A non-governmental organization, Yiaga Africa has lamented the spate of pre-election violence ahead of August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, the Executive Director of the group, Samson Itodo, described it as a serious cause for concern.

Former Benue State governor and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Samuel Ortom has rejected reports claiming that he and other senior members of the party are considering replacing the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, with the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Dr Pius Akutah.

Ortom described the reports circulating on social media as false and misleading, saying they misrepresented the purpose of a recent meeting involving some prominent Benue stakeholders.

In a statement released by his media assistant, Zege Terhide, the former governor said the report was a “mischievous” distortion of the discussions held during the meeting.

He explained that the meeting brought together himself, Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, Aondoakaa and other notable Benue indigenes, including Chief Simon Shango, Prof. Iyorwuese Hagher, Dr Pius Akutah, Emmanuel Ameh and Dr Matthias Byuan.

According to Ortom, the gathering was part of broader consultations involving influential stakeholders, aimed at creating a strategic partnership that would serve the interests of Benue State.

He firmly denied that the issue of changing the PDP governorship candidate featured in the discussions.

“At no time during the meeting was the replacement of Chief Aondoakaa as the PDP governorship candidate discussed, contemplated or placed on the agenda,” Ortom said.

The former governor said there was nothing unusual about political figures consulting with stakeholders, noting that such engagements were part of the democratic process.

He consequently criticised those attempting to portray the meeting as a secret political arrangement.

“It is, therefore, mischievous for anyone to take a legitimate meeting of Benue leaders and manufacture an entirely different motive for it,” he said.

Ortom further explained that engagements involving politicians and influential individuals should not automatically be viewed as evidence of hidden political schemes.

“Political consultations and engagements across party lines are neither strange nor secret conspiracies, particularly when they are driven by the larger interest of the people,” he stated.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the 2027 PDP ticket, Ortom made it clear that Aondoakaa remained the party’s candidate for the Benue governorship election.

“Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, remains the duly nominated governorship candidate of the PDP in Benue State for the 2027 election,” Ortom declared.

He said Aondoakaa continued to enjoy the backing and confidence of the PDP leadership and members across the state.

Ortom also expressed optimism about Aondoakaa’s prospects if elected, pointing to his experience, competence and understanding of the challenges confronting Benue.

According to the former governor, the PDP candidate had the capacity to provide effective leadership and drive improvements in critical areas, including security, economic recovery and sustainable development.

He warned those behind the alleged replacement story to stop circulating what he described as fabricated claims capable of creating unnecessary tension within the party and among Aondoakaa’s supporters.

“Political journalism and commentary must be anchored on facts, not conjecture, deliberate falsehood or the attribution of imaginary motives to legitimate engagements,” he cautioned.

Ortom called on PDP members, Aondoakaa’s supporters and other residents of Benue to disregard the report and concentrate on the party’s preparations ahead of the 2027 elections.

He maintained that the controversy would not derail the PDP’s efforts to unite stakeholders and build a strong coalition of Benue people ahead of the election.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested one Odigie Moses, a self-acclaimed spiritualist for alleged sextortion to the tune of $1,100 (One Thousand, One Hundred Dollars).

He was arrested in Ekpoma, Edo State.

The suspect, who misrepresented himself on Zelle, a social media platform as possessing spiritual healing powers, was contacted by his victim, an Indian woman, who was in need of spiritual intervention on some life-threatening challenges. The suspect subsequently deceived her into taking a naked spiritual bath, which he recorded live without her permission, and thereafter blackmailed her to send him money, else he would make the video public.

Investigation by the EFCC revealed that the victim had to pay the sum of $1,100 to the suspect in order to prevail on him not to release her nudity to the public.

He will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, Chairman of Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, Dr. Wale Babalakin and Chairman of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema are the leading dignitaries billed to lead discussions at the 30th edition of the League of Airports and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC) Annual Conference schedule to hold on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Providence Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The conference, which has become Nigeria’s foremost aviation industry dialogue platform, will bring together top government officials, aviation regulators, airline operators, airport managers and other stakeholders in the aviation industry to deliberate on the theme: “Towards a Sustainable Aviation Industry: Balancing Government Revenue Demands with Sector Growth.”

The event will witness the unveiling of the second edition of LAAC’s Champions of Aviation publication which chronicles the achievements and exploits of aviation agencies, airline operators, and other industry players. Keyamo is the Special Guest of Honour, while Babalakin will chair the event and Onyema, will deliver the keynote address, bringing his extensive industry experience to bear on discussions expected to shape policy recommendations for sustainable growth in Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Speaking on the forthcoming conference, Chairman of the LAAC Conference Committee, Mr. Wole Shadare, described this year’s theme as timely, noting that the aviation industry is at a critical point where government revenue expectations must be carefully balanced with policies that encourage investment, competitiveness and long-term sustainability. According to Shadare, “The aviation industry remains a strategic driver of economic development, trade, tourism and national integration. However, increasing fiscal pressures and multiple charges have continued to generate conversations about the need to strike a balance between government revenue generation and the growth of the industry.”

He added that the conference would provide a credible platform for robust engagement among policymakers, regulators and operators, with the objective of developing pragmatic recommendations that would support a more competitive and sustainable aviation sector. “We have assembled some of the most respected voices in the industry to examine these issues from different perspectives. We expect meaningful conversations that will ultimately contribute to policy reforms capable of strengthening Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem,” Shadare said.

On his part, Chairman of LAAC, Mr. Sulaiman Idris, affirmed the conference underscores the association’s commitment to promoting informed discourse on issues affecting the aviation industry through constructive engagement with stakeholders. He noted that for three decades, the annual conference has served as an important platform for shaping conversations around aviation development and policy in Nigeria.

“Our annual conference has earned the confidence of industry stakeholders because it consistently addresses contemporary issues affecting aviation. As we mark the 30th edition, we remain committed to fostering dialogue that supports sustainable growth, enhances operational efficiency and promotes policies that will make Nigeria’s aviation industry more competitive,” he said.

He urged aviation professionals, government agencies, private operators, financial institutions, and members of the public with an interest in aviation to participate in the conference. The 30th LAAC Annual Conference is expected to attract a broad spectrum of participants from across the aviation value chain, with discussions focusing on sustainable financing, regulatory policies, investment climate, infrastructure development, operational efficiency and strategies for ensuring that government’s efforts at ramping up revenue do not undermine the growth and competitiveness of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has been inaugurated as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), with a pledge to mobilise the political will and resources required to expand electricity access across underserved communities.

Fayose was inaugurated alongside other members of the REA Governing Board on Friday by the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, in Abuja.

Also inaugurated were Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar, Ilyasu Makinta and three other members and non-executive directors, while Abba Aliyu assumed office as the Managing Director of the agency.

Speaking after his inauguration, Fayose thanked President Bola Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and other members of