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Political strategist and Convener of the League of Northern Democrats, Umar Ardo, has explained why he believes a merger between the presidential candidates of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, may be difficult ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ardo said Atiku was unlikely to withdraw from the presidential race, despite the possibility of retaining his support base if he decided to step aside.

He, however, said Obi had a greater willingness to withdraw from the race but could lose the backing of his supporters if he did so.

Speaking on Arise News, Ardo identified the different positions of the two politicians and the reactions of their support bases as major obstacles to any potential coalition against President Bola Tinubu.

‘My view is that Atiku does not have the propensity by himself to say, ‘I will step down.’ If he says so, he will not have a problem with his support base. But the issue is that he is highly unlikely to say that,’ he said.

‘Then Peter Obi has the propensity to say, ‘I will step down.’ But if he says so, he will not have his support base. He will not be able to carry his support base. His support base will not go with him. So, now, these are the two problems.’

Ardo said resolving the two challenges would be critical to achieving any form of merger between the two opposition camps.

‘Unless we are able to resolve these two challenges, then I don’t see the fusing together being possible,’ he said.

He noted, however, that the inability of Atiku and Obi to form a coalition would not necessarily prevent either politician from mounting a strong challenge against Tinubu.

According to him, each of the two opposition figures has the capacity to alter the political equation and potentially defeat the incumbent if they deploy effective strategies.

‘However, even if they do not fuse together, individually, anyone of them has the capacity to upturn the order, depending on how he strategises himself,’ Ardo said.

‘So, even if they don’t, they still have the capacity to win the election against the incumbent on an individual basis.’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emerging 2027 campaign council as a ‘rehabilitation centre’ for persons facing unresolved corruption questions.

Reacting on Saturday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned the inclusion of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu and former NSITF Chairman Ngozi Olejeme in the council.

The party asked the government to disclose whether outstanding corruption cases involving them had been resolved or whether the appointments amounted to a pardon for corrupt officials affiliated with the APC.

‘We have taken note of the composition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 campaign council. What should ordinarily be a political task team ends up looking like a rehabilitation system for individuals carrying unresolved questions of corruption and public accountability,’ the statement said.

The ADC cited Edu’s suspension over the attempted transfer of N585 million into a private account and Olejeme’s EFCC prosecution over allegations of financial malpractice.

‘One important question that the inclusion of these individuals provokes is what happened to the cases involving these individuals. If they have been cleared, the government should show how and when and by whom they were cleared,’ Abdullahi said.

He added that it had become a familiar pattern under the administration for investigations into financial crimes to ‘quietly disappear, only for the accused to suddenly reappear in a different official role’.

‘Under this government, corruption allegations increasingly appear to have an expiry date. Once a person becomes politically useful enough, yesterday’s questions apparently no longer require today’s answers,’ the ADC spokesman said.

The party insisted that the 2027 general election would be a referendum on Tinubu’s performance in the last three years.

‘For emphasis, the 2027 election will be a referendum on President Tinubu’s record. The President may assemble his old friends and political allies, including those carrying unresolved corruption questions, but all of their collective brooms cannot sweep away the grave pains they have brought on the Nigerian people,’ it stated.

The ADC said the administration could not ‘campaign away the cost-of-living crisis or the endemic poverty that their bad policies have created’.

‘For three years, they have told Nigerians who can barely afford food to tighten their belts, while those connected to the government continue to live in obscene opulence, feeding fat on the common wealth. The time for reckoning has come,’ the statement added.

On policy, the ADC reiterated its commitment to subsidise the production of fuel under the Atiku Economic Recovery Plan (AERP) as a way of bringing down pump prices and the general cost of living.

The party said it had observed government attacks on its proposal for a targeted, capped, budgeted and independently audited subsidy intervention.

‘What we understand the APC government to be saying is that Nigeria cannot afford to protect struggling families. They are saying that a government that has continued to engage in monumental waste of resources cannot afford to help poor Nigerians who are merely struggling to survive,’ it said.

