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Idara Jerome, Uyo Female youths in Akwa Ibom State have been given a fresh opportunity to contest for the position of village youth president, with the State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Ekerette Ekanem, disclosing this on Monday. Declaring that gender should no longer constitute a barrier to grassroots youth leadership, Ekanem, during a live programme in Uyo, urged young women across the state to take advantage of the opportunity and actively participate in the leadership of their communities. He said women had demonstrated their capacity to lead at the highest levels, stressing that there was no reason they should be excluded from village youth leadership. “If women can become presidents of countries, they can also become village youth presidents,” he said. The Commissioner also disclosed that village youth presidents across the state would henceforth serve a three-year tenure, with an opportunity to seek a second term after the expiration of their first tenure. According to him, the new tenure arrangement takes effect from 2026, irrespective of how long an incumbent may have previously served. “The tenure we are talking about starts from this year. What this means is that even if someone has been a president in the past years, his three-year tenure commences this year,” Ekanem explained. He further announced that elections for village youth presidents in the state’s 2,272 villages would henceforth be conducted simultaneously, saying the arrangement would provide a common tenure cycle and ensure greater uniformity and coordination in grassroots youth leadership. The Commissioner said the Ministry was currently collating data on the 2,272 village youth presidents as part of an ongoing verification exercise, adding that the eligible age limit for the position was clearly stated on the validation forms being used. He explained that the exercise was aimed at establishing an accurate and credible database of youth leaders across the state, after which duly verified village youth presidents would be integrated into the state’s security architecture through the Ibom Community Watch. Ekanem said the integration would strengthen community-level intelligence gathering and security coordination, considering the strategic position of village youth leaders in their respective communities. He commended Governor Umo Bassey Eno for his commitment to youth development, while calling on village heads, traditional rulers and other community stakeholders to cooperate with youth presidents and support them in carrying out their responsibilities. The Commissioner said the ongoing reforms were designed to build a more coordinated, inclusive and effective youth leadership structure capable of contributing meaningfully to peace, security and development at the grassroots.

The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions has called for stronger cooperation among financial regulators, lawmakers and industry experts to improve Nigeria’s financial system and support economic growth. ARISE News reports that the committee made the call during an expanded stakeholders’ engagement held in Lagos over the weekend, attended by representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and Nigeria Export-Import Bank (NEXIM). The committee chairman, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, represented by Senator Osita Izunaso, said current economic challenges, including inflation, cybersecurity threats, low insurance penetration and global uncertainties, required closer coordination among stakeholders. According to him, “The effectiveness of monetary policy, the strength of our financial safety nets, the soundness of our banking institutions, the vibrancy of the insurance industry and the availability of export finance are all interdependent components of a stable and well-functioning financial architecture.” He said the theme of the engagement, “Strengthening Financial System Architecture for Sustainable Economic Growth and Stability in Nigeria,” was designed to encourage greater cooperation across different areas of the financial sector, adding that the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to examine challenges facing the sector and propose practical measures to address them. He added that the Senate wanted a financial system that could withstand economic pressures while remaining capable of meeting the needs of Nigerians and supporting long-term economic development. “The Senate is committed to ensuring that our financial system is not only resilient but also responsive to the needs of our people and capable of supporting sustainable economic growth,” he said. He further said that the Senate remained committed to reforms that would strengthen financial institutions, expand financial inclusion, attract investment and support businesses. The Commissioner for Insurance and CEO of NAICOM, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, commended the committee for its interventions in the insurance sector. Omosehin said 43 insurance companies had completed recapitalisation under the sector’s reforms and urged the House of Representatives to ensure the speedy passage of the Insurance Regulatory Commission Bill for presidential assent. Financial and economic experts at the engagement also presented recommendations on improving regulatory coordination, strengthening public confidence and creating a more resilient financial system.

The Nigerian Army has ordered officers and soldiers deployed for the August 15 Osun State governorship election to stay away from polling units and avoid any action that could undermine the credibility of the election. According to ARISE News, the directive was issued by the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, during a briefing with troops assigned to election security duties at the Engineer Construction Command (ECC) in Ede, Osun State. Mahmuda urged the officers and soldiers to conduct themselves professionally and avoid intimidating voters, taking sides or engaging in activities that could compromise the integrity of the election. He said the military’s involvement was primarily to assist civil authorities in maintaining security during the exercise, with the Nigeria Police Force retaining responsibility for the overall coordination of election security. The operation, codenamed Operation SAFE CONDUCT, will see the Army provide security support to the Nigerian Police Force outside polling locations, while troops are expected to respond to security threats only when their intervention is required. Mahmuda further reminded the personnel that their conduct during the election would be critical to ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process.

Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has shared what appeared to be Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result on his Instagram Story. Davido, who is the nephew of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has been actively supporting his uncle’s re-election campaign ahead of the August 15 governorship election. He has participated in campaign rallies and appealed for a peaceful, free and fair election in the state. The singer shared the result on Friday without adding a caption or explanation to the post. Punch reported that the post came a day after Okpebholo, while campaigning for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, mocked Adeleke over his dancing. According to the report, Okpebholo questioned Adeleke’s leadership style during an APC campaign rally, suggesting that his frequent dancing was distracting him from governance. “Before somebody signs paper, he will dance. Are you not tired? For four years, this man has been dancing. Before he takes breakfast, before he drinks tea, he will dance,” Okpebholo said. The Edo governor also urged voters to collect money from political opponents but vote for the APC candidate in the August 15 governorship election. Davido did not state the reason for sharing the result and did not provide any explanation alongside the post.

Idara Jerome The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to approach the court and vacate the order freezing the Osun State Government’s account, saying the timing of the restriction was inappropriate, given the August 15 governorship election. In a statement titled “President Tinubu Directs EFCC to Vacate the Court Order Freezing Osun Government Account” on Thursday, Tinubu said he was deeply embarrassed by the timing of the agency’s action, noting that any action taken by an institution, especially at the federal level, is often attributed to him, even when he has no prior knowledge of it. “I must state that I feel deeply embarrassed, not by the EFCC’s exercise of its mandate or by a court order, but by the timing of the agency’s action. “This is so because every action taken by an institution of state, especially at the federal level, is always credited to me as the President, even when I may not have had any prior knowledge of the action,” he said. The directive followed the EFCC’s decision to impose a temporary 72-hour post-no-debit restriction on one of the state’s statutory allocation accounts over an investigation into the alleged diversion of about N11 billion. The President said that, with just a few days to the governorship election, the EFCC should not take action that gives the impression that the Federal Government was interfering with the election. “Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the Federal Government is being used to interfere with the election,” the statement said. Tinubu added that he had directed the EFCC to approach the court to vacate the order freezing the Osun account. “Accordingly, I have directed the EFCC to immediately proceed to the court to vacate the order and discontinue whatever action it has instituted against the Osun State Government in this regard,” he added.

Stephanie Peter The Osun State Government has rejected the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) allegation that N11 billion was looted from its accounts, describing the claim as an attempt to justify what it called an illegal action through unfounded accusations. In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, insisted that no financial misconduct had occurred. He further alleged that the EFCC was acting on the directive of the former Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to frustrate the current administration’s payment of palliatives to workers, a commitment the government said it had made months earlier. The statement followed the EFCC’s decision to place a temporary restriction on the Osun State Government’s account while investigating the alleged mismanagement of N11 billion in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds, Ecology Funds, and Intervention Funds. According to the EFCC, investigators detected multiple large transfers from the state government’s account to several corporate entities, prompting the commission to impose a temporary 72-hour post-no-debit restriction pending the outcome of its investigation. The anti-graft agency said the action was taken pursuant to the provisions of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Legal experts have noted that while the EFCC may impose a temporary post-no-debit restriction during an investigation, any extension beyond the stipulated period would generally require a court order. The issue has since become one of the major legal questions arising from the dispute. Responding to the action, the Osun State Government said all palliative payments to workers had already been completed before the restriction was imposed. “Fortunately, we have paid all the palliatives to Osun State workers,” the statement said. The statement added that the initiative was introduced to cushion the impact of the country’s economic hardship. The government also maintained that the subsidy programme was not the first of its kind and alleged that the EFCC’s investigation was politically motivated. It further stated that “there is no fund to loot in Osun State,” arguing that the state’s resources are being channelled into infrastructure projects, workers’ welfare and sectoral development for the benefit of residents. The government also accused the EFCC of conducting what it described as a “witch-hunt” since March 2026, alleging that senior government officials had been subjected to repeated invitations and harassment intended to distract them from governance. It maintained that if the anti-graft agency had credible evidence of wrongdoing, it should have followed established legal procedures rather than freezing the state’s accounts. “There are established procedures for bringing suspects to book instead of a politically motivated and unlawful freezing of government accounts without recourse to the rule of law,” the statement said. The statement concluded by describing the allegations as false and an attempt to justify what it called an illegal action, insisting that the commission’s claims would neither withstand judicial scrutiny nor sway the court of public opinion. The EFCC has maintained that its investigation is based on intelligence reports and financial records, and that the temporary restriction was necessary to preserve the funds pending the outcome of its investigation.

