NEWS

PDP Flags Off 2027 Presidential And NASS Campaigns In Ogun Central

Published

1 hour ago

August 27, 2026

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday inaugurated its Presidential and National Assembly campaign for Ogun Central Senatorial District, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

The programme, which took place in three different Ifo, Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South local government areas, was attended by thousands of party supporters and residents from all the six local government areas that made up the district.

The campaign train, led by the party’s Ogun State governorship candidate and Chairman of the Campaign Council, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, moved through the three federal constituencies that make up Ogun Central before culminating in a mega rally at the Ake Palace Arcade, Abeokuta.

The flag-off began in the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency, where residents and party supporters lined the streets and balconies to welcome Adebutu, the deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Yemi Kolapo-Sowunmi, the party’s Ogun Central Senatorial candidate, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, and other party leaders and candidates at Agbado Station.

The campaign train later proceeded to Abeokuta North Federal Constituency, where the party’s House of Representatives candidate, Arch. Dele Olaleye, was received by a large crowd at NTA Junction, Totoro.

Supporters who had gathered as early as 10a.m sang solidarity songs and cheered the candidates as they passed through the area.

The train subsequently moved to Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, where Hon. Toyin Amuzu is the PDP’s House of Representatives candidate. Thousands of supporters joined the procession and followed the convoy to the Ake palace ground, venue of the Ogun Central senatorial campaign flag-off.

Addressing the mammoth gathering, Adebutu urged the people of Ogun Central to support the PDP and vote for what he described as tested and credible candidates in the 2027 elections.

He appealed to voters to support Obasanjo, saying her records during her previous tenure in the Red Chamber remained a benchmark for purposeful representation in the district.

Adebutu also promised that a PDP administration would restore prosperity and improve governance, drawing comparisons with the achievements recorded under previous PDP administrations, particularly the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I want to remind you that the best times of Nigeria have largely emerged under the leadership of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), exemplified by what Baba Obasanjo did as a cornerstone for his successors,” he said.

Adebutu expressed optimism that the party would reclaim power in the 2027 elections and usher in what he described as a new era of prosperity.

He declared, “Happy days are coming again, very, very soon. In January, a new dawn will break for the betterment of our people”.

He urged PDP supporters to remain united, turn out in large numbers on election days and defend their votes against intimidation.

“Ogun Central must bid farewell to non-performance and vote for liberation. Come out en masse, vote for the PDP and stand by your votes. Do not allow anybody to intimidate you,” he said.

Also speaking, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Ogun Central, Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, said she returned to the party because of her determination to restore what she described as the lost fortunes of the senatorial district.

Obasanjo, who represented Ogun Central in the Senate from 2007 to 2011, said she was concerned that some of the achievements recorded during her tenure had been eroded.

“My desire to take back our senatorial district to where it was when I represented it, is the reason why I came back to the PDP, and to take up the challenge of restoring our lost glories,” she said.

She added that she was encouraged by the reception she had received across the district, noting that residents had continued to identify projects and interventions associated with her previous tenure.

“Everywhere I go, people themselves point out the work I did when I represented them and tell me how many people were liberated from poverty. I am determined to do even more so that our people can benefit from the dividends of democracy,” Obasanjo said.

On his part, candidate for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Chief Toyin Amuzu, pledged to run an all-inclusive and people-centred representation if elected to the House of Representatives.

Amuzu assured the people of Abeokuta South that he would not be a representative who would abandon his constituency after securing election and relocating to Abuja.

According to him, effective representation goes beyond occupying a seat in the Green Chamber, stressing that a lawmaker must remain connected with the people who gave him the mandate.

“By the grace of God, if elected to represent the good people of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, I will run an all-inclusive representation. I will not sit in Abuja after my

inauguration and forget the people who elected me.

“I will continue to engage our people from time to time to know what they are lacking and what their immediate needs are. Representation must be about the people, and that is the kind of representation I am prepared to offer.”

The PDP House of Representatives candidate also promised to attract meaningful federal presence and developmental projects to communities across the 15 wards of Abeokuta South Federal Constituency.

He assured residents that every part of the constituency would benefit from his representation, adding that no ward or community would be neglected.

Speaking on his legislative agenda, Amuzu pledged to sponsor and support people-oriented bills that would improve the welfare and living conditions of Nigerians.

