Politics

Atiku To INEC: Name Officers Who Introduced AI Images Into Voter Register

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the admission by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images and fictitious entries were introduced into the national voters’ register by registration officers.

Atiku, in a statement issued on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, warned that the development severely compromises the institutional integrity and credibility of the electoral umpire.

“INEC has admitted that some AI-generated images are on the voters’ register and that registration officers introduced irregularities across the country. A commission charged with protecting Nigerians’ votes has acknowledged that its own system was compromised by those entrusted to operate it. This is a catastrophic failure of leadership and operational safeguards,” Atiku stated.

He faulted explanations by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and the Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Dr. Lawrence Bayode, who stated that while the commission knows what the officers did and how the database was breached, it remains unaware of their motives.

“Professor Joash Amupitan, through Bayode Lawrence, says INEC knows what its officers did and how they tampered with the register, yet claims it does not know why. That is a disgraceful evasion, not an answer. Even ordinary WhatsApp, Facebook, and personal email accounts appear to possess stronger security safeguards than those the INEC ICT director described on national television. How can a sovereign database holding the records of millions of Nigerian voters be less secure than a basic social media profile?” he asked.

Atiku insisted that the commission must immediately disclose evidence, reveal the identities of all implicated personnel, and explain why they have not been placed on suspension or handed over to security agencies for prosecution.

“If INEC knows how the register was compromised, it must disclose the evidence, identify every officer involved, and explain why they have not been suspended and prosecuted. Prof. Amupitan cannot admit systemic misconduct, withhold the perpetrators’ identities, and expect Nigerians to accept ignorance as an excuse. He must account for this failure now,” he added.

Warning against any covert attempt to clean up the records and bury digital evidence, Atiku stressed that widespread allegations suggesting over 20 million AI-generated images could be affected make an independent forensic audit unavoidable.

“INEC must not quietly clean up the register and bury the evidence. The allegation that more than 20 million AI-generated images may be involved demands an independent, multi-stakeholder forensic audit. The commission must preserve every voter record, image file, access log, and audit trail. Let accredited independent experts, political parties, civil society actors, and credible international observers examine the evidence. No disputed record should be certified until that audit is concluded,” he demanded.

The former Vice President also took swipe at the electoral umpire for repeatedly ignoring opposition demands to disclose the vendors and corporate entities contracted to print sensitive election materials, describing such secrecy as unacceptable in a democracy.

“INEC has continuously ignored calls from opposition parties to reveal the identities of companies contracted to produce sensitive electoral materials. That level of opacity is incompatible with a credible electoral process. If the APC-led Federal Government knows who is handling these materials and the security protocols governing them, opposition parties are entitled to the same disclosures. INEC must publish the contractors’ identities and detail the operational safeguards guiding their contracts,” he said.

Atiku warned that the opposition will not hesitate to institute legal action should the commission fail to comply with standards of transparency.

“If INEC refuses to disclose the truth, we will approach the courts to compel it. Every official found to have compromised the integrity of the voters’ register must face the full wrath of the law,” he affirmed.

He called on opposition figures, civil society groups, and international development partners to mount pressure for a thorough forensic audit, full disclosure, and immediate accountability, accusing the Federal Government of shielding the commission from proper democratic scrutiny.

“INEC cannot demand public trust while concealing evidence and shielding compromised operatives. It must name the culprits, unmask the contractors, and submit the voter database and electoral materials to independent forensic verification. Until then, its public assurances remain hollow. The credibility of the 2027 general elections is on the line,” Atiku concluded.
(TRIBUNE)

Politics

2027: Why I’m Mobilising Support For Tinubu — Atiku’s Son

Published

2 days ago

October 30, 2026

Editor

One of the biological sons of former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar has declared that his decision to work for a fresh mandate for President Bola Tinubu was a matter of personal conviction.

