Welcome to today’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-focused calls for government action on pressing issues that impact citizens.

1. Vanguard: Integrity of Our Elections Non-Negotiable — Amupitan, INEC Chair

The new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, yesterday vowed to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process, describing it as non-negotiable’.

Our Take: Professor Amupitan, Nigerians have heard your fine words about non-negotiable integrity, now they are watching to see if those words will walk. So, sir, as you promise free and fair elections, may your actions speak louder than the speeches, because citizens have upgraded from hopeful listeners to vigilant observers, and this time, the audience won’t clap for excuses.

2. Daily Trust: Boko Haram Attacks Communities in Borno, Yobe

Daily Trust reports that Boko Haram fighters and members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have launched attacks on communities and military formations in Borno and Yobe states.

The attacks took place simultaneously between midnight and early hours of Thursday, in Mafa, Dikwa, Marte, Ajiri in Borno, and Katarko town in Yobe State.

Our Take: The Ministry of Defence, the Nigerian Army, the Office of the National Security Advisor, and the Borno and Yobe State governments must move beyond routine press briefings and actually reclaim these communities from insurgents. Boko Haram and ISWAP should not be running night shifts of terror while security chiefs hold endless ‘strategy meetings’. It’s time to match rhetoric with real intelligence-driven action as citizens cannot keep sleeping with one eye open while those responsible for their safety keep dozing off.

3. The Nation: Transparency, credibility, integrity must define elections, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, while administering the oath of office on Prof. Joash Amupitan as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asked him to ensure that the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system must be ‘beyond reproach’.

Our Take: If President Tinubu truly wants transparency and credibility to define Nigeria’s elections, he must begin by allowing INEC to function as an independent body, free from executive interference and political manipulation. Genuine credibility cannot thrive when those in power hold the strings of the umpire. Let INEC breathe, let it work, and let politicians play fair.