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FRSC Recruitment: No appointment letter has been issued to any candidate in 2026

publication alleging that the Honourable Ali Isah, Member representing Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency of Gombe State in the House of Representatives, has secured 50 FRSC appointments for his constituents.

According to a statement signed by Corps Public Education Officer, Osondu Ohaeri, no appointment letter has been issued to any candidate in respect of the ongoing 2026 recruitment exercise.

He said the publication was therefore misleading, capable of creating a false impression about the integrity of the recruitment process and did not represent the position of the Corps.

Ohaeri clarified that candidates who emerged successful at the various stages of the screening and interview processes have merely been invited to designated training schools and the FRSC Academy for further stages of the recruitment processHe said candidates were still required to undergo and successfully complete the prescribed training, screening, regimentation and other mandatory processes within the stipulated period.

According to him, only candidates who satisfactorily complete all the required stages and emerge without any disqualifying record will be considered for appointment in accordance with established procedures.

The corps, according to him has urged members of the public, applicants and social media users to disregard the said publication and refrain from creating, sharing or amplifying unverified claims suggesting that recruitment slots have been allocated to individuals, constituencies or political interests.

NIGERIA DAILY: How FCT Joint Task Force Was Attacked Over Seized Motorcycles

A recent attack on members of a Joint Task Force in the FCT has raised fresh questions about the enforcement of restrictions on motorcycles, the conduct of some enforcement officers, and the growing tension between security operatives and those whose bikes are seized.

What happens when an enforcement operation meant to keep Abuja safe turns into a violent confrontation? In this episode of Nigeria Daily, we hear from a victim of the attack, get the DRTS’s side of the story, and speak with a security analyst about how such confrontations can be prevented.

UPC’s Enap faces dismissal ver alleged breach f party cnstitutin

The Uganda Peples Cngress (UPC) Natinal Disciplinary Cmmittee has suspended Mr Denis Adim Enap frm the party with immediate effect and recmmended that he be dismissed with disgrace ver alleged vilatins f the party cnstitutin and regulatins.

In a decisin issued after disciplinary prceedings, the cmmittee fund Mr Enap liable fr what it described as a serius breach f the UPC Cnstitutin and 15 party regulatins.

The cmmittee, chaired by Paul Peter kell, said Mr Enap’s cnduct included the alleged use f the UPC name, emblem, flag, stamp and title f party president in circumstances the cmmittee fund t be cntrary t cnstitutinal prvisins.

“The Natinal Disciplinary Cmmittee f UPC Party, having fund that the Respndent Adim Dennis Enap cmmitted a serius breach f the Party Cnstitutin and is specifically liable fr vilatin f 15 regulatins cited abve,” the decisin reads.

The cmmittee cnsequently reslved t suspend with immediate effect Mr Enap frm UPC membership and recmmended that the party’s Natinal Cuncil “dismiss with disgrace” him frm the party.

The decisin fllws weeks f disciplinary prceedings that have nce again expsed deep divisins within ne f Uganda’s ldest plitical parties.

Enap absent frm hearing

The cmmittee said Mr Enap did nt appear befre it despite being served with an invitatin.

It said an invitatin dated August 18, 2026, and an affidavit f service swrn by lawyer Bagambaki Bright Samuel n August 28 were n recrd.

The cmmittee, hwever, said Mr Enap’s absence did nt autmatically mean that the cmplainant’s case had been prved.

“The absence f a Respndent wh has been duly served with an invitatin t a hearing stating the date, venue, time and particulars f allegatins is nt an autmatic sail thrugh fr the Cmplainant,” the cmmittee said.

It added that the cmplainant still carried the burden f prving allegatins thrugh facts and evidence.

The Natinal Disciplinary Cmmittee nevertheless cncluded that Mr Enap was liable fr indiscipline and vilatins f the UPC Cnstitutin, Cde f Ethics and party regulatins.

The disciplinary decisin is the latest develpment in the lng-running leadership dispute between Mr Enap and UPC president Jimmy Michael Akena.

Mr Enap, a lawyer and frmer Makerere University guild speaker, challenged Mr Akena fr the UPC presidency in the party’s 2025 leadership cntest.

The cntest was marred by disputes ver the electral prcess, with the UPC Electral Cmmissin disqualifying Mr Enap frm the race in July 2025.

The leadership cntest has since generated rival claims ver wh has legitimate authrity within the party.

