Politics

2027: IPC URGES ISSUES-BASED ELECTION REPORTING, WARNS AGAINST MISINFORMATION

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1 minute ago

October 19, 2026

The International Press Centre (IPC) has urged journalists, editors and media publishers to prioritise fact-checking, accountability journalism and public-interest reporting ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that misinformation, sensationalism and unverified political claims could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

The Centre also cautioned Nigerians against misusing the Permanent Voter Card (PVC), stressing that the document is primarily an electoral instrument for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote, rather than merely an identification card.

The Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, made the call during a two-day engagement with members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), editors and media publishers in Akure, Ondo State. He was represented at the programme by the Centre’s Programme Manager, Mrs Stella Nwofia.

The engagement was organised under Component Four, Support to Media, of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase III programme to strengthen journalists’ capacity for accurate, balanced, credible and inclusive election coverage.

Mr Arogundade said election reporting should move beyond political campaigns, rallies, party defections and candidates’ public appearances to examine policies and commitments that directly affect citizens’ welfare.

He urged journalists to scrutinise political manifestos, interrogate campaign promises and hold candidates and political parties accountable for their commitments to the electorate.

He identified the economy, education, healthcare, security, employment and infrastructure as critical areas that should receive greater attention in election coverage, noting that voters needed reliable information to assess candidates and make informed choices.

The IPC Executive Director also called for more inclusive reporting that would give women, young people, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups a stronger voice in the electoral process.

He warned that sensational reporting, unverified claims and the deliberate spread of misinformation and disinformation could deepen political divisions, erode public confidence and weaken democratic institutions.

According to him, journalists must strengthen their verification procedures, cross-check information before publication and exercise caution when reporting politically sensitive issues.

He maintained that accuracy and credibility must take precedence over the pressure to break news, describing fact-checking as indispensable to responsible journalism, particularly during election periods.

On electoral participation, the centre stressed the need for greater public understanding of voting procedures and the purpose of the PVC to ensure that citizens appreciate its role in exercising their voting rights.

Politics

C’River Lawmakers Threaten To Withdraw Support For Otu’s Re-election

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1 minute ago

October 19, 2026

The Tide

Eleven aggrieved members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have expressed reservations about supporting Governor Bassey Otu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the forthcoming elections following their exclusion from the party’s ticket arrangements.

The lawmakers, however, reaffirmed their support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.

They stated their position on Saturday after returning from Abuja, where they visited the national office of the Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria movement and met with its National Director of Strategic Deployment and Implementation, Hon. Innocent Egede.

Led by the House Majority Leader, Francis Asuquo, the lawmakers expressed displeasure over their exclusion from the APC’s re-election arrangements, arguing that they should have been given the opportunity to seek fresh mandates.

While some were seeking a third term, others were pursuing second-term tickets.

They reportedly questioned why they should be denied re-election tickets while Governor Otu was seeking a second term in office.

Hon. Egede, who advocates the re-election of President Tinubu and Governor Otu, appealed to the lawmakers to reconsider their position and support all APC candidates in the state.

He warned that internal divisions could weaken the party’s electoral prospects and affect President Tinubu’s performance in Cross River State.

Hon. Egede said the movement was targeting 600,000 votes for President Tinubu in the state, stressing the need for party unity and coordinated grassroots mobilisation.

He subsequently led the delegation to meet the movement’s Director-General, Hon. Bala Ahmed, who also urged the lawmakers to resolve their differences and align with the APC’s electoral objectives.

Hon. Ahmed pledged to integrate the lawmakers into the movement’s national operational structure, subject to approval by Barr. Seyi Tinubu, its chief founder.

The other lawmakers in the delegation were Deputy Leader, Hon. Davies Etta (Abi); Hon. Egbe Abeng Egbe (Obubra II); Hon. Ovat Dickson Agbor (Obubra I); Hon. Ashakia Puis Ashaks (Obanliku); Hon. Victor Nsa (Calabar South II); Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey (Akpabuyo); Hon. Eyo Bassey (Bakassi); Hon. Okon Nyong Ewona (Akamkpa I); Hon. Mercy Akpama (Yakurr II); and Hon. Kingsley Ntui (Etung).

Politics

2027: BAYELSA SDP ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES PROMISE PEOPLE -CENTERED REPRESENTATION

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1 minute ago

October 19, 2026

The Tide

House of Assembly Candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), for Ogbia State Constituencies have expressed confidence of achieving victory at the polls because of their capacity to mobilize grassroots support and the goodwill they enjoy across their Constituencies.

The candidates, Pst. Kobhaman Obaguo for Ogbia Constituency two, his Constituency One counterpart, Chief Michael Gilbert and Hon. Man Otiotio Amakuro for Constituency three stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after consultations with stakeholders across their Constituencies.

The trio highlighted their experiences and promised continuous consultations, saying it was right time the Ogbia Local Government Area got it right by fielding competent candidates for the State Assembly election.

According to the aspiring legislators, their candidatures were a long time dream which became a reality in the forthcoming polls, saying they have a divine mandate to vie for the legislative positions.

Speaking on zoning among the electoral wards of the three Constituencies, the trio, who emphasized competence, also said all political arithmetics surrounding zoning were in their favour as wards two, nine and 13 of the three Ogbia State Constituencies, which they noted were their political delineations, had been marginalized in terms of representation at the State legislature.

“I’m from ward two of Ogbia Constituency two. The incumbent Assembly member is also from ward two, but our voice as a Constituency has not been heard in the current Assembly. It’s as though we don’t have a representative. And that’s what I’m coming to change with effective representation”, Pastor Obaguo said.

Speaking on his relationship with stakeholders from across party lines in the Constituency, especially the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Pastor Obaguo described the latter as a man who believes in competency and capacity in his dealings with people.

