Author: Tribune Online

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the 2027 presidential election will mark his final attempt at the presidency. Atiku made the declaration during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Wednesday, noting that his long-standing ambition to lead Nigeria would end with the next election cycle. “The 2027 election will be my last […]

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, have reiterated the critical role of young people in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.

This is as stakeholders converged in Abuja for a civic engagement programme aimed at enhancing youth participation in the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise.

The event, a Community Development Service, CDS, project initiated by a serving National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member with the Commission, Magaji Ndagi, was held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja.

It drew attendance from senior management staff of the Commission, the NYSC, representatives of government institutions, corps members, and selected students from secondary schools across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Declaring the event open, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, IVEC, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, commended the initiative, describing it as a demonstration of youth-driven commitment to national development.

“I first met the corps member a few months ago when he came to my office to share his idea on mobilising young people for participation in the CVR exercise. He struck me as a serious young man full of initiative,” he said.

Haruna emphasised that a credible voters’ register remains the foundation of free, fair and credible elections, noting that the ongoing CVR exercise is being implemented in phases in line with legal provisions. He disclosed that as of April 2026, over 3.7 million Nigerians had registered, with youths accounting for more than 68 per cent of new registrants.

“Clearly, Nigeria’s youths dominate the country’s demography. Therefore, for our democracy to have any meaningful impact, it is necessary to engage with them by every reasonable means possible,” he stated.

The INEC chairman further highlighted the longstanding partnership between INEC and the NYSC, noting that corps members have continued to play a central role in the conduct of elections since 2011.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General O. O Nafiu, represented by Mrs Anyaogu Maureen of the NYSC Secretariat, Abuja, expressed pride in the convener, noting that he represents the ideal Nigerian youth committed to nation-building.

He urged young people, who constitute the largest voting population, to take advantage of the ongoing CVR exercise by registering and participating in elections.

“Votes do count, and exercising your civic right is taking charge of the future of this country,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Obinna Ebirim, who represented the minister, described the initiative as timely and aligned with national priorities on youth inclusion.

“Democracy does not thrive on silence. It flourishes when citizens actively participate in shaping the leadership and direction of their country,” he said.

He urged young Nigerians to move beyond online activism and take concrete steps by registering and participating in elections.

“Your vote is your voice. Your registration is your right. Your participation is your power,” he added.

On her part, the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, represented by the Director, Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs Dorothy Bello, reiterated INEC’s commitment to inclusive electoral processes. She noted that Continuous Voter Registration serves as a gateway to civic participation and empowers citizens, particularly young people, to influence governance.

“The youth demographic plays a crucial role in the electoral process. However, many remain unregistered or disengaged. This is not just a missed opportunity but a risk to our democracy,” she said.

She identified sustained civic education, improved access to registration centres, and the fight against misinformation as key strategies to boosting youth engagement in the CVR process.

Earlier in his welcome address, the convener of the programme, Magaji Ndagi, described the initiative as a call to action for Nigerian youths to take ownership of their future through active participation in the democratic process.

“Continuous Voter Registration is more than just a process of getting a voter’s card. It is about giving yourself a voice and taking responsibility for the leadership and direction of our country,” he said.

He urged young people to move from apathy to action, stressing that democracy is a continuous process that requires sustained participation.

The high point of the event was the unveiling of a magazine by the convener, aimed at further promoting awareness and deepening youth engagement in electoral processes.

The programme also featured lectures by senior officials of the Commission and an interactive session, providing participants with deeper insights into the CVR process and the importance of active citizenship.

INEC, NYSC harp on role of young Nigerians in strengthening democracy

Fifty-six inmates from correctional centres across the country are scheduled to graduate at the 15th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN.

NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Uduma, who revealed this during a pre-convocation news conference in Abuja, described the initiative as a deliberate policy focused on inclusion, second chances, and fostering meaningful national transformation through education.

