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NBA Electoral Reform Committee Submits Expanded Proposals to NBA President
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Electoral Reform Committee, chaired by Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, on Monday, formally presented its expanded electoral reform recommendations to the NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN, at the Association’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The delegation included the Committee Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Ebewele, alongside members Victor Giwa, Mojirayo Ogunlana, and Christopher Areghan. The Co-Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Sam Itodo, was unavoidably absent due to another national assignment.
In his remarks, Dr. Ubani explained that the proposals were developed in response to long-standing concerns among members about the credibility, transparency, and inclusiveness of NBA elections. He stressed that the reforms are designed to rebuild trust, enhance participation, and set a new democratic standard for the Association.
Key highlights of the reform package include:
Strengthening the independence of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA).
Establishing a reliable and auditable digital voter register.
Deployment of secure, audited electronic voting infrastructure.
Early publication of timelines and consistent electoral guidelines.
Equal access to NBA-owned platforms for campaigns.
Creation of an independent Electoral Offences and Petitions Body.
Transparency in campaign financing and enforcement of a code of conduct.
Mandatory national and zonal debates.
Member sensitisation and digital literacy programs.
Effective collaboration with branches in monitoring elections.
Equal access to the voter database by all candidates at least 30 days before elections.
NBA President’s Response
Receiving the recommendations, Mazi Osigwe SAN commended the Committee for its diligent work and described the proposals as timely and progressive. He noted that some of the recommendations were already under consideration in the ongoing constitutional amendment process, particularly those relating to transparency and campaign finance regulation.
He further stated that candidates would be expected to express their interest early to ensure proper guidance through the electoral legal frameworks, thereby guaranteeing compliance with the ground rules.
The NBA President assured the Committee of the Association’s commitment to fair, credible, and transparent internal elections, which he said must reflect the same democratic standards that the NBA demands in Nigeria’s national elections.
On behalf of the Committee, Dr. Ubani expressed gratitude to the NBA President for the opportunity to serve and pledged the Committee’s continued support for the success of his administration. He emphasised that the reforms are intended to strengthen the NBA as a model of internal democracy.
The expanded proposals are regarded as one of the most comprehensive reform efforts yet to address challenges in NBA elections, and are expected to help shape the conduct of future elections within the Association.
The management of Dangote Refinery has terminated the employment of all its Nigerian workers.
The statement to this effect was shared on X, Wednesday, by a political commentator, Imran Wakili.
“Dangote Refinery has officially laid off all of its Nigerian workers under the guise of “reorganization”, less than 24 hours after 90% of them joined PENGASSAN,” he wrote.
Wakili said the development comes less than 24 hours after 90 percent of them joined the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN.
According to a memo dated September 25, 2025, and signed by the Chief General Manager of Human Asset Management, Femi Adekunle, Wakili posted on X, the company said the decision was taken as part of a “total re-organisation” of the plant following reported cases of sabotage in different units of the refinery.
The notice directed affected staff to surrender all company property in their possession to their line managers and obtain exit clearance.
The finance department was also instructed to compute benefits and entitlements for payment in line with terms of employment.
The refinery’s management thanked the dismissed workers for their services while in its employment.
DAILY POST reports that Dangote refinery and PENGASSN have been embroiled in a trade dispute over unionization issue.
DailyPost
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been asked to investigate the financial activities of the former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.).
Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, through a public interest law firm, has petitioned the ICPC Chairman, stating that Rivers State received at least N283.3 billion under Ibas’ watch between March 18 and September 17, 2025, excluding Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
According to figures cited from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the amount comprised N36.6 billion in local government allocations for January and February 2025, previously withheld, and N246.7 billion in state and local government allocations between March and June 2025.
“Despite these massive inflows, there is little to no evidence of projects or tangible development carried out by his administration,” the petition alleged.
The group claimed the only visible project was the “cosmetic renovation and painting” of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
The law firm further accused Ibas of failing to publish the mandatory budget performance reports for Q2 2025, in violation of transparency laws.
It also faulted comments attributed to his media aide, Hector Igbikiowubu, suggesting that the former administrator was not accountable to the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Equally troubling are recent statements credited to him, dismissing the authority of the Rivers State House of Assembly to probe his financial conduct. He insists that because he was appointed by the President and supervised by the National Assembly, he was only answerable to them,” the petition read.
The firm urged the ICPC to probe how the ₦283.3bn was applied, determine if misappropriation occurred, and hold Ibas accountable if wrongdoing is established.
“It is in light of the foregoing that we respectfully demand that the ICPC probe the financial expenditure of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), ascertain how the total amount of N283.3bn was applied, and investigate whether any acts of misappropriation, diversion, or abuse of office occurred during this period,” the petition stated.
Ibas, a retired naval chief and former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 as Sole Administrator of Rivers State after the declaration of a state of emergency.
His six-month appointment sparked controversy over its constitutionality and the concentration of executive powers in an unelected administrator. He handed over on September 17, 2025, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers House of Assembly were reinstated.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, disclosed that her 65th birthday anniversary fund-raising drive has so far yielded N20,456,188,924.93, with donations still trickling in.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu said the donations would go toward completing the long-abandoned National Library project, a cause she described as deeply personal.
“This is not the first or second time I have raised money for a worthy cause,” she noted, recalling that at her 45th birthday, she raised N50 million for the completion of the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, and at 50, mobilized N200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities.
She dismissed speculations of political undertones behind the project, insisting that her focus was on nation-building and giving back.
Citing inspirations from writers like Khalil Gibran and former U.S. President John F. Kennedy, the First Lady said: “It doesn’t take much to do good. Most of the work I’ve ever done is not something new; I just make it look big, and at the end of the day, it turns big.”
Mrs. Tinubu traced the history of the National Library project, initiated in 1981, approved in 2006 with a budget of N8.2 billion, and later reviewed to over N23 billion.
She emphasised that with collective will, Nigerians can deliver the 11-story structure within two years.
“I have played my part. The Oluremi@65 Fund will close in December. Nigerians can still donate until then. But to the glory of God, we already have over N20.4 billion and it is still growing,” she declared.
The First Lady expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and his wife Nana, former First Ladies, National Assembly leaders, state governors, captains of industry, including Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Jim Ovia, Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), as well as royal fathers, among others, for their goodwill and support.
She pledged that the names of all donors would be published in national dailies as a mark of respect and accountability.
