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Senate okays fresh primary if candidate dies before result announced
Senate on Thursday resolved that fresh primary election should be conducted if governorship or Presidential candidate dies before the announcement of election result.
Photo shows former governor of Kogi state, Audu Abubakar who died before the result was announced in last state gubernatorial election
The provision stipulates that the affected political party will conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days.
According to the provision passed by Senate in the amendment of electoral act Section (3) if after the commencement of the poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated dies,
“(a) The Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days
“(b) The political party whose candidate died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit a new candidate to the Commission to replace the dead candidate
“(C) Subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the Commission shall continue with the election, announce the final result and declare a winner.”
The amendment will address the Constitutional crisis that happened when former governor of Kogi state, Audu Abubakar died before the announcement of election result by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Senate is yet to conclude the consideration of the INEC amendment act.
THE INEC AMENDMENT ACT:
“Accreditation of voters, transmission of accreditation data, issuance of ballot papers to voters,
(1 ) A person intending to vote in an election shall present himself with his voter’s card to a Presiding Officer for accreditation at the polling unit in the constituency in which his name is registered.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall use a Smart Card Reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission from time to time for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate
(a) the genuineness or otherwise of the voter’s card;
(b) that the voter’s card presented by the voter is registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented;
(c) the biometric connection or otherwise of the intending voter with the voter’s card; and
(d) the number of duly accredited voters in the polling unit.
(3) An intending voter shall not be accredited to vote in an election if the voter’s card presented by him to the Presiding Officer is not
(a) a genuine voter’s card issued by the Commission to the intending voter;
(b) registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented, and
(c) biometrically connected to the intending voter.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) (c) of this section, the Presiding Officer on being satisfied that an intending voter is the owner of the voter’s card, may accredit the intending voter to vote in the election:
PROVIDED that where the number of voters accredited under this subsection exceeds ten percent (100/0) of the total number of registered voters in the polling unit, the Commission shall suspend the election in that unit and comply with subsection (3) (c) of this section at a later date, if the result of the election at that polling unit may affect the overall result in the Constituency.
(5) The Commission shall continue the conduct of an election suspended under subsection (4) of this section within 7 days of the suspension if the result of the election at that polling unit may affect the overall result in the Constituency:
PROVIDED that the Commission shall comply with subsection (3 ) (c) of this section.
(6) Subject to subsections (1 ), (2), ( 3) and (4 ) of this section, the Presiding Officer shall, upon confirming that the intending voter’s name is on the Register of Voters, issue him with a ballot paper and record by ticking on the Register of Voters that the intending voter, having been accredited, received a ballot paper to vote in the particular election.
(7) The number of intending voters whose names are ticked for accreditation on the Register of Voters under subsection (6) of this section shall not be inconsistent with the number of intending voters accredited under subsections (3) and (4) of this section.
(8) At the end of accreditation of voters, the Presiding Officer shall instantly transmit the total number of intending voters accredited to vote with all other voter accreditation data captured under subsection ( 3) and ( 4 ) of this section by secured mobile electronic communication to the:
(a) collation center at each level of collation of results to which the polling unit belongs in the constituency where the election is held; and
(b) central database of the Commission kept at the National Headquarter of the Commission:
PROVIDED that the Presiding Officer shall first record the total number of intending voters accredited to vote, with other relevant voter accreditation data from the polling unit, in forms or electoral documents as shall be prescribed by the Commission for this purpose from time to time.
(9) In respect of data of accreditation of voters, including polling unit results, for a particular election, the Commission shall not shut down its central database kept at its National Headquarter, until all election petitions and appeals pertaining to that election are heard and determined by the Tribunal or Court, as the case may be.
(10) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Act, a report issued by the Commission and certified by a designated official in the National Headquarter of the Commission showing the number of voters accredited under subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall be the conclusive record of accreditation of voters in an election.
(11) The result of an election in a polling unit shall be declared invalid, null and void either by the Commission or Tribunal or Court, as the case may be, if,
(a) in the case of the Commission, there is no record of accreditation directly from the Smart Card Reader or any technological device used by the Commission in that polling unit for accreditation of voters, or
(b) in the case of the Tribunal or Court, there is no certified report of accreditation issued by the Commission under subsection (11) of this section.
