Latest – Page 40 – National Daily Newspaper

Oyo awards N3.5bn contracts to upgrade three rural markets under RAAMP

Oyo awards N3.5bn contracts to upgrade three rural markets under RAAMP

The Oyo State Government has awarded contracts worth N3.5 billion for the first phase of the physical improvement and remodelling of three major rural markets under...

Japa: How migration is reshaping Nigerian homes

Featured1 month ago

Japa: How migration is reshaping Nigerian homes

The growing wave of emigration among young Nigerians is reshaping family life, with grandparents increasingly becoming primary caregivers while parents pursue education and employment opportunities abroad....

Osun 2026: Vote-Buying, Security Concerns Raise Fresh Questions Ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections OSOGBO — The 2026 Osun State governorship election has ended, but concerns over vote-buying, electoral technology, security and public trust could offer important lessons as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. The August 15 election was largely peaceful across the state, with election observers commending voters and electoral officials for the overall conduct of the poll. However, reports of voter inducement, technical difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and isolated incidents of violence highlighted persistent weaknesses in Nigeria's electoral process. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), in its preliminary assessment, reported BVAS delays and biometric verification problems in several local government areas, while observers also recorded allegations of vote-buying and isolated security incidents. Vote-buying remains a major concern One of the strongest warnings from Osun was the continued presence of vote-buying and voter inducement. Yiaga Africa said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with its independent statistical projections, but cautioned that this did not remove concerns about the integrity of voters' choices amid reports of vote-buying and inducement. The concern is particularly significant ahead of 2027, when political competition will take place nationwide and involve presidential, National Assembly and state-level contests. The International Republican Institute (IRI), following a pre-election assessment mission conducted in August, identified monetised political competition, election-related violence, insecurity and declining public confidence in INEC among the structural challenges facing the 2027 elections. IRI recommended stronger investigation and prosecution of vote-buying and voter inducement, urging INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and security agencies to act on credible allegations. Technology improves transparency — but has limits The Osun election also demonstrated how electoral technology can improve transparency. INEC's electronic transmission of polling-unit results through the IReV platform provided observers and members of the public with a mechanism to monitor uploaded results. Yiaga Africa subsequently said the official results were consistent with its independent statistical estimates, describing the outcome as evidence that the announced results reflected the ballots counted at polling units. However, technical problems with BVAS were reported during voting. CDD said difficulties involving biometric verification and slow processing occurred in several LGAs, including Irepodun, Ejigbo, Obokun, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ola Oluwa, Ede North and Ede South. These problems underline the need for INEC to ensure that electoral technology is not only available but also reliable, properly tested and supported by effective backup systems. Security remains another test for 2027 Although voting was generally peaceful, isolated incidents of violence and disruption were reported during the Osun poll. CDD called for security agencies to maintain political neutrality, investigate reported incidents and protect voters regardless of their political affiliation. IRI has similarly warned that insecurity and election-related violence could undermine meaningful political participation in 2027. Its assessment noted that more than 81 election-related violent incidents had been recorded in Osun in the year preceding the governorship election, with violence increasing as Election Day approached. The institute urged security agencies to identify high-risk areas early and develop location-specific plans to prevent intimidation, disruption and attacks on electoral participants. Osun offers lessons ahead of 2027 Despite the challenges, observers say the Osun election also provides evidence that improvements in election administration can produce positive results. Yiaga Africa's assessment found that INEC and security agencies largely passed the test of conducting the election, while its independent verification indicated that the official results accurately reflected the ballots counted at polling units. The challenge ahead is to build on those gains while addressing the weaknesses exposed during the election. For INEC, that means improving BVAS reliability, strengthening result-transmission and collation procedures and maintaining clear communication with voters and political parties. For security agencies, it means preventing electoral violence and ensuring that investigations and prosecutions are not selective. Political parties also face pressure to take greater responsibility for the conduct of their candidates, agents and supporters, particularly over voter inducement and intimidation. A bigger test awaits in 2027 The central lesson from Osun may be that a technically transparent election is not automatically the same as a completely free election. Electronic transmission can make results easier to monitor, but technology cannot by itself prevent voters from being offered money, threatened or pressured before they cast their ballots. IRI's latest assessment similarly stressed that the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not only on technical administration but also on security, consistent application of electoral rules, timely communication and public confidence in INEC. With Nigeria's 2027 general elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the Osun experience provides both a warning and an opportunity: the country has made progress in electoral transparency, but vote-buying, insecurity and declining trust must be confronted before they are magnified across a nationwide election.