Mr Enap has previusly argued that Mr Akena had exhausted the tw terms allwed under the UPC Cnstitutin, while Mr Akena has cntinued t lead the party.

Earlier this mnth, the Akena-led UPC factin cmmenced disciplinary prceedings against Mr Enap and several ther members ver alleged miscnduct and breaches f the cnstitutin.

When cntacted, Mr Enap rejected the prceedings, arguing that the cmmittee handling his case has n mandate and is perating in defiance f a curt ruling n UPC leadership.

Mr Enap, wh maintains that he was declared party president, said the disciplinary cmmittee under Mr Jimmy Akena ceased t have a mandate after its tenure expired.

“The tenure f that disciplinary cmmittee ended under Akena’s leadership. Ever since I was declared party president, all cmmittees under Akena stpped wrking,” Mr Enap said.

He claimed that he had since appinted a party Electral Cmmissin and a new disciplinary cmmittee chaired by Mr Jhn Bsc mara.

“I appinted the party Electral Cmmissin and the disciplinary cmmittee that exists is under the chairmanship f Jhn Bsc mara. S whatever they are ding is an illegality and in cntempt f the High Curt ruling that stpped Akena frm being president fr the next five years,” he said.

Oriire killings: Witness confirms identity of two slain teachers

A witness in the ongoing trial of alleged members of the Ansaru terror group on Friday confirmed the identities of two teachers who were killed during the abduction of students and staff of a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, telling the Federal High Court in Abuja that other victims recovered their bodies.

The witness, code-named AAA, who was among the victims of the Oriire school abduction, however, told the court that she was not present when the two teachers, identified as Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye, were beheaded by their abductors.

She said Oyedokun was killed at Camp A, while Olaleye was killed at another camp, adding that she could not provide specific details about the individuals who carried out the killings because she did not witness the incidents.

The witness also recounted the harsh conditions the victims endured in captivity, saying their abductors fed them only when it was convenient for them, despite the presence of children as young as 18 months among the victims.

According to her, the victims were subjected to severe trauma during and after their 56-day ordeal in captivity.

Under cross-examination by counsel to the five accused persons, Mr. Bala Dakum, the witness said the abductors provided food at their own convenience and did not appear to consider the needs of the younger children in the group.

She also disclosed that the abductors used the victims’ mobile phones to communicate with government officials during the captivity, but said she did not know the phone numbers of the officials contacted.

The witness further told the court that following their rescue by security operatives, she was interrogated by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), both at the agency’s office and while she was receiving treatment in hospital.

In response to questions from the defence counsel, AAA admitted that three of the five defendants currently standing trial were with the victims in the forest during their captivity.

She said the victims only learnt about the identities of the other two defendants during interrogation at the DSS office after their rescue.

The witness maintained that although she knew that Oyedokun and Olaleye had been killed, she was not at the scenes of the killings and therefore could not identify the specific abductors responsible for their deaths.

Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim then adjourned the case until October 12 and 13 for continuation of the trial.

PRESS RELEASE – EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The European Commission will today disburse pound 3.3 billion to Ukraine for defence procurement under the pound 90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The payment covers drones and missiles and will help Ukraine defend its territory and skies against Russia’s ongoing aggression.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission: ‘Today, we will disburse pound 3.3 billion to help procure drones and missiles under the Ukraine Support Loan. Europe will continue to deliver the support Ukraine needs to defend its people and its territory.”

This is the fourth payment made to Ukraine under the Ukraine Support Loan’s defence window. With this disbursement, the Commission will have paid nearly pound 15 billion to Ukraine this year, covering both defence and broader support. The Ukraine Support Loan includes pound 30 billion for budgetary aid and pound 60 billion for defence across 2026-2027.

Ukraine’s military edge depends on the rapid availability of critical products in the required quantities and within very short timeframes. Accelerating EU deliveries through destocking, reprioritising orders and ramping up the production remains crucial.

As announced by President von der Leyen in the State of the Union speech and yesterday’s call with President Zelenskyy, the Commission is ready to use remaining funds from the Security Action for Europe instrument to launch a new joint EU-Ukraine programme. The initiative would develop a European air and missile defence system, building on the existing Freya anti-ballistic system. It would combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience with Europe’s industrial and technological strength.

