Breaking News
Senate Resolves: Burden of proof in electoral Matters Lies on Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
…As lawmakers call for stiffer penalties for electoral offenders, condemn defections and electoral violence
The Senate has proposed a major reform to Nigeria’s electoral process, seeking to shift the burden of proof in election petitions from litigants to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of the ongoing process to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and enact a new Electoral Bill, 2025.
Lawmakers made the proposal on Wednesday during debate on the general principles of the Bill for an Act to regulate the conduct of federal, state, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory. The bill was sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South).
INEC Must Be Held Responsible — Akpabio
Presiding over the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said INEC must be held accountable for the conduct and integrity of elections, stressing that the electoral umpire, being in custody of materials and logistics, should bear the responsibility of proving that elections were conducted in accordance with the law.
“I agree with Senator Dickson and other senators who have called for shifting the burden of proof in electoral litigations from litigants to INEC,” Akpabio said. “INEC is responsible for election logistics and conduct; it must therefore prove that the processes it supervises comply with the law.”
Dickson: Burden of Proof Must Shift to INEC
Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) argued that the time had come to reform Nigeria’s evidential standard in electoral disputes.
“The current rule that the challenger must prove irregularities unfairly handicaps justice,” he said. “INEC conducts the elections, appoints ad-hoc officials, collates and announces results; it should therefore bear the primary burden of proving that elections were conducted peacefully and lawfully.”
Dickson noted that Nigeria must consolidate democratic gains and strengthen electoral integrity, citing examples from Ghana and other African democracies. He urged the Senate to modernize the system, empower INEC to deploy more technology, and ensure adequate funding.
Oshiomhole: Election Violence Fuels Crime
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) decried the militarization of elections and the post-election surge in crime caused by unrecovered weapons.
“After every election, crimes rise because weapons given to hoodlums during elections are not recovered,” he said. “Even under the current laws, we can have credible elections if we have a change of heart.”
He urged security agencies to be properly guided on their roles during elections to prevent abuse of power and violence.
Dandutse: Defections Degrading Nigeria’s Democracy
Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina South) condemned political defections, describing them as “disgraceful and shameful,” and called for legal provisions to strip defectors of their seats.
“It is disgraceful to carry the people’s mandate to another party,” Dandutse said. “To restore the dignity of Nigeria’s democracy, we must ensure that people remain in the parties that brought them to office.”
He also urged that the number of registered political parties be reduced to not more than ten, arguing that many currently exist only on paper.
Senators Call for Stricter Sanctions and Electoral Reforms
Senator Sampson Ekong (APC, Akwa Ibom South) emphasized the need for a change of attitude toward electoral integrity, noting that laws alone cannot deliver credible polls without enforcement.
“We don’t lack the laws, but enforcement. We must ensure that results reflect the people’s will and that players see themselves as trustees of the people,” he said.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) also urged the inclusion of all elected political officeholders as delegates in party primaries to strengthen internal democracy.
The Senate will now proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Bill, 2025, where proposed reforms—including the shift of evidential burden to INEC, stronger sanctions for electoral offenders, and regulation of defections—will be critically reviewed.
Breaking News
Ogun State Government Announces Pension, Gratuity Backlog Clearance Between 2012 and 2020
The Ogun State Government has announced the clearance of pension and gratuity arrears owed to workers who retired between 2012 and 2020, reaffirming its commitment to the welfare of retirees.
The Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Dapo Okubadejo, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media parley organised by the Ogun State Ministry of Budget and Planning.
Okubadejo explained that the backlog was linked to the Defined Benefits Scheme, under which retirees receive monthly pension payments, stressing that the present administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has not defaulted on pension obligations since assuming office.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have not missed a single month of pension payment. What we inherited were arrears tied to the Defined Benefits Scheme,” he said.
According to him, annual pension payments rose from ₦6.7 billion in 2019 to ₦20 billion in 2025, with projections showing a possible increase to ₦40 billion by 2029.
He disclosed that the state had so far paid ₦23.3 billion in gratuities covering retirees from 2012 to 2020, alongside ₦32.8 billion in outstanding gratuities for local government retirees inherited by the administration.
Okubadejo added that between 2019 and July 2, 2025, the state disbursed ₦93.26 billion in pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme and ₦94.78 billion to local government pensioners.
He assured that the remaining backlog would be cleared as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) continues to improve, noting that over 300 workers who retired in July 2025 are currently receiving six-month palliatives pending the completion of their pension documentation.
The commissioner also described the newly approved Additional Pension Benefits (APB) as the first of its kind in Nigeria, adding that amendments to the state’s pension law would be pursued to formally integrate the scheme.
On the state’s fiscal outlook, Okubadejo revealed that the 2026 budget increased from ₦1.054 trillion in 2025 to ₦1.668 trillion, while Ogun’s economy expanded from ₦3.5 trillion in 2019 to ₦18.96 trillion in 2026.
He added that IGR grew from ₦50 billion in 2019 to ₦240 billion in 2025, with projections of ₦512 billion this year.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Olaolu Olabimtan, said the 2026 budget reflects strong fiscal reforms, noting an 85 per cent budget execution rate in 2024 and sustained financial stability.
Other commissioners highlighted sectoral achievements, including massive road construction, increased healthcare funding, rail extension plans, education support programmes, and expanded housing projects across the state.
African Democratic Congress, ADC, chieftain, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to focus on the country’s future and vote for a change in leadership.
Obi spoke at a meeting with Hausa/Fulani chiefs in Abuja on Wednesday.
“We have to talk about the future of our country. All of you know what is happening to our country today. That’s why we are campaigning that you vote out this government,” he said.
He described the situation in Nigeria as dire, citing insecurity, hunger and hardship.
“today we have insecurity across Nigeria. We have hunger across Nigeria. We are suffering across Nigeria. The only thing that is working in Nigeria today is bad news. Every morning you wake up is bad news,” Obi stated.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate said a new administration would prioritize social services.
“We’re urging you to vote for a change and bring a new Nigeria, where our children will be in school. Our hospitals will work,” he added.
Obi also questioned government spending priorities, particularly in the health sector.
“today, if you’re sick in Nigeria you’re praying to Almighty God because we’re now in a country where our president spends 360 billion to buy and refit his plane and spends 36 million in capital vote for the Ministry of Health. There’s nothing working,” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians to use their votes to usher in what he described as a “new Nigeria” focused on improving citizens’ welfare and restoring key public services.
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