NEWS
Fresh Crisis Looms in Warri as Ijaw Group Takes Protest to INEC Headquarters
Fresh political tension erupted on Monday as members of the Operation Rescue Ijaw Nation Crusaders staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja over the delayed implementation of the Warri Federal Constituency delineation report.
The protesters, made up of Ijaw indigenes from the constituency, accused INEC of ignoring a Supreme Court judgment that ordered a fresh ward delineation exercise in Warri Federal Constituency.
Displaying placards and chanting protest songs, the demonstrators warned that the continued delay in implementing the report could affect the conduct of future elections in the area, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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Addressing journalists during the protest on Monday, the Deputy Coordinator of the group, Freeborn Abraye, said the group had previously visited the commission over the same matter but had not received any concrete response.
Abraye explained that the Supreme Court directed INEC to carry out a fresh delineation exercise after allegations of political imbalance among the Ijaw, Urhobo, and Itsekiri ethnic groups in Warri Federal Constituency.
He alleged that the Ijaw and Urhobo communities had suffered years of political marginalisation in the constituency and insisted that the implementation of the report was necessary to ensure fairness and equal representation.
“The Supreme Court gave a clear directive, and INEC carried out the exercise. What we are demanding now is the full implementation of the report produced after that exercise,” he said.
He further claimed that the delay had heightened tension within the constituency and warned that the situation could worsen if the commission failed to act swiftly.
“If INEC refuses to implement the delineation report, there may be no election in Warri Federal Constituency,” Abraye warned.
Another leader of the protest, Ellington Bakumor, accused the electoral commission of disenfranchising residents of the constituency by refusing to operationalise the report despite involving representatives of all affected ethnic groups during the exercise.
Bakumor also alleged that political interests were influencing the delay and cautioned that peaceful elections could not be guaranteed if the matter remained unresolved.
In a petition submitted to INEC and signed by the group’s coordinator, Awipi Lawson, the protesters referenced the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 2, 2022, which ordered a constitutionally compliant ward and polling unit delineation across Warri North, Warri South, and Warri South-West Local Government Areas.
According to the petition, the apex court ruled that no electoral process should take place in the constituency until the delineation exercise was completed and implemented.
The group noted that although INEC conducted the exercise and released a field report on April 4, 2025, the commission had yet to make the final report operational.
The protesters therefore called on INEC to immediately release and implement the report, conclude the gazetting process, and suspend every electoral activity in the constituency until full implementation was achieved.
Responding on behalf of the INEC Chairman, an Assistant Director of Security at the commission, Mohammed Ahmad, assured the protesters that their petition would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.
He added that the commission would carefully review the concerns raised and communicate its response in due course.
Lagos State University (Lagos State University) has emerged as the most preferred tertiary institution among candidates sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), according to fresh statistics released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board).
The data, presented during a policy meeting in Abuja, showed a major shift in student preferences nationwide, with LASU leading the chart ahead of other top federal universities.
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LASU recorded a total of 84,426 first-choice applications, representing 3.76% of total national submissions, placing it ahead of long-established institutions traditionally regarded as first-choice destinations.
The University of Lagos (University of Lagos) came second with 78,240 applications, while Obafemi Awolowo University (Obafemi Awolowo University) followed in third place with 60,370 applications.
The University of Ibadan (University of Ibadan) ranked fourth with 58,895 applications, while the University of Benin (University of Benin) placed fifth with 55,425 applications.
Other institutions in the top 10 include the University of Ilorin (University of Ilorin), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (University of Nigeria Nsukka), Federal University Oye-Ekiti (Federal University Oye-Ekiti), and University of Port Harcourt (University of Port Harcourt).
FULL LIST: MOST PREFERRED UNIVERSITIES IN 2026 UTME
Lagos State University — 84,426
University of Lagos — 78,240
Obafemi Awolowo University — 60,370
University of Ibadan — 58,895
University of Benin — 55,425
Nnamdi Azikiwe University — 54,085
University of Ilorin — 52,514
University of Nigeria, Nsukka — 51,660
Federal University Oye-Ekiti — 48,272
University of Port Harcourt — 48,199
Education analysts say the result highlights changing patterns in university preference, with state-owned institutions like LASU gaining stronger traction among admission seekers.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has created a new Homeland Security Office within the Presidency, appointing retired Major General Adeyinka Fadewa as the pioneer Special Adviser on Homeland Security.
The appointment, announced on Monday, marks the first time a Nigerian president has established a dedicated homeland security advisory role at the federal level.
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In a statement released by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, the Federal Government said the move is part of Tinubu’s broader strategy to strengthen internal security coordination, improve intelligence sharing, and tackle emerging threats across the country.
The statement, signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, noted that the new office would focus on intelligence-driven operations, proactive risk management, and stronger collaboration among security agencies.
The creation of the office represents a major shift in Nigeria’s security structure, which has traditionally relied on the Office of the National Security Adviser, NSA, for strategic security coordination.
Fadewa, a retired Major General with more than 30 years of military and intelligence experience, is expected to bring extensive expertise to the role.
During his service, he served as Principal General Staff Officer to the National Security Adviser between 2015 and 2021, where he played a significant role in establishing the Intelligence Fusion Centre — a multi-agency platform designed to improve cooperation among Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies.
The platform brought together the Defence Intelligence Agency, National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, Nigeria Police Force, and the Armed Forces to strengthen national threat assessment and strategic response coordination.
Following his retirement from active military service, Fadewa became a Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja, contributing to policy discussions on national security reforms, policing, and civil-security collaboration.
He is also known for authoring the monograph titled “Policing and National Security in Nigeria,” which has been widely referenced for its recommendations on improving cooperation between civilian institutions and security agencies.
President Tinubu expressed confidence in Fadewa’s ability to lead the new office and deepen homeland security coordination in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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