Honourable Abba Atiku Abubakar made the remarks on Friday at the All Progressives Congress National Secretariat, where he led members of his support group, Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation (HBTO), to donate 10 support buses to assist the party in its campaigns ahead of forthcoming general elections.

Addressing journalists, Abba Atiku Abubakar maintained that he was convinced in his choice of his father’s main rival as the best candidate for next January’s presidential election.

He said: “I recognise that political decisions, particularly those that differ from the positions of individuals with whom one shares personal or family relationships, often attract considerable public attention. I am equally conscious that my own political decision may be viewed within this context.

“However, I wish to make one fundamental point: political conviction is a matter of personal judgement, conscience and the freedom of every individual to make independent choices.

“My decision to establish and lead the Haske Bola Tinubu Organisation is a deliberate political choice, one I have made in my personal capacity and with a firm belief in the direction we have chosen to pursue. I hold no reservations about the right of others to their differing political opinions, just as I expect my own convictions to be respected.

“Our democracy is strengthened when individuals are free to make independent political choices, engage in constructive dialogue and support the leadership and political platforms they believe best represent their aspirations.

“It is within this spirit that HBTO was established.”

Amidst scathing indictment of President Tinubu’s economic reforms, Atiku’s son said the policies were tough but urged Nigerians to consider the opportunities and long-term benefits that several of these initiatives are designed to deliver.

“Our political direction is informed by our assessment of the reforms and policy interventions undertaken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since assuming office.

“We acknowledge that the reforms have come with difficult adjustments for Nigerians. However, we believe it is equally important to recognise the progress, opportunities and long-term benefits that several of these initiatives are designed to deliver.

“Across different sectors of the economy, the administration has introduced interventions aimed at addressing longstanding structural challenges and repositioning the country for sustainable growth.

“For instance, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has opened new opportunities for students to access interest-free educational loans, helping to ease the financial burden on families and improve access to higher education. Its wider intervention in supporting eligible graduates with access to start-up financing is also an important step towards encouraging entrepreneurship and economic independence.

“Similarly, ongoing investments in road infrastructure and other critical transportation networks are improving connectivity, facilitating the movement of goods and services, and strengthening economic activities across the country.

“We also recognise the increased revenue allocations to state governments through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). These additional resources have provided state governments with greater fiscal capacity to meet their obligations, including the payment of salaries, pensions and other outstanding commitments.

“Public sector workers have also benefited from improved fiscal capacity at different levels of government, alongside interventions aimed at cushioning the effects of prevailing economic realities, including the recent N70,000 transportation support.

“These are some of the considerations that have reinforced our conviction that the administration’s reform agenda deserves support and an opportunity to deliver its long-term objectives.“
(TRIBUNE)

Politics

Edo Police Arrest Man For Allegedly Killing Pregnant Girlfriend

Published

2 weeks ago

October 21, 2026

Editor

A 40-year-old man identified as Samson Ekata, has been arrested by operatives of the Edo State Police Command for alleged murder of his eight-month-pregnant girlfriend in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state.

Ekata, who was among other suspects paraded by the State Police Command, allegedly murdered the woman, who had reportedly been living with him for about a year, before mutilating her body and attempting to remove her unborn baby.

Addressing journalists at the parade scene, the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Daaor, described the incident as a horrific crime and expressed sadness over the killing of the pregnant woman.

He commended members of the community for their cooperation with the police, noting that their assistance was instrumental in the suspect’s arrest.

The police commissioner assured the public that the suspect, who is currently in custody, would face the full weight of the law.

He also urged members of the public to continue providing useful information to security agencies to help combat crime across the state.

The commissioner further advised parents to pay closer attention to the safety of their children, particularly girls, warning that sexual predators and other dangerous individuals could exploit their vulnerability.

He also cautioned young women to exercise caution in their relationships and avoid placing their trust in people without considering their safety.

The police command reiterated its commitment to protecting residents of Edo State and called for continued collaboration between the public and security agencies to reduce crime.

