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Plateau NDC guber ticket: Middle Belt stakeholders reject fresh primary, seek Dickson’s intervention

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Concerned Middle Belt stakeholders have urged the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to resist pressure from some quarters to conduct a fresh primary election for the party’s governorship ticket in Plateau state

The stakeholders, under the aegis of Middle Belt Young Political Stakeholders (MBYPS), therefore, urged the national leader of the NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, to intervene in what they described as a move to displace the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Da Jonathan Sunday Akuns through a dubious repeat primary election.

Leaders of the stakeholders , Gaius Shekwolo’ (president)and Abdulahi Illiya (Secretary ), who made the call during a press conference in Abuja at the weekend, said time has come for Dickson to look into the shenanigans of some political jobbers in Plateau State.

The group urged Dickson to ensure that the planned substitution or rerun governorship primary scheduled for Tuesday September 15, 2027 is unwarranted for Da Akuns who remains the original sole aspirant; the plan is simply a part of the broader effort to displace the sole candidate that emerged unopposed at the initial primary on 29th May 2026.

While arguing that the time for the sale of forms had already elapsed, MBYPS noted that if the exercise throws up a different governorship candidate it would go a long way to confirm the fears in many quarters that the party has been compromised in Plateau State.

 “We heard that an influential political leader in the state doled out large sums of money to some NDC leaders to set the ground work for possible disqualification of the party for the February 2027 governorship election in the state. 

 “With the experience of PDP that suffered a judicial loss of its election victory of the the 2023 national election during which the party won the National Assembly and State House of Assembly seats, it was expected that political leaders in Plateau State should avoid actions capable of repeating that costly mistake.

 “Plateau State should not be a Guinea pig for political merchandising that robs voters the power to elect their leaders. NDC should fish out those building the foundation for another judicial intervention in the electoral process due to breach of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) guidelines,” the group stated. 

   According to MBYPS, the recourse to placeholder by NDC after its direct governorship primary had produced an unopposed winner does not reflect the party’s promise of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing somebody.

    The group stated: “You cannot rescue Nigeria or effectively fight corruption by encouraging electoral manipulation and politics of imposition. Why did NDC sell the expression of interest and nomination form to a candidate in the first place? What is happening in Plateau State NDC has a deeper context than intra-party contestation for influence.    

    The group noted that it was regretful that at a time when they are making efforts to unite the Middle Belt into a common region to solve its socio-political and economic challenges, some overzealous politicians were trying to sustain bad political example.

    Going down memory lane, the Middle Belt Political Stakeholders said the region was determined to right the wrongs of the area which culminated in poor political choices and divisions that characterized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era.

    “It is painful that the leadership which the Middle Belt provided during the PDP era was allowed to go to waste. Now, we have seen a possible recourse to the same wrong steps in the choice to manipulate the replacement of a sole governorship candidate of Nigeria

Democratic Congress (NDC) in Plateau State.

   “We are at a great loss on how a party that sold expression of interest and nomination forms for the governorship primary should orchaestrate a purported suspension of the candidate that emerged unopposed. What examples does the NDC want to set in Plateau State?

   “The MBPS is grossly pained by the dangerous narrative in Plateau because the state represents the arrowhead of Middle Belt political renaissance. We have it on good authority that Governor Caleb Muftwang is now regretting his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “It is therefore mindboggling that some elements in NDC are determined to deny the party of a strong contender just because they want ensure that Governor Muftwang does not have strong contenders in the opposition parties. We have therefore decided to draw the attention of the NDC leader to this surreptitious plot to destabilise the Middle Belt by weakening the democratic compass of Plateau State.”

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Senator Emma Nwachukwu unveils scorecard, says not final destination but firm foundation of longer journey

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By Ijeoma Nwajiobi, Nnewi

Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu of Anambra South Senatorial District has presented his one year achievements in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nwachukwu during a press briefing on Thursday, October 8, 2026 in his country home, Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State said the zone recorded enormous milestones in his one-year stay in office.

Onodugo, who took the oath of office following the by-election of August 2025 to fill the vacant seat of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah said he doubled his efforts because he understood that representation is not about occupying a seat or enjoying the privileges of office but carrying collective voices , hopes , tears, and aspirations of the people of Anambra South to where national decisions are made.

