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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a man allegedly impersonating a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) after intercepting his Lexus LX570 SUV which had a concealed number plate marked ‘PRESIDENCY’.

Police operatives intercepted the vehicle at about 8pm on October 20 in Maitama District Abuja and arrested the occupant for investigation.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the number plate bore the inscription ‘PRESIDENCY’ and registration number 10B218 FG.

Police said further checks following the suspect’s claim that he was the legitimate holder of the plate showed the accompanying registration documents were forged.

The suspect was also alleged to have impersonated a Permanent Secretary attached to the OSGF raising concerns about the alleged misuse of government identity and official privileges.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command SP Josephine Adeh disclosed these details in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.

Adeh said investigations were ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court upon their conclusion.

The incident highlights the need to remain vigilant against the alleged use of forged official documents and unauthorised government identification to evade security checks or gain undue privileges.

The command urged residents to remain law-abiding and to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious persons and activities to the nearest police station.

Residents were also advised to contact the command through its emergency lines: 08032003913 and 08061581938.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate for Ogun Central Iyabo Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to assess candidates based on their track records and commitment to public service rather than party affiliations.

Obasanjo who was a Senator between 2007 and 2011 said what should be uppermost in the minds of voters at polling booths should be who amongst those on the ballot has the capacity to improve their lives.

She explained during a television programme yesterday that her return to active politics after a 14-to-15-year break was due to an appeal by some Ogun Central residents.

According to her the individuals were not members of her family but people who independently believed she could make further contributions to society through political representation.

She maintained that her return to politics was not about abandoning her previous approach for a new political identity but continuing what she described as a longstanding commitment to improving people’s lives.

The former National Assembly member who declined to name her choice presidential candidate for the January 16 poll said taking a position on that could create confusion among voters assessing her senatorial ambition.

She said her candidacy should be assessed on its own merits including her previous record in public office and her commitment to addressing the needs of her constituents.

On her plans if elected the candidate said her approach to public service remained anchored in the same values that had guided her previous political engagements and academic career.

She said that her longstanding priority had been to help people improve their circumstances achieve their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.

According to her this commitment informed both her work in public office and her activities in academia.

Obasanjo cited her previous interventions in the health sector including the management of grants and hospital renovation projects as examples of efforts aimed at delivering practical benefits to communities.

Obasanjo also explained the political developments that preceded her return to the PDP recalling that she joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) when she sought the governorship ticket in the state.

Obasanjo said she was the only candidate who immediately congratulated the winner of the party’s consensus process.

He maintained that her movement between political parties had not altered her underlying commitment to public service.

The Nigerian Navy has urged maritime stakeholders in Lagos to strengthen intelligence sharing and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies to curb crime within the nation’s maritime domain.

The Commander Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu made the call on Wednesday at a maritime stakeholders’ meeting at the NNS BEECROFT Officers’ Mess.

Adams-Aliu said effective maritime security required closer cooperation among the Navy other security agencies maritime operators and host communities.

He said stakeholders should establish reliable reporting channels through designated security focal persons agreed communication channels standardised incident reports and timely feedback to organisations that report security incidents.

According to him the maritime security situation within Lagos waters and environs was currently calm but required constant monitoring to prevent criminal activities.

He identified smuggling and attempts by illegal migrants to stow away on commercial vessels as prominent infractions recorded in the area.

The commander said NNS BEECROFT had confiscated 23 bags of illegal drugs since February and handed them over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He said the seizures included 480 kilograms of cannabis sativa recovered at Abule Osun Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area in February; 192 kilograms recovered at Ikare Island in April; and 756 kilograms recovered from a wooden boat at Alfa Beach in July.

Adams-Aliu also said the base had rescued 25 stowaways during the period and handed them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

He said the Navy had also conducted joint operations with the Nigeria Police Force Department of State Services Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NDLEA and other agencies to tackle drug trafficking and other illegal activities.

The commander noted that two suspected drug peddlers were arrested at Gidan Drama in February while nine others were arrested around Agbo Malu in Apapa in September.

