The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected that the registered voters in the country might increase by about 10 million to over 80 million by 2019.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the prediction at a roundtable organised by the European Union Electoral Follow-up Mission to Nigeria and West Africa, held in Abuja.

The leadership of the Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party said it is set to conduct congresses in four states in the Southwest. The states are – Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos. Addressing reporters in Akure, the Ondo state capital, over the weekend, the southwest chairman of the PDP, Eddy Olafeso said the conduct of the congresses has put an end to the crisis rocking the party in the zone.

The Court of Appeal Kebbi Division has overruled the judgment of a Kebbi State High Court which discharged and acquitted Mohammed Arzika Dakingari, Accountant General of Kebbi State on 20 counts charges of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretense preferred against him and one other by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the immediate disengagement from service of Mr Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, said the President’s directive was contained in a memo to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.

The Amnesty International has said the Federal Government must investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the killings in Plateau State and other parts of the country. The AI said the killings had worsened because the Federal Government failed to bring the perpetrators to book, urging the devastated communities not to go on a reprisal. Over 27 persons were murdered in Nkiedonwhro community in the Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State by unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun training of its staff on voter education to end voters’ apathy in the state in preparation for 2019 elections.

The Ebonyi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abakaliki.