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A House of Representatives candidate under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) platform for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in Ebonyi State, Ambassador Ephraim Iyke Nwonu, has withdrawn from the race and left his party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Addressing newsmen at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Nwonu announced his decision to step down despite his name appearing on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

He said his decision to sacrifice his legislative ambition stemmed from his commitment to national integration and his deep appreciation for President Tinubu’s performance in the Southeast, particularly in Ebonyi State.

‘I am the official ADC candidate for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency on the INEC portal, but I have decided to jettison and sacrifice that ambition because of my unalloyed support for Mr. President and my state governor,’ Nwonu declared. ‘I am stepping down to join other APC stakeholders in Ebonyi State and my constituency to deliver President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the governor.’

Tracing his political loyalty back to the Third Republic, Nwonu credited his alignment with the President to his late political mentor, Senator Polycarp Nwite.

‘I first had a link to the President through my political leader, the late Senator Polycarp Nwite, who was his best friend in the Senate in 1992. Senator Nwite appointed me as the secretary of the defunct DPN in Ebonyi State, so I have every reason to be where Tinubu is,’ he stated.

Reiterating his faith in the administration’s development strides, Nwonu highlighted various federal infrastructure projects and strategic appointments as clear evidence of the President’s commitment to the Southeast region.

He cited key ongoing capital projects, including the Ndibe Beach Bridge linking Afikpo North in Ebonyi State to Itigidi in Cross River State, the 125.5 km road network spanning Cross River, Ebonyi, Benue, Nasarawa, and Abuja, and the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Expressway.

‘Look at the infrastructure footprints-the dualisation of the Onuebonyi-Vanco Junction to Abakaliki-Afikpo road, the new flyover at Peat Junction in Onueke, and the Obubra-Noyo-Oferekpe interstate road,’ Nwonu listed. ‘Beyond infrastructure, Ebonyi State alone has received about 23 high-profile federal appointments from Mr. President. This is the highest allocation the state has ever enjoyed, bringing our people squarely into the national political mainstream.’

Dismissing concerns regarding political competition in the zone, Nwonu maintained that opposition candidates pose no threat to the President’s popularity in the region.

‘There is no threat whatsoever. Anyone on the ballot is free to try their luck, but Peter Obi’s ambition poses no threat to Mr. President in the Southeast, especially considering what this administration has delivered to Ebonyi State. President Tinubu will win comfortably,’ Nwonu asserted.

He further shared insights from an independent survey recently conducted by his Non-Governmental Organisation in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Information, noting that public opinion in the state strongly favours the current administration.

‘Our findings, presented during a two-day workshop in Ebonyi, show that the majority of our people now recognise the achievements of Mr President and are ready to reciprocate his goodwill with massive votes,’ he said.

Calling on the citizenry to support the current administration’s economic reforms, Nwonu expressed optimism about the nation’s trajectory.

‘I appeal to the conscience of all Nigerians to exercise patience. Patience is the highest virtue, and I am confident that in his second term, Nigerians will look back and thank God for giving us President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ he concluded.

An Associate Professor in the College of Applied Social Sciences, Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), and Commissioner with the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Dr. Olumide Metilelu is set to speak during the second session of a high-level virtual seminar organised by the International Advocacy for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption (IAHRAC).

The seminar, scheduled for Saturday, 24 October 2026, is themed ‘Addressing Migrant Rights Challenges in South Africa and Combating Electoral Corruption in Nigeria: Pathways to Justice, Accountability, and Democratic Stability.’

A statement said the ‘programme will bring together stakeholders and practitioners to examine critical human rights, governance and democratic challenges confronting societies across Africa, with particular attention to migrant rights in South Africa and electoral governance in Nigeria.’

The seminar will feature three major sessions: ‘Migrant Rights and Xenophobia in South Africa,’ ‘Electoral Corruption and Governance in Nigeria,’ and ‘Building a Human Rights-Centred Africa.’

