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Party faithful loyalists and supporters gathered at the Otunba Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode at the weekend for the Ogun East Mega Rally of the All Progressive Congress (APC) organized by the Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM).

?The event served as a major political grassroots mobilization in support of the re-election of President Bola Tinubu Senator Solomon Adeola widely known as Yayi among other All Progressive Congress candidates in the 2027 general elections.

Political groups artisan federations market associations and youth bodies from all nine local government areas in Ogun East assembled early in the morning to declare their support for the APC.

?The morning began long before the main speeches at the stadium bowl.

As early as 7:00 a.m. thousands of YPM supporters joined a multi-kilometer solidarity trek that moved from the Mobalufon Junction through the heart of Ijebu-Ode down to the stadium gates.

Drummers cultural troupes and motorbikers led the procession with participants chanting slogans supporting Senator Adeola’s legislative track record highlighting his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Key leaders legislators and council chairmen from Ogun East who attended the rally re-affirming their solidarity with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration while backing Yayi’s vision to succeed him.

As part of the proceedings YPM leaders inaugurated over 1100 ‘Artisan Ambassadors’ across various trades (tailors mechanics carpenters and hairdressers) to build grassroots structures across the senatorial district.

Speakers urged members to continue supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms and Governor Abiodun’s ongoing infrastructure projects across Ogun State.

Speaking at the event at the mainbowl of the stadium the convener of the movement Akintunde Armstrong an engineer stated that the rally which is one of two more to come will continue to serve as a springboard for political mobilisation as the nation approach the 2027 general elections.

‘Today we are sounding it loud and clear that in Ogun State it is only APC. We will replicate this rally in Ogun Central and Ogun West soon. This massive support is organic and it will continue until all our candidates are delivered’ he added

In his remarks Senator Adeola lauded the massive grassroots support movement from YPM adding that his believe in youth renosance is reassured.

‘I came in here and I was marvelled at the sea of heads in solidarity walk for our party the APC. I hear some of you have been here since 7am. Whatever is making you come this far is a reassurance that my believe in the youth of our country is never misplaced ‘ he said

Meanwhile the Ogun state governor Dapo Abiodun while introducing the Ogun East candidates stated that votes for the APC must be from top to bottom adding that Ogun state must show President Bola Tinubu united votes.

‘ We have promised our president 2million votes and not a single vote must be lost afterall there is no opposition in Ogun state’ he maintained

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced a nationwide baseline workshop to identify and address operational risks strengthen election monitoring and ensure effective preparedness for the 2027 general elections.

The two-day workshop organised by the Commission’s Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) opened on Monday at the Media Centre in Rivers State with a focus on operational Amber and Red Zones considered critical to election preparations.

The exercise is designed to assess the Commission’s level of readiness improve field reporting and strengthen mechanisms for identifying potential challenges before they disrupt electoral activities.

Speaking at the opening Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem said the success of the 2027 elections would depend largely on early planning continuous monitoring and rigorous readiness assessments.

He said the election was no longer a distant event stressing that preparations must begin well ahead of election day through proactive risk identification and timely intervention.

‘The success of that election will not be decided on election day alone-it is being built right now through foresight meticulous planning and rigorous readiness evaluations’ Sinikiem said.

He urged participants to identify operational risks early and develop strategies to address them before the commencement of voting.

Representing the REC the Administrative Secretary Dr. Angela Ebohdaghe said the workshop’s emphasis on high-risk operational zones was necessary to prevent field-level failures and logistical bottlenecks.

She stressed the importance of proactive planning and effective coordination in ensuring that electoral operations were conducted smoothly.

Participants alongside the Head of Department Planning and Monitoring also reviewed the status of distribution of non-sensitive election materials from INEC headquarters to state offices.

Technical sessions at the workshop focused on validating EMSC checklists standardising data collection and verification processes improving field reporting and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of personnel assigned to election monitoring operations.

The workshop is expected to strengthen INEC’s capacity to detect emerging challenges improve operational coordination and ensure timely interventions as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

Police operatives in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested two suspected members of a cable-vandalism gang and recovered several cut-to-size armoured cables in Guzape Abuja.

The suspects identified as Sagir Abubakar of Kuchingoro Village FCT and Seidu Umar Bello were arrested following a surveillance patrol along Walter Ofonagoro Street Guzape at about 1:30am on October 31.

The FCT Police Command said operatives from Guzape Division spotted a Lexus SUV and a Toyota Sienna parked under suspicious circumstances and approached the vehicles to ascertain the occupants’ reasons for being there at that hour.

However the occupants reportedly sped off upon sighting the police team abandoning one of their accomplices who attempted to escape on foot.

The operatives pursued and arrested him while a search of the surrounding premises led to the recovery of several cut-to-size armoured cables.

The command said preliminary investigations identified Abubakar as a member of a gang allegedly targeting secluded locations across the FCT to vandalise public and private infrastructure.

Further investigations led to the arrest of Bello who had initially escaped from the scene in one of the vehicles.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Josephine Adeh disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

Adeh said investigations were ongoing to establish the full extent of the suspects’ activities identify other members of the gang and arrest those still at large.

She added that the suspects remained in police custody and would be charged in court once investigations concluded.

The command urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the nearest police station.

It also provided emergency contact numbers: 08032003913 and 08061581938.

Imo State University has partnered with the Imo Robotic Centre to establish a robotic surgery academy aimed at training 500 surgeons and other surgical professionals within two years in a move to expand access to advanced healthcare services and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism. The initiative described by Consultant Urologist and Robotic Surgeon Prof Kingsley Ekwueme as Africa’s first dedicated university-based robotic surgery academy is expected to provide specialised training for more than 250 Nigerian surgeons alongside other medical professionals from across Africa.

