₦airaland Forum

Parallex Bank Limited has successfully completed the recapitalisation requirement of the Central Bank of Nigeria, surpassing the ₦50 billion minimum capital threshold for regional commercial banks.

The milestone reinforces the Bank’s position as a financially resilient and strategically forward-looking institution within Nigeria’s evolving banking landscape.

The announcement places Parallex Bank among financial institutions that have complied with the apex bank’s directive aimed at strengthening the capital base of deposit money banks, improving financial system stability, and enhancing the sector’s capacity to support economic growth.

Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of the Bank, Dr. Olufemi Bakre, said the milestone underscores the belief that excellence, when consistently pursued, delivers sustainable results.

He added that the strengthened capital position will enable Parallex Bank to expand its lending capacity, deepen financial inclusion, and continue delivering innovative, customer-focused financial solutions across various segments of the economy.

The Central Bank of Nigeria had introduced the recapitalisation programme as part of measures aimed at ensuring a more robust and resilient banking system capable of withstanding economic shocks and supporting long-term economic expansion.

Bakre commended the Bank’s stakeholders, particularly the Board of Directors, for their strategic guidance, oversight, and timely support, which he said were instrumental in ensuring that the recapitalisation requirement was met within the stipulated timeframe. According to him, the Board’s commitment to strong governance and long-term value creation provided the foundation for disciplined capital planning and effective execution across the institution.

In today’s fast-paced world, not everyone needs a smartphone filled with apps and notifications. For many Nigerians, what matters most is a phone that makes clear calls, lasts long on battery, charges easily, and survives everyday use.

That’s exactly what the itel is delivering in 2026. Here are 3 recommended feature phones for you;


Why the itel it2167 Type-C Phone Is A Smart Choice for Everyday Nigerians.
This feature phone combines simplicity with modern convenience, offering reliable communication, durable build quality, and the added advantage of Type-C charging. Whether you’re buying a primary phone, a backup device, or something practical for parents or staff, the it2167 Type-C stands out as a dependable choice.

Let’s explore why this phone makes so much sense for everyday Nigerian life.




Built for Long-Lasting Battery Performance
Battery life is one of the biggest reasons people still choose feature phones and the itel it2167 Type-C doesn’t disappoint.

Designed to last several days on a single charge, this phone allows users to stay connected without constantly searching for power outlets. In areas with irregular electricity or for people who spend long hours outside, this extended battery life offers real peace of mind.

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One Charge, Several Days of Peace! Why you should get the itel it5600 New.
This feature phone is powerful with a long lasting battery for your everyday usage with a fast Type-C charging port. Let’s see why you should get this device.

Better Battery Life for Longer Days
One of the biggest reasons people choose feature phones is battery life. The itel it5600New takes this even further, offering extended usage that can last several days on a single charge, depending on how you use it.

For Nigerians who deal with unstable power supply or spend long hours outside, this improvement brings real peace of mind. You can make calls, send messages, and listen to FM radio without constantly worrying about charging.
Compared to older models like the it5606, the it5600New offers more confidence and fewer interruptions with a 1800mAh battery and can support 2500mAh battery.



Improved Design for Everyday Comfort
The itel it5600 New features a refreshed design that feels more solid and comfortable in hand. Its keypad is responsive, making dialing easier, while the screen offers better clarity for reading messages.

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Useful Features That Make Life Easier
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Tired of Charging Every Day? The itel it5363 Promises Up to 45 Days Standby

In a time when most smartphones struggle to last a full day without charging, a feature phone like the itel it5363 is reminding Nigerians that battery life can still be a major advantage.
One of the standout features of the itel it5363 is its impressive battery performance, offering up to 45 days of standby time. This means users can go for weeks without worrying about constantly searching for a charger. For people who need a reliable backup phone, travelers, traders, or anyone who simply prefers long battery life, this is a big win.

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The phone also comes with a bright torch light, a feature many Nigerians still find very useful during power outages or when moving around at night.
In terms of design, the durable metallic body gives the device a more premium look and added toughness, making it suitable for everyday use without worrying too much about wear and tear.
With its long battery life, practical features, and strong design, the itel it5363 proves that feature phones still have an important place, especially for users who prioritize reliability and simplicity over constant charging.


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Summary:

Whether you are looking for an affordable, sleek, durable, or long-lasting feature phone, the itel it2167 Type-C, it5600 New, and it5363 are perfect choices for you. Visit the nearest phone retail store today to get yours and enjoy a better life.