“My journey into the chamber was accompanied by immediate legal challenges surrounding the mandate. Yet, I remained resolute”the lawmaker explained.

Sen. Nwachukwu listed his key pillars of accomplishment which included Institutional Continuity and Stability where he retained the administrative secretary of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to ensure the constituents services continued without interruption.

Other key pillars, Power and Industrial Sector Support, he noted he engaged the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Federal Power Authorities to tackle Right – of – Way bottlenecks in Nnobi and accelerate completion of the crucial Nnewi injection substation.

On National Electoral Integrity and Reform, Nwachukwu said as a member of the Sanate committee on electoral matters, he was among the Senators who voted against manual fallbacks in favour of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Infrastructural advocacy, he said he sponsored a major Senate motion calling national attention to the collapsed bridge and failed sections along the critical Okija Spur – Ihembosi – Ukpor – Ebenator – Ezinifite Road corridor.

“I successfully secure Senate resolution directing the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to execute immediate engineering intervention” he added.

He further noted that he has been working closely with NEMA and the Nigeria Red Cross to ensure that his people never feel abandoned in times of emergency.

“I secured and distributed substantial relief materials to victims of devastating fire outbreak, including affected families in Ozubulu, brought attention of NEMA to the victims of building collapse in Oko, Orumba North LGA,” Onodugo further revealed.

Furthermore, Nwachukwu disclosed he engaged the Ecological Fund Office and the Federal Ministry of Environment to bring targeted federal remediation to their most vulnerable sites.

The lawmaker said he has established strong collaborative working relationship between members of the National Assembly caucus and the Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR to ensure alignment between state transformation goals and federal interventions.

He further revealed that a lot of qualified youths from Anambra South have been empowered with skills and have secured jobs across various ministries, departments and agencies.

Currently, Onodugo said he would undertake the first phase of installation of over 3,000 solar-poweted streetlights across the zone.

Beyond Abuja, he said he has maintained continuous town-hall meetings and consultation sessions with traditional rulers, Presidents-General, youths, women and constituents across the 7 Local Government Areas in Anambra South as well as their diaspora communities across the country.

Sen. Nwachukwu maintained that the voice of his people would continue to be clear, respected and active in the Senate with his commitment to build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Anambra South.

He expressed his profound gratitude to Governor Soludo, the APGA National Chairman, Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth, women groups and all his constituents for their support, confidence and commitment.

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Senate postpones security summit over NAF aircraft crash 

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The Senate has announced the indefinitely postponement of its two-day National Security Summit, initially scheduled for October 12 and 13, 2026, following the tragic crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft in Ondo State that claimed 25 lives.

The  postponement was announced in a  a statement signed by Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Tuesday 

The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing 25 officers including seven crew members on board.

The Senate expressed deep sympathy to President Tinubu, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Air Force, and the families of the officers and crew members who lost their lives in active service.

The Senate leadership noted that a new date for the summit would be announced in due course, appealing to all key stakeholders to stand with the nation during this period of grief.

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Kano NDC chieftain in trouble over firearms display at campaign ground 

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From Musa Disso (Kano)

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in Kano state Aminu Warkai, has been summer bed by the state Police authorities for questioning over his alleged display of firearms during a recent political gathering.

Warkai had in a viral video openly displayed a firearm suspected to be a pump-action rifle at the said political occasion.

The Kano state Police Command In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said the alleged act constituted a clear violation of the provisions of the Firearms Act.

The police insisted the act was capable of inciting fear, intimidating the public, and amounted to a breach of public peace and security.

“On the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, the said Aminu Abdullahi Warkal was invited to the Command Headquarters, Bompai, Kano,” said the statement.

“He is currently at the Command’s State Intelligence Department (SID), and an investigation is in progress,” the statement held.

“The Commissioner of Police will not tolerate any act of lawlessness, thuggery, or display of weapons capable of threatening public peace, irrespective of the status of the person involved,” the statement disclosed.

The police statement said the “alleged unlawful display of a firearm, if established, constitutes a clear violation of the provisions of the Firearms Act and is capable of inciting fear, intimidating members of the public and breaching public peace and security

“All political activities must be conducted in a manner that promotes peace, tolerance and respect for the rule of law,” the police said.

The Command reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that Kano State remains peaceful before, during and after the political season.

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