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Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State were yesterday expelled by the party leadership.

The chieftains, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Mr. Azeez Yusuf, were expelled, following their anti-party activities and disloyalty to the party.

Chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, said in a statement that they exhibited conduct considered inimical to the integrity and party discipline.

Egunjobi and Yusuf contested APC primaries for Agege Constituency I and Agege Constituency II, but failed to secure the party’s tickets.

Rather than respect the outcome of the internal democratic process and remain loyal to the platform on which they sought election, they obtained tickets from the opposition Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Ojelabi said the party viewed the conduct as a clear repudiation of the obligations of party membership and an unacceptable act of anti-party activity and disloyalty.

He said in a statement that their purported resignations from the APC were therefore, viewed as a belated and face-saving attempt to pre-empt the consequences of their actions.

Ojelabi says the party’s position is that membership of the APC cannot be treated as a convenient political garment to be worn during a primary and discarded immediately after an unsuccessful outcome.

He said: ”APC is a political organisation governed by rules, regulations and constitutional obligations. While members are free to aspire to elective office, such aspirations must be pursued within the framework of the party’s constitution and the applicable electoral laws.

‘A member who loses an internal contest is expected to accept the outcome or pursue legitimate avenues of redress provided by the party and the law-not to undermine the party by seeking an alternative platform within the same electoral cycle.

‘The party has accordingly invoked the relevant provisions of Article 9(5)(II) of the APC Constitution (as amended in 2022) in taking disciplinary action against the two former members.

‘Their conduct is particularly significant in the context of the 2026 electoral framework. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emphasised the obligation of political parties and political actors to comply with the Electoral Act 2026 and the Commission’s regulations governing the electoral process.

‘The Lagos APC therefore wishes to make it abundantly clear that Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi and Mr. Azeez Yusuf are no longer members of the All Progressives Congress.

‘Consequently, neither individual has the authority to speak for, represent, negotiate on behalf of, or otherwise transact any business with any person, organisation or institution in the name of the Lagos State APC or the All Progressives Congress.

‘The party urges members, supporters, stakeholders and the public to take note of their changed status and to refrain from dealing with either of them as representatives or authorised agents of the APC.

”The APC remains committed to internal democracy, discipline, loyalty and respect for the rules governing the organisation. The right to contest an election does not confer the right to sabotage the party after losing its nomination process.

‘The APC is a party of rules. Its tickets are contested, its decisions are respected, and its integrity will be protected.

‘The Lagos APC will continue to take all necessary steps to preserve the discipline, cohesion and credibility of the party as it prepares for the forthcoming elections.’

The Nigeria Association for Physical, Health Education, Recreation, Sports and Dance (NAPHER-SD) has unveiled a Ten-Point Agenda aimed at improving transparency, integrity, accountability and professionalism across Nigeria’s sports, health and education sectors.

The resolutions emerged from the Association’s 54th Annual National Conference held at Bayero University, Kano, from September 15 to 19, 2026, under the theme, ‘Transparency, Integrity and Accountability in Sports, Health and Education.’

NAPHER-SD stressed that good governance should not be judged only by results but also by how decisions are taken, authority exercised and resources managed.

Central to the agenda is a call for stronger sports and educational institutions, with greater transparency in curricula, staffing, funding, facilities, research, assessment and performance.

The Association also advocated equal access to Physical and Health Education and sports regardless of gender, disability, geographical location or socioeconomic background, while insisting that policies should be driven by reliable data and research.

NAPHER-SD called for national professional standards for Physical and Health Education teaching and sports programme delivery, supported by effective monitoring and evaluation.

It also recommended continuous training for teachers, lecturers, coaches, researchers and sports administrators.

Another major proposal is the establishment of a National Data Management System for professionals in Physical and Health Education and sports. The proposed platform would assist in collecting, analysing and tracking professional and sporting resources across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The Association further called for stronger advocacy for curriculum reform and improved funding, including institutional approval for a Sports Development Trust Fund.

Universities were encouraged to regularly review Physical Education, Human Kinetics and Health Education curricula, strengthen laboratories and practical training, promote relevant research and improve academic integrity.

Government, meanwhile, was urged to protect Physical and Health Education as an essential part of education and provide qualified personnel, facilities and equipment.

The communiqué, adopted on September 18, was signed by NAPHER-SD President Prof. Florence B. Adeyanju and Secretary-General Prof. Franz U. Atare.

The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd.), has called for greater African ownership and funding of regional security operations to end terrorism and cross-border crimes.

He said countries on the continent must increasingly take responsibility for sustaining mechanisms established to combat terrorism and other transnational threats.

Musa said this at a high-level security discussion organised by the Ministry of Defence on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-Level Week in New York.

The discussion, titled ‘Confronting Nigeria’s Multidimensional Security Challenges: A Whole-of-Society and Partnership-Based Approach,’ brought together diplomats, security practitioners and representatives of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS.

The panel also examined homeland security and early warning, economic security, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and the need for African countries to develop security solutions suited to their specific circumstances.