‘Our proposal is straightforward: every naira must be traceable and every barrel accounted for. Before President Tinubu lectures Nigerians about the cost of helping them, he should account for the cost of his own government’s wrong-headed policy that has turned state governors into wastrels and federal agents into profligates.’

Even though the World Health Organisation has named some of the widely used artificial sweeteners a possible cause of cancer, some of these artificial sweeteners have been adjudged to be safe as long as they are consumed in moderation. It is for this reason that some experts do not consider artificial sweeteners as an option for sugar. According to them, the real goal is to completely wean yourself off sweet foods and drinks in general.

To keep it simple, the vision is to develop capacity for digital self-determination. This journey started in 2019 when we issued the ‘Cloud First Policy’. At the time, every ministry, department and agency (MDA) was building its own silo data centre. The operational cost was huge.

So, in 2019, we came up with a policy to discourage MDAs from building silo data centres and instead use cloud services. Cloud is cheaper, easier and you can scale quickly. With on-premise infrastructure, you have to replace everything when it reaches end-of-life.

What was the idea behind the policy?

The idea was to let government agencies stop spending money building technology infrastructure and instead patronise data centre providers – both local and international. We also had a local content policy that encouraged government agencies to keep data in-country and grow the local ecosystem.

But what happened after the Cloud First Policy was that people just moved straight to public cloud. It was easier. The problem is that we need to encourage the development of the local ecosystem.

How should this be looked at in the broader context of Nigeria and Africa’s technological development?

Look at it this way: Africa missed out on the first, second and third industrial revolutions, not because we lacked resources or human capital, but because of a lack of institutional and legal frameworks.

In the First Industrial Revolution, Africa provided human capital for labour and raw materials, but we didn’t build factories. In the Second Industrial Revolution, Africa was a big market with mineral resources, but we didn’t build industries. In the Third Industrial Revolution, we provided talent and consumed technology. We were always at the receiving end.

Now, we’re in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is data-driven. Everything is about data. The next wave of growth is digital transformation. We’ve built the communications infrastructure, but the content and services matter too.

What do the numbers tell us about Nigeria’s current dependence on public cloud infrastructure?

Today, more than 85 per cent of Nigeria’s workload is on public cloud. And more than 85 per cent of internet traffic between Africa and America is for content. Content we create locally travels all the way abroad to be consumed. Imagine localising that content and the innovation and economic activities we could create.

Was this what prompted a review of the existing policy?

Yes, we reviewed it. People were going to public cloud and getting waivers. Big tech companies would come, get a two-year waiver, and that was it.

We started asking: Where is your roadmap to localise infrastructure in Nigeria? They would say there was no data centre that met the specifications.

So, I challenged our local data centre providers: Why can’t you meet the requirements for hyperscalers to collocate with you? Some hyperscalers already have a ‘region’ or ‘zone’ in Nigeria, but they weren’t actively using it.

What was the response from the hyperscalers and local providers?

We brought hyperscalers and local providers into a room for a two-day summit. We asked the hard questions. At the end, it appeared that the issue was a lack of policy and regulatory clarity. Nobody would give a direct answer.

What did NITDA do after that?

We set up a Technical Working Group comprising both local providers and hyperscalers. The co-chairs were one local provider and one hyperscaler. The mandate was: deliver this for the nation. If we don’t do it, the next generation will ask why we failed.

We set up the committee in November 2024 after the summit. We had validation in February 2025. It took over a year.

Early this year, we had a validation workshop with all stakeholders – regulators, government institutions and others. After collecting their inputs, it took another five months to refine everything. We ended up with three documents.

What are the three documents?

The first is the Policy Framework Guideline, which deals with data classification, policy and related issues.

The second is the Technical Service Provider Guideline, which sets the minimum requirements and certifications needed to provide cloud services.

The third is the Digital Quality Assurance Guideline, which is designed to ensure that we meet sovereign requirements.

Is the Sovereign Cloud Initiative protectionist in nature?

For us, sovereign cloud is not about protectionism or shutting out big cloud providers. It is about asking them to come and build with us in Nigeria.

Our lives depend on this infrastructure – life-saving services, transactional services and other critical services. We cannot afford downtime caused by submarine cable cuts.

