₦airaland Forum

The Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to take legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the exclusion of its governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the list of candidates for the 2027 election.

The party’s state chairman, Husseini Mairiga, said the NDC would approach the court if the electoral commission failed to address its complaint concerning Gwarzo’s omission from the final list.

Speaking in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP, Mairiga disclosed that the party had yet to receive an official response from INEC following the expiration of the October 24 deadline for submitting complaints over excluded candidates.

He said he had contacted party leaders at the national level but had received no update on the matter. Mairiga added that he planned to visit Abuja on Monday to seek clarification from the commission and determine the next course of action.

The chairman maintained that the party would not abandon its efforts to secure Gwarzo’s inclusion on the list.

“If INEC does not give us any update, we are going to court. We cannot just leave it like that,” he said

The NDC had earlier submitted a complaint through its national leadership after INEC directed political parties affected by the omission of their candidates to report their grievances before the October 24 deadline.

Mairiga insisted that Gwarzo was a duly registered member of the party and maintained that a review of the relevant membership records would establish his eligibility to contest the governorship election.

The dispute follows INEC’s publication of its final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship elections, which also excluded some candidates from other political parties.

Among those affected are the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Gombe and Ogun states, Isa Ali Pantami and Oladipupo Adebutu, respectively. The omissions have prompted complaints from the affected parties and threats of legal action.

INEC has previously cited compliance with statutory requirements governing political party membership registers and candidate nominations as a factor in the exclusion of some candidates. The commission’s position is central to the dispute, as affected parties seek clarification on the reasons their candidates were left off the list.

The NDC’s planned legal action will depend on the outcome of its engagement with INEC and the available legal procedures for challenging the exclusion.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has withdrawn recognition of its chapters operating outside Nigeria, citing a subsisting court judgment that reportedly restricts Nigerian political parties from establishing and supervising branches abroad.

The party announced the decision on Sunday through its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, who said the move followed a review of the party’s relationship with its foreign-based chapters.

According to Director, the decision was taken in deference to a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama in a case involving Professor Ali Alao, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and another party.

The suit, identified as No. CV/187/2025, reportedly addressed the legal status of diaspora chapters established by political parties registered in Nigeria.

The NDC spokesperson said the court held that Nigerian political parties lacked the legal authority to establish, operate or supervise chapters outside the country's territorial boundaries.

Consequently, the party said it was halting recognition of its foreign chapters and withdrawing all previously granted recognition in compliance with the judgment.

Despite the decision, the NDC expressed appreciation to Nigerians living abroad for their support, loyalty and contributions to the party.

Director disclosed that the party had begun a harmonisation process in locations where multiple groups were operating, with the aim of bringing them together under a unified structure.

He added that the party was still reviewing the judgment and had referred the matter to its legal department for further advice and guidance.

The NDC also acknowledged the interest of Nigerians in the diaspora in its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The party encouraged its supporters abroad to remain engaged, continue interacting and maintain their political interests through appropriate and lawful channels.

The development comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections, with the NDC indicating that its withdrawal of formal recognition would not prevent continued engagement with supporters outside Nigeria.

The Rivers State Police Command has removed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Abuloma Division and the officer overseeing the Abuloma Police Outpost following allegations that suspected cultists renovated the facility.

The command also ordered a full investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the renovation, identify those who financed the project and determine whether any police personnel violated professional standards.

The development followed the circulation of a video on social media showing suspected cultists visiting the renovated outpost in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, to celebrate the completion of the project.

In a statement issued on Friday, the police said Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju had directed that both officers be queried and relieved of their duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

The statement was signed by the command's spokesperson, ASP Agabe Kaborlo.

Police Investigate Funding and Approval of Renovation

According to the command, investigators will establish the identities and backgrounds of the individuals or groups that financed or facilitated the renovation.

The investigation will also determine which police officers authorised the project, whether the required procedures were followed and whether any personnel compromised the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force.

The police condemned any action or association capable of undermining the force's discipline, professionalism and public confidence.

It warned that police facilities must not become platforms through which suspected criminal groups seek public recognition, influence or legitimacy.

Police Clarify Position on Community Donations

The command acknowledged that members of the public are permitted to support improvements to police facilities under Section 26(1)(d) of the Nigeria Police Act 2020, which provides for gifts and contributions to the Police General Fund.

However, it stressed that such contributions must follow established procedures and must not compromise police independence, security or professional standards.

The police added that accepting donations does not exempt anyone from investigation or prosecution where evidence of wrongdoing exists.

It also promised appropriate disciplinary and legal action against anyone found culpable after the investigation.

Viral Video Sparks Questions

The controversy emerged after videos circulated online showing a group of men at the renovated police outpost alongside some police officers.

The footage reportedly showed the individuals participating in what appeared to be a ceremony marking the completion of the renovation.

