NIGERIAN NOTCH

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC) has announced that it experienced a partial system collapse on Wednesday at about 11:54 a.m., resulting in widespread power outages across the South-East. In a statement issued on February 19, 2026, and signed by Emeka Ezeh Group Head, Corporate Communications EEDC the company said the incident disrupted electricity supply to customers served by its subsidiary companies — MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand. According to EEDC, the cause of the partial system collapse has yet to be determined. The company, however, assured customers that it is on standby and awaiting restoration of supply. “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this development has caused our esteemed customers,” the statement read. The development adds to ongoing concerns over grid stability in the region, as customers await further updates on the restoration of electricity supply.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GetBundi Education Technology, Osita Oparaugo, has made a case for the application of technology across all government processes to eliminate the trust issues citizens have with the government. Oparaugo said that while technology does not create trust, it removes hiding places. He stated this on Monday while appearing as a guest on a Channels Television programme, Beam. The programme focused on the topic, “Can technology fix Nigeria’s trust issues with the government?” “Trust doesn’t come from press statements or official assurances. Trust comes from shared facts. From the evidence, people can verify themselves,” Oparaugo said. “When public spending is transparent, government services are predictable, and complaints are tracked and resolved publicly, trust stops being about hope and starts being about proof,” he said. Speaking further, the GetBundi Founder queried why, for instance, the Nigerian government cannot deploy technology effe...

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday intensified their grassroots mobilisation ahead of the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, engaging residents in Gwarinpa and urging them to support the party’s candidates at the polls. Among those present was former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was joined by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and other senior figures of the party. Speaking during the outreach, the ADC leaders described the forthcoming elections as a critical test of Nigeria’s democratic process, stressing that the conduct of the polls would reflect the readiness of electoral authorities to deliver free, fair and credible elections. They also framed the election as an opportunity for residents of the FCT to make a decisive political statement about governance and accountability. Addressing voters, the ADC leaders urged residents to turn out in large numbers and cast their ballots for the party’s candidat...

...vows to mobilize 50,000 student voters By Uchenna Ezeadigwe  Awka Anambra State Students, acting under the auspices of the Solution Student Movement of Nigeria, Anambra state chapter, have declared their intention to contribute money to buy the “Expression Of Interest Form” for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to contest for a second term in office in 2027. The group also said that they were ready to mobilise over 50,000 youths and students for his second term endorsement rally, adding that President Tinubu has proved within the last three years to be genuine a progressive worthy of their support. The convener and student leader who is the Special Assistant to Governor Soludo on Student Matters, Hon Okoye Mathew Okpala (Nwa Soludo) made this known during a student meeting, held at theETF hall of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, (COOU) Igbariam campus, Anambra State, on Saturday, 14th Feb, 2026 to deliberate on the Theme: "Discovering Purpose and Working in Ordina...

From Ijeoma John, Nnewi Crisis erupted within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Sunday, February 15, 2026 as Nnewi North party executives stormed Obi Nnewichi Hall to stop what they tagged as 'illegal meeting' convened by the State Secretary of the party, Pastor Lawrence. Speaking to our correspondent, Mr. Ndubuisi Tabugbo Unachukwu from Okpuno- Ezeobuo Nnewichi, Nnewi said according to the rules and regulations guiding the party, they must be consulted as the Local Government Excos before any meeting must be held in their council. "We are the custodian of ADC in Nnewi North, for security reason, we must know the attendees of any meeting, agenda because if anything happens in ADC Nnewi North, the security agencies will hold us responsible. They have arranged their meeting, we only received invitation" he emphasized. Unachukwu noted when Pastor Lawrence approached the Nnewi North ADC Chairman, Prince Chijioke Ofordile he told the Chairman that the ...

From Ijeoma John, Nnewi  A few days ago, I came across a video on social media that made me smile. A young man, clearly a first-time visitor to Nnewi, was sharing his shocking experience. He said he travelled to Nnewi and while eating at a restaurant, he tried to charge his phone. The phone refused to charge. He discovered that his charger had spoiled. In frustration, he was complaining when a man sitting close to him told him to bring the charger. The man took the charger into his small repair shop, opened it, removed a faulty part, replaced it, and the charger started working again. The young visitor was shocked. He said in his life he had never seen where people repair chargers. Normally, when a charger spoils, you throw it away and buy another one. Out of curiosity, he ran to his car and brought his laptop charger that had been bad for a long time. The same man repaired it. In his words, “It means nothing is a waste in Nnewi.” That short story explains everything ab...

The 12th Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Oko has approved the appointment of Mr. Ayoola Adeleke Akeem as the institution’s substantive Registrar. The appointment was ratified at a council meeting held on February 12, 2026, and the letter of appointment was formally presented to the new Registrar by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Barnabas Gemade. According to the council, Mr. Ayoola emerged through a transparent and competitive interview process conducted in strict compliance with the Polytechnic Act, as well as guidelines stipulated by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Before his elevation, Mr. Ayoola served as Deputy Registrar and Nodal Officer, SERVICOM, at the institution, where he played key roles in administrative coordination and service delivery reforms. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and is a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAI). He is also a...

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is plotting to deploy the judiciary to weaken the African Democratic Congress (ADC), urging opposition figures to remain vigilant against what he described as anti-democratic manoeuvres. Atiku made the remarks on Thursday night during a visit to the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, following reports of an attempted arrest at the airport. Earlier on Thursday, Muyiwa Adekeye, media aide to El-Rufai, alleged that security operatives attempted to arrest the former governor at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport upon his return from Cairo, Egypt. In a post on X, Adekeye claimed that operatives approached El-Rufai shortly after he disembarked from his flight on Wednesday but that he declined to accompany them in the absence of a formal invitation. “Security agents today attempted to arrest Malam Nasir El-Rufai as he arrived on a flight from...

By Chigozie Igbo  The interview granted former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, yesterday by ARISE News has stirred fresh political debate, raising questions about strategy, timing, and the broader implications for Nigeria’s evolving opposition landscape ahead of 2027. In a wide-ranging appearance, El-Rufai made pointed allegations and strong political assertions that many observers interpret as calculated moves in a growing contest between key northern political figures and the ruling establishment. El-Rufai’s return to Nigeria after more than three months abroad,during which he publicly acknowledged visits to Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, was preceded by claims that attempts were being made to arrest him. Political analysts say the timing of his return, followed immediately by high-profile media engagements, suggests a carefully planned re-entry into the national political conversation. By speaking first, they argue, he framed the narrative before an...

Counsel to former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has condemned what he described as an unlawful attempt by security operatives to arrest his client upon arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Wednesday afternoon. In a statement issued in Abuja on February 12, 2026, Ubong Esop Akpan of the Chambers of Ubong Akpan alleged that operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) attempted to arrest El-Rufai shortly after he arrived on Egypt Air flight MS 877 from Cairo. According to the statement, the action followed an earlier invitation reportedly extended to El-Rufai by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The legal team argued that the invitation was delivered to his residence while he was outside the country, making immediate compliance impracticable. Akpan stated that his chambers had, since December 2025, communicated with the EFCC on El-Rufai’s behalf, assuring the commission of his willingness to honour the ...