Category: Daily Trust

The Commandant Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Olusola Odumosu PhD, has ordered the deployment of 4500 personnel across the nook and crannies of the FCT ahead of this year’s Independence Day celebration.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Command, DSC Monica Ojobi, on Monday, said the deployment is in a bid to ensure security of lives and property as well as Critical National Assets and Infrastructure in the FCT and its environs before, during and after the celebration.

The deployment of officers and men cuts across specialised departments and units such as Female Strike Force, Arms Squad, Operation Adakasu, Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE).

According to the statement. There is also a massive deployment to vulnerable locations and soft targets such as shopping malls, recreational centres, prayer grounds, markets, motor parks, amusement parks, City Gate, 3 Arms Zone, government buildings and areas housing Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.

‘In a bid to ensure proactiveness and prevent emergency or unforeseen circumstances, men of our undercover unit have already been deployed for covert operations and surveillance.

‘Black spots like uncompleted buildings that harbour criminals are also covered to avert security breaches,’ it added.

Dr Odumosu gave matching orders to all Area Commanders and Divisional Officers to ensure their respective area councils are on top of their game and ensure their presence is felt to avoid security hitches, according to the statement.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed two people and burnt down the palace of the District Head of Kirawa town of Gwoza LGA of Borno State.

Daily Trust gathered that the incident happened when the terrorists infiltrated the community bordering Cameroon on Monday night.

‘They killed two civilians, and another one was abducted by the assailants. Many people have fled to Cameroon, for fear of another attack. The insurgents also burnt other buildings in the community.’ ‘In fact, we are all afraid that the town is no longer secure because the Cameroonian soldiers protecting us have left,’ said a source identified simply as Ibrahim.

Senator Mohammed Ndume, (APC, Borno South) confirmed the attack, saying the community, which resettled recently, have witnessed renewed attacks.

‘The attacks on Kirawa and other communities have become a source of concern. Many resilient IDPs, supported by Governor Zulum, have returned to their ancestral homes,’ he said.

He commended the efforts of Nigerian troops in the fight against insurgency, and appealed for establishment of military ‘platoons’ in vulnerable communities.

He also called on the federal government to fortify the military with drones and attack helicopters to reinforce the attack pattern of the military.

The attack came barely three days after the insurgents ambushed the civilian JTF members escorting passengers on Kirawa -Pulka road, killed one and set ablaze six commercial vehicles.

Last month, a military base was dislodged by the insurgents in the area, killing four soldiers under the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and abducted a teenage girl.

The Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM) has declared that former President Goodluck Jonathan will not enjoy a ‘free ride’ to the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027.

Reacting to remarks credited to Professor Jerry Gana suggesting Jonathan’s possible comeback on the PDP, the GHSM National Coordinator, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said the PDP flagbearer would only emerge through an open and transparent primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2022.

Hamzat said, ‘With due respect, Professor Jerry Gana is entitled to his enthusiasm about the return of former President Jonathan. However, only PDP delegates to the national convention can pick the party’s flagbearer, and ultimately, God Almighty will determine the outcome, not a few party stalwarts,’ Hamzat said in a statement.

Hamzat argued that Nigerians were yearning for progress, not a return to the past, warning that Jonathan represents an ‘old order’ many citizens are ready to consign to history.

He said, ‘The Jonathan era cannot be painted as a perfect time. It was a period when the diversity of our nation began to be deeply mismanaged, rekindling ethnic tensions and religious bigotry, a legacy that has unfortunately worsened under subsequent governments,’ he added.

He also revisited Jonathan’s foreign policy record, faulting Nigeria’s decision in 2011 to break ranks with the African Union and support NATO’s intervention in Libya.

He described the move as a ‘strategic blunder’ that destabilized the Sahel and aggravated insecurity across Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and other West African countries.

On the domestic scene, the GHSM leader insisted that Jonathan still has questions to answer on corruption allegations that trailed his administration, particularly the infamous Dasukigate arms procurement scandal.

Hamzat, however, affirmed that the PDP remains a democratic platform where no aspirant, including former presidents, should expect automatic endorsement.

‘If President Jonathan desires a return to Aso Rock, he must be ready to square up with nationally unifying aspirants such as Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim in an open and transparent primary,’ Hamzat declared.

He maintained that Nigerians deserve fresh leadership and a new vision to tackle the nation’s challenges, insisting that ‘the only way forward is forward, not backward.’

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said that Nigeria is not yet where it is supposed to be in its journey through 65 years of independence.

However, he urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the persistent challenges of poverty, insecurity and mistrust.

The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr Sulaiman Wali, spoke on Monday at a pre-independence public lecture held at the Coronation Hall, Kano Government House, as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary.

‘Nigeria at 65 is still far from the nation of our dreams. But this is not a reason to despair; it is a call to action. Unity is not about uniformity, but about celebrating our differences while working towards a common destiny,’ he said. He called on citizens to take ownership of nation-building by participating actively in democratic processes, supporting security initiatives, and embracing youth development programmes.

‘Security is not just the absence of war or crime; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and unity,’ he added.

As Nigeria marks its 65th independence anniversary, the governor said Kano is determined to chart a new course where its youth are seen as agents of peace, innovation, and development, rather than tools for violence and division.

He said Nigeria’s milestone anniversary should serve not just as a celebration but as a moment of sober reflection on how citizens and leaders alike can contribute to national unity, peace, and prosperity.

‘I stand before you today filled with pride, gratitude, and responsibility. Pride, because we are gathered to celebrate Nigeria at 65; gratitude, because it allows us to reflect on our journey; and responsibility, because as leaders and citizens, we must translate noble words into concrete actions,’ Yusuf said.

