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Jos Plateau: Women Group Protests Economic Hardships and Insecurity
Amidst growing economic challenges and security threats plaguing Nigeria, the Plateau State Chapter of the Voice of Women in Nigerian Leadership organized a protest at the Old Airport Junction in Jos on Saturday, February 24th. Led by Mrs. Lois Gotom, the State Coordinator, the women gathered to express their anguish over the dire conditions faced by Nigerians, particularly the impact on women and children as primary caregivers and homemakers.
Addressing the attendees and the media, Mrs. Gotom opened the rally with a statement titled “The Renewed Hope of Mr. President: A Myth or a Reality?” She highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the widespread hunger and insecurity gripping the nation. Mrs. Gotom decried the government’s failure to control the escalating prices of essential commodities, leading to hunger and starvation among the populace.
“In 2023, 50-60% of our land in Nigeria was left uncultivated due to the fear of attacks by unknown gunmen,” Mrs. Gotom stated. She cited instances where farmers were forced to abandon their fields, particularly in Mangu and Bokkos of Plateau State, known for their agricultural productivity in crops like maize and potatoes. The recent civil unrest in these areas has further exacerbated the situation, leaving farmlands deserted and harvests destroyed.
Mrs. Gotom emphasized the crucial role of security in enabling agricultural activities and ensuring food security. “If Mr. President succeeds in improving security, people can go to their farms without fear,” she asserted. “This will help create availability of farm produce and discourage food hoarding and price manipulation.”
The Voice of Women in Nigerian Leadership initiative, comprising women from various walks of life, aims to amplify the voices of ordinary Nigerians and address systemic power imbalances. “Our peaceful rally is a way for ordinary Nigerians to have their voices heard,” Mrs. Gotom declared. “As women, together we say, ‘Enough is Enough.'”
Martha Miri, the Personal Assistant to the National President, commended the women for their courage in demanding a better future for all Nigerians. “This protest signifies our collective resolve to stand against the sufferings of our people,” she remarked.
In conclusion, Mrs. Gotom called upon President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, elected officials, and appointed leaders to take immediate action to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians. “Our women and children are suffering,” she lamented. “It is time for our leaders to act before it’s too late.”
The protest underscored the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges and ensure the well-being of its citizens, especially the most vulnerable segments of society.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has unveiled the final list of Lagos State governorship candidate.
The list is contained in a document released by INEC on Saturday in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
According to the document, the Lagos State deputy governor, Femi Hamzat is listed at the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Also on the list is Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as the African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate.
Find attach below document containing the full list.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, from its final list of governorship candidates for Gombe State ahead of the February 6, 2027 election.
Politics Nigeria reports that the commission released a list of 16 cleared candidates for the election, but Pantami’s name was missing despite his earlier inclusion in the provisional list published on August 29.
Among the candidates on the final list are Bala Bello Tinka of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Babayo Ardo Kumo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).
Others include Zubairu Mu’azu Halilu of the Labour Party (LP), Lamela L. Silas of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Ibrahim Jalo Abubakar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Adamu Mohammed Ma’aji of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Pantami’s exclusion comes amid a series of legal disputes over his emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state.
The former minister had initially sought the APC governorship ticket but left the party after it settled for Gwamna as its consensus candidate. He subsequently joined the PDP and emerged as the party’s flag bearer through voice affirmation at its governorship primary.
However, a Federal High Court sitting in Gombe nullified his initial emergence on May 26, following a challenge to the primary process.
The court ordered a fresh primary election, which Pantami won on September 29 with 2,054 votes, defeating Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry.
Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence, arguing that the required primary election was not properly conducted before the former minister was declared the party’s candidate.
Despite winning the court-ordered rerun, Pantami’s eligibility remained in doubt following the Supreme Court’s September 24, 2026 judgment on provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 governing political party membership registers and candidate eligibility.
The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026 and upheld INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
The provisions bar political parties from fielding candidates whose names were not included in the membership registers submitted to INEC within the stipulated period.
INEC has maintained that parties found to have violated the requirements will not be permitted to participate in the elections through candidates whose nominations breach the law.
Mohammed Haruna, an INEC national commissioner in charge of information and voter education, said the commission would not allow parties to replace candidates affected by the provisions.
Haruna made the clarification during an appearance on Trust TV’s programme on Wednesday evening, explaining that allowing substitutions would enable political parties to benefit from their own violations.
He cited previous disputes involving Zamfara and Plateau states to illustrate the consequences of parties failing to comply with electoral requirements.
“It’s like you committed an offence. And then, you come and benefit from it,” Haruna said.
He added that allowing parties to substitute candidates in such circumstances would amount to permitting them to benefit from an offence they had committed.
Haruna also indicated that the commission expected to make a definite pronouncement on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment by the following Tuesday.
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