Category: Politics

AWKA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has disowned a letter purportedly written by him to His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, concerning political and financial matters in Anambra State.

Obi, in a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, titled “Disclaimer: Fake Letter Circulating in My Name,” described the document as false and malicious, saying it was fabricated by what he called mischievous elements to mislead the public.

He also said the signature appended to the purported letter was forged.

The former Anambra State governor urged members of the public and the media to disregard the document, saying his focus remained on national development, accountability and improving the country.

“My attention has been drawn to a fake letter circulating on social media, purportedly written by me to His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, concerning political and financial matters in Anambra State.

“This document is entirely false, malicious, and a fabrication by mischievous elements aimed at misleading the public. Furthermore, the signature appended to the letter is completely forged.

“I urge the public and media to disregard this spurious publication. My focus remains steadfastly on issues of national development, accountability, and building a better future for our people — never on cheap fabrications,” Obi said.

The purported document, which was circulated with the heading “OK Movement Obi/Kwankwaso 2027”, was dated September 19, 2026, and addressed to the Obi of Onitsha.

It was titled “The Future of Ndigbo is Bleak” and contained claims and appeals concerning political developments in Anambra State, including references to the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Obi’s tenure as governor and alleged questions over the state’s financial records and liabilities.

The purported letter called for the examination of government records and greater transparency, while urging traditional rulers, political leaders and elders to promote unity, accountability and dialogue.

It also appealed for differences among political actors not to become divisions among the Igbo people.

The document ended with the Igbo proverb “Otu osisi anaghi eme ohia” — “One tree does not make a forest” — and was purportedly signed by Peter Obi.

Obi, however, has expressly disowned the document and said the signature on it was forged.

UYO, Nigeria (NPA) — Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has received the report of the recently concluded civil service recruitment exercise and approved the immediate issuance of appointment letters to 4,000 successful applicants.

The appointments are to take effect from October 1, 2026, with the successful applicants expected to resume work on October 2.

The governor also approved the recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to support the state’s Model Primary Schools.

“I also approved the recruitment of an additional 2,000 teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board to support our Model Primary Schools,” Eno said.

He commended the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission and other officials involved in the recruitment exercise, describing the process as transparent and one that gave applicants a fair opportunity to succeed.

The governor said the recruitment would create employment opportunities for residents while strengthening the operational capacity and service delivery of the state’s civil service.

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has removed the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam, from office with immediate effect.

The decision was contained in a public service announcement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr Monday Uzor, on Saturday, September 19, 2026.

The statement said the governor had directed Mbam to immediately hand over all government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government.

He was also directed to transfer his responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works.

“The Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, FCAI, GGCEHF, has directed the immediate removal from office of the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Stanley Lebechi Mbam,” the statement said.

“The Governor also directed him to hand over all Government property in his possession, including his official vehicle, to the Secretary to the State Government and transfer responsibilities to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry.

“The Governor assured residents of the State that his administration remains focused on delivering effective governance and improving public infrastructure.”

No reason was given for the commissioner’s removal in the announcement.

The development comes amid criticism from opposition figures over the performance of the Nwifuru administration, particularly regarding infrastructure and the commissioning of projects.

Earlier in the year, Nwifuru had accused Mbam of giving him inaccurate information about the completion status of some government projects, alleging that some projects reported as completed were not actually completed.

However, the government did not state whether the governor’s earlier criticism was connected to the commissioner’s removal.

The latest development comes as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties expected to continue scrutinising the performance of the state government.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Obidient Movement, a political group aligned with the leadership aspirations of Peter Obi, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of political thuggery and warned against further attacks on opposition supporters.

The group made the allegation in a statement issued on Saturday, September 19, 2026, and signed by its Media and Communications Directorate under the title, “APC Must End Its Political Thuggery or Nigerians Will End It for Them.”

The Obidient Movement condemned what it described as attacks on members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and other Nigerians during a reported One Million-Man March in Warri, Delta State, on September 18.

The group alleged that APC-sponsored thugs disrupted the political procession and linked the incident to broader concerns over political violence in the country.

The allegations come amid reports of a confrontation during an NDC mobilisation march in Warri and Effurun, where the NDC campaign council called for an investigation. The Delta State Government has also directed security agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute anyone found culpable.

The Obidient Movement also referred to an earlier incident involving the convoy of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and reported attacks on NDC members during a political gathering in Enugu State.

On the Enugu incident, the state police command confirmed that armed hoodlums disrupted an NDC meeting in Nkanu West Local Government Area on September 12 and said two attendees were injured. The NDC subsequently said eight of its members sustained gunshot injuries. Police ordered an investigation into the incident.

The Obidient Movement accused the APC leadership of encouraging political violence and questioned the ability of security agencies to protect opposition supporters and political gatherings.

It warned that Nigerians would not accept intimidation or the denial of their democratic rights, while stressing that political differences should be settled through lawful democratic processes.

However, the group also used strong language in warning that continued attacks could provoke resistance.

“If the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of maintaining law and order have decided to become partisan and shield political thugs perpetrating violence, it is important to emphasise that nobody has a monopoly of violence, and Nigerians will now return violence for violence whenever the need arises,” the statement said.