He added that the meeting was organised to improve synergy among institutions operating in the maritime space and to ensure legitimate commercial activities could thrive while criminal activities were discouraged.

Adams-Aliu said ‘We just need to get more reports more information more intelligence sharing. Share with the police share with NIMASA also share with the Nigerian Navy through NNS BEECROFT. We can all respond. Once we are all working together it is only Nigeria that will benefit.’

The chairman Apapa Local Government Idowu Senbajo said the council would continue to work with NNS BEECROFT and other security agencies to improve security in the port city.

Senbajo said Apapa’s status as a port city made it particularly important for security agencies to closely monitor activities and movements in the area.

She added that the council had maintained a cordial relationship with NNS BEECROFT and other security agencies adding that stronger collaboration would help address security challenges in the area.

She also commended security agencies for protecting residents particularly children from criminal activities.

The chairman said the council would continue to support security agencies in maintaining a safe environment for residents and businesses.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested suspects over an alleged plot targeting ad hoc personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to be deployed for the 2027 general election.

INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) stated this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu.

He said intelligence provided by the DSS helped uncover those behind the plot.

However details of the arrests the identities of the suspects the nature of the alleged plot and the reasons for targeting the election personnel were not disclosed.

Amupitan said the suspects would be prosecuted adding that the commission was taking steps to address security challenges before during and after the elections.

He announced plans to organise a security conference to discuss issues relating to election security.

The INEC chairman also said the commission was strengthening its result management systems including the newly introduced eEC8A electronic verification platform.

He said the initiative would make the movement of results from polling units to the national collation centre visible and verifiable in real time through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Amupitan directed officials to review Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) records in the Southeast and remove obstacles to the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

He said no eligible voter should be disenfranchised by administrative or logistical challenges.

The INEC chairman said the commission introduced an online registration portal during the third phase to overcome barriers of distance and time.

The commission has also activated printable PVC technology under Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 to reduce delays in obtaining voter cards.

Amupitan said the 2027 elections would involve more than 103 million registered voters across 176846 polling units in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16 while governorship and state assembly elections will be held on February 6.

He commended INEC staff for their performance during recent off-cycle governorship elections in Osun Anambra and Ekiti states as well as the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and 16 federal and state bye-elections.

He identified public distrust voter apathy and the spread of misinformation and disinformation as major challenges facing the commission.

He warned that fake news unverified rumours and deepfake videos could undermine public confidence stressing that staff conduct and competence were critical to countering false narratives.

A former INEC National Commissioner Mike Igini said political interference in the recruitment of election personnel could undermine the credibility of the 2027 polls.

Speaking on ARISE News Igini alleged that politicians were infiltrating agencies responsible for supplying election staff potentially exposing INEC to liabilities arising from the actions of other institutions.

‘What happened is that politicians infiltrate those agencies. They infiltrate those agencies and create liability for the INEC itself as an institution.

‘The laws are no longer enforced. That is my greatest worry about this election

Igini stressed the importance of ensuring the integrity of ad hoc personnel particularly presiding officers who oversee voting and the recording of results at polling units.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that the territory is set for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election .

Wike stated this during an interactive session with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders and stakeholders in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) yesterday.

The meeting was also attended by traditional rulers women and youth groups who pledged to work together to mobilise support for Tinubu and other candidates of the APC ahead of the general election next year.

Hailing the attendees Wike said political differences should not prevent stakeholders from pursuing the collective interests and development of the FCT.

The minister who coordinates the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the FCT and Rivers State attributed the territory’s ongoing transformation to Tinubu’s leadership.

Wike cited the Apo-Karshi Road which he said was stalled for 16 years as one of the projects receiving attention under the current administration.

He also highlighted the appointment of career civil servants as permanent secretaries and heads of service as well as the establishment of the Women Affairs and Youth Development Secretariats to address the needs of the two groups.

Defending the removal of fuel subsidy the minister described the decision as a difficult but necessary measure that previous administrations lacked the political will to implement.

‘Every president said it was a scam but nobody had the courage to say it would go. That is the pain we will endure till we get it right’ Wike said.

