By our reporter

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general election in Enugu State, Mr Obodoeze Ocho, has blamed flawed recruitment processes into political offices for the prevailing maladministration and economic hardship in the state and across Nigeria.

Ocho stated this weekend during the Enugu North zonal stakeholders’ meeting held in Nsukka. He faulted the procedures candidates emerge for various positions, noting that “the best are often left out due to lack of a level playing field”. He said APC in the state “places emphasis on credible candidates to ensure that square pegs are placed in square holes”.

In his words, “ADC is firmly committed to fielding credible individuals of unquestionable character across all elective positions in the state and indeed Nigeria. Our candidates emerge through free and fair means to avoid post-election crises. We are one family, and won’t deceive Ndi Enugu. That has been our mantra nationwide.”

It was gathered that ADC used the stakeholders’ meeting to unveil it’s senatorial candidate for the zone in the person of Dr Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi.

The Chairman of ADC in Enugu State, Mr Chris Eze, a retired General in the Nigerian Army, explained that the deliberate delay in unveiling the candidate was to ensure “a thorough vetting process”.

Gen Eze said the party prioritised selecting candidates “who stand head and shoulders above opponents in the zone”.

“We don’t compromise because we are pro-people. We provide an undiluted platform for the emergence of our candidates in a free and fair platform,” he said.

General Eze urged the people of Enugu North to reject inducement-driven politics and instead “vote for ADC candidates dedicated to protecting their true interests”.

The ADC senatorial candidate for the zone, Dr Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi, a UK-trained neurosurgeon, said he will ensure proper legislation for the benefit of the people of the zone. He pledged to ensure that the dream of Adada State creation is accomplished.

Our correspondent reports that Ugwuanyi is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Our Reporter 

The trial of Ufuoma Famous, a woman accused of murdering her husband, Famous Gideon, and another woman, Mrs Edoh, as well as attempting to murder a third person, Felicia, has commenced at the Delta State High Court, Ughelli Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Sunny Adolor.

 At the hearing, the prosecution team, led by Peter Daubry, Esq., a Deputy Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, called two witnesses to testify in support of its case. One of the witnesses was the defendant’s son.

 The defendant is facing a three-count charge. Count One alleges that she murdered her husband, Famous Gideon, while Count Two accuses her of murdering Mrs Edoh. Count Three alleges that she attempted to murder Felicia.

 The alleged offences reportedly occurred in January 2026 at Ighrovie, Ughelli, Delta State.

 During the proceedings, the defendant’s son testified as one of the prosecution witnesses, giving evidence in connection with the allegations against his mother.

 Following the testimonies of the two witnesses, the court adjourned the case to November 5, 2026, for continuation of the prosecution’s case.

Abubakar Kabir 

As the Supreme Court directs the National Leadership of All Progressive Congress, APC to immediately conduct a rerun Primaries for Zamfara North Senitorial District, the party chieftain and an Aspirant for the Senitorial zone, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi appealed to the Executive Governor of Zamfara state Dr. Dauda Lawal, national and state party leadership, stakeholders, and security agencies to maintain the ground of neutrality in all the processes.

He made the appeal while briefing Journalists and social media operators in Zamfara of the outcome of the supreme Court at his office in Samaru Area of Gusau the state capital.

In his words, Shinkafi appealed to INEC, the state and National Leadership of APC that, the rerun of Zamfara North Senitorial District party Primaries should be exercised on the grounds of free and fair, credibility and transparency.

The security agencies have been personally informed concerning the forthcoming exercise taking place on Monday the 2nd November 2026 and the feedback is that, they are well mobilized for the rerun of the party Primaries.

I also appeal to the National Chairman to endeavor to conduct the rerun exercise based on the internal guidelines of the party and guarded by rules and principles of the party in line with the provisions of the Constitution which was registered by INEC upon the commencement of the party in order not to run the party on the grounds of impunity.

The rerun of Zamfara North Senitorial District party Primaries should be an avenue of strengthening the unity of the party through the lawful exercise of Justice and fair-play, no oppression and suppression should be encouraged.

I humbly appeal to the Executive Governor of Zamfara state Dr. Dauda Lawal and other respectful leaders of our great party in the state level, INEC officials and all security agencies to maintain the ground of neutrality regarding the rerun exercise of Zamfara North Senitorial District and allow the people to make their choice if Sahabi Ya’u or I is being elected by the people, let it be on the grounds of fairness and transparency without interference.

Unfolding the details that led to  the legal tussle and how Federal High Court, Appeal Court and Apex Court nullified the primaries earlier conducted by the party, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, Aspirant for Zamfara North Senitorial District said,  On May 2026, we went round the four LGAs of the District after the fallout of the purported primaries, by the virtue of the electoral act 2026 as a responsible and law abiding citizen of Nigeria, I followed constitutional means to address my grievances over fraudulent exercise and discrepancy that took place at my constituency on 19th May 2026 which was not in accordance to the provision of the electoral act section 80, subsection 2, section 77, subsection 4 and 5 of the electoral act 2026.

