Politics
INEC To Deploy 36,335 Staff For FCT, Rivers Elections

Senate President Bukola Saraki (3rd left), Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah (left), Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhana (right), Executive Director, Centre for Citizens With Disabilities, Mr David Anyaele (4th right) and other members of the centre during their visit to the Senate President at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.
The Independent Na
tional Electoral Commission (INEC) is to deploy a total of 36,335 permanent and ad-hoc staff for the conduct of the Rivers State rerun elections and the Area Council elections in Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Both elections are scheduled to hold on March 19.
The INEC in its bulletin on Wednesday in Abuja said that 26, 402 staff would conduct the Rivers State rerun elections, while 9,933 of its staff would organise the council elections in the FCT.
The staff are made up of assistant presiding officers (APOs), presiding officers, supervising presiding officers (SPOs) collation officers and Returning Officers.
The bulletin noted that the Rivers State court-ordered re-run elections which has three senatorial constituencies, 12 federal constituencies and 22 state House of Assembly elections with a total of 2,538,535 registered voters will be manned by 17,673 Assistant presiding officers (APOs 1,11,111); 24,573 presiding officers (POS); 444 supervising presiding officers (SPOs); 341 collation officers; 37 Returning officers and 1,007 Reserves.
According to the bulletin, the Rivers State re-run elections will hold in 22 out of the 23 local government areas, and in a total of 4,442 polling units across the state. It further stated that the FCT Area council elections, with a total of 1,020, 799 registered voters in six Area Councils will be conducted by 6,624 Assistant presiding officers (APOs 1,11,111); 9, 375 presiding officers; 62 supervising presiding officers, 62 collation officers, 6 Returning Officers with 428 Reserves.
Meanwhile, the INEC has approved the use of continuous ( simultaneous) accreditation and voting of the FCT chairmanship and area council elections.
The commission said the election will commence at 8.00 am and end at 2pm.
Politics
Gov Alia Appoints TuFace As Adviser

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Politics
Oborevwori, Okowa Dump PDP For APC

Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Politics
Speakers Conference Tasks FG, Governors On Wanton Killings
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.
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