Political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi; human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and humanitarian activist Comrade Kennedy Iyere on Monday, February 16, 2026, unveiled the Nigerian Youths and Women Political Emancipation Movement (NYWOPEM) and formally launched the #FixNASS2027 civic campaign in Lagos.

The unveiling, organised by the Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), brought together stakeholders from across political platforms, civil society, youth groups, religious bodies, and women-led organisations.

Speaking at the event, Iyere, who is also the founder of YOTSI, 40Million Ballots Movement, and convener of the movement said NIYWOPEN was conceived in response to what he described as the persistent under representation of youths and women in governance despite their voting numerical strength, which exceeds 60% of the voting populace.

According to him, while young people and women constitute a significant proportion of registered voters, their representation in the National Assembly and other elective political positions remains comparatively low.

He argued that this imbalance has limited inclusive policy making and weakened public accountability.

Iyere explained that NIYWOPEM seeks to provide a unifying electoral engagement platform through which youths and women can politically network together towards electing themselves into political offices and also ensuring that their voting power is well exercised in deciding winners of elections in Nigeria, thereby enforcing responsible leadership that compels accountable governance through democratic means.

At the event, the group also launched “#FixNASS2027,” a national political sensitization campaign and grassroots voters mobilization movement, championed by both the ordinary Nigerians and concerned elites alike, aimed to help provide a unified peer-to-peer electoral engagement, networking, sensitization and mass mobilization platform, where voters, especially youths and women, will be able to unite themselves (join forces) to run for legislative offices in 2027 at the federal and state levels, and also help other credible and patriotic Nigerians to win legislative seats, in replacemet of those currently in office, who have shown their lack of independence, functionality, patriotism and respect for the electorates by their refusal to approve the electronic transmission of results in the new electoral act bill, which indeed is the desire of every Nigerian.

“The need to entrench a people-driven functional Nigerian federal and state legislature, calls for the launch of #FixNASS2027, and thats what we have done today, our gratitude goes to Prof. Pat Utomi and Femi Falana SAN, for the roles they have played, as key Patrons of this movement. It is time for Nigerian youths and women to reverse elite political dominace by using their voting power, as a tool”, Iyere said.

Iyere described the initiative as a call for political reawakening, urging Nigerians to deploy their voting power strategically to demand performance and transparency from lawmakers.

He clarified that the movement is not affiliated with any political party, stating that its focus is on identifying and supporting individuals with exemplary competence and capacity, regardless of the party platform.

He added that prospective legislative candidates endorsed by the movement would be required to commit to written social contracts to ensure accountability.

Iyere further call on Nigerians to mount more pressure on their Senators and Federal House Members towards pushing for their unconditional approval of real-time electronic transmission of results, as demanded by Nigerians. He affirmed that several civil society groups have been bought over by politicians hence they have decided not to mount more pressure on their political paymasters. Iyere said that #FixNASS2027 will provide a lawful and peaceful civic platform where the advocacy and activism for the new electoral law passage shall be taken to the houses and constituency offices of the members of the current 10th National Assembly

He emphasised that the movement’s activities would remain non-violent and grounded in constitutional rights.

Falana called on the National Assembly to urgently amend the Electoral Act to make the electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) central server compulsory.

Falana said the demand has become necessary following the 2023 general elections and subsequent Supreme Court judgments which held that electronic transmission of results was optional under the current law.

According to him, ahead of the 2023 elections, INEC had assured Nigerians based on its guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act that accreditation would be conducted using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and that results would be electronically transmitted from polling units.

On his part, Prof Pat Utomi said the formal launch of NIYWOPEN and FixNASS2027 signals the beginning of sustained mobilization efforts aimed at strengthening democratic participation and expanding opportunities for youths and women in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Utomi reinforced the call for mandatory electronic transmission, describing arguments about network limitations as unfounded.

Utomi maintained that once polling unit results are captured electronically, they can be uploaded once connectivity is available, rendering network concerns insufficient grounds for abandoning the system. He compared the process to digital banking platforms widely used across Nigeria, arguing that similar technology has proven reliable in financial transactions.

He warned lawmakers against actions that could undermine electoral credibility, stating that history would judge harshly any attempt to sustain processes that enable manipulation. (LEADERSHIP)

• Stakeholders display #FixNASS2027 placards at the unveiling of a civic movement led by Pat Utomi and other advocates in Lagos.

Ebonyi raises alarm over neglected tropical diseases in rural communities

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, has decried the continued neglect of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths in rural communities, warning that the conditions remain major barriers to education, productivity, and social inclusion.

Ekuma said the diseases disproportionately affect the world’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those in underserved rural areas, where access to healthcare and preventive measures remains limited.

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, has decried the continued neglect of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) such as lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), onchocerciasis (river blindness), schistosomiasis, and soil-transmitted helminths in rural communities, warning that the conditions remain major barriers to education, productivity, and social inclusion.

Ekuma said the diseases disproportionately affect the world’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those in underserved rural areas, where access to healthcare and preventive measures remains limited.

The commissioner spoke while briefing journalists to mark the 2026 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day in Ebonyi State. Activities to commemorate the day included a road walk and public awareness campaigns focused on prevention, early detection, and treatment.

The commissioner spoke while briefing journalists to mark the 2026 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day in Ebonyi State. Activities to commemorate the day included a road walk and public awareness campaigns focused on prevention, early detection, and treatment.

He explained that World NTD Day aims to raise global awareness about neglected tropical diseases and mobilise collective action toward their elimination.

Ekuma assured residents that treatment drugs are available, safe, free, and effective at healthcare facilities across the state. He urged people to visit the nearest health centre if they notice symptoms such as limb swelling or persistent skin irritation.

According to him, Nigeria has recorded significant progress in combating NTDs, including a 49 percent reduction in soil-transmitted helminth prevalence and a 75 percent reduction in schistosomiasis.

“In Ebonyi State, our proximity to water bodies and agrarian lifestyle once made us a focal point for many of these conditions. However, through consistent mass administration of medicines, we are turning the tide,” he said.

The commissioner highlighted key achievements by the state government, in collaboration with the The Carter Center and the Federal Ministry of Health. These include reaching over 1.5 million residents through school- and community-based deworming programmes, conducting hydrocele surgeries, and sinking boreholes in hotspot local government areas in partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources.

He commended Governor Francis

He commended Governor Francis Nwifuru and his wife, Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, for their investment in the health sector, stressing that no Ebonyi resident should suffer from diseases that are preventable or treatable.

Also speaking, the Programme Officer of The Carter Center for Enugu, Ebonyi, and Anambra states, Mrs. Attama Egeonu, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the state until NTDs are eliminated. She noted that the non-profit organisation, founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, focuses on NTD control in Nigeria alongside other humanitarian programmes worldwide, and emphasised the need for sustained political will and active community participation.(Vanguard)