IHS Nigeria has highlighted the importance of telecommunications infrastructure to Nigeria’s connectivity growth as the country marks 25 years since the introduction of GSM technology.

Sylva Ifedigbo, Director, Corporate Communications, IHS Nigeria, said the GSM revolution had fundamentally changed how Nigerians connect, communicate, conduct business and access economic opportunities.

Ifedigbo spoke at the 2026 eWorld Forum in Lagos, where telecommunications and technology stakeholders gathered to reflect on the evolution of GSM in Nigeria and the future of the sector.

“Twenty-five years ago, the introduction of the GSM technology fundamentally transformed how Nigerians connect, communicate, conduct business, and access opportunities,” he said.

According to Ifedigbo, what began as a telecommunications revolution has evolved into an important enabler of economic growth, financial inclusion, innovation and national development.

He said IHS Nigeria had been closely involved in the country’s mobile telecommunications journey through the deployment and management of infrastructure used by mobile network operators.

IHS Nigeria, part of IHS Towers Group, is one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count.

The company currently operates approximately 16,000 towers and more than 15,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable across Nigeria, according to Ifedigbo. “We’ve played a significant role in enabling this revolution and are proud to refer to ourselves as Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities,” he said. The infrastructure supports mobile network operators in delivering voice and data services to millions of Nigerians while providing connectivity for digital transactions and other technology-enabled services.

Ifedigbo said the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure had also helped extend mobile voice and broadband access across urban and rural communities, supporting efforts to improve digital inclusion and connect more Nigerians to opportunities in the digital economy. He attributed Nigeria’s telecommunications transformation to the combined efforts of the Federal Government, regulators, technology companies and consumers who embraced mobile connectivity.

“As we reflect on the nation’s telecommunications journey, we must also acknowledge the efforts of the Federal Government, the regulators, led by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), the technology partners and millions of Nigerians who embraced the possibilities of a connected future and helped bring it to life,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ifedigbo said IHS Nigeria would continue working with industry stakeholders to expand connectivity and support Nigeria’s digital transformation. He said the company remained focused on accelerating connectivity, promoting sustainable innovation and supporting inclusive economic growth.

The 2026 eWorld Forum, now in its 12th year, brought together stakeholders to examine developments and challenges shaping Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications ecosystem.

Ifedigbo also congratulated the organisers of the forum and Aaron Ukodie on the publication of two books commemorating and examining aspects of Nigeria’s technology journey.

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed concerns over the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, following a recent judgment by the Supreme Court.

DAILY POST reports that the judgment, delivered by the apex court on September 24, 2026, has sparked a legal debate over the implications of the decision for Chinda’s candidacy.

The Supreme Court, in the judgment, emphasised compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, which requires political parties to submit their verified register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting their primary elections.

The development has prompted questions over whether the judgment could affect Chinda’s eligibility to contest the 2027 Rivers State governorship election on the platform of the APC.

DAILY POST reports that Chinda, a member of the House of Representatives, registered with the APC on April 27, 2026.

He, however, formally announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and defection to the APC on the floor of the House of Representatives on June 2, 2026.

His announced defection at the Green Chamber came after he had been declared the winner of the APC primary election conducted on May 21.

Some political opponents and legal commentators have argued that, as a serving lawmaker, Chinda’s formal defection should be regarded as having taken effect on the date it was announced on the floor of the House.

There have been calls on social media platforms for the electoral umpire to immediately disqualify Chinda, a loyalist of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

ALDRAP writes INEC, seeks Chinda’s disqualification

Following the Supreme Court judgment, the Association of Legislative Drafting Practitioners, ALDRAP, wrote to INEC, seeking the immediate disqualification of Chinda from the 2027 governorship race.

The request was contained in a letter dated September 26, 2026, and signed by ALDRAP’s Executive Secretary, Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja.

The development is connected to a suit pending before the Abuja Federal High Court, in which ALDRAP is the plaintiff, while INEC, Abdul Mahmud, APC, the APC National Chairman, Chinda and Mariana Ajibola are listed as respondents.

In the suit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/972/2026, ALDRAP is asking the Abuja Federal High Court to disqualify Chinda and APC candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly election.

The group raised concerns over the composition of the APC Rivers State Governorship and House of Assembly Appeal Committee, alleging that it was populated by Wike’s friends and Chinda’s colleagues who are members of the National Assembly.

In its letter to INEC, ALDRAP also questioned the status of the APC governorship nomination, the applicable membership-register requirements, records submitted to the electoral commission by the party and the steps required to give effect to the Supreme Court judgment.

‘We have no issues with our candidate’ — APC

Reacting to the controversy on Sunday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Ikenga Chibike, dismissed the concerns and said the party had no issue with Chinda’s candidacy.

Speaking with DAILY POST, Chibike noted that the Supreme Court judgment requires a candidate to have been a member of a political party for at least 21 days before its primary, adding that Chinda registered with the APC 24 days before the party’s primary election was conducted.

“There is no atom of truth in that. They said 21 days, and Hon. Chinda’s timing was 24 days when you calculate it.

“So, we have no challenges with our party candidate. We are praying that the Rainbow Coalition endorsement should be him, then we move on to winning the election,” Ikenga said.