Category: News

The Commissioner of Police for Abia State Command, CP Danlandi Isa, has issued a mandate for all police personnel in the command to impound any vehicle operating without number plates or with obscured plates. He further instructed that thorough investigations be carried out on these vehicles and that cases be prosecuted in court without delay.

This directive was announced on Thursday in Umuahia during a briefing with strategic commanders. The briefing covered the outcomes of a recent senior officers’ conference and directives from the Inspector-General of Police at Force Headquarters in Abuja.

CP Isa informed that the order originates from Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu. He called on Area Commanders, DPOs, VCRU Commanders, and HoDs to be proactive in securing Abia State, urging officers to actively pursue criminals and avoid complacency, especially during the rainy season when criminal activities tend to increase.

The Commissioner praised officers for their dedication in maintaining law and order but encouraged them to do more by being civil, professional, and respectful in their duties. He stressed the importance of adhering to human rights, including protecting the rights of suspects under investigation, and emphasized intelligence-led investigations.

CP Isa also reminded strategic officers to maintain high discipline and constantly remind personnel of the guidelines for using firearms as per Force Order 237.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, has stated that while the nation grapples with persistent security threats, ultimate resolution hinges on divine intervention. In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, he emphasized that the battle against insecurity requires not only collective human effort but also prayers to God.

The country has seen a surge in violent attacks, including school abductions and displacement of communities. For instance, armed assailants attacked three schools in Oyo State, kidnapping 39 students and seven teachers. Similarly, in Borno State, 42 pupils were taken from their school in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

Matawalle described insecurity as a national crisis demanding collaboration between security agencies and the public. He urged citizens to back the government and security forces, and to pray for peace. He cautioned politicians against using the situation to score political points, stressing that insecurity does not discriminate by political affiliation or religion.

The minister expressed dismay over the country’s security predicament, calling for unity to ensure that security operatives and citizens work together to overcome the challenge. He noted that no Nigerian is happy about the situation, and opposition members should stop exploiting it to incite the public.

He lamented that some opposition figures seem pleased with the crisis, as they care more about painting the government as a failure for their political gain. Matawalle reiterated that only God can bring an end to the insecurity, alongside collective prayers and efforts. He warned against circulating old and misleading videos to suggest the failure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, clarifying that insecurity is not unique to Nigeria and that security forces are working tirelessly to crush terrorists.

On Democracy Day, a civil society organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), has called on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action by declaring a state of emergency regarding Nigeria’s escalating security challenges.

The organization’s Akwa Ibom State Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, made this appeal during CHRAN’s June 12 Annual Public Lecture, themed “The Dangers of Vote Selling in a Democracy.” He voiced deep concern over recent mass abductions in schools in Borno and Oyo States, urging the President to secure the swift release of all kidnapped students and teachers.

Isong stated, “CHRAN urges President Tinubu to treat the security crisis as a matter of urgent national importance by declaring a state of emergency. We call for a comprehensive overhaul and decentralization of Nigeria’s security architecture, granting greater authority to state governments.”

He also emphasized the need for collaboration between citizens and security agencies, reminding the public that security is a shared responsibility. Furthermore, he criticized the underperformance of certain local government councils in Akwa Ibom, urging chairmen to initiate projects that directly benefit the people.

Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Isong appealed to politicians to conduct their campaigns with decorum and responsibility. He encouraged voters to make choices based on personal conviction rather than financial inducements.

Professor Enefiok Essien, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo and keynote speaker, condemned the widespread practice of vote buying, warning that it undermines democracy and good governance. He stressed the need for civic education to discourage vote selling. Attributing the problem partly to poverty, he urged government at all levels to diversify the economy and create jobs.

Essien also called on security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to actively combat vote trading. He recommended that voting cubicles be positioned away from public view, and that mobile phones be banned inside voting areas to prevent voters from photographing their ballots as proof for buyers.

Dr. Udeme Nana reflected on the free and fair elections of June 12, 1993, urging political leaders and citizens to revive those democratic values. He noted, “June 12 was a turning point when Nigerians voted based on merit, not ethnic lines. No votes were bought or sold. Let us reenact that spirit in 2027.”

Anthony Sani, a former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has indicated that the northern region will not support Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the 2027 elections. Speaking exclusively to Daily Post, Sani explained that the North remains committed to the zoning arrangement and prefers to wait until 2031 to produce the president.

According to Sani, the South aims to complete its eight-year tenure in line with the zoning principle, which discourages southerners from backing Atiku. He warned that if northerners vote for Atiku, they risk being accused of undermining the zoning system. The North, he stressed, respects zoning and hopes to secure the presidency in 2031, making it unlikely to support a candidate from the same region in 2027.

“The South wants to finish its eight-year term under the zoning spirit, so southerners will not vote for former Vice President Atiku,” Sani said. “And because the North honors zoning and anticipates producing the president in 2031, northerners will not vote for Atiku, lest they be seen as disrupting the zoning arrangement.”

On Democracy Day, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) did not hold back in its critique of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that he must come to terms with his administration’s shortcomings instead of continuing to offer hollow pledges. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, released a statement on Friday that pulled no punches.

The ADC expressed deep dissatisfaction with the President’s address, which they argued sounded more like a campaign pitch than a report from a leader who has spent over three years at the helm. According to the party, Nigerians were treated to a speech that failed to reflect the reality of a government entering its fourth year.

“President Tinubu needs to own up to his failures,” the statement read. “His Democracy Day address resembled that of someone seeking a fresh mandate, not someone who has been in power. He asked citizens to once again believe that prosperity is imminent, that economic reforms are about to pay off, that employment opportunities are on the horizon, and that safety is steadily improving.”

