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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the resumption of the third phase of the Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise in Ondo State.

According to a statement issued by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, the exercise commenced on Monday, May 11, 2026, and is being conducted nationwide through both online pre-registration and physical, in-person registration.

According to the statement, “the third phase would adopt the IVED rotation framework for the first 40 days of the exercise. The final five days would take place across all the 18 Local Government Area offices of the commission in the state.”

The Commission disclosed that the exercise, which is the final phase of the registration process, is scheduled to conclude on July 10, 2026, in line with its approved timetable.

The statement urged “eligible citizens who are yet to register to take advantage of the opportunity within the stipulated period.”

It also encouraged electorates seeking to update their voter information or transfer their registration details to participate in the exercise.

The commission noted that individuals with missing or defaced Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, could also use the exercise to request replacements.

Agboke also assured residents of adequate arrangements to ensure a smooth and inclusive process.

“INEC in Ondo State is poised to ensure robust public engagement with all the activities of the commission to enhance better participation and awareness,” the statement said.

INEC resumes voter registration exercise in Ondo

The women of Umuariaga community in Ikwuano local government area of Abia State have alleged that the State government is planning to use their farm land for a smart city housing estate, without their knowledge and consent.

The women, who came to the Abia State Government House, Umuahia, in protest, said that the proposed take over of their land would cause hunger in their families as there would be no place for them to cultivate their crops.

The leader of the protesters, Mrs Glory Orji, who spoke on behalf of others, alleged that some individuals who claimed to be agents of Abia State government have been  telling  Umuariaga people that the flat  lands in the community have been earmarked for a proposed government housing estate.

She lamented that the news about the unauthorized takeover of the lands had created tension in the entire Umuariaga community.

The women, who demanded  clarification from the Abia  State government on the project, said it would douse the tension in their villages.

“This is the only flat land we have. If they collect it from us, what will remain for our children?

“If they collect it from us, where are we going to farm and where are we going to feed our families from?” Mrs Orji asked.

The women, who were singing and raising their placards, also lamented that relevant government agencies have not done enough to stop the persistent destruction of their crops by cattle belonging to herdsmen.

They further appealed to Governor Alex Otti to protect indigenous land owners from being stripped of their lands without their consent.

Addressing the women on behalf of the State government, Abia State Commissioner for Finance, Uwaoma Ukandu promised to inform Governor Otti about their complaints.

Ukandu, who appealed to the women to remain peaceful, assured them that the issues they raised  would be investigated and addressed.

Don’t use our farmland to build housing estate – Abia community women beg Gov Otti 

THERE was drama on Sunday as the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, appeared before the screening committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Whereas other serving governors of the APC were screened on Saturday, where the national chairman of the party, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, took direct charge of the process. Fubara’s screening was delayed till […]

The post Drama as Fubara appears before APC screening panel appeared first on Tribune Online.

NECA expresses concern over new refinery deal The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has been urged to stop committing the resources of the state to the rehabilitation of the comatose nation’s refineries. The advice by the industry’s experts was triggered by last week’s announcement by the NNPCL, informing Nigerians about its new Memorandum of […]

The post NNPCL told to stop committing state resources to refineries’ rehabilitation appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Taraba State Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, has charged principals, invigilators and supervisors across the state to ensure a malpractice-free conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

Dr. Godwin gave the charge on the weekend during the WAEC 2026 sensitization meeting organised for principals, invigilators and supervisors from Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils. The meeting was held on Saturday at the Government Technical and Training School, Jalingo.

Speaking, the commissioner stressed the importance of professionalism, discipline and integrity in the administration of the examination. She noted that the Taraba State Government, under Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, remains committed to promoting quality education and restoring public confidence in the examination system.

She warned examination officials and school administrators against all forms of examination malpractice and urged them to strictly comply with WAEC rules and guidelines.

“Taraba State must continue to stand out in academic excellence through hard work and credibility. We must collectively ensure zero malpractice during the conduct of WAEC examinations,” she stated.

On his part, the WAEC Branch Controller in the state commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his continued support for the education sector.

According to him, Governor Kefas is the first governor in the state to clear all 2026 WAEC-related fees, a move he said had eased the burden on parents and boosted students’ participation in external examinations.

The branch controller also praised the governor for donating a utility van to the WAEC office and for providing other forms of support aimed at improving the operations of the examination body in the state.

The sensitization meeting was observed to have attracted principals, invigilators and supervisors from secondary schools across Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils.

 Commissioner urges zero malpractice in WAEC examination

Former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan, is seeking a return to the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections after regaining his civil and political rights following conviction on bribery charges.

Lawan, who previously represented Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano State, has successfully scaled the screening process of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and emerged as the preferred candidate of party stakeholders from Bagwai and Shanono Local Government Areas.

His renewed political ambition comes after a legal battle that lasted more than a decade over his involvement in the 2012 fuel subsidy bribery scandal.