(12) A Presiding Officer who wilfully and knowingly contravenes any provision of this section that applies to him shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for at least 5 years, without an option of fine.”
“(3) If after the commencement of poll and before the announcement of the final result and declaration of a winner, a nominated candidate dies,
(a ) the Commission shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, suspend the election for a period not exceeding 21 days;
(b) the political party whose candidate died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, conduct a fresh direct primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit a new candidate to the Commission to replace the dead candidate; and
(c) subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection, the Commission shall continue with the election, announce the final result and declare a winner.”
“Accreditation of voters, transmission of accreditation data, issuance of ballot papers to voters,
(1 ) A person intending to vote in an election shall present himself with his voter’s card to a Presiding Officer for accreditation at the polling unit in the constituency in which his name is registered.
(2) The Presiding Officer shall use a Smart Card Reader or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the Commission from time to time for the accreditation of voters, to verify, confirm or authenticate
(a) the genuineness or otherwise of the voter’s card;
(b) that the voter’s card presented by the voter is registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented;
(c) the biometric connection or otherwise of the intending voter with the voter’s card; and
(d) the number of duly accredited voters in the polling unit.
(3) An intending voter shall not be accredited to vote in an election if the voter’s card presented by him to the Presiding Officer is not
(a) a genuine voter’s card issued by the Commission to the intending voter;
(b) registered at the polling unit in the constituency in which the card is presented, and
(c) biometrically connected to the intending voter.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3) (c) of this section, the Presiding Officer on being satisfied that an intending voter is the owner of the voter’s card, may accredit the intending voter to vote in the election:
PROVIDED that where the number of voters accredited under this subsection exceeds ten percent (100/0) of the total number of registered voters in the polling unit, the Commission shall suspend the election in that unit and comply with subsection (3) (c) of this section at a later date, if the result of the election at that polling unit may affect the overall result in the Constituency.
(5) The Commission shall continue the conduct of an election suspended under subsection (4) of this section within 7 days of the suspension if the result of the election at that polling unit may affect the overall result in the Constituency:
PROVIDED that the Commission shall comply with subsection (3 ) (c) of this section.
(6) Subject to subsections (1 ), (2), ( 3) and (4 ) of this section, the Presiding Officer shall, upon confirming that the intending voter’s name is on the Register of Voters, issue him with a ballot paper and record by ticking on the Register of Voters that the intending voter, having been accredited, received a ballot paper to vote in the particular election.
(7) The number of intending voters whose names are ticked for accreditation on the Register of Voters under subsection (6) of this section shall not be inconsistent with the number of intending voters accredited under subsections (3) and (4) of this section.
(8) At the end of accreditation of voters, the Presiding Officer shall instantly transmit the total number of intending voters accredited to vote with all other voter accreditation data captured under subsection ( 3) and ( 4 ) of this section by secured mobile electronic communication to the:
(a) collation center at each level of collation of results to which the polling unit belongs in the constituency where the election is held; and
(b) central database of the Commission kept at the National Headquarter of the Commission:
PROVIDED that the Presiding Officer shall first record the total number of intending voters accredited to vote, with other relevant voter accreditation data from the polling unit, in forms or electoral documents as shall be prescribed by the Commission for this purpose from time to time.
(9) In respect of data of accreditation of voters, including polling unit results, for a particular election, the Commission shall not shut down its central database kept at its National Headquarter, until all election petitions and appeals pertaining to that election are heard and determined by the Tribunal or Court, as the case may be.
(10) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Act, a report issued by the Commission and certified by a designated official in the National Headquarter of the Commission showing the number of voters accredited under subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall be the conclusive record of accreditation of voters in an election.
(11) The result of an election in a polling unit shall be declared invalid, null and void either by the Commission or Tribunal or Court, as the case may be, if,
(a) in the case of the Commission, there is no record of accreditation directly from the Smart Card Reader or any technological device used by the Commission in that polling unit for accreditation of voters, or
(b) in the case of the Tribunal or Court, there is no certified report of accreditation issued by the Commission under subsection (11) of this section.
(12) A Presiding Officer who willfully and knowingly contravenes any provision of this section that applies to him shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to imprisonment for at least 5 years, without an option of fine.”
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Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a fierce warning to Hamas, declaring that Gaza City will face complete destruction if the militant group refuses to accept Israel’s conditions for ending the war.
