The Senate on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services across the federation, marking a significant step in ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.

The bill, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, was considered and approved after extensive debate by lawmakers during plenary.

More to come

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been declared the winner of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing a decisive victory across the state’s 16 local government areas.

The official declaration was made in the early hours of Sunday by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Adenike Oladiji, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, at the state collation centre.

Announcing the final results at about 3:13 a.m., Oladiji stated that Oyebanji polled a total of 319,224 votes to emerge victorious, defeating other contenders in the keenly contested election.

According to the results released by INEC, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, garnered 40,543 votes to finish second, while Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 12,872 votes.

The Returning Officer disclosed that 384,940 voters were accredited for the election conducted across the state on Saturday. She added that 375,777 valid votes were recorded, while 6,332 votes were rejected, bringing the total number of votes cast to 382,109.

“That Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes cast, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” Oladiji announced.

Oyebanji’s victory marks a significant endorsement of his administration by the electorate, as the incumbent governor secured an overwhelming majority of votes across the state.

The governorship election attracted widespread attention, with political stakeholders and observers closely monitoring the process. Voting generally proceeded peacefully across most parts of Ekiti State, although there were reports of technical challenges and allegations of irregularities in some locations during the exercise.

Security agencies maintained a strong presence throughout the election period, while election officials worked to ensure the smooth conduct of the poll.

The declaration officially concludes the 2026 governorship election process in Ekiti State and paves the way for Oyebanji to continue in office for another term as governor.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, fixing January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls.

The commission also announced that February 6, 2027, will now hold the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections across the country.

The new timetable was disclosed on Thursday by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in an official statement.

Why the Shift?

INEC had earlier slated the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls were scheduled for March 6, 2027.

However, the commission said it was compelled to adjust the schedule following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced new legal and administrative frameworks guiding the conduct of elections.

According to the commission, aligning the electoral calendar with the provisions of the new law became necessary to ensure compliance, adequate preparation, and seamless implementation of reforms embedded in the 2026 legislation.

Implications for Political Parties

The revised dates effectively shorten the timeline for political parties, aspirants, and stakeholders preparing for the 2027 race. Parties are now expected to recalibrate their primary elections, campaign strategies, and logistics to meet the updated electoral window.

Political observers say the earlier schedule may also intensify early mobilization efforts, fundraising drives, and coalition talks among major contenders ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested general election.

INEC Assures Readiness

INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections under the new legal framework. The commission urged political actors and the electorate to take note of the revised timetable and cooperate to ensure a smooth electoral process.

With the 2027 general election cycle officially recalibrated, attention now shifts to how political parties and key stakeholders will navigate the compressed timeline under the new Electoral Act regime.