The Delta State Police Command has relaunched Operation VELVET statewide in accordance with instructions from Inspector-General of Police IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The move forms part of renewed measures to tighten traffic law compliance, improve road safety, and keep vehicles moving freely throughout the state.
In a statement released on Sunday, 16 August 2026, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, explained that the operation will target serious traffic offences.
These include reckless and dangerous driving, driving against the flow of traffic, excessive speeding, risky overtaking, obstructing traffic, illegal parking, driving without a valid licence or other required documents, operating unregistered vehicles or those without number plates, using fake, altered, defaced or hidden number plates, serious overloading, unauthorised use of sirens, and any other breaches that endanger road users or hinder free movement.
Commissioner of Police Delta State Command, Yemi Oyeniyi, has instructed Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and other operational heads to implement the operation effectively in their areas of responsibility.
Officers assigned to the exercise must be properly briefed and supervised. Enforcement is to be carried out firmly and lawfully, with full respect for the fundamental rights and dignity of members of the public.
The Commissioner also restated the Inspector-General’s clear directive that Operation VELVET must not become a tool for extortion, harassment, intimidation, unlawful seizure of vehicles or documents, abuse of office, or any other professional misconduct.
Supervising officers have been tasked with ensuring strict accountability. Any officer found engaging in extortion, corruption or other improper conduct will face appropriate disciplinary measures under existing Police Regulations and procedures.
The Command therefore appeals to motorists and other road users to obey traffic laws and regulations and to cooperate with officers performing their lawful duties.
Members of the public are equally advised not to offer money or other inducements in an attempt to avoid enforcement.
The Delta State Police Command assures residents that Operation VELVET will be conducted with professionalism, accountability and respect for the rule of law, and seeks the full cooperation of all road users in achieving safer roads and smoother traffic flow across the state.
Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has warmly applauded the revitalised drive to cultivate lasting peace, cohesion and cordial coexistence among the varied ethnic groups inhabiting Warri and its surrounding districts.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, at the closing ceremony of the inaugural Warri Unity Games staged at the Federal Government College (FGC), Warri, the governor portrayed sport as an formidable instrument capable of reinforcing interpersonal ties and anchoring durable harmony.
Tonukari, standing in for the governor, transmitted Oborevwori’s cordial greetings and conveyed regret that pressing official duties had prevented the governor’s personal attendance.
He praised the Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, for the foresight that birthed the Unity Games, affirming that the venture had furnished a vital arena in which residents of disparate communities could mingle, contend and cement friendships.
The governor, Tonukari related, holds the firm conviction that sport functions as a potent conduit linking heterogeneous populations, dismantling artificial divides and advancing tranquillity.
“On behalf of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Delta State Government, I hereby affirm our unwavering and resolute endorsement of every grassroots endeavour that advances youth empowerment, safeguards cultural heritage and fosters peaceful cohabitation,” Tonukari declared.
He exhorted the competing athletes and the assembled spectators to maintain strict discipline, uphold fair play and practise mutual regard, voicing confidence that the affinities formed during the games would help usher in a more cohesive and flourishing Warri and Delta State.
His Royal Majesty King Kingsley Emakpo Orereh, Ataneru Igbi II, the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, likewise lauded the Olu of Warri for launching the sporting festival, characterising it as a momentous occasion for reconciliation and the rekindling of unity among the populace.
He pressed residents to extend the spirit of the peace initiative beyond the sporting field and called upon those trafficking in insults and inflammatory rhetoric on social media to cease such conduct at once.
“I was raised on Ekpen Street and was accustomed to describing myself as an Okere man, for no distinction existed between the Urhobo and Itsekiri peoples. Indeed, I spoke Itsekiri more fluently than Urhobo,” he recalled.
He implored the people to grasp the chance afforded by the Unity Games for complete reconciliation, underscoring that intermarriages and deep-rooted family connections had rendered the communities indivisible.
