Here is a roundup of some Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-driven demands for government action in addressing citizens’ concerns.

1. Daily Trust: INEC Proposes Fresh Guidelines for Review of Election Result

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to release supplementary regulations to guide the review of declarations and returns during elections.

Our Take: Beyond announcing plans and polishing paperwork, INEC must now do more than convene meetings and issue press statements; it must demonstrate, in action, that the ballot truly counts. If the commission is serious about restoring public trust, it must ensure that the forthcoming guidelines are not just another manual for confusion or selective application. It is time for INEC to stop playing referee and player at once and start enforcing transparency with the same energy it uses for logistics briefings.

2. The Guardian: Lagos, Rivers Worst Hit as Cult Clashes Claim 1,686 Lives in Five Years

A new report by SBM Intelligence has revealed that at least 1,686 people were killed in 909 separate incidents of gang-related violence across Nigeria between January 2020 and March 2025, with Rivers and Lagos states accounting for the highest number of fatalities.

Our Take: It’s no longer enough for security agencies and state governments to issue condemnations after body counts rise. The Federal Ministry of Interior, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the affected state governments must urgently develop a coordinated, intelligence-led, community-rooted strategy to dismantle cult networks.

3. ThisDayLive: Opposition Coalition Formally Adopts ADC, Unveils Party, Interim Exco Today

In what looks like the first major breakthrough in the efforts of the opposition coalition to wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027, the movement, late last night, formally adopted African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform for the 2027 elections.

Our Take: With ADC now the face of the opposition, Nigerians must demand more than recycled names, we need clear, people-focused plans for jobs, security, and education. If this coalition is serious about change, it must start by proving it’s not just politics as usual.