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Youth leaders from the six states of Nigeria’s North Central region and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have inaugurated national and state executives of a regional youth forum, pledging to focus on voter registration and participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the event held in Abuja on Saturday, the Director-General of the group, Comrade Abdullahi Muhammed Jemil, said the forum plans to engage communities, institutions and markets across all 1,432 wards in the North Central region and FCT.

“Getting voters’ cards is our machinery to ensure full participation. We are committed to reaching citizens in all wards and encouraging them to participate fully in the 2027 elections,” Jemil said.

The group tasked state coordinators, women leaders, and national executives to activate local chapters to facilitate voter registration and awareness campaigns.

Hon. Hassan Omale Atayoma, Chairman of the forum’s Board of Trustees, urged patience with government policies, noting that reforms being implemented would yield long-term benefits for residents of the region.

Prince Ngbede Odoh, the National Youth Ambassador, highlighted the need for improved voter turnout, pointing out that registration and participation rates in previous elections were lower than expected.

In his remarks, the National Director of the Tinubu Support Group, Umar Tanko Yankasi, described the North Central as one of Nigeria’s most resource-rich regions, citing Kogi State as an example.

Represented by Hassan Sadiq, the National Director of the forum, Umar Tanko Yankasi, emphasized the importance of ward-level organization for effective voter engagement, describing it as central to electoral preparedness in the region.

“These are economic ideas that countries like America, Germany and the UK followed before getting to where they are today,” Yankasi said.

Barr. Isah Iliyasu, Legal Adviser to the youth forum, advised members to pursue their mobilization efforts diplomatically and systematically, stressing that electoral engagement should remain peaceful and crisis-free.

The inauguration brought together youth leaders and stakeholders from across the region to coordinate efforts ahead of the 2027 general elections.

2027: North Central Youths commit to voter mobilization drive

An activist, Steven Kefas, has recounted his alleged abduction and unlawful arrest under El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, in 2019.

Kefas, in a statement on his X account on Saturday, narrated how he was allegedly tracked, abducted, and unlawfully detained by plainclothes police officers he claims were sent by El‑Rufai.

He alleged that El-Rufai’s men followed him from Port Harcourt and arrested him without an arrest warrant. According to him, the officers immediately seized his phones to prevent him from making calls.

“They also instructed the Mini Okoro Police Station, where I was detained, not to allow anyone to see or speak with me,” Kefas said.

He added that his situation changed around 8 p.m. after he pleaded with a policewoman, whom he described as elderly and compassionate, to help him contact his family.

“Kefas said the officer used her personal phone to call his brother, a move he believes saved his life and prevented what he described as a “Dadiyata model” outcome.

Kefas further alleged that when the officers returned around 5 a.m. on May 9, 2019, to transport him to Kaduna State, they appeared surprised to discover that news of his abduction had spread across the media.

“They had no choice but to take me to Kaduna alive,” he claimed.

The activist said he later endured harsh experiences in detention, noting that details of what happened in prison would be shared at a later time.

His revelation comes as El-Rufai recently alleged a plot to abduct him from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. According to El-Rufai, the incumbent governor of the state, Uba Sani, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met and decided on his abduction.

However, a presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, has said that the former governor, who is a leading opposition figure in the African Democratic Congress, would be probed.

How El-Rufai abducted me in 2019 – Kefas alleges

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, that the scheduled dates for the 2027 general elections, which fall during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, violate regulations.

Alabi, in a tweet via his X account on Saturday, also insisted that the only solution is a quick amendment to the Electoral Act to reduce the notice period required by INEC.

“Bringing the elections earlier to start before Ramadan will run afoul of the Electoral Act, which requires 365 days’ notice,” Alabi said.

“The only solution is a quick amendment to the Electoral Act to reduce the notice period. That, I’m sure, we will do.”

DAILY POST recalls that INEC recently released the timetable for the 2027 general elections.

According to INEC, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are set to hold on February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections will take place on March 6, 2027.

DAILY POST reports that the proposed dates fall within Ramadan, a period during which many Muslims dedicate time to fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.

2027: Elections before Ramadan violate regulations – Akin Alabi warns INEC, offers only solution

Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, ABIRS, explained that the alleged failure of Globacom Limited to comply with tax remittance obligations as ordered by the High Court of Abia State led to the sealing of the company’s offices in Umuahia and Aba.

The action was disclosed in a press release signed by the Deputy Director of Information, Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Emelle Akunna Loveth.

She stated that the enforcement followed a valid court order issued in Suit No. HU/225M/2025 between the Abia State Internal Revenue Service and Globacom Limited.

According to the statement, the High Court of Abia State, Umuahia Judicial Division, in its judgment delivered on January 14, 2026, directed Globacom Limited to remit the sum of N4,048,748,880.00, representing unremitted Right of Way Withholding Taxes and other tax liabilities covering the period between 2010 and 2022.

The court further ordered the telecommunications firm to pay an additional ten percent annual interest on the outstanding tax liabilities from the date the taxes became due until full payment is made.

The court also granted an order of distraint against Globacom’s goods, chattels, and premises within Abia State, empowering the revenue board and its agents to enforce recovery in line with the provisions of the Abia State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law, 2020.

ABIRS explained that the sealing of Globacom offices in Umuahia and Aba was a lawful enforcement action carried out in strict compliance with the subsisting court order.

Meanwhile, some customers of the telecommunications giant have called for an amicable resolution of the tax matter between the Abia State revenue agency and Globacom.

Tax: Why we sealed GLO’s office – Abia Revenue Service