News

Reps Order INEC to Settle Unpaid Insurance for Corps Members Hurt, Killed During Elections

Published

2 weeks ago

November 21, 2025

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately settle outstanding insurance premiums for National Youth Service Corps members who were injured or lost their lives while serving as ad-hoc staff during elections.

The directive came after the National Youth Service Corps informed the committee that insurance benefits due to Corps members hurt during the 2023 general elections had still not been released.

Represented by the Director of Welfare, Omotade Ayodele Folorunsho, the NYSC leadership recounted cases of three Corps members shot during the 2023 polls, two in Delta State’s Ukwani area and one in Akwa Ibom, with some left permanently disabled.

He explained that although the NYSC has covered its own component of the insurance, the N1 million due under the agreement with INEC remains outstanding, despite the commission handling the victims’ medical care.

He also decried the long-standing inadequacies in election arrangements, which continue to expose Corps members to danger, leaving many unprotected in moments of crisis.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he recalled the tragic 2011 elections in which ten serving Corps members were killed, noting that he was then a young officer in the Service and personally bore the responsibility of organising their burials.

He also disclosed that Corp members are often poorly renumerated while participating in the elections.

“They are ₦4000 for three to five day training and ₦13, 500 for election day duty. In most cases, these corps members don’t even have a place to sleep. Some of them sleep on bare floor and the following day, they don’t even have water to bath”, he added.

He proposed that the deployment of Corps members during elections should be coordinated through the Office of the National Security Adviser, noting that the NSA already sits on the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and is better positioned to ensure their safety.

Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters, Rep. Adebayo Balogun, emphasised that the NYSC is not simply another stakeholder in the electoral process but a vital partner in safeguarding the credibility and smooth conduct of elections.

He said “For decades, Corps mémbers have formed the backbone of election day operations, manning polling units across the federation as ad hoc staff of the Independent Nation Electoral Commission (INEC). They carry the burden of ensuring that the voting process is transparent, orderly, and credible.

“However, we cannot ignore the realities they face. Elections in Nigeria are won or lost at the polling units, and because of this, our Corps Members often find themselves exposed to dangers they should never have to confront.

“Reports abound of intimidation, harassment, threats, and attempts at financial inducement. In some tragic instances, these young citizens have been attacked, injured, or even killed in the line of duty, not because they did anything wrong, but because desperate political interests saw them as obstacles to manipulation.

“This is unacceptable. No election is worth the life of even one young Nigerian. The security, welfare, and dignity of Corps Members must not be negotiable.

“We must collectively interrogate the conditions under which Corps Members participate in elections. We must re-examine their security, their compensation, their training, their insurance coverage, their logistical support, and their overall well-being. We must ensure that every Corps Member deployed for election duty returns safely to their families and continue their service to the nation without fear.

“Let me emphasize that the political class and the Nigerian public must pay attention to the welfare of these Corps Members. Too often, national discourse is fixated on questions such as who appoints the INEC Chairman or how leadership positions are allocated.

“While these debates are legitimate, they miss the central point; elections are not decided in Abuja. They are not decided in political party headquarters. They are decided at the polling units, and the young men and women who stand at those polling units deserve our utmost protection and respect. We can strengthen our democracy by strengthening the people who administer it at the grassroots.”

He reaffirmed the readiness of the committee to champion any legislative or policy interventions that will guarantee their safety, improve their working conditions, and acknowledge the patriotic service they render to our democracy.

Rep. Balogun said “the strength of our democracy rests on the shoulders of young Nigerians who stand at the polling units with courage and integrity. We owe them more than appreciation; we owe them protection, dignity, and a system that values their sacrifice”.

In response to the presentation, committee member, Rep. Alex Egbona moved a motion which was unanimously endorsed, directing the electoral commission to ensure that the insurance firm responsible for covering Corps members and INEC staff pays the outstanding premiums to the affected individuals within four weeks.

News

Ekiti PDP Primary: Court adjourns suit against Oluyede’s victory to Dec 8

Published

17 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has adjourned the case instituted against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr Wole Oluyede till December 8, 2025, for further hearing.

Oluyede had emerged winner of the gubernatorial primary election conducted on November 8, 2025, by the Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo-led electoral committee.

Oluyede got 279 votes to defeat Funsho Ayeni and Mrs Funmi Ogun.

In the suit numbered FHC/AD/CS/29/2025, Ayeni is challenging Oluyede’s victory in the primary election

During the hearing on Friday, Kola Kolade, SAN, led other lawyers to represent Ayeni while Ola Olanipekun, SAN, and Barrister Owoseni Ajayi represented Oluyede.

The Osun State Legal Adviser of the party, Barrister Ola Alonge held brief for the PDP.

After listening to submissions by the parties, Justice Babs Ikuewumi declared that he would ensure speedy hearing of the case.

The judge adjourned the matter to December 8, 2025 for further hearing.

News

PHOTOS: FCT Minister, Wike, inspects ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa today

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Minister of FCT today inspected ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa today

The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike today, Friday inspected ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa.

The project is titled; Full scope development of Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road II to Ring Road III with Two Interchange Bridges at N16/RRII and N16/RIII intersections.

The portion from RRI to Arterial Road N20 (Solomon Lar Way) within Katampe District was developed and commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to mark 2nd year Anniversary of his Administration.

The portion from N20 to RRII is being developed under Jahi District Infrastructure Project, leaving the undeveloped portion from RRIII to Arterial Road N40 to link the road that leads to the Renewed Hope Estate in Karsana Districts.

The portion of this Arterial Road N16 under reference traverses the Gwarimpa Housing Estate and this segment of the road when developed will provide access to the Gwarimpa Housing Estate located within Bunkoro and Wupa Districts as well as Sector Center E which is the hub of commercial and social activities comprising group of four districts namely; Gwarimpa II – C03, Kafe – C05, Wupa – C15 and Bunkoro – C18 Districts in Phase III of the Federal Capital City.

See photos:

News

“Why I dumped PDP for APC “- Rivers Speaker, Amaewhule

Published

3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martin Amaewhule, on Friday gave reasons why he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The major reason for leaving the PDP is because of the division in the PDP,” Amaewhule, who represents Obio-Akpor I constituency, told the lawmakers on Friday.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for some programmes embarked upon by his administration that have benefited Nigerians, especially Rivers people.

According to the Speaker, his defection would enable him to partner with President Tinubu for the overall good of the Rivers people.

Amaewhule said, “Distinguished colleagues, let me happily announce to honourable members that your Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my Ward Chairman, Mr Osondo Orlu, of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.

“APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time. I am happy to be a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. He is doing so much for this country.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He is tackling issues of security headlong. The President has shown love to Rivers State; he is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country. I am so delighted to be part of the APC so we can support the President right inside the All Progressives Congress.”

Amaewhule defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

Others who dumped the PDP were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).

Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).

Since returning to civil rule in 1999, the PDP has maintained a tight grip on the oil-rich Rivers state, until the protracted crisis rocked the state, which pitched the lawmakers against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The crisis led to the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex by forces allegedly loyal to Fubara as well as the attempted moves to impeach the governor by the lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Worried by the development, President Bola Tinubu waded in to douse the tensions and declared a state of emergency on March 18.

The emergency declaration led to the suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu and the lawmakers.

At the expiration of the exercise, he reinstated Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers on September 17.