Crunch Times News

By Blessing Bature 

A coalition of women’s rights and democracy advocacy groups has called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to urgently support and fast-track the passage of the Special Seats Bill, describing it as a democratic necessity rather than an advocacy demand.

Speaking on behalf of the consortium, Ebere Ifendu said the bill offers a constitutionally grounded and non-disruptive solution to Nigeria’s poor record on women’s political representation. 

She noted that Nigerian women continue to face political violence, the monetisation of politics, exclusion from party structures and a shrinking civic space, making affirmative legislative intervention inevitable.

“The Special Seats Bill has moved beyond advocacy, it is now a democratic necessity and a political win for Nigeria’s 10th Assembly and all its actors,” Ifendu said. 

“Nigeria cannot continue to conduct elections while systematically excluding half of its population from decision-making. Affirmative legislative intervention is no longer optional; it is the only realistic path to reversing Nigeria’s consistently abysmal record on women’s political representation.”

The groups, including the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Media, Safe-Point and Care Initiative and other democratic advocacy organisations, also expressed grave concern over recent political developments which they said expose the widening gap between Nigeria’s democratic commitments and actual practice.

According to the coalition, three critical issues currently define Nigeria’s commitment to inclusion and democratic reform: the Special Seats Bill, the composition of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention Committee, and the recently passed Electoral Act Amendment Bill by the Senate. 

They warned that taken together, these developments pose a defining test of the country’s sincerity on representation and reform.

While acknowledging the urgency shown by lawmakers in addressing electoral reforms, the groups expressed strong concern over provisions in the amended Electoral Act that weaken the mandatory electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal. 

They described electronic transmission as a key safeguard for transparency and public trust, warning that any rollback could encourage manipulation and increase post-election disputes.

“Electronic transmission has become one of the most important safeguards for electoral integrity,” the coalition said, urging the National Assembly to reverse the provision and fully restore mandatory electronic transmission as a non-negotiable requirement for credible elections.

The groups also lamented what they described as a culture of silence among women politicians across party lines amid ongoing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling on them to show greater political leadership.

The groups warned that Nigeria stands at a crossroads, stressing that democratic credibility cannot coexist with systemic exclusion while calling on political parties, the legislature and the executive to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate commitment through concrete action.

“A democracy that excludes women is not merely incomplete it is unstable, unjust and unsustainable,” she stated. “Nigeria must choose inclusion, not convenience; reform, not retreat.”

By Blessing Okola 

The Amasiri Clan has accused security forces of subjecting its people to alleged military invasion and serious human rights abuses in Ebonyi State, saying the actions have left residents traumatised, livelihoods destroyed, and communities under siege.

It also accused the governor of the state, Francis Nwiaifiru of political witchhunt over what it has alleged as dissatisfacton over zero support during past elections.

The group demanded the immediate withdrawal of military forces from Amasiri, an independent investigation into alleged killings, arrests and property destruction, restoration of schools, markets and economic activities, reversal of collective sanctions and equal protection under the law.

Addressing the international media on Thursday in Abuja, Omagha Idam, former Assistant Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, speaking on behalf of the Amasiri Clan, said the situation escalated from an uninvestigated allegation into what he called a full-scale military invasion marked by collective punishment, political repression, economic shutdown and grave violations of fundamental human rights.

Amasiri Clan, which comprises three autonomous communities and is the northernmost community in Afikpo Local Government Area (formerly Afikpo North LGA), described itself as a law-abiding farming population now facing militarisation, displacement and what it termed “institutional erasure.”

According to the group, Nigerian armed forces carried out what it described as an unprovoked and disproportionate operation in the area, resulting in mass arrests of unarmed men and youths, destruction of homes, prolonged gunfire, forced displacement of villages and reported loss of lives. 

The clan stressed that Amasiri is a civilian farming community and not a conflict zone.

The group further alleged that directives attributed to the Ebonyi State Government led to the closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools in Amasiri, as well as markets, churches, shops and other social activities. Farming, trading and worship were reportedly halted, creating widespread hardship. 

Amasiri indigenes residing in Abakaliki were allegedly ordered to vacate the city, while civil servants of Amasiri origin were said to have received verbal termination notices. Students of Amasiri origin in tertiary institutions in Abakaliki were also reportedly asked to identify themselves.

In addition, the clan claimed that legislative actions removed Amasiri from the list of development centres, detached it from Afikpo LGA and placed it under a joint administrative arrangement involving four local government areas. It also alleged that the governor publicly stated that “within three weeks, there will be nobody in the community.”

The Amasiri Clan said the actions were justified by an unverified allegation linking the community to a murder in Oso community, Edda Local Government Area. While condemning the killing and sympathising with the affected family, the clan rejected what it described as collective blame without investigation, insisting that no suspects were identified and no fair hearing was granted before punitive measures were imposed on the entire population, including women, children and the elderly.

