Connect with us

Politics

Nasarawa Gov Orders Probe Into APC Rally Disruption, Shettima’s Convoy Attack

Published

on

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has ordered security agencies to investigate the disruption of activities at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lafia, insisting that all those responsible, including alleged sponsors and masterminds, must be identified and brought to justice.

The governor gave the directive on Thursday during an expanded security meeting at the Government House, Lafia, following Wednesday’s disruption of the rally and the reported obstruction of the convoy of Vice President Kashim Shettima during his visit to the Emir of Lafia.

Sule described the incidents as a serious embarrassment, noting that the Vice President attended the rally on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, the disruption was not merely an embarrassment to the state government or the Presidential Campaign Council but also to the country’s highest political leadership.

“The embarrassment was not to the state or the Presidential Campaign Council alone. It was an embarrassment to the Vice President on behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That is the reason why we cannot take it lightly,” he said.

The governor directed security agencies to invite and question everyone suspected of involvement, regardless of their former positions or social status.

He particularly warned against limiting the investigation to the arrest of a few youths, stressing that those who allegedly organised, planned and sponsored the disruption must also be exposed.

“We cannot, at the end of the day, after having such an embarrassment, just go and arrest five or six Almajiris and say that is the end of it. It will not work. The people responsible for this must be called to order,” Sule stated.

The governor also expressed concern over reports that some individuals had planned to disrupt the rally before it took place.

He further raised questions about the attack on the Vice President’s convoy and the throwing of an object suspected to be a shoe towards the podium where Shettima and other governors were standing.

Sule also demanded an explanation over the reported use of tear gas at the rally venue, particularly around the podium, and called for an investigation into the conduct of security personnel deployed for the event.

While commending the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their intervention, he said the expanded security meeting was necessary to ensure that all concerns surrounding the incident were properly examined.

The governor cautioned political actors against allowing disagreements to escalate into violence, warning that such developments could undermine peace and security in the state.

“I don’t want us to behave like them. If we behave like them, believe me, the state will become ungovernable. That is how Boko Haram started,” he warned.

Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji (SAN), said the meeting was convened to review the security lapses and incidents surrounding the APC presidential campaign rally.

Magaji recalled that Sule had convened an expanded meeting of the local organising committee on Monday, November 2, where security chiefs briefed the government on preparations for the event.

He said the security agencies had assured the government that adequate arrangements were in place to guarantee safety before, during and after the rally.

According to him, the governor also maintained regular communication with security chiefs and monitored preparations to ensure that the event proceeded peacefully.

The SGN explained that the Vice President’s visit to the palace of the Emir of Lafia was not initially included in the Presidential Campaign Council’s programme but was undertaken at Shettima’s request in recognition of the traditional institution.

Magaji alleged that some suspected opposition supporters disguised themselves in APC-branded T-shirts to gain access to the rally venue, where they reportedly chanted opposition slogans and threw an object towards the podium occupied by the governor and other dignitaries.

He also questioned the police response to the disturbance, alleging that officers deployed tear gas at the venue instead of removing those responsible for the disruption, affecting the podium where governors were addressing the gathering.

He said the intervention of the military, DSS and NSCDC was instrumental in restoring order.

The Secretary to the State Government further drew attention to reports of an alleged meeting held before the rally to plan its disruption, alongside videos circulating on social media which he said raised questions about the involvement of certain individuals.

He called for a comprehensive investigation to establish who planned the disruption, whether security agencies ignored prior intelligence, who attacked the Vice President’s convoy and who threw the object towards the dignitaries.

Magaji said the state government had already requested security agencies to activate their investigative machinery to establish the circumstances surrounding the incidents and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Politics

Ogoni Youths Demand Bori State, Urge Tinubu to Implement Dialogue Report

Published

on

A coalition of Ogoni youth groups has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, insisting that the creation of Bori State must be given priority in the process.

The Coalition of Ogoni Youth Groups (COYOG) made the demand in a statement jointly signed by 17 youth leaders, including Chief Kpakol Kpakol of the Ogoni National Youth Congress and Gen. Ikeh Albert Jnr of the Khana Youth Assembly, on Saturday.

The coalition warned against attempts by politicians and other vested interests to hijack the dialogue process for personal or political gains, stressing that its outcomes must reflect the collective aspirations of the Ogoni people.

It described the dialogue as a collective struggle for justice, environmental restoration, political inclusion, resource control and sustainable development.

On the leadership of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, COYOG clarified that Professor Don Baridam remains its substantive leader, warning against attempts by individuals to assume authority outside the established structure.