What, then, is the big picture?

The big picture is to build a digital triangle in Nigeria for resilience and service assurance. If one location fails, traffic can fail over to another. This will also position Nigeria as the digital gateway for West and Central Africa.

For the average Nigerian, what is in this initiative for them?

Think of it like building refineries for fuel. Before, we depended on imported petrol – long queues and capital flight.

Today, ask an average Nigerian what they spend their last cash on; most will say ‘data’. Some buy data instead of food. But that data is used to consume services that cost money, often paid for in dollars.

Imagine paying for all those platforms in naira, with no capital flight. Imagine jobs being created in Nigeria. Imagine Nigerians building content locally and providing the talent to work with content creators.

And we’re building big hyperscale data centres – the ‘data refineries’ – which will create jobs.

How does this initiative close the infrastructure gap? What are the government and NITDA providing for local data centres?

We have a strategy built around six pillars.

The first is Policy and Regulatory Instruments. This gives the legal backing for MDAs to ‘cloudify’, creates demand for local providers and sets standards and certification requirements.

The second is Funding and Investment – incentives to unlock local funds. For example, NSIA invested in Cassava to build local infrastructure. Others can do the same.

The third is Infrastructure, which is being addressed through policy.

The fourth is Skills and Talent. We’ve worked with the Ministry of Education to make digital skills mandatory. Universities are now teaching AI, cloud and cybersecurity.

The fifth is Innovation and Local Content. Look at what the CBN did with the cashless policy that helped to birth fintech. We need the same thing in other sectors. An example is the new Office of Digital Health Technology.

The sixth is Cybersecurity and Digital Trust. People must trust the technology to use it.

What will make it cheaper for a Nigerian startup to host locally rather than use AWS and other international providers?

NITDA and Galaxy Backbone are signing an MoU to make cloud services cheaper for startups and payable in naira.

It is also about market dynamics – demand and supply. Right now, the lack of competition means hyperscalers set their own prices. With local competition and capacity, prices will naturally drop. People will go where it is cheaper.

For the wider market, the Sovereign Cloud Governance Committee will recommend incentives, including possible subsidised capacity, procurement preferences and tax relief. Some of these are beyond NITDA, so we will work with other regulators.

Hosting locally has historically been more expensive. If local capacity remains expensive, are MDAs still bound by the Cloud First Policy?

Cloud First is a policy, so everyone is bound to comply.

But our goal is not to take away public cloud. It is to get hyperscalers to localise. And we are already seeing interest – some have reached out to us on how to achieve that.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to begin a fresh crackdown on commercial transport operators who flout bus terminal regulations and on businesses occupying Abuja’s green areas, FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, has warned.

Wike issued the warning on Saturday during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Apo-Karshi and Bwari-Kubwa. He said the Administration would impound vehicles of taxi drivers and other commercial operators who refuse to use designated terminals.

The Minister said the FCT would no longer tolerate disregard for city transportation laws.

‘We will start a small level of madness in us, and then they will understand that they must obey the rules. Don’t worry, they have no choice. They will obey. We will carry them, and impound their vehicles. Just watch what will happen.’

Wike also announced plans to recover green areas allegedly converted to car sales outlets and other commercial uses.

‘We have already started,’ he said.

The Minister blamed some civil servants for the unauthorised conversion, saying allocation papers had been issued for spaces originally designated as parks and public facilities.

‘What most civil servants do is terrible. Before you know it, they’ve given allocation papers to people to turn the green areas to all sorts of places,’ Wike said.

‘That’s why you see parks have now turned to where they sell vehicles.’

He clarified that the Minister does not personally approve developments in the FCT, noting that such responsibilities rest with relevant departments. He added that a task force has been set up to address unauthorised developments.

Wike warned car dealers and other operators occupying green areas to vacate voluntarily or risk losing their vehicles.

‘If you don’t leave the green area, we’ll carry your vehicles. In fact, maybe we will auction them,’ he said.

‘Any vehicle we find in the green areas, we will impound those vehicles.’

He said enforcement would begin after giving affected operators sufficient time to comply.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the 2027 election has already been concluded, saying the political realignment across the country is in support of President Bola Tinubu.