The ADC urged Nigerians to ask a straightforward question: given that Tinubu has been president for three years and the All Progressives Congress (APC) has governed for eleven, why are we still being fed with promises? The party noted that when the APC took office in 2015, it vowed to address insecurity, revitalize the economy, generate jobs, reduce poverty, fortify institutions, and enhance the well-being of Nigerians. Yet, after eleven years, these same issues continue to dominate government speeches.

“The fact that the President is still making the same vows that brought the APC to power is an admission that those pledges remain unkept,” the ADC added.

The party also took aim at the National Assembly for choosing to proceed on recess on Democracy Day, calling the move tone-deaf and dismissive of the significance of the occasion.

On Friday, Kola Ologbondiyan, a prominent figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made a startling assertion: democracy in Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu is even more constricted than it was during military rule. This statement was made via a post on the social media platform X.

Ologbondiyan, who previously served as the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that Nigeria has turned into a setting of sheer absurdity during the 11-year reign of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He claimed that the celebration of Democracy Day in 2026 perfectly illustrates this decline.

In his post, Ologbondiyan directed criticism at President Tinubu, noting that while Tinubu preaches democratic values, the actual democratic space has shrunk to a degree not seen even under military administrations. He pointed to the APC’s own internal processes, where the emergence of party candidates remains unresolved weeks after primaries.

He further alleged that other political parties are uncertain about their electoral status, with elections just months away. According to Ologbondiyan, the only certainty in the political landscape is that Tinubu will contest the 2027 presidential election, while candidates from other parties are deliberately bogged down by internal conflicts.

Describing this as a contradiction, Ologbondiyan said it is impossible to champion democracy while simultaneously closing the democratic space. He concluded by wishing a Happy Democracy Day to Nigerians who, though silent now, are determined to remove the APC from power come 2027.

On Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, issued a stern reminder that the nation must honor the legacy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. The June 12, 1993 election, which Abiola won, represented a golden moment for Nigeria to showcase democratic leadership in Africa and globally, especially when apartheid was still entrenched in South Africa and many African countries were governed by military regimes.

Adebayo condemned the annulment of that election by the military government as a direct assault on the constitution and the will of the Nigerian people. He emphasized that no authority can truly nullify the sovereign decision of the populace. June 12, he argued, serves as a powerful testament that power ultimately resides with the people.

The SDP chieftain warned that as the next general election approaches, every citizen must actively work to strengthen democracy. He urged that the sacrifices of past heroes, including Abiola, should not be squandered. In his words, the struggle for true democracy requires the participation of all Nigerians to ensure that the dreams of those who fought for democratic rule are realized.

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his own Democracy Day address, called on Nigerians to maintain faith in the country despite ongoing challenges. Tinubu’s message echoed a theme of resilience, urging citizens to look beyond present difficulties and work collectively for a better future.

In a recent statement on his X account, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), shared details of his engagement with the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, and the vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. The discussions were prompted by internal party issues that have been making headlines.

Obi revealed that the meetings, which took place on Democracy Day, were centered on reinforcing cohesion within the NDC and furthering the party’s agenda for national overhaul. He emphasized that despite the NDC being just four months old and encountering obstacles, it stands as the party of tomorrow. The fruitful exchanges during the meetings underscore this outlook.

A committed political family, Obi noted, requires its leaders and members to be ready to make sacrifices and exhibit patience and flexibility, particularly during tough times. This mutual understanding is crucial for establishing confidence, boosting solidarity, and preserving the shared ambition for national transformation.

He stressed that everyone is dedicated to this objective. The NDC continues to be the instrument that will guide Nigeria through purposeful, empathetic governance, with a strong focus on productivity and democratic principles, aiming for the New Nigeria that is achievable.

The OK Movement, a political support group for the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, recently held a significant meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The gathering took place on June 12, as preparations for the 2027 presidential election intensify.

Reports indicate that Obasanjo has thrown his weight behind Obi and Kwankwaso, lending credibility to their campaign. The OK Movement shared details of the meeting on its X (formerly Twitter) handle, describing it as a powerful and strategic engagement.

The group stated that the meeting underscored a shared commitment to a stronger, more unified, and progressive Nigeria. It added that Obasanjo’s wisdom, experience, and leadership insights would further energize their efforts to build a people-centered movement focused on national advancement.

Reaffirming its mission, the OK Movement vowed to continue mobilizing, empowering, and rallying support for the new Nigerian movement, aiming for greater unity, growth, and prosperity for all citizens.

Kenneth Okonkwo, a prominent figure within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has opened up about the advice he gave Peter Obi before the former presidential candidate made the move to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking on Friday via a post on X, Okonkwo disclosed that he cautioned Obi that switching to the NDC might not be in his best interest.

According to Okonkwo, he explicitly told Obi that leaving the ADC to join the NDC would reduce him to what he termed a ‘mobile squatter’ within the new party. This warning, Okonkwo noted, has proven prescient following recent comments by Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the NDC.

Dickson’s remarks over the past two days, Okonkwo argued, have confirmed his earlier fears. He quoted Dickson as saying that those who think forming a political party is easy should go ahead and register their own. Okonkwo interpreted this as a subtle reminder that ‘squatters’ have no rights in someone else’s house.

The Nollywood actor-turned-politician went further to state that the primary role for Obi and his loyal supporters within the NDC is to serve the ‘Supreme Leader’ without question. This, he implied, is a far cry from the independent political influence Obi might have wielded if he had remained in the ADC.