Reaffirming its commitment to peaceful advocacy, the coalition insisted that the dialogue process must remain inclusive and accountable, adding that its recommendations should translate into measurable benefits for the Ogoni people.

“The Ogoni dialogue belongs to the Ogoni people. Its outcomes must serve the Ogoni people. Its implementation must be transparent, inclusive and measurable,” the statement added.

Continue Reading

Politics

Dachung Bagos Wins APC Rerun Primary for Plateau Federal Constituency

Published

on

Former member of the House of Representatives, Dachung Bagos, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) rerun primary election for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency of Plateau State.

Bagos defeated his challenger, Esther Simi Dusu, in the rerun exercise conducted across 11 wards on Wednesday, following a court order nullifying the previous primary election over alleged irregularities.

The Chairman of the APC Rerun Electoral Committee, Simon Elisha, announced the results on Thursday at the party’s state secretariat, Kalwa House, in Jos.

According to the results, Bagos polled 12,181 votes to defeat Dusu, who secured 2,495 votes.
Elisha said the rerun election was conducted in compliance with the court order and in accordance with the party’s guidelines.

“The rerun was conducted in compliance with the court order and in line with the party’s guidelines to ensure transparency and fairness,” he said.

The rerun followed a decision by the High Court in Jos to nullify the earlier primary election over alleged irregularities in 11 wards within the federal constituency.

The affected wards are Du, Shen, Zawan ‘B’, Turu, Fobur ‘A’, Fobur ‘B’, Jarawan Kogi, Maijuju/Doss, Federe, Shere East and Shere West.

The court-ordered exercise was organised to address the irregularities identified in the previous primary election and determine the party’s candidate for the constituency.

With his victory, Bagos is set to represent the APC in the contest for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.

Bagos previously represented the constituency in the House of Representatives.

His emergence as the party’s candidate places him in contention for another term in the Green Chamber, subject to the outcome of the 2027 general election.

Continue Reading

Politics

Peter Obi Warns Those Terrorising Nigeria at Opening of NDC National Secretariat

Published

on

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has warned individuals he accused of terrorising Nigerians, declaring that his party would confront insecurity and intimidation if elected in 2027.

“Those who think they can terrorize this country, wait, we’re coming,” Obi said during the opening of the NDC’s national secretariat in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, October 26, 2026.

The remark came as the party formally opened its national headquarters and intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections. The event brought together Obi, his running mate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, NDC leaders and other party members.

Obi Puts Insecurity at the Centre of His Message

Obi’s statement signals that security is expected to feature prominently in the NDC’s campaign messaging ahead of the next presidential election.

Nigeria continues to face multiple security challenges, including insurgency, kidnapping, armed attacks and communal violence in different parts of the country. These problems have affected communities, disrupted economic activities and generated demands for stronger protection of lives and property.

At the Abuja event, Obi presented his political project as an effort to change how government responds to the country’s challenges. Reports of his remarks also highlighted commitments to address corruption, poverty, unemployment and insecurity.

However, the brief statement quoted above did not identify a particular group or individual as the target of his warning. It would therefore be premature to attribute the remark to a specific organisation or political opponent without further evidence.

NDC Opens National Headquarters Ahead of 2027

The secretariat opening marked another organisational step for the NDC as it builds its structures ahead of the elections.

The ceremony followed the party’s National Executive Committee meeting and formed part of a wider programme that included unveiling its National Campaign Council and presenting Certificates of Return to candidates contesting different offices.

Kwankwaso, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, attended alongside National Leader Seriake Dickson, National Chairman Moses Cleopas and other party figures.

The new facility is expected to serve as the party’s administrative headquarters and a centre for coordinating its national political activities.

Security and Accountability in the 2027 Campaign

Obi’s warning comes as political parties begin defining their messages for the 2027 election, with security, economic hardship and public accountability among the issues likely to feature prominently.

For voters, the significance of security promises will depend not only on campaign statements but also on the policies, resources and implementation plans candidates present.

Measures to improve security can involve intelligence gathering, police and military capacity, coordination between federal and state authorities, criminal investigations, justice delivery and support for communities affected by violence.

Obi’s statement did not set out specific measures in the quoted passage. Further policy details would be needed to assess how the NDC proposes to address the different forms of insecurity affecting the country.

The remark nevertheless makes clear that the party intends to present security and protection from intimidation as part of its campaign message.

As the 2027 election approaches, the challenge for all political parties will be to explain how their proposals would be implemented and how progress would be measured.

Continue Reading

Trending