Stephanie Peter The Take It Back Movement on Wednesday staged coordinated protests in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and other parts of the country, demanding government action on insecurity, economic hardship and other national issues. According to The Guardian, the demonstrations, held under the theme “Festival of the Oppressed,” saw protesters call for the rescue of Nigerians held captive by bandits and kidnappers, the implementation of a N500,000 national minimum wage, the withdrawal of charges against activist Omoyele Sowore, and urgent government intervention over reported xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. In Abuja, Sowore joined protesters carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Nigeria is Bleeding,” “Rescue Our People Now,” “Free All Political Prisoners,” “No to Xenophobia,” and “Revolution Is the Answer.” Addressing journalists, Sowore described the protest as a reminder of what he called the need for an “imminent revolution.” He reiterated the movement’s demands, including a N500,000 monthly minimum wage for Nigerian workers, the release of Nnamdi Kanu, and the withdrawal of ongoing cybercrime and treason trials involving activists and other Nigerians facing charges over criticism of the government. “We have several demands that we must reiterate here. They include that Nigerian workers must be paid N500,000 per month as the minimum wage. We have also asked that they release Nnamdi Kanu from unjust and unlawful detention. “They should discontinue all forms of trial, whether it’s cybercrime or treason trials, against activists and Nigerians who are raising their voices against bad governance in this country,” he said. Sowore added that the movement would continue its nationwide actions and urged Nigerians to join the campaign. In Lagos, protesters gathered in the Maryland area, chanting solidarity songs and pro-democracy slogans before security operatives dispersed them with tear gas. Reacting to the development, the Head of Legal Aid of the Take It Back Movement, Bolaji Oluwatosin, condemned the disruption of what he described as peaceful demonstrations against economic hardship and insecurity. He argued that the action violated citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, accusing the Nigeria Police Force of targeting lawful protesters instead of focusing on its constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property. Oluwatosin maintained that the movement would not be discouraged by what he described as state intimidation, adding that its protests would continue until its demands are met. The Presidency and the Nigeria Police Force had not publicly responded to the protesters’ demands or the allegations raised by the movement as of the time of filing this report.

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) decision to freeze the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account, warning that the move could weaken public confidence in the forthcoming governorship election. According to Punch, Atiku said in a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, that the anti-graft agency’s decision to place a restriction on the account just days before the August 15 governorship election has sparked concerns over the independence of institutions charged with ensuring fairness in the electoral process. The former vice president said freezing the state’s principal operational account days to the poll could disrupt governance, delay workers’ salaries, hinder essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation. “It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election. “Such an action could disrupt governance, delay salary payments, impede essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation that has no place in a democratic society,” Atiku said. While acknowledging that the EFCC has a constitutional responsibility to investigate allegations of financial misconduct, he maintained that investigations must follow due process and should not create the impression of political interference, especially close to an election. “If there are legitimate concerns requiring investigation, the law provides due process. Anti-corruption agencies must not conduct themselves in a manner that creates the perception that they are being deployed to influence political outcomes or weaken elected governments at critical electoral moments,” he said. Atiku further alleged that there is a growing pattern of selective deployment of federal institutions against opposition controlled states, arguing that such actions diminish public trust and weaken democratic institutions. He called on the EFCC to reverse the restriction placed on the state’s allocation account, warning that the impact of the action would be felt more by ordinary residents than political office holders, stating that freezing the account would not only affect the government but also residents who depend on timely payment of salaries and essential public services. “Freezing the state’s allocation account is not merely an attack on the Osun State government; it is a direct assault on the people of Osun State, whose salaries, essential public services and daily governance stand to suffer. “The anti-corruption mandate of the EFCC must never be distorted into a political weapon against opposition governments,” he stated. He also urged all institutions involved in the conduct of the August 15 governorship election to be neutral and ensure that the people of Osun decide the outcome of the election. The statement was issued following the EFCC’s decision to place a “Post No Debit” restriction on Osun State Government account. The EFCC stated that the restriction was imposed as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in public funds and insisted that the action is not related to the forthcoming governorship election. Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has, however, alleged that the affected account is used for the payment of workers’ salaries and accused the EFCC of attempting to cripple the state’s operations on the eve of the election. The EFCC’s action has continued to generate reactions ahead of the governorship election, with political stakeholders expressing different views on the timing of the restriction, even as the commission insists it is carrying out a lawful investigation.

Fresh political tension has emerged in Osun State following reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed a key state government bank account under restriction less than two weeks before the August 15 governorship election. The affected account, domiciled with First Bank and reportedly used for the payment of workers’ salaries, was said to have been placed on “Post No Debit” status, raising concerns over the possible impact on government operations. The development came shortly after Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged that the anti-graft agency was planning to freeze the accounts of the state government and some senior officials in his administration. Reacting to the situation, the governor, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the reported action as an attempt to disrupt the activities of his administration on the eve of the governorship election. According to the statement issued on Wednesday, Adeleke insisted that the EFCC has no legal authority to freeze the accounts of a state government, maintaining that there was no justification for such action. A source close to the government, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that the restriction had already taken effect. “I can confirm that the state government account has been frozen by the EFCC. It is no longer an allegation. The governor will address the press shortly to update the public on the situation,” the source said. Although the reason for the restriction was not immediately clear, the development has heightened political anxiety in the state as preparations intensify for the governorship election. As of the time of filing this report, the EFCC had yet to issue an official statement confirming or explaining the action, leaving questions over the circumstances surrounding the account restriction unanswered.