More information is available in our press release.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Nika Blazevic – Tel.: +32 2 299 27 17)

Commission collects feedback on its proposed list of non-OECD countries authorised to receive EU waste after May 2027

The Commission has today launched a public consultation on a draft list of non-OECD countries that could be authorised to import non-hazardous waste from the European Union after May 2027, under the Waste Shipment Regulation. This draft list is based on the Commission’s assessment of the countries’ ability to manage such waste in an environmentally sound manner.

To make sure that EU waste does not harm the environment or human health elsewhere, the new Waste Shipment Regulation, adopted in 2024, introduces stricter rules on waste exports, in particular to non-OECD countries. The EU will export waste to non-OECD countries from 21 May 2027 only if the countries explicitly request to continue receiving waste from the EU and demonstrate that they can manage it in a sustainable manner.

The Commission must assess the 32 requests received by non-OECD countries wanting to continue importing non-hazardous waste from the EU. The result of an initial assessment is summarised in a report published together with the draft list of countries on which the Commission is now seeking feedback from all interested parties – including citizens, businesses, NGOs, public authorities, and researchers. The public consultation is open until 16 October 2026.

The first list of countries authorised to receive waste from the EU will be established after the consultation is closed. This list will be updated regularly and at least every two years, with the possibility open to countries which are not on the list to (re)apply.

Today, the Commission also published its assessment report on the sustainable management of plastic waste exported from the EU to Trkiye, under the Waste Shipment Regulation. The report focuses on Trkiye, as it is the first country destination and represents 70% of plastic waste exported from the EU to OECD countries. It highlights both progress made and gaps that still need to be addressed to support environmentally sound waste management in Trkiye. The Commission will engage with Trkiye’s competent authorities on the report’s findings and request to address its shortcomings. We will continue monitoring EU plastic waste exports to Trkiye and assess the need for additional measures. We remain committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Trkiye on waste management.

You can find more information on the launch of the public consultation and the publication of the assessment report online.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)

Commission launches European Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and European Water Academy

On Monday, the European Commission is organising separate events to launch two key initiatives advancing the Water Resilience Agenda, in partnership with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.

Europe’s water resources are under growing pressure from pollution, ecosystem degradation, ageing infrastructure, over-consumption and climate change. As President Ursula von der Leyen underlined in her State of the Union address, the Commission recognises the serious risks that water scarcity poses to farmers, energy production and supply chains.

Against this backdrop, Europe must act fast and be ready to face this challenge.

Achieving the EU’s water resilience objectives by 2050 requires transformational change across all levels, driven by expertise and collaboration across the public and private sectors. The Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and the Water Academy will support the effective implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy, as well as EU water legislation.

Bringing together diverse stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, regional and local authorities, and Member States, the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform will guide this process. It will identify implementation barriers, propose practical solutions, and ensure the Strategy’s actions reflect a wide range of public and sectoral interests.

Complementing these efforts, the Water Academy will help develop and connect the skills, knowledge, innovation and partnerships needed to respond to the many water challenges Europe is facing.

Together, these two new fora will also contribute to the new European Water Initiative announced in the State of the Union address.

Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: ‘After a summer of extreme heat and drought, we cannot take our water supplies for granted. To ensure there is ample supply for our communities, for our biodiversity, and for our competitive circular economy, we must fully implement the Water Resilience Strategy and all EU water legislation. With experts from the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and the European Water Academy on board, I am confident we can achieve this.’

Commissioner Roswall will open both events. The Platform launch will be live streamed as of 09:30 CEST, and the Academy live stream will be available as of 14:00 CEST.

More information on the launch of the European Water Resilience Platform and European Water Academy will be available online as of Monday 14:00 CEST.

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel: +32 229-66483; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 298 20 54)

Commission clears acquisition of All for One Group by Vinci Energies

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of All for One Group SE of Germany by Vinci Energies S.A. of France.

The transaction relates primarily to the provision of IT services.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies’ limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12571.

(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Commission clears merger between Publigas and Publi-T

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the merger between Publigas SC/CV, the entity controlling Fluxys SA, and Publi-T SC/CV, the entity controlling Elia Group SA/NV, all of Belgium. Fluxys and Elia Group are the Belgian transmission system operators for gas and electricity, respectively.

The transaction relates primarily to electricity and natural gas transmission in Belgium.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12506.

(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EU reaffirms support for effective and strengthened multilateralism at 81st UN General Assembly

From 20 to 25 September, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will travel to New York to participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

This year’s UNGA marks a period of transition for the UN leadership. As the largest contributor to the UN system, the EU will reaffirm its unwavering support for renewed and strengthened multilateralism, with the UN at its core.

