Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has assured that he will hand over a more stable, secure, and economically viable Borno to his successor, Engineer Mustapha Gubio.

A statement by Dauda Iliya, the Givernors spokrsman stated that, Zulum gave the assurance on Monday when he received prominent sons and daughters of Gubio Local Government Area, led by elder statesman Alhaji Gambo Gubio, on a visit to him.
The visit to the Government House, Maiduguri, whih included the APC gubernatorial candidate, Engr. Mustapha Gubio, was to thank the govetmor for choosing their son as successor.

The delegation which included the Chairman of the Borno State Civil Service Commission, Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio; a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Fanta Baba Shehu; the Executive Chairman of Gubio, Hon. Mali Bulama Mali; a retired Commissioner of Police; and former Council chairmen, was also part of ongoing consultations with the governor.
Governor Zulum, noted that despite the challenges confronting the state, particularly insecurity, his administration remains committed to consolidating on the gains achieved over the years and laying a stronger foundation for sustainable development.

“Security is the most difficult issue. Insha Allah, before I leave, the situation will be better than now. I will hand over a more stable, more prosperous, and more secure government to Engr. Mustapha Gubio, Insha Allah,” Zulum declared.

He emphasised that sustaining achievements is often more difficult than attaining them, urging continued support and prayers for the APC governorship candidate.

“What matters is not just success; managing success is more difficult than achieving success itself. Managing success and managing the affairs of Borno State is not easy, but with collective support, prayers, and guidance, God will give him the wisdom and energy to succeed as a candidate and, Insha Allah, as Governor,” he said.

Extolling the leadership qualities of Engr. Mustapha Gubio, Governor Zulum described him as a man of integrity, humility, and composure whom he has known for more than two decades.

“Alhaji Mustapha Gubio, I have known him for the past 26 years, since he was a student at the University of Maiduguri. His integrity is evident; he is humane, very gentle, and composed. Insha Allah, God will help him to steer the mantle of leadership of Borno State,” Zulum stated.

The Governor added, “We will continue to pray for our gubernatorial candidate so that the Almighty will give him the wisdom and the wherewithal to steer the leadership of the state.”

Reflecting on the challenges he encountered at the beginning of his administration in 2019, Zulum recalled the sacrifices required to confront the state’s security and humanitarian crises.

“When I took over the leadership of the state, in the first 55 days of my administration, I saw my children only three times. The first four years were really challenging, but Almighty Allah has helped us to see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

The Governor expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit. “As Muslims, when we seek Allah’s guidance and pray for the best outcome, we must accept His decision with complete faith and conviction, knowing that whatever He chooses is ultimately the best for us,” Zulum remarked.

Leader of the delegation, Alhaji Gambo Gubio, commended Governor Zulum for his pivotal role in the emergence of Engr. Mustapha Gubio as the APC governorship candidate for the 2027 election.

“We are here today to express our profound gratitude and thanks for this remarkable occasion. Words alone cannot adequately convey the depth of our feelings or fully capture all that we wish to say. However, we remain sincerely grateful and deeply appreciative,” Alhaji Gambo said.

He described the APC candidate as a worthy son of Gubio and expressed confidence in his future leadership.

Alhaji Gambo also acknowledged Governor Zulum’s achievements in security, infrastructure development, and governance, noting that “Zulum is succeeding,”.

Hon. Ja’afaru Yakubu, Chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria-China Friendship Relationship Group, has lauded China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the remarkable progress recorded on the reconstruction and expansion of the Mararaba-Keffi Road, urging the Federal Government to ensure prompt funding for the project’s completion.

Yakubu, who personally visited the project site to inspect the level of work done, expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of execution. He noted that the 43.65-kilometre dual carriageway, which links the Federal Capital Territory to Nasarawa State, has reached 99.8 percent completion. According to him, the road is not only a critical infrastructure for easing traffic congestion but also a symbol of the growing partnership between Nigeria and China.

Speaking during the visit, Yakubu said: “China Harbour has demonstrated excellence and reliability in this project. Their commitment reflects the strength of our bilateral relationship and the benefits of sustained collaboration between Nigeria and China. This road will serve millions of commuters daily, reduce travel time, and open up new economic opportunities for communities along the corridor.”

The lawmaker emphasized the importance of timely release of outstanding funds under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme, stressing that delays could hinder the final touches required before commissioning. He pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had already directed relevant agencies to expedite payments, and urged strict compliance to ensure the contractor delivers on schedule.

Yakubu also commended the Federal Ministry of Works for adopting innovative engineering solutions, including the use of rigid concrete shoulders alongside flexible carriageways. He explained that such designs would enhance durability, reduce maintenance costs, and extend the lifespan of the highway.

In addition, he acknowledged the complementary role of Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, whose administration has embarked on the construction of flyovers to ease traffic flow around the Keffi axis. Yakubu described this synergy between federal and state governments, supported by international partners like CHEC, as a model for sustainable infrastructure development in Nigeria.

The project, awarded in June 2023 at a contract sum of ₦73.9 billion, is expected to be commissioned by President Tinubu in July. Remaining works include kerbs, U-drains, and installation of streetlights, which Yakubu said must be completed to ensure safety and functionality.