He said the NDDC boss believes in credibility and performance and would therefore, not allow party differences influence the outcome of the elections in favour of any incompetent candidate.

“I’m from Onuebum Community and partly from Ayakoro too. The incumbent Assembly member and APC candidate is also from Onuebum and Ayakoro. And Ayakoro community is home town of the MD/CEO of the NDDC.

“I don’t see him winning me in the two communities where both of us come from. For me, there’s never been anytime there are community activities in Ayakoro that I’ve not played my role. My candidacy is a divine one, and I’ve been in politics for years and have also worked for many candidates in the past.

“It was due to poor performance that the current Assembly member was elected in 2023 then from an opposition party (the APC) to replace the then incumbent. Currently, it’s exactly the same thing that’s playing out. It’s the communities that make up the Constituency that are calling on me to contest for the Assembly seat in this coming elections. And by God’s grace, we’ll win”, he added.

On his part, the Constituency one candidate, Chief Gilbert, said he is from Ward 13 and that his ward was the pioneer occupant of the Assembly seat in 1999.

He however, noted that from 1999-2003, the ward produced two Assembly members, each serving only about one year and half, respectively.

He emphasized that his ward had been marginalized in the elective position, while others had either had a full four year single term or more.

“Since 2003 till date, while other wards have been producing Assembly members for either one full four year single term or two tenures, ward 13 has been political marginalized in the Assembly representation.

“I’m coming to correct these errors and bring better representation to the entire Constituency.

“I don’t see the APC or any other candidate winning me in my ward or my community. They may win in their own communities and wards, but in my ward which has the highest voting strength, I’ll win, and I’ll win in the entire Constituency”, he said.

Chief Gilbert asserted that he had the required experience that would make him a better legislator, if elected.

“I would make a big difference when elected. I’ve been a community leader. I’ve also served in other political executive positions. I’ve all what it takes to be a better legislator when elected and I want to promise effective representation when elected come 2027”, he added.

While promising empowerment opportunities for his Constituents if elected, the Constituency three SDP Candidate, Hon. Otiotio, said he had been a grassroots politician, former Leader of the Legislative Arm of the Ogbia Local Government Area and a mobilizer.

He stated that he would provide empowerment grants for businesses for his constituents as well as support initiatives aimed at making the Constituency better, if elected.

“I’ll win the forthcoming election and empower my constituents. For those who are in small and medium scale enterprises, I believe I’m the best candidate for them.

“I’ve plans to support my constituents with grants and work for the provision of infrastructural projects in the Constituency”, he said.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Politics

2027: THERE MAY BE CONSEQUENCES FOR ELECTORAL OFFENSES, ELECTIONS OBSERVER WARNS RIVERS POLITICIANS

Published

1 minute ago

October 19, 2026

The Tide

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, an international election observer, Dr Joseph Ekong, has warned that Rivers State may face dire consequences if the provisions of the Electoral Act are violated by political actors in the state.

This, according to Dr Ekong, is because the international and donor communities are beaming their searchlight on the state.

Dr Ekong, who spoke during a radio interview programme in Port Harcourt, also hinted that the donor communities were also withdrawing funding for election monitoring in the state.

“I want all the political actors to know that the international and donor communities, they are beaming their searchlight on Rivers State here and there might be consequences, dire consequences, for the violation of any section or provisions of the Electoral Act. They should just note that”, he said

Dr Ekong also condemned the spate of destruction of campaign billboards across the state, describing it as a recipe for violence.

He said security, which is a frontline issue, should be the concern of every Rivers person.

According to the international observer, it behoves on the appropriate authority to ensure security, especially in this electioneering campaign period.

“I think the stakeholders that are supposed to ensure election security have not been performing optimally based on their constitutional responsibility.

“The security agencies, I don’t think they are doing very well.They need to step up in ensuring adequate security during the electioneering period and, again, INEC cannot do so much in terms of elections security”, he said.

Dr Ekong said the agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of providing security must be up and doing.

In his words: “The agencies that are saddled with the constitutional responsibility of providing election security are the security agencies led by the police force. (Because) when it comes to election security, the police is the driving agency that coordinates other security agencies in policing the electoral environment. But unfortunately, I don’t know what their problems are.

“If it is funding or partisanship, it’s an issue that should be interrogated as we approach the elections proper “, he said.

The elections observer also said that the manifestos of the various political parties were defective, stressing that the common thread running across the manifestos was how to grab power with a view to looting the treasury.

In his words, “And you know all the political parties, their primary aim is to capture state power, and of course in doing this, it depends on the approach that each of the political parties will deploy.

“Most of them deploy do-or-die style in capturing state power and it’s not that they want to capture state power for service delivery to the people. Majority of them want to capture this power in order to gain access to the treasury of the state for primitive accumulation of wealth, which is very sad”.

He called on candidates to put security of lives and property on the front burner while the issue of climate change should be given serious attention.

“I think, (security), being a frontline issue, should concern every Rivers person. Security should be number one issue, because without security we cannot have a conducive environment for investment.

“Also the issue revolving around climate change mitigation and environmental protection… We have seen in recent times that flooding has become a nightmare for most of the residents in the state here.

“So, any person that is coming foreward should be able to bring an antidote and blue print that he or she will use in addressing that issue of climate change and environmental protection.

“Another issue should be in the area of industrialized agriculture, because that will help in addressing the issue of food security”, he said.

He said candidates should also focuse on human capital development “because a great number of the population in the state are not meaningfully and productively engaged, and that is a recipe for insecurity”, he noted.

Dr Ekong also stressed the need for the political actors to create a conducive environment for citizens participation in the electoral process.

By: John Bibor