The programme includes notably: on Monday, at 18:30 EDT (+1 00:30h CEST), President von der Leyen will participate in the Summit in support of Multilateralism, hosted by the Presidents of Kenya, Canada and the European Council. On Tuesday morning at 09:00 EDT (15:00 CEST), the President will join the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly. At 15:00 EDT (21:00 CEST), she will then participate in the High-level dialogue ‘Protecting Children’s rights facing Artificial Intelligence’, co-hosted by the Presidents of France, Spain, and Kenya as well as the Prime Minister of Australia. On Wednesday, at 10:00 EDT (16:00 CEST), President von der Leyen will co-host the OceanEye International Alliance Pledging event, together with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, to gather pledges to better monitor and protect our ocean. In the afternoon, at 15:00 EDT (21:00 CEST), she will participate in the High-level meeting on Climate Action and Just Transition, organised by the UN Secretary-General.

President von der Leyen, the President of the European Council António Costa, and High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas will host or participate in events and meetings with leaders from around the world. They will be joined by Executive Vice-Presidents Teresa Ribera and Roxana Mînzatu, and Commissioners Dubravka Šuica, Wopke Hoekstra, Jozef Síkela, Costas Kadis, Hadja Lahbib, Magnus Brunner, Michael McGrath, and Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

Commissioner Kadis and Commissioner Lahbib will respectively represent the EU at the UN-mandated high-level meetings on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise, as well as on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

EU representatives have a full agenda of high-level debates and side events, as well as numerous bilateral meetings.

Find out more about the EU’s support to the UN in the factsheet: EU-UN: A partnership that delivers, factsheet: EU funding to the UN, as well as in the EU’s priorities at UN General Assembly over the next year.

Lrd Mayr Balimwez rejects plan t redevelp City Square

Kampala Lrd Mayr Rnald Balimwez has rejected prpsals t redevelp Kampala City Square, saying the city needs t preserve its remaining pen spaces fr envirnmental prtectin, recreatin and emergency respnse.

Speaking t the Mnitr in a telephne interview n Friday, Mr Balimwez said the green space, frmerly knwn as City Square befre it was renamed Cnstitutin Square in 1995, shuld remain pen and prtected frm develpments that culd undermine its purpse.

“Previusly we prevented the takever by Basajja balabala. Cabinet helped us, and City Square, which was changed t Cnstitutin Square in 1995, has been there because f the decisin that we tk,” he said.

He said prper urban planning requires cities t preserve pen spaces and designated safety znes where peple can gather during emergencies.

“All planning rules require that every city shuld have pen spaces with enugh security and safety zne. Think f an assembly area in case f a terrrist attack, fires r flds. This is the space we have available where peple can assemble in case f a catastrphe,” Mr Balimwez said.

He cited the 2010 Kampala bmb attacks, saying public spaces such as Cnstitutin Square prvide crucial assembly areas during emergencies.

Mr Balimwez said the imprtance f the square ges beynd beautificatin, nting that its trees and pen grund help reduce dust and air pllutin while allwing rainwater t seep int the grund.

“It is nt just a City Square fr beauty and beautificatin f the city, but als fr the security and safety f ur peple,” he said.

He said KCCA shuld instead identify ther lcatins where develpments culd be established withut sacrificing remaining public green spaces, citing Entebbe as an example.

“When yu enter Entebbe, yu will see a frest. When yu are entering Entebbe twn, there is Mayr’s Park. When yu g t Kitr, the market was remved and a park was put there,” he said.

Mr Balimwez added that any prpsal cncerning Cnstitutin Square shuld g thrugh apprpriate planning and plicy channels, nting that the KCCA Act gives his ffice respnsibility fr strategies, plicies and prgrammes aimed at imprving service delivery.

“The strategy is suppsed t be brught t me. It shuld have cme t me. We are nt ging t say yes t it because it is a destryer,” he said.

He als referred t a prtectin rder issued in 2007 cncerning Cnstitutin Square, saying it was intended t preserve the space.

The Lrd Mayr ppsed attempts t divide the square int plts fr sale, saying KCCA instead wants t imprve the space.

“Sme f these peple wanted t cut City Square int plts and sell them all. We are nt ging t accept that,” he said.