Wike stated this while addressing journalists on Friday.

The FCT minister said more political developments supporting the President would unfold in the coming days, describing the recent developments as part of a larger reorganisation.

‘And then last week, watch what is going to happen. You will see the larger reorganisation in this country supporting Mr. President. So that was what happened last night. You will see more.

‘And that’s why I said this election has been concluded. It has been concluded, so there’s nothing anybody can do,’ he said.

Wike also took a swipe at former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, over his references to his connection with Ile-Ife.

‘I don’t know where Dele Momodu would be now. Every time you see him on television, he was born in Ife. Either that he was born in Ife, thinking that that would make Adeleke to come to their side.

‘Sorry, Adeleke belongs to us, and we all belong to Mr. President,’ Wike said.

He argued that some politicians could publicly identify with the PDP while supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the development as evidence of a wider political coalition.

‘You see, somebody can tell you ‘I’m supporting PDP, I’m supporting PDP’ and then he defends APC. So it’s a larger coalition,’ he said.

Wike said the 2027 election would be an interesting contest, adding that political developments in different parts of the country would reveal those supporting the President.

‘I told you that 2027 election will be the most interesting election. I’m an… Ondo, Lagos, you will see who and who are fighting for us.

‘They helped Adeleke to win, thinking that they have no… they just wanted to grandstand and test run their political prowess. You know, so Adeleke fully supports Mr. President, and for what happened last night, I encourage our side to continue.

‘And next week, watch what is going to happen. You will see the larger reorganisation in this country supporting Mr. President. So that was what happened last night. You will see more, and that’s why I said this election has been concluded. It has been concluded, so there’s nothing anybody can do,’ he said.

Reacting to a question about the involvement of politicians such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, Wike rejected the description of any group as the leading opposition.

‘I have told you when you say leading opposition, I’ve told you there’s no opposition. What you have are people who are just trying to see whether they can be relevant.

‘Who is opposition today now? Opposition is a virtually… there’s been a political tsunami that has hit them, and so you can’t see a formidable party that you will call the leading opposition party,’ he said.

Wike said he was unconcerned about how opposition politicians perceived the political developments.

‘So I don’t care whatever… whatever they feel, that’s not my business. I don’t want them to feel well. It’s not my wish that they should feel well.

‘My business is to make them not to feel well all these days, because they’re having high blood pressures. That’s not my job to make them not to have high blood pressure. I’m not here to make them to be well, no,’ he said.

The FCT minister said political contests were about defeating opponents, rather than ensuring their comfort.

‘You see, when you are having a contest with somebody, your business is not to make him feel well. Your business is to make sure that you beat him thoroughly, so that he will be sick, or two. And that’s what we are doing to them.

‘So, how Atiku feels, how Obi feels… if Atiku knows now how this is, I will add more cases for them. Thank you very much,’ Wike said.

It is true that it is now almost three years since I was appointed by Governor Ahmed Aliyu. I was among the first set of appointees because the governor considers security a top priority.

Security is one of the key pillars of the administration’s 9-Point SMART Agenda, and that demonstrates the importance attached to protecting lives and property. When this government came into office, many sectors had deteriorated, and the security sector was particularly affected.

The previous administration had withdrawn most forms of support to security agencies, especially personnel operating in frontline areas. Operational allowances were discontinued, and there was little or no provision of vehicles, equipment, or other logistics required for effective operations.

One of the major gaps we met was the absence of a functional platform where security stakeholders could regularly meet to assess threats and develop coordinated responses.

The first major step taken by this administration was the establishment of a State Security Committee under the chairmanship of the Deputy Governor, Engr. Idris Mohammed Gobir. The committee includes security chiefs, traditional rulers, and other relevant stakeholders. It meets regularly, and its recommendations have guided many of the security interventions implemented by the government.

As a result, the government restored and increased the allowances being paid to security personnel. More importantly, it began addressing the serious shortage of operational vehicles and equipment.

Since the inception of this administration, the state has procured and distributed Toyota Hilux patrol vehicles, Toyota Buffalo vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, motorcycles, protective gear, and surveillance equipment to security agencies.