In his own address, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, explained that the Warri Unity Games had been deliberately conceived to illustrate that the inhabitants of the area share far more that unites them than anything that divides them.
The monarch announced that the games would henceforth constitute an integral feature of the activities commemorating his coronation anniversary, with the first Saturday of the anniversary week set aside specifically to advance unity among all who regard Warri as home.
He stated that the initiative sprang from the imperative to draw lessons from the bitter episodes of earlier years and to ensure that history does not repeat itself.
Looking back to the early 1990s, the Olu recalled how an intended celebration of the coronation anniversary of his predecessor, Ogiame Atuwatse II, had descended into strife and bloodshed—consequences from which Warri has still not fully recovered.
He observed that Warri once possessed the capacity to emerge as a premier national cultural tourism hub through its carnival, long before the rise of the celebrated Calabar Carnival.
“Warri yearns to rise once more, and to rise more splendidly than before,” the monarch proclaimed, emphasising that the fresh endeavour seeks to place the people ahead of history rather than allow conflict to dictate their destiny.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has recorded a significant breakthrough in the investigation of an armed robbery operation in which one person was murdered and another kidnapped at Ikot Itienang Village, Ekom Emane, Etinan Local Government Area, on July 12, 2026.
Following a petition on the incident addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, a team of detectives from the Command promptly commenced an intelligence-led investigation aimed at identifying and apprehending those responsible for the heinous crime.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, DSP Timfon John, said the painstaking investigation led to the arrest of two suspected members of the armed robbery gang identified as Gospel Effiong, a.k.a. “Python,” and Solomon Okon, a.k.a. “Plane.”
In the course of the investigation, two other suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime. They are Musa Kabiru, a native of Plateau State, alleged to be a receiver of some of the stolen items, and Victor Dickson.
During the operation, the following items were recovered from the residence of one of the arrested suspects, Solomon Okon a.k.a. “Plane”: a locally made pistol with one cartridge; a large quantity of suspected Indian hemp; a red cap bearing the inscription “Supreme Red Skin Confraternity”; an item suspected to be a charm; and other incriminating items relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The Command views the development as a major step forward in its efforts to dismantle criminal networks responsible for violent crimes and to bring the perpetrators of murder, kidnapping and armed robbery to justice.
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, Mnipr, has commended the detectives for their diligence, professionalism and intelligence-led approach to the investigation.
The Commissioner reiterates the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that persons involved in violent crimes are identified, apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law.
Members of the public are encouraged to continue providing the Police with credible and timely information that could assist in tracking down fleeing suspects and preventing criminal activities across the State.
Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, wife of the Delta State Governor and Founder of the You Matter Charity Foundation, has taken her Foundation’s free medical outreach deep into the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, issuing a powerful call for heightened attention to the healthcare needs of children living with autism and other special needs.
The First Lady delivered the charge on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during the Foundation’s medical outreach in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency—the seventh federal constituency reached in the current phase of the intervention.
She noted that the Foundation had earlier carried the same life-saving outreach to Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie, Ethiope, Ughelli/Udu, Isoko and Ika Federal Constituencies, among others.
According to her, more than 740 children, together with adults and elderly beneficiaries, have already received medical care and other forms of support from the Foundation.
Deaconess Oborevwori emphasised that these figures represent real people and families whose lives have been transformed, adding that every genuine act of kindness has the power to restore dignity and rekindle hope for the vulnerable.
She reaffirmed the You Matter Charity Foundation’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that children living with autism and other special needs are neither forgotten, neglected nor left behind.
The First Lady revealed that the Foundation’s outreaches across Delta State have repeatedly brought it face-to-face with families struggling to access healthcare and children in desperate need of greater attention and support.
She explained that the medical team at the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency outreach delivered consultations, examinations, medications and other essential healthcare services to beneficiaries.
Describing the Foundation’s message as one of inclusion, acceptance and compassion, she stressed that every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn and live a healthy, fulfilling life regardless of their circumstances.