Mr Balimwez said KCCA has allcated Shs600 millin fr tree planting and plans t plant 10,000 trees alng rads being cnstructed under the Greater Kampala Metrplitan Area Urban Develpment Prgramme.

He added that Rtary clubs and Lins Internatinal had expressed interest in supprting tree planting alng city rads.

“City Square must be left pen. It is the City Square that helps us breathe, take in the air. It must nt be played with. That is ur take,” he said.

Museveni directive

Balimwez’s remarks came after President Museveni directed the Minister fr Kampala Capital City and Metrplitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, t evaluate a prpsal by businessman Hajj Hassan Bulwadda t redevelp tw acres at Cnstitutin Square int a mdern real estate cmplex.

In a directive issued n August 30, 2026, President Museveni instructed Minister Kabanda t examine feasibility f the prject in cnsultatin with KCCA and submit a reprt. The directive was cpied t Vice President Jessica Alup and Prime Minister Rbinah Nabbanja.

“I have received a letter frm Hajj Hassan Bulwadda dated the 18th f August, 2026, prpsing t develp the tw acres at City Square in Kampala int a mdern, ec-friendly real estate cmplex, with a htel, shpping mall, etc, using slar pwer, etc,” Mr Museveni stated.

Minister Kabanda has since cnstituted a cmmittee f several stakehlders t review the prpsal and cme up with a reprt.

Group mourns four cops, seven others killed in Benue attack

Prayer and Support for Nigerian Armed Forces and Other Security Agencies (PSNAFSA) has mourned four policemen and seven other persons killed in an attack on Ayilamo community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The attack occurred on Thursday, September 10,, with PSNAFSA saying several other persons were injured while some remained unaccounted for.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Ambassador Mary Abayomi-Fatile, the organisation commiserated with the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Nigeria Police Force, and the families and colleagues of the four officers killed in the attack.

PSNAFSA also extended its condolences to the families of the other victims.

The group commended the security personnel who responded to the attack, describing the four policemen who were killed as officers who paid the ultimate price while protecting lives and defending the community.

According to the group, the incident highlighted the risks faced by personnel of the police, armed forces and other security agencies in vulnerable communities.

It called for improved support for security personnel, particularly in intelligence gathering, operational equipment, logistics, communication and welfare.

The organisation urged relevant authorities to intensify efforts to locate those still unaccounted for, provide medical attention to the injured and ensure that those responsible for the attack are identified and brought to justice.

It further called for stronger intelligence-gathering and early-warning mechanisms to enable security agencies to detect threats and respond before attacks escalate.

PSNAFSA appealed to residents of vulnerable communities to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could help prevent attacks, rescue victims and apprehend criminals.

The group urged Nigerians not to become desensitised to the deaths of security personnel, noting that every fallen officer leaves behind families and colleagues who must bear the consequences of the loss.

Lagos APC places travel ban on candidates

No candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State is permitted to travel out of the country before next year’s general election, party chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi said yesterday.

He said the party would not also underrate other opposition parties in the state, urging the party faithful to gird their loins.

Ojelabi spoke during the inauguration of the Tinubu-Hamzat Campaign Council at the party secretariat on Acme Road, Ogba, Ikeja, where he charged the committee members to show dedication and commitment.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the chairman of the Advisory Committee of the elaborate committe. Former Defence Minister of State Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is the Director-General.

The deputy governor and governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, who justified President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, said he has lived to expectation in the last three years.

Former Deputy Governor Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, who spoke on behalf of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, said Lagos APC has a competent governorship candidate in Hamzat, urging Lagosians to vote for him.

‘We have the sign of victory ahead of the poll. The next governor is very competent. He served in various capacities. He is a man of great character. He will not disappoint Lagosians. We have to work properly and cooperatively to achieve victory,’ Ogunleye stressed.

At the ceremony were Senators Wasiu Eshiloku (Lagos Central), Dr. Idiat Adebule (West) and Tokunbo Abiru (East), House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, his deputy, Monisola Meranda; Dr. Yomi Finnih, former Finance Minister Wale Edun, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, Hon. Bamigbose, Mrs. Yinka Olusanya, Olawale Oshun, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Babatunde Ishiak, Dr. Tola Kasali, Bode Oyedele, Funso Ologunde, Lanre Ogunyemi, Fokasade Abimbola Salu, Sesan Daini and Seye Oladejo, the party’s publicity secretary.

Ojelabi said party members have resolved to work together after the hostility of primaries, adding that the opposition is disappointed by the unity and brotherhood of the ruling party.