He concluded by reaffirming his committee’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria-China relations, noting that projects like the Mararaba-Keffi Road stand as enduring symbols of friendship, cooperation, and shared progress. “This road is more than concrete and asphalt; it is a testament to what Nigeria and China can achieve together when we combine vision, resources, and determination,” Yakubu added.

☆☆☆ Insider access, weak audit trails fingered as sources of breach. ☆☆☆Public demands transparency.
By: Our Special Correspondent.

For millions of Nigerians, the voter register is the one line that stands between them and their right to vote, but that line seems to have been crossed.

Multiple sources within and outside the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have confirmed to this newspaper that the Commission’s central database – housing voter biometrics, polling unit data, and CVR records was compromised in a breach that is now the subject of a joint probe by the EFCC, ICPC, and DSS.

The development has triggered anger and anxiety across the country, with civil society groups, political parties, and ordinary voters asking one question: If INEC’s data isn’t safe, is our democracy?
Cybersecurity experts and INEC insiders who spoke on conditions of anonymity told This Newspaper that the breach likely followed a mix of insider access and technical lapses.

Our findings reveal that, key scenarios under investigation include: *Privileged user abuse by data administrators and ICT officers who had the previledged access and rights to Automated Voter Registration System, AVRS, backend without proper authorization tickets.
Another possibility is that, phishing attacks or shared passwords may have exposed logins to the CVR online portal and IReV upload system.
Preliminary findings suggest changes to voter records were not fully tracked with user ID, IP address, and timestamp, making it hard to immediately pinpoint culprits.
A senior investigation officer told our correspondent that, it might have bern a case of backup vulnerabilities, in which, unencrypted backup drives containing voter data from 2023-2025 CVR exercises are also being traced.
“The voter register is INEC’s crown jewel,” said a cybersecurity analyst familiar with the probe, and rhat, once insiders or attackers get admintrative access, they can add, delete, or move voters between polling units.
In this situation, the damage may be silent until election day.

For now, INEC has not confirmed the full scope of the investigation, but has admitted that, it is working with security agencies to establish the facts, behind the hack, with, spokesman of the FCT Minister, Lere Olayinka, being the focal ppint of investigation.
On the streets and online, the mood is tense, with Nigerians pouring out their anger abd fears, that, names might disappear from the register or their votes may be manipulated.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room called “a direct threat to electoral integrity” and demanded INEC to publish a forensic audit within 14 days.
The dominant sentiment, has been that of distrust, as many voters fear their names, NIN, phone numbers, and biometrics may be sold or manipulated ahead of the 2027 elections.

Political parties remain polarized, with the ruling party officials insisting INEC must be allowed to investigate, even as opposition parties allege the breach was del8berate and not accidental.
Sources at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja confirmed a special task force has been constituted, with the DSS handling the national security implications, and the ICPC probing possible financial inducements.
So far, our correspondent gathered that, Servers, BVAS backend logs, and backup drives have been forensically imaged, several INEC ICT staff and two vendors with adminstrative access have been sent on administrative leave.
This action according to the electoral body, is without prejudice, to the eventual outcome of investigations.
INEC has formally notified the Nigeria Data Protection Bureau under the Data Protection Act 2023, as required for data breaches, while a Tier-1 cybersecurity firm approved by NITDA is conducting an independent audit of the database integrity.

An EFCC source told this us that, the antigraft agency is tracing audit logs, IP addresses, and financial flows to accertain, Who may have made the change, and or authorized it, to be identified.

*Research findings reveal that, under the Electoral Act, Section 119, which covers illegal registration/alteration of voter records attracts two years imprisonment or a ₦500,000 fine.
Section 127 stipulates that, tampering with election materials/data transmitted via IReV/BVAS could attract three years imprisonment.

Further findings reveal that, under the Cybercrimes Act 2015, in section 8, unauthorized alteration/deletion of data could l3ad up to five years with ₦10m additional fine.
In section 6, unauthorized access to computer system, could fetch up to three years, with ₦7m fine.
And for INEC staff, it means, outright Dismissal, forfeiture of pension, and blacklisting from public service under Public Service Rules. Upon conviction, it also means ten years jail term, and disqualification from contesting elections.
And yet under the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, INEC itself risks a fine of up to 2% of annual revenue if found negligent. Individuals who leaked personal data can be sued by victims, ie, any illegible Nigerian voter can sue.
Barr. Festus Ogun, a constitutional lawyer, said on the issue, that, “This is not just an IT issue. It’s about sabotaging democracy. The courts will likely treat it as a serious offense.”
As investigators sift through terabytes of logs, one fact is clear: public trust is also on trial.
For INEC, the next 30 days will determine whether Nigerians believe the Commission can protect the one database that protects their vote. For those culpable, the law, once it catches up, may be less forgiving than the court of public opinion.
INEC Voter Register of 93.4m registered voters as of 2023, the agencies probing the breach, including, EFCC, ICPC, DSS, NDPB, mdy test their capabilities at rekindling public confidence in public institutions and attendant national security.