The group added that such a development could lead to anarchy, while warning political actors against using thugs to prevent opposition parties from campaigning or holding meetings.

“No political party has the right to determine who can campaign, where Nigerians can gather or who they can support,” it said.

The movement said it remained committed to peaceful political participation but added that it would not surrender its supporters to intimidation.

“We are peaceful, but we are not helpless. We will not initiate violence, but neither will we surrender our people to intimidation,” the statement said.

The group called on the APC and other political actors to allow Nigerians to freely participate in political activities, adding that the 2027 election should be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than by violence or intimidation.

“The 2027 election must be decided by Nigerians at the ballot box, not by political thugs on the streets,” it said.

ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (NPA) — Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has signed the Ogun State Education and Skills Trust Fund Bill into law, establishing a framework for strengthening the funding, administration and development of education and skills acquisition across the state.

The governor, in a statement on Saturday, said the Trust Fund would provide an additional source of financing beyond regular budgetary allocations, supporting areas including school infrastructure, bursaries, teacher development and facility maintenance.

According to him, the law also covers informal education, vocational training and the re-engineering of the traditional apprenticeship system.

“We have signed the Ogun State Education and Skills Trust Fund Bill into law, establishing a sustainable framework for strengthening the funding, administration and development of education and skills acquisition across our state,” Abiodun said.

“The Trust Fund will provide an additional source of financing beyond regular budgetary allocations, supporting critical areas such as school infrastructure, bursaries, teacher development, facility maintenance and other initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes.

“The law also covers informal education, vocational training and the re-engineering of the traditional apprenticeship system.

“Having already trained more than 9,000 young people in various vocations, we will continue to expand access to practical skills that promote employment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.”

Abiodun said the government recognised that it could not fund education alone and called for stronger participation from the private sector and other stakeholders.

“We therefore welcome stronger participation from the private sector and other stakeholders as we work together to preserve Ogun State’s position as Nigeria’s leading destination for quality education and human-capital development,” he said.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has criticised the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over what he described as an attempt to dictate how the Federal Government should run the country.

Dare, in a statement today titled “Atiku Abubakar’s Unsolicited Homework,” said the former vice-president had no basis to instruct a sitting president on how to govern within the remaining period of his mandate.

He accused Atiku of addressing President Tinubu simply as “Bola” while issuing what he described as instructions and attempting to dictate a timetable for governance.

“That is not opposition. It is insolence,” Dare said.

He described Atiku’s approach as “political hubris”, arguing that the presidency was not a classroom and that Nigeria was not a rehearsal ground for political ambitions.

Dare said that, with the 2027 elections approaching, Atiku should take his message to Nigerians through the campaign process rather than attempt to instruct the president through press conferences.

He also criticised the ADC and its political messaging, alleging that some of its statements had created confusion rather than presenting a coherent alternative to the government.

On the economy, Dare defended the Tinubu administration’s reform programme, saying the government was undertaking what he described as difficult but necessary measures to restructure an economy affected by longstanding structural problems and fuel subsidy costs.

He dismissed Atiku’s recent calls for intervention as politically motivated, accusing the former vice-president of seeking electoral advantage from the economic difficulties Nigerians are experiencing.

Dare also raised the controversial Mambilla power project matter involving Atiku, saying the former vice-president should address questions surrounding the issue if he seeks to claim moral authority in criticising the administration.

“The Mambilla matter is not a rumour invented by the internet. It is a public controversy that requires candour, not diversion,” Dare said.

He further accused Atiku of political opportunism and said the former vice-president should answer questions about his past before attempting to “school” the Tinubu administration on governance.

Dare urged Atiku to focus on campaigning ahead of the 2027 election, saying political criticism should not be presented as instructions to the sitting president.

“Alhaji Atiku should go and campaign. If he has something to tell Nigerians, let him tell them as a candidate, not as an unappointed tutor to Mr President,” he said.

Dare concluded by saying that the Tinubu administration would continue its work despite political criticism, adding that the 2027 election would take place at the appropriate time.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has condemned the deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, describing the incident as deeply troubling and demanding urgent answers on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Obi stated this in a statement titled “Let’s Begin to Give Dignity to Human Lives in Our Land”, in which he said the deceased were suspects who, regardless of the offences they were accused of committing, remained entitled to humane treatment while due process took its course.

“The death of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, is a deeply troubling tragedy that demands urgent answers.

“These were persons who had been arrested as suspects. Whatever offence they were suspected of committing, they were still human beings, and the responsibility of the State was to keep them alive, safe, and treated humanely while due process took its course,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor said it was particularly disturbing that such a large number of people could die in a place of detention within a short period.

While investigations were ongoing into the cause of the deaths, including reports concerning disease, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, Obi said Nigerians deserved a transparent, independent and credible investigation to establish exactly what happened.

He said the incident also highlighted the need to view security beyond the arrest of suspects.

“This tragedy also reminds us that security is not merely about arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our safety operate within the law,” he said.

Obi said a country could not claim to value human life if people entered government custody alive and died without immediate, transparent and credible accountability.

He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the authorities to ensure that justice was done.

“Nigeria must become a country where the rule of law protects every citizen, not only those who are free but also those who are in custody,” he said.

Obi prayed for strength for the bereaved families as they mourned their loved ones.