He said he would ensure that his activities at the Green Chamber would be guided by the interests of the masses and the developmental needs of his constituents, and as well support legislation that would promote economic opportunities, youth empowerment, improved welfare, social justice and other policies aimed at improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

Other party’s candidates for the various constituencies also used the campaign tour to solicit support from voters, promising purposeful representation and improved attention to the needs of their constituents.

NEWS

FG Spent N600bn On Cash Transfers: Did Your Household Get Paid?

Published

19 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

Godwin Chi

The Federal Government has disbursed more than N600 billion in cash transfers to over 10 million households across the country in the three years since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, has said.

Doro disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme.

He said the programme was designed to support poor and vulnerable households and improve their living conditions, adding that the number of beneficiaries could translate to about 40 million people based on an average household size of four.

“We have done over N600 billion in cash transfers to be able to support vulnerable Nigerians within three years,” Doro said.

The minister said the government had also launched a vocational skills programme that trained more than 18,000 people and provided them with starter kits and stipends.

According to him, the beneficiaries received additional training in business management and accounting to help them establish and manage businesses.

Doro said the government was also supporting farmers through a separate intervention aimed at improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.

Defending the impact of the cash-transfer programme, he said even the N25,000 paid to beneficiaries could make a significant difference to the poorest households.

“N25,000 can look very small to elites, but not to the poorest of the poor,” he said.

The minister said his ministry was focused on translating improvements in the broader economy into better living conditions for ordinary Nigerians.

“My job is to translate macroeconomic gains as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. I translate the microeconomic gains to the micro level, and you can see the traction,” he said.

Doro also said the government was monitoring the risk of food insecurity in northern Nigeria following projections that more than 70 million people across nine conflict-affected states could face acute food insecurity.

He, however, stressed that the figures were projections and did not necessarily mean that all those identified would experience food insecurity.

The minister added that the government had recently implemented a presidential intervention on food and nutrition across 10 northern states and would continue to monitor the situation and intervene where necessary.

Source: Vanguard news

NEWS

ADC Drops Bombshell: Arrest Kuje Council Chair Over This

Published

34 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

Godwin Chi

African Democratic Congress (ADC) demanded the immediate arrest of Kuje Area Council Chairman, Mr. Samuel Shekwolo, over his reported declaration that residents must vote All Progressives Congress (APC) or leave the council area.

ADC described the statement as “a threat of forced displacement” that breached Sections 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.

In a statement by ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party likened the comment to that by APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who was questioned and released without charge after threatening opposition voters during the recent Osun governorship election.

Tracing both comments to President Bola Tinubu’s July 29 comment that, “All is fair in politics,” ADC demanded that the president should personally clarify his statement and call his party to order.

ADC also urged the National Peace Committee to speak now, warning that if it waits until 2027, it could find itself issuing condolences, instead of appeals.

The party said it read with alarm the reported declaration by Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Shekwolo, that residents of Kuje must join or vote for APC or leave the council area.

ADC stated, ‘’Let us be clear about what this is: A sitting elected official, in whose custody the safety and welfare of every resident of Kuje has been placed, has publicly tied a citizen’s right to live in his own country to the party that they vote for.

‘’That is a threat of forced displacement. In a country that has buried too many of its people to political violence, it is an invitation to anarchy.’’

ADC called on the Inspector-General of Police and Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest Shekwolo and charge him accordingly.

Abdullahi said, ‘’Not to invite him. Not to engage him. Not to invite him for a chat and release him before the ink on the headline is dry. Arrest him, charge him, and let a court of law decide.’’

ActionAid Raises Alarm over Remark

ActionAid Nigeria also condemned the statement by Shekwolo, describing it as a troubling threat to democratic freedoms.

ActionAid warned that political intimidation could become normalised ahead of the 2027 elections.

The organisation said an elected public official had a responsibility to serve every resident, irrespective of political affiliation, and should not use public office to pressure citizens into supporting a political party.

Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said the alleged statement raised fundamental questions about the protection of citizens’ political rights and the responsibility of state institutions to respond consistently to potentially threatening political rhetoric.

Mamedu said,. “This is deeply concerning. If an elected council chairman openly tells citizens that they must support a political party to continue living in an area under his administration, we must ask what message this sends to citizens who support other political parties or choose not to support any political party at all.”

He maintained that public office must not become an instrument of “political intimidation, exclusion or coercion”.

