General
INEC Calls for Fair Reportage of 2023 General Elections
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for greater partnership with media, especially in the implementation of the new electoral law towards the 2023 general elections.
This was disclosed by the INEC Chairman, Mr Mahmood Yakubu, represented by Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC Commissioner in Charge of Voter Education, at the Town Hall Meeting/Capacity Building for Editors, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, in Abuja on Thursday.
Mr Yakubu described the passage of the electoral law as timely, saying the media played a proactive role in the success of the passage of the law.
He said INEC was ready to fully implement the electoral law for the conduct of credible elections as activities for the February 2023 general elections had started.
“The entire process towards the electioneering will take place this year towards the February 2023 elections.
“For instance, INEC cannot register any new political parties 12 months before the elections,” he said.
INEC chairman also said any merger of political parties could not be done nine months to elections.
He assured that the new electoral law had eliminated all forms of electoral vices such as ballot snatching and double voting, among others.
He called on the media to feel free to approach INEC for the credibility of reports to avoid heating the polity.
Mr Yakubu further assured that the commission would always be willing to provide the needed information that would guarantee full implementation of the new Electoral Law.
He, therefore, challenged the media to study the new Electoral Law to be on the same page with INEC.
President of the NGE, Mustapha Issa, in his opening remarks, said the freedom of the media could not be “traded off in whatever political guise”.
Mr Issa said the media should truly and jealously protect “our democracy, which is still the best form of government”.
He said that agenda-setting still remained the media’s major focus, adding that the media “is now ready to set agenda for politicians”.
He called on the media to close ranks and refuse politicians’ antics to divide the society through religious gimmicks and social vices.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the town hall meeting, Mr Tony Akiotu, Group Managing Director, DAAR Communications, said the society has not been fair to the media.
Mr Akiotu said the event had provided the opportunity for the media to assess itself.
He called on the media to close ranks and fight against the polarization of the media while commending its efforts in society.
Mr David Mark, the Senior Editor, Washington Examiner, stressed the importance of the media in a free society.
He said the freedom of the media was guaranteed in both the American and Nigerian constitutions.
Mr Mark called on the Nigerian media to be professional in ensuring that news sources were jealously guarded.
He however commended the media for a peaceful transition of power during the former President Goodluck Jonathan to the present administration.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Young bloggers, online content creators and digital influencers have been charged to embrace ethical journalism, responsible storytelling and fact-based reporting as they shape public opinion in the digital age.
This task was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, during the Niger State Bloggers, Online Publishers and Content Developers Forum on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister said digital platforms offer enormous opportunities for innovation and civic engagement but must be used responsibly to promote truth, national unity and constructive public discourse.
He urged bloggers and content creators to verify information before publication, reject misinformation and disinformation, avoid sensationalism, and use their platforms to educate, inspire and promote national development.
Mr Idris also encouraged young Nigerians to see digital content creation not only as a source of income but also as a tool for civic engagement and nation-building, stressing that ethical communication is essential to strengthening democracy and public trust.
He further encouraged aspiring bloggers and digital entrepreneurs to continue developing their skills and uphold professional standards that will strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s online media ecosystem.
“There is no democracy that can thrive without a responsible media. You cannot carry freedom and abandon responsibility,” he stated, adding that the government remains committed to protecting press freedom while encouraging ethical journalism.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 Institute dedicated exclusively to Media and Information Literacy, describing it as a major step in promoting digital literacy and responsible online engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso, disclosed that Mr Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, signed agreements committing himself to serving only one four-year term if elected in 2027.
Mr Kwankwaso explained that the documents comprised a formal agreement involving the political party and a separate personal accord between himself and Mr Obi.
According to Mr Kwankwaso, the deal stipulates that the presidency will return to Northern Nigeria in 2031 upon the completion of an Obi-led administration’s four-year tenure, if elected next year.
“We have agreed to formalise it in writing,” Mr Kwankwaso stated. “We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” he revealed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today late on Monday.
He reiterated that Mr Obi would honour his pledge and resist pressure to seek a second term, expressing confidence in the former Anambra State governor, noting that his interactions had convinced him that he would respect the agreement.
“I personally believe him, and, based on what I now know about him, I do not believe he will change his mind when the time comes,” he said. “We are all gentlemen.”
Mr Kwankwaso added that he and Mr Obi would continue to collaborate after the proposed administration completes its term.
“The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, and as friends and brothers,” he said. “After our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus.”
The former defence minister did not state that he would be the NDC presidential candidate in 2031; his comments referred broadly to the presidency returning to the North, rather than to his personal political ambitions.
Mr Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected; however, he has yet to publicly confirm the specific details of the documents described by Mr Kwankwaso.
In the 2023 Presidential polls, Mr Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate while Mr Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land have been restored by the Nigerian government, with more than 1.5 million trees planted across the country in the past year.
This information was revealed by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the 2026 Top Management Retreat and National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said these achievements were made through initiatives of the federal government like the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
According to him, the restoration of the land and the planting of trees demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth.
The Minister reemphasised that the environment is not an abstract concept, pointing out that “it is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future.”
He praised Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his giant strides in the environment sector in the state, urging other state governors to emulate him by providing sponsorship for their students to the various Federal Colleges of Forestry Resources Management institutions located across the six geo-political zones of the country to encourage and boost Forest education in the country.
He described the decision of Mr Zulum to sponsor 540 indigenes of the state to a forestry college in Maiduguri as commendable.
Mr Lawal also informed the participants of the programme that the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is a key policy instrument under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it protects Nigeria’s forest resources, curbs illegal logging, and encourages tree planting as a national duty.
He pledged the Federal Ministry of Environment’s continued partnership with state governments on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and other interventions tailored to their needs.
“Nigeria’s environmental future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations,” he declared.
