News
NEC, Police Intensify Security Plans Ahead of 2027 General Elections
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has described security as the foundation of credible elections, calling it the “first and last mile” of the electoral process.
He made the remark during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, in Abuja, where he sought stronger collaboration between INEC and the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Professor Amupitan said that preparations for the elections were already underway, with Presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are fixed for February 6, 2027.
He noted that the release of the election timetable and ongoing political party activities, including ward congresses and conventions, have effectively activated the electoral process and heightened security concerns nationwide.
The INEC Chairman also pointed to upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, as well as several bye-elections across the country, describing them as important tests for Nigeria’s democracy.
He warned that electoral malpractice, vote buying, political violence and insecurity remain major threats capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral system.
Professor Amupitan stressed the need for proactive policing, intelligence gathering and early risk assessments to identify potential flashpoints before the elections, and reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (CCES), describing it as central to ensuring the safety of voters, electoral personnel and materials during the polls.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu,in his remarks assured INEC of the Police Force’s readiness to provide adequate security before, during and after the elections.
He disclosed that nationwide intelligence mapping and threat assessments had already commenced, with concerns such as political violence, illegal arms proliferation, voter intimidation, cyber threats and attacks on electoral infrastructure identified as priority risks.
The IGP also pledged that the Police would remain professional, impartial and guided strictly by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, and warned that officers involved in partisan activities would face disciplinary action, while personnel assigned to election duties would undergo intensive training in electoral security management, human rights compliance and crowd control.
He further called for stronger inter-agency cooperation, joint trainings and sustained stakeholder engagements to guarantee peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
News
UK court jails Nigerian man for masturbating in front of a woman
British Transport Police said Odutola approached a woman on the train, looked her up and down and became aggressive when she refused to engage with him. He then exposed himself while sitting in a wheelchair and began masturbating while staring at the woman and telling her to “come over”
•A Nigerian man and registered sex offender, Babatunde Odutola
A Nigerian man and registered sex offender, Babatunde Odutola has been jailed in the UK after exposing himself and masturbating in front of a woman on a train travelling towards Manchester.
Odutola, 36, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 44 weeks in prison at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 14, after pleading guilty to outraging public decency and breaching a suspended sentence order.
The incident occurred around 7pm on Friday, September 11, on a train travelling through Cheshire towards Manchester Piccadilly railway station.
British Transport Police said Odutola approached a woman on the train, looked her up and down and became aggressive when she refused to engage with him. He then exposed himself while sitting in a wheelchair and began masturbating while staring at the woman and telling her to “come over”.
A fellow passenger intervened and escorted the distressed woman from the carriage.
According to police, CCTV footage showed Odutola continued masturbating as other passengers walked through the carriage.
British Transport Police officers arrested him after the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly. He was subsequently prosecuted and jailed within 72 hours of the incident
News
Digital Economy Minister Says NDPC Now Properly Functional With New HQ
” An asset recovered on behalf of the Nigerian people has now been returned to productive use for the Nigerian people. That is reform made tangible,” he said .
Abuja| NDPC new headquarters commission , Tuesday, 15 September,2026.
An EFCC-recovered property allocated to the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, has been transformed to the new headquarters of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) in Abuja, as its headquarters.
Speaking during the commissioned ceremony of the building, the Honourable Minister incharge of the ministry, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, described the facility as a tangible demonstration of the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his commitment to building strong institutions that can support Nigeria’s growing digital economy.
The Minister emphasised that said the occasion represented more than the opening of a new office, but a reflection of the administration’s commitment to strengthening the institutions required to protect Nigerians and build trust in the country’s digital economy.
Dr. Tijani said, “Shortly after assuming office in 2023, President Tinubu signed the Nigeria Data Protection Act into law, giving the NDPC the appropriate legal foundation and authority to protect the data and privacy rights of Nigerians.
The President also directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to comply with established data protection laws and frameworks, demonstrating that government must lead by example in upholding the standards it expects from citizens and businesses.”
He added, “In the early days of the Commission, it was difficult to ask an institution to protect the data of over 200 million Nigerians and support one of Africa’s largest digital economies without the institutional resources to do so.
President Tinubu recognised this challenge and moved to solve it, approving the resources required for the NDPC to become properly operational and functional, while building towards becoming a sustainable institution in its own right.
He also directed that an EFCC-recovered property be allocated to the Commission as its headquarters.
“An asset recovered on behalf of the Nigerian people has now been returned to productive use for the Nigerian people. That is reform made tangible,” he said .
News
Boko Haram Denies Ceasefire with FG, Vows Continued Attacks
Boko Haram has strongly denied reports of a ceasefire agreement with the Federal Government and insisted that it will continue its campaign of attacks.
In a statement released by the group, the militants dismissed claims of any truce or negotiated pause in hostilities, describing such reports as false and misleading.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing operations against government forces and other targets, vowing that its attacks will persist without interruption.
The denial comes against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in the northeast and other affected regions, where the group has maintained a long-standing insurgency.
Security sources note that the latest statement appears aimed at clarifying the group’s position and rejecting any suggestion of dialogue or de-escalation with the authorities.
Military and government officials have not issued an immediate detailed response to the claim, though security operations against the militants remain active. Authorities continue to urge vigilance as the group signals its intention to sustain violence.
-
Business15 hours agoCBN, MOF sign pact to align monetary, fiscal policies
-
Business2 hours agoDangote Whets Investors Appetite Ahead 2028 Fertiliser IPO
-
Business1 hour agoNaira To Dollar, Pound, Euro…Rate Today, September 22
-
Health2 hours agoNigerian hospital successfully performs kidney cancer surgery via tele-robotic
-
Business1 hour agoGambia Orders Nigerian Banks To Replace Foreign Staff by December 2026