Providing background, the group recalled longstanding boundary issues between Amasiri and Oso communities, noting that a government White Paper gazetted in 2003 resolved the dispute and that both parties reaffirmed commitment to its implementation in 2023. It added that a peace agreement was signed in December 2025 to allow boundary demarcation, but alleged that implementation was repeatedly stalled by government ministries despite Amasiri’s compliance.

The clan also alleged that on 30 January 2026, the military carried out mass arrests of civilians, while the governor dissolved the political and traditional leadership of Amasiri, including traditional rulers, town union executives, village heads and government appointees, without investigation or court order. It said this left the community politically and administratively defenceless.

Amasiri leaders further claimed that several facts contradict the allegations against the community, including that it was observing sacred burial rites during the period of the alleged incident, when movement and external engagements are culturally restricted.

They also accused authorities of selective silence over previous attacks on Amasiri indigenes, including alleged abductions and killings along the Afikpo–Okigwe highway and the abduction of farmers and other residents, which they said were reported without resulting arrests or prosecutions.

The group alleged political bias, citing statements attributed to the governor expressing dissatisfaction with Amasiri and Afikpo LGA over electoral support. It argued that actions taken against the community violate constitutional provisions, including collective punishment, denial of education, forced identification based on origin and removal from local government administration.

The clan further asserted historical ownership of the disputed Okporo-Ụjo land, describing Oso settlers as former tenants, and rejected what it called attempts to dispossess Amasiri of ancestral land.

The clan also alleged discriminatory actions affecting access to education, including claims that Amasiri pupils were barred from registering for the 2026 Common Entrance examination and that students were subjected to additional identification requirements.

“The people of Amasiri are not enemies of the state,” Idam said, adding that the community is entitled to life, dignity, security, justice and historical truth, while expressing concern that some community leaders remain in detention.

In its appeal, the Amasiri Clan called on the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the commandant of Nkwegu Military Cantonment, the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and the international community to intervene.

By Blessing Bature 

A coalition of women’s rights and democracy advocacy organisations has raised concerns over recent political developments, warning that Nigeria is drifting further away from inclusive governance despite repeated commitments to democratic reform. 

Speaking on behalf of the consortium, Ebere Ifendu said the developments around the Special Seats Bill, the composition of the APC National Convention Committee, and the recent amendment to the Electoral Act expose a widening gap between rhetoric and reality on women’s political inclusion.

The coalition comprising the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), 100 Women Lobby Group, Women in Media, Safe-Point and Care Initiative, and other advocacy groups described the Special Seats Bill as no longer a matter of advocacy but a democratic necessity. 

According to Ifendu, Nigerian women continue to face political violence, monetisation of politics, exclusion from party structures and a shrinking civic space, making affirmative legislative intervention the only viable path to improving women’s representation. 

The groups urged the National Assembly to fast-track the bill and called on the Executive to publicly endorse and promptly assent to it.

On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently passed by the Senate, the coalition acknowledged the urgency shown in addressing electoral reforms but expressed strong reservations about provisions perceived to weaken the mandatory electronic transmission of results to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal. 

Ifendu noted that electronic transmission remains a critical safeguard for transparency and public confidence, warning that any rollback could open the door to manipulation, increase post-election disputes and erode trust in the electoral process. 

The groups called on lawmakers to reverse the provision and restore mandatory electronic transmission as a non-negotiable element of credible elections.

The coalition also criticised what it described as the silence of women politicians across party lines amid ongoing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them to show stronger leadership in defending democratic values and inclusion.

The groups concluded that Nigeria is at a critical crossroads, stressing that democratic credibility cannot coexist with systemic exclusion. 

“A democracy that excludes women is not merely incomplete, it is unstable, unjust and unsustainable,” the coalition stated, calling on political parties, the legislature and the executive to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion and reform.

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja 

Nigeria’s economy is set for a significant boost, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to hit approximately $334 billion in 2026.

If achieved, the figure would position Nigeria as Africa’s third-largest economy, climbing ahead of several regional peers and reinforcing the country’s renewed economic momentum.

The positive outlook comes amid ongoing reforms aimed at stabilising the financial system and improving investor confidence. Analysts say stronger oil production, rising foreign exchange inflows, and tighter monetary policies are beginning to yield results, supporting broader economic recovery.

Recent measures to improve exchange-rate management, boost revenue generation, and attract foreign investment are also expected to drive growth across key sectors, including energy, manufacturing, and services.

While challenges such as inflation and cost-of-living pressures remain, the IMF’s projection signals growing optimism about Nigeria’s medium-term prospects and its ability to reclaim a leading position among Africa’s largest economies.