Lawan had chaired the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the multi-billion-naira fuel subsidy regime at the time. He was accused of demanding a $3 million bribe from billionaire businessman Femi Otedola to remove Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited from the list of firms indicted by the committee over alleged fuel subsidy fraud.

The former lawmaker was later convicted in the bribery case and served a prison sentence before receiving presidential pardon and clemency in October 2025 after completing his five-year jail term in 2024.

After years in prison, Farouk Lawan eyes return to Reps 

Point-of-Sale (POS) transactions are projected to surge to N8.96 trillion by the end of May 2026, rebounding from a dip in April, as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continues its aggressive push toward a cashless economy. According to payment system data, POS transactions stood at N7.70 trillion in March 2026 before declining by 1.82 […]

The post PoS transactions set to hit N8.96 trn in May as CBN intensifies cashless drive appeared first on Tribune Online.

A part-time student of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has been shot dead in his vehicle near the main entrance of the institution’s Ugbowo campus.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday under circumstances that have yet to be fully clarified.

A video circulating online showed the aftermath of the attack. 

Reports claimed the victim had just concluded his semester examinations before the shooting, although this has not been officially confirmed.

Reacting to the development, the management of the University of Benin distanced members of the institution from the incident, suggesting that the killing may be connected to suspected cult-related activities outside the university environment.

The university expressed sadness over the incident and appealed to students and staff to remain calm and security conscious while continuing their academic activities peacefully.

The institution also assured the university community of its commitment to maintaining safety within the campus environment.

As of the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the killing.

UNIBEN part-time student shot dead near campus gate

A new China-Nigeria partnership aimed at accelerating electric vehicle production is drawing attention as Nigeria intensifies efforts to expand local manufacturing capacity and clean transportation infrastructure.

Launch Design Shanghai and Hybrid Motors Nigeria have signed a strategic cooperation agreement focused on electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly operations in Lagos and Abuja.

The partnership is expected to support technology transfer, local workforce training, and the gradual development of Nigeria’s electric vehicle supply chain.

The agreement marks a major milestone for Nigeria’s homegrown electric vehicle brand, “Acely,” combining local assembly with advanced automotive engineering expertise.

Under the agreement, the two firms will establish electric vehicle manufacturing facilities in Lagos and Abuja to accelerate the production of Acely, Hybrid Motors Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle brand designed specifically for Nigerian roads and consumers.

The signing ceremony, held in Shanghai, brought together key stakeholders from both companies, who described the collaboration as a transformative step for Nigeria’s automotive sector through innovation, local manufacturing, and sustainable mobility solutions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Launch Design, Mr. Wang Xun, and Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Motors Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Arogundade, highlighted the significance of the partnership and their shared vision for the future of automotive manufacturing in Africa.

Arogundade said the Acely brand represents the convergence of local market knowledge and world-class automotive engineering.

“This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a commitment to building Nigeria’s automotive future,” he said.

“With Acely, we are proving that world-class vehicles can be conceived, designed, and assembled right here in Nigeria, by Nigerians, for Nigerians. Our collaboration with Launch Design brings world-class engineering expertise directly into our operations, ensuring that Acely meets the highest international standards while remaining authentically Nigerian.”

Wang Xun said Launch Design was proud to partner with Hybrid Motors Nigeria in what he described as a transformative venture.

“Our turnkey engineering capabilities, combined with Mr. Arogundade’s leadership and Hybrid Motors’ deep understanding of the Nigerian market, create a powerful formula for success. Together, we are not just building vehicles, we are building an industry,” he said.

Launch Design Shanghai is expected to provide comprehensive engineering solutions covering vehicle architecture, manufacturing process engineering, design optimization, and quality assurance systems.

The partnership will establish manufacturing operations across two locations with a projected combined annual production capacity of 70,000 units at full maturity.

The Lagos facility, located along the Lekki-Epe axis, will serve as the primary production and assembly hub with an annual capacity of 50,000 units.

Positioned close to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the plant is expected to support exports across Southern Nigeria and West African markets including Ghana, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.

The Abuja facility, situated within the Free Zone Business Area of Centenary Economic City, will operate as a secondary manufacturing and technology centre with a projected annual capacity of 20,000 units.

The plant is expected to serve Northern Nigeria and the wider Sahel region while benefiting from tax incentives and access to northern trade corridors.

The companies said the dual-facility strategy would help reduce logistics costs, improve operational efficiency and create employment opportunities across multiple regions of the country.

The partnership aligns with Nigeria’s National Automotive Industry Development Plan and the country’s broader transition toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation systems.

Arogundade described the Shanghai signing ceremony as a defining moment for both companies and Nigeria’s automotive industry.

“With facilities in Lagos and Abuja serving distinct but complementary markets across Nigeria and the wider region, we are laying the foundation for a new era of mobility — one that is locally rooted, globally competitive, and sustainably driven,” he said.

Hybrid Motors, Launch Design Seal Deal For EV Plants In Nigeria is first published on The Whistler Newspaper