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Former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo are among the candidates who made the updated list of contestants for next year’s elections published yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Omo-Agege is seeking a return to the Red Chamber of the National Assembly from Delta Central on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) while Dr.Obasanjo is flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ogun Central.

Also listed is the name of former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Ibrahim Ali Isa Pantami who is the PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.

There had been fears about their chances of making the INEC list on account of the circumstances surrounding their switching of camps on the eve of their nomination.

They were all members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but left after failing in their bids for the party’s tickets.

INEC updated list of candidates for the National (Presidential and National Assembly) and state (Governorship and State Assembly) elections issued yesterday.

It however still excluded the names of the NDC governorship candidate in Kano state Abdulsalam Gwarzo and the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State Ladi Adebutu.

The commission had said that the final clearance for Gwarzo would depend on the outcome of a subsisting court case.

The space for the Accord Party presidential candidate was left blank on the list despite the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja recognising Olawepo Hashim as the party’s flag bearer.

Mohammed Sani Abbas was listed as the NDC governorship candidate in Kaduna State as against Danjuma La’ah which appeared in the list published on October 10 2026.

The updated list contains 20 new names of governorship candidates with one additional name in each of Jigawa Katsina Kebbi Kwara Niger Oyo Taraba and Zamfara States.

Kaduna Cross River and Nasarawa have two new names each while Gombe and Kano states have three new names included.

The number of parties contesting the election in Abia is down by one from 15 to 14.

The update shows that the APC and the ADC are presenting candidates in the 28 states where governorship elections will take place while the PDP and NDC are presenting candidates in 26 states.

The PDP has no candidates in Kebbi and Ogun states while the NDC has no candidates in Abia and Ogun. Ndubuisi Ogah who was listed on October 10 as the NDC governorship candidate in Abia was missing on the updated list.

The names of NDC candidates added to the list include John Odey Upan (Cross River) Shammah Danladi Dodo (Nasarawa) and Muktar Farouk Alhaji (Kebbi).

The commission had promised to publish an updated final list of candidates on its website after a review of complaints from candidates and political parties.

The Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee Mohammed Haruna confirmed that some of the petitions received were successful while others failed.

He said: ‘Further to its Press Statement of 13th October 2026 the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform political parties candidates and the general public of the outcome of its consideration of complaints received following the publication of the final lists of Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates on 10th October 2026.

‘The complaints concerned the omission of certain political parties the wrongful inclusion of candidates of political parties whose names were not contained in the membership registers submitted by their political parties and instances of alleged multiple nominations.

‘Following a review of the complaints relevant records and applicable legal provisions the Commission found merit in some representations and approved the inclusion of affected candidates and their political parties while complaints found to be without merit were declined.

‘In addition some names that were wrongfully published in the final list were removed after verifying that their names were not on the register.

‘The Commission also approved the removal of candidates whose nominations were found to be inconsistent with the applicable legal requirements. In particular the decisions affecting State Houses of Assembly candidates sponsored by political parties were informed by specific complaints received and determined in accordance with the law and the Commission’s established criteria.

‘In summary a total of 69 petitions were received from 12 political parties across 26 states for the governorship election. Forty-one of the petitions succeeded while 28 failed. Similarly for the State Houses of Assembly 61 petitions were received from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five succeeded while 36 failed.’

INEC Chairman: No plan to shift 2027 elections

Chairman of INEC Professor Joash Amupitan said for the umpteenth time yesterday that the commission has no plan to reschedule the 2027 elections.

Some opposition parties had alleged that the commission was under pressure to shift the polls.

But speaking during the commission’s interactive meeting with staff members in the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone and an assessment of their readiness for the 2027 general elections Amupitan declared that INEC remained faithful to the January and February 2027 dates picked for the presidential governorship and legislative elections.

He said there was no turning back now with preparations in top gear.

‘Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled’ he said.

He pledged that the commission would conduct elections that the generality of Nigerians would be proud of.

‘We will conduct elections that will move the nation forward and not an election that will bring it down’ he said.

He also spoke on the fears generated by the inclusion of AI generated names in the voter register.

He said there was nothing to worry about the issue and declared: ‘It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms.’

