Politics
INEC Relocates Electoral Institute To Delta State
The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) is to relocate its Electoral Institute, Abuja, to Oghara,
Delta, in 2013 to run a full certificate course, INEC National Commissioner,
has said.
INEC National Commissioner, Mr Ishmael
Igbaniwho said this in Abuja in an interview with newsmen added that that was
aimed at professionalising election administration.
“The Oghara resuscitation is part of
the ongoing reform at INEC for it to respond positively to the growth of
democracy in the country and capacity building.
“By early 2013, it will become a
full institute specifically for training and research.”
Igbani said the institute had been
abandoned for more than four years, but noted that when in full progress it
would attract visiting professors from within and outside the country on
sabbatical.
He said the institute would be under
the administration of a director general and other board members as against the
present board of six national commissioners one for each geopolitical zone.
“As the Institute is being
reorganised at the appropriate time advertisement will be placed in the
national dailies for the major positions.”
Igbani stated that the institute was
affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University,
Zaria, and University of Ibadan for postgraduate and diploma courses for INEC
staff would also come under review.
He said the institute had done a lot
in the areas of training and research into electoral processes with series of
publications to back their efforts up.
“At every election be it general, by
and re-run elections the institute trains various categories of participants,
as am speaking with you now the institute is busy conducting training for those
for the forthcoming Ondo election and the by-election in Plateau.
“The Institute is doing more than
the expectation of most Nigerians, it is so unfortunate that most of their
activities are not made public.
“Voter education is not the duty of
the institute because there is a department responsible for it in INEC and it
was living up to expectation with sensitisation across the country on the
importance of the exercise.
The Tide’s source recalls that the Institute was established in
2006 by Prof. Maurice Iwu former INEC Chairman.
Politics
Alleged Coup: Protests Rock N’Assembly As Detained Officers’ Children, Wives Demand Justice
Scores of children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly, demanding a speedy trial and the release of the accused officials.
The protesters who gathered at the entrance of the National Assembly complex, moved in a slow procession while clutching placards with inscriptions such as “Don’t Kill Our Daddies,” “Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” and “Six Months of Torture: Enough Is Enough.”
Amid tears and trembling voices, the children appealed for justice and access to their detained fathers, many of whom they said they had not seen for months.
The appeal was made during a press briefing in Abuja attended by no fewer than 20 wives and several children of the detained officers, including a two-month-old baby.
The families were accompanied by human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju and activist Omoyele Sowore.
At the briefing, the families lamented that the officers had been held for over 160 days without trial or contact with their relatives, describing the situation as a violation of their fundamental rights.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Memuna Bashiru said the prolonged detention had thrown their households into uncertainty and emotional distress, noting that while allegations had been widely publicised, families remained in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.
The arrest of the indicted officers was first announced on October 4, 2025, by the then Director of Defense Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, who disclosed that 16 officers were taken into custody for alleged breaches of military regulations and acts of indiscipline.
However, an interim investigation later suggested the existence of a clandestine network of officers, allegedly coordinated by a senior Army officer, which had begun preliminary planning for a coup.
According to the report, the alleged plot involved surveillance of key national assets, including the Presidential Villa, Armed Forces Complex, Niger Barracks in Abuja, and major international airports, with October 25, 2025, cited as the planned date for the operation.
Those reportedly in custody include Brig Gen M. A. Sadiq, Col M. A. Maaji, Lt Col S. Bappah, Lt Col A. A. Hayatu, Lt Col P. Dangnap, Lt Col M. Almakura, Maj A. J. Ibrahim, Maj M. M. Jiddah, Maj M. A. Usman, Maj D. Yusuf, Capt I. Bello, Capt A. A. Yusuf, Lt S. S. Felix, Lt Cdr D. B. Abdullahi, Sqn Ldr S. B. Adamu and Maj I. Dauda.
The alleged plot, according to findings, targeted senior government officials, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, said the exercise would take place in all wards and designated centres nationwide.
He called on existing members to update their records, while encouraging new entrants to join the party through the digital platform.
“As the electronic membership registration exercise resumes in all wards and designated locations nationwide, we urge existing members to validate their membership while new members are encouraged to register and join the progressive family,” Mr Morka said.
According to him, eligibility for registration is limited to individuals aged 18 and above who possess a valid National Identification Number (NIN).
The party said the initiative is part of efforts to modernise its operations by transitioning to a digital database that would enhance record accuracy and accessibility.
Mr Morka noted that the e-registration would “digitise the party’s membership register, ensure the integrity of records, and enhance efficient access to membership data for planning and management decisions.”
He added that the move is also aimed at promoting internal democracy within the party and strengthening its commitment to democratic innovation.
The APC had previously introduced electronic registration as part of broader reforms to streamline its membership system and improve organisational efficiency.
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