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CSOs Slam Planned Rivers LG Polls as Illegal, Demand Immediate Halt and Restoration of Elected Governor

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CSOs Slam Planned Rivers LG Polls as Illegal, Demand Immediate Halt and Restoration of Elected Governor

By:Michael Mike

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has strongly condemned the planned local government elections in Rivers State, describing the move by the state’s Sole Administrator and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) as unconstitutional, illegitimate, and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

At a joint press conference held in Abuja, The Alliance of Civil Society Organisations for Expansion of Electoral and Democratic Space (ACCESS) and Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI) called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary, and President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and halt the scheduled August 30, 2025, elections.

The coalition’s spokesperson, Engr. Kenneth Eze, who also serves as the Executive Director of Speak Out Africa Initiative, described the proposed polls as “a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic framework and a clear violation of both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.”

“This is a joke taken too far. The imposition of a Sole Administrator in place of an elected governor is not just illegal, it is void ab initio. Now, an illegal administrator wants to conduct an election? That is a rape on our democracy,” Eze stated.

According to the coalition, the RSIEC’s announcement to conduct the LG polls violates Section 150(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires that local government elections be held not earlier than 90 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of the previous office holders. The 21-day notice given by RSIEC—from July 28 to August 30—falls far short of this legal threshold.

The group cited the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling that nullified the October 2024 local government elections in Rivers for similar procedural violations, including inadequate notice and failure to update the voters’ register. They warned that RSIEC appears to be on the same unconstitutional path again.

“Any election conducted by a government established on shaky legal grounds is dead on arrival. It will not withstand legal scrutiny, it will waste taxpayers’ money, destabilize the state further, and deepen public mistrust in democratic institutions,” Eze warned.

The coalition further criticised the federal government’s silence four months after declaring a controversial state of emergency in the state, which led to the removal of the elected governor and the appointment of a Sole Administrator—an act they claim lacks constitutional basis.

ACCESS and SOAI urged President Tinubu to immediately lift the state of emergency and reinstate the democratically elected governor to restore constitutional order and rebuild trust in governance.

“Democracy must be protected, not trampled. Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution is clear: No part of the Federation shall be governed except in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution,” the group said.

They concluded by demanding the immediate suspension of preparations for the August 30 elections, calling on INEC, the courts, and all relevant stakeholders to defend the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy and ensure Rivers State returns to constitutional governance.

CSOs Slam Planned Rivers LG Polls as Illegal, Demand Immediate Halt and Restoration of Elected Governor

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Troops neutralise terrorists, recover weapons, motorcycles in Sokoto

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Troops neutralise terrorists, recover weapons, motorcycles in Sokoto

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have neutralised several terrorists and recovered arms, motorcycles and rustled livestock during an encounter in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The troops, acting on credible intelligence on the movement of suspected terrorists attempting to move rustled livestock through the Maikujera general area, swiftly deployed to intercept the group.

During the operation, the advancing troops encountered an attempted ambush along the route. However, the troops responded with superior firepower, breaking through the ambush and neutralising several of the terrorists.

The remaining terrorists reportedly fled into the surrounding bush as the troops intensified their advance.

Items recovered during the exploitation included AK-47 rifles, motorcycles allegedly used by the terrorists and the rustled livestock.

The general area of Rabah and Maikujera is currently reported to be calm and stable, while troops remain deployed to maintain security.

The troops are also conducting routine patrols across the area to deter further terrorist activities and safeguard residents and their property.

Troops neutralise terrorists, recover weapons, motorcycles in Sokoto

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Troops arrest suspected ISWAP member, recover image of armed men in Borno

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Troops arrest suspected ISWAP member, recover image of armed men in Borno

By: Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai, working with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), have arrested a suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operative in Mairari town, Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.

The suspect, identified as Bubba Hamadu, 25, was arrested at about 2:22 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, by troops of Forward Operating Base (FOB) Mairari alongside CJTF members.

According to sources the suspect was subjected to preliminary interrogation following his arrest.

During the process, security personnel reportedly discovered a photograph on his mobile phone showing the suspect alongside unidentified individuals carrying AK-47 rifles.

The discovery raised suspicion about the suspect’s possible links with ISWAP elements operating within the area.

Items recovered from him included one Tecno mobile phone, an umbrella, an arrow, prayer beads, a mirror and an eye drop.

The military said Hamadu had been transferred into the custody of Headquarters Sector 3, Operation Hadin Kai, for further investigation and necessary action.