He stated that increased statutory allocations to state and local governments have reduced their dependence on bank loans and created opportunities for accelerated infrastructure development at the grassroots.

The minister who urged residents particularly youths to support the Tinubu administration advised voters to prioritise leadership with demonstrable achievements.

His words: ‘The comprehensive campaign council will be inaugurated next week. Rest assured that all logistical backing required for a landslide victory has been fully secured.

‘On election day come out with your PVCs cast your votes and ensure total victory for Tinubu and our progressive candidates.’

FCT APC Chairman Ishaku Yamawo commended Wike for what he described as improvements in the territory’s infrastructure and political climate.

Yamawo said the alliance between APC and PDP leaders marked a departure from the hostility that had characterised previous political engagements.

He said: ‘Before now when elections were approaching some of us didn’t talk to our own brothers because they were in the other party.

‘Today we are sitting under the same roof for APC and PDP because somebody has changed the narrative of politics. A political party is not a barrier to partnering with your brother for victory and progress.’

The APC chairman also praised Tinubu for addressing the concerns of FCT indigenes including the appointment of an indigene as a minister and infrastructure projects in communities such as Gishiri and Guzape.

Also FCT PDP Chairman Mohammed Dogara said partisan hostility among political stakeholders in the territory has given way to cooperation.

‘It used to be cats and rats not seeing themselves in the day or night. But today cats and rats can eat on the same plate’ Dogara said.

He stated that there was no reason for FCT indigenes and non-indigenes to reject Tinubu given his focus on development.

The PDP chairman assured that the party’s structure would mobilise at the grassroots in support of the President. He urged traditional rulers and community leaders to encourage their people to support the development agenda.

District Head of Jikoyi Nicodemus Marchi hailed Wike for addressing security concerns and reviving abandoned road projects in the FCT.

Marchi also praised the FCT administration for upgrading traditional rulers’ positions including the elevation of some second-class chiefs to first-class status after 29 years of neglect.

The Chairman of the FCT Gbagyi Youth Forum AMAC Chapter Musa Jeji said youths across the council’s wards were prepared to mobilise support for Tinubu.

He said that organised youth associations were aligned with the campaign expressing confidence in their ability to deliver votes for the President.

Also a former FCT APC Women Leader Hilmary Aipoh commended Wike for establishing the Women Affairs Secretariat and improving rural access roads which she said would benefit farmers.

Describing AMAC’s 4400 polling units as critical to the FCT’s electoral outcome Aipoh urged the minister to ensure greater representation of women in the campaign structure.

The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has condemned Governor Seyi Makinde’s decision to proceed with securing a fresh N100 billion loan despite earlier warnings against reckless borrowing in the twilight of his administration describing the development as an alarming demonstration of fiscal irresponsibility and political desperation.

SSACO in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele said the speed with which the approval was granted by the state House of Assembly was indicative of a deliberate attempt to bankrupt the state for the incoming administration and mortgage the future of the state.

‘There is no doubt that the proposed borrowing was not driven by any genuine developmental consideration but by a desperate political agenda to finance the 2027 elections and sustain Governor Makinde’s increasingly uncertain political ambition.

‘The governor’s determination to plunge Oyo State further into debt even as his administration approaches its terminal date raises serious questions about his intentions and the financial burden he is preparing to leave behind for the incoming government’ the statement said.

According to SSACO Governor Makinde has become increasingly conscious of the political reality that his presidential ambition if pursued stands little chance of electoral success while his preferred successor equally faces the prospect of overwhelming rejection by the people of the state.

‘Governor Makinde knows that his presidential ambition is a political misadventure waiting to happen. He also knows that the political stooge he is desperately trying to impose on the people of Oyo State cannot win the governorship election.

‘Rather than accept these realities and concentrate on finishing his tenure responsibly he appears determined to mortgage the future of our state to finance an electoral project that is destined to fail.

‘We are convinced that this N100 billion loan is not about building roads improving hospitals strengthening education or creating jobs. We suspect that it is about financing elections sustaining a collapsing political structure and prosecuting the governor’s desperate succession agenda at the expense of generations of Oyo State citizens.

