No fewer than 2,500 operatives of the Ogun State Police Command , alongside operational assets, have been deployed across Ijebu Ode and adjoining communities ahead of the 2026 Ojude Oba Festival.

The State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, said the deployment is part of proactive security measures put in place to ensure a peaceful, safe, and hitch-free celebration during the annual cultural festival.

The annual cultural festival, which is celebrated on the third day after Eid el-Kabir, Ileya, provides the opportunity for the people of Ijebu land, who are usually dressed in various beautiful attires, to pay homage to the Awujale and display the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people, including horse riding, among other activities.

DAILY POST reports that the year 2026 festival would be the first celebrated without a monarch on the throne.

Recall that last year, the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, was conspicuously absent at the festival due to health issues. He eventually died on July 13, 2025 at the age of 91 after reigning for 65 years.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, armoured personnel carriers, patrol vehicles, police motorcycles, surveillance teams, undercover operatives, and rapid response squads have been deployed to the Ojude Oba pavilion, major highways, hotels, worship centres, markets, motor parks, and other public spaces expected to witness heavy human and vehicular movement during the festival.

“The operation involves conventional police officers and tactical units drawn from the Police Mobile Force, SWAT, Violent Crime Response Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Monitoring Unit, Force Intelligence Department, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, Motor Traffic Department, and other specialised units.

“Officers deployed for the operation have been instructed to maintain professionalism, civility, and respect for the rights of law-abiding citizens while carrying out their duties.

“Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers have been mandated to strengthen collaboration with traditional rulers, community leaders, transport unions, event organisers, and other stakeholders to enhance intelligence gathering and ensure seamless security coordination throughout the festival period” the statement added.

Babaseyi explained that the security arrangement is designed to guarantee effective crowd control, intelligence-led policing, traffic management, anti-crime patrols, visibility policing, early threat detection, and rapid response to emergencies before, during, and after the celebration.

The command, however, warned criminal elements to stay away from the state, stressing that it remains fully prepared to decisively deal with anyone attempting to undermine the peaceful atmosphere of the celebration.

The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, has withdrawn from all activities of the state council following growing disagreements with the leadership of the union in the state.

The decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency congress of the chapel held on May 27, 2026, at the Correspondents’ Chapel Office in Makurdi.

In the communiqué signed by the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Martins Kajo, and Secretary, John Shiaondo, members announced their withdrawal from all activities of the state council pending the resolution of issues raised against the leadership of the union.

The chapel also directed all its members serving in the State Working Committee, State Executive Council and other committees of the council to immediately withdraw from such activities until further notice.

The correspondents further passed a vote of no confidence in the Chairman of the NUJ Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, over what they described as “unruly behaviour and repeated public embarrassment of the union over monetary issues.”

The chapel accused the NUJ chairman of factionalising the union, allegedly patronising non-members at the expense of genuine members and engaging in public altercations over financial matters.

Members also raised concerns over alleged financial mismanagement, including claims that the chairman failed to account for funds reportedly realised from schools owned by the council and donations made to the union.

According to the communiqué, the chapel expressed concern over the alleged failure of the state council leadership to account for N2 million reportedly generated from schools owned by the council, as well as N3 million allegedly received from the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, for the purchase of chairs.

The correspondents also alleged that out of the N10 million, a bus and palm trees donated by Governor Hyacinth Alia to the union, N3.5 million had allegedly not been properly accounted for.

The chapel further condemned the alleged commercial use of the NUJ bus, claiming journalists were made to pay as much as N50,000 before accessing the vehicle for official assignments.

Members equally dissociated themselves from a recent communiqué issued by the NUJ Benue State Council, particularly a purported vote of no confidence passed against the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula.

They insisted the position did not reflect the opinion of genuine members present at the congress, alleging that non-professionals and hired individuals influenced the outcome of the meeting.

The chapel, however, passed a vote of confidence in Governor Hyacinth Alia, his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, and other media handlers in the state, commending what it described as their cordial relationship with journalists and commitment to the development of the state.

President Bola Tinubu has described Children as the pride of the nation.

‘On this Children’s Day, I celebrate every Nigerian child. I celebrate the child who is excelling in school. I celebrate the child who is learning a trade. I celebrate the child living with disability and still pressing forward with courage. I celebrate the child who has lost much but has not lost hope.’ he said in a statement to mark Children’s day.