The arrest forms part of ongoing intelligence-led operations by troops and local security partners aimed at identifying and disrupting terrorist networks operating within the Lake Chad Basin.

Security forces have continued to rely on community-based intelligence, patrols and targeted arrests to identify suspected terrorists and facilitators in areas affected by insurgency.

The military said the general security situation across the theatre remained calm but unpredictable, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remained satisfactory.

Troops arrest suspected ISWAP member, recover image of armed men in Borno

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Israel Sends Life-Saving Ambulances, Medical Equipment to Nigeria

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Israel Sends Life-Saving Ambulances, Medical Equipment to Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria’s healthcare and emergency response capacity is set for a boost as Israel has donated a first batch of ambulances, medical equipment and wheelchairs to the country in what officials described as a demonstration of the growing humanitarian and health partnership between the two nations.

The consignment was handed over at the Port of Ashdod, Israel, with Nigeria’s newly appointed Ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Nkechi Linda Ufochukwu, receiving the items on behalf of Nigeria.

The development comes barely three weeks after Ufochukwu formally assumed her diplomatic assignment in Israel, following the presentation of her Letters of Credence to Israeli President Isaac Herzog on August 3. Her appointment has been linked to Nigeria’s renewed efforts to expand cooperation with Israel in healthcare, technology, innovation, agriculture, security and other strategic areas.

The medical donation, facilitated by Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical and disaster-response service, comprises fully equipped ambulances, medical devices and mobility aids, including wheelchairs.

The equipment is expected to strengthen emergency medical response and improve access to essential healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations and communities where emergency transportation and medical infrastructure remain inadequate.

Receiving the donation, Ambassador Ufochukwu expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Israeli Government and Magen David Adom, describing the gesture as an important expression of friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

She said the intervention would contribute to efforts to improve healthcare delivery and emergency response in Nigeria, while providing practical support to hospitals, emergency centres and communities in need.

The ambassador emphasised that the value of the donation went beyond the equipment itself, noting that stronger cooperation in healthcare could provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, technology transfer and the development of more resilient emergency medical systems.

The latest initiative also places healthcare among the practical areas through which Nigeria and Israel are seeking to translate their longstanding diplomatic relationship into tangible benefits for citizens.

Nigeria and Israel have maintained diplomatic relations for decades, with cooperation extending across agriculture, water technology, security, innovation, education and trade. Under the new diplomatic leadership in Tel Aviv, healthcare and technological cooperation have emerged as important areas for closer engagement.

Ufochukwu had, shortly after presenting her credentials, identified healthcare alongside trade and investment, agriculture and food security, technology and innovation, defence and security cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges as priority areas for her tenure.

The role of Magen David Adom in the initiative is also significant. Established in 1930, the organisation serves as Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster-response and blood-service organisation and operates an extensive emergency response network.

For Nigeria, where road crashes, insecurity, disasters and other emergencies continue to place pressure on already stretched emergency medical services, the availability of properly equipped ambulances can make a critical difference between delayed treatment and timely intervention.

Beyond transportation, modern emergency ambulances serve as mobile treatment units, allowing trained medical personnel to begin stabilising patients before they reach hospitals.

The donation therefore comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its emergency healthcare architecture and move towards a system capable of delivering faster and more coordinated responses to medical crises.

It is also expected to reinforce the humanitarian dimension of Nigeria-Israel relations, particularly as both countries explore practical areas of cooperation that can directly affect the welfare of their populations.

The consignment is expected to be deployed to appropriate healthcare and emergency-response facilities in Nigeria, where the equipment will support patient care, emergency transportation and disaster-response operations.

The handover was witnessed by officials of Magen David Adom, representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Health and members of the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Israel.

For Abuja and Tel Aviv, the initiative represents a shift from diplomatic goodwill to practical cooperation, with life-saving equipment becoming a visible symbol of a relationship increasingly focused on healthcare, innovation and technology transfer.

As Nigeria continues its drive to improve access to quality healthcare, the latest Israeli intervention could provide a foundation for broader cooperation in emergency medicine, medical technology, professional training and disaster preparedness.

The donation consequently offers more than immediate relief: it presents an opportunity for Nigeria to deepen technical collaboration with Israel and build emergency medical systems capable of responding more effectively when lives are at risk.

Israel Sends Life-Saving Ambulances, Medical Equipment to Nigeria

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