In the first phase, more than 200 Hilux and Buffalo vehicles and 250 motorcycles were provided. To mark the governor’s third anniversary in office, the administration procured 62 additional armoured vehicles, 320 motorcycles, bulletproof helmets and vests, night-vision devices, thermal imaging equipment, security kits, and other advanced operational tools at a cost of about N27.6 billion. And just last Thursday, Governor Ahmed Aliyu approved N1.7b for the purchase of 1000 Bajaj motorcycles to enhance security across the state.

These materials were distributed to security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve mobility, and enhance operations against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other violent crimes.

I believe these interventions represent one of the most significant security investments made by any state government in Nigeria in recent years.

Beyond the procurement of equipment and logistics, we have also recorded concrete operational successes since coming on board. Through coordinated operations involving the military, police, DSS, NSCDC, and local security outfits, 70 kidnapped victims were rescued from January to date, 63 victims were rescued in 2025, while 20 victims were rescued in 2024.

In addition, several rustled animals were recovered and returned to their rightful owners, while a number of bandits and other armed criminals were neutralised during security operations carried out across different parts of the state during the period under review.

These achievements were made possible through improved collaboration among security agencies, intelligence sharing, sustained government support, and the sacrifices of our security personnel who continue to operate under difficult conditions.

So, when you look at the restoration of support for security agencies, the establishment of a functional security coordination mechanism, the massive investment in vehicles and modern security equipment, the strengthening of the Community Guards Corps, the rescue of kidnapped victims, the recovery of rustled livestock, and the neutralization of criminal elements, I can confidently say that this administration has recorded significant achievements in the security sector, even though we still have challenges that require continuous effort and improvement

Despite these efforts, attacks are still being recorded in parts of Eastern and Southern Sokoto. Does this mean the investments have not produced the desired results?

Security is a complex issue; funding alone cannot solve it. Equipment and logistics are important, but success also depends on strategy, intelligence, personnel commitment, and community cooperation.

Our security agencies are making efforts, and we must acknowledge that without their sacrifices the situation could have been much worse. However, there is still a need for greater commitment, faster response, and more proactive operations.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu has repeatedly stated that he is prepared to commit all available resources if that is what it takes to restore peace. His objective is to create an environment where farmers can return to their fields, businesses can flourish, and displaced communities can return home without fear.

One area that requires urgent attention is military strategy. The current security challenge is largely an asymmetric and guerrilla-style conflict, which is different from conventional warfare. The armed forces need specialised counterinsurgency and counter-banditry training tailored to the terrain and operational realities of the North-West.

Even a relatively small number of highly trained personnel with expertise in this type of warfare can have a significant impact on terrorist and bandit networks.

Another critical factor is synergy. Security agencies must work more closely with local vigilante groups, community leaders, hunters, and residents. Community-based intelligence remains one of the most effective tools in combating rural insecurity.

We also need more personnel, better equipment, improved welfare packages, and enhanced remuneration for security operatives. In that regard, I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving an upward review of the salaries and welfare of military personnel. Improved welfare boosts morale and strengthens operational effectiveness.

A major obstacle in the fight against insecurity is the activities of informants who provide intelligence and logistical support to terrorists and bandits.

If the problem of informants is effectively addressed, the security situation in many parts of the North-West would improve considerably. This is why the Sokoto State Government is pursuing legislation that would impose stiffer penalties on individuals found collaborating with criminal groups, particularly those who aid terrorist operations through information sharing.

I believe other states facing similar threats should consider adopting similar legal frameworks.

While military operations remain necessary, governments must also address the root causes of insecurity.

We cannot rely entirely on armed confrontation. We must invest in youth employment, rural development, education, agriculture, and social infrastructure. Creating economic opportunities for young people is essential for preventing recruitment into criminal networks.

