News - News Agency Of Nigeria

Consolidate on Yakubu’s achievements, stakeholders tell Amupitan (Page 650)

By Naomi Sharang

Political stakeholders, on Wednesday, urged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to consolidate on achievements recorded by his predecessor, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

They said that the next frontier for Nigeria’s democratic consolidation lies in deepening and sustaining institutional culture.

The stakeholders made the call at a colloquium on “Ten Years of Leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of INEC”.

Organised by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), the colloquium had the theme: “Strengthening Nigeria’s Democracy: Reflections on a Decade of INEC Leadership”.

Keynote Speaker, Prof. Emmanuel Aiyede, a scholar of democracy and election, said that as INEC enters a post-Yakubu era, the challenge would be two-fold.

“To preserve the gains of digital transparency while addressing the operational bottlenecks that accompany them.

“Technology must now evolve from tools of election-day administration to instruments of long-term democratic planning.

“Powering data-driven decisions on constituency delimitation, voter education, logistics and security coordination.

“Equally, the commission must continue to professionalise its human capital. Machines can authenticate fingerprints, but only human integrity can authenticate elections,” he said.

He said that the future would demand a new generation of electoral managers fluent in both law and technology.

“INEC requires individuals who can navigate not only codes and algorithms but also the ethical dilemmas of power, persuasion and public trust.

“For Nigeria, the path ahead is both challenging and promising.

“As network infrastructure improves and as digital literacy expands, the full promise of the BVAS and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) will begin to unfold.

“This will reduce human errors and strengthening confidence in the ballot as the ultimate arbiter of legitimacy,” he said.

Aiyede, while commending Yakubu, said his legacy was profoundly shaped by his achievements of unprecedented institutional stability.

“As the first INEC Chairman to be appointed to two consecutive terms, he provided a rare continuity that proved crucial for long-term planning and the implementation of sustained reforms.

“His administration delivered a suite of technological innovations that fundamentally altered how elections are conducted in Nigeria.

“The most visible of these innovations was the delivery of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS),” he added.

On her part, Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Faith Nwadishi, said that under Yakubu’s leadership, INEC recorded remarkable gains.

“From the deployment of technology through BVAS and IReV, to improved logistics planning and stakeholder engagement.

“These innovations have reduced electoral fraud, curtailed identity theft and deepened public confidence in parts of the process,” she said.

Nwadishi called on the new INEC chairman, Prof. Amupitan, to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, strengthen security collaboration, improve welfare and logistics for ad hoc staff and deepen inclusivity and public trust.

Similarly, former Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC, Enugu State, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, commended Yakubu on the recall processes of some senators during his tenure.

“Only Yakubu had the “temerity” to test the law on recall of elected representatives.

“Prof. Yakubu in 2017, was the first to test the process of recall as enshrined in Section 69 of the Constitution in the case of Sen. Dino Melaye and the most recent, that involving Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“This tested the institutional integrity of INEC. It has been there, many chairmen didn’t have the temerity to do that,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Francis Onyeukwu

Consolidate on Yakubu’s achievements, stakeholders tell Amupitan

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: Politics, Elections

With: 0 Comments

By Naomi Sharang Political stakeholders, on Wednesday, urged the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to consolidate on achievements recorded by his predecessor, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. They said that the next frontier for Nigeria’s democratic consolidation lies in deepening and sustaining institutional culture. TheContinue Reading

FG, L-PRES train officers on animal disease response

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: Agriculture

With: 0 Comments

By Felicia Imohimi The Federal Government has commenced the training of epidemiological and veterinary public health officers across the country. The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The training aims to equip participantsContinue Reading

Association wants young Nigerians to embrace livestock farming as career

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: Agriculture, Education

With: 0 Comments

By Sylvester Thompson The Abuja Chapter of Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN) has organised a quiz competition to inspire young Nigerians to embrace livestock agriculture as a career. The competition, held in Abuja, offered a platform for young pupils to showcase their understanding of animal science and agriculture, aContinue Reading

Army seeks stronger partnership with NGOs, CSOs to address insecurity

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: Defence/Security

With: 0 Comments

By Sumaila Ogbaje The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has called for stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Army, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and civil society organisations (CSOs) to address the nation’s complex security challenges. Oluyede made the call at the opening of the 2025 Nigerian Army Civil–Military AffairsContinue Reading

IEEE in talks with Nokia to showcase startups at 2025 summit

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: Science & Tech

With: 0 Comments

By Jessica Dogo The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) says it is in talks with Nokia in order to showcase startups at the upcoming Connecting the Unconnected (CTU) Africa Summit 2025. IEEE General Conference Chair for the summit, Chukwuemeka Okafor, made this known in a news briefing onContinue Reading

Ember months: FRSC warns motorists against distracted driving, fuel scooping

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Ibironke Ariyo The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has cautioned motorists and commuters against distracted driving and the dangerous practice of scooping fuel from fallen tankers, as part of its month-long sensitisation campaign. The Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, gave the warning on Wednesday in Abuja during the continuationContinue Reading

Alzheimer: ACCI, NGOs want policymakers to prioritise disease treatment, awareness

By: Magdalene Ukuedojor

On: October 22, 2025

In: Health

With: 0 Comments

By Vivian Emoni The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and Caring Lot International Initiative (CLII), an NGO, have called on policymakers to prioritise improving Alzheimer’s disease treatment and increase awareness on it effects. Mrs Lawunmi Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of CLII, made the call while marking 2025 WorldContinue Reading

NOA unveils N22.5m animation award to promote national identity

By: Folashade Adeniran

On: October 22, 2025

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Oluwatope Lawanson The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has unveiled a N22.5 million creative animation award to promote national identity. The Director-General of the agency, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this known in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday. He stated that the project, aContinue Reading

Nigeria remains committed to sustainable development ideals– NTAC

By: Ismail Abdulaziz

On: October 22, 2025

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Maureen Okon The Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) says Nigeria remains committed to the sustainable development ideals of the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) through Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme. The Director-General of NTAC, Dr Yusuf Yakub, said this in statement signed by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, Special AssistantContinue Reading

Group hails Tinubi’s multidimensional approach to poverty reduction

By: Ismail Abdulaziz

On: October 22, 2025

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Lucy Ogalue The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), has commended President Bola Tinubu for adopting a multidimensional approach to tackle poverty in the country. The IMPI Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. The think-tank said this in its latest policy statement, titled “UnderstandingContinue Reading

Follows Us

Consolidate on Yakubu’s achievements, stakeholders tell Amupitan (Page 650)