WEEKLY ROUNDUP: Prof Amupitan makes promises; governors abandon PDP in tatters; and farewell to Evang Uma Ukpai

By Emmanuel Kwada 

This week’s Nigerian news delivers a whirlwind of change and challenge. The Senate’s confirmation of Professor Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman sparks hope for electoral reform, with his bold pledge to audit the 2023 election’s logistics. Meanwhile, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah’s defection to APC, alongside his entire cabinet, fuels fears of a one-party state, threatening Nigeria’s democratic balance.

Inflation dipping to 18.02% offers economic relief, but soaring cooking gas prices and scarcity hit households hard.

Education sees a shift as Maths becomes optional for arts admissions, while ASUU’s strike looms. President Tinubu’s controversial pardons stir debate, and the nation mourns evangelist Uma Ukpai’s passing. Dive into the details as THE INSIGHT takes you through this week’s roundup.

Prof Joash Amupitan

Professor Amupitan’s promise to look back

The Senate this week gave a resounding thumbs-up to Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The 58-year-old law professor from Kogi State, stepping into the shoes of outgoing boss Mahmood Yakubu after a decade of highs and headaches, sailed through screening with a voice vote, but not without some spicy grilling on everything from tech glitches to voter turnout.

Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and University of Jos bigwig specializing in corporate governance and evidence law, didn’t hold back during his Senate showdown.

“I’ll kick off with a full audit of the 2023 election’s logistics; every ballot box, every BVAS machine, every delayed result,” he declared, eyes locked on the senators like he was cross-examining a witness. “No sacred cows.

I’ll kick off with a full audit of the 2023 election’s logistics; every ballot box, every BVAS machine, every delayed result

We’ll fix what went wrong so 2027 isn’t a rerun of the drama.” He even tossed in a bold pitch: deploying drones to ferry ballots in bandit-plagued spots, ensuring “no voter left behind, no matter how remote.”

Senate President Godswill Akpabio beamed, calling it a “fresh start for democracy,” while Minority Leader Abba Moro marveled at Amupitan’s “intimidating” resume.

As the first North-Central chair since INEC’s birth, he’s hailed as apolitical and integrous by Kogi Governor Usman Ododo, yet whispers of “Tinubu’s pick” have opposition folks side-eyeing.

With off-cycle polls looming and 2027 on the horizon, Amupitan’s got his work cut out. If he delivers on that vow, he could be the reformer Nigeria craves or just another chapter in the electoral soap opera. Either way, the spotlight’s brutal, and the crowd’s watching every move.

‎One-party Nigeria loading, as Enugu Governor Peter Mbah Dumps PDP for APC

‎‎Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, alongside his entire cabinet, lawmakers, local government chairs, and over 80% of PDP executives, defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 14, 2025.

Enugu State Governor Barr. Peter Mba and his cabinet members receive APC membership cards.

‎Announced live from Government House, the move ends the PDP’s 26-year dominance in Enugu, a southeastern stronghold, and bolsters APC’s grip on Nigerian politics.

‎Mbah, elected under PDP in 2023, justified the defection as a strategic alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s reforms, which he claims mirror Enugu’s development goals, including smart schools and a 600% revenue surge.

‎“This is no whimsical choice,” Mbah declared, receiving his APC card amid celebrations with Vice President Kashim Shettima present. He promised continuity for ongoing projects, framing the switch as a pragmatic step for progress.

‎This defection follows a pattern. Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and 23 assembly members recently abandoned PDP, with rumors of Taraba governors considering similar moves.

‎Former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose attributes the exodus to internal PDP sabotage, not federal coercion. With APC now controlling 23 of 36 governorships, supporters celebrate a “grand coalition” for national unity.

‎However, the implications are profound and unsettling. Politically, the PDP’s collapse to eight governors threatens Nigeria’s multiparty democracy, raising fears of a one-party state. Critics, including Prof. Udenta Udenta, accuse Mbah of betraying Enugu’s PDP voters, arguing mandates belong to parties, not individuals.

‎Economically, Enugu could benefit from federal patronage more infrastructure, funding, and policy support according to Mba.

‎Yet, the cost is steep: a weakened opposition risks unchecked governance, diminished accountability, and deepened Southeast marginalization.

A food market in Nigeria. Photocredit: ICIR

‎Inflation rate drops. Now, Nigerians need money to buy food items 

‎The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on October 15, 2025, that headline inflation eased to 18.02 percent in September, down from 20.12 percent in August.

‎This marks the sixth straight month of decline and the lowest rate in three years, dipping below the painful 20 percent threshold for the first time since mid-2022.

