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Elections

Court of Appeal Affirms INEC’s Power to Set 2027 Election Guidelines

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) electoral guidelines for the 2027 general election, reaffirming the commission’s constitutional authority to regulate electoral processes. In a unanimous decision delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, the appellate court held that INEC is empowered under the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act to issue election guidelines, timetables and other regulations necessary for the conduct of elections. The court set aside the earlier ruling of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had nullified portions of the electoral guidelines following a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Justice Banjoko ruled that the lower court was bound by the Court of Appeal’s recent decision in INEC v. Youth Party of Nigeria, which affirmed the commission’s statutory powers to administer elections. The appeal stemmed from Justice Omotosho’s judgment, which granted some of the SDP’s requests while ruling in INEC’s favour on other issues. Dissatisfied with the aspects of the ruling that limited its powers over election management, INEC challenged the decision at the appellate court. Presenting INEC’s case, the commission’s lead counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), argued that the Constitution clearly empowers INEC to organise, conduct and supervise elections, including the issuance of electoral guidelines and election timetables. He maintained that the Federal High Court failed to properly interpret the relevant constitutional provisions and judicial precedents that recognise INEC’s authority. “The Constitution specifically empowers INEC to organise, supervise and undertake elections and other political activities. The timetable provided is in consonance with the powers donated by the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act,” Izinyon argued. He further submitted that both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal have consistently upheld INEC’s power to regulate electoral processes, including activities leading up to elections. “The trial court erred in law because it failed to interpret, using Supreme Court authorities and Court of Appeal decisions, the powers already donated by the Constitution to INEC to arrange elections, including pre-election matters,” he added. The appellate court’s ruling confirms INEC’s authority to issue electoral guidelines and set timelines for political activities ahead of the 2027 general election, reinforcing its constitutional mandate as Nigeria’s electoral management body.

Politics

Flood Threat: NIHSA Orders Immediate Evacuation in 17 States

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The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has placed 17 states on medium flood alert, warning of possible localised flooding between July 21 and July 27. The agency urged residents living in flood-prone communities to relocate immediately to safer locations. In its National Flood Advisory (Alert No. NFA-2026-200) released on Tuesday, NIHSA said water levels at key river monitoring stations had risen above warning thresholds, increasing the risk of flooding along major rivers and floodplains. Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHSA, Umar Ibrahim Mohammed, said data from the agency’s hydrological monitoring network showed that river levels at Saminara on the Karam River, Waya Dam Site on the Waya River and Amber on the Amber River had exceeded watch and warning levels. He added that 16 gauging stations across the country were also recording elevated water levels. Mohammed warned that communities located along the affected river channels face a high risk of localised flooding and called on state governments, emergency agencies and residents to take urgent preventive measures. “Our hydrological monitoring network indicates that river stages at critical monitoring stations have exceeded watch and warning thresholds. With 16 gauging stations showing elevated stages, communities along the primary channels face imminent localised flooding. We strongly advise state governments, local authorities and residents on floodplains to act immediately,” he said. The agency identified Bauchi, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue among the states at risk, alongside 11 others. According to the advisory, Bauchi has the highest projected exposure, with 1,841 communities at risk, including 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets. In Edo State, 148 communities, 131 schools, 123 health facilities, four markets, seven religious centres and seven hectares of farmland could be affected. Imo State has 415 vulnerable communities, as well as 423 schools, 198 health facilities, 49 markets, 111 religious centres and 75 hectares of farmland under threat. Plateau State has 205 at-risk communities, 137 schools, 44 health facilities, 16 markets, 81 religious centres and 64 hectares of farmland that could be impacted by flooding. In Kaduna, 168 communities have been identified as vulnerable, while Benue has five communities, eight schools and two health facilities exposed to possible flooding. NIHSA directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), local government authorities and community leaders to begin the immediate evacuation of residents, livestock and valuables from flood-prone areas to designated safe shelters. The agency also advised emergency responders to pre-position relief materials, including food, clean water, medical supplies and first-aid equipment, while urging communities to activate local early-warning systems and maintain regular communication to minimise the impact of potential flooding.