‘The SSACO is more than convinced that the governor’s latest borrowing initiative reflects growing desperation within an administration increasingly confronted by political uncertainty declining public confidence and the steady erosion of its support base.

‘The economic justification for obtaining another N100 billion loan at a time when the state is already grappling with substantial debt obligations and when the administration has barely seven months left in office is questionable’ the statement added.

It criticised Oyo State House of Assembly for offering itself as a willing tool to endorse the governor’s borrowing requests without demonstrating sufficient independence or subjecting the proposals to rigorous public scrutiny.

‘The House of Assembly must understand that its constitutional responsibility is to protect the interests of the people not merely to provide legislative cover for the financial excesses of the executive. Approval by the legislature does not automatically confer economic wisdom transparency or public interest on a borrowing decision’ the campaign organisation said.

The SSACO warned that the APC would resist any attempt to convert public borrowing into a financial war chest for partisan political activities stressing that the resources and creditworthiness of the state must never be treated as the personal property of any governor or political party.

‘Governor Makinde may have seven months left in office but he does not have the moral licence to commit future generations to unsustainable financial obligations merely to advance his political interests. His tenure will end but the debts he accumulates could remain with our people for decades’ the statement further said.

The campaign organisation insisted that no amount of borrowed money could reverse the political momentum building against Makinde and his Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State or compel the electorate to accept a successor imposed by the outgoing governor.

‘He cannot borrow his way into the presidency neither can he borrow his preferred candidate into the Government House in Agodi. The people of Oyo State will determine their next governor through their votes not through the financial desperation of an outgoing administration.

‘We are putting the governor the House of Assembly and every prospective lender on notice: the next administration will have both the responsibility and the right to subject questionable financial commitments to lawful and comprehensive scrutiny. Legislative approval will not shield anyone from accountability where wrongdoing is established.

‘Oyo State is bigger than Governor Makinde bigger than his political ambitions and certainly bigger than his preferred successor. He must stop this reckless borrowing spree abandon any attempt to mortgage the future of our people and prepare to hand over a financially viable state in May 2027.

‘The people of Oyo State will not forgive any deliberate attempt to sacrifice their future on the altar of political desperation’ the statement concluded.

The Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to continuous training for civil servants to improve public service delivery enhance productivity and contribute to Nigeria’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

Commissioner for Establishments and Training Mr Afolabi Ayantayo said the state government was strengthening its training to equip public servants with the skills knowledge and professional competence required to support growth and improve the ease of doing business.

Ayantayo spoke during the presentation of the completion report of an executive training on leadership artificial intelligence governance and economic transformation to the ministry in Alausa Ikeja.

He explained that the ministry worked with the Civil Service Commission and Office of the Head of Service to identify gaps across ministries departments and agencies (MDAs) and develop appropriate training for them.

According to him the state adopts a systematic approach to staff development beginning with the identification of training needs and extending to performance assessments to determine whether participants have applied the knowledge and skills acquired.

‘We do not operate in isolation. We work with the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Head of Service particularly on matters relating to training career development and progression’ he said.

Ayantayo explained that the ministry’s Department of Training identifies capacity gaps across the state’s more than 100 MDAs before arranging programmes often in phases to accommodate the diverse professional and administrative needs of the public service.

He added that consultants were engaged to deliver specialised training while mechanisms were established to evaluate participants’ performance after the programmes.

‘We assess performance after training to ensure that the knowledge acquired translates into improved service delivery. Participants are also expected to transfer the knowledge and skills gained to their subordinates and colleagues.

‘This creates a multiplier effect allowing the benefits of the training to extend beyond those who participate in the programmes’ the commissioner said.

On the need for more regular training Ayantayo said the government urged civil servants to participate in professional development programmes throughout the year depending on identified needs and the requirements of their respective offices.

He cited professional groups such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) members who attend yearly conferences and other programmes as how continuous learning could help public servants remain up to date in their fields and improve their contributions to government operations.

