Nigerian newspapers review: [2027 elections] APC, 4 other parties ready

2026-02-23 - 09:16

In today’s Nigerian newspapers review programme, Today in the News, Vanguard leads with the INEC’s release of the February 20, 2027 general election timetable, which appears to have taken many registered political parties by surprise, leaving them scrambling to recover lost momentum ahead of the contest. Another headline features fresh data suggesting the Federal Government’s push for value-added exports is faltering, with shipments of unprocessed raw materials surging to N2.9 trillion in the first nine months of 2025. Vanguard also reports that the National Assembly stated that the Electoral Act 2026 establishes key reforms such as a special fund for INEC, compulsory electronic transmission of results, and mandatory digital registers for political parties, noting that the legislation followed two years of consultations with stakeholders. Moving to the next paper, The Guardian leads with the six-month temporary export ban on shea nuts nearing its expiration, with the Federal Government facing mounting pressure to lift the restriction and restore the multi-billion-naira trade to its previous state. Next paper, The Punch leads with new doubts and unease intensifying within oil and gas agencies following President Bola Tinubu’s executive order mandating the immediate transfer of oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account for distribution across the three tiers of government. Lastly, The Nation leads with the All Progressives Congress (APC) saying the results of the FCT Area Council elections reflected voters’ approval of President Tinubu’s leadership. Vanguard News