The call for greater regional ownership formed part of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s multidimensional security challenges, with participants advocating stronger intelligence cooperation, improved border management, economic recovery in conflict-affected communities and greater investment in indigenous security capabilities.

In a statement on Thursday, his Media Adviser, Leah Katung-Babatunde, stressed the need for African member states to provide increased funding and support for regional mechanisms such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), even as Nigeria continues to value defence cooperation with international partners.

Musa said although the MNJTF had benefited from support from foreign partners, including the European Union, African countries must ensure that the regional security architecture does not become overly dependent on external assistance.

He said, ‘While regional mechanisms like the MNJTF receive support from foreign partners like the EU, African member states must increasingly finance and sustain their security frameworks to guarantee regional ownership.’

Musa said Nigeria’s security challenges had national, regional and global implications, making sustained cooperation among countries and international organisations essential to confronting terrorism, banditry and other emerging threats.

‘Our recognition that we cannot address these challenges alone is not a statement of dependence; rather, it is an acknowledgement of the multidimensional character of modern security threats and the importance of collective action,’ the minister said.

Musa also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to eradicating terrorism and banditry, while commending what he described as productive defence cooperation with international partners, including the United States.

The Minister said sustainable security could not be achieved through military operations alone, stressing the importance of resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development and good governance.

‘Sustainable security requires resilient communities, effective institutions, inclusive development, and good governance,’ Musa said.

He said the objective of the engagement was to move beyond discussions towards concrete cooperation and clearly defined responsibilities.

‘Our objective should be straightforward,’ he said. ‘We should not merely reaffirm our understanding of the challenges; we should seek to identify concrete areas of cooperation, clear responsibilities, and practical next steps.’

The Defence Minister highlighted the Federal Government’s measures to strengthen national security, including increased military recruitment, Army restructuring, state police and forest guards, unified intelligence operations, enhanced domestic defence production, drone technology for surveillance and IED detection, and a national criminal database.

Other speakers at the event called for stronger intelligence fusion, community-based border security, protection of critical national infrastructure and measures to disrupt terrorist taxation and financial networks.

Maj.-Gen. Adeyinka Famadewa (Rtd.), Special Adviser on Homeland Security, advocated integrated response capabilities and citizen-reporting protection systems to improve early warning and enable authorities to anticipate emerging threats.

A former Force Commander of the MNJTF, Maj.-Gen. Khalifa Ibrahim (Rtd.), called for revitalising the regional force, implementing the Office of the National Security Adviser’s Border Management Strategy, and using community-based approaches to securing Nigeria’s borders.

Ibrahim also advocated stronger action against terrorist taxation and financial networks, which he identified as critical to weakening the operational capacity of terrorist groups.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Dr. Kingsley Obiora, described economic stability as a core component of national security and proposed designated economic zones to accelerate recovery in conflict-affected areas.

Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President and Minister of External Affairs, who moderated the discussion, recalled Nigeria’s concentric-circles foreign policy and stressed the need for Africa to position itself as an active contributor to global frameworks, particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Prof. Mvemba Phezo Dizolele of Johns Hopkins University urged African countries to develop security solutions suited to their local realities rather than relying on externally designed models, while cybersecurity expert Omosigho Ozo-Eson warned against excessive dependence on foreign artificial intelligence systems.

Well, to be frank, I’m not aware of this group. If they are really a group of 100, tell me who they are so that I can comment. I don’t know them. Who are they?

They are reportedly a group of opposition political parties, including the ADC, NDC and other opposition parties and their leaders.

When you say the group, not political party. Who are the people behind it?

They include presidential candidates, former vice presidents, former governors and other political stakeholders. People like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Rotimi Amaechi and others are said to be part of it.

So, you are talking about people like Amaechi, Malami and others, isn’t it?

Yes, sir.

What is my business with that? They are from the same political background. They are from the same group, their own family. It is a civil war. So why do I come into it? What should I comment?

All of them have, at one time or another, been part of the APC or its political family. From 2014 to date, those who are claiming to be opposition are, in many ways, people from the same political family.

So, in their own civil war, what is my business? I am PDP. I have been PDP since 1999 and I remain PDP till date.

But from your experience in politics, do you think such a coalition can succeed in defeating the APC and President Tinubu in 2027?

What I am saying is, what is my business? In your own family, you are fighting. What concerns me about your family fight? You should know your family better than me. You should understand your own family better than me.

All of them have been in different political parties. They moved from ANPP to PDP, ACN, CPC and eventually APC. I have been PDP all along.

All these people who came together are from the same APC family that fought PDP, maligned PDP, abused PDP and destroyed PDP. They wanted to remove us from office, and they did.

Now, from 2014 to date, they have been changing their political platforms and alliances. But they are still from the same family. Therefore, it is a family civil war. It is their problem and their business. Let them go and fight their own war.

How do you assess the political activities and preparations of your party, the PDP, ahead of the 2027 general elections?

