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e-Transmission: INEC to conduct mock presidential election
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially set the wheels in motion for the 2027 general elections, releasing a comprehensive timetable and announcing a landmark “mock presidential election” to verify the integrity of its electronic transmission systems.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
Addressing lingering concerns regarding the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Professor Amupitan emphasised that the commission is focused on avoiding the technical “glitches” that marred public confidence in previous cycles.
“I am committed to even having a mock presidential election. You see, the delicate thing about technology is if a technology is designed without being properly tested. We don’t have issues with transmission to IREV in respect of the elections. We are doing everything possible to make sure that we test whatever we have. I did not say that technology will not be used,” he said.
Amupitan further clarified that the commission has no intention of abandoning electronic transmission, despite ongoing legislative debates. “No matter how it ends, we already have our policies. I think that we should ensure that the results are transmitted,” he said.
With the formal release of the Notice of Election, INEC warned political parties that the window for internal democracy is now active.
The Chairman urged parties to conduct transparent primaries and cautioned against any attempt to bypass the statutory timelines.
“Political parties are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the timelines. The Commission will not hesitate to enforce compliance with the law. I call on political parties to conduct peaceful and credible primaries, to shun violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and to uphold internal democracy,” he cautioned.
Responding to questions regarding the rising cost of elections, the Chairman pointed to the massive scale of personnel required, noting that for every polling unit, four poll officers are needed.
He noted that inflation, forex fluctuations, and the cost of training nearly 450,000 ad-hoc staff significantly impact the budget.
He however dismissed reports that the commission would spend N1 trillion on the election.
Professor Amupitan also took the opportunity to debunk recent media reports suggesting the commission intended to divert funds to build hospitals.
“I was misquoted when they said I said I was going to build a hospital. It was not in my budget. There was a question as to why we are buying drugs. They asked if we have hospitals. I said, ‘Look, we have clinics and that those drugs were meant for our existing clinics. And a senator said, ‘Why are you building hospitals?’ Nobody ever said we were going to build hospitals. We never said we want to build hospitals,” he said.
The Chairman explained that the dates were chosen in strict adherence to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Notice of Election to be published at least 360 days before the polls.
He noted that while certain states like Anambra, Bayelsa, and Edo remain on “off-cycle” schedules due to court-altered tenures, the commission is bound by Section 76 of the Constitution to maintain those specific timelines.
As the 2027 countdown begins, the commission called on all stakeholders, including security agencies, the media, and civil society, to treat the upcoming elections as a collective national responsibility.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has approved a three-month extension of the implementation period for the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, shifting the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026.
The decision was taken during an emergency sitting held on Monday, as lawmakers moved swiftly to ensure the continued execution of capital projects captured in the national budget.
The legislation, which seeks to amend the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) Act, 2025, was designed to provide additional time for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to complete ongoing projects and fully utilise funds earmarked for capital expenditure.
In an unusually rapid legislative process, the bill passed through its first, second and third readings during the same plenary session after members suspended the relevant provisions of the House Standing Orders to facilitate its consideration.
Leading debate on the general principle of the bill, House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, said the extension was necessary as several capital projects captured in the 2025 budget had not been fully implemented.
He emphasised that the amendment was not intended to alter any provision of the budget but merely to extend its lifespan by three months to allow ongoing projects to be completed.
He said: “It is very straightforward. Because some aspects of the capital appropriation will not be fully implemented, if we do not extend the life of this particular law, it will have a very grave impact on the growth and development of the national economy.
“The purpose essentially is to extend the lifespan. We are not touching any part of the law. It is simply extending the lifespan from June 30, 2026 to September 30, 2026. I urge my colleagues to approve this so that we can continue with the work of developing and growing our economy and country”.
Presiding over the session, Speaker of the House, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, acknowledged that the records provided by the Chairman House Committee on Appropriations and other relevant agencies revealed that implementation of the capital budget was yet to be completed.
“As you are aware, the 2025 budget was extended to June 30. From the records we received from the Chairman, Appropriations, and other relevant quarters, it is yet to be fully implemented. It is therefore in the best interest of this country and the National Assembly for us to extend the budget to September 30 to enable the Federal Government fulfil its obligations under the 2025 budget,” the Speaker said.
Following the adoption of the bill at second reading, the House dissolved into the Committee of Supply where it had the clause by clause consideration of the bill, and approved the three clauses, explanatory memorandum and long title of the bill.
The committee subsequently reported back to plenary, where lawmakers adopted its recommendations and suspended House rules to allow the bill to be read a third time and passed the same day.
The accelerated passage reflects growing concern over the pace of implementation of key infrastructure and development projects, many of which require additional time to reach completion.
With the approval, government agencies now have until the end of September to execute projects funded under the capital component of the 2025 budget, a move expected to prevent disruptions to ongoing works and improve budget performance.
The extension is also aimed at ensuring that resources already allocated for development projects are effectively utilised before the capital budget expires.
With the passage of the amendment, federal ministries, departments and agencies now have an additional three months to implement capital projects and utilize funds appropriated under the 2025 budget.
Meanwhile, the House also announced changes in the leadership of some standing committees.
The appointments are as follows:
• Rep. Ali Madaki – Chairman House Committee on Special Duties
• Rep. Ali Isa J.C. – Chairman House Committee on Shipping Services,
• Rep. Pascal Agbodike – Chairman House Committee on Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN),
• Rep. Kelechi Nwogu – Chairman House Committee on Hydrological Services
The Speaker urged the newly appointed committee chairmen to assume their responsibilities immediately and bring their legislative experience to bear in advancing the work of the House.
News
Day 4 of projects commissioning as President TInubu set to commission newly constructed Court of Appeal Building
President Tinubu will commission the newly constructed Court of Appeal (Abuja Division) Building today, 15/6/26 as FCT projects commissioning enters Day 4.
#FCTProjects2026
#RenewedHopeFCT
Plateau State commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Baamlong, has revealed that the state recorded 11 confirmed cases of cholera, five deaths and 53 suspected cases.
Baamlong, who disclosed this to journalists yesterday in Jos, said the confirmed and suspected cases were reported in Pushit, Mangu 1 and Mangu 2 communities in Mangu local government area (LGA).
According to him, the state Ministry of Health is intensifying public health interventions to contain the outbreak, prevent further spread and reduce its impact on affected communities.
He explained that the state had taken decisive actions to control the outbreak and protect its citizens via the deployment of additional Response Teams (RRTs) to the affected wards, scaling up of treatment centres and isolation capacity and the emergency procurement of Rapid Diagnostic Tests Kits, intravenous fluids and essential drugs.
The Commissioner further said that the ministry had activated an Incident Management System (IMS), for a comprehensive and multi sectorial response to the outbreak.
“The activation of the IMS ensures a coordinated, efficient, and accountable response structure in line with national and international emergency response frameworks,” he said.
Baamlong explained that cholera was an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
He urged residents of Mangu LGA and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and take preventive measures, including drinking safe water, maintaining proper hand hygiene, avoiding open defecation, and ensuring proper waste disposal.
He also advised residents to promply report suspected cases of cholera to the nearest healthcare facility for immediate attention.
While reaffirming the state government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of residents, Baamlong called on development partners and other stakeholders to support ongoing response efforts.(NAN)
2025 Capital Budget Gets New Lease of Life as Reps Push Deadline to September
Day 4 of projects commissioning as President TInubu set to commission newly constructed Court of Appeal Building
Cholera Outbreak: Plateau Records 5 Deaths, 11 Confirmed Cases
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