Some social media reports identified the group as members of a suspected cult organisation. However, the allegations surrounding their identity, involvement in the project and relationship with the police have yet to be conclusively established.

The police said the ongoing investigation would determine the facts of the incident and whether any laws or professional regulations were breached.

The command urged residents to remain calm and provide credible information to support efforts to tackle cultism and organised crime across Rivers State.

Cultists Renovated a Police Station in Rivers State. pic.twitter.com/KZAJ0jjRTf

— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) October 15, 2026

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has appointed Bashorun Akinwale Akinwole, popularly known as Wolekanle, as his new Chief of Staff following the resignation of his predecessor, Segun Ogunwuyi.

The appointment was announced on Monday, October 12, 2026, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde. The new appointment takes immediate effect.

Akinwole previously served as chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission. He is a grassroots politician from Ogbomoso, the same hometown as Ogunwuyi.

Alongside the appointment, Makinde named Mrs Aderonke Adedayo as Director-General of the state's Due Process Office. Adedayo, who currently serves as Special Adviser on General Intervention and Donor Agencies, will retain her existing position while taking on the additional responsibility.

The appointments followed Ogunwuyi's resignation earlier on Monday. In his resignation letter, dated October 12, he said his decision took immediate effect and expressed gratitude to Makinde for the opportunity to serve the government and people of Oyo State.

Ogunwuyi, a former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the House of Representatives, did not publicly state any political disagreement as the reason for his resignation.

The departure comes amid the recent exits of several political appointees from the Makinde administration. However, no official reason linking Ogunwuyi's resignation to the wider political developments has been established.

Governor Makinde congratulated the new appointees and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with loyalty, commitment and dedication to public service.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The inauguration will take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, bringing together party leaders and other stakeholders to coordinate the ruling party’s campaign activities.

Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who serves as Director-General of the campaign council, disclosed the development on Friday after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. He said the President had approved the proposed campaign timetable.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma is the council’s secretary, while former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Betta Edu, is expected to play a key role in its women mobilisation directorate.

The campaign council is expected to coordinate the APC’s preparations for Tinubu’s re-election bid, including grassroots mobilisation, communication and engagement with voters across the country.

According to Yari, the campaign is scheduled to begin with a rally in Kaduna on October 24, before moving to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Maiduguri, Borno State.

Ahead of the formal inauguration, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and members of the women mobilisation team have reportedly begun grassroots engagement across the country.

The team has set a target of mobilising 40 million women’s votes for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket through outreach across communities and polling-unit structures in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The October 14 event is expected to formally activate the campaign council’s operations as the APC begins preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

Twenty prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and one civilian abducted in Imo State have regained their freedom following a coordinated operation involving the military, Department of State Services (DSS), police and other security agencies.

The victims were rescued from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state during an intelligence-led operation, according to security sources.

The rescued victims have since been taken to a DSS medical facility in Owerri, where they are receiving medical attention and undergoing necessary checks.

The Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, visited the rescued victims at the DSS facility. He was accompanied by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the state Director of the DSS and the Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade.

The victims were abducted on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The two buses conveying the prospective corps members were intercepted by gunmen around Umunoha along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Following the incident, security agencies launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation. Troops of the 34 Artillery Brigade worked alongside the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, police, DSS and other security formations in efforts to locate the victims and apprehend the abductors.

Earlier reports indicated that security operatives had located the suspected kidnappers' hideout through intelligence and drone surveillance but faced difficulties accessing the area because of reported improvised explosive devices.

The operation was subsequently intensified as security agencies deployed additional personnel and operational equipment to reach the victims.

The abduction had generated concern among relatives after reports that the kidnappers demanded ransom for the victims. However, authorities have not publicly provided details on whether any ransom was paid or whether arrests were made during the rescue operation.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma commended the security agencies for their coordinated efforts, as well as the Oyo and Imo State governments for their collaboration during the rescue process.

The rescue brings an end to the immediate ordeal of the 20 prospective corps members and the civilian, who are now receiving medical attention while authorities continue efforts to establish further details surrounding the incident.

Milton Keynes Dons captain Favour Omenazu has received her first-ever call-up to the Nigeria senior women’s national team after committing her international future to the Super Falcons.

Omenazu was included in Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifying fixtures against Comoros, marking a major milestone in the 24-year-old’s career.

The midfielder, who is also eligible to represent England, publicly expressed her desire to play for Nigeria earlier this year. She said representing the country would be a proud moment because of her Nigerian heritage and family roots.

Omenazu also said her ambition was not simply to earn a place in the national team but to contribute to the Super Falcons’ success.

The MK Dons captain has developed into an important player for the English club and is known for her versatility. Although she primarily operates as a midfielder, she has also impressed at right-back, a position where she has earned several Player of the Match awards.

Her football journey began at Leicester City before spells with Bugbrooke St Michaels, Northampton Town and Stourbridge preceded her move to MK Dons.