Deaconess Oborevwori expressed deep appreciation to the chairmen of the three local government areas in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency and their wives for their cooperation and support.
She also commended the Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, and the medical team for their dedicated service toward improving the wellbeing of residents.
Earlier, the Chairman of Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Hon. Obi Nzete, welcomed Deaconess Oborevwori to Ndokwa and described the outreach as a special initiative that touches the very heart of humanity.
Nzete declared that the programme demonstrated that every tribe, family and child deserves access to quality healthcare.
He noted that initiatives of this nature not only deliver healthcare assistance but also renew hope, urging leaders to create an environment in which no child is neglected.
The council chairman praised the You Matter Charity Foundation for bringing the intervention to Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency and affirmed the local government’s readiness to collaborate with the state government and other partners to improve the welfare of residents.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, lauded Deaconess Oborevwori for extending healthcare and support to children with special needs in Ndokwa.
Ashibogwu described the beneficiaries as special children whose needs demand collective attention, stating that the Foundation’s intervention would help them learn, grow and integrate more fully into society.
He observed that the level of support being provided matched global standards and described it as an uncommon demonstration of love and compassion.
The Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Okenmor Tilije, also praised Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori for her humanitarian efforts and support for vulnerable residents across the state.
Tilije pledged ₦20 million to the You Matter Charity Foundation to bolster its humanitarian and healthcare interventions.
He expressed confidence in the Foundation’s commitment to transforming the lives of the vulnerable and said the people of Ukwuani would continue to remember Deaconess Oborevwori in their prayers for her service and dedication to humanity.
A major highlight of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency outreach was the presentation of 30 wheelchairs to persons living with mobility challenges, further expanding the Foundation’s support for vulnerable residents.
A Kaduna-based Christian cleric, Pastor Dr. Yohanna Buru, has honoured a Muslim scholar, Sheikh Usman Mohammed Mai-Mota (Gwalli), for dedicating more than five decades to Islamic education and training thousands of young people.
Pastor Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Ministry, led a delegation of Christian clerics to Sheikh Usman’s school, where they presented the recognition in appreciation of his contribution to Islamic education and community development.
Speaking during the visit, Pastor Buru said Sheikh Usman had spent over 50 years teaching Qur’an, Hadith, Tafsir, Arabic and other aspects of Islamic studies to children and youths from different parts of Northern Nigeria.
He said many of those who passed through the scholar’s school had gone on to become Islamic scholars, Arabic teachers and lecturers in various schools, centres and institutions across the country.
According to Pastor Buru, the recognition was intended to encourage Sheikh Usman to continue his efforts in educating young people despite his advancing age.
He described the scholar’s contribution as a significant service to humanity, stressing that individuals who dedicate their lives to educating thousands of young people deserve to be recognised and encouraged.
“We came to honour him, appreciate his contribution and thank him for the service he has rendered to humanity through Islamic education,” Pastor Buru said.
He added that the recognition was also part of efforts to promote peaceful coexistence and strengthen relationships between Muslims and Christians in Kaduna State.
Pastor Buru, who was recognised during the United Nations World Interfaith Harmony Week in 2022, said the work of Sheikh Usman had contributed to producing generations of Islamic teachers and scholars.
The delegation said available research indicated that Sheikh Usman had trained more than 10,000 youths, many of whom are now working as Arabic teachers, Islamic scholars and lecturers in different parts of Northern Nigeria.
Also speaking, Pastor Emmanuel John described Sheikh Usman’s contribution as remarkable, saying his commitment to educating young people with Islamic knowledge had made a lasting impact.
He said the visit was not only to honour the scholar but also to strengthen mutual respect and understanding between Christians and Muslims.
“We came to commend his remarkable contribution and strengthen the relationship between Muslims and Christians, with the aim of promoting peace, unity and better understanding in the state,” he said.