The convocation, scheduled for April 18, would be conducted across NOUN’s multiple study centres nationwide.

“The inmates are among the 24,575 students graduating at the ceremony, reflecting the university’s broad reach and inclusive approach to learning, which ensures that education remains accessible to diverse groups across Nigeria,” he said.

Uduma said the decision to educate persons behind bars reflected NOUN’s philosophy that “no human being is beyond redemption.”

He noted that access to knowledge remained a fundamental right regardless of circumstance.

Uduma said the university’s Open and Distance Learning (ODL) model extends academic programmes into correctional facilities, removing barriers of location and social status.

According to him, the inmates’ participation in the convocation is not symbolic but a reflection of real academic work and personal transformation.

“For us, it is not just about awarding certificates; it is about restoring dignity, rebuilding identity and reaffirming humanity.

“The inclusion of inmates aligns with NOUN’s broader mandate of widening access to education and ensuring that no segment of society is excluded.

“The initiative demonstrates how education can serve as a tool for rehabilitation and reintegration, offering inmates a pathway to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

“The success of inmates in the programme underscores the transformative power of knowledge and the need for sustained investment in inclusive education,” he said.

Uduma described the correctional programmes as “a quiet revolution” in Nigeria’s education sector, emphasising that learning was no longer confined to physical classrooms.

The vice-chancellor said all NOUN graduates were expected to participate in the convocation irrespective of their location.

The VC reiterated that certificates would be issued immediately after the ceremony, describing it as a shift towards efficiency and student-focused service delivery.

Uduma also called for continued support from stakeholders, particularly the media, in amplifying the impact of initiatives that promote access to education.

56 prison inmates to graduate from National Open University across Nigeria

A new intranasal therapeutic vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), developed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, has been shown in mice to clear bacteria more quickly, reduce lung inflammation, and prevent disease relapse when combined with first-line TB drug therapy. The experimental vaccine, delivered through the nose, targets one of tuberculosis’s most persistent defenses: the bacteria’s […]

The Kogi State Police Command has urged the organisers and participants of a planned protest in Lokoja to identify themselves and coordinate with the Command ahead of the scheduled demonstration on April 27. In a press release issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Saliu, the police stated that they have […]

Real Madrid’s midfielder, Jude Bellingham, has admitted that it’s “difficult” to play with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.

Bellingham pointed out that both Mbappe and Vinicius like to operate in the same areas of the field.

However, he insisted that Los Blancos is capable of winning together ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

Mbappe and Vinicius started the first leg against Bayern, while Bellingham came on as a substitute in the second half.

“At times, it can be difficult with two naturally left-sided players [Mbappé and Vini],” Bellingham said.

“It can be difficult when we’re all on the same side.

“Arbeloa’s found a balance with me on the other side a bit more. We’re fluid, we have freedom to move around, at times that can disorganise a bit, but with both of them, you have to trust in their ability… When things are right, hopefully like tomorrow. I’ve seen it before.”

UCL: ‘It’s difficult to play with Vinicius and Mbappe’ – Bellingham

Prominent chieftains and leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State have declared that they will not allow external influence to destablise the state.

The PDP leaders also disclosed that they will not allow anyone to cause division between Governor Seyi Makinde and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adebowale Ogundoyin.

The PDP chieftains made these declarations in a communique issued at the end of their meeting on Wednesday.

DAILY POST reports that Ogundoyin represents Ibarapa East State Constituency in the House of Assembly.

Rumour surfaced on Tuesday about an alleged attempt to impeach Makinde by the State House of Assembly under the leadership of Ogundoyin.

The kinsmen of the Speaker, while reacting to the development, said the rumour was aimed at causing division between the governor and the Speaker.

The PDP chieftains at the end of the meeting chaired by Adewuyi Ojoawo, condemned what they described as attempts by external forces to create disaffection in the state.

They vowed not to allow any external influence to disrupt the existing harmony between the executive and legislative arms of government.