The AUG Foundation for Orphans and the Less Privileged, under the leadership of Malam Abdulhafiz Umar Barau (Dan Isan Gusau / Magayakin Tsafe), has continued its structured statewide humanitarian outreach with the distribution of food items and cash assistance to 150 vulnerable households in Maru and Bungudu Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

The intervention forms part of a systematic emirate-by-emirate distribution programme designed to ensure that all Emirate Councils across Zamfara State benefit from direct humanitarian support. Prior to the Maru and Bungudu phase, similar distributions had been conducted in Gusau, Tsafe, Dansadau, and Kwatarkwashi. Zamfara West is next in line as the Foundation progresses toward full statewide coverage.

Through this initiative, the Foundation continues to address food insecurity, economic hardship, and the growing needs of vulnerable households across communities.

150 Vulnerable Households Receive Direct Support

A total of 150 beneficiaries were carefully selected from various communities in Maru and Bungudu LGAs. The beneficiaries comprised widows, orphans, low-income families, unemployed youths, and other economically vulnerable individuals.

Each beneficiary received:
• One bag of rice
• ₦10,000 cash assistance

The support is aimed at cushioning the impact of economic challenges and strengthening community resilience at the grassroots level.

Speaking during the distribution exercise, the State Coordinator of the Foundation, Comrade Abdul Bala Gusau, stated that the outreach reflects the Founder’s deliberate commitment to inclusive and transparent humanitarian service across all zones of Zamfara State.

“This is not a one-off intervention. It is part of a structured statewide programme initiated to ensure that every emirate council and vulnerable community benefits from direct support,” he said.

He added that the Foundation remains committed to fairness, accountability, and sustained humanitarian impact.

Traditional Institutions Commend Initiative

Representatives of the Maru and Bungudu Emirate Councils commended Abdulhafiz Umar Barau for his consistency and grassroots-focused approach. They described the intervention as timely and impactful, noting that it directly addresses the needs of struggling households.

They also offered prayers for Allah to continue to grant the Founder strength, wisdom, and the resources necessary to sustain the Foundation’s humanitarian mission.

Separate from Upcoming Ramadan Programme

The Foundation clarified that the current distribution forms part of its ongoing statewide humanitarian rollout and is distinct from its upcoming Ramadan support programme, which will be launched separately.

The AUG Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its humanitarian footprint across all 14 Local Government Areas and Emirate Councils of Zamfara State through structured interventions in food relief, education support, healthcare assistance, and direct financial empowerment.

Joje Abebe Fertility Center has dismissed as false and defamatory a series of allegations circulating on social media against its Chief Medical Director, Dr. John Abebe, and the hospital.

In a public statement released by its management, the Abuja-based fertility center said the publications were “deliberately orchestrated and defamatory,” alleging that they were sponsored by one Adamu Hassan Turaki and his associates.

The management described the claims as “spurious, malicious and reckless,” insisting that they were calculated attempts to damage the institution’s reputation and erode public confidence in its services.

“For over a decade, Joje Hospital has built an impeccable reputation for clinical excellence, ethical medical practice and strict patient confidentiality,” the statement read, adding that its records speak for themselves and that it has not engaged in any conduct to justify the allegations being circulated online.

The center further stated that the widespread publication of the claims across multiple social media platforms was a calculated effort to mislead the public and cause reputational and commercial harm to its operations.

While declining to comment extensively on the substance of the allegations, the management confirmed that the matter is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction and that steps have been initiated to clear the hospital’s name.

The fertility center assured patients, partners and the general public of its continued commitment to high professional standards, ethics and patient care. It also expressed confidence in the judicial process, noting that its legal team is working to ensure that all relevant facts are presented before the court.

The statement concluded with an appreciation to patients and members of the public for their continued trust and support.

The atmosphere inside the Senate committee room was calm but expectant when Mark Okoye, managing director of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), began his presentation on the commission’s proposed N140 billion 2026 budget.

Over the next few hours, the session felt less like a normal budget defence and more like a clash between two different ideas of development — one focused on long-term planning and transforming the region, and the other focused on immediate spending and quick political gains.

Okoye’s presentation was structured, data-driven, and unapologetically ambitious.

He spoke about infrastructure renewal, industrial acceleration, disciplined capital mobilisation through the South East Investment Company (SEIC), and — notably — youth empowerment as the foundation of regional stability.