Responding, Sheikh Usman Mohammed Mai-Mota (Gwalli) expressed gratitude to the Christian delegation for the honour, describing it as the first award he had received in his more than 50 years of teaching.
He said he had spent decades teaching Arabic, Hadith, Qur’an and other Islamic studies, and had trained more than 10,000 youths who are now teaching and lecturing at Islamic centres, schools and institutions across the 19 northern states.
Sheikh Usman said that although he was now getting older, the recognition had renewed his commitment to continue educating young Muslims.
He thanked the Christian clerics for honouring him and prayed for God to bless them for their efforts towards promoting peace and understanding between the two faith communities.
“This is the first award I have received in my life for dedicating myself to educating youths who can today read and recite the Holy Qur’an,” he said.
The Kano State Government has approved an N1.4 trillion budget, the biggest in its history and in northern Nigeria, with more than N1 trillion earmarked for capital projects in infrastructure and essential services.
Speaking at the North-West Conference on Community Security Management in Kaduna, Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Comrade Abdullahi Ibrahim Waiya, who represented Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the spending plan links security governance to development.
He described an award from the Institute of Security and Strategic Studies as “a call to action and more action,” adding that Kano, a “mini-Nigeria” and one of the world’s most populous cities, needs massive investment to serve its diverse population.
To curb crime, the administration has deployed about 2,000 trained youths under a new Neighbourhood Watch covering all 44 LGAs, launched the Anti-Phone Snatching Corps, and reinforced community policing under a Special Adviser.
The Safe Corridor programme, the first of its kind in northern Nigeria, has profiled 340 ex-political thugs with over N500 million released, while 1,000 more youths are being readied for a 40-day rehabilitation and empowerment camp. The government has also strengthened the Hisbah Board, supports community-led security initiatives, and plans to inaugurate a forum of the eight metropolitan LGAs to assist conventional agencies.
Security experts at the conference stressed that regional unity is key to lasting peace. Hon. Dr. Muhammad Ali said the seven North-West governors can end banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling within four months if they “agree never to disagree.” He described the region as the “Killing Fields of the North” and noted that while Kano and Jigawa enjoy relative stability, nine Kano LGAs bordering Katsina, including Bagwai, Gwarzo, Kabo and Rogo, remain vulnerable.
Dr. Ali credited Kano and Jigawa’s stability to strong traditional institutions, economic opportunities and proactive policing, but warned no state is fully immune. He proposed an integrated framework with Early Warning and Early Response systems, harmonized vigilante groups working with police, NSCDC and military, and stronger traditional dispute resolution for land and farmer-herder clashes. He also recommended unified commands, oversight boards and sub-national security trust funds backed by law to address funding gaps and operational friction.
Waiya pledged continued scale-up of security and development, saying “it is not about spending money on ourselves as government officials but rather dedicating such resources to providing essential services.” Dr. Ali urged policymakers to institutionalize community security partnerships, enact laws on the status and welfare of local outfits, and invest in youth empowerment, education and rural infrastructure. “Community security partnerships must be a formal leg of sub-national governance,” he said, adding that sustainable peace demands a shift from kinetic operations to governance, accountability and prevention.
The Alliance of Sahel States, commonly known by its French acronym, AES, a bloc formed by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger after their break with ECOWAS, was meant to symbolize sovereignty and self‑determination. Russia, stepping in as a key security partner, promised to stabilize the region, counter jihadist insurgencies, and provide a bulwark against Western influence.
Yet, four years into this experiment, the AES remains mired in violence, repression, and propaganda. The United Nations’ revelation that a $50 million ransom fueled Al‑Qaeda’s offensive in Mali, alongside Burkina Faso’s militarization of journalists, underscores Russia’s failure to deliver on its security guarantees. Instead of peace, citizens face authoritarian control and a deepening insurgency.