“Today belongs to you. It is a day to celebrate your innocence, your strength, your creativity, your aspirations, and the immeasurable value you bring to our nation.” Tinubu said.

He said, “The theme for this year’s celebration, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” speaks powerfully to the soul of our national conscience. It reminds us that the future is not a distant promise; it is already here.

“As we mark this special day, which coincides with Eid-el-Kabir, some Nigerian children and their teachers in Oyo and Borno should be with their families, but are being held captive by criminals. Some children have been forced into fear. Some parents cannot join today’s celebration because their hearts are set on one prayer: ‘Bring our children home.’

“To those children, their parents, and their teachers, I say this as a father and your President: you are not forgotten. You are not abandoned.

“To the families grieving and despondent, your government will not turn your pain into ceremony. We will continue to work until children taken from their homes, schools and communities are returned safely, and until those who profit from this cruelty are brought to justice.”

The National Democratic Congress, NDC, has announced that its primary elections will commence on May 28, 2026, as the party moves to align with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The NDC acknowledged that it had to drop its planned electronic voting system for the primaries due to time constraints.

The founder and National Leader of the NDC, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, disclosed this in a statement he signed on Wednesday.

Dickson noted that the decision followed “many hours of discussions involving the National Chairman, presidential candidate Peter Obi, members of the National Working Committee, and the Selection Committee.”

The statement read: “After a briefing at the joint meeting of the Selection Committee and the Screening Committee, and considering the time limitations, we decided that everyone who purchased Expression of Interest Forms would participate in the primaries in their respective constituencies.”

The party clarified that only successful candidates would later proceed to the secretariat to complete documentation, pay nomination fees, and fulfill other necessary requirements.

The party also announced that teams made up of senior officials had been deployed to various states to supervise the primaries, with support from local leaders and stakeholders.

“Our party supports women and young people, and we encourage the teams to focus on candidates who have the capacity to win elections,” the statement said.

The NDC warned against violence during the primaries, stating that sanctions would be imposed on any candidate or supporter involved in intimidation or disruptive conduct.

“We urge peaceful primary elections and emphasize that we have zero tolerance for any form of violence.

“The party will act firmly against anyone who engages in violence, threats, intimidation, or disruptive behaviour,” it added.

The party directed candidates to proceed with the primaries on May 28 and 29 using only their Expression of Interest Forms because of the “tight timelines” facing the party.

Dickson explained that direct primaries would be conducted for State Assembly elections at the constituency level.

“The Selection Committee and the NEC will announce the final results at the party’s National Secretariat.

“We strongly encourage consensus arrangements where necessary,” the statement added.

Winners of the recently concluded primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, have raised alarm over the delay in the issuance of Certificates of Return to successful candidates.

They are alleging that the development may be part of a calculated move by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, to alter the list of candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Checks revealed that aggrieved aspirants from different states and elective positions accused the party leadership of creating uncertainty within the ranks of the APC, despite the conclusion of the primaries and declaration of winners by various primary election committees since May 15 and 23, 2026.

Some of the aspirants, who spoke with DAILY POST under the condition of anonymity over fears of being victimized by the party, said the prolonged delay had heightened suspicion among party members.

This comes amid recent remarks allegedly credited to some members of the NWC that the party leadership retained the final authority to determine who eventually emerges as the party’s candidate.

According to them, remarks by some NWC members of the party further fuelled tension among candidates who fear that the outcome of the primaries could be overturned through administrative decisions at the party’s national secretariat.

One of the declared winners said, “We participated in the primaries in good faith; results were announced by the duly constituted primary committees, and winners emerged. But weeks after the exercise, many of us are yet to receive our Certificates of Return.

“What is more troubling is the statement by some NWC members that the party leadership reserves the right to determine who becomes a candidate irrespective of who was declared winner by the chairman of the primary election committee. That statement is dangerous and undemocratic.”

Another aspirant alleged that there were ongoing moves to replace certain candidates who were not favored by influential figures within the party hierarchy.

The aspirants also pointed out that while many candidates were yet to receive their certificates, President Bola Tinubu had already been presented with his Certificate of Return by the party following his victory at the APC presidential primary.

They argued that the prompt issuance of the President’s certificate contrasted sharply with the treatment being meted out to other victorious aspirants across the country.

“The President has already received his Certificate of Return, so why are others being delayed? The party should not create the impression that some candidates are more valid than others,” one of them stated.