By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the official commencement of the campaign period for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, declared that the ban on public campaigns will be lifted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The campaign window will remain open until midnight on June 18, 2026.

Dr. Omoseyindemi made the announcement on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, attended by INEC officials and leaders of participating political parties. He called on all parties to engage in decorous and peaceful campaigns in the build-up to the election.

“With the publication of the final list of candidates, the campaign period now enters a critical phase that demands maturity, restraint, and strict adherence to the law by all political actors,” he stated.

The REC emphasized that peaceful campaigns are fundamental to ensuring a credible election and the overall stability of the state. He reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting a transparent and peaceful poll and urged parties to comply fully with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Campaigns.

This development follows the commission’s publication, barely 24 hours earlier, of the final list of governorship candidates and their running mates for the 12 parties cleared to contest the election.

It will be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, whose candidates were omitted from the list, have previously indicated they are seeking legal redress to participate in the election.

The Adolescent Health and Information Project (AHIP) has organized a one-day media training aimed at strengthening journalists’ engagement on issues of irregular migration, legal migration pathways, and reintegration of returnees.

The training, held on Tuesday at Gidan AHIP, Maiduguri Road, Kano, brought together media professionals to deliberate on effective communication strategies for promoting safe and legal migration practices.

AHIP, a youth-focused non-governmental organization, is implementing the ROOTS Project (Resilient Opportunities for Outreach, Trade & Sustainability) in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding support from the European Union under the Support to Free Movement of Persons and Migration in West Africa – Phase II (FMM West Africa II) initiative.

Speaking during the event, the Executive Director of AHIP, Hajiya Mairo Bello, said the ROOTS Project was designed to deepen journalists’ understanding of migration dynamics, regional trade systems under ECOWAS free movement protocols, and climate-responsive governance aimed at promoting gender equality and migrant protection.

According to her, the media plays a vital role in shaping public perception and influencing behavior on migration-related issues. She emphasized that the training provided a platform for collaboration between the media and development partners to ensure balanced reporting and sustained awareness creation.

“We want people to understand that they can earn legitimately in their home country without the need for irregular migration to another country,”
Dr. Bello stated.

She explained that the project is being implemented in Dala, Ungogo, and Bunkure Local Government Areas of Kano State, noting that research revealed these locations as major routes used by irregular migrants.

Dr. Bello added that the initiative also seeks to support the reintegration of returnee migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs) through agribusiness and enterprise development training.

Presenting an overview of the project, the Project Manager, Hajiya Halima Usman, explained that the expected outcomes of the ROOTS Project include increased household income, improved food security, and reduced pressure for irregular migration.

She added that the project also aims to encourage safer migration practices, informed decision-making, and the strengthening of gender-responsive local institutions to enhance sustainable community resilience across Kano State.

Delivering a paper titled “Media’s Role in Preventing Irregular Migration,” the facilitator, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, described migration as a global phenomenon with significant social, economic, and security implications when undertaken irregularly.

He identified poverty, unemployment, conflict, insecurity, lack of awareness, and false promises as major drivers of irregular migration.

In another presentation titled “Using Media Content for Community Outreach,” Comrade Abbas noted that ROOTS media content focuses on empowerment, skills, resilience, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

He stated that the objectives of the ROOTS media content include promoting positive livelihood opportunities, preventing irregular migration, encouraging skills development and entrepreneurship, inspiring community resilience, and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The core interventions of the ROOTS Project include:
• Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) training and input support
• Agribusiness and livelihood assistance for returnees
• Vocational and life-skills training for women and youths
• Financial literacy and cooperative development
• Migration governance and ECOWAS Free Movement awareness
• Gender-based violence prevention, psychosocial support, and community engagement

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit instituted by Samuel Anyanwu seeking recognition as the national secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge, dismissed the suit on Tuesday after U. C. Njemanze‑Aku, Anyanwu’s lawyer, told the court that his client’s tenure as PDP’s national secretary expired in December 2025.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/254/2025, Anyanwu had asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Umar Damagum, the PDP chairman at the time, from accepting, acting on, or giving effect to any correspondence from the party not signed by him.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, Anyanwu’s lawyer said the matter had been overtaken by events and should not proceed.

“In the interest of justice, I apply to withdraw this matter to save the time of the court,” he said.

Akintayo Balogun, INEC’s counsel, said the suit ought not to have been instituted in the first instance.

Balogun asked the court to dismiss the suit with a cost of N1 million.

M. O. Akpan, Damagum’s lawyer, adopted Balogun’s submission.

After hearing arguments from all parties, the judge dismissed the suit without awarding any costs.

“Since you have joined issues, I am going to dismiss this matter. The matter is hereby dismissed,” he ruled.

The PDP national secretary position was the subject of litigation, with Anyanwu, Sunday Udeh-Okoye, and Setonji Koshoedo laying claim to the office.

In December, a faction of the PDP, backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), dissolved the national working committee (NWC) and set up a caretaker panel.

Abdulrahman Mohammed was appointed as the chairman, with Anyanwu as secretary.

The caretaker panel was constituted following the expiration of the tenure of the PDP NWC elected in October 2021.

In November, a faction of the party backed by the PDP governors, including Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, held a convention and elected new NWC members, with Kabiru Turaki as chairman.

During the convention, the PDP expelled Wike and his allies, including Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Oyo, and Anyanwu, Bature, and Ajibade, among others.

The Wike group rejected the expulsion, formed a parallel NWC, board of trustees (BoT), NEC, and expelled members of the Makinde faction in turn.