He outlined hackathons, innovation fellowships, structured internships, campus programmes, sports empowerment platforms, and entrepreneurship pipelines aimed at preparing Southeast youths for a competitive global economy.

“Our role is not only infrastructure; we have to work on the minds of our people,” he said at one point, emphasising that sustainable security must include economic and intellectual empowerment.

The room listened.

Orji Uzor Kalu, chairman of the committee, described the documents presented by the commission as “bankable”.

“This commission must not be a place for siphoning money. It must rekindle hope and drive economic development,” Kalu said.

Patrick Ndubueze, senator representing Imo north, stressed that the commission must think big , citing need for regional rail connectivity

Victor Umeh, Anambra Central senator, praised the groundwork laid despite funding delays.

“We have lost one year, you have taken time to work without money. But you have laid the foundation and critical plans to start the process,” Umeh said.

Emma Nwachukwu (Anambra south) and Ezenwa Onyebuchi (Imo east) also commended the structured outlook and emphasis on measurable outcomes.

There was a recurring theme: fiscal discipline, macro-projects, regional integration, and measurable impact.

Then the mood shifted.

Tony Nwoye, senator representing Anambra North, walked into the session midway through Okoye’s presentation.

He questioned aspects of the proposal, particularly around the security allocation, and appeared to dismiss parts of the strategic outlook.

Before extended deliberation could follow, he walked out.

It was abrupt.

Hours later, short clips of Nwoye’s comments started trending on social media — without the full context of the session or the strong praise that other lawmakers had given.

The timing raised eyebrows.

Inside the room, the tone had been constructive.

Outside, the narrative was being reshaped.

The clip suggested tension; the full session reflected legislative scrutiny alongside endorsement.

The Senate had, after all, endorsed the N140 billion proposal while insisting on fiscal discipline and measurable security outcomes.

The commission had clarified that N108 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure, with recurrent and personnel costs significantly lower.

It also disclosed that despite zero capital release in 2025, feasibility studies and institutional groundwork had been completed, and no salaries paid.

Yet the social media narrative focused narrowly on confrontation.

There is a bigger issue behind all this.

Development commissions in Nigeria often face the temptation of “micro-intervention politics” — distributing projects in ways that mirror constituency patronage.

In the Niger Delta, critics have long argued that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) drifted from its macro-regional mandate into fragmented, politically influenced spending.

Several lawmakers at the session appeared determined that the SEDC should not go that route.

The debate, therefore, was not merely about figures.

It was about philosophy.

Should a regional development commission focus on rail corridors, industrial hubs, youth venture capital, agricultural de-risking, and institutional reform?

Or should it prioritise dispersed, small-scale projects that satisfy short-term political expectations?

From the vantage point of the committee room, the majority leaned toward the former.

Outside the chamber, however, the battle for perception had begun.

If there was a lesson from that day, it is this: in modern governance, policy debates do not end in committee rooms — they continue online.

And sometimes, a 30-second clip travels faster than a 200-page strategic document.

Five Christian pilgrims from Plateau State were denied entry into Israel after arriving safely in Jordan.

The five are part of the first batch of 295 pilgrims from the state participating in the 2026 Holy Land pilgrimage.

They received visas valid only for Jordan and were stopped at the border from crossing into Israel the primary destination for Christians seeking sites linked to Jesus’ birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection.

Rev. Wanson Yusufu Bagu, Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, told our correspondent on Thursday that the full visa list arrived very late last week Friday afternoon, just before the Saturday orientation and farewell event.

“We could not resolve any issues due to the extremely short notice,” Rev. Bagu explained.

“I later discovered that some pilgrims had been issued visas only for Jordan and were denied entry to Israel. "

"Had we known earlier, we could have informed them in time, allowing them the option to either stay in Jordan or cancel their trip entirely.”

,"The news came as a major disappointment for Christians, Israel is where Jesus was born, where he taught, performed miracles, and fulfilled what we read in the Bible,” Rev. Bagu said.

“To prepare spiritually and financially, only to be told at the last minute that you cannot enter is very painful and unexpected.”

He noted that visa denials are not uncommon. “Even wealthy individuals get denied visas for the UK or USA and often have to reapply sometimes multiple times before succeeding.

"It is a normal occurrence in international travel."

According to Rev. Bagu, the Israeli embassy had already informed Jordanian authorities about the denials.