Most of the armed groups attacking Sokoto communities operate from forest corridors linked to Zamfara State. Because Sokoto shares borders with Zamfara through areas such as Rabah, Isa, Tambuwal, and Kebbe, criminals often cross into Sokoto, carry out attacks, and retreat through the forests. Sokoto shares borders with Zamfara through areas such as Rabah, Isa, Tambuwal, and Kebbe, and many of the routes they use are inaccessible to conventional vehicles. This is one of the reasons motorcycles were procured for security personnel, to enable them to pursue the criminals through difficult terrain.

The Minister of Defence while commissioning security vehicles procured by the state government recently directed soldiers to neutralize any armed terrorist they encounter without waiting for further orders, warning that failure to do so would attract severe punishment. What is your view on that directive?

I believe it is a good directive. If an armed enemy is attempting to kill you, it makes no sense to say you must wait for another order before defending yourself. That would be unreasonable.

I often feel frustrated when I hear that an attack occurred and security personnel did not respond promptly, especially when the location of the attack is not far from their base. Nigerian security personnel, particularly our soldiers, are known worldwide for their bravery, professionalism, and fighting spirit. They are not known for cowardice. I do not know what has gone wrong in some cases.

This is why I believe that recruitment into the military and other security services should be more rigorous to avoid admitting unsuitable individuals. Military service is not simply a means of making money; it is a profession for patriots who are willing to sacrifice their lives for the protection of their country and its people.

We will continue to monitor developments closely and provide the necessary advice to ensure that insecurity is addressed not only in Sokoto State but across Nigeria as a whole.

Recently, social media has been awash with videos and photographs showing residents fleeing their communities to safer locations due to renewed insecurity. The Sokoto State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has also confirmed the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into several towns across the state. What concrete measures is the Sokoto State Government taking to facilitate the safe return of these displaced persons to their communities, or where necessary, provide them with alternative resettlement options?

The issue of internally displaced persons is one that the Sokoto State Government takes very seriously because these are our citizens whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by the activities of bandits and other criminal elements. His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Aliyu, has consistently maintained that the protection and welfare of the people remain the administration’s top priority.

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Muslim women across the country to remain steadfast in faith, demonstrate resilience and uphold their responsibility to their families, communities and the nation.

She made the call while declaring open the 41st National Conference of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) held in Umuahia, Abia State.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Faith, Resilience and Responsibility: Muslim Women Responding to Challenges,’ Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the theme as timely and a call-to-action, stressing that faith gives women strength and keeps hope alive in the face of challenges.

Represented by the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady commended FOMWAN for over four decades of dedicated service to women and families across Nigeria, urging Muslim women to continue to contribute to the development of peaceful families, stronger communities and a better Nigeria, noting their important roles as mothers, wives, educators, mentors and community leaders.

She encouraged the women to lead by example through love, compassion, patience and mutual support while ensuring that sound moral, ethical and religious values are inculcated in children.

She said, ‘As women, our faith strengthens us, gives us courage and keeps hope alive, even in the face of challenges. Through faith, resilience and a strong sense of responsibility, we can continue to make meaningful contributions to our families, communities and our nation.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu also encouraged participants to use the conference as an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from one another, strengthen partnerships and develop practical responses to the challenges confronting women, families and communities.

She expressed the hope that the deliberations and resolutions of the conference would translate into meaningful actions that would advance the welfare of women and contribute to peace, unity and national development.

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, in his remarks at the event, stated that faith gives the moral compass to navigate a changing world.

‘Resilience gives us the courage to stand firm when circumstances test us but responsibility gives us purposeful direction calling us to live meaningful lives at home in our communities and in nation building.

Represented by his wife, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti, the Governor described the relationship between all religions in the state as remarkable.

‘In Abia we understand that religious diversity is not a weakness it is part of the richness of our shared humanity as such the Abia state Government remains committed to religious tolerance, inclusion and peaceful coexistence.

The National Amirah of FOMWAN, Dr Sumaye Fadimatu Hamza, in her remarks, stated that for over four decades, FOMWAN has remained a beacon of faith-inspired service advancing education, health, women empowerment, humanitarian response, peacebuilding, and community development across Nigeria.

The association’s journey, according to the Amirah, reflects the commitment of generations of Muslim women who have dedicated themselves to serving Allah through service to humanity.

