About 55 aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State who voluntarily stepped down from various elective contests in the interest of party unity have accused the party leadership and the Kaduna State Government of neglecting and marginalising loyal members.

The aggrieved aspirants, operating under the banner of the Kaduna State House of Assembly APC Aspirants Forum 2026, said they abandoned their political ambitions following appeals by party leaders, believing that their loyalty, discipline and commitment to the party would be rewarded with fairness, inclusion and recognition.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the forum’s chairman, Godwin Luka (Maisolar), and Secretary, Tahir Gambo Abubakar, the group lamented that, despite remaining steadfast and loyal to the APC, repeated efforts to seek an audience with the party leadership and the Kaduna State Government had yielded no positive response.

According to the forum, members voluntarily withdrew from their respective contests to preserve party unity and enhance the APC’s electoral prospects, describing the decision as a significant sacrifice made in the collective interest of the ruling party.

The aspirants, however, expressed disappointment that, months after making the sacrifice, they had allegedly been excluded from appointments, consultations and other political engagements.

They further alleged that, while loyal party members who complied with the directives of the leadership had been sidelined, individuals who openly criticised the party or opposed its decisions were allegedly being rewarded with appointments and political opportunities.

The statement said, “We willingly sacrificed our personal ambitions after appeals by the leadership because we believed our loyalty, discipline and commitment to the party would be recognised and appreciated.

“We remain committed to the ideals and success of the APC, but our patience and loyalty should not be mistaken for weakness, neither should our sacrifices be taken for granted.”

The forum stressed that its members were not demanding special treatment but were simply calling for justice, fairness and recognition of those who made personal sacrifices to strengthen the party.

It warned that continued neglect of loyal members could affect the morale of party faithful as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While reaffirming their loyalty to Governor Uba Sani and the APC, the aspirants urged the governor and the party leadership to engage members of the forum urgently and address their grievances before they escalate.

They also noted that many members of the forum command significant political influence across their respective constituencies, adding that their supporters were closely monitoring developments and would expect direction as preparations for the next general elections intensify.

“We have no regrets supporting the success of our great party. However, loyalty should be rewarded. Justice, equity and fairness remain the foundation for sustaining unity and strengthening the APC ahead of future elections,” the statement added.

The forum expressed optimism that the party leadership would resolve the matter through constructive dialogue, insisting that recognising and accommodating loyal members would further consolidate the APC’s unity and electoral strength in Kaduna State.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kaduna State chapter of the APC nor the Kaduna State Government had issued an official response to the allegations.

A fresh dispute has emerged within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Osun State after a party chieftain, Ibraheem Adekunle, insisted that he remains the party’s validly nominated candidate for the Osun Central Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election.

The development followed the announcement by the senator representing Osun Central, Olubiyi Fadeyi, that he had returned to the PDP and had emerged as the party’s candidate for the senatorial district in the forthcoming general election.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Friday, Adekunle dismissed the claim and warned against any attempt to substitute his name as the party’s candidate, maintaining that he secured the ticket through a duly conducted PDP primary election.

He stated that he would seek judicial redress if any individual or group attempted to alter his nomination, insisting that the party’s nomination process had already been concluded in accordance with the law.

Adekunle questioned the circumstances surrounding Fadeyi’s alleged return to the PDP, referring to reports that the senator obtained a waiver from the party on May 8 2026 before allegedly participating in the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial primary on May 18, 2026.

According to him, “It has been claimed that Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi obtained a waiver from the Peoples Democratic Party on 8 May 2026. However, available records indicate that he subsequently participated in the APC senatorial primary election held on 18 May 2026 for the same office.

“This raises a fundamental question: if he had already become a PDP member through the alleged waiver on 8 May, under what legal or constitutional basis did he purchase APC nomination forms, submit APC nomination documents, undergo APC screening, campaign as an APC aspirant, and eventually participate in the APC primary election ten days later? Political party membership cannot exist in two parties at the same time.”

Adekunle maintained that by the time Fadeyi contested the APC primary election, the PDP had completed its nomination process for the Osun Central Senatorial District and had forwarded his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He declared, “My name was duly submitted by the PDP to the Independent National Electoral Commission after the primary election and was subsequently uploaded on the Commission’s nomination portal in accordance with the law. I therefore remain the authentic and validly nominated PDP candidate for Osun Central Senatorial District.”

Expressing confidence in the PDP leadership, Adekunle said he trusted the National Working Committee to uphold due process and protect the outcome of the party’s primary election.