In late 2025, the UN reported that a ransom of about $50 million, allegedly paid by the United Arab Emirates for the release of hostages in Mali, was funneled directly into Al‑Qaeda’s war chest. The money was redistributed to fighters across the Sahel, with portions reaching Al‑Qaeda’s affiliates in Yemen and its central command. This injection of funds allowed militants to buy weapons, strengthen logistics, and expand their insurgency. The Mali‑based coalition JNIM now commands between 7,000 and 8,000 fighters, half of them operating inside Mali itself.
Kidnappings, the UN warned, are not only a source of funding but a deliberate strategy to erode trust in the state. For Mali, already destabilized by successive coups in 2020 and 2021, the ransom scandal highlighted the fragility of its military government. Despite promises to restore security, the junta has failed to stem the tide of violence. Russia’s involvement, through military advisors and mercenaries, has not prevented militants from expanding their reach. Instead, the ransom episode revealed the porousness of state authority and the inability of external patrons to guarantee stability.
While Mali grapples with insurgency, Burkina Faso has taken a different path—turning inward to repress dissent. Under Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who seized power in 2022, the junta has imposed military‑style “patriotism” training on journalists.
More than 40 reporters were recently forced to undergo a six‑day course at a police academy, dressed in fatigues and holding rifles. Communication Minister Pingdwende Gilbert Ouedraogo declared: “A professional journalist who is not a patriot is a threat to their country.”
This militarization of the press is emblematic of the AES governments’ reliance on propaganda to mask their failures. By conscripting journalists into the war effort, the junta seeks to control narratives, silence criticism, and project an image of unity.
Yet rights groups warn that dozens of journalists have been forcibly sent to the frontlines, while independent outlets face suspension. The repression extends beyond the media: high‑school students are also subjected to similar training, blurring the line between civilian life and militarized propaganda.
Russia’s fingerprints are visible here too. The Kremlin has long promoted “information sovereignty” and state‑aligned media as tools of control.
In Burkina Faso, this model has been imported wholesale, turning journalism into an extension of the military. Instead of empowering citizens with truth, the junta enforces conformity, echoing Russia’s own domestic repression.
When Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the AES, Russia positioned itself as their guarantor of security.
Through arms deals, military advisors, and the deployment of Wagner mercenaries, Moscow promised to deliver what Western partners had failed to achieve: decisive victories against jihadists. Yet the reality has been starkly different.
Despite Russian support, Al‑Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates have expanded across the Sahel. The ransom scandal in Mali illustrates how insurgents exploit state weakness, while Russian forces remain reactive rather than preventive.
Russia’s model of governance—prioritizing control over freedom—has been adopted by AES leaders. In Burkina Faso, journalists are militarized; in Mali, dissent is crushed under the guise of national security. Citizens are treated as subjects, not stakeholders.
Russia’s influence has encouraged AES governments to prioritize propaganda campaigns over genuine security reforms. Military parades, patriotic slogans, and anti‑Western rhetoric dominate public discourse, while villages continue to fall to jihadist attacks.
The AES’s reliance on Russia has thus produced a paradox: while sovereignty is loudly proclaimed, actual security remains elusive. Citizens are repressed, militants are emboldened, and propaganda fills the void left by broken promises.
Behind these geopolitical maneuvers lies the suffering of ordinary people. In Mali, communities live under constant threat of kidnapping, extortion, and violence. The ransom scandal demonstrated how easily external deals can fuel local insecurity.
In Burkina Faso, journalists face conscription, students are militarized, and dissenting voices are silenced. The promise of sovereignty has translated into authoritarianism, leaving citizens trapped between insurgent violence and state repression.
Russia’s failure to guarantee security has compounded this human cost. By exporting its model of control, Moscow has helped AES governments repress their populations while failing to deliver peace. The result is a region where fear dominates—fear of militants, fear of the state, and fear of speaking out.
Propaganda has become the AES’s most potent weapon, wielded not against militants but against its own citizens.