Politics

Atiku’s Lobbyist Presents Alleged Tinubu Forfeiture Documents to Trump, Congress

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A United States-based lobbying firm hired by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has announced that it has begun distributing historical United States Department of Justice (DOJ) records relating to President Bola Tinubu to officials in the administration of President Donald Trump, members of Congress and senior congressional staff. The Washington-based firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., disclosed the development in a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that the documents relate to historical allegations investigated by U.S. authorities involving Tinubu in the late 1980s and early 1990s. According to the firm, it was engaged by Atiku in March 2026 under a 12-month lobbying contract worth $1.2 million to enhance his profile in Washington, facilitate engagement with U.S. policymakers and counter what it described as the Nigerian government’s lobbying efforts. The firm said many U.S. government officials were previously unfamiliar with the historical court records and had now been provided with more than 60 pages of DOJ documents, court filings, affidavits and related federal court decisions. It added that the documents would also be shared with relevant congressional committees for informational and oversight purposes. Among the materials circulated is a document titled, Background and Chronology of the 1993 U.S. Department of Justice Heroin-Proceeds Forfeiture Case and the 2023 FOIA Litigation Concerning Alleged Heroin Trafficking from Nigeria to the United States Involving Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to the chronology, the DOJ alleged that a Nigeria-based heroin trafficking organisation imported heroin into the United States and distributed it through associates operating in Chicago. The document references United States v. Funds in Account No. 263226700 et al., No. 93 C 4483, identifying Bola Tinubu, Adegboyega Mueez Akande and Abiodun Agbele among individuals named in the government’s civil forfeiture proceedings. It states that federal investigators examined the activities of the alleged trafficking organisation between 1988 and 1991 and alleged that proceeds from the operation were deposited into U.S. bank accounts owned or controlled by Tinubu. The chronology also identifies Akande as the alleged leader of the organisation and describes Agbele as an associate who later cooperated with U.S. investigators after his arrest. According to the document, the Department of Justice filed civil forfeiture proceedings in 1993, seeking the forfeiture of funds it alleged were linked to narcotics trafficking or money laundering. The matter was later resolved through a negotiated civil settlement, under which part of the funds was forfeited to the U.S. government. The lobbying firm also highlighted the ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation filed in 2023 by journalist Aaron Greenspan, who sought the release of records relating to the historical investigation. It noted that a U.S. District Court ruled in 2025 that agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), must process certain requested records after finding they could not rely on blanket refusals to confirm or deny their existence. The firm said the FOIA case remains before the courts. Von Batten-Montague-York said the records are being shared with members of both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government as Nigeria remains a strategic U.S. partner and amid reports that President Tinubu is seeking a bilateral meeting with President Trump during the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly. The issues surrounding Tinubu’s 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture case were extensively litigated after Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election. Former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi had argued before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that Tinubu should have been disqualified because of the civil forfeiture proceedings. However, the PEPC dismissed the claims, ruling that the petitioners failed to prove Tinubu had been convicted of any criminal offence in the United States. The court also held that the forfeiture proceedings were civil, not criminal, and found that the evidence presented did not establish that Tinubu submitted false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the matter.

Public Affairs

House of Reps Launches Investigation into Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians

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The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the human and economic losses suffered by Nigerians during repeated xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as part of efforts to facilitate compensation for victims, strengthen diplomatic engagement and improve the protection of Nigerians living abroad. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, during plenary on Tuesday. Presenting the motion, Benson said that despite years of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa, there had never been a comprehensive assessment of the number of casualties, property destroyed and economic losses incurred by victims. He recalled Nigeria’s role in the fight against apartheid, noting that the country made significant diplomatic, financial and political contributions to South Africa’s liberation through international advocacy, scholarships, the Southern African Relief Fund and economic sacrifices by Nigerians. Benson expressed concern that, despite the long-standing relationship between both countries, Nigerians legally residing in South Africa had continued to face recurring xenophobic violence for nearly two decades. He said the attacks had involved killings, mob violence, physical assaults, looting, destruction of businesses and properties, forced displacement and intimidation. According to him, major outbreaks of xenophobic violence were recorded in 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021, each leading to diplomatic tensions, emergency evacuations of Nigerian citizens and renewed commitments by the South African government to prevent future attacks. The lawmaker also raised concerns over what he described as a resurgence of organised anti-foreigner campaigns by groups such as Operation Dudula, saying the threats had forced many Nigerians to abandon their homes, businesses and investments while seeking emergency evacuation. He argued that although previous National Assembly sessions had condemned the attacks and called for diplomatic action, no detailed legislative inquiry had been carried out to determine the actual number of Nigerians killed, injured or displaced, or the total value of losses suffered. Benson said the absence of verified data had weakened Nigeria’s ability to pursue effective diplomatic engagement, seek justice for victims and formulate appropriate policies. Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committees on Integration and Cooperation in Africa and Diaspora, and Foreign Affairs to investigate the casualties, losses and damages suffered by Nigerians during previous and recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The committees were also directed to compile an inventory of properties abandoned by Nigerians as a result of the attacks and recommend diplomatic initiatives, legal measures and bilateral engagements aimed at ensuring accountability for perpetrators, securing compensation for victims where applicable and strengthening the protection of Nigerians living in South Africa. The committees are expected to submit their findings to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

Banking, Economy

CBN Leaves Interest Rate Unchanged at 26.5%

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The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has retained the benchmark Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 26.5 per cent for the second consecutive meeting. CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso announced the decision on Tuesday at the end of the committee’s 306th meeting in Abuja. According to Cardoso, the committee resolved to maintain the MPR at 26.5 per cent. The decision comes after the MPC also held the rate at its previous meeting, following a 50-basis-point reduction announced in February 2026.