“I have absolute confidence in the National Working Committee of our great party and in the leadership of Chief Nyesom Wike. I believe they will uphold the rule of law, respect due process and protect the sanctity of the party’s primary election,” he said.

He warned that he would challenge through lawful means any effort to replace his name as the PDP’s candidate, stating, “I will vigorously defend my mandate and challenge, through every lawful means available, any attempt to unlawfully replace my name with that of any person who did not emerge from the PDP primary election.”

The Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its dedication to enhancing Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, respond to, and investigate Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, CBRN, and explosive threats.

This reaffirmation followed the hosting of the Final Phase of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, C-WMD, Curriculum Development Workshop for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, EOD-CBRN, Command.

The workshop was organized by the Commissioner of Police, EOD-CBRN Command, CP Hauwa Ibrahim, in partnership with the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DTRA, and the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

The DTRA delegation was headed by Major Brittany Brown, while Mrs. Pamela West led the ONSA delegation.

The program represented the conclusion of a series of Train-the-Trainers workshops designed to institutionalize the National Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Curriculum across involved security agencies and to bolster Nigeria’s readiness against emerging CBRN and explosive threats.

In his opening remarks on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Operations, DIG Umar Shehu Nadada, characterized the initiative as a strategic investment in the operational preparedness of the Nigeria Police Force.

He emphasized that the evolving nature of Weapons of Mass Destruction threats necessitates that law enforcement agencies remain proactive, well-trained, and operationally equipped, while also highlighting the significance of ongoing inter-agency collaboration and international partnerships in ensuring national security.

DIG Nadada expressed the Inspector-General of Police’s gratitude to the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser, facilitators, and all partner agencies for their unwavering commitment to enhancing the operational capabilities of the Nigeria Police Force.

He emphasized that the ongoing support, technical expertise, and knowledge transfer from the partners have greatly improved the Force’s ability to safeguard lives, protect vital national infrastructure, and respond adeptly to changing security threats.

The Deputy Inspector-General further urged participants to engage in the workshop with professionalism, dedication, and a commitment to excellence, highlighting that the knowledge and skills gained should be effectively disseminated within the Force to ensure that the National C-WMD Curriculum becomes a lasting element of the training framework for EOD-CBRN personnel, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness throughout the Nigeria Police Force.

EOD-CBRN Command reiterated its dedication to incorporating the curriculum into the Nigeria Police Force training system to guarantee that officers develop the necessary competencies to effectively tackle emerging CBRN and Weapons of Mass Destruction threats.

The Command also conveyed optimism regarding the ongoing support from its strategic partners, particularly in the realms of specialized equipment, technical assistance, and advanced capacity building, to further enhance the operational capabilities of the EOD-CBRN Command in addressing modern security challenges.

Lagos State Government has sealed more than 20 properties in Ikeja Local Government Area for allegedly breaching the state’s physical planning regulations.

The enforcement operation, carried out by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, forms part of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal developments and ensure adherence to approved planning standards.

The affected structures include vacant plots, unfinished buildings, and properties with unauthorised structural extensions, according to a statement posted by the state government on its official Facebook page on Friday.

The exercise was led by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Olayinka Wasiu, alongside the General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, and other senior officials of the agency.

The government said the operation aligns with its broader campaign to regulate physical development and safeguard land designated for public infrastructure across the state.

It also highlighted the ongoing statewide documentation exercise under the Setbacks, Common Areas and Roadsides Administration and Monitoring Project, SCRAMP, which seeks to identify and document informal public spaces while addressing their illegal occupation, unauthorised conversion and misuse. According to the government, such activities undermine approved development plans and the overall urban landscape.

Speaking during the enforcement exercise, Wasiu said the operation was intended to prevent building collapses, encourage orderly urban development and ensure compliance with the Lagos State Physical Planning Law.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property through strict enforcement of planning regulations aimed at creating a safe, sustainable and resilient built environment.

Wasiu disclosed that contravention notices had earlier been issued to the affected property owners, informing them of the measures required to regularise their developments before enforcement commenced.

He advised developers and property owners to obtain the necessary planning permits and statutory approvals before embarking on any construction project or structural modification.

The permanent secretary added that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, through LASPPPA, would continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement activities across Lagos to curb illegal developments.

He also assured residents who comply with the law that the authority would remain committed to enforcing planning regulations in order to maintain an organised, aesthetically pleasing and legally compliant physical environment throughout the state.