General News
OKPE UNION CALLS ON ITSEKIRI LEADERS TO HONOR 1943 LAND JUDGEMENT, END TERRITORIAL CLAIMS
The Okpe Union has issued a strong advisory to Itsekiri leaders, urging them to honor a 1943 West African Court of Appeal (WACA) judgement and desist from what it describes as bogus claims on Okpe territories. In a New Year Message to the Okpe Nation, the union decried a blatant demonstration of reckless expansionism by some Itsekiris.
Prof Igho Natufe, President General of Okpe Union Worldwide, presented the message. He stated, “As a nationality that prides itself as a respecter of the rule of law and court judgements, one would expect the Itsekiri Nation to honour the 1943 WACA judgement and desist from all their bogus claims on Okpe territories.”
The union accused Itsekiri leaders of renaming sections where they were historically allowed to reside as refugees with Itsekiri names. Examples provided include changing Etamua to Ogunaja, Amua Ogodo to Aja Ogodo, and a part of Amuokpe to Aja-Sagay.
The message expressed deep concern over the actions of some Itsekiri elements. “The settler equates himself to the indigenes. The Okpe Union demands that Itsekiri leadership call to order these Itsekiri elements who denigrate the sovereignty of the Okpe Nation over its territories. The case of the Itsekiri threat in Sapele should be of serious concern to all Okpe people,” it stated.
The union referenced a Delta State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into the Okpe Sobo Forest Reserve in 2020, established by the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Administration. It said the claims by Itsekiris of Abigborodo, Obotie and others to indigenous communities in Okpe land were rubbished by the published Record of Proceedings of that Commission.
According to the union, the territorial boundary between Okpe land and Itsekiriland is clearly defined by natural features. “The territorial boundary between Okpe land and Itsekiriland is the stretch of the Hole in the Wall Creek, the tributary that extends into between Sapele and Abigborodo over which the Emmanuel Uduaghan Administration constructed a bridge, to Obotie-Ugbukurusu, to Ikeresan, to Elume River, to Erogho water side, and finally to the water boundary between Ughoton and Omadino over which the James Ibori Administration constructed the Ughoton-Omadino Bridge,” the union clarified. It emphasized that the Itsekiris and the Okpes do not have any land boundaries.
The union called on the Okpe Traditional Council and political leaders, especially the chairmen of the Sapele Local Government Council and the Okpe Local Government Council and representatives in the Delta State House of Assembly, to stand up to their responsibilities as defenders of Okpe sovereignty.
It provided historical context, referencing the Itsekiri civil war known as the “Nana war” of 1894. “Recalling that we opened our doors to welcome Itsekiri fleeing from their civil war and offered them shelter, it now seems that our hospitality has become a curse… The Itsekiri civil war forced scores of Itsekiris to flee their lands and ‘ran for refuge to Sapele where they were granted refuge by the Okpe people’, the owners of Sapele. This was the judgement of the West African Court of Appeal,” the statement read.
The union urged Okpe political leaders, specifically naming Okakuro Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Okakuro Senator Ede Dafinone, Hon. Ben Etanabene, Ekakuro James Augoye and Perkins Umukoro, to begin to articulate and promote Okpe interests in their respective portfolios.
While reaffirming a policy of peaceful coexistence, the union issued a firm warning. “However, let it be known that, by any legitimate means possible, we will strongly defend the territories of the Okpe Nation against intrusions by any ethnic nationality on our sovereignty. While non-Okpe nationals are welcome in Okpe villages and towns; they must not forget that they are guests and not owners of Okpe land.”
The union also proposed a name change for a community association. “The appellation ‘Sapele Okpe Community’ should be changed. It has no conceptual difference with the other ethnic communities in Sapele… A more positive name, for example, Sapele Indigenes Association should be considered as it connotes a definitive and positive meaning,” it concluded.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled a revised draft of its 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday during a consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja, where he called for stakeholder input on the proposed framework.
Amupitan said the revised guidelines were developed to align with the Electoral Act 2026 and to address shortcomings identified in previous regulations, particularly those guiding the 2022 electoral cycle.
He emphasised that credible elections begin with transparent processes within political parties, especially in candidate selection.
“We are not just here to discuss new regulations, but to reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. Credible elections begin long before polling day—they begin with the transparency of candidate emergence,” he said.
According to the INEC chairman, the review followed a comprehensive assessment supported by empirical data, including insights from the Political Party Performance Index developed in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
He noted that the assessment revealed a significant gap between party constitutions and actual practices at the grassroots level.
