Ebony I state governor, Francis Nwifuru has told the newly elected local government chairmen in the state to take the 2027 election very seriously if they must retain their offices

The governor  therefore directed the  chairmen to ensure the All Progressives Congress (APC), wins their respective areas in the 2027 general elections or risk losing their positions.

Nwifuru, who said his directive was not a threat to opposition parties but a clear expression of his commitment to protecting the APC and ensuring victory for the party in all elections in the state, gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony of 13 local government chairmen and their deputies following the August 22, 2026, council elections, in which the APC won all chairmanship and 171 councillorship seats.

He said with campaigns for the National Assembly elections now underway, the chairmen were expected to mobilise support for the APC in their respective local government areas.

“Campaign has been declared open for the National Assembly. So, as you are going back to your local governments, what you will be talking about is our party. Your prayer is for our party to win all the positions.

“We cannot leave one position to any other political party. We will win 100 per cent in the general election. Go and tell our opposition that nobody is threatening them.

“We have now started campaigning. We are not threatening you; we will defeat you at the polls. Nobody is threatening you. We are politicians. We must speak for our party and we must deliver our party.

“When we win, and you know we will win, we will remove any council chairman that did not win his local government area. It is as simple as that,” he said.

Nwifuru urged the chairmen to protect the party’s interests in their areas and resist attempts by opposition politicians to undermine the APC.

He, however, directed them to engage their political opponents and reconcile with those who contested against them during the council elections.

“Engage all your opponents. Engage those who contested against you. Discuss with them, bring them back to our party,” he said.

Nwifuru also cautioned the elected deputy chairmen against allowing political gossip to create conflict between them and their principals.

He urged them to work closely with their respective chairmen and resist pressure to form rival groups within their councils.

Ahead of the 2027 presidential polls, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed September 28 to continue hearing on the suit filed by former vice president, Atiku Abubarkar, seeking to stop President Bola Tinubu from seeking re-election, over alleged certificate forgery.

Atiku, who is the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, accused president Bola Tinubu of providing false information about himself in the Form CF0001 he tendered before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

He cited the NYSC certificate the president submitted to the electoral body, claiming that it bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”.

Atiku, in a 25-paragraph affidavit he personally deposed to in support of the suit, alleged that President Tinubu submitted a bogus National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to INEC in aid of his qualification for the presidential seat, adding that Tinubu had been parading the forged certificate since 1999, when he contested the Lagos State governorship election.

“I know that the NYSC certificate is clearly not one obtained by the 1st defendant, as it belongs to one Adekunle.

“The said NYSC certificate, bearing the name Tinubu Bola Adekunle, is herein attached and marked as Exhibit P2.

“I know that the said NYSC certificate is still in existence and in the custody of the 3rd defendant (INEC) and that it is a forgery, as the 1st defendant’s name is not Adekunle, and yet he submitted it to the 3rd defendant to be acted upon as genuine,” Atiku averred.

Atiku therefore prayed the courtto among others, determine “Whether, in view of the limitations in sections 138(1)(a) & (b) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and section 285(14)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), the Plaintiffs will not be allowed to enforce the binding provision of section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), which applies, mutatis mutandis, to all candidates aspiring to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

As well as “Whether the 1st and 2nd Defendants should be disqualified for presenting a forged NYSC certificate to the 3rd Defendant for the 2023 and 2027 Presidential Elections, in breach of Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

He also sought a “declaration that the 1st Defendant presented a forged certificate to the 3rd Defendant when he contested for Governor of Lagos State in 1999 and thereby breached the provision of section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)

“An order disqualifying the 1st and 2nd Defendants from participating in the 2027 Presidential Election for presenting a forged certificate to the 3rd Defendant when the 1st Defendant contested for Governor of Lagos State in 1999.”

Meanwhile, when the case was called up on Tuesday, a team of lawyers led by Mr Omosanya Popoola announced their appearance for President Tinubu, whom Atiku’s lawyer, Mr Joseph Onu, said they had been unable to serve with a copy of the suit.

Despite Popoola’s assurance that President Tinubu had given him the authority to represent him, Onu, however, insisted that, owing to the sensitive nature of the case, his client would prefer to effect personal service of the process or secure an order for substituted service.

“My lord, this is a very important case, and we do not want to leave any chance for a technicality. We do not want to fall into any trap.

“But if we have a written undertaking from the 1st defendant to be served through counsel, we will accept,” Onu insisted.

For his part, INEC’s lawyer, Dr Alex Iziyon, SAN, urged the court to dismiss Atiku’s insistence on personal service of the processes on Tinubu, arguing that the appearance of his counsel was a sufficient undertaking.

After listening to all the parties, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that he could not dictate to the plaintiffs how to conduct their case.

The presiding judge then adjourned the matter for mention.on September 28

 The national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has described the death of the party’s National Vice Chairman, South,Dan Orbih as a painful loss both to the party and himself

The family of former PDP chieftain announced his death.in a statement on Tuesday 

Orbih, a prominent PDP chieftain and political associate of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was said to have died on Monday, August 31, 2026 at the age of 64.

The family in a statement signed by Francis Udukhomoi Orbih, described the late politician as a beloved brother, husband, father and uncle, while announcing his passage.

“With profound sadness and a heavy heart but in total submission to the will of the Almighty God, the family of Chief M.C.K. Orbih announce the passing of our beloved brother, husband, father and uncle, Chief Daniel Osi Orbih, who passed away on Monday, 31 August 2026,” the statement said.

According to the family, Orbih is survived by his wife, Mrs Florence Orbih, and two children, Ms Winifred Anwosiobor Orbih and Dr Mildred Omonemi Orbih.

“His brothers, sisters and other members of his extended family also survive him.”

The family appealed to relatives, friends and associates of the deceased to support them with prayers as they come to terms with the loss.

“At this difficult time, we ask family members, friends and well-wishers to remember the entire family in their prayers as we mourn this painful loss.

“Further details will be announced in due course.

“May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the family added.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, described his death as painful, saying he has lost a true friend and political associate.

Wike in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Tuesday in Abuja, described Orbih as “a friend indeed.”

Describing the death as the “fall of one of the biggest trees in the political forest of Edo State,” Wike said the late PDP stalwart would be missed by all who knew him.

He said, “I have lost a friend and a committed political ally. Dan Osi Orbih was everything anyone could desire in friendship and political associate. But we can’t question God, He gives and He takes.

“On behalf of myself, my family and political associates, I commiserate with the family of Chief M.C.K. Orbih, on the demise of Chief Dan Orbih, a good friend, a great politician, and a man of faith in the Almighty God,” he said