According to him the objective is to ensure that training is not treated as a one-off exercise but as an ongoing investment in the competence and effectiveness of the state’s workforce.

He said the government would continue to identify areas requiring better expertise and organise interventions to strengthen performance across the public service.

Linking the initiative to Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy ambition Ayantayo said Lagos as a major centre of economic activity had a critical role to play in helping the country achieve the target.

He noted that the state’s training programmes were increasingly focused on improving the ease of doing business enabling civil servants to respond more effectively to investors businesses and emerging economic opportunities.

‘Lagos State is a significant contributor to the country’s economic activities. We therefore focus on the ease of doing business as a major component of our training programmes ensuring that public servants understand how to facilitate investment opportunities in the state and support business growth’ he said.

Ayantayo added that the government was aligning workforce development with its economic objectives to ensure that civil servants possessed the professional competence required to facilitate investment improve public administration and enhance productivity.

He expressed optimism that these efforts would strengthen the contribution of the state public service to Nigeria’s economic ambitions.

According to him several ministries including the Ministry of Commerce and Industry were working towards the same vision with government institutions expected to play complementary roles in advancing economic growth.

Consultant proposes 90-day impact assessment

Earlier the Chief Executive Officer/Senior Partner J. Soji-George Consultants (Nig.) Limited Prof Olusoji George presented the report of the four-day leadership and artificial intelligence training organised for senior state’s civil servants.

George expressed appreciation to the commissioner and the ministry’s leadership for the opportunity to contribute to human capital development within the state’s public service.

He said the programme went beyond classroom instruction providing an opportunity to strengthen the leadership technological and managerial capabilities required to improve governance and institutional performance.

According to him Lagos’s position as a major economic and innovation hub makes it imperative for its civil service to remain forward-looking adaptable and technologically competent.

He said the increasing complexity of citizens’ needs required public institutions to embrace modern leadership approaches technological innovation and improved management practices.

George explained that the consultancy was particularly interested in assessing the practical impact of the training on participants’ professional responsibilities and leadership practices.

To achieve this he proposed a 90-day challenge designed to evaluate how participants had applied the lessons from the programme in their offices.

‘Within 90 days we want to determine what participants have done differently in their leadership and professional responsibilities since completing the training including how they have applied leadership principles and management approaches in their interactions with colleagues and teams’ he said.

He added that the consultancy would welcome the opportunity to return after the assessment period to identify challenges encountered by participants and determine whether additional institutional support would be necessary to sustain the improvements.

George said the exercise would focus on practical evidence of change and measurable improvements in workplace performance rather than merely confirming the completion of a training programme.

He reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to supporting the state’s institutional development and expressed appreciation for the cooperation and professionalism demonstrated by the ministry’s leadership and coordinating teams throughout the planning and delivery of the programme.

The report was presented to the commissioner.

Deacon Chris Iyovwaye the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Delta State for the 2027 election said he seeks to become governor to bridge the gap between the state’s vast natural resources and the living conditions of its residents.

Iyovwaye said Delta State despite its oil and gas wealth fertile agricultural land and industrious population still faces challenges in infrastructure employment healthcare education and access to basic amenities.

In a statement outlining his reasons for entering the governorship race he said the state could become an economic powerhouse in West Africa but had yet to translate its resource wealth into widespread prosperity for its people.

He cited challenges facing residents in urban centres such as Warri Effurun Asaba Sapele and Agbor as well as riverine communities in Burutu Bomadi Escravos and Patani.

According to him many communities still struggle with unreliable electricity inadequate potable water poor roads and limited access to quality healthcare and education.

‘We inherited a wealthy state but our people were handed the burden of hardship’ he said.

The NDC candidate argued that the central issue was not the amount of revenue accruing to the state but how effectively public funds were managed and converted into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.

He referenced the National Bureau of Statistics’ 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index which put the proportion of Delta residents living in multidimensional poverty at 47.6 per cent representing about 2.73 million people.

Iyovwaye further cited the BudgIT report’s estimate that approximately ?190.2 billion representing 26.4 per cent of the state’s reported total expenditure in 2024 went into capital expenditure.

