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Economy

Stakeholders Urges Electoral Reforms To Curb Godfatherism, Strengthen Integrity

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Osun LG Election

Stakeholders Urges Electoral Reforms To Curb Godfatherism, Strengthen Integrity

Stakeholders urges electoral reforms to curb godfatherism, strengthen integrity. An Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officer uses a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine during the general election in Ibadan, Oyo State February 25, 2023.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral reform processes have called for urgent action to eliminate godfatherism and strengthen the country’s electoral integrity.

Speaking at the subnational strengthening democracy conference held in Lagos on Thursday, the stakeholders noted that weak electoral integrity and godfatherism undermine democratic foundations.

The conference, with the theme “Pathway to good governance and political integrity” organised through a partnership between Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), brought together diverse stakeholders from academia, political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional leaders, and governance experts to assess democratic progress and propose actionable reforms at the subnational level.

The conference highlighted how political godfatherism, electoral fraud, and weak institutions erode free and fair elections, discourage credible leadership, and diminish public trust in the electoral process.

Itia Otabor, director of strategy at the Centre LSD, called for the strengthening of democratic institutions at the subnational level.
especially after the national conference due to the decay in democratic values in recent times.

Otabor expressed concern over weak institutions, poor internal party structures, and the lack of ideological consistency among political parties.

He noted that without strong democratic institutions and well-structured parties, Nigeria’s democracy would remain unstable.

Asekere Olujoke, a senior lecturer in the department of mass communication at the Yaba College of Technology, stressed that while credible and peaceful elections are essential for democracy, they are not enough.

“One key determinant of a flourishing democracy is the quality of institutions,” Olujoke said.

“Institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, the police, and other law enforcement agencies must be strengthened to ensure independence, efficiency, and accountability.

“These institutions must be capable of guaranteeing rights and checking abuse of office without fear or favour.
“For instance, the national assembly can pass legislation to grant financial autonomy to these institutions, ensuring that they are not beholden to the executive arm of government.

“These institutions should have financial adequacy and autonomy without strings attached. Attached to this is the appointment of commissioners of INEC.

“Such appointment must be transparent, and senatorial approval must be based on integrity and expertise. Operational autonomy and accountability mechanisms of these institutions are key to strengthening democracy.”

She called for legislative action to grant financial autonomy to electoral and judicial institutions to free them from executive interference.

Olujoke further emphasised that appointments to INEC’s leadership must be transparent, with senate approvals based strictly on integrity and expertise.

She also underscored the need for greater citizen participation in the democratic process, advocating for voter education, mobilisation, and increased civic engagement to promote informed electoral choices.

Kunle Adegoke, a senioir advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted the crucial role of stakeholders, CSOs, the media, security agencies, political parties, and INEC, in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.

He highlighted the importance of an independent judiciary in upholding electoral laws and ensuring justice in election disputes.

“A compromised judiciary is an albatross to the dispensation of justice,” he warned.

“It must be shielded from political interference to maintain public confidence in the system.

Osun LG Election

Stakeholders Urges Electoral Reforms

“The judiciary is key to guaranteeing effective mass mobilization and oversight, as it is the organ of government that can keep politicians and other political actors in check.”

On the role of security agencies, Adegoke stressed that their duty is to prevent electoral fraud, voter impersonation, ballot stuffing, and other forms of manipulation.

Adegoke noted that security agencies have often failed in this regard and called for urgent reforms to ensure they uphold electoral integrity rather than serve political interests.

Sylvester Odion Akhaine, a pro-democracy advocate and governance expert, described godfatherism as a major obstacle to credible elections, stressing that political parties must prioritise internal democracy.

“When a few powerful individuals determine who gets elected, democracy becomes a façade rather than a system that reflects the will of the people,” he stated.

Economy

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

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Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition

Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.

The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.

Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.

He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.

“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly

Lagos Assembly

“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”

Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.

Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.

He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.

Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.

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Crime

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

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EFCC Probes Man

EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video

EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,   on Tuesday, February 3, 2026  arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.

Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC Probes Man

EFCC

Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.

The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Dele Oyewale
Head,  Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026

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Economy

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

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National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.

Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.

Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.

Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

National Bank Of Kenya

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.

“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”

Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.

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