He asked voters to feel confident and come out on elections days to exercise their rights.

His words: ‘We want every part of Nigeria to be calm during the elections so that people can come out to vote. We will not tell them to take their PVCs and then will not guarantee their safety.’

AS part of efforts to stimulate greater interest the Lagos State Government on Saturday unveiled plans to launch a state-wide cleanliness competition across all 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to also drive community-led environmental hygiene and recognise the cleanest localities in the state.

First Lady and wife of the governor Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu disclosed the initiative during the monthly environmental sanitation monitoring exercise for October in Ikorodu.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Sanwo-Olu who was accompanied by Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab and Special Adviser on Environment Engr. Kunle Rotimi- Akodu also strongly defended the relevance of the monthly clean up against public criticism saying it had been beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the citizenry.

Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the high level of community participation and environmental standard observed along major roads and commercial hubs in Ikorodu while the exercise lasted.

‘I am very impressed. I noticed that the people have taken our environmental sanitation campaign very seriously. While we were coming I was looking at the cleanliness along the roads especially in the market spaces’ Sanwo-Olu stated.

While appraising the early turnout of young residents waste management crews traffic officers and traditional leaders she added: ‘Importantly we noticed our children; they had been here since 6:00 a.m. They had been cleaning even before I came. The LAWMA staff members were also working and the sweepers were outside. All hands were on deck.’

While challenging Ikorodu residents to sustain the momentum and aim for top honours in the upcoming council-wide competition Mrs Sanwo-Olu urged residents to embrace hygiene as a daily routine rather than a monthly obligation.

‘My message to the residents is that they should keep Lagos clean and not only wait till we have our environmental sanitation day but make sure that Ikorodu comes first in the competition ahead.

‘All the local governments will take part and the Ministry will announce the best or the cleanest environment in Lagos very soon’ she said.

Meanwhile in a simultaneous exercise held in Ikeja Local Government Area and led by the Head of Service Mr Bode Agoro he warned residents against dumping waste into canals and drainage channels cautioning that the unwholesome practice severely threatens public sanitation and heightens the risk of flash flooding across the state.

Agoro was accompanied by the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area Akeem Olalekan Dauda; Permanent Secretaries in the Office of Environmental Services Gaji Tajudeen and Drainage Services Engr. Olakunle Adegbite and other Perm Secs.

Agoro also used the occasion to call on local government bosses and community leaders to actively mobilise residents to improve environmental standards in their domains.

He stressed that maintaining environmental hygiene requires continuous civic commitment.

Agoro stated that officials personally observed residents discarding refuse into local waterways during the exercise.

The First Lady while contributing to some public debates on the necessity of the monthly sanitation exercise dismissed claims that the program was a waste of state resources.

She likened the recurring monthly sanitation awareness exercise to mandatory pre-flight safety briefings on commercial airlines that passengers are compulsorily exposed to.

‘It might seem unnecessary to some people but awareness is a continuous exercise. It is just like when you enter a plane; every time you board the plane they remind you whether you are in first class or economy class to fasten your seat belts.

‘So it is a continuous exercise. There may be some teething problems but we will overcome them eventually’ Sanwo-Olu explained.

She called on residents to replicate the civic effort within their immediate households schools markets and local wards to ensure a healthier state eco-system.

Areas touched by the First Lady and her entourage include Ajina community Oriwu Road Ladega Street and Alagbe Street while the cleanup operations in Ikeja covered key corridors including Onilekere Street Saidu Street Olumo Street Ijesha Close and Olukoyi Street.

Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West Henry Seriake Dickson has accused his successor Governor Douye Diri of betraying the political trust that brought him to power by defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dickson who spoke in a lengthy statement following his homecoming to Bayelsa on Friday said the governor’s decision to join the APC amounted to surrendering the state to a party he claimed had never won Bayelsa through the ballot.

The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) said he had deliberately refrained from commenting extensively on developments in the state to avoid creating political tension and preserve peace.

He however declared that the time had come to make his political position clear accusing Diri of abandoning the political structure that nurtured and supported his emergence as governor.

‘Every single one of the people in the current government was nurtured and supported for years by me’ he said.