"As a result, the five pilgrims are not stranded as Jordanian officials have arranged good hotel accommodation, meals for their entire stay, dedicated cars with drivers, and tour guides. "

They will visit significant biblical and historical sites in Jordan and remain engaged in meaningful activities until the rest of the group completes their Israel programme and return.

The entire batch will then fly home together from Jordan .

The first batch was originally planned for 300 pilgrims, but 295 eventually travelled.

The Board has scheduled three batches in total, It forwarded 466 names to the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) for the second batch, with at least 350 expected to depart on March 5, 2026.

The third batch will also include at least 350 pilgrims, though the date is yet to be confirmed.


In total, the state requested approximately 1,100 slots, plus 13 carried over from the previous year, bringing the figure to nearly 1,120.

So far, around 800 people have been screened he added.


Addressing rumours of inflated costs, Rev. Bagu clarified that the state has not increased its sponsorship amount.

"The rise in overall expenses is due to exchange rate fluctuations a situation previously experienced with the Muslim Hajj. "

Bagu added that the federal government provided funding to the NCPC to cover two years of pilgrimages.

" The Board’s total budget for the programme does not exceed ₦4 billion, and claims of over ₦7 billion being spent are inaccurate."

"At the send-off ceremony, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang (represented by his Deputy, Josephine Piyo) urged the pilgrims to conduct themselves as worthy ambassadors of Plateau State and Nigeria. "

He encouraged them to pray fervently for the nation, the state, and its leader.

Bagu also reminded Christians of the biblical instruction to pray for those in authority rather than merely criticize them.

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has congratulated wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on her visit to Delta State on Thursday.

Dr Otuaro described the First Lady's one-day visit as a significant and welcome development for the government and good people of Delta State.

He expressed the confidence of PAP stakeholders and beneficiaries that Senator Tinubu's visit to the state would serve as an impetus to the Programme's drive for sustainable peace, security and development in the Niger Delta.

Dr Otuaro described the First Lady as a symbol of national peace and unity, which are cardinal pillars of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He highlighted the fact that Her Excellency is a compassionate leader, who has demonstrated empathy and support for the vulnerable in society through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

According to him, the First Lady is touching lives positively and giving hope, empowerment and succour to the needy across Nigeria.

"The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator (Chief) Oluremi Tinubu, CON, is a kind, empathic leader, and it takes a generous heart to be able to do the good things Her Excellency is doing to uplift humanity through her Renewed Hope Initiative.

"Her Excellency's project is a worthy legacy that will leave lasting impacts across the country", Dr Otuaro said.

The PAP Administrator further stated that Her Excellency's RHI was complementing the MORE Agenda of the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for the strategic development of the state.

He also said that her remarkable visit would remain a memorable event for many Deltans, who would continue to cherish the milestone achievements of a notable daughter of the soil.

Signed:
Mr Igoniko Oduma
Special Assistant on Media to the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme
26 February, 2026.

We live in an age where outrage is currency. The social-media marketplace is crowded with clout chasers and emotional merchants who feast on public vulnerability. They understand the algorithmic economy well: tug hard enough at the public’s heartstrings and the traffic, trends and applause will follow.

Increasingly, some have wrapped themselves in the badge of public office. In Nigeria’s Senate, where temperament is not cosmetic but constitutional, the rise of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan illustrates the danger of confusing legislative duty with perpetual performance. A legislature is not merely a debating chamber; it is a choreography of ego, procedure and compromise. When one dancer insists on performing a solo, the ballet falters.

Elected amid fanfare as Kogi Central’s first female senator, Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan entered the red chamber promising industrial revival, particularly around the long-moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company. Yet the promise of legislative craftsmanship has steadily been eclipsed by a pattern of confrontation that has left colleagues exasperated and constituents intermittently under-represented.

Her first misstep came on her very first day in the Senate. Displaying little familiarity with the chamber’s standing orders, she sought recognition at a procedurally inappropriate moment—an error that drew visible discomfort within the chamber. It was an early signal of a deeper problem: insufficient deference to institutional process.

The Senate is not a street protest; it runs on rules. Once the gavel falls, the floor is closed. Closed-door sessions, by definition, demand discretion. Yet the senator has often appeared restless to interject and quick to migrate from chamber confidentiality to media visibility. What might have been dismissed as rookie exuberance has hardened into a governing style.

By February 2025, routine internal disagreements metastasised into spectacle when she publicly resisted a seating directive issued by Senate leadership. The matter moved to the ethics committee. A six-month suspension followed. Rather than de-escalate, the episode thickened into trench warfare—petitions, counter-petitions and lawsuits. The chamber became courtroom; procedure became provocation.