Katz, in a statement shared on social media on Friday, August 22, 2025, used sharp words to describe Israel’s next steps.
He said the “gates of hell” would open on Hamas if it failed to disarm and release all hostages.
“Soon, the gates of hell will open upon the heads of Hamas’s murderers and rapists in Gaza until they agree to Israel’s conditions,” Katz wrote.
He added that if Hamas refused, Gaza City would suffer the same fate as Rafah and Beit Hanoun, two cities previously flattened by Israeli offensives.
His comments mark one of Israel’s strongest warnings since the escalation of the conflict.
The minister’s remarks came only hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that negotiations had been ordered to free the hostages held in Gaza.
Netanyahu explained in a video address that Israel’s military operation in Gaza City would not stop during talks. “Defeating Hamas and releasing our hostages go hand in hand,” he said.
The prime minister also confirmed the mobilisation of 60,000 reservists to join the offensive.
Meanwhile, mediators have been waiting for Israel’s response to a ceasefire plan that Hamas accepted earlier in the week.
The proposal suggests a phased release of hostages, but Israel insists that only a deal ensuring the release of all captives at once will be accepted.
Israel’s hardened stance has sparked growing concern worldwide.
International leaders have cautioned that an expanded assault on Gaza City could worsen the humanitarian disaster already unfolding in the region.
Gaza’s health ministry says more than 62,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed since Israel’s military campaign began.
The United Nations considers these figures credible.
The war was triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack, which left 1,219 people dead in Israel, mostly civilians.
Since then, the conflict has intensified, with both sides showing little sign of compromise.
With Katz’s threat to turn Gaza City into rubble if demands are not met, the conflict appears to be entering an even deadlier stage.
The international community continues to press for a ceasefire, but Israel’s leadership insists that victory over Hamas and the release of all hostages remain its top priorities.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the circulation of fake Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachets in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, August 22, 2025, the agency explained that the counterfeit milk is packaged to look like the discontinued Cowbell “Our Milk,” but it is unauthorised and unsafe for consumption.
NAFDAC clarified that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, the authentic manufacturer, stopped producing Cowbell “Our Milk” in September 2023.
The product was replaced with Cowbell “Our Creamy Goodness.” Despite this, fake versions of the old product have found their way into Nigerian markets.
Picture of Fake cowbell milk.
The counterfeit sachets bear the brand name, NAFDAC registration number, and familiar packaging design, making them difficult for unsuspecting buyers to identify as fake.
Health Dangers of Fake Cowbell Milk
NAFDAC warned that the consumption of these counterfeit products poses serious health risks.
Fake milk could contain toxic chemicals, harmful additives, or diluted ingredients that endanger human health.
Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are the most vulnerable. Possible dangers include:
- Foodborne illnesses
- Allergic reactions
- Organ damage
- Long-term health complications
- In extreme cases, death
Counterfeit Product Details
- Product Name: Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet
- Purported Manufacturer: Promasidor Nigeria Ltd
- Production Date: 04/2025
- Expiry Date: 12/2028
Picture of original cowbell milk.
NAFDAC Issues Strong Warning
The agency urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and avoid purchasing the counterfeit milk.
Healthcare professionals, distributors, and consumers have been advised to report suspicious sales of substandard or fake products immediately.
Reports can be made through:
The nearest NAFDAC office
Toll-free line: 0800-162-3322
Email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
NAFDAC also called on traders and retailers to stop selling the fake sachets.
The agency assured the public that strict enforcement measures are being taken to remove the counterfeit products from circulation.
This is not the first time Nigerians have faced risks from fake food and beverages.
Experts warn that counterfeit consumables are becoming more sophisticated, often making them difficult to spot.
Consumers are advised to always check product details, expiry dates, and packaging changes announced by manufacturers.
By highlighting the dangers and raising awareness, NAFDAC says it hopes to protect Nigerians from avoidable health crises linked to fake milk products
Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has slammed the Federal Government’s approval of ₦142 billion for the construction of bus terminals across Nigeria, describing it as a reckless misplacement of priorities.
Obi issued a statement on Friday, August 22, via his Official X formerly Twitter platform, warning that the project reflects poor leadership and lack of focus in managing Nigeria’s limited resources. He titled his statement, “₦142 Billion for Bus Terminals.”