‘Dr. Metilelu will lead the second session, ‘Electoral Corruption and Governance in Nigeria,’ where he is expected to examine the relationship between electoral processes, institutional accountability and democratic governance, while highlighting pathways towards strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

‘His contribution will draw on his experience in academia and electoral governance, providing an opportunity for participants to engage with contemporary challenges affecting electoral credibility, accountability and democratic stability in Nigeria.

‘According to IAHRAC, the seminar is aimed at promoting informed dialogue, raising public awareness and generating practical recommendations for addressing human rights concerns, strengthening electoral governance and advancing justice and accountability across Africa.

‘The virtual engagement is expected to attract human rights advocates, legal practitioners, civil society organisations, policymakers, academics, journalists, governance experts and other stakeholders from Nigeria, South Africa and beyond.

‘The organisers said the seminar forms part of IAHRAC’s broader commitment to promoting human rights, democratic accountability, good governance and institutional integrity across the African continent.’

The newly redeployed State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command, Commandant A.S. Kabara, has assumed duty, taking over the leadership of the command from suspended Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.

The development was contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Abubakar Muti.

Kabara assumed office amid heightened concern following the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in Minna.

The new commandant expressed sadness over the incident and sympathised with the families of the deceased and others affected by the tragedy.

He said while the Corps remained committed to its statutory responsibilities of arrest, investigation, enforcement and combating illegal mining, the sanctity of human life must remain paramount.

‘At a moment like this, beyond arrests, investigations, enforcement and the fight against illegal mining, we must remember one fundamental truth: every human life matters. The loss of any human life is painful, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families who are mourning at this difficult time,’ he said.

Kabara stressed that protecting society and enforcing the law must go hand in hand with upholding the dignity, safety and welfare of persons in custody.

Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s (BSA) Campaign Organisation has raised the alarm about a plot by some individuals in the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), working in connivance with some leaders of the Park Management System (PMS), to destroy and deface Alli’s billboards and posters across the Ibadan metropolis.

The campaign organisation said credible intelligence revealed that the sinister plot was hatched at a meeting held earlier on Friday in the Gbagi area of Ibadan.

It added that participants at the meeting agreed to mobilise PMS miscreants to embark on massive destruction of BSA campaign assets.

The statement, signed by the Director of Media and Publicity, Bisi Oladele, partly read, ‘Our intelligence revealed that Egbeda, Ibadan North East, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas of Ibadan, where the APC gubernatorial candidate enjoys high domination of billboards and posters due to massive acceptance and love by the people, have been marked as primary targets.

‘As at the time of issuing this statement, there is ongoing mobilisation of PMS thugs to execute this sinister plan in the wee hours of tomorrow, Saturday.

‘We wish to state categorically that this resort to thuggery, vandalism and destruction of opponents’ campaign materials is a sign of panic, failure and imminent rejection by the good people of Oyo State.

‘It shows that APM candidates and their sponsors have nothing to offer, a clear reason they are resorting to violence to intimidate the opposition.

‘The BSA Campaign Organisation hereby advises Governor Seyi Makinde to call his party members and supporters to order. He must resist the temptation to unleash violence on the good people of Oyo State who have endured his excesses in the last seven years.

‘For emphasis, no amount of billboard destruction can erase the people’s love and acceptance of Senator Sharafadeen Alli or rewrite the woeful record of the outgoing administration in local government administration, agriculture and health, to mention a few.

‘As the chief security officer of the state, we are reminding Governor Makinde that he is directly responsible for peace in Oyo State, and should, therefore, warn his supporters to desist from acts that can promote breakdown of law and order.

‘We call on the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Oyo State and other security agencies to act fast, investigate this plot and ensure protection of lives and property, including campaign materials which are legally deployed.

‘We advise all APC members and supporters across the state to remain calm, law-abiding and resist provocation by miscreants who are in a desperate mood.

‘Oyo State voters deserve issue-based campaigns, and the APC shall resist moves to drag it into deliberate distraction from germane issues before Oyo State voters this time. No group of thugs acting under any political colouration should be allowed to disrupt that peace.

‘The people of Oyo state have already decided to vote for competence and character in their determination to move Oyo State AHEAD through the ballot in 2027.’