Dickson recalled that Diri served as his Executive Secretary Deputy Chief of Staff member of the House of Representatives and senator before succeeding him as governor.

He said his decision to support Diri’s emergence was informed by the need to sustain Ijaw political leadership and promote fairness among the different local government areas in Bayelsa.

The former governor alleged that his successor had now turned against those who supported his political journey accusing the administration of pettiness propaganda blackmail and victimisation.

He said: ‘Our victory was donated free of charge to the APC making all of us overnight opposition members in our own state in a government we formed in a governorship I crafted and an administration we worked hard to put in power.’

Dickson maintained that the APC had never defeated him or won Bayelsa State at the polls claiming that his political influence had prevented the party from taking control of the state since 2015.

He expressed disappointment that Diri had aligned with the APC without securing what he described as corresponding benefits for Bayelsa from the Federal Government.

The senator also criticised the Federal Government over what he described as inadequate infrastructure development and insufficient representation of Bayelsa and the Niger Delta in federal appointments.

Despite his disagreement with Diri Dickson urged his supporters to remain peaceful and avoid personal attacks against the governor.

‘As I said children may deny their father but fathers do not deny children. The governor is still my person my brother my compatriot and our governor. But he is now someone I disagree with as he and the people in his government are wrong with the direction they are taking our state to’ he said.

The former governor also used his homecoming to rally support for Obi and other NDC candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.

He expressed confidence in the party’s prospects in Bayelsa the Niger Delta and other parts of the country urging residents to vote for its candidates across all elective positions.

Dickson made the appeal during his visit to the state where he was accompanied by Obi and the Director-General of the NDC National Campaign Council Mallam Ibrahim Abdulkarim.

The visit featured the commissioning of the party’s state secretariat in Yenagoa and a reception at Dickson’s country home in Toru-Orua Sagbama Local Government Area.

Obi also participated in a traditional Ijaw war boat regatta organised in honour of the former governor.

Dickson said the NDC represented a political tradition rooted in the struggle for equity justice and an inclusive Nigeria.

He recalled the contributions of political figures such as Harold Dapabiriye Chief Melford Okilo Isaac Adaka Boro Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and Pa Edwin Clark to the political development of the Niger Delta.

He urged younger Nigerians to sustain their legacies through purposeful political participation and service.

The NDC leader also disclosed that he had discussed the formation of the party with former President Goodluck Jonathan describing its emergence as part of a broader effort to promote inclusive politics and national development.

Dickson called on party members to organise at the grassroots and resist any unlawful attempt by security agencies or electoral officials to undermine the will of voters during the 2027 elections.

He challenged politicians who claimed to enjoy popular support to demonstrate it through the ballot rather than intimidation or manipulation.

‘Those who claim to be popular should test that popularity at the polls and allow the votes to count’ he said.

He also urged Bayelsans to remain calm despite what he described as hardship intimidation harassment and dismissals allegedly suffered by some supporters of his political camp.

The former governor said his disagreement with Diri would not change his commitment to defending the interests of Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta.

‘My politics has always been about service defending the rights of our people and standing with the oppressed across Nigeria. There is nothing good for our people that is bad for Nigeria’ he said.

Dickson thanked party leaders traditional rulers community elders youths women and supporters who welcomed him and Obi during the visit.

He described the reception in Toru-Orua and neighbouring communities as a demonstration of the people’s attachment to their cultural heritage and political identity.

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC-PCC) Senator Abdulaziz Yari has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu’s faith in God and his administration’s achievements will secure him a second term in office.

Yari spoke with journalists in Mecca Saudi Arabia where he joined Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah).

He said the President’s reliance on God coupled with his performance record and the campaign council’s grassroots mobilisation strategy would help secure the support of voters in the forthcoming presidential election.

Yari’s comments followed Tinubu’s media interaction in Saudi Arabia on Friday during which the President expressed his belief in divine providence regarding his re-election bid.

‘I believe that Allah’s wish in His court must prevail’ Tinubu declared. ‘And there’s no other God but Allah. Allah is the only one who can define a human being what he will be and what he will become.’

Reacting to the President’s remarks Yari a former governor of Zamfara State described Tinubu’s spiritual humility and commitment to service as qualities that would resonate with Nigerians.