Section 88, subsection 2 and 4 gives me right to  go to the Federal High Court and seek redress if I was not satisfied with the exercise.

The guiding principle of filing the grievance according to the constitutional demand was 14 days interval, matched my great zeal to bring development for the people of my constituency, I sought redress within the stipulated period after exhausting all internal party mechanism stipulated in the constitution of the party.

In line with section 285, subsection 9 of the 1999 constitution amended which gives me expressed rights to go to court within the time frame permitted by the law, every process was matched with legal backing and the Federal High Court nullified the 19th May 2026 Primaries, demanded that a fresh party Primaries be conducted.

The defendant, Sen. Sahabi Ya’u Kaura, unsatisfied with the ruling of the Federal High Court Gusau, appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division.

The hearing was held on 6th October 2026, all the parties presented their separate arguments and 20th October was scheduled for the delivering of the judgement.

Having heard from the Legal Counsels, the Appeal Court, Sokoto Division stood by the Law and demanded that a fresh party Primaries be conducted in the Zamfara North Senitorial District.

Sen. Sahabi Ya’u Kaura again went to supreme Court and filed notice of appeal on 26th October 2026, following the stipulated period given by the law, on 30th October 2026, to my greatest surprise, I saw a notice of schedule of activities on social media well arranged to reconduct the party Primaries in my constituency without a prior formal letter from the National Leadership of the party to inform me of the process which is unfair and without justification.

I suspect some moves of conspiracy among certain key players who believe that they have the power as the Almighty Allah to decide the destiny of Zamfara North Senitorial District.

To me, base on my ideology and principles, I stand on the Truth backed by the Almighty Allah and the good people of my constituency to resist every illegality and hold on my constitutional mandate for the development of my constituency and my dear state.

I challenge marginalization and wanton discrimination of how the seat of senatorship has been confiscated by certain group of people circling within two wards in Kaura town since 1999, occupants of that seat have been unjustly selected from them.

It is worthy to note that, Sen. Sahabi Ya’u Kaura has served two terms, making 16 years as a Senator in the national Assembly as a product of two wards in Kaura, neglecting the other nine wards who also have potential personalities to occupy that seat.

I am duty bound as a legal son of the constituency to challenge the wanton marginalization and inequality created by this group of people that rubbed us from gaining access to senatorial seat of our constituency and I’m calling on prominent sons and daughters of Zamfara North Senitorial District to join me and support me in this tuzzle.

I am deeply anoid over the decision of the party to switch into conducting a fresh party Primaries in my constituency without following the stipulated procedures.

When I heard of the notice to reschedule the party Primaries in my constituency, I called the national chairman to complain to him, and he bluntly refused picking up my calls, I sent him three messages the first one referred to the notification I saw on social media and how I was unjustly treated if the social media notification of the reconduction of the party Primaries is true.

Secondly,  I sought to draw his attention to the notice informing him that the notice of reschedule of the primaries was too short considering the election process and arrangements of all the parties involved to avoid serious danger and ensure adequate security and he did not respond to me.

Thirdly, I  sent him a message that Zamfara North Senitorial District is seriously affected by security challenges as compared to any other zones in Zamfara state, appealing to him to formally communicate with Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and security agencies to adequately inform them for proper provision of necessary mechanism to secure a peaceful and successful rerun of party Primaries in the zone and still, there was no reply to the messages

On my way coming back to Gusau from Abuja to meet with the state INEC in order to confirm the social media notice, I saw a text message from the National Chairman of the party informing to contact Bello Matawale, I quickly replied that I don’t see that necessary as Matawale was not named among the national executive of the party to facilitate the election processes.

Without any disrespect to the Honourable Minister of state for Defense Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawale Maradun the immediate past Executive Governor of Zamfara state, I wish to categorically state that, Matawale has no legal connection to the proposed rerun of Zamfara North Senitorial District party Primaries and I see no reason that the national chairman of the party directed me to call him.

I humbly wish to bring to the notice of all in my constituency, state and the country as a whole that, Matawale and I have had serious misunderstanding that led me to suspecting  him as a prime orchestrator of several assassination attempts I experienced in the recent times and that cannot be overlooked through a mare political negotiations rather, must be tackled successful at the Court of Law.

I want to establish that, Matawale has no legal standing to participate in the rerun of All Progressive Congress APC Party Primaries in Zamfara North Senitorial District.

Having sent the above message to the National Party Chairman of the APC, he called me upon my arrival to Gusau to notify me that the social media information was the position of the party and apologized to me over the delay in processing the letter to formally inform me of the schedule for the rerun of the Zamfara North Senitorial District.

I also informed him that supreme Court has served me with two separate processes which were notice of appeal and records of appeal.

I hereby call all eligible  voters, stakeholders, supporters, lovers of development and transformation, members of WAMBAI Shinkafi Democratic Front in Zamfara North Senitorial District to rise up and ensure landslide victory as the rerun election is being conducted on Monday, 2nd November 2026.