; they want solutions,” he said.

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has approved the removal from office of the Chairman of Sagbama Local Government Area, Hon. Alice Allen Tangi, and her Vice Chairman, Hon. Sufade Jefferson Tobi, over alleged gross misconduct.

The decision followed a petition against the Council Chairman over alleged failure to present monthly transparent briefings, non-presentation of the annual budget before expenditure, and failure to appear before the House when invited.

New Telegraph reported that the resolution was announced on Tuesday, by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere.

The action was taken in compliance with Section 22, subsections 6 and 7 of the Bayelsa State Administration Law of 2000.

Ingobere disclosed that 20 members were present during the proceedings, with 17 voting in favour of the removal of the council chairman and vice chairman.

Natasha Osawaru, wife of Nigerian music star Innocent “2Baba” Idibia, has been appointed Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Osawaru, a member of the National Democratic Congress, previously served as Deputy Majority Leader before her latest appointment.

Osawaru, who represents Egor Constituency, was announced as the new minority leader during plenary on Monday following a reshuffle of the assembly’s principal leadership.

The development came after Blessing Agbebaku resigned as Speaker of the House amid alleged moves by lawmakers to impeach him.

He was subsequently replaced by Yekini Idaiyi, representing Akoko Edo II Constituency.Osawaru, a member of the National Democratic Congress, previously served as Deputy Majority Leader before her latest appointment.

Reacting to her emergence, Osawaru described the new position as a responsibility rather than a mere title, stressing her commitment to representing her constituents and contributing to the development of Edo State.

“This new responsibility is not a title; it is a trust,” she said in a statement shared on her Facebook page.

She reaffirmed her commitment to her constituency, her party and the state.

“As Minority Leader, my commitment to the development of Edo State, the progress of our great party, the NDC, and the prosperity of the good people of Egor remains absolute,” she said.