Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday said that necessary amendments on the Electoral Act will be completed before the 2027 elections.

Prof. Yakubu also debunked the insinuation in some quarters that he has been sacked and declared that he still remains the country’s Chief Electoral Officer.

The INEC Chairman spoke while fielding questions from State House correspondents after the inauguration of two National Commissioners by President Bola Tinubu at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the commission alongside relevant stakeholders have reviewed the 2023 general elections and came up with 142 recommendations, adding that out of the number, eight required electoral amendment.

Professor Yakubu, who said that he was at the seat of power for the inauguration of two national Commissioners from Southeast and North West said that the commission now has full compliment of the commissioners as required by law.

Group President of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has announced the donation of a whooping N15billion to the Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil(ADUSTECH), Kano State.

Mr. Dangote, who is also the Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) was reappointed the Chancellor of the University.

In his speech at the 5th convocation ceremony, he said the University must be repositioned to lead the race of producing cutting edge research and highly skilled manpower that meets the requirements of market demands, industries and real problem solvers in the Nigerian society.

He said: “It is in this vein that I wish to use this opportunity to announce the launch of the 5-year Development plan which I envision for this institution.

“Over the next 5 years, we will commit the sum of N15 billion to the following projects: the design and construction of additional student hostels; the design and construction of a world class Engineering Lab; the design and construction of a world class multipurpose computer lab -open to all students of the institution which will also be equipped with 24-hour internet access to support academic research and the installation of a mini-solar plant to support access to power on campus.”

He added that: “We also undertake to design and construct a befitting Senate building that will house the administration of this institution. Finally, we will also reserve post-NYSC employment slots for the best performing graduates in Engineering and other related courses that form part of our areas of interest at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Plant and Dangote Cement Plants.”

Mr. Dangote said the funding for such an institution places a significant burden on the government, which is why, through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, it was able to offset the University’s electricity bill to ease the strain on their finances.

“Additionally, to support the infrastructural drive of the University, we built two blocks of Male and Female Hostels with 500 bed spaces each.

“We also ensured the availability of electricity in a specialized University like ours for continuous teaching, learning and research, via the connection of the University to a 33KVA line, and provided a 2.5 MVA transformer and six (6) step-down transformers. This, I believe, has gone a long way in solving the energy needs of the University.”

Dangote therefore congratulated the vision of those who dreamt of the institution 25 years ago.

“An institution that began with a student population of 88, today has a population of more than 21,877 students and this combined convocation has a total of about 18,000 graduates. This is indeed a milestone,” he added.

In his address, Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf of Kano State commended Mr. Dangote for contributing financially and morally towards the development of the University, adding that, “all of us will continue to remember you as a visionary and African illustrious industrialist.”

The University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Musa Tukur Yakasa said 18,000 students were being celebrated during the convocation ceremony, having graduated from the university in the last ten years to date.

Business mogul Chief Arthur Eze, founder of Max Air and billionaire Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, Senior Advocate Ahmad Adeniyi Raji, and oil magnate and founder of Amasco Oil Al-Mustapha Ado bagged honorary doctorate degrees.

The VC said the University has recorded significant strides in its academic journey to greater heights, including program accreditation and a mathematical digital model designed by a university product, Mahmoud Mubarak, for measuring deforestation density.

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Supporters and youth leaders from Kano South have reaffirmed their full backing for Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila over his recent political alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as being in the best interest of the region.

Speaking at a solidarity gathering in Sumaila town, Dr. Umar Ahmad Aliyu, a close ally and scholar under the Kawu Sumaila Foundation, described the event as a reaffirmation of loyalty to the senator’s leadership and endorsement of any political decisions he makes in support of the president.

“This gathering is to affirm and solidify our support and reaffirm any decision taken by our senator in support of His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Dr. Aliyu said. “Kawu Sumaila is the pillar of Kano South politics. His backing guarantees victory for any political cause.”

Dr. Aliyu noted that Kawu Sumaila’s return to the APC, where he was a founding member before his temporary defection to the NNPP in 2023, has further strengthened the ruling party’s hold on Kano, particularly in the South.

“With the president’s infrastructural strides—such as the special education centre in Karaye, paramedical centres in Rano, and over ₦90 billion for agricultural revitalization—Kano South is witnessing meaningful development under his watch,” he said.

He also congratulated President Tinubu for securing what he termed a “renewed foothold” in the North-West through the strategic support of leaders like Kawu Sumaila, who has remained instrumental in grassroots mobilization.

“We’re calling for more federal support in terms of human capital investment in our zone. The president should know that Kano South is behind him 100 percent,” Dr. Aliyu said.

Also speaking at the event, Comrade Umar Ali, Special Assistant on Student Affairs to Senator Sumaila, said the senator’s latest political decision reflects the collective will of Kano South’s youth and constituents.

“This decision is not about personal ambition. It reflects the collective aspirations of Kano South residents,” Comrade Umar said.

He highlighted landmark federal projects in the zone, including the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of ₦124 billion for the rehabilitation of the Wudil-Gaya Road, which he noted had previously recorded hundreds of fatalities due to its poor condition.

“In a single year, we lost over 270 lives on that road. But now, thanks to the federal intervention, work is ongoing, and our people are hopeful again,” he said.

He also pointed to the ₦95 billion earmarked by the federal government for the rehabilitation of three major dams in Kano South, which he said would help create job opportunities and reduce rural-to-urban migration.

Comrade Umar assured the APC and President Tinubu of continued support from the youth, many of whom he said were already mobilizing across communities, schools, and local government areas.

“We thank the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the Kano State Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, for standing by us. Our decision is for the people’s interest, not personal gains,” he added.

The gathering drew hundreds of supporters, including youth leaders, political stakeholders, and community representatives from across the senatorial district, signaling growing consolidation in Kano South ahead of 2027.