‘That’s what makes a leader’ Yari said. ‘Because when you ask him he first prayed for the country prayed for every Nigerian and also he says this election is an election that God has selected the person who will be a leader and only Him (Allah) that can put a leader or otherwise.

‘So in total he depends on Allah to do it for him as He did it for him in 2023. By that Allah says we should welcome and work that all the procedure we are doing to campaign to talk to people to convince them to show them what we have done what we have achieved-and by God’s grace people will be convinced to elect us’ Yari added.

The APC campaign chief said the council would intensify efforts to publicise the administration’s achievements across the country and persuade Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election.

There are political endorsements and there are testimonies that seek to place history on record. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s address at the unveiling of Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s governorship manifesto in Lagos on Friday October 30 2026 belonged substantially to the latter category.

The governor had come ostensibly to identify with his deputy as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate presented his development agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Instead he took his audience into the private chambers of government revisiting moments in which decisions were made crises confronted and the foundations of public projects laid.

His most consequential declaration was also one of his simplest: ‘He was in the room.’

It was a recurring expression but hardly a casual one. In those five words Sanwo-Olu attempted to establish something that conventional campaign speeches seldom provide: an insider’s account of a candidate’s participation in the actual business of governance.

The governor began with an important distinction. ‘Anyone could read Hamzat’s curriculum vitae examine his appointments or list his achievements. What such records could not easily reveal was how he conducted himself when the cameras had disappeared and the burdens of office had become personal.’

For 2711 days Sanwo-Olu said he had shared those private spaces with Hamzat.

The number was significant. It represented the period between their assumption of office on May 29 2019 and the manifesto presentation. By invoking it Sanwo-Olu situated his testimony within a defined period of shared executive responsibility rather than a passing personal relationship.

He recalled the arrival of Nigeria’s first confirmed COVID-19 case in Lagos and the extraordinary decisions demanded by the pandemic.

‘He was in the room’ the governor said.

He proceeded to October 2020 describing it as the hardest week of his administration. Although he did not mention the #EndSARS protests directly the reference was an apparent allusion to that troubled period when Lagos became the centre of a national crisis.

‘Again Hamzat was in the room.’

These were not ordinary historical references. They took the audience beyond ceremonial accomplishments to moments when political leadership was tested under intense pressure.

They also introduced an important distinction between occupying an office and participating meaningfully in its responsibilities.

Sanwo-Olu was presenting Hamzat not simply as a deputy who attended meetings but as a participant in decisions taken during some of the most difficult circumstances of the administration.

That distinction however invites further examination. Being present at difficult moments is evidence of proximity to power; it is not by itself conclusive evidence of the quality of decisions taken.

Particularly concerning October 2020 the historical record remains sensitive and contested. Hamzat’s participation therefore establishes a basis for scrutiny as much as it provides material for political commendation.

Yet that is precisely why the passage is historically interesting. Sanwo-Olu has placed on record his account of an executive partnership whose internal workings have largely remained outside public view.

The speech also departed from a familiar Nigerian political tradition in which deputy governors are sometimes treated as ceremonial appendages to the governor’s authority.

Sanwo-Olu described a relationship in which responsibility was shared and political confidence sustained.

Perhaps the most revealing aspect was his insistence that he had never needed to question where Hamzat stood throughout their years together.

In a political environment where relationships between governors and deputies have sometimes deteriorated into public hostilities that assertion carried institutional significance beyond the personalities involved.

For the campaign the implication is clear: Sanwo-Olu has supplied a particular account of Hamzat’s experience that can be examined against the administration’s record.

That was how the governor changed the character of the manifesto presentation. Rather than merely applauding the promises being unveiled he introduced the history of the man expected to pursue them.

The expression ‘He was in the room’ may consequently outlive the occasion itself. It has become a convenient summary of Sanwo-Olu’s testimony but it also places the candidate within the circle of responsibility for the decisions achievements and shortcomings of the outgoing administration.

For Hamzat that is both an inheritance and an obligation. He cannot easily claim participation in the successes of the last seven years without accepting the public questions that accompany them.

