“If They Don’t Count It, We Will Count the Person” Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has called for transparency and proper vote counting in the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at a joint meeting of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and members of the Obidient Movement in Uyo on Saturday, Obi urged supporters to remain vigilant during the electoral process.

In a remark captured on video from the event, Obi said:

“In that polling booth in 2027, if they don’t count it, we will count the person.”

He added: “Anybody who refuses to count our vote, we will count the person.”

His comments emphasized the importance of ensuring that votes cast by citizens are properly counted and reflected in official results.

In a separate post shared on his verified X account after the meeting, Obi called for leadership focused on development, security, education, healthcare, and economic growth. He also stressed the need for integrity and accountability in public office.

The Uyo gathering brought together ADC stakeholders and members of the Obidient Movement as political activities begin to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a separate tweet on X on Monday to clarify his stand Peter Obi wrote:

Our Votes Must Count

Unlike in the past, in 2027 our votes MUST count, and all those who are there not to count the votes will be counted among those destroying Nigeria. I encourage everyone to remain at the polling units after voting to count and witness the counting and transmission of results. Those who refuse to allow the votes count will be made to count the full weight of the law against rigging. Let me reiterate: if you do not count our votes, we will count you among those who destroy our democracy, thereby destroying our future, and you must answer to the law. –PO

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Friday released the timetable and schedule for the 2027 general election.

2027 Polls: INEC Fixes 20th February for Presidential and National Assembly Elections, 6th March for Governorship and State Assembly Elections

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has formally released the Notice of Election and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections, setting February 20, 2027, as the date for the Presidential and National Assembly polls.

Addressing members of the press in Abuja the INEC Chairman described the announcement as “a significant milestone in our democratic journey” and a constitutional obligation aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.

According to the Commission:

• Presidential & National Assembly Elections – February 20, 2027
• Governorship & State Houses of Assembly Elections – March 6, 2027
  The elections will cover the offices of:
• President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
• Governors and Deputy Governors (except in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun States)
• Members of the Senate
• Members of the House of Representatives
• Members of the State Houses of Assembly
  Prof. Amupitan emphasized that the release of the Notice complies strictly with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates publication not later than 360 days before the election date.

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The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday seized the international passport of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

El-Rufai was reportedly stopped by security operatives upon his return from Cairo, Egypt.

A senior security source confirmed to Arise News that the action was taken at the request of an anti-graft agency, widely reported to be the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

According to the source, the seizure of the passport was not an arrest but a measure to ensure that the former governor honours an outstanding invitation from the anti-corruption agency for questioning over an ongoing investigation.

“There was no attempt to detain or arrest him. The move was strictly in line with a request to ensure compliance with an invitation,” the source said.

As of press time, neither El-Rufai nor the EFCC had issued an official public statement regarding the development.

The incident has sparked political reactions, with observers closely watching how the matter unfolds amid heightened scrutiny of public office holders and former state executives.

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The crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) has taken a new turn following the forceful takeover of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja by a caretaker committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman.

The takeover happened on Tuesday at the party’s headquarters in Utako, Abuja, weeks after a Federal High Court ruling in January 2026 recognised Nenadi Usman as chairman of a Labour Party caretaker committee. The court decision followed an earlier April 2025 Supreme Court directive ordering political parties to strictly adhere to their constitutions, especially where leadership tenures had expired.

Addressing supporters after gaining access to the secretariat, Senator Usman said the caretaker committee was acting within the law and promised sweeping reforms to reposition the party ahead of future elections. According to her, plans are already underway to introduce electronic membership registration and restructure the party following internal crises that have lingered since the 2023 general elections.

Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, who was present during the takeover, dismissed claims by rival factions that the action was illegal, insisting that the caretaker committee was simply enforcing a valid court judgment.

However, the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party has strongly condemned the action, describing it as a “midnight invasion” carried out with the support of security agencies.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Abure faction alleged that hoodlums invaded the secretariat around 1am, pulled down official Labour Party billboards and replaced them with those bearing the name of Senator Nenadi Usman.

The statement further claimed that eight truckloads of police officers were deployed to the secretariat, preventing party staff and senior officials from accessing their offices, while only members loyal to the Nenadi Usman interim leadership were allowed entry.

“The Abure-led leadership is dumbfounded by the invasion of its secretariat by the Nenadi camp aided by the police in the early hours of Tuesday,” the statement read.

According to the faction, offices were forcefully opened and files and other party materials carted away. It added that party officials deliberately avoided confrontation to prevent violence and breakdown of law and order.

While acknowledging that a Federal High Court had recognised Senator Usman as interim chairman, the Abure faction stressed that it had since obtained a stay of execution and filed an appeal against the judgment. It described the takeover as an act of self-help and a violation of due process.

The faction called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Office of the National Security Adviser and other relevant security agencies to urgently intervene, warning that failure to do so could threaten Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The development once again highlights the deep internal divisions within the Labour Party, as both factions continue to battle for legitimacy amid ongoing court cases and leadership disputes.

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The Nigerian Senate has approved provisions for the electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IReV), while retaining manual collation as a fallback mechanism in cases of technological failure.

This adjustment came during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following intense public backlash, protests, and calls from civil society groups, opposition figures like Peter Obi, and stakeholders who demanded stronger safeguards ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The upper chamber reconsidered its earlier decision made during the third reading of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026 on February 4—to reject mandatory real-time uploads. Instead, senators amended the relevant clause (around Section 60) to accommodate electronic transmission of results, but made it non-mandatory.

The process allows presiding officers to upload results to IReV where technology permits, with manual processes via Form EC8A serving as the primary method if internet or system issues arise.

However, the Senate stopped short of enforcing compulsory real-time transmission or uploads, opting to preserve flexibility for INEC to prescribe the manner of result transfer in line with existing provisions from the 2022 Electoral Act.

This means electronic transmission is permitted and encouraged but not required in all circumstances, drawing criticism from those who argue it fails to fully address past issues of result manipulation at collation centers.

The decision sparked rowdy scenes in the chamber during debates, with some lawmakers protesting the motion to rescind and re-amend the clause. Senate leadership, including President Godswill Akpabio, has maintained that electronic transmission itself was not rejected only the strict “real-time” and mandatory elements were adjusted to avoid potential disruptions in areas with poor connectivity.

The bill, which introduces other electoral reforms, now heads toward harmonization with the House of Representatives’ version, which reportedly endorsed stronger real-time provisions.

Public pressure continues to mount, with groups urging the National Assembly to prioritize transparency and restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process for future polls..

Watch video of the plenary HERE