Her defenders portray a principled dissenter challenging an exclusionary hierarchy. Her critics see something less flattering: antagonistic posturing, performative showmanship and a reluctance to undergo the quiet apprenticeship serious legislative work demands. The distinction is not academic. Parliamentary systems can accommodate dissent; they struggle to function amid permanent insurrection.

The most combustible theatre of her politics lies beyond the Senate floor. Her long-running feud with the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu—custodian of the very industrial dream she once championed—has turned policy disagreement into personal contest. Public exchanges over the fate of Ajaokuta, accusations of marginalisation, counter-accusations of grandstanding and a steady stream of media salvos have become routine.

The minister insists on phased reforms and investor engagement. The senator alleges opacity and inertia. What should have matured into robust, forensic oversight has instead calcified into animosity. The steel sector, fragile and capital-intensive, demands executive-legislative alignment. Instead, it has become collateral damage in a rivalry.

Nor has friction been confined to the executive. Within the Senate, disputes over committee placements and allegations of marginalisation have been aired with the cadence of grievance rather than negotiation. In mature legislatures, influence accrues quietly—through alliances, amendments and patient committee work. In Nigeria’s combustible polity, megaphone politics may win headlines but rarely secures votes.

The cost of this belligerent posture is not abstract. Legislative effectiveness depends on coalition-building. Bills require co-sponsors. Oversight requires goodwill. Budgetary insertions are negotiated, not seized. A senator perpetually at odds with leadership and ministers alike risks isolation. For Kogi Central, that isolation translates into diminished bargaining power at the federal table.

More troubling is the reputational bleed. Politics in Kogi has long wrestled with caricature—volatile, factional, combustible. A lawmaker who appears in constant combat only deepens that stereotype. Representation is as much symbolism as substance. When the symbol becomes disorder, the constituency suffers twice: once in lost influence, and again in public perception.

None of this absolves Nigeria’s institutions of their own deficiencies. Senate disciplinary processes must remain transparent and proportionate. Ministers must welcome scrutiny. But institutional reform cannot be prosecuted through perpetual rebellion. Public office is not theatre; it is stewardship. When optics consistently trump substance, constituents are short-changed.

There remains a fine line between courage and combativeness. Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan has shown ample reserves of the former. Whether she can temper the latter will determine if her legacy is industrial revival or institutional rancour. Legislatures are built on compromise. A senator at war with everyone may win applause outside the chamber. Inside it, she wins little else.

Babajide Fapohunda writes from Kaduna,Mashi Road.

There comes a moment in every meaningful journey when purpose becomes clear. For some, leaving home is an escape. For others, it is preparation.

For Olumide Kola-Lawal, it was always preparation.

Years ago, he left the shores of Nigeria with hope in his heart and determination in his hands, seeking knowledge, skills, and broader horizons. Across continents, he studied systems that function efficiently, institutions that deliver consistently, and leadership models defined not by rhetoric, but by measurable results. He experienced firsthand how transparent governance, innovation, and accountability can transform everyday life for citizens.

Yet distance never weakened his connection to home. If anything, it deepened it.

Because leaving was never about turning away from Nigeria. It was about gathering the tools necessary to return and build the Nigeria we deserve.

Today, as he continues his strategic stakeholder engagements and grassroots mobilization across communities in Lagos Central, that calling has only grown stronger. The pulse of our markets, the resilience of our small business owners, the creativity of our young people, and the determination of families striving for better lives are daily reminders of why this mission matters.

This is not politics as usual. It is service, grounded in lived experience.

What Lagos Central needs is not another cycle of promises. It needs practical solutions. Transparent leadership. Policies that open real opportunities for entrepreneurs, students, artisans, and professionals alike. It needs systems that work for the people, not against them.

The experience gained abroad must now serve our streets at home.

Kola-Lawal believes that sustainable development is not abstract theory; it is reliable power supply for businesses, quality education for children, accessible healthcare for families, and institutions that treat citizens with dignity. These are not luxuries. They are fundamentals of good governance.

And this campaign is bigger than one candidate.

It is a movement of Nigerians—at home and in the diaspora—who believe that our country is worth investing in. People who left to learn and are ready to return to build. People who know that global best practices can meet local realities to produce real progress.

The story is simple: we left, we learned, and now we return to build.