And for the campaign the significance of the speech lies in that new frame: not simply what Hamzat promises to do but what his years in government can tell Lagosians about how he might approach the responsibilities of office.

Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East with both individuals isolated and laboratory tests underway as health authorities intensify surveillance following the country’s first confirmed case in more than a decade.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) yesterday said contact identification and listing were ongoing stressing that the classification of the two individuals as suspected cases did not mean they had tested positive for the disease.

The development comes amid continued contact tracing and monitoring following the confirmation of an imported Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20.

The index case involved a 42-year-old woman who arrived in Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3.

She developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at private health facilities before the NCDC was notified and samples were collected.

Laboratory tests at the NCDC National Reference Laboratory confirmed infection with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus on October 20.

Following the confirmation the Federal Government activated its public health response while health authorities began tracing people who might have been exposed to the patient including healthcare workers household contacts and people linked to her travel.

The NCDC initially identified 44 close contacts with the number subsequently rising to 54 as investigations progressed.

The contacts had been identified and were under follow-up.

The index patient was later medically evacuated from Abuja to Switzerland alongside her husband who had remained asymptomatic.

The evacuation followed an improvement in her clinical condition but Nigerian health authorities cautioned that removing the patient from the country did not mean the risk of further transmission had ended.

Contact tracing and monitoring have continued to identify possible infections among people who may have been exposed.

In a related development a suspected Ebola case reported in Rivers State after the initial confirmation tested negative in laboratory investigations.

The NCDC’s situation report said the suspected case was reported on October 23 with the negative result communicated to the state.

The result was among the negative samples recorded during investigations into possible infections linked to the outbreak.

The newly identified suspected cases in the North-East are now undergoing laboratory testing with further updates expected as verified information becomes available.

The NCDC urged Nigerians to maintain good hand hygiene observe proper sanitation and follow guidance issued by public health authorities.

It also advised the public to avoid direct contact with the blood and body fluids of anyone suspected of having Ebola and to cooperate with health officials conducting contact tracing and monitoring.

The agency has repeatedly emphasised that being identified as a suspected case or contact does not mean a person has Ebola. Laboratory confirmation is required to establish infection.

Nigeria’s response has included intensified surveillance laboratory testing isolation arrangements and contact monitoring with health authorities working to identify possible infections early and prevent further transmission.

The public has been urged to remain calm rely on verified information and promptly report possible exposure or symptoms to public health authorities.

Chairman of BUA Group Abdul Samad Rabiu has pledged sustained support from the business community for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu describing him as a committed leader working tirelessly to advance Nigeria’s development.

Rabiu gave the assurance during a dinner hosted by the President for members of his delegation in Makkah Saudi Arabia where Tinubu also offered prayers for Nigeria’s unity peace and prosperity.

The President specifically prayed for divine intervention to transform the country’s diversity into an instrument of economic growth and national prosperity.

‘God bless Nigeria and convert our diversity to prosperity as a country’ Tinubu prayed.

The gathering attended by state governors business leaders and senior government officials accompanying the President on the Umrah pilgrimage allowed the delegation to reaffirm its support for his leadership and seek divine guidance for the country.

Speaking on behalf of the business community Rabiu praised Tinubu’s dedication to national development and assured him of continued support in advancing his administration’s objectives.

‘We are going to continue to support His Excellency in whatever capacity that we can. And definitely as you all know Mr President is very passionate about the country. He is working very hard and we will continue to support him’ the industrialist declared.

Rabiu thanked the President for the opportunity to undertake the spiritual journey particularly the rare privilege of entering the Kaaba to offer prayers.

He said the experience had enabled members of the delegation to pray not only for themselves and their families but also for Nigeria at a critical period when the country required peace unity and prosperity.

The businessman who disclosed that the dinner was the third hosted by Tinubu since the delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia said the occasion also provided an opportunity to appreciate the President’s commitment to national progress.

Also speaking Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on behalf of his colleagues prayed for divine wisdom strength and courage for Tinubu to continue making decisions in Nigeria’s best interest.

‘We are overwhelmed. Allah will continue to bless you. We will pray for you daily. Pray for Nigeria that you lead. And may Allah continue to strengthen you in making the right decisions. Strengthen your wisdom your boldness your audacity and your courage’ the governor said.