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has demanded the prosecution of anyone found culpable in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The opposition party also criticised the Federal Government over what it described as worsening insecurity, citing the continued captivity of residents abducted by bandits from Dekara community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State since August.

In a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, the PRP called for the immediate establishment of an independent commission of inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the miners.

‘Furthermore, the PRP condemns the tragic death of 37 miners who lost their lives while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State. We demand the immediate establishment of an Independent Commission of Inquiry to determine the causes of this unfortunate incident and call for the prosecution of anyone found culpable’, the party said.

The Federal Government, however, on Saturday constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive and transparent probe.

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo also ordered the suspension of officers involved in the incident pending the outcome of the investigation. The committee was given two weeks to submit its report.

The deceased were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations on September 15 and 16 around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna. They were found dead while in custody on September 17.

President Tinubu had on Friday ordered a full and transparent investigation, warning that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence must be prosecuted.

Tinubu said the government would not tolerate deaths arising from official negligence or dereliction of duty, insisting that being suspected of illegal mining did not deprive the detainees of their rights to life, dignity and humane treatment.

Turning to the wider security situation, the PRP expressed concern over the continued captivity of persons it said were kidnapped by bandits in Dekara community, Borgu Local Government Area, last month.

It described the government’s inability to secure their release as unacceptable, arguing that the incident reinforced its criticism of the administration’s handling of security.

‘The inability to safeguard citizens from such heinous acts is both worrisome and unacceptable, warranting widespread condemnation’, the party said.

The PRP warned that incidents of banditry, kidnapping and other security breaches across the North-Central and North-West required urgent action to prevent further deterioration.

‘The PRP urges the government to recognise that the escalating incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and other security breaches across the North Central and North West regions pose an imminent threat.

‘If left unaddressed, these issues may escalate into catastrophic and disastrous breaches of national security’, it said.

The party urged the government to intensify efforts to restore peace and security, review policies affecting the welfare of Nigerians and ensure accountability among security personnel.

‘As a party committed to justice and good governance, we implore all relevant authorities to take decisive action to address these pressing security issues and uphold the dignity and safety of every Nigerian citizen’, the PRP said.

Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation, has appealed to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to reconsider its decision to reject Nigeria’s request for additional slots for the 2027 Hajj.

The organisation, in a statement on Saturday signed by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, urged the Saudi authorities to grant the request by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for an upward review of the country’s allocation, citing growing demand from intending pilgrims across the country.

NAHCON had on Thursday announced that Saudi Arabia had declined Nigeria’s request for additional 2027 Hajj slots, leaving the country’s quota unchanged despite increasing demand.

The commission said it had formally approached the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to secure more slots for Nigerian pilgrims and respond to requests from several state pilgrims’ welfare boards.

IHR said Nigeria until recently had the fifth-largest Hajj contingent, with an average allocation of about 95,000 pilgrims, adding that thousands of intending pilgrims were currently on the waiting list in anticipation of additional slots.

The organisation also appealed to Vice President Kashim Shettima to use diplomatic channels to engage the appropriate Saudi authorities on the matter and support NAHCON’s request for an increased allocation for Nigeria.

It said many of those currently on the waiting list might not have another opportunity to perform Hajj if they were unable to undertake the pilgrimage in 2027. IHR acknowledged that Nigeria’s allocation had previously been affected by the inability of intending pilgrims to register and make payments within stipulated timelines.

According to the group, the situation has, however, improved significantly following reforms by NAHCON and stricter adherence by Hajj stakeholders to the commission’s approved calendar of activities. It added that early registration and payment by intending pilgrims had improved, making it possible for Nigeria to utilise its allocated slots within the required timeframe.

IHR further said increased enlightenment among Nigerian pilgrims had improved their understanding of Hajj requirements, expectations and acceptable conduct in Saudi Arabia. It therefore urged the Saudi authorities to reconsider Nigeria’s request, arguing that the country was now better positioned to utilise additional slots effectively and conduct the pilgrimage in line with Saudi Arabia’s operational requirements.