NEWS

After 17 Years, Okin Biscuits Is Back! Offa Factory Roars To Life Again

Published

37 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

Godwin Chi

After 17 years of inactivity, the production line of Okin Biscuits at its factory in Offa, Kwara State, has resumed operation, marking a major step in efforts to return the iconic Nigerian biscuit brand to the market.

The milestone was recorded yesterday, when biscuits rolled off one of the rehabilitated production lines at the factory for the first time in nearly two decades.

The company said the development followed extensive rehabilitation of the production line after critical components, including cables, frequency drives, contactors, motors and other electronic equipment, were stolen during the years the factory remained inactive.

According to the company, the exercise was a technical trial run rather than a product trial, with the primary objective being to determine whether the long-dormant production line could be brought back to life.

“At this stage, we were not concerned about colour, appearance or achieving the final Okin recipe. The objective was simple: Can we bring this line, silent for 17 years, back to life? And we did!” the company said.

The successful trial represents a significant milestone in the rehabilitation of the Offa factory and the broader effort to revive Okin Biscuits, a brand that has been associated with locally manufactured biscuits for decades.

Another major development recorded on the same day was the official reconnection of the factory to the 33kV Band A electricity grid by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The company said the electricity connection would provide an important boost to ongoing rehabilitation and testing activities at the facility.

It, however, acknowledged that more work remains before Okin Biscuits can return to the market.

“There’s still work ahead. More testing. More calibration. More rehabilitation. And, of course, getting that familiar Okin taste and quality exactly right before the biscuits return to the market,” it said.

The company described the latest development as a moment to celebrate progress, noting that the production machinery was running, the ovens were firing and biscuits had begun rolling out again.

“One step at a time. Okin is coming back,” the company said.

The revival of the factory is expected to mark a new chapter for Okin Biscuits and its return to Nigeria’s competitive fast-moving consumer goods market.

Founded in 1980, Okin Biscuits has long been recognised as one of Nigeria’s familiar indigenous biscuit brands, with its revival expected to rekindle consumer interest in the product and restore production activity at its Offa facility.

NEWS

Why Southern And M’Belt Leaders Just Rejected FG’s Ranching Plan

Published

41 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

Godwin Chi

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed pilot ranching scheme in parts of the Middle Belt, describing it as an attempt to take over ancestral lands under the guise of livestock development.

The forum, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its Chairman, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata; and National Chairman of PANDEF, Amb Godknows Igali, also urged communities and governments in the Southern states to prepare to resist the policy.

The SMBLF said it was particularly concerned that the proposed pilot areas included Nasarawa, Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory.

The group said, “The SMBLF is alarmed by the audacious attempt by the Federal Government to take over lands belonging to ethnic communities in the Middle Belt under a spurious ‘pilot scheme’ being introduced in the name of a New National Livestock Policy.”

The development comes barely days after the Middle Belt Forum rejected the Federal Government’s renewed ranching policy, describing the proposed allocation of land in the region for livestock production as a potential land-grabbing scheme.

The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government has said the ranching initiative is aimed at modernising livestock production, reducing cattle movement and addressing the persistent farmer-herder crisis.

The proposed programme reportedly targets conflict-prone areas including Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Adamawa and the FCT, with the Wase Grazing Reserve in Plateau State serving as a pilot model.

However, the SMBLF questioned why the pilot was concentrated largely in the Middle Belt, despite what it described as the availability of sparsely populated land in parts of the far North.

“It is striking that this experiment is being concentrated almost entirely in the Middle Belt, despite the vast expanses of sparsely populated and unused land available in many parts of the far North,” the forum said.

The leaders insisted that they were not opposed to ranching or the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry, but objected to what they described as the “opaque, coercive and discriminatory” manner in which the policy was being pursued.

The forum said, “Ranching is an economic enterprise that is privately driven. The government cannot disguise compulsory land acquisition for specific economic actors as public interest.”

The SMBLF further alleged that the policy could ultimately create permanent settlement zones for nomadic Fulani herdsmen, an allegation the Federal Government and supporters of the ranching initiative would need to address.

“The SMBLF deeply suspects that the true aim of this policy is the creation of permanent settlement zones for nomadic Fulani herdsmen,” the statement said.

The forum also linked its opposition to the history of farmer-herder violence and displacement in the Middle Belt, arguing that communities affected by attacks should not lose additional land to a government-backed ranching programme.