Business, Energy

Sahara Group Hosts Asharami Square 3.0 to Advance Africa’s Energy Future

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Sahara Group will convene policymakers, investors, industry leaders, and energy experts for the third edition of Asharami Square, its thought leadership platform focused on advancing discussions on Africa’s energy future. According to a statement by the company, the event, themed “Energising Africa’s Future: Legacy, Impact, and Transformation,” will feature a panel comprising Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Director of the Institute of Continuing Education, University of Lagos; Temitope George, Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC); Adebiyi Olusolape, Associate Editor, Africa, Argus Media; and Kemi Awodein, Managing Director, Investment Banking, Chapel Hill Denham. The event will explore how collaboration among governments, industry, financial institutions, academia, and the media can help unlock investment, strengthen energy infrastructure, and expand access to electricity while supporting Africa’s energy transition. A major highlight of the event will be the unveiling of the judging panel for the newly launched Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship, an initiative designed to promote credible and solutions-focused journalism on Africa’s energy sector. Speaking ahead of the event, Sahara Group’s Head of Corporate Communications, Bethel Obioma, said the platform was created to encourage conversations that translate into practical outcomes. “Africa’s energy future will be shaped by the strength of our partnerships and our ability to turn dialogue into action,” Obioma said. She added that the company remains committed to investing in ideas, partnerships, and platforms that will contribute to a sustainable energy future for the continent. Also speaking, Sahara Group’s Director of Governance and Sustainability, Ejiro Gray, said Africa’s energy transition should be driven by solutions tailored to the continent’s realities. “Africa’s energy transition must be defined by solutions that reflect our unique realities,” Gray said, adding that Asharami Square helps bridge technical expertise and public understanding by promoting evidence-based discussions on energy, sustainability, and development. The programme will open with a keynote address by Sadiq Wanka, Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, who is expected to outline the Federal Government’s policy direction and infrastructure priorities for expanding energy access. A panel discussion will follow, focusing on financing gaps, regulatory reforms, data-driven decision-making, and the role of the media in improving public understanding of Africa’s energy transition. Since its launch in 2024, Asharami Square has served as a platform for dialogue on energy transition and sustainability across Africa. Sahara Group said the introduction of the Energy Reporting Fellowship is intended to support the development of journalists with specialised knowledge of the energy sector.

Sports

Anthony Taylor Retires After 20 Year Officiating Career

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Veteran English referee Anthony Taylor has announced his retirement from professional officiating, bringing to an end a distinguished 20-year career that saw him oversee 831 matches. The 47-year-old Manchester official officiated 668 domestic professional games, including every major domestic cup final in England. Taylor was promoted to the Premier League refereeing panel in 2010 and went on to officiate at four major international tournaments the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups, as well as the UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 championships. In total, he handled 163 international fixtures, with his final match being the FIFA World Cup round of 16 encounter between Portugal and Spain earlier this month. Announcing his retirement on the official England Football website, Taylor described officiating at the highest level as a privilege despite the demands of the role. “Officiating at the elite level has been an immense privilege, but the pressure is intense and the scrutiny is constant,” he said. “The time is now right to step aside and look forward to transitioning to the next chapter of my career. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to my two assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, my refereeing colleagues and everyone connected with the game for all their support over the years. “Most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support throughout the immense sacrifices this career has demanded.”