Fielding questions from journalists at the Edo State Police Command, Samson Ekata said he had never killed anyone before the incident, insisting that the deceased was his girlfriend who had been living with him.

He claimed that he began hearing voices instructing him to kill her, but initially resisted because she was pregnant.

According to him, the same instruction came to him in a dream about two weeks later, prompting him to commit the crime.

Ekata also admitted to severing the victim’s breast, claiming that a spirit had instructed him to do so. He further disclosed that he dumped her body by the roadside after transporting her there in a Toyota Corolla.

Politics

2027: Tinubu, APC Behind Disunity In Opposition, Makinde Alleges

Published

2 weeks ago

October 21, 2026

Editor

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday blamed the lack of unity among opposition political parties and their candidates on President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), whom he accused of frustrating every move to forge a united front.

He stated that part of their strategy was to continue to weaken the ranks of the opposition ahead of the polls.

Makinde spoke in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, during the South-South leg of his zonal town hall engagements with Nigerians ahead of the general elections.

“They are doing everything possible to ensure that the opposition does not unite”, the APM candidate stated.

However, Makinde expressed confidence that the South-South would reject the APC in 2027 and back the APM, promising economic reforms, improved security and support for entrepreneurs under his proposed Reset Nigeria Agenda.

The APM candidate also accused the federal government of working against efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, expressing confidence that the South-South region would reject the APC and support his presidential ambition.

“I can tell you that they are doing everything possible to ensure that the opposition does not unite”, he alleged.

Makinde, who unveiled his Reset Nigeria agenda as a blueprint for national transformation, said the programme would prioritise education, security, economic expansion and reforms to Nigeria’s socio-political structure. He argued that skills, knowledge and a thriving middle class were essential for sustainable economic prosperity.

On the economy, he advocated support for entrepreneurs through tax incentives, citing his administration’s experience in Oyo State as evidence that internally generated revenue could increase without raising taxes. Makinde also criticised the federal government’s tax policy, arguing that the government should tax wealth rather than burden poor Nigerians.

The governor further challenged the federal government to publish its pricing template for petroleum products, questioning whether policies such as the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and the naira-for-crude arrangement had translated into lower transportation costs for Nigerians.

Earlier, the APM National Leader and Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, urged Nigerians, particularly youths and women, to make informed choices in the 2027 elections, saying the decision should be based on the candidates’ records and capacity to deliver rather than money or age.

“It is not about money. It is not about age. It is not about anything. It is about pedigree”, Mohammed told the gathering.

He described Makinde and his running mate, Alhaji Lawal Daura, as candidates with the vision, knowledge, energy and roadmap required to rescue Nigeria from its present challenges.

He also urged Nigerians to participate in shaping the party’s agenda through public engagement and social media.

Daura, the APM vice-presidential candidate, in his own speech, said the party was determined to break what he described as Nigeria’s cycle of stagnation and ensure that citizens enjoyed dignity, security, education and economic opportunities.

He spoke more, “Nigerians have no reason to be poor. They have no reason to be poor. But at least, Nigerians are entitled to live a dignified life.”

He described the APM as a patriotic party committed to justice, truthful politics and national interest, declaring that its guiding principle was “Nigeria first”.

He urged Nigerians to support the party’s Reset agenda, which he said was designed to improve citizens’ welfare and move the country forward.

The National Chairman of APM, Mr Yusuf Dantalle, told the meeting that the need to reset Nigeria arose from the failure of existing systems to deliver the desired results, arguing that the country could not continue with the same approach while expecting different outcomes.

He explained, “Why do you reset something? You reset something that is not working. Nigeria is not working. We can’t continue to do the same thing and expect different results.”

Dantalle identified insecurity, poverty, inequality and hopelessness as symptoms of deeper socio-economic and political problems, noting that Nigerians increasingly feared for their safety while travelling, visiting farms or going about their daily activities.

He further stated that the party was offering Nigerians an opportunity to change direction and build a country in which citizens could live in safety and take pride in their nationality.