“They cannot be handed the lands of their victims as a reward for their heinous crimes,” the leaders said.

The forum recalled previous Federal Government initiatives, including the controversial RUGA and cattle colony proposals, which were resisted by sections of the country over concerns about land ownership, settlements and demographic changes.

It warned that the current ranching scheme, if allowed to proceed without adequate consultation, could generate fresh tension in affected communities.

The SMBLF also raised legal questions over land acquisition, arguing that the Land Use Act of 1978 should not be interpreted as a licence for arbitrary acquisition of community land.

Under the Land Use Act, land administration involves statutory and customary rights of occupancy, while the law provides for revocation of rights of occupancy in specified circumstances, including overriding public interest.

The forum, therefore, demanded full disclosure by the Federal Government of the proposed ranching sites, legal instruments backing their acquisition, ownership structures, beneficiaries, size of the lands involved, security arrangements and sources of funding.

It said no implementation should proceed until the rights and interests of affected communities were clearly protected.

“Until these questions are answered transparently and the rights of affected communities are fully protected, the SMBLF rejects the proposed ranching scheme in the Middle Belt and the South,” the leaders declared.

The forum warned that it would resist any attempt to seize community lands under the guise of livestock development, while urging Southern states and communities to remain vigilant against any future expansion of the policy.

The Federal Government’s ranching proposal has already generated controversy, with proponents arguing that modern ranching could help reduce farmer-herder clashes and transform Nigeria’s livestock sector, while opponents fear that poorly designed land acquisition could worsen existing tensions.

The SMBLF maintained that livestock development could be pursued without dispossessing communities of their ancestral lands.

“Modernisation must not mean dispossession,” the forum said, insisting that any sustainable livestock policy must be transparent, voluntary where applicable and developed in consultation with communities whose lands and livelihoods could be affected.

NEWS

Why Works Ministry And NDDC Are Rushing To Benin Bypass Right Now

Published

1 hour ago

August 27, 2026

Godwin Chi

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works, the Edo State Government, and other stakeholders have commenced an urgent intervention to address the deplorable condition of the highways between Edo and Delta States.

In a statement on Wednesday, by the Director, Corporate Affairs of NDDC, Seledi Thomspon-Wakama said the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, alongside the Senate Committee and House of Representatives Committee on Works and the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, embarked on a joint inspection of failed portions of the Benin-Sapele-Warri and Benin-Agbor roads.

The statement made available to journalists in Port Harcourt, revealed that during the inspection, Umahi stressed the federal government’s commitment to fixing the deteriorating sections and finding immediate and sustainable solutions to the challenges along the critical corridor.

Umahi said the quick intervention followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu, in response to concerns over the deteriorating condition of the critical road corridors, which have subjected commuters, residents and businesses to severe hardship.

Consequently, the Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Edo State Government, invited the NDDC, major construction companies operating along the Benin–Asaba axis, and other stakeholders to undertake a joint inspection of the failed portions of the roads.

Also speaking at the road site, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the commission received complaints about the sufferings of motorists along the Benin-Sapele corridor and had taken steps to intervene.

He added that the Commission had scoped 15.4 kilometres between Benin, Ologbo Junction and Sapele, describing it as a strategic road section in the region and noting that the bad stretch had become unmotorable, causing gridlock, hardship and crippling the local economy.

Ogbuku said the NDDC and the Ministry of Works had agreed to work together on the intervention to ensure that any remedial work conforms to the road’s original design and can stand the test of time.

He said the intervention reflected the Commission’s commitment to complementing the federal

government’s efforts to restore critical infrastructure and ease the burden on communities and road users across the Niger Delta.

According to him, the NDDC was committed to supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu by delivering strategic infrastructure interventions that improve connectivity, stimulate economic activity, and enhance the quality of life of our people.

Also speaking, Edo State Governor, Senator Okpebholo, commended President Tinubu for responding swiftly to the challenge, noting the intervention would quickly arrest the deterioration of sections of the critical highway.

Okpebholo said Edo State’s strategic position made the deplorable state of the highway a national concern, describing the state as a gateway to the South-South, South-East, South-West and the North.

NEWS

Adebutu Backs Summit As 10,000 African Youths Converge On Lagos For Change

Published

1 hour ago

August 27, 2026

Godwin Chi

Prominent industrialist and philanthropist, Chief Kesington Adebutu, popularly known as “Baba Ijebu” is expected to join an array of government representatives, policymakers, business leaders and young Nigerians at the 2026 Ambassadors National Youth Summit organised by the Joshua Oyeniyi International (JOI) Foundation.