Public Affairs

Ex-DSS Officer Alleges Abacha Died During Intercourse

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A former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dennis Amachree, has claimed that Nigeria’s late military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, died during an intimate encounter at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Amachree made the claim in his memoir, DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield, where he recounted his account of the events surrounding Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998. According to the retired DSS officer, who served as Assistant Director of Operations and Intelligence at the Lagos DSS Command at the time, Abacha died around 4:05 a.m. while with a female visitor at the Aso Rock Guest House. He alleged that the woman, described as a pharmacist who was in Abuja for a conference, had accompanied her older sister identified as Abacha’s girlfriend to the Presidential Villa earlier that night. Amachree said the older sister later returned to her hotel, leaving the younger woman alone with the late military ruler. He further claimed that during the encounter, the woman noticed Abacha had become unresponsive and found that he had no pulse. According to the account, she quickly left the guest house after informing a soldier on duty that the Head of State had requested a vehicle to take her back to her hotel. The former DSS official said the woman returned to the hotel, informed her sister of what had happened and was subsequently driven to the Abuja airport, where she boarded an early morning flight to Lagos. Amachree alleged that by the time Abacha’s Chief Security Officer, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, was informed of the situation around 5 a.m., the woman had already left Abuja. He said the DSS later traced and questioned the pharmacist in Lagos after receiving instructions from the agency’s headquarters. According to Amachree, the woman maintained during questioning that she had no involvement in Abacha’s death, insisting that he had suddenly collapsed during the encounter. The retired DSS officer said her account supported his conclusion that the late military ruler suffered a cardiac arrest during intercourse, arguing that it contradicted long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding Abacha’s death, including claims involving poisoning or foreign women. Abacha ruled Nigeria from November 1993 until his death in June 1998. His administration remains one of the country’s most controversial military governments, marked by allegations of human rights abuses and political repression. He died less than a month before the death of Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, who was in detention at the time.

Banking, Business

CBN confirms Accountant-General directed opening of PFIPC accounts

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that it opened two domiciliary accounts linked to the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) following a directive from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), but maintained that the accounts were never funded or used. The disclosure was made on Monday by the CBN’s Director of Banking Services, Abdullahi Hamisu, while appearing before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the legal basis, operations and budgetary allocation of the PFIPC, including the N1.3 billion allocated to the council in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Representing CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, Hamisu told the committee that the apex bank received a formal directive dated July 29, 2025, from the Office of the Accountant-General instructing it to open two domiciliary accounts for the Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council. He said one account was denominated in United States dollars while the other was in British pounds sterling, adding that both were opened after the bank completed its standard account-opening procedures. Hamisu, however, stated that the accounts remained dormant throughout their existence and were never funded or used for any financial transactions. Addressing questions from lawmakers on whether the CBN requested evidence of an enabling law establishing the council before opening the accounts, he said the bank acted on the directive from the Office of the Accountant-General. “We don’t ask for an enabling Act. We received a mandate from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation to open the accounts for the council,” Hamisu told the committee. The development comes amid conflicting claims by government institutions over the existence and operations of the PFIPC. On July 1, the Presidency alleged that Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the council, used forged documents to facilitate the opening of a CBN account after allegedly misleading the Office of the Accountant-General. In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency also alleged that police investigations uncovered 34 bank accounts linked to Adeyemi, including nine accounts opened in the names of entities described as fictitious agencies. However, the Office of the Accountant-General has maintained that the PFIPC has no operational account with the CBN. Its Director of Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, said that while an application to open an account was initiated, the process was not completed because the required documentation needed to activate the account was never submitted. The controversy surrounding the PFIPC intensified in June after the Presidency distanced itself from the council, insisting that no such body exists under the administration of President Bola Tinubu despite the council receiving a budgetary allocation in the 2026 Appropriation Act, occupying an office within the Federal Secretariat and reportedly recruiting about 300 staff members. Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, also denied appointing Adeyemi as Director-General of the council. Adeyemi has continued to insist that his appointment was legitimate and has called on President Tinubu to establish an independent panel to investigate the controversy surrounding the PFIPC.

Politics

Boat Tragedy in Jigawa: 40 Feared Dead

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No fewer than 40 women and children are feared dead after a canoe capsized in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State. The Jigawa State Police Command confirmed the incident on Tuesday, stating that one body had been recovered while search and rescue operations were ongoing for the remaining passengers. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the command said emergency responders were continuing efforts to locate those still missing. “One of the bodies was recovered. Efforts to recover the remaining 39 are underway,” the police said. The Director of Planning at the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Muhammad Sanusi, also confirmed the accident, saying the passengers were predominantly female farmers and agricultural labourers travelling by canoe when the incident occurred. Sanusi said the cause of the capsizing had not yet been determined, adding that emergency personnel, local divers and community volunteers had intensified search and rescue operations. “Hands are on deck as combined efforts continue to determine the exact number of those rescued or missing,” he said. He added that authorities were still verifying the number of casualties and survivors as the operation continued. Boat accidents remain a recurring occurrence in several parts of northern Nigeria, where many rural communities rely on rivers and waterways for transportation and farming activities. Experts have attributed such incidents to factors including overloading, poor boat maintenance, adverse weather conditions and the failure of passengers to wear life jackets. Authorities have repeatedly urged boat operators and passengers to comply with water transportation safety regulations to help reduce the frequency of such accidents.