News

Electoral Act Amendment Was Tinubu’s Bill All Along, Says Rights Advocate Ene Obi — Calls on Nigerians to Rise Up

Published

7 months ago

February 21, 2026

Human rights and social justice advocate Ene Obi has come out swinging against the Electoral Act Amendment signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, declaring that the controversial legislation was the President’s project from the very start and that Nigerians must now rise up to protect their democracy before it slips further out of their hands.

Obi made her position known during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show, where she expressed deep frustration over both the content of the new law and the alarming speed with which it moved from passage to presidential assent. She pointed out that President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law barely 24 hours after the National Assembly passed it — a pace that, in her view, said everything about who the bill was truly designed to serve.

At the heart of the controversy is the question of electronic transmission of election results — a provision that civil society groups, opposition figures, and millions of Nigerians have consistently demanded be made mandatory and without conditions. Obi expressed disbelief that a ruling party that controls at least 30 state governors would still find itself afraid of real-time electronic transmission of results, arguing that the only reason to resist such transparency is a deliberate intention to leave the door open for manipulation. She described the National Assembly’s argument around network coverage as an insult to the intelligence of ordinary Nigerians.

Obi was not alone in her condemnation. She was among a group of prominent activists and politicians — including Prof. Pat Utomi, Femi Falana, and Oby Ezekwesili — who signed a joint statement under the Movement for Credible Elections, describing the new Electoral Act as a scam and a coup against the Nigerian people. The group accused the Presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of deliberately weakening mandatory real-time transmission of results and inserting vague failure clauses that could be exploited to undermine the entire process during elections.

The African Democratic Congress also did not hold back, with its National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi describing Tinubu’s swift assent as confirmation that the amendment was never about strengthening democracy. The party declared the law a death warrant for credible elections in Nigeria and vowed to mobilise citizens to resist any attempt to use the new provisions to manipulate the 2027 general elections.

For his part, President Tinubu defended the law at the signing ceremony, describing it as a gift to the nation and insisting that it provides a robust legal framework for INEC to operate without ambiguity. He maintained that computers cannot do everything and that human officials must still play a central role in finalising election results — a position his critics say is precisely the problem.

Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central, summed up the mood of many observers when he told Channels Television that nobody paying close attention to the legislative process could have been surprised by the outcome. He said the entire journey of the bill, from debate to passage to assent, was always pointed in one direction.

With INEC having already released its timetable for the 2027 general elections, the stakes could not be higher. Civil society groups have warned that they will escalate civic action, and the battle over this law is far from over. For Ene Obi, the message to Nigerians is clear — this is not the time to look away.

News

Akwa Ibom: Navy Rescues Two Kidnap Victims, Recovers Stolen Outboard Engines

Published

6 hours ago

October 2, 2026

lagoslatelytv

The Nigerian Navy has rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered several stolen outboard engines during an operation against suspected sea robbers and kidnappers in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.

The operation was carried out on September 30 by the Maritime Quick Response Team of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) JUBILEE in Ibeno, following intelligence reports about criminal activities targeting fishermen in the area.

The Director of Naval Information, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that the suspected criminals had been attacking fishermen, taking away their boats and stealing their outboard engines”

Suspects Flee as Navy Launches Pursuit

According to the Navy, its personnel encountered two boats believed to have been operated by the suspected criminals during the operation.

The occupants reportedly fled into nearby creeks after sighting the naval team, prompting the personnel to pursue them.

During the chase, the suspects abandoned one of their boats, which contained several stolen outboard engines and the two kidnapped victims.

The naval team subsequently rescued the victims and escorted them to safety, while the recovered engines were secured for verification and further necessary action.

Navy Intensifies Efforts to Track Suspects

The Navy said efforts were ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects, adding that the operation reflected its commitment to protecting lives and securing legitimate maritime activities across the country’s waterways.

Folorunsho also emphasised the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation with coastal communities in tackling maritime crimes.

He urged fishermen, residents of coastal communities and other maritime stakeholders to report suspicious activities and provide timely information that could help security agencies respond to threats.

The Navy reaffirmed its commitment to sustained patrols, search-and-rescue operations and intelligence-driven interventions to protect lives and property along Nigeria’s waterways.

News

So Fast? Rafael Leão Handed Portugal’s No. 7 Shirt as a New Era Begins 🇵🇹🔥

Published

1 day ago

October 1, 2026

lagoslately

Barely hours after football legend; Cristiano Ronaldo announced his departure from the national team camp, his iconic number 7 shirt has officially been given to Rafael Leão in a move that has set social media alive.

The No. 7 is among the most closely watched shirts in world football, and the speed of the handover is what has fans talking. There was no long gap between one chapter ending and the next beginning, and Leão is now the face of that change.

Leão, a left winger who plays his club football in Europe, has been a regular in the national setup in recent years. Taking over the shirt places him at the centre of Portugal’s attacking plans and gives him one of the biggest responsibilities in the squad.
Supporters are already debating whether he can carry the weight of the number.

Reactions online are split between excitement and nostalgia. Some see the announcement as a bold statement that Portugal is ready to move forward with a new generation. Others say it will take time to accept anyone else in the shirt. Either way, all eyes will be on Leão the next time he steps onto the pitch wearing it. 👀
Neither the Portuguese football federation’s full statement nor any comment from Leão himself had been widely reported at the time of writing, and further details are expected.
Is Leão the right man to inherit the No. 7 shirt? Tell us in the comments.

News

JAMB Extends Deadline for 2021–2025 Admission Offers to November 30

Published

2 days ago

September 30, 2026

lagoslatelytv

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for candidates with outstanding admission offers from the 2021 to 2025 admission exercises to accept or reject the offers.

The new deadline is November 30, 2026, giving affected candidates an additional two months to update their admission status on the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

JAMB had previously fixed September 30 as the deadline for candidates to take action on outstanding offers. The latest extension followed a temporary disruption of the CAPS platform, which was reportedly unavailable for about 96 hours.

JAMB Warns Candidates Against Missing New Deadline

The board described November 30 as the final deadline for candidates affected by the outstanding admission offers.

Candidates who wish to retain their previous admission offers are expected to log into their CAPS accounts and accept them. Those who no longer want the offers can reject them so that JAMB can update its records.

According to JAMB, candidates who accept their offers will be able to proceed with printing their admission letters.

The board also explained that candidates who are no longer studying at the institutions where they were previously offered admission, or who have changed programmes, may accept the outstanding admission and subsequently apply for the appropriate correction or deletion where necessary.

What Happens After November 30?

JAMB warned that candidates who fail to either accept or reject their outstanding offers by the new deadline will have the admissions reverted to “Not Admitted” on the board’s records.

Any subsequent request to update an admission record from the affected years will also attract the applicable penalty fee, according to the board.

JAMB further assured candidates who have already secured admission for the 2026 academic session that rejecting an outstanding admission offer from an earlier year will not affect their current admission.

The board urged all affected candidates to check their CAPS accounts and take the necessary action before the November 30 deadline.