Featured1 month ago

2027 Elections: Jobs, security top young Nigerians’ demands

With less than a year to the 2027 general elections, political parties are intensifying coalition talks, zoning debates and strategic alliances. However, conversations with young voters...

Liver failure risk: NAFDAC warns Nigerians against fake Menofix capsules

Health1 month ago

Liver failure risk: NAFDAC warns Nigerians against fake Menofix capsules

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against the sale, distribution, purchase and use of an unregistered...

Nigeria face Egypt in crucial WAFCON group C decider

Football1 month ago

Nigeria face Egypt in crucial WAFCON group C decider

The race for qualification from Group C of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) reaches a decisive stage on Wednesday night as defending...

NiMet forecasts three days of thunderstorms, moderate rains cross Nigeria

Latest1 month ago

NiMet forecasts three days of thunderstorms, moderate rains cross Nigeria

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecast widespread cloudiness, thunderstorms and moderate rainfall across several parts of the country from Wednesday through Friday, warning...

Christopher Musa applauds Tinubu’s new military salary structure

Latest1 month ago

Christopher Musa applauds Tinubu’s new military salary structure

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving a salary increase of between 30 and 80 per...

Nigerian highlife star Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, has shared a deeply personal story about overcoming a two-year addiction, revealing that the experience remains one of the most challenging periods of his life. Speaking during a candid TikTok Live session with fans and friends, the award-winning singer disclosed that the addiction began after he lost contact with the woman he said he lost his virginity to at the age of 24. According to Flavour, the emotional impact of the separation left him struggling to cope, eventually leading him into a cycle he found difficult to break. The singer explained that, at the time, there were no smartphones or instant messaging platforms. He said the woman had given him her email address, but after repeatedly visiting cyber cafés in hopes of receiving a reply without success, he eventually gave up. Flavour admitted that the situation led him to seek unhealthy ways of dealing with his emotions, describing the addiction as something that gradually took control of his life. He said the problem became so overwhelming that he felt ashamed and isolated, unsure of who to confide in. Determined to find help, the musician said he approached his mother’s pastor, who offered him spiritual guidance through prayers, Bible passages and a 21-day fasting programme. Although he initially believed he was making progress, Flavour revealed that he relapsed within days after returning to perform at a show. He later sought advice from an older Cameroonian bassist in his band, whom he trusted enough to tell about his struggle. According to Flavour, the conversation marked a turning point in his life, helping him gradually overcome the addiction after battling it for two years. Reflecting on the experience, the singer said speaking openly about the issue was important because many people silently deal with similar struggles but are too embarrassed to ask for help. He encouraged those facing personal challenges to confide in trusted individuals rather than suffer in silence. Flavour, who rose to fame with his 2010 hit Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix), has since become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated highlife musicians, known for blending traditional African sounds with contemporary music. His latest revelation has sparked widespread reactions online, with many fans commending his honesty and courage in discussing such a sensitive chapter of his life.

Entertainment1 month ago

Flavour shares emotional story of beating addiction after two years

By Ihuoma Inyama Nigerian highlife star Chinedu Okoli, popularly known as Flavour, has shared a deeply personal story about overcoming a two-year addiction, revealing that...

Troops intercept suspected terror supply chain, arrest four in Borno, Yobe

Latest1 month ago

Troops intercept suspected terror supply chain, arrest four in Borno, Yobe

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-East, Operation HADIN KAI, have intensified counter-insurgency operations in Nigeria’s North-East, arresting four suspected collaborators of Boko Haram...

Rising food costs push monthly feeding budget for Lagos family of five above ₦250,000

Featured1 month ago

Rising food costs push monthly feeding budget for Lagos family of five above ₦250,000

For many households in Lagos, putting three meals on the table each day has become one of the biggest financial challenges amid persistently high food prices...