![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law, declaring that electoral results in Nigeria are “finalised by humans, not computers”.
The legislation was passed by the National Assembly on Tuesday after months of debate, review and revisions by both chambers. Tinubu assented to the bill during a ceremony at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, attended by senior lawmakers.
Speaking after signing the bill, the president stressed that while technology plays a role in elections, the ultimate responsibility lies with human officials.
“No matter how good a system is, it’s managed by the people, promoted by the people, and the result is finalised by the people,” Tinubu said.
“For final results, you are not going to be talking to the computer. You are going to be talking to human beings who announce the results.”
He argued that confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system must be rebuilt on integrity rather than solely on digital tools.
Tinubu emphasised that voting in Nigeria remains fundamentally manual. Voters will continue to appear physically at polling units, thumbprint ballot papers and cast their votes. Ballots are sorted and counted manually before figures are entered into official result sheets.
“Essentially, the transmission of that manual result is what we’re looking at, and we need to avoid glitches,” he said.
The president cautioned against over-reliance on technology without addressing infrastructure gaps, particularly broadband limitations.
“How technically prepared are we today? How technically prepared will we be tomorrow?” he asked.
The amendment followed intense debate over the electronic transmission of results. The Senate initially rejected compulsory real-time electronic transmission, sparking protests at the National Assembly complex.
After reconsideration, lawmakers approved electronic transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission result viewing portal, IReV. However, the law stops short of making real-time uploads mandatory.
Under the new provision, where electronic transmission fails due to network disruptions, the manually completed EC8A form will serve as the primary basis for collation and declaration of results.
Lawmakers also amended the 360-day notice requirement in Clause 28 after concerns that it could push the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections into the Ramadan period.
The Senate reconvened in emergency plenary to rescind and adjust the clause before final passage.
Tinubu described the amendment as part of broader efforts to strengthen democratic stability and national development.
“What is crucial is that you manage the process to the extent that there will be no confusion, no disenfranchisement of Nigerians,” he said.
Expressing optimism, the president added: “Nigeria will flourish. We will continue to nurture this democracy for prosperity and stability.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