AbdulRazaq expressed appreciation for the President’s invitation to participate in the pilgrimage describing the spiritual experience as memorable.

He prayed that Allah would continue to guide Tinubu strengthen his leadership and grant him the wisdom to navigate the challenges confronting the country.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi also offered prayers for the President asking Allah to grant his personal aspirations and answer his supplications.

Fagbemi observed that regardless of an individual’s accomplishments or position in life personal aspirations would always require divine intervention.

He consequently prayed for the fulfilment of Tinubu’s heart’s desires and continued divine blessings upon his life.

President Tinubu performed the Umrah pilgrimage at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday October 30 offering prayers for Nigeria’s peace national unity stability and prosperity.

The pilgrimage which brought together governors prominent business figures and senior government officials also afforded the President guidance for the country’s leadership and future.

A Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) has called on President Bola Tinubu to expedite action towards the creation of Bori State among other recommendations in the Ogoni dialogue process.In a statement jointly signed by seventeen youth leaders including Chief Kpakol Aleema Kpakol President Ogoni National Youth Congress; Comrade Collins Lebeteh Kenneth its spokesman; Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr President General Khana Youth Assembly; Chief Barineka Tornwe President Ogoni General Youth Assembly; Mene Barisi Kenneth Kaabee President General PA-Gokana Supreme Youth Council; Comrade Ken Nnaa President Yorla Oil Field Youth Association; and Nadum Ana-Ana President Ogoni Community-Based Youth Leaders Forum COYOG expressed concern over what it described as political and elite capture of the dialogue process warning that the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people must not be sacrificed for personal political or economic interests.

It maintained that the dialogue was a collective struggle for justice environmental restoration political inclusion resource control and sustainable development stressing that its outcome must reflect the aspirations of the Ogoni people rather than the interests of a few individuals.

COYOG said the sacrifices made by generations of Ogoni people in the struggle for justice and development must not be undermined by political manoeuvring selective representation or undisclosed arrangements.

The coalition said ‘The Ogoni dialogue process is a collective struggle for justice environmental restoration political inclusion resource control and sustainable development. It must not become the exclusive preserve of a few individuals seeking to negotiate away the collective aspiration of the Ogoni people.’

According to the group the proposed agreement should specify the responsibilities of relevant institutions implementation timelines funding arrangements monitoring mechanisms and public reporting obligations.

The coalition also urged Tinubu to establish a representative Presidential Implementation Committee with a clearly defined mandate measurable milestones and sufficient authority to coordinate the implementation of the recommendations.

It said the demands contained in the Ogoni Dialogue Committee’s report should not be reduced to political promises or ceremonial declarations of selective implementation.

COYOG specifically insisted that the demand for the creation of Bori State must receive explicit and documented attention in the implementation roadmap.

It argued that the demand was fundamental to the political inclusion equitable representation administrative accessibility and aspirations of the Ogoni people.

The coalition said the Federal Government and relevant constitutional institutions should identify the appropriate pathway for considering the creation of the proposed state in accordance with the constitutional procedures governing state creation in Nigeria.

It added that the Bori State demand must not be ignored indefinitely postponed or used as a bargaining instrument by political interests.

‘For COYOG the demand for Bori State is a fundamental question of political inclusion equitable representation administrative accessibility and the aspirations of the Ogoni people.

‘Any genuine effort to address the Ogoni question must engage this demand openly and seriously alongside the other provisions of the Ogoni Bill of Rights and the 20 demands contained in the Dialogue Committee’s report’ the statement said.

The coalition’s position comes amid concerns over the leadership structure of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) following a statement reportedly credited to Rev. Fr. Pius Kii during the service of songs for late Mrs Rosemary Kobani at Corpus Christi Cathedral Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

According to COYOG Senator Olaka Wogu was reportedly recognised as the leader of the ODC during the event.

However the youth groups disputed the description insisting that Wogu was a member of the committee’s Harmonisation Subcommittee and not the chairman or leader of the Central Ogoni Dialogue Committee.

They identified Professor Don Baridam as the leader of the central committee saying his leadership and mandate should be respected by all stakeholders.

