By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the appointment of politically exposed academics as Returning and Collation Officers for the 2027 general elections.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the party expressed concern over a newspaper report revealing that over 600 senior lecturers from public universities across Northern Nigeria have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election.

The ADC argued that this development raises fundamental questions regarding electoral credibility and conflict of interest, noting that university lecturers and vice chancellors are routinely entrusted with the sensitive responsibility of collating election results and declaring winners.

While acknowledging the constitutional right of every Nigerian, including academics, to support or endorse any political candidate, the party insisted that no individual who has openly taken a partisan position should be entrusted with determining the outcome of an election involving that candidate.

“The principle is straightforward,” the ADC stated. “You cannot campaign for a candidate and then be entrusted with counting the votes and declaring winners in the same election that your candidate is contesting in.”

The party, therefore, urged INEC to establish and publish clear criteria disqualifying academics and other prospective election officials who have publicly endorsed candidates, participated in partisan political activities, or otherwise demonstrated an obvious political affiliation.

Additionally, the ADC called on INEC to publish the names of proposed Returning and Collation Officers sufficiently ahead of the elections. This, the party said, would allow political parties and the public to identify and raise legitimate conflict-of-interest concerns.

“The integrity of an election does not begin when the first ballot is cast,” the statement read.

“It begins with the neutrality of the people entrusted to administer, collate, and declare its outcome. Nigerians must never be placed in a position where those who have publicly chosen a side are subsequently presented as neutral arbiters of the contest.”

The statement was signed by Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, says having a male child to sustain his family name and business empire is not his priority.

He noted that he has three daughters doing well.

Mr Dangote, 69, who is the president of Dangote Group and Dangote Refinery, made the statement during an interview on Arise TV, on Tuesday.

Asked if he was making efforts to have a son to sustain his legacy, Mr Dangote said, “That’s not really my priority. Let me say it blurntly. It is not really my priority. God controls everything. Sometimes you can pray to have a son but the son could be the one to drag the family name down.”

The Africa’s richest man further said he didn’t think a son would do better than the three girls he already has.

“Sometimes when God does give you a something don’t push it. I don’t think a son would have done better than the three girls I have,” he said.

Mr Dangote’s three daughters; Fatima, Halima and Mariya are holding key executive and leadership positions in the Dangote Group.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently meeting behind closed doors at the Imo State Governors’ Lodge in Abuja, amid rising political tension over the “rainbow coalition” being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The meeting, which began on Tuesday, is understood to be centred on recent political realignments that party leaders fear could undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s interests and weaken APC candidates at all levels.

It was gathered that the governors are expected to issue a statement distancing themselves from any political alliance or arrangement that could work against the President or the ruling party.

The move is widely seen as a direct response to Wike’s coalition, which has reportedly set some APC governors against the FCT minister. The governors are particularly aggrieved over allegations that Wike is sponsoring candidates who lost in the APC under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC governors are said to be determined to draw a clear line between legitimate political engagement and actions that could damage the party’s electoral fortunes.

As of the time of filing this report, the meeting was still ongoing, and no official communiqué had been issued. A statement is expected shortly.

More details later…