Omenazu's invitation comes as Nigeria prepares for a two-legged Olympic qualifying tie against Comoros.

The first leg is scheduled for October 9, while the return fixture will take place on October 13. Both matches are set to be played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo because Comoros does not have a CAF-approved venue for the fixture.

The Super Falcons have also been dealing with several player withdrawals ahead of the qualifiers, creating opportunities for new faces to join the squad.

Omenazu has now joined the group in camp as Nigeria begins preparations for the crucial Olympic qualifying encounter.

The call-up gives the MK Dons captain an opportunity to make her senior international debut and begin her journey with the Super Falcons after choosing Nigeria over England.

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said no survivor has been found following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

Aiyedatiwa disclosed this on Monday during an interview with Channels Television, saying residents, security personnel and emergency responders had searched the crash site but had yet to find anyone alive.

The governor said he was informed about the incident at about 10:30 a.m. after receiving a call from the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area.

According to him, residents living across the river from the Nigerian Navy base in Igbokoda heard a loud sound and later observed the aircraft descending into a swampy area.

Aiyedatiwa explained that personnel of the Nigerian Navy initially assessed the area to determine whether there was any fire or explosion before moving closer to the crash site.

Local residents, emergency officials and members of the Amotekun Corps subsequently joined the search and rescue efforts.

The governor said search teams recovered parts of the aircraft, including portions of the wings, identification cards and military uniforms, which helped confirm that the crashed aircraft belonged to the Nigerian military.

The Nigerian Air Force earlier confirmed that the aircraft was an ATR-42 conducting a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when the crash occurred. Search and rescue operations were immediately activated in collaboration with relevant authorities and emergency agencies.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were aboard the aircraft, bringing the total number of people on board to 32.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the crash and expressed condolences to the families of those on board, while commending the emergency response and ongoing search efforts.

At the time of the latest reports, authorities had not announced a final casualty figure, while efforts to recover those on board and establish the full circumstances of the crash continued.

Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has surpassed 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the latest figure on Monday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a strategic workshop for media executives organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the commission.

According to Amupitan, the increase followed the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the final clean-up of the register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

The three phases of the CVR exercise produced a combined 10,772,421 new registrations.

The first phase, conducted between August 25 and December 10, 2025, recorded 2,611,266 registrations. The second phase, held from January 5 to April 17, 2026, produced 4,121,835 registrations, while the third phase, conducted from May 11 to July 26, recorded 3,867,997 registrations.

Amupitan said the newly registered voters were subjected to biometric verification, while the commission also completed the public display of the Preliminary Register to allow citizens to raise claims and objections.

Following the final ABIS clean-up, INEC said the national voter register had moved beyond the 103 million mark.

PVC Collection to Begin October 9

The INEC chairman also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Newly produced PVCs are expected to be distributed to Local Government Area collection centres for eligible voters to collect.

The commission has also introduced printable PVC technology, which it says is designed to reduce the waiting period for voters who need new or replacement cards.

INEC said the technology was introduced in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The commission has completed eight of the 14 major statutory activities on its timetable for the 2027 elections, according to Amupitan.

The latest voter register figure marks a significant increase from the 93,469,008 registered voters recorded for the 2023 general elections.

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has expressed concern over what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s silence following the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.

The party called on the President to demonstrate greater urgency in addressing the incident and ensure that security agencies intensify efforts to rescue those still being held by their abductors.

The APM, through the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation (MDPCO), said the failure of the President to publicly address the latest incident was troubling, particularly given the concerns of affected families.

The abduction occurred on October 1, when gunmen reportedly attacked two buses conveying prospective corps members and other passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The vehicles were intercepted around Umunoha along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Imo State.

Following the attack, the Imo State Police Command announced that 10 victims had been rescued, while search-and-rescue operations continued to locate the remaining abductees.

The campaign organisation described the incident as another indication of the security challenges facing the country and accused the Tinubu administration of failing to take sufficiently proactive measures against kidnapping and other violent crimes.

It argued that Nigerians, particularly young graduates travelling to fulfil their national service obligations, should be able to move across the country without fear of abduction.

The group also called for a more coordinated and intelligence-driven security strategy, emphasising the need for stronger collaboration among security agencies, preventive operations and faster responses to threats.

The APM further contrasted the Federal Government's approach with the security model it said was being implemented by its presidential candidate, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

It maintained that improved intelligence gathering, coordination and rapid response should form the foundation of efforts to tackle insecurity.

Meanwhile, the abduction has triggered anxiety among the victims' families, with reports that the kidnappers demanded ₦50 million for each victim.

The party urged the Federal Government to treat the safe recovery of the abducted prospective corps members as an urgent national priority and provide the necessary support for ongoing rescue operations.

The allegations against the President represent the APM's political position on the government's handling of insecurity. Security agencies have continued their operations following the attack.