He said the figures raised questions about the effectiveness of public investments development priorities and accountability mechanisms.

‘The question is no longer how much money Delta State receives but how effectively it manages these resources and translates them into improvements in people’s lives’ he said.

Iyovwaye said his private-sector experience influenced his decision to contest the governorship election describing himself as an entrepreneur rather than a career politician.

As chairman of the Wellmann Group which he described as a leading player in Africa’s oil and gas value chain he said he had gained experience in enterprise development industrial operations and project execution.

He argued that the discipline required to run a successful business could help improve public administration in Delta State if applied alongside transparency justice and accountability.

‘In the world of enterprise-especially in our energy and maritime services sector-you learn a fundamental truth: resources are useless without the discipline vision and execution to deploy them efficiently’ he said.

He added that the state needed a stronger link between the wealth generated by its natural resources and its citizens’ quality of life.

The governorship candidate identified youth unemployment inadequate agricultural infrastructure and poor services in coastal communities as key challenges that require urgent attention.

He said young people in Warri Asaba Effurun and Ughelli needed more opportunities to secure meaningful employment within the state rather than leave in search of better prospects.

He also called for improved storage and processing facilities as well as better farm-to-market roads to support farmers in Aniocha Oshimili Ndokwa and Isoko.

For coastal and riverine communities he said the government should prioritise access to healthcare clean drinking water and environmental and shore-protection infrastructure particularly given their contribution to the state’s oil and gas production.

Iyovwaye maintained that the government should be judged by measurable improvements in people’s lives rather than the number of contracts awarded or budgets announced.

He said residents should experience the impact of government policies in their businesses markets and access to jobs and public services.

Outlining his proposed development approach Iyovwaye described ‘Reset Delta’ as a plan to change how the state manages its resources and directs public spending.

He said the initiative would prioritise citizens’ welfare in government budgets and policies protect public funds through accountability and create a business-friendly environment that attracts private investment.

He also called for conditions that would encourage oil and gas servicing companies to return to Warri strengthen agribusiness expand trade along the state’s waterways and attract investment into technology and the creative industries.

He said improved security for lives and property would be essential to achieving the proposed economic transformation.

Iyovwaye said he decided to contest because he believes Delta’s natural resources and human capital should translate into better living conditions for its residents.

‘I am not running because Delta is poor; I am running because a state so rich in oil gas fertile land and human talent has no business letting its citizens suffer’ he said.

He added that his ambition was not merely to occupy the office of governor but to apply his experience to public service and ensure that the state’s wealth delivered greater prosperity security and dignity.

The NDC candidate urged residents to support his proposed agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election saying the state needed a new approach to economic development and public accountability.

The Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD) a socio-political and pro-democracy organisation of Igbo people in Nigeria and the diaspora yesterday asked the Igbo across the country to throw their weight behind Nigeria Democratic Congress(NDC) Presidential candidate Peter Obi in the January 16 poll.

yesterday that they were endorsing former Anambra State governor Peter Obi as its preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 presidential election while asking all Igbos across the country to throw their weight behind him.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday IAD Leader and founding National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) an Chief Chekwas Okorie said at a news conference in Abuja yesterday that every Igbo has a responsibility to join hands with well-meaning Nigerians to usher in ”a compassionate prudent and incorruptible leader like Peter Obi” as Nigeria’s next President.

The Igbo according to him constitute about 25 per cent of the voting population in 31 states of the country and 99 per cent of voters in the five Southeast states.

He recalled that the Igbo nation represented by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme(late) was betrayed when he was denied the Presidency in 1999 after the Southeast had massively voted for the PDP.

Okorie said: ‘In the present build-up to the 2027 presidential election we painstakingly appraised all the frontline presidential candidates presented by the various political parties for the election.

‘We considered their track records in the previous political leadership positions they held their empathy and passion for the people of Nigeria and their physical fitness to rise to the onerous challenges of presiding over the country as large and heterogeneous as Nigeria.

