Politics
PDP Hails President Action On Flooding
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended the
President for the firm and reassuring steps the Federal Government has taken to
mitigate the impact of flooding across the states of the federation and
forestall further threat to the nation. The Party has also called on relevant
government agencies and entire Nigerians to brace up for the challenge of food
shortages which the impact of the flooding may likely occasion.
“Flood disasters are a global phenomenon but our peculiar
challenges of development demand deeper insight and capacity which the
President has demonstrated. We therefore commend him for the medium and long
term measures being put in place to first ameliorate the suffering of the
affected Nigerian communities as well as for the steps already being taken to
permanently put under check, the incidence of flooding in future.”
“We note that the Presidential Technical Committee set up by
the President urgently rounded off its interim impact assessment of the flood
ravaged states upon which government energized its agencies to offer immediate
relief. We note also that the President has been in synergy with the Leadership
of the National Assembly and Governors of the affected States in confronting
this menace. We particularly commend the President for releasing the sum of
17.6 billion Naira and for setting up National Committee on Flood Relief and
Rehabilitation to further assist it in raising fund for the ‘post impact
rehabilitation of the affected victims’. It is further reassuring that the
President and his Vice will tour the affected states.” The Party also called on
the members of the committee to justify the confidence reposed in them by the
government.
Rising from its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting
Wednesday, the PDP expressed sympathy for the flood victims and announced
additional plans to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in
bringing relief to the flooded communities. It as well commended individuals,
groups, corporate bodies and the international community for the rescue and
care they offered to the flood victims.
“The National Chairman of our Party, Dr. Bamanga Turkur will
lead the team of our party leaders to the affected states to share in the pains
of fellow Nigerians besides offering additional assistance to them to
complement the efforts of the federal government towards surmounting this
challenge.”
PDP further urged the federal, state and local governments
as well as farmers to take measures to avert imminent food shortages on account
of floods.
“The NWC intend to liaise as matter of overriding importance
with all the relevant agencies of government to work out plans to forestall
possible food shortages arising from this. Food security is cardinal to our
manifesto.”
The Commission disclosed the figure in its weekly update for week 14 of the second phase of the exercise, which ended on Friday, April 17, 2026.
According to the breakdown, 2,259,288 Nigerians completed their registration through the online pre-registration portal, while 1,489,416 finalized their registration physically at designated centres nationwide.
INEC noted that the figures remain preliminary and are subject to further verification and data cleaning processes to ensure accuracy ahead of the consolidation of the national voter register.
With the conclusion of the registration phase, the Commission has now shifted focus to the display of the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections, a statutory stage aimed at strengthening the credibility and integrity of the voters register.
The display exercise is scheduled to hold from April 29 to May 5, 2026, across designated centres nationwide, providing citizens the opportunity to verify their details and raise objections where necessary.
The Commission urged all registered voters from the concluded phase to take advantage of the exercise to confirm the accuracy of their information and assist in identifying ineligible entries, including duplicate registrations, deceased persons, and non-citizens.
INEC explained that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise is being conducted in phases, with the first phase running from August 18 to December 10, 2025, while the second phase commenced on January 5, 2026 and ended on April 17, 2026.
The Commission further stated that the date for the commencement of the third phase will be announced in due course.
Reaffirming its commitment to credible elections, INEC stressed that maintaining a clean and accurate voter register remains central to ensuring free, fair, and transparent electoral processes in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, informed the journalists that the dialogue was sponsored by the European Union, under the auspices of the EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II), Component 4: Support to Media.
According to the veteran media practitioner, the programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the media to promote credible elections through factual, accurate and fair reporting.
He explained that the programme is part of a broader five-year intervention designed to support democratic governance and improve the role of the media in Nigeria’s electoral process, stressing that fact-checking and inclusive reporting are critical responsibilities for journalists, especially during electioneering.
He described the media as a central role agent with regard to upholding transparency and accountability in the democratic process.
A resource person and Director of Journalism Clinic, Lagos, Mr Taiwo Obe, enjoined journalists to embrace the evolving technology so that they would not be in the backwaters in the practice of the profession.
He advised journalists not to downplay Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their bid to remain relevant in the media environment by being abreast of the changing patterns of news consumption.
The journalism teacher explained that with digital transformation of the media industry, it had become imperative for journalists to constantly upgrade and update their skills, stressing the fundamental place of attitude and self-development and underscored the dynamic nature of media consumption in the digital age, thereby compelling journalists to embrace tools and platforms, but without much reliance on AI.
In his lecture, a Professor of Mass Communication at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Adebola Aderibigbe, advised journalists in Ekiti State to ensure that coverage of the upcoming governorship poll is issue-based rather than dwelling on personalities.
He added that sensationalism should not occupy the front-burner of any discussions concerning the 2026 election, admonishing that sustenance of democracy is anchored on responsible journalism.
”Journalists must prioritise accuracy, fairness and balance in their reports by verifying facts and giving all parties involved in political matters the opportunity to present their views”, he said.
According to the university don, the election will not be defined by personalities, but by issues. ”Let issues be the pivotal ring upon which every discussion should be made. Sensationalisation of issues should not be the bedrock of discussions in the 2026 election”, he added.
“Do not hear from Party A without hearing from Party B, otherwise the report will be skewed to one side and once issues of elections are skewed, problems will naturally arise”, he stressed.