In Burkina Faso, journalists are forced to chant patriotic slogans.
In Mali, military rulers promise security while silencing critics. Russia’s influence is evident in this strategy: control the narrative, suppress dissent, and project strength, even when reality tells a different story.
Yet propaganda cannot substitute for security. Citizens see through the façade when villages are attacked, when ransoms fuel insurgency, and when journalists are turned into soldiers. The gap between rhetoric and reality erodes trust, leaving societies fractured and vulnerable.
The AES was borne out of defiance—rejecting ECOWAS sanctions, expelling French troops, and embracing Russia as a partner. But defiance has not delivered security. The UN’s revelation of ransom payments fueling Al‑Qaeda, coupled with Burkina Faso’s repression of journalists, exposes the AES’s fragility. Russia’s guarantees have proven hollow, offering propaganda instead of protection.
For citizens, the AES experiment has meant repression at home and insecurity in the countryside. Militants grow stronger, journalists are silenced, and sovereignty is reduced to slogans. Russia’s failure to guarantee security has left the AES at a crossroads: continue down the path of authoritarian propaganda, or confront the reality that true stability requires more than external patrons and militarized narratives.
The choice will determine whether the AES becomes a genuine force for sovereignty or remains a cautionary tale of broken promises and deepening repression.
Amajama, a social and policy analyst, writes from Abuja, and can be reached via amajamaip@gmail.com
The Kaduna State Government has been urged to urgently evaluate and evacuate the Tudun-Ilu dump site, described as one of the state’s oldest waste disposal grounds, with environmental experts and a community monarch proposing that the land be converted into temporary shops and other community facilities.
The appeal followed a field assessment of the site by environmental scientists led by Comrade Ibrahima Yakubu, Head of Communication and Strategies at African Climate Reporters and lecturer at the African Institute of Waste Management and Environmental Studies.
The Tudun-Ilu dump site sits near the Fire Brigade in Tudun Wada, in a densely populated part of Kaduna metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria. Residents say it has served as a waste ground for decades and is now a major source of air pollution, smoke, and health problems, especially for women and children.
After inspecting the site, Yakubu and his team said the accumulated refuse must be properly evacuated to protect residents from toxic fumes released by burning and decomposition.
“There is a need for the authorities to properly evaluate the dump site and evacuate the accumulated waste, so as to save residents against dangerous smoke from the trash dump site,” Yakubu said.
He proposed replacing the site with structured temporary shops for traders or other community-use facilities instead of allowing plastics and other waste to keep piling up.
Yakubu also called on residents to stop setting the dump ablaze and urged government and civil society to step up public awareness on the dangers of open burning of waste.
The community leader of Unguwan Tudun-Ilu, Mai-Unguwa Mallam Husaini Yakubu, told reporters that residents have lived with the consequences of the dump for many years.
According to him, the site now receives not only household refuse but also animal waste and garbage trucked in from Kaduna Central Market. The result, he said, is smoke that hangs over the area from morning until evening.
“We have been living with persistent smoke and respiratory-related health challenges within the community,” Mallam Husaini said. “We appeal to the relevant authorities to put an end to the continued dumping of waste at the site.”
He suggested that converting the location into temporary shops or other useful facilities would end the environmental burden while also creating economic opportunities.
The monarch further called on humanitarian organizations, civil society groups, and health experts to work with government and community leaders to find a lasting solution to waste management in the area.
Environmental stakeholders at the visit stressed that waste management must become a priority across Kaduna metropolis. They recommended a coordinated response that includes:
Urgent evacuation of existing waste at Tudun-Ilu, Immediate ban on open burning at the site, Provision of alternative and properly managed disposal facilities Strengthened waste collection, recycling, and public awareness programmes.
Yakubu said such measures would help reduce air pollution, improve living conditions, and protect public health not only in Tudun-Ilu but in surrounding communities.
He commended the team of visiting scientists and journalists for documenting the situation and appealed to relevant authorities to act without delay.