According to him, the true test of leadership is how scarce resources are prioritized.
He stressed that investing such a huge amount in bus terminals while critical sectors like healthcare suffer shows a government that is out of touch with citizens’ realities.
Obi said: “The difference between success and failure in any nation is how leaders prioritise resources.
The decision to spend ₦142 billion on six bus terminals exposes a lack of competence and vision. It is a clear sign of poor leadership.”
The Federal Executive Council had recently approved the funds for the construction of one modern bus terminal in each of the six geopolitical zones.
The government described it as part of efforts to modernise transport infrastructure and improve mobility nationwide.
But Obi strongly disagreed. He compared the allocation to healthcare funding, pointing out that the combined budget for all teaching hospitals and federal psychiatric centres in Nigeria is less than ₦100 billion in the 2024 budget.
“This is disturbing,” Obi continued, “because health remains one of the most critical sectors of development. Yet it is underfunded and deteriorating rapidly.
The World Health Organization has reported that over 20 million Nigerians live with mental health conditions.
This is a tragic irony. How can the government ignore this crisis and focus on bus terminals?”
He argued that the health sector, alongside education and poverty reduction programs, deserves priority attention.
Obi insisted that until government spending reflects the real needs of Nigerians, the country will remain trapped in poor governance.
Many Nigerians have also taken to social media to express anger, echoing Obi’s concerns. Critics argue that the decision proves the Federal Government is disconnected from the economic struggles of ordinary citizens.
For Obi, the ₦142 billion project is not just a case of wrong timing.
He sees it as a clear example of governance failure and misplaced priorities.
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has strongly criticized the treatment of Nigerian football legends, vowing never to encourage his son to set foot in Nigeria due to the neglect shown to the country’s sports heroes after their deaths.
Speaking passionately during the burial ceremony of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai, in a video shared by News Central on Friday, the former Inter Milan star expressed his deep disappointment with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning Rufai’s family during their time of need.
“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association, and yet they drop the entire burden on the family,”West lamented.
He revealed how deeply Rufai’s passing affected him, saying: “My mother passed on, I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands, I never shed tears. But when Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples all over my body. Tears were rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?”
West didn’t hold back in recalling similar neglect faced by other late football icons like Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha.
He condemned the consistent abandonment of ex-players who had sacrificed so much for the country, stating that such treatment discourages him from allowing his children to represent Nigeria in football.
“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family”, he said.
The former defender also highlighted the financial struggles faced by Rufai’s family, revealing that they had to solicit funds from friends and well-wishers just to cover burial costs.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness”, he exclaimed, visibly frustrated.
Peter Rufai, fondly known as “Dodo Mayana,”was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during the nation’s victorious 1994 Africa Cup of Nations campaign and its debut at the FIFA World Cup the same year.
He passed away in July 2025, leaving behind a legacy that has reignited conversations about the lack of support and respect for retired athletes in Nigeria.
A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on Friday morning in Amakpu Okuku community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, as residents discovered the lifeless body of a man in his 50s, identified simply as Odomma, who reportedly died by suicide.
The father of four, who earned a living selling water in jerry cans and buckets, had been battling severe financial hardship, leaving him unable to adequately provide for his family.
Odomma’s body was found hanging in an unfinished building near his home, a grim discovery that shook the community as locals went about their daily routines.
According to residents, Odomma had expressed frustration about his struggles months earlier, threatening to end his life due to the alleged neglect by his wife and children, who reportedly stopped providing him with food because he couldn’t support the household.
A community member, Ikenna, shared insights into Odomma’s despair, saying:
“He said if the situation continued, he would take his life to end the misery. We advised him to report the matter to the village head for settlement. Sadly, he chose this path. Just see how this man ended his life because of money. He could have sold his GP tank or generator to get food, but he decided to take his life. Now others will gather to eat, and he won’t be part of it.”
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as dozens of residents rushed to the unfinished building, some capturing videos of the lifeless body on their phones.
Known for his affordable water sales, with prices starting from ₦100, Odomma was regarded as a hardworking man, though visibly depressed in recent months.
Efforts to confirm the incident with the Imo State Police were inconclusive. Police Public Relations Officer Henry Okoye initially promised to verify the details with the Divisional Police Officer in Owerri West but could not be reached for further updates as of the time of this report.
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