The 41st FOMWAN National Conference brings together Muslim women from across the country to deliberate on issues affecting women, families and communities, while exploring practical ways of strengthening their contributions to national development.

The South-East caucus of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has set a target of mobilising at least one million voters of South-East extraction in Abuja for the party’s presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso in the 2027 general elections.

The group disclosed this on Saturday during a solidarity and courtesy visit by NDC supporters from the six area councils of the FCT to the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South-East, Chief Teddy Obey, at the party’s national secretariat.

Speaking during the visit, Chairman of the FCT South-East NDC, Dr Chidi Nwosu, said the delegation was at the secretariat to express solidarity with the party’s South-East leadership and appreciate the NDC for giving the region the opportunity to produce its presidential candidate.

Nwosu said the visit was particularly important because the group believed that political mobilisation should begin with the South-East community, especially at a time when the party had presented an aspirant from the region for the 2027 presidential election.

‘We come in solidarity to say thank you to the party for giving us a presidential candidate. Therefore, we are asked to pay the party back by making sure that we lead the rest of the people to victory,’ he said.

He disclosed that the FCT South-East caucus had begun plans to mobilise people of South-East extraction across Abuja, with a target of bringing at least one million people under the NDC platform.

‘Between now and November, we are going to sign a signature. We target signatures such as we are going to group, gather and bring together not less than one million Igbos in Abuja,’ Nwosu said.

According to him, the mobilisation drive would seek to unite South-East residents in the FCT under the NDC and build grassroots support for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

On the issue of political inclusion, Nwosu said the emergence of Obi as the party’s presidential candidate represented an opportunity for the South-East to participate more directly in the national political process.

He argued that having complained for years about marginalisation, the region should now reciprocate the opportunity by working to deliver the party’s candidate.

‘We have been talking about being marginalised, that they don’t carry us along. They give you a candidate, and you go and sleep, and other people take it. We don’t have anything to cry again,’ he said.

Also speaking, the NDC Deputy National Chairman, South-East, Chief Teddy Obey, described the visit as another opportunity for the Igbo people to work towards producing a president.

Obey urged supporters to adopt grassroots mobilisation strategies, including door-to-door engagement, rather than relying solely on large rallies.

He said the party needed to change its approach to political mobilisation and reach voters directly in their communities.

‘We need to change our old system. Without money you cannot do this. It is a person that gives you money, you vote. And I reminded them about, if they think it’s well with them, what about their children coming up?’ Obey said.

He, however, advised voters to accept whatever they were offered by politicians but to ultimately vote according to their conscience.

He said the 2027 election should be approached with a focus on the future of the country and generations yet unborn.

The Chief Technical Adviser to the NDC National Leader, Vinmartin Ilo, said the visit demonstrated the importance the South-East attached to the opportunity created by the party’s presidential ticket.

Ilo said the NDC had provided what he described as an opportunity for the South-East to pursue its longstanding aspiration of producing a Nigerian president from the region.

He said the task ahead was not only to mobilise voters within the South-East but also to convince Nigerians from other parts of the country that the NDC’s proposed presidency would serve the entire country.

‘The Igbos know that for this task to be achieved, they have to lead in front. They have to reassure other Nigerians that the Igbo man as president was going to bring the change that Nigeria needs,’ Ilo said.

He said the party’s campaign strategy would focus on reaching Nigerians across the country and communicating its manifesto, programmes and policies to voters at the grassroots.

According to him, the party must also provide evidence and statistics to support its argument that Obi is the best candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

‘The number one strategy is to justify, convince Nigerians why we think that Peter Obi is the best candidate. It’s not enough to give them a candidate; it’s also to convince them with statistics, with evidence, with facts,’ he said.

Ilo added that the NDC would pursue a ‘top-to-bottom’ campaign aimed at reaching voters in both urban and remote communities.

He said the party would continue to explain what Nigerians should expect from an NDC administration if it wins the 2027 election.

The visit brought together NDC supporters of South-East extraction from the six area councils of the FCT, who used the occasion to reaffirm their support for the party and its presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The conference of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State chapter, said persistent violent conflict is the reason the state is underdeveloped and has remained stagnated after 34 years of creation.