Residents of Tudun-Ilu have repeatedly petitioned authorities to relocate or properly manage the site. With smoke, foul odour, and health complaints continuing, community leaders say the time for action is now.
The Presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas has warned against schemes to substitute his name, to pave way for a single candidate from the North.
He expressed this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, made available to newsnen in Kaduna.
“Any attempt to secretly substitute, withdraw, replace or otherwise compromise my candidacy without my express consent and without strict adherence to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The Electoral Act, the constitution and regulations of the ADP, and applicable INEC procedures would constitute a grave assault on democratic principles and the rights of our members and supporters,” he said.
According to the statement titled, “NO SECRET SUBSTITUTION OF MY PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE: PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE ADP” Ambassador Abbas was quoted saying, “I have become aware of serious political pressure allegedly being mounted on the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Engineer. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, by a Presidential candidate from an opposition political party, with the apparent objective of secretly substituting my name as the substantive Presidential Candidate of the ADP in the 2027 General Elections.
“The alleged motive is nothing short of an attempt to create a single Presidential candidate from Northern Nigeria by eliminating competing democratic voices through political manipulation rather than through the ballot box.
“Let me state this clearly: Nigeria’s democracy cannot be held hostage by the personal ambitions of any individual or political establishment,” he said.
Ambassador Abbas explained that he emerged through the constitutionally and democratically recognised processes of his political party.
“My mandate is not a personal possession of any individual, neither is it a political bargaining chip to be traded behind closed doors,” he watned.
He therefore, called on Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, the National Working Committee, the Board of Trustees, all State Chairmen, party leaders and every genuine stakeholder of the ADP to rise above political pressure, intimidation and personal interests and protect the integrity of the party.
“The ADP must not become an instrument for the ambition of any individual, regardless of how powerful or influential that individual may be.
“Our party belongs to its members. Our mandate belongs to the people. And our democracy belongs to Nigeria,” he pointed out.
The Presidential candidate urged the National Chairman and the entire leadership of the ADP to preserve all official records relating to the Presidential Primary, nomination, submission and communication with INEC, and to ensure that no alteration is made outside the lawful and transparent processes prescribed by the party’s constitution and Nigerian electoral law.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s approach to agricultural mechanisation, stressing that the country must move beyond simply purchasing tractors to a more productive and modern, investment-driven agricultural system.
Zulum made the call while speaking at a High-level National Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanisation organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja on Wednesday.
The Governor identified low productivity, limited technology, inadequate investment and weak value chains as major challenges facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He emphasised that mechanisation should be delivered as a service, giving farmers timely access to land preparation, precision farming, irrigation and other modern agricultural technologies.
Commenting on Borno’s agricultural transformation initiatives, Zulum noted that massive investment by his administration in agriculture is central to rebuilding livelihoods and restoring communities affected by insecurity and displacement.
Zulum highlighted a four-pronged approach to agricultural mechanisation in Nigeria, including mechanising agriculture to increase productivity and reduce drudgery, digitalising agriculture to improve precision, intelligence, and efficiency, regenerating agricultural resources to ensure long-term sustainability, and investing in infrastructure, technology, and enterprises that will drive the transformation.
Zulum also called for stronger private-sector participation and innovative financing for local manufacturing and assembly of agricultural machinery, irrigation, renewable energy, storage, processing, value addition and youth- and women-led agricultural businesses.
He emphasised that Nigeria must not simply recreate the agriculture of yesterday, but build the agriculture of tomorrow, which should be modern, smart, climate-resilient, productive and inclusive.
The goal, he said, is to build an agricultural economy capable of feeding the nation, competing globally, creating jobs and delivering sustainable prosperity to rural communities.
The Governor was accompanied by the member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba; Commissioner of Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele; CEO/Managing Director of the Borno Investment Company, Mohammed Bukar Umar; and Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mustapha Ali Busiguma.