The coalition explained that the Harmonisation Subcommittee was established to harmonise reports and recommendations from the Tactical and Technical Committees before presenting its work through the appropriate structure of the ODC.

It said membership of the subcommittee did not confer the authority to assume the leadership of the central committee or independently speak on its behalf.

‘We respect Senator Olaka Wogu as a political leader and member of the dialogue structure. However no individual irrespective of political status or influence should place himself above the established institutional framework of the ODC’ the statement added.

COYOG cautioned Wogu against public conduct or representations that could create confusion about the committee’s leadership.

It also urged religious leaders and other public figures to verify institutional positions before making pronouncements capable of misleading the Ogoni people.

The coalition further called on the ODC leadership under Professor Baridam to strengthen its public communication and provide regular accurate and comprehensive updates on the progress of the dialogue.

It specifically asked the committee to communicate the outcome of its harmonisation exercise explain the decisions reached identify outstanding issues and publish a roadmap for implementation.

The youth groups urged Ogoni political leaders traditional rulers community institutions civil society organisations women’s groups and other youth formations to remain united and vigilant in protecting the collective interests of the people.

They recalled that the Ogoni people had endured decades of environmental devastation political marginalisation and unmet expectations arguing that the credibility of the current dialogue would ultimately depend on the implementation of agreed commitments.

According to the coalition the success of the process should not be measured by the number of meetings held the personalities involved or public statements issued but by concrete commitments fulfilled environmental damage addressed political demands advanced and improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Ogoni people.

COYOG reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful advocacy constructive engagement and democratic mobilisation while pledging to continue holding relevant institutions accountable for their commitments.

‘The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent inclusive and measurable.

‘No political interest individual or elite group is greater than the collective future of Ogoni land’ the statement said.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leads the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the race for the Kwara State governorship and all three senatorial seats ahead of the 2027 general elections according to a new opinion poll by NU Northstar Research.

The survey conducted across the state’s 16 local government areas and 193 wards projects a commanding lead for the APC governorship candidate Salihu Yakubu Danladi over his PDP counterpart Bolakale Kawu.

Among voters who have indicated a voting preference Danladi enjoys 63 per cent support against Kawu’s 34 per cent suggesting a substantial advantage for the APC candidate as the political contest gathers momentum.

The findings signed by NU Northstar’s Head of Research Mr Ebuka Iloh were based on interviews with 30000 registered voters conducted between September 2 and October 20 2026.

The poll also places APC candidates ahead of their PDP rivals in Kwara Central Kwara South and Kwara North pointing to the ruling party’s growing electoral advantage across the state.

Among the entire electorate surveyed Danladi secured 43 per cent support compared with Kawu’s 24 per cent. However 31 per cent remained undecided or declined to disclose their preferred candidate. Zakari Mohammed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) garnered one per cent while Ridwan Apaokagi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) recorded less than one per cent.

A breakdown of the governorship race showed Danladi leading in all three senatorial districts and the 16 local government areas.

His strongest performance was recorded in Kwara North where he secured 71 per cent against Kawu’s 26 per cent among decided voters. In Kwara Central the APC candidate polled 56 per cent while his PDP rival managed 41 per cent.

The contest appeared relatively tighter in Ilorin West Kawu’s home local government where Danladi led by 51 per cent to 46 per cent.

Despite the APC candidate’s statewide advantage the research identified 58 wards as too close to call while Danladi maintained clear leads in 135 wards.

The findings however suggest that the final shape of the governorship contest could depend significantly on how undecided voters eventually align.

Kwara South has the highest concentration of voters yet to decide with 43 per cent undecided. The figures stood at 28 per cent in Kwara Central and 24 per cent in Kwara North.

Significantly all six local government areas where undecided voters exceeded 40 per cent were located in Kwara South making the district a potentially decisive battleground in the election.

Young voters between 18 and 29 years also emerged as a critical electoral bloc with 37 per cent still undecided.

The senatorial contests mirrored the governorship trend with APC candidates enjoying considerable leads over their PDP opponents in the three districts.

In Kwara Central APC candidate and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led the PDP candidate and incumbent senator Saliu Mustapha by 62 per cent to 33 per cent among decided voters.