A statement yesterday, explained that the high-level youth gathering is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 29, 2026, in Lagos.

The summit is designed to bring together established leaders and emerging voices to deliberate on issues affecting Nigeria’s economic future, leadership development, innovation and youth participation in national development, with the theme of the programme being Role Of Emerging Leaders in Securing Nigeria’s Economic Prosperity.

“With young people forming a significant part of Nigeria’s population, the organisers say the summit will provide an important platform for bridging the gap between the country’s emerging generation and the institutions and individuals responsible for shaping its socio-economic direction.

“Chief Adebutu’s expected presence adds further prominence to an event that has positioned itself as a meeting point for youth leadership, entrepreneurship, public policy and private-sector influence,” it added.

The 2026 summit is expected to feature high-level plenary sessions, policy conversations, networking opportunities and engagements between young delegates and experienced leaders. The official programme also highlights discussions around economy, security and leadership, alongside innovation and impact-focused activities.

The event is being convened by the Founder and President of Joshua Oyeniyi International, Dr. Joshua Oyeniyi, with the Foundation describing the Ambassadors Summit as its flagship platform for inspiring, equipping and connecting the next generation of African leaders.

“As preparations reach their final stage, the summit is expected to provide an avenue for young Nigerians to listen, question, network and contribute to conversations about the country’s future.

“For many delegates, the significance of the gathering will not only be in the personalities present, but in the opportunities it creates for meaningful interaction between today’s decision-makers and tomorrow’s leaders,” it added.

NEWS

“Why Did He Do It?” Anambra Community In Shock As Son Kills Father

Published

10 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Godwin Chi

A 0-year-old man, identified as Pascal Ogbogu, has been arrested by men of the Anambra state police command for the m#rder of his 56-year-old father in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area of the State.

Preliminary information by the police reveals that, on the evening of August 25, the suspect allegedly att@cked his father and fled the scene.

He said that following a distress report, police operatives from the Eziowelle Police Division, with the assistance of family members and members of the Abatete Vigilante, promptly mobilised to the scene, where they found the lifeless body of the deceased in a pool of blood, with a deep machete wound to the throat.

The body was subsequently evacuated to the mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The suspect, who reportedly fled the scene after the incident, was apprehended in the early hours of August 26 through the coordinated efforts of the Police and members of the Abatete Vigilante.

His arrest was further facilitated by timely information and cooperation from community members, who assisted security operatives in tracking and locating him.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, particularly commended the family members, community members, Police operatives and Vigilante personnel for their prompt response and cooperation. He noted that effective community participation, timely information sharing and strong partnership between the Police and local communities remain important to successful policing and the protection of lives and property.

While commiserating with the family of the deceased, the CP directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation and comprehensive review, with a view to establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that all relevant facts are properly established.

The Commissioner assured the family and members of the public that the investigation will be conducted professionally, thoroughly and diligently, in accordance with the law, and that the suspect will be made to face due process upon conclusion of the investigation.

NEWS

$16bn Vanished In Darkness: Atiku Dares FG To Expose Him

Published

11 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Godwin Chi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute him if it has evidence linking him to the alleged $16bn power expenditure while he was in government.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, also accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of recycling old allegations to divert attention from questions over the use of revenues saved from petrol subsidy removal.

Atiku, in a statement released on Wednesday issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the resurfacing of allegations surrounding power-sector projects, privatisation and public assets was an attempt to shift public attention from the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

The former vice president also challenged the government to account for the resources it had gained since the removal of the petrol subsidy, asking, “Where is the people’s money?”

Atiku said the allegations against him had been repeatedly raised over the years without resulting in any prosecution, despite successive governments having access to the investigative machinery of the state.

“The National Assembly investigated the power projects. I was never invited to answer any allegation of wrongdoing.

“Yes, I chaired the National Council on Privatisation as vice president. But on the power project, I disagreed with its concept and did not preside over its implementation. The responsible minister did. The same applies to the Aluminium Smelter matter.

“I have repeatedly asked to be investigated. I left office in 2007 and have spent much of the period since then opposing governments in power. If there is evidence that I stole public money, why has no government produced it before a court?

