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THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE: CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, ELECTORAL AWAKENING, AND THE ROAD TO NIGERIA’S 2027

Electoral Reforms and Credible Elections: Is Nigeria Ready for 2027

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Is Nigeria truly ready for credible, peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections in 2027? My answer is: Nigeria has made progress, but we are not yet where we need to be. The 2023 General Elections demonstrated both the possibilities and the limitations of electoral reform and technology in Nigeria. The introduction and deployment of technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) represented significant steps towards improving accreditation and transparency. However, technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections. Credible elections require credible institutions, strong laws, responsible political actors, informed citizens, effective security, transparent processes and public trust. 1. Electoral Reform Must Go Beyond Technology The Electoral Act provides an important legal framework for conducting elections. However, laws must not only exist on paper; they must be clear, enforceable and consistently imple...
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COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE INAUGURAL VIRTUAL STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE ON THE #ROADTO2027 NIGERIA ELECTIONS ISSUES & CONCERNS DIALOGUE SERIES

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COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE INAUGURAL VIRTUAL STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE ON THE #ROADTO2027 NIGERIA ELECTIONS ISSUES & CONCERNS DIALOGUE SERIES HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026.   The Rally for Peaceful Election , in collaboration with the Indomitable Youths Organization (IYO) , Josemaria Escriva Foundation (JOSEF) and Stakeholders convened the sessions of the #RoadTo2027: Nigeria Elections Issues & Concerns Dialogue Series , a non-partisan platform designed to promote informed citizen engagement, peaceful political participation, accountability, good governance and credible elections in Nigeria. The 60-minute interactive dialogue brought together representatives of civil society organizations, youth and women-focused organizations, development and human rights actors, electoral stakeholders and other concerned citizens from different parts of Nigeria. The dialogue recognized that the journey towards the 2027 General Elections requires early, sustained and inclusive engagement...
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INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY 2026, CALLS FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION AGAINST SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER YOUTH VICES

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BENIN CITY, Edo State August 14, 2026: The Indomitable Youths Organization (IYO) has commemorated International Youth Day 2026 with a virtual stakeholder dialogue focused on the growing challenges confronting young people, particularly substance abuse, unemployment, crime, declining social values and hopelessness. The virtual event, held via Zoom on Friday, August 14, 2026 , brought together participants from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Implementing Partners, Youth-led and youth-friendly organizations, and the media . The programme was held under the theme, “Different Struggles, Same Dream: Breaking Free from Substance Abuse and Other Vices to Claim Our Future.” The dialogue provided a platform for young people and stakeholders to examine the barriers increasingly standing between young people and their aspirations and to identify practical approaches to addressing these challenges within the Nigerian context. In his opening remar...
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AAU ALUMNI HOME BRANCH ELECTION 2026: CONCERNED MEMBERS ALLEGE IRREGULARITIES, DEMAND CANCELLATION

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EKPOMA, NIGERIA   Concerned members and stakeholders of the Ambrose Alli University Alumni Association, Home Branch, have called for the immediate cancellation of the branch election held on Friday, August 14, 2026, alleging widespread irregularities, intimidation, and subversion of the democratic process. In a press release made available to the Bricache Intelligence on Sunday, the group accused the outgoing executive and the Electoral Committee, ELECO, of conducting a process that was "fundamentally not free, not fair and not credible." The stakeholders claim the process was compromised before voting began. They alleged that the outgoing executive led by Prof. Austin Aghemelo unilaterally appointed ELECO without consensus, despite objections at a February 2026 general meeting. They also cited repeated changes to the election timetable by ELECO Chairman, Mr. Chris Aikhohi, including an abrupt reopening of nominations till August 10, which forced a rushed manifesto on A...
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"AAU HOME BRANCH ELECTION: WHEN 49 MEN DECIDED FOR 600" ...... An Election Cancelled By Its Own Process

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EKPOMA:   Democracy died a little in Ekpoma on Friday, August 14, 2026. What was meant to be a renewal of leadership for the Ambrose Alli University Alumni Association, Home Branch, ended instead as a masterclass in how to subvert the will of the people with soldiers, secret lists, and midnight press releases. THE CRIME SCENE Over 140 financial members showed up to vote. Only 49 were allowed to.     The Electoral Committee, unilaterally appointed by the outgoing executive, moved the venue to a candidate’s private residence. They militarized it with 4 soldiers, 13 policemen, and armed youths. They produced a hidden voter list drawn from 2023-2026 attendance, ignoring the Constitution which says "all financial members are eligible to vote." Accreditation was recorded at 43. Votes cast were 45. For other positions, votes fluctuated between 20 and 24. Yet at 10:13PM, a winner was declared. By 5:15AM, the declaration was "corrected." If that is not inconclusi...
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World Food Safety Day: From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere

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  Every year on June 7, the world marks World Food Safety Day. For 2026, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization are leading the campaign with the theme “From burden to solutions safe food everywhere.” The focus is simple: foodborne diseases are largely avoidable, and science-based solutions already exist to stop them. In practice, it comes down to one idea: safe food today for a healthy tomorrow. Food safety isn’t just a health issue. When food is unsafe, people get sick, children miss school, farmers lose income, and entire economies take a hit. Contamination can happen anywhere along the journey from farm to plate. Sometimes it’s bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria that get into food through dirty water, poor hand hygiene, undercooked meat, or cross-contamination between raw and cooked items. Other times it’s chemicals pesticide residues, heavy metals from polluted soil, or banned substances used to ripen fruit or preserve meat. Phy...
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