In Kwara South Olalekan Adewoye of the APC polled 60 per cent against 36 per cent for the PDP candidate Saheed Popoola.

Similarly Mahmud Umar Muhammad of the APC maintained a 65 per cent to 31 per cent advantage over Kolo Baba Jiya of the PDP in Kwara North.

The closest senatorial contests were recorded in Ilorin West where the APC candidate led 59 per cent to 36 per cent; Irepodun with a 58 per cent to 39 per cent margin; and Edu where the figures stood at 58 per cent and 38 per cent.

Kwara South again recorded the highest proportion of undecided voters in the senatorial contests with 36 per cent still undecided. The corresponding figures were 25 per cent in Kwara Central and 19 per cent in Kwara North.

Beyond individual candidates the poll suggested a strong possibility of party-line voting in the state.

About 64 per cent of respondents said they intended to vote for candidates of the same political party in both the governorship and senatorial elections. Only 15 per cent indicated that they might split their votes while 21 per cent remained uncertain.

The findings also offered insights into how voters assess the AbdulRazaq administration with 59 per cent rating the governor’s performance as good or very good. Only 17 per cent described his performance as poor or very poor.

On the issues likely to shape voting decisions bad roads emerged as the most frequently identified problem across the state cited by 25 per cent of respondents.

However voters’ priorities varied across the senatorial districts. Electricity featured prominently in Kwara Central road infrastructure dominated concerns in Kwara South while insecurity remained a major issue in Kwara North.

According to the research team the survey combined telephone interviews street-level interviews and online questionnaires to capture voting intentions perceptions of government performance and the concerns of communities across the state.

NU Northstar Research an African research and strategy consultancy specialising in opinion polling surveys data analysis and tracking public conversations said the exercise covered 30000 registered voters across the state’s 193 wards.

While the poll presents the APC as the clear frontrunner in the governorship and senatorial contests the substantial number of undecided voters particularly in Kwara South suggests that the electoral battle is far from settled.

For the opposition PDP the figures point to the need for a stronger mobilisation strategy particularly in areas where its candidates are trailing but where a sizeable pool of undecided voters could still alter the political equation.

For the APC the challenge will be to convert its projected advantage into actual votes sustain its appeal across the three senatorial districts and prevent localised grievances from eroding its support ahead of the 2027 elections.

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the South-West have dismissed reports alleging dissatisfaction with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over non-payment of transportation allowances to state chairmen.

The leaders described the publication as false mischievous and politically motivated saying it was a calculated attempt to create a crisis where none exists.

In a statement signed by the immediate past South-West Zonal Chairman of the party Hon. Eyiowuawi Razak on behalf of authentic ADC leaders across the zone the leaders said the report does not represent the collective interest of the South-West.

‘We categorically reject this attempt to use the name of the South-West to advance the personal frustrations and political interests of a handful of individuals’ the statement said.

The leaders declared that the authentic ADC leadership in the South-West remains firmly behind Atiku Abubakar commending his leadership and commitment to building a formidable movement to rescue the country.

They accused those behind the publication of losing political relevance due to anti-party activities and attempting to manufacture division to discredit the presidential project.

‘Those who could not protect the collective interest of the party when they had the opportunity should not suddenly present themselves as the defenders of its future’ they stated.

The statement stressed that the ADC is not anybody’s personal property and that the South-West is not a private political estate warning against mistaking personal bitterness for collective dissatisfaction.

The leaders urged those with genuine concerns to use established party channels rather than resorting to anonymous allegations and media blackmail against a presidential aspirant.

‘Our message is straightforward: We stand with Atiku Abubakar we support a united and formidable ADC we reject political blackmail and manufactured division’ the statement added.

They maintained that the South-West is not in revolt and is not abandoning Atiku insisting that the zone is ready for the 2027 general elections.

The leaders called on those spreading the narratives to stop hiding behind the collective identity of ADC leaders and to speak for themselves.

They said their focus remains on building a winning coalition strengthening party structuress and delivering a new political direction for Nigeria adding that 2027 is too important to be sacrificed on the altar of personal ego and self-interest.