He said the campaign committees have been carefully constituted to deliver victory for the candidates at the polls.

The chairman said the flag bearer are men of capacity and candour who will cooperate with the committees in the local mobilisation of voters.

Ojelabi, who said Lagos APC would be targeting five million votes, warned against complacency, saying that opposition parties cannot be taken for granted.

He said: ‘No candidate is allowed to travel outside the country until after the general election.’

Ojelsbi added:’Let our campaign be devoid of hatred, thuggery and violence.’

Obanikoro said 2027 elections demand discipline, commitment and organisation, adding that no party member should treat it as a simple assignment.

He advised party members to put personal grievances and disappointments behind them, adding that they should work as a team, speak with responsibility and prosecute the campaign legally.

Obanikoro added: ‘Unity must be our strength.’

Hamzat said ‘we don’t want jesters as president, a man who does not know the difference between a loan and borrowing. It is not about emotion; it is about data, about record.’

The deputy governor said party members should campaign confidently because the government midwived by APC has performed.

Hamzat said Lagos under the APC is the first sub-national unit to have successfully built a rail infrastructure; a feat that eluded Carlifornia in the United States.

Describing Lagos as a unique state, he said:’33 percent of GDP of Nigeria is from Lagos. Our state is too important to be subjected to trial and error in the hands of those who are struggling to understand the geography and people of Lagos.’

Hamzat said out of the 7.3 million that registered to vote in Lagos, APC should attract between three and four million votes.

Justifying President Tinubu’s second term bid, he said:’The president has stabilised the economy of Nigeria for the first time. We have £7.9 billion trade surplus with America. It will keep going like that. It is due to agric and uria. Lekki Trade Zone is playing a role.

Hamzat frowned at the opposition’s criticisms of the infrastructure battle, particularly the coastal roads, saying that they are not serious.

Hamzat praised the president for the renovation of the airports, saying that it is creating millions of jobs.

‘For the first time, we are fighting terrorism and prosecuting kidnappers. The image of Nigeria is better in the international community. He has done fundamental things: tax reforms. The last was the withholding tax of 1938.

‘We must go out to vote, call our friends and neighbours to vote for APC. On June 16, we should vote for the president, our senatorial and 24 House of Representatives candidates. We should also ensure that our 40 House of Assembly candidates win.’

Abiodun inaugurates Ogun APC Campaign Council

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun yesterday inaugurated the state Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general election.

He urged members to begin consultations, grassroots mobilisation and sustained engagement with voters across the state.

Prince Abiodun, who is chairman of the Campaign Council, said the inauguration marked the beginning of a new phase in the party’s preparations for the elections, directing members to translate the council’s organisational structure into effective action across the state’s 20 local governments, 236 wards and polling units.

The governor advised the council to work for the success of APC candidates, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, his running mate, Alhaja Kudirat Adegunwa-Balogun, as well as the party’s candidates for the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly.

Speaking at the inauguration in Abeokuta, Abiodun directed members to hold their inaugural meeting immediately and begin consultations and campaign activities without delay.

‘Let consultations and campaign now begin,’ he declared.

The governor said elections were not won merely through political reputation or the size of rallies, but through ‘scientific, deliberate and intentional preparation, organisation, vigilance and sustained engagement with the electorate.’

He urged members of the campaign council to take the APC message to markets, farms, workplaces, religious communities, professional associations, neighbourhoods and homes, noting that effective mobilisation must involve listening to the people and understanding their concerns.

‘Our campaign must be based on ideas, achievements and a credible vision. We must reach every local government area, ward, polling unit and community,’ he said.

He called for unity and discipline within the party, saying the ability of the APC to manage competing interests during the processes that produced its candidates demonstrated the importance of putting the collective interest above individual considerations.

‘Unity is not the absence of differences. It is the wisdom to ensure our differences do not become greater than our common cause,’ he said.

Abiodun says the campaign council brings together party leaders, strategists, professionals and grassroots organisers from across the three senatorial districts, with committees responsible for strategy, mobilisation, reconciliation, finance, security, media, youth and women engagement, welfare, transportation, digital communication, protocol, as well as traditional and religious affairs.

He cautioned members against treating their appointments as mere titles, saying membership of the council carried a responsibility requiring discipline, strategic thinking and humility.

‘These appointments are not decorative titles. They are instruments of service and responsibility,’ he said.