To build institutions that function.
To build communities that thrive.
To build a future our children will be proud to inherit.

The time to serve is now. And for Lagos Central, the time to rise together is here.



Olome Joseph writes from Nigeria

Sen. Seriake Dickson Advocates for Electronic Voting, Expresses Shock Over Resistance to Result Transmission

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, on Thursday participated as a discussant in a panel discussion on electoral reform organized by ActionAid Nigeria.

In his remarks at the event, the senator expressed gratitude to ActionAid Nigeria, other civil society organizations, and civic-minded Nigerians for their sustained concern and efforts to improve the country’s electoral laws. He specifically commended the peaceful manner in which these groups have voiced their positions and urged all Nigerians not to lose faith in the nation’s democracy or in the country itself.

Senator Dickson voiced deep shock at the ongoing debates, disagreements, and fears surrounding the electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria. He highlighted that elections are still conducted manually, through manual voting, manual counting, and manual entry of results onto result sheets—yet significant concerns persist about transmitting those same manually compiled results electronically. “That is shocking and speaks to where we are and who we are as a country,” he stated.

Drawing a stark comparison, the senator pointed to India’s electoral system, where the Election Commission enjoys broad trust and support from all stakeholders. Despite managing elections for over 980 million registered voters (with recent figures approaching or exceeding 990 million), immense ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity, and approximately one million polling stations, India conducts free and fair elections with minimal challenges. In contrast, Nigeria operates with about 176,000 polling units.

Senator Dickson reiterated his long-standing advocacy for full electronic voting in Nigeria, a position he has championed consistently. He argued that the country has “no business with excessive paperwork and manual voting,” which create opportunities for interventions, interferences, and human errors. Instead, he called on civil society groups to collaborate with lawmakers and stakeholders to advance electronic voting, enabling voters to cast ballots at polling stations with results recorded and monitored in real time.

While acknowledging the legitimate public demand for real-time vote monitoring, he noted that the current system does not yet support full electronic voting. As a result, the immediate practical step remains the electronic transmission of manually prepared Form EC8A result sheets from polling units to a central server—yet even this faces resistance. “It is a pity. It is an indictment of who we are and where we are,” he lamented.

The senator renewed his call for the adoption of the House of Representatives’ version of the Electoral Act amendment bill. Regardless of which version ultimately prevails, he emphasized that both chambers now accept the principle of electronic transmission of Form EC8A from polling units.

He further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue clear, mandatory guidelines and regulations stipulating that every polling unit result must be electronically transmitted, and that only such transmitted results should be used for collation.

Senator Dickson stressed the broader importance of national unity in reforming the electoral system, warning that elections have long undermined Nigeria’s image, fostering division rather than unification or leadership renewal. With a rapidly growing youth population and inadequate investment in education and skills development, he cautioned against the risk of mishandled elections triggering a major national crisis. “We hope that day does not come,” he said.

In closing, the senator called on Nigerians to prepare for future elections by mobilizing, turning out to vote, supporting preferred candidates, and insisting that their votes count and are electronically transmitted to INEC’s IReV portal by presiding officers.

“Don’t give up on our democracy. Don’t give up on elections. Organise and mobilise!” he concluded.

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson remains a vocal proponent of electoral reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and credibility in Nigeria’s democratic processes.

Clarification on Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s Position on Electronic Transmission of Election Results, Electronic Voting


Dickson Insists on Electronic Transmission; Urges Adoption of House Version Over Senate Proviso

Our Attention has been drawn to media reports misquoting His Excellency Senator Henry Seriake Dickson’s statements during his appearance on Arise TV, falsely suggesting that he opposes real-time transmission of election results and that Nigerians are not ready for electronic voting.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-PWek-ZZIs?si=CgIAEtCwOzAcY3Mu



For the record, Senator Dickson has consistently championed electoral reforms in Nigeria. He believes in electronic voting and has actively fought for the electronic transmission of election results from the 9th Senate till date. This is why he disagrees with the Senate proviso and called for the adoption of the House of Reps’ version to be adopted by the Conference Committee.

Senator Dickson commends Nigerians for their vigilance and urges them to mobilize, vote for credible candidates, and insist that their votes count and are electronically transmitted to the IREV by the Presiding Officers.

Senator Dickson is a leading champion of democratic rights at the National Assembly, and all his activities and advocacies reflect this. He should not be quoted out of context.

Signed:
Ajiri Daniels
Media Aide to Senator Seriake Dickson