In a communique issued at the end of a three-day Ministers of the Gospel Conference with the theme, ‘THE ROLES OF THE CHURCH AND THE STATE IN ADVANCING GOD’S PURPOSE IN A CHANGING WORLD’ and a launch of ten billion naira for the reconstruction of a 5,000-seating capacity auditorium held in Jalingo, and signed by Rev Fr Williams P. Awoshiri, the state CAN Chairman, and Bishop (Dr) Innocent R. Solomon (JP), Chairman, Conference Working Committee, the conference lamented that rather than resolving issues as one people, consistent taking up of arms against ethics, and regular engagement in bloody violence has made Taraba backward in development.

It urged believers of Christ to return to the historic ‘Bishop’s Court approach’ in resolving conflicts among its members, rather than resorting to secular courts seeking redress, or picking up weapons to engage in bloody conflicts.

The conference urged church leaders to preach peace and peaceful co-existence, and shun denominational and ethical differences and unhealthy rivalry.

‘The reason why Taraba State is backward is because of the perennial bloody conflicts in the past. The consistent engagement in bloody conflict has made the state to remain underdeveloped.

‘Church leaders and Christians should learn conflict before it becomes a bloody violence. The Church has an extraordinary network for doing this; Church leaders should involve in peace building and managing conflicts which are of paramount importance to the development, economic survival, and collective progress of every community in the State that has been bedeviled by bloody conflicts in the past.

‘The Church should return to the historic ‘Bishop’s Court approach in resolving conflicts among its members, rather than resorting to the secular courts seeking redress, picking up weapons to engage in bloody conflicts’. The conference lamented.

The conference urged the Church to support government where it is doing good, and speak out the truth against corruption.

‘The Church should be a partner of Government in the State. Where Government is doing good, the Church should acknowledge and encourage it. Where Government needs helps, the Church should cooperate; the Church must retain the moral courage to speak truth to power.

‘The Church should confront the Government when things are going wrong and collaborate with Government when things are right. The Church should speak against corruption, injustice, and abuse of power.

Nevertheless, the Government must regard the Church as a development partner in carrying out its people-oriented policies in the State.

‘There is a serious need for Synergy between the Government, CAN and the traditional institutions: The Government needs to always consult and carry along the Traditional rulers while formulating policies affecting the citizens. The Traditional rulers are the custodians of the cultures of the people at the grassroots; Consulting and carrying the Traditional rulers along can bring the government policies into fruition. Also, Christian traditional rulers should collaborate with the leadership of CAN to promote Christian values in their domains.

‘On the Christian unity in the State: Conference resolved that strengthening Christian unity in the State has become imperative. The Ministers of the Gospel must practise what they preach by settling the differences within the various churches and denominations. Denominational differences should no longer be allowed to cause disunity and division among Christian leaders and Christians in the State. Our denominational differences must never become greater than the bond we share in Christ. The Church must become a place where people learn that differences do not have to become division.

‘Conference also resolved to develop channels through which Church leaders, traditional rulers, and Christians politicians can continue to engage regularly not only during elections or periods of crisis, but throughout the life of government and society, especially on policies and programmes affecting Christians in the State.

‘Conference resolved that Political offices should never be viewed simply as a reward or an opportunity for personal advancement. Rather, it should be understood as a responsibility entrusted for stewardship.

‘That the Church should provide moral and ethical leadership without being becoming an instrument of partisan politics. The Church must not merely produce Christians who vote, but it must also produce Christians who can govern, who understand the dynamics of politics, who understand economics, who understand security, who understand law, who understand public administration, who understand Agriculture, who understand Technology, education, and diplomacy. Therefore, the Church must not only prepare people for Heaven, but also for responsible citizenship on earth.

‘The Church and the State have different constitutional responsibilities, but both can contribute to the common good of the citizens. Therefore, the relationship between the Church and the State should be based on constitutional independence, mutual respect and constructive cooperation. The Church should complement government programmes in education, healthcare, poverty reduction, and peacebuilding’. The communique read.