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The Head of ICT at the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Oluwadara Oluwalana, sees no issue with the manual backup for the transmission of results in the Electoral Act 2026. 

Oluwalana said this on Sunday at the Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act, citing other countries that adopted a similar measure.

READ ALSO: Electoral Act 2026 Still Contains Loopholes — Ex-INEC Official

“I would also like to speak about the manual part of the process. It should not be an issue. I think we should be looking at how we solve the disputes that arise. For example, as Senator Umeh mentioned, how do we resolve these disputes when they happen?

“When India started real-time elections, they had to re-incorporate manual backups because a lot of disputes came up. As you saw with the technology recently, where the ‘glitch’ necessitated a change, we have simply made provisions for everything.

“Our focus now should be: how do we move forward? How do we ensure we resolve the issues that emerge between the IReV (INEC Result Viewing Portal), the BVAS, and the manual records? I believe we have the right technology to try it out in this election.”

Seun: Do you think on election day all the telecom companies can come together and deliver a good network for the election?

Oluwadara: Yes, I believe telecom operators can come together and make it work. I think we have the capacity now.

Oluwadara Oluwalana is the Head of ICT,… pic.twitter.com/UmP5qj07SK

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have foiled coordinated attacks by suspected ISWAP fighters on Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) in Borno State, recovering arms and an armed drone in the process.

The affected locations include FOB Mayanti, Gajigana and Gajiram, as troops intensified offensive operations across Sector 2.

The Media Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Lt. Col. Sani Uba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, “the terrorists launched the attack between the late hours of 28 February and early hours of 1 March 2026, underscore the growing desperation of terrorist elements under sustained pressure on their enclaves, logistics corridors and leadership structures.”

READ ALSO: Four Suspects Arrested As NSCDC Busts Illegal Arms Fabricating Factory In Katsina

He added that while the attack on Gajigana was successfully repelled with troops maintaining full control of their position, the encounters at Mayanti and Gajiram resulted in significant terrorist casualties and the recovery of combat equipment.

“At about 2300 hours on 28 February 2026, FOB Mayanti came under heavy attack by a large number of terrorists. Gallant troops held firm despite intense enemy fire, as reinforcements fought through ambush and IED threats to rout the attackers,” he said.

“Exploitation confirmed five terrorist corpses and the recovery of three PKT automatic anti-aircraft guns, two RPG-7 tubes, four AK-47 rifles, two FN rifles, three RPG bombs and large quantities of 7.62mm ammunition, with blood trails indicating additional casualties, sadly an officer paid the supreme price.”

Lt. Col. Uba further revealed that at about 0115 hours on 1 March 2026, terrorists armed with PKT guns, RPGs and armed drones attacked FOB Gajiram but were repelled by troops supported by air assets.

Three terrorist bodies were recovered along the withdrawal route, alongside four AK-47 rifles, five anti-tank bombs, three locally fabricated mortar bombs, one armed drone, six fully loaded 7.62mm NATO magazines, barbed wire cutters, specialised ammunition, poisoned arrows and other items abandoned while fleeing. One wounded soldier was airlifted by a Nigerian Army Aviation helicopter for advanced medical care.

He added, “Additionally, during an ambush around Bulturam Corner and Dadingel in Gujba LGA, troops neutralised two terrorists and recovered two AK-47 rifles, four AK-47 magazines, a bicycle and other sundry items. All locations remain firmly under own control, and the scale of recoveries and confirmed enemy losses further underscores the degrading combat capacity of ISWAP elements.”

Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has expressed deep concern over the reported abduction of His Royal Highness, Ezeogo Francis Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area and father of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, by suspected armed men on Sunday morning.

The incident occurred along the Nwakpu axis of the council area, as the traditional ruler was reportedly on his way to church.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Monday Uzor, and obtained by Channels Television.

Governor Nwifuru described the development as deeply troubling and totally unacceptable, noting that acts of criminality against innocent citizens, especially revered community leaders, will not be tolerated in Ebonyi State.

READ ALSO: Ex-Deputy Governor’s Father Kidnapped In Ebonyi

While expressing solidarity with the family of the abducted royal father and the people of Ikwo Local Government Area, the governor assured that the Ebonyi State Government had immediately activated all security and intelligence mechanisms to ensure the safe and prompt rescue of the monarch.

“All security agencies in the state have been directed to work in synergy to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”

He stressed that the government would deploy all available state apparatus and resources to unmask those behind the criminal act and prevent any recurrence.

He further called on residents of the state, particularly those in Ikwo and surrounding communities, to remain calm but vigilant and to provide useful information that could assist security agencies in their ongoing operations.

Nwifuru reiterated the commitment of his administration to the protection of lives and property across the state and reassured the people that Ebonyi State would not be allowed to become a safe haven for criminals.

He also urged the perpetrators to release the abducted traditional ruler unconditionally, emphasizing that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on anyone found culpable.