By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says 1,906,390 registered voters in Osun have collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Mr Haruna said the figure represented 81.50 per cent of the total 2,339,233 registered voters in the state.

He said 432,843, representing 18.50 per cent of the total, had yet to collect their PVCs.

According to him, the uncollected PVCs have been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in line with INEC’s established practice.

“Persons whose PVCs were damaged, defaced or lost applied for replacement of cards,” he said.

Mr Haruna disclosed that 6,101 voters had applied for and obtained printed downloadable copies of their PVCs.

He said the commission had published on its website the number of PVCs collected in each polling unit.

The national commissioner reassured political parties, civil society organisations, the media and voters of INEC’s readiness to conduct credible and transparent election on Saturday.

The Arewa Youth Merger Group, APC has faulted former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over his claim that the people of Kano do not support the position of Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir on the Muslim-Muslim ticket in Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the Group, Comrade Musa Mujahid Zaitawa and made available to journalists.

The group described Kwankwaso’s criticism of Sheikh Jingir’s opinion as his personal view and not the position of the people of Kano State.

“It is wrong for Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to interfere with the opinion of a cleric who is exercising his constitutional right as a Nigerian citizen to express his views,” the statement read.

The group further stated that it was shameful for Kwankwaso to criticize the Muslim-Muslim ticket when FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, a Christian and member of the PDP, had publicly said there was nothing unconstitutional about it.

The Arewa Youth Merger Group also noted that even Mr. Peter Obi, the NDC presidential candidate for whom Kwankwaso a running mate, had admitted that there was no problem with the Muslim-Muslim ticket and had apologized for introducing religious division into his previous campaign.

The group said Kwankwaso’s attempt to challenge Sheikh Jingir was disgraceful and urged him to desist from making statements capable of causing division among Nigerians just to satisfy his personal political ambition.

The Arewa Youth Merger Group also reaffirmed its support for the Tinubu/Shettima Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Youth Service Corps has distanced itself from the proposed N200 annual levy by the National Association of Nigerian Students, saying payment of the levy is not a requirement for students seeking mobilisation for national service.

The NYSC stated this in a statement shared on its official X account on Tuesday, following reports that NANS was considering linking payment of its dues to the NYSC mobilisation process.

The Scheme said it had neither discussed nor agreed to the proposed arrangement with NANS, adding that it had not entered into any Memorandum of Understanding with the student body on the collection of any levy.

“The NYSC wishes to state unequivocally that it has not, at any time, discussed, agreed to, or entered into any Memorandum of Understanding with the National Association of Nigerian Students regarding the collection of any levy from students in connection with mobilisation for national service,” the statement said.

The NYSC explained that its mobilisation process was conducted through established official channels involving the management of the Scheme and the Heads of Corps Producing Institutions, which provide information on their graduates for mobilisation.

“The mobilisation process is neither linked to nor contingent upon the activities of any student association or organisation,” it added.

The Scheme consequently advised prospective corps members and students to disregard any information suggesting that payment of a levy to NANS or any other student association was required for NYSC mobilisation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, NYSC mobilisation process is straightforward and is conducted through established official channels,” the statement said.

The clarification followed comments by the NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde, that the association was considering a system under which students would pay an annual N200 due.

Babatunde had also indicated that NANS would work with the NYSC and that students might be required to show proof of payment of the association’s dues before being mobilised for camp.

The NYSC, however, reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a transparent, credible and efficient mobilisation process in line with existing government policies and guidelines.