‎Food inflation, a major pain point, tumbled even sharper to 16.87 percent from 21.87 percent, thanks to softer prices on staples like maize, garri, beans, onions, and tomatoes.

For everyday Nigerians, the relief feels like a drop in the ocean

‎The drop stems from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent interest rate cut the first since 2020 and a rebased Consumer Price Index that better reflects today’s spending patterns.

‎Economists hail it as a sign of stabilizing policies taking root, potentially paving the way for cheaper borrowing and more investment if the trend holds.

‎But for everyday Nigerians, the relief feels like a drop in the ocean. With the rate still sky-high compared to global norms, the cost of living remains brutal.

‎“Prices are down on paper, but my family’s still skipping meals to pay rent,” lamented Mustapha Abubakar, a Nasarawa trader juggling soaring transport and school fees.

‎The implications are double-edged. A sustained slowdown could boost consumer spending and growth ahead of 2026 budgets, but without tackling root causes like naira volatility and supply chain woes, hardship will fester.

Prices are down on paper, but my family’s still skipping meals to pay rent

‎As Abubakar put it, “This is progress, not victory families need real wage hikes, not just statistics.” For now, the dip buys time, but Nigeria’s economic storm clouds linger.

‎Light in the tunnel for prices cooking gas

‎Relief might be on the horizon for weary Nigerian households as the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) promised on October 16, 2025, that the ongoing cooking gas shortage will wrap up by the weekend.

Nigerians on queue to refill their gas cylinder

‎”Products are already being trucked out nationwide,” declared NALPGAM President Oladapo Olatunbosun, pinning the temporary crunch on a recent PENGASSAN strike at Dangote Refinery that halted distribution.

‎Prices, which spiked to N25,000 for a 12.5kg cylinder last week up from N17,500 should stabilize soon, he added, urging consumers to avoid panic buying.

‎But for millions, the damage is done. In bustling markets from Adamawa to Imo, families like Mummy Amada are fuming. “We’ve gone back to firewood; it’s cheaper but chokes the kids and blackens our pots,” she sighed, echoing a chorus of frustration of many Nigerians.

We’ve gone back to firewood

‎The scarcity, blamed on strike disruptions and Dangote’s supply halt, has forced a grim revert to charcoal and kerosene, hitting small eateries and low-income homes hardest.

‎The implications cut deep. Short-term, it eases a weekly burden, cooking gas eats 10-15% of household budgets but lingering hikes could fuel inflation, already at 18%, eroding‎2.

‎eroding purchasing power amid naira woes. Environmentally, it’s a setback for Nigeria’s clean energy push, as sootier fuels spike deforestation and health risks like respiratory issues.

Promises are cheap show us the cylinders

‎Economically, unchecked volatility threatens Dangote’s role as a key supplier, potentially hiking import reliance and costs. If marketers deliver, it’s a win for stability; otherwise, more families face tough choices. As one trader put it, “Promises are cheap show us the cylinders.”

A Minister scared of Mathematics

‎The Federal Government announced on October 16, 2025 that Mathematics is no longer a compulsory Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subject for students seeking admission into the Arts and Humanities programs in universities.

A class teacher is teaching mathematics on the blackboard.
Credit: Online

‎The new policy, unveiled by Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, scraps the mandatory credit in Mathematics for programs like history, literature, and philosophy, requiring only a pass instead.

‎“This reflects global trends and lets students chase their passions without undue stress,” Alausa said, noting that sciences and engineering still demand the credit.

‎For students like Rejoice Nnamdi, a Mararaba-based literature hopeful, it’s a lifeline. “I’ve always struggled with Maths. Now I can focus on what I love,” she beamed.

‎But the joy is tempered by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) launching a two-week warning strike today, protesting unpaid salaries and poor funding.

I’ve always struggled with Maths. Now I can focus on what I love

‎“Our universities are crumbling,” ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke declared, warning of a full shutdown if demands aren’t met.

‎The implications are huge. The policy could boost arts enrollment and reduce exam failures over 30% of students flunk Maths yearly but critics fear it may weaken analytical skills.

‎ASUU’s strike, meanwhile, threatens another academic disruption, potentially delaying admissions and deepening Nigeria’s education crisis. As parents and students wait, the nation holds its breath.

When clemency causes backslash 

‎President Bola Tinubu’s sweeping exercise of presidential prerogative of mercy has ignited a firestorm across Nigeria, with critics slamming the inclusion of drug traffickers and murderers on a list of 175 beneficiaries as a blatant betrayal of the nation’s fight against crime.

Maryam Sanda and her late Husband

‎But in a dramatic twist, the federal government has backpedaled, insisting no one has walked free yet—leaving the public both relieved and seething over the initial blunder.