“It is still not too late. Investigate me. Invite me. Produce the evidence. Prosecute me if you have a case. But propaganda cannot substitute for evidence,” the statement read in part.

The ADC chieftain’s latest challenge comes amid an intensifying political confrontation between the opposition and the Federal Government over the state of the economy and the impact of the government’s reforms.

Atiku has made the economic consequences of subsidy removal a central part of his criticism of the administration, arguing that Nigerians have endured substantial increases in the cost of petrol, transportation, food and other basic necessities without seeing commensurate benefits from the additional government revenues.

He noted that the controversy over the power projects was being revived because his demand for greater transparency over the proceeds of subsidy removal had become politically uncomfortable for the administration.

“They removed subsidy from the poor and promised that the sacrifice would free resources for development. Nigerians accepted extraordinary pain on that promise.

“Today, petrol is more expensive, transportation is more expensive, food is more expensive and the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker has been devastated,” he added.

He further questioned the government’s fiscal priorities, alleging that while ordinary Nigerians were being asked to endure the consequences of subsidy removal, powerful economic interests continued to benefit from fiscal incentives, waivers and concessions.

“Meanwhile, government revenues have increased, while fiscal incentives, waivers, tax credits and concessions continue to be available to powerful economic interests.

“So our question remains brutally simple: where is the people’s money?” he asked.

Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy shortly after his inauguration in May 2023, ending a long-standing system under which the Federal Government subsidised the cost of the product.

The government defended the decision as necessary to reduce pressure on public finances and redirect resources towards infrastructure and social programmes.

The policy, however, triggered a sharp increase in petrol prices and contributed to higher transportation and living costs, making subsidy removal one of the most politically contentious issues of the Tinubu presidency.

The government has subsequently introduced various measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the reforms while maintaining that the previous subsidy regime was financially unsustainable.

Atiku has proposed alternative economic measures and has increasingly positioned accountability, cost-of-living pressures and the management of public resources at the centre of his campaign.

NEWS

Anambra LG Election Drama: Why No One Is Contesting APGA In 20 LGAs

Published

11 hours ago

August 26, 2026

Godwin Chi

AWKA — The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is set to contest Saturday’s local government election in 20 of the 21 local government areas of Anambra State, with opposition parties failing to field candidates in the affected councils.

The only council where a contest is expected is Anambra East, where a candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) is challenging the incumbent local government chairman.

Speaking at a campaign rally for the election in Otuocha on Wednesday, Governor Chukwuma Soludo attributed the absence of opposition candidates to what he described as their assessment that challenging APGA would amount to a waste of resources.

Soludo said the outcome of the 2025 governorship election, in which he claimed to have secured 73 per cent of the votes, contributed to the decision by other political parties not to participate in the council poll.

“Anambra is a fortress of APGA. Following my 73 per cent score during the governorship election, other political parties felt there is no need for them to waste their money in Saturday’s local government election and that is why they ran away,” he said.

The governor said with no opposition candidates in 20 LGAs, voters in those councils would effectively be affirming the APGA candidates.

“In 20 out of the 21 LGAs, no party fielded any candidate and so in those LGAs, the people will just be doing affirmation because it is democracy.

“In 20 LGAs, no party is challenging APGA and proper election will take place only in Anambra East. Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra and so, none of them wanted to waste their time and money,” Soludo said.

The governor also highlighted some of his administration’s programmes, including free education, free antenatal and delivery services, youth empowerment and recruitment into the health and education sectors.

He said more than 300,000 women had benefited from the state’s free antenatal and delivery programme, while over 16,000 youths had been trained and empowered under the “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative.

Soludo added that the state had recruited 1,500 medical personnel and more than 8,000 teachers as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and education.

“We’re on massive acceleration in all the sectors,” he said.

On the 2027 general elections, Soludo said APGA was already preparing for the contests, adding that the party would unveil its candidates at the appropriate time.

“After booting, we launch and when we launch, it will be tsunami. Anambra is APGA land.

“We will unveil our presidential candidate, the senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates at the fullness of time,” he said.

Soludo said the party would commence its campaign for the general elections at the appropriate time, adding that the state would support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election as part of efforts to sustain collaboration with the Federal Government.

“Our campaign for general elections will come, but you know that apart from the presidential election which will go to our president, others will go to APGA.

“We will vote for the president so that we will continue with our collaboration because there are so many things in the offing, which will enable us get our share from the Federal Government,” he said.