Ekwueme who was recently appointed Professor of Robotic Surgery at Imo State University disclosed that the partnership followed a meeting with the university’s management on August 18 with an official university publication issued the following day. He said a memorandum of understanding was subsequently signed while a departmental building was allocated for the academy’s establishment. ‘We have successfully performed the first surgery in the region in August. We followed up with multiple robotic surgeries at the Imo Robotic Centre where many patients are already benefiting from this state-of-the-art technology now available for the first time in southeast Nigeria’ he said. ‘We have also partnered with Imo State University following a successful meeting on the 18th of August 2026 and launched the robotic surgery academy at the university.’

The professor said the academy would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to deliver sophisticated surgical procedures locally while equipping healthcare professionals with the expertise required to operate robotic systems safely and effectively. According to him the programme will cover several surgical specialties including urology gynaecology and general surgery rather than concentrating solely on prostate-related conditions. ‘We are not only training surgeons but we are also training the whole surgical team. And this is very important because we want to train a team to be able to deliver safe and effective robotic surgery at their own local centre’ Ekwueme explained.

He added that the academy would support participating hospitals in acquiring and installing robotic equipment while providing technical training and assistance to ensure sustainable operations. Ekwueme said the Imo Robotic Centre developed in partnership with the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma had commenced operations and successfully performed several robotic-assisted procedures. The development he noted would make advanced surgical treatment increasingly accessible to patients in the South-East many of whom previously had to travel long distances or seek specialised medical care overseas. ‘We have bridged the gap. So nobody needs to travel beyond leaving your house and driving a few minutes down the road to have your surgery’ he stated.

Explaining the benefits of robotic surgery Ekwueme said the technology provides surgeons with magnified three-dimensional views of the operating area and sophisticated instruments that enable greater precision during complex procedures. He identified prostate and kidney operations fibroid removal hysterectomy ovarian procedures bowel cancer surgery and selected gallbladder operations among treatments that could be performed using robotic assistance. According to him the technology can reduce surgical trauma blood loss and recovery time in appropriately selected patients when compared with conventional open surgery.

He stressed however that successful outcomes depend not merely on acquiring sophisticated equipment but also on the competence of the surgeons and supporting medical teams. ‘The surgeon has to also be proficient in the use of the robotic machine. And that is where this training that we are creating becomes important’ he said. The professor further disclosed plans to establish an oncology centre adjacent to the robotic surgery facility to provide advanced cancer diagnosis and treatment services. He said a medical institute was also being developed through collaboration between the state government and the Imo Robotic Centre to strengthen specialised medical services and professional training.

Ekwueme who also serves as Clinical Lead for Urology in North Wales at Glan Clwyd Hospital United Kingdom said his experience in developing robotic surgery programmes overseas had strengthened his determination to introduce similar capabilities in Nigeria. He said his team had performed more than 145 robotic procedures through a programme he developed and he had been involved in specialist training and the introduction of robotic technologies. He also said his team performed what he described as West Africa’s first robotic-assisted gynaecological operation through its programme with the patient discharged on the same day.

On the economic implications Ekwueme maintained that expanding robotic surgery services across Nigeria could reduce expenditure on overseas medical treatment and create opportunities for Nigerian healthcare professionals working abroad. He urged the Federal Government to review import duties and other charges on sophisticated medical equipment to encourage investment and improve access to advanced treatment. ‘We know how to acquire affordable robotic systems. I will advise any public institution to come to train with us. We will help them to acquire robots without a doubt’ he said.

The professor also called on chief medical directors of public hospitals to explore partnerships with the academy for training equipment procurement and the establishment of robotic surgery units. He expressed optimism that the initiative would help reverse the migration of skilled medical professionals and position Nigeria as an emerging destination for specialised surgical care. ‘In ten years I see every Nigerian having access to robotic surgery anywhere in Nigeria. I see a Nigeria where brain drain would be significantly less’ he said. ‘I dare to predict there is going to be a reversal of brain drain. A reversal back to Nigeria.’

Explaining the clinical benefits of robotic surgery Ekwueme said the technology could be deployed across several medical specialties including urology gynaecology general surgery and selected cardiac procedures. He identified prostate and kidney operations fibroid removal hysterectomy ovarian procedures bowel cancer surgery and certain gallbladder procedures among treatments that could be performed using robotic assistance. According to him robotic systems provide surgeons with highly magnified three-dimensional views of the operating field and sophisticated instruments that allow greater precision during complex procedures potentially reducing surgical trauma blood loss and recovery time in appropriately selected patients. ‘The advantages of robotic surgery cannot be overstated’ he said.

Beyond expanding treatment options Ekwueme expressed optimism that the initiative would help establish a sustainable network of technologically equipped hospitals across Nigeria enabling patients to access advanced surgical care locally while creating opportunities for highly skilled Nigerian medical professionals working abroad to return home. ‘In ten years I see every Nigerian having access to robotic surgery anywhere in Nigeria. I see a Nigeria where brain drain would be significantly less’ he said. ‘I dare to predict there is going to be a reversal of brain drain. A reversal back to Nigeria.’

Describing the development as a potential turning point in the country’s healthcare delivery system Ekwueme expressed confidence that sustained investment in medical technology specialist training and institutional partnerships could transform access to advanced surgical services. ‘I seriously believe that a medical revolution is happening in Nigeria at the moment’ he declared.