The governor stressed that security goes beyond deploying weapons or security forces but involves creating opportunities for justice, economic empowerment, and unity.

‘The Safe Corridor Initiative’s rehabilitation and reintegration approach can turn despair into hope and danger into opportunity. It teaches us that no life is beyond redemption if society chooses to guide rather than abandon,’ he added.

Earlier, Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, presented a paper titled: ‘Safe Corridor Initiative – The Kano Model: A Special Intervention Project of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to Address Thuggery and Other Related Crimes in Kano State Through a Non-Kinetic Approach.’

The commissioner explained that the initiative targets repentant political thugs and drug users by providing counselling, de-radicalisation, skills acquisition, empowerment, and reintegration into society.

According to him, the programme is anchored on the recognition that the state’s youthful population is an asset that must be properly harnessed rather than allowed to drift into crime.

The decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider registering new political parties has stirred debate among analysts, politicians and observers, with concerns over whether the move will strengthen or weaken Nigeria’s democracy.

On September 11, INEC announced that 14 political associations had met the initial requirements to proceed to the next stage of registration. If successful, they would join the existing 19 recognised parties, raising the total to 33.

This development comes five years after INEC de-registered 74 out of 92 political parties in the country for failing to meet constitutional requirements for continuous existence. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, explained at the time that the affected parties had failed to secure the minimum electoral threshold as stipulated in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

For the fresh exercise, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said the commission had received 171 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties, but only 14 scaled the first hurdle. The associations include the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), African Transformation Party (ATP), Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Grassroots Initiative Alliance (GRIP), Green Future Party (GFP), Liberation People’s Party (LPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), National Reform Party (NRP), Patriotic People’s Alliance (PPA) and People’s Freedom Party (PFP).

According to INEC, ‘Each request was assessed on the basis of its prima facie compliance with Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Clause 2 (i and ii) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.’

Daily Trust, however, gathered that some interim leaders of the proposed parties were officials of the de-registered parties in 2020.

For instance, Rev. Olusegun Peters, former national chairman of the de-registered Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), now leads the proposed Allied Conservative Congress (ACC). Though not among the 14 cleared, ACC is listed among the 171 associations seeking registration.

Peters recently said ACC was determined to win the 2027 presidential poll and redirect Nigeria on a conservative ideological path if registered.

Questions and scepticisms

The move has raised questions about whether the new associations, if eventually registered, will make any meaningful difference in the political space.

Some observers fear they could face the same fate as the 74 de-registered parties. Others doubt their capacity to win elections or address Nigeria’s governance challenges.

Concerns have also been raised about whether the new platforms will meet electoral thresholds or present manifestos that foster unity, inclusivity and democratic growth. Critics argue that if leaders of defunct parties are returning with new platforms, the outcome may not change.

On the other hand, some analysts maintain that democracy thrives on healthy competition, and more parties would give Nigerians wider choices at the polls. They argue that while opposition parties have failed in their roles and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been accused of bad governance, new parties could provide alternatives.

Bad omen for democracy?

Elder statesman and former presidential candidate, Chief Chekwas Okorie, expressed concern over the recurring cycle of registration and deregistration, describing it as a ‘bad omen for democracy.’

Okorie, founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and later the United Progressives Party (UPP), which was de-registered in 2020, told Daily Trust that opposition parties should be allowed to exist to provide alternatives for political heavyweights denied tickets in big parties.

He said ‘After another round of elections, another round of de-registration will commence. I have never seen a country that operates this kind of confused system. Since the government no longer pays grants to political parties, those registered should be allowed to remain on the register. The beauty of the multi-party system is that when people don’t get space in major parties, they can still contest under smaller ones.

‘Many political parties have collapsed on their own without de-registration because it costs money to maintain a party office and staff. When a party is inactive, its leaders eventually give up.’

Similarly, Hon. Bernard Mikko, a political scientist and former federal lawmaker from Rivers State, said INEC should register all qualified associations, describing it as a ‘good omen for democracy.’

Mikko, a former PDP governorship aspirant who later joined APC, said:

Once the associations meet requirements, INEC should register them. Those that fall short or fail to win elections can then be de-registered, but the process must be transparent. It shouldn’t look like witch-hunting. There is freedom of association, and these are constitutional matters.’

New parties not the

solution – Analysts

Other analysts, however, argue that new parties will not solve Nigeria’s problems.

Political analyst, Jackson Lekan Ojo told Daily Trust that existing parties already provide enough choices, describing the proposed ones as ‘political liabilities’.

‘New parties won’t make any difference. They can’t even make a positive noise for change. They are just wasting INEC’s stationery. Nigerians should be able to join from the existing ones,’ he said.

Another analyst, Aminu Yakudima, said the proposed 14 parties, including ADA, might not survive electoral thresholds, let alone win elections.

‘Most of these parties don’t have viable manifestos or grassroots structures. Forming a party requires resources, experience and membership mobilisation. Without these, they cannot add value to the electoral process. The 2027 elections will be between two or three parties – APC, PDP and maybe ADC,’ he said.

Also, former PDP deputy publicity secretary and now APC chieftain, Barrister Abdullahi Jalo, argued that Nigeria’s real problem lies in governance, not the proliferation of parties.

He said: ‘Registration of new parties is constitutional but a waste of time and resources. Our problem is governance and leadership. Even the existing parties are not living up to expectations. What Nigeria needs is accountability and reforms, not more parties.’