“The Forum strongly condemns any attempt by external forces to destabilise the state or disrupt the harmony currently existing between the executive and legislative arms of government,” a communique issued by the Ibarapa PDP leaders said.

Alleged Makinde impeachment plot: Kinsmen exonerate Speaker, blame external forces

The Enugu State Government has began free malaria testing and treatment in no fewer than 527 health facilities across the 17 Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, in Enugu on Wednesday, said that the facilities were in both public and private health facilities in the state.

He noted that facilities offering the free testing and treatment malaria included: Primary Healthcare Centres, General and Cottage hospitals as well as some selected private and public tertiary hospitals.

According to him, the state government wants to drastically reduce the prevalence and incidences of malaria among residents of the state.

“The ongoing statewide Enugu State Ministry of Health Malaria Elimination Project, which was envisioned and embarked upon by Gov. Peter Mbah, is meant to touch lives and strengthen health of residents.

“The state government, with support from its health partners, has made available free malaria test consumables and drugs to many health facilities including public and private hospitals in the state.

“The residents should avail themselves of this health gesture by visiting health facilities close to them and play their role in helping in eliminating malaria and its health and financial burden out of the state,” he said.

The commissioner advised doctors and health workers to always do a malaria test before treatment as “not all fever is malaria”.

The commissioner said that the project had been running for over a year now, and it is being scaled up by the state government.

The impactful project has reduced the prevalence of malaria in the state to 9.9 per cent according to a recent four-year gap malaria survey data.

Enugu Begins Free Malaria Treatment In 527 Health Facilities is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council for the Ekiti State governorship election has outlined a performance-driven strategy for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s re-election bid, pledging an issue-based campaign anchored on the administration’s achievements ahead of the June 20 poll. The Director-General of the BAO 2026 Campaign Organisation, Senator Cyril Fasuyi, disclosed this on Wednesday while […]

The Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Lukman Adeleye, on Wednesday said Governor Dapo Abiodun’s record of achievements and politics of inclusiveness influenced the recent defection of six Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

DAILY POST reports that Adeleye, representing Odogbolu constituency and five other lawmakers recently defected to the APC.

The move has made the Ogun Assembly a one-party legislature.

Adeleye on Wednesday was officially received into the APC fold at his Ibegun ward in Odogbolu LGA.

Addressing supporters, Adeleye said the decision to defect was due to internal crisis in the PDP which had “increasingly hindered the effective and adequate political engagements”.

Adeleye used the occasion to declare his intention to seek a second term in office.

He said, “I have been part of the achievements of this current government led by governor Dapo Abiodun. Those of us who are in the Minority Caucus were thrilled by the achievements and we feel that the only way we can further partner with him is to align with him at the ruling party.

“So, Governor Dapo Abiodun has really influenced us in this our decision.”

The lawmaker pledged to build on his achievements and continue delivering the dividends of democracy to his constituents, insisting that his decision to seek re-election was driven by the need to consolidate on ongoing projects and expand development efforts across Odogbolu State Constituency.

“I believe I have garnered the necessary experience within my first term to do even more for our people,” he added.

Addressing concerns about his former position as Minority Leader, Adeleye emphasized that service to the people outweighs political titles.

“It is not about position; it is about the people. What is the essence of holding a position without tangible results? I have done so much for my people even while in opposition, and I believe being in the ruling party will enable me to do more to deliver the dividends of democracy.”

Also speaking, the APC Chairman in Odogbolu Local Government, Akogun Idowu, expressed satisfaction with Adeleye’s defection to the ruling party, describing him as a responsive and people-oriented leader.

Similarly, the Chairman of Odogbolu Local Government, Babatunde Diya, represented by the Vice Chairman, Olushola Adeyinka, welcomed Adeleye to the APC and commended his performance.

He urged constituents to support his re-election.

Ogun Assembly: Abiodun influenced PDP lawmakers’ defection to APC – Minority Leader