‎The backlash erupted last week when the Presidency announced the pardons, recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and rubber-stamped by the Council of State.

‎Among the names: Nweke Francis Chibueze, slapped with a life sentence for cocaine trafficking in 2010, and Isaac Justina, whose cannabis possession conviction was set for reduction.

This undercuts our global war on narcotics—making Nigeria look like a haven for traffickers

‎Others included Maryam Sanda, the infamous Abuja socialite on death row for stabbing her husband to death in 2017, plus convicts for armed robbery, illegal mining, and even colonial-era figures like the late Herbert Macaulay.

‎Opposition heavyweights piled on. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) branded it “a national disgrace,” accusing Tinubu of abusing his powers to free “dozens of drug barons who’ve barely warmed their cells.”

‎Party spokesman Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi fumed: “This undercuts our global war on narcotics—making Nigeria look like a haven for traffickers.” Atiku Abubakar, the PDP flagbearer-turned-critic, called it a “moral irony,” slyly nodding to Tinubu’s own Chicago drug forfeiture saga from the ’90s.

‎Even Tinubu’s own aide, South-East spokesman Josef Onoh, broke ranks, begging the president to yank the drug pardons, warning they’d torch Nigeria’s rep with UN anti-drug bodies and demoralize overworked NDLEA agents.

‎Enter Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), whose October 16 press release dropped like a bombshell. “No inmate has been released,” he clarified, chalking up the uproar to a “final administrative review” for legal tweaks.

No inmate has been released

‎The process, he stressed, is “standard protocol” a last scrub of the list before forwarding release warrants to the Controller-General of Corrections.

‎”This isn’t delay; it’s due diligence,” Fagbemi said, tipping his hat to public watchdogging as proof Nigerians “care deeply about justice.” Once cleared, announcements would follow—no rush, just rule of law.

‎The clarification has cooled some tempers, but skepticism lingers. “Why announce first, verify later?” tweeted activist Segun Awosanya. With Tinubu’s anti-corruption drive under the microscope, this saga underscores the tightrope of compassion versus accountability. As the review wraps, one thing’s clear: Nigerians won’t let mercy slide into impunity without a fight.

‎For Evangelist Uma Ukpai it was biblical time to die 

‎The Christian community in Nigeria and beyond is reeling from the loss of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, the fiery evangelist and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, who passed away peacefully on October 6 at age 80.

Late Rev Uma Ukpai

‎His family confirmed the news on Monday, calling it a “triumphant homegoing,” but the void left by this “God’s General” feels anything but celebratory to the thousands whose lives he touched through decades of bold preaching and tireless service.

‎Born in 1945 in Abia State, Ukpai lost his father young but channeled that hardship into a ministry spanning over 60 years. In the 1970s, he launched his non-denominational UUEA in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, turning it into a powerhouse of stadium-filling crusades, faith healings, and global outreach across Africa, Europe, and the US.

‎His annual Miracle Conventions drew massive crowds, blending prophetic fire with practical empowerment always with that unforgettable, booming voice declaring victory over life’s battles.

‎Beyond the pulpit, Ukpai was a pioneer in education, founding the Uma Ukpai School of Theology, Uma Ukpai Polytechnic, and a scholarship foundation that lifted countless youths from poverty.

A warrior of the gospel who fought not with weapons, but with words that healed and inspired generations

‎Married to Pastor Philomena since 1975, they raised eight children and one adopted, modeling a partnership rooted in faith and family.

‎”A good wife makes many things possible,” he’d often quip, crediting her for his longevity.

‎Tributes poured in like a flood. President Bola Tinubu hailed him as “a beacon of hope whose sermons ignited souls and built bridges of unity in our diverse nation.”

‎Atiku Abubakar, ever the statesman, remembered Ukpai as “a warrior of the gospel who fought not with weapons, but with words that healed and inspired generations.”

‎Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma called his death “a huge loss to Nigeria,” while Redeemed Christian Church of God leader Enoch Adeboye, who once joked he’d follow Ukpai’s footsteps, shared a tearful memory of their first meeting 40 years ago.

Daddy Uma taught us to laugh in the storm now heaven’s got the loudest laugh

‎Even Prophet Samuel Akinbodunse, a spiritual son, described him as “a true apostle of faith,” crediting Ukpai’s mentorship for shaping modern Pentecostalism.

‎“Healed bodies, saved marriages, mentored pastors. One social media user posted, “Daddy Uma taught us to laugh in the storm now heaven’s got the loudest laugh.”

‎As his family prepares a fitting farewell, Nigeria pauses to honor a man who turned personal pain into public praise. Rest well, General; the race is won.

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