The governor charged the campaign organisation to communicate the achievements of his administration in infrastructure, education, agriculture, health care, security, investment promotion and social intervention.

He noted that the Gateway International Airport remained central to the state’s vision of developing an integrated aviation, agriculture, industrial and logistics hub, while other interventions had contributed to improving the business environment and positioning Ogun as a leading industrial and investment destination.

‘These are not abstract promises. They are visible on our roads, in our schools and hospitals, in our agricultural communities and in businesses expanding across our state,’ Abiodun said.

He warned that achievements could be misunderstood if they were not properly communicated, urging the campaign council to counter misinformation with facts, humility and clarity.

‘Good work that is not effectively explained may be misunderstood, while falsehood repeated without challenge may begin to appear credible,’ he said.

The governor directed the campaign organisation to operate as one coordinated political machinery, with leaders providing direction, committees translating strategy into action and grassroots structures sustaining engagement with voters.

He warned against factionalism, indiscipline and sabotage, stressing the need for proper reporting, early identification of challenges and prompt resolution of emerging issues.

Abiodun also charged APC members to maintain issue-based and civil communication throughout the campaign, rejecting insults, violence and intimidation.

‘Political victory loses its value when purchased at the expense of peace, because leadership cannot build upon the ruins of a divided society,’ he said.

The governor expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his leadership and partnership with Ogun State through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also acknowledged the contributions of former governors Olusegun Osoba, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun; former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola; Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele; APC State Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi; Adeola; Adegunwa-Balogun; Director-General of the Campaign Council, Senator Lekan Mustapha; and other party leaders.

The governorship candidate, Adeola, in keeping with the governor’s call for an inclusive grassroots campaign, urged party members across the state to regard the 2027 election as a collective responsibility and assured those whose names were not included in the campaign council that they remained part of the party’s mobilisation structure.

He stressed that the campaign council was established to provide coordination and direction, rather than to exclude other members of the party, urging all APC members to remain active in their wards and local government areas.

Adeola called for sustained consultations and grassroots engagement, urging party members to take the party’s message to communities and work collectively for all APC candidates, from the presidential election to the governorship and legislative contests.

He said the party would provide the necessary coordination and support to strengthen mobilisation across the state, urging members to remain united and focused on the common objective.

Chief Osoba urged members of the party to close ranks, present a united front and work collectively for the success of the APC in the 2027 elections.

He appealed to aggrieved members to ‘sheathe their swords’ and work for the party, assuring them that their contributions would not be in vain.

He urged party members to put the interests of the APC above personal grievances and ensure that the campaign council remained focused on its mandate.

Abiodun thereafter formally declared the campaign council inaugurated and urged members to commence work immediately towards the party’s objectives in the 2027 general election.

‘Let us speak with one voice, work with one purpose and march in one direction,’ he said.

2027: Zuntu Unveils 3D Agenda For Kaduna North Senatorial District

Zuntu said the agenda, which he described as his 3D agenda, would guide his campaign and representation of the eight local government areas in the senatorial district.

He said the first component, development and education, would focus on vocational skills acquisition, scholarships for indigent students and measures to expand access to education.

He added that his plan included working with relevant federal agencies to attract interventions to the district and address the needs of out-of-school children.

On healthcare, Zuntu said he would focus on primary healthcare, particularly maternal and child health, while using his oversight powers to monitor facilities in the district.

‘I have visited six local governments and I have seen the situation of the primary healthcare centres. Some of them are not functional,’ he said.

The candidate said the third component, agro-allied industrialisation and employment, would focus on processing farm produce within the district to create jobs and improve economic activity.

He said farmers producing tomatoes, maize, beans, soybeans and ginger should have access to fertiliser, mechanised equipment and other support.

Zuntu also linked insecurity to economic conditions, saying increased job opportunities and economic activity could help reduce crime and criminality.

He said tackling insecurity should combine kinetic measures with non-kinetic approaches, including employment and community participation.

On forest security, Zuntu called for legislation to place forest guards on the concurrent list, saying states and local governments should work with them to protect forests and gather intelligence.

He said forest guards should be trained and equipped, while local vigilantes should be integrated into the security structure where necessary.

Zuntu said his agenda was drawn from the Youth Party manifesto and should serve as a basis for voters to assess his performance if elected.

He said he would also use legislative oversight to monitor projects and government agencies serving the district.

‘I will follow the money and follow the work,’ he said.