The revised guidelines introduce reforms across key areas such as party registration and mergers, internal administration, conduct of primaries, campaign operations, financial transparency, and conditions for party deregistration.
Amupitan said the measures are specifically designed to curb irregularities in party primaries and promote internal democracy.
“These guidelines aim to sanitise party primaries and eliminate opaque processes that impose unpopular candidates, which often lead to voter apathy and avoidable litigation,” he added.
On campaign finance, he explained that the Electoral Act 2026 empowers INEC to set spending limits in consultation with political parties, urging stakeholders to pay close attention to provisions relating to election funding and expenditure.
With the 2027 general elections scheduled for January 16 for presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6 for governorship and state assembly elections, Amupitan noted that the commission is working within a tight timeline.
“We are operating within a compressed timetable that requires precision and efficiency in implementation,” he said.
He further revealed that the draft guidelines include measurable benchmarks aimed at increasing participation among women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the electoral process.
Calling for constructive engagement, the INEC chairman urged political parties to see the guidelines as protective measures rather than restrictions.
“By strengthening these rules, we are safeguarding the sovereign will of Nigerians from the nomination stage to the final declaration of results,” he stated.
Reaffirming the commission’s neutrality, Amupitan maintained that INEC remains an impartial umpire committed to defending democratic values and ensuring credible elections.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called for an urgent amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, warning that its current provisions could threaten the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, made the position known on Tuesday during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political party leaders in Abuja.
He described the law as regressive, noting that it fails to reflect the expectations of Nigerians despite extensive public consultations during the reform process. According to him, the Act poses significant risks and could undermine democratic stability if not urgently reviewed.
Dantalle further expressed concern that the legislation has already been used as the basis for INEC’s 2027 election timetable, placing political parties—especially those outside government—under undue pressure to comply with challenging requirements.
Among the contentious issues raised by IPAC is the mandatory adoption of direct primaries for candidate selection. The council argued that the provision erodes the independence of political parties and called for the reinstatement of indirect primaries.
IPAC also faulted the requirement for parties to submit detailed membership registers, including National Identification Numbers (NIN), within a limited timeframe in April 2026. It described the directive as impractical and warned that it could exclude many Nigerians who have yet to obtain NIN.
On electoral transparency, the council stressed the need for the full and unconditional electronic transmission of results. It urged INEC to ensure that polling unit results are uploaded to the IReV portal immediately after announcement, referencing challenges experienced during the 2023 presidential election.
The body further raised concerns over what it termed weakened sanctions for vote buying in the new law, reiterating its demand for the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission to prosecute electoral offenders.
IPAC disclosed that it has formally written to the National Assembly, seeking the repeal of the Electoral Act 2026, and appealed to international partners to support Nigeria’s democratic process through constructive engagement.
As preparations begin for upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, the council urged INEC to enhance its readiness, particularly in deploying critical technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal.
Dantalle emphasised that restoring public confidence in the electoral system is crucial, warning that voter apathy may persist without meaningful reforms.
The meeting also reviewed INEC’s proposed 2026 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, which are yet to be officially released and are separate from the Electoral Guidelines.
General News
Global Oil Prices Rise on Strait Disruptions, as Iran Rejects U.S. Dialogue, Supply Risks Persist
Global oil prices climbed sharply on Tuesday as ongoing supply disruptions in the Middle East and renewed geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States rattled energy markets.
Benchmark crude prices rose above the $100 per barrel mark, with Brent crude gaining nearly $2 and U.S. West Texas Intermediate also posting significant increases. The surge comes amid persistent concerns over disrupted supply routes, particularly through the strategic Strait of Hormuz; a critical chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil shipments.
Tensions escalated further after Iran denied claims by the U.S. officials that negotiations were underway to ease the conflict. The denial contradicted earlier remarks, suggesting progress in diplomatic engagement, adding to uncertainty in global markets.
The ongoing conflict has already disrupted energy infrastructure across the region, with reports indicating that dozens of oil and gas facilities have been damaged. Analysts warn that these disruptions could keep prices elevated for an extended period, even if hostilities ease in the near term.
Adding to market volatility are continued military exchanges and attacks on energy assets, which have heightened fears of a prolonged supply crunch. Oil prices have already surged significantly since late February as traders factor in the risk of further escalation.
Energy experts caution that if the disruption to shipping routes persists, prices could spike even higher, potentially exceeding previous record levels. The uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts and the ongoing damage to infrastructure continue to weigh heavily on global energy markets.
The developments underscore the fragile state of global oil supply chains, with markets reacting swiftly to both geopolitical tensions and conflicting signals on potential negotiations.