‘We also considered their probity and prudence in the management of public resources and with the outcome of this appraisal exercise we consulted widely and extensively with all the extant groups earlier mentioned above; we came to the unanimous resolution that it will be in the best interest of Nigeria to elect Mr Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as the President of Nigeria come January 16 2027.

‘We are encouraged by the fact that Mr Peter Obi has earned the popular support of the majority of Nigerians across all ethnic and religious divides in the country. He is also easily the most visible Nigerian presidential candidate for the 2027 election known globally.

‘We are further motivated to endorse Mr Peter Obi for the office of President of Nigeria because right from the inception of Nigeria’s presidential system of government Nigerians have been compelled by certain circumstances to be limited to mostly gerontocrats in their choice of President till now.

‘For the first time in a long time Nigerians have a singular opportunity to massively participate in the recruitment of the president of their choice despite various acts of intimidation and threats being bandied around by those who are in self-inflicted panic about the obvious defeat that awaits them in free fair credible transparent and inclusive elections.

‘We seize this opportunity to urge eligible Igbo persons in Nigeria to come out in their millions to complement other Nigerians who have already demonstrated their willingness to allow Mr Peter Obi to provide the much-needed leadership which Nigerians very much desire at this present time.

‘Despite the reluctance of previous Nigerian governments to conduct a credible national census we can state without equivocation that Igbo people constitute a minimum of 25% of the voting population in each of the 31 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or the second largest population to the indigenous population of these states while constituting over 99% of the voting population in the five states in the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria.

‘We have a responsibility to join hands with all well-meaning Nigerians to usher in a compassionate prudent incorruptible leader in the person of Mr Peter Obi as the next President of Nigeria in 2027 with the able support of his compatriot who is similarly compassionate and people-oriented Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso the former Governor of Kano State who is his running mate in the presidential race.

‘On a final note we advise other Igbo politicians who are in other political parties who also have the right to campaign for the presidential candidates of their choice to limit their campaigns to issues while canvassing for votes for their preferred candidates.

‘Igbo people are peace-loving citizens of Nigeria; we have shown earlier in this address the support and collaboration our people and their leaders gave to candidates from other parts of the country and ethnic groups to win elections and form governments in the past.’

Babcock University Ogun State has organised an orientation programme for 280 newly admitted students of the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) urging them to embrace discipline purposeful learning and adherence to institutional rules for academic success.

The programme held at the Wilfred Riley Auditorium was organised by the university’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE) to familiarise the students with the institution’s academic culture spiritual life and guiding principles.

The orientation featured devotional sessions and interactive discussions on academic policies admission requirements Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) matters study skills and library services.

The Director of OIE and convener of the programme Prof. Ngozi Nwogwugwu told the students that their admission into the university was an opportunity to fulfil their potential.

‘We are happy that you are here. It is not by accident that you are in Babcock and God has a wonderful plan for you here’ Nwogwugwu said.

He said officials from Academic Planning Student Affairs the Library Security and the Registry would continue to engage with the students to ease their transition into the university and prepare them for academic excellence.

The Director of Foundation Studies and Coordinator of the JUPEB programme Dr. Gideon Olanrewaju also urged the students to remain focused and take full advantage of the orientation.

He said the university was committed to their welfare and success adding that purposeful living and active participation in the institution’s academic and spiritual programmes would help them achieve their goals.

‘Your coming to Babcock is not by accident but divinely arranged by God; hence you must stay plugged in. If you are purposeful it will guide you to success’ Olanrewaju said.

He stressed the importance of discipline and compliance with the university’s regulations warning that students who disregarded the rules could undermine their academic aspirations.

‘If you play by the rules it will end in excellence. If you ignore them you will not achieve your set goals. The choice is yours. Whatever you get at the end is the product of your choice’ he said.

The orientation forms part of the university’s efforts to prepare JUPEB students for the demands of university education by providing them with the academic guidance institutional knowledge and personal values needed to navigate their studies successfully.

The programme also reinforced Babcock University’s commitment to developing students academically spiritually and socially while preparing them for future opportunities and global competitiveness.