Look, it is a very simple thing. Political parties are formed with a purpose. Parties are formed based on certain principles and programmes, and they articulate their positions on issues.

For any given election, you tell Nigerians what you are going to do on the economy, security, human development and other important areas.

These are the issues political parties normally present to the public. They tell the people: this is what we are going to do if we win the election.

For me, our purpose is to win the election. Simple.

Therefore, like all political parties, our programme and the election are ultimately about Nigeria.

What, in your view, should Nigerians look out for as the 2027 election approaches?

Nigerians should look at the political parties, their backgrounds and the political pedigree of the various actors. They should examine their records and determine who is sincere and who genuinely has the interest of Nigeria at heart.

The issue is for Nigerians to see through these people and ask: who is talking? Who is saying what? Who is sincere? Who is honest? Who is there for Nigeria?

Then they can make their own choice.

You have on several occasions expressed concern about the possibility of defeating President Tinubu in 2027.

What exactly do you mean by that?

No. When you say fear, what do you mean by fear?

Fear in terms of his political capacity and ability to win the election?

It is about capacity and what he can do, and to what extent. You understand, this is somebody who has been a survivor in politics.

Those who have worked with him at one time or another should know him better than me because they were with him. They belonged to the same political family.

Therefore, they should understand his political capacity better than I do.

How do you forecast the 2027 general election?

My focus is that Nigerians should look at the political parties, look at their background and look at the political pedigree of the various actors. They should ask themselves: is there anybody among them who is sincere, who is genuine and who is committed to Nigeria?

Then they should make their choice.

The political environment is very murky and unconventional. It is difficult to make a realistic political analysis in terms of sincerity and honesty.

Political analysts should be able to look at issues based on national interest, national stability, security and other considerations.

But today, look at the main players and their characters. Let Nigerians look at them and determine how sincere and genuine they are.

Do you think national interest has been given enough attention by the political actors?

To me, Nigeria has been abandoned by all of them.

I am not making any spiritual claim that I am more Nigerian than any other Nigerian. But look at the country today and compare it with what it was in 1999.

People who emerged as governors, vice presidents, presidents and ministers since 1999, across different political parties, have benefited from Nigeria.

Now, having benefited from Nigeria, when the country is going through these difficulties, are they willing to pay back Nigeria what Nigeria gave them?

That is the issue.

What do you think is the future of Nigeria’s democracy, given the current political and economic challenges?

Nigeria will be there.

This is part of the whole evolution. All nations go through difficulties. Some are caused by the players, while some are natural, but nations go through a process.

I hope people understand that beyond the next four years, five years, 10 years or 15 years, many of these people will no longer be there.

They will leave, but Nigeria will remain.

Therefore, don’t despair and don’t give up. Nigeria will be there.

But the evolution is very stressful. The living conditions in the country are now very stressful, with a lot of difficulties. But we shall overcome, I believe.

What is your advice to Nigerians at this critical period?

What kind of advice?

You advise people when you think there is ignorance, lack of understanding, fear or something like that.

But when the environment is very clear, you know that people are no longer ignorant. Nigerians are not ignorant. They know what they are doing politically.

Nigerians are politically very conscious. Look at social media and the way people discuss politics. They know what is happening. There is no ignorance and there is no fear. They say anything and read anything.

So, you advise where there is ignorance. But that is no longer the situation.

Every Nigerian, whether from the North or South, Christian or Muslim, knows what we are going through. We are politically conscious and very aware.

It is up to us to determine what is best for Nigeria.

What have I done? What have you done? What have they done? What are we doing?

What do you think is the major factor responsible for the challenges facing Nigerians today, particularly poverty?

Poverty.

But whether God caused poverty or whether poverty was human-induced, that is the question.

Was it caused by God or was it caused by human beings?

Would you taken t is both natural and human-induced?

No. It cannot be both.

Because Nigeria is well endowed by God. We have resources underground. We have minerals. Our land is very fertile. We can grow almost anything through agriculture.

We have people with very strong cultural backgrounds and traditions. We have highly educated people who are respected around the world.

Therefore, when you say poverty is natural, you are not being fair to nature.

So, what is the missing link?

Look, you have been asking questions. You ask me what the problem is and what the solution is.

I told you: look at whether the poverty is human-induced or natural.

You said both.

I said it cannot be both.

Jigawa State has clocked 35 years. Your administration lasted eight years and is often credited with significant human and infrastructural development. What is your assessment of the state’s journey and its future?

All of us, in the last 25 or 30 years, have made our contributions. We have all put in our maximum best.

All the governments, whether military or civilian, whichever political party was in power, have contributed. The people, the emirs and everybody have contributed to making Jigawa great.

It is a process of evolution.

No one person can claim that, during his time, he did everything. You do what you can and leave, then somebody else comes in.

Whatever you see today is a collective achievement. It is through the collective efforts of the people that you got Jigawa as it is today.

It is not the achievement of Sule Lamido or anybody else alone.