The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a quick reaction to allegations that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Toyin Babalola it appointed to oversee the upcoming gubernatorial election hails from Ondo State.

The electoral umpire took to its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday afternoon to issue the clarification.

The INEC maintained that it had a policy of ensuring that RECs were not appointed to supervise elections in their home states to avoid conflict of interests.

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The INEC wrote, “Our attention has been drawn to an allegation made by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr. Seyi Makinde at his party’s campaign rally held today in Akure in which he called on the INEC Chairman to remove the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, because “she is from Ondo State.”

“For the avoidance of doubt, Mrs. Babalola is not from Ondo State in line with the Commission’s policy not to deploy a REC to his or her State of origin. In 2020, ahead of the last Governorship election in the same State, he accused a senior official of the Commission of working with the Vice Chancellor of a federal university to undermine the election. The allegation was untrue.

“We appeal to holders of high public office such as Governor Makinde to verify their information before making these serial, unfounded allegations.”

Following the outbreak of stories that the Wigwe family had drawn the daggers drawn over the will of the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, it has issued clarifications.

The explanations were contained in a statement issued on behalf of the Family of Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, by Emeka Wigwe.

The statement reads, “We, the family of Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, wish to address a recent article titled “Family Dispute Erupts Over Estate of Late Banking Executive Herbert Wigwe” published on October 13, 2024.

“This article has unfortunately spread widely across social and national media. While we recognize the role of the press in sharing news, it is vital that such reports are based on truth and accuracy.

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“To clarify, at no point has Pastor Shyngle Wigwe requested 20% of the estate of the late Herbert Wigwe. Neither has there been any such request by other family members. The article’s claim that this demand contradicts Herbert’s will, is entirely false and misleading. The facts regarding the estate are already publicly available in the Probate Registry, where an affidavit clearly outlines the correct details. A simple search by your reporters would have revealed this truth.

“During this painful time of grief, our family remains united, focusing on healing and growing stronger together. We have no intention of engaging in a public defense because there are no sides to take. The only truth is that we are navigating this immense loss and will continue to do so with dignity.

“Herbert Wigwe’s legacy as a visionary banker and entrepreneur is what should be remembered. He transformed Access Bank into a national leader and devoted himself to empowering others through initiatives like The HOW Foundation, which focused on education and healthcare. These are the values that define his life and should be the focus, rather than unfounded speculation.

“We respectfully urge your publication to correct the inaccuracies in the report and to exercise greater diligence in fact-checking future stories.”

In a provocative move, popular Nigerian journalist Rufai Oseni has thrown down the gauntlet, daring all members of the National Assembly to undergo public drug testing.

Oseni, known for his outspoken criticism of the political class, questioned the integrity of lawmakers, implying that many will not pass such a test.

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Speaking on a broadcast, Oseni voiced his skepticism about the conduct of those in power, saying, “I doubt the percentage of people that will pass that drug test in that house.”

He further claimed that several politicians and their associates have been linked to drug-related activities. “Our politicians use their status as politically exposed persons to move drugs around,” he alleged.

Oseni’s comments come amid rising concerns over corruption and the behavior of public officials in Nigeria.

He urged lawmakers to submit to public drug testing and release their results to the public. “I dare all the lawmakers in the house to take a public drug test and reveal their drug records,” Oseni challenged, adding, “If they do, commotion will happen. The country will scatter.”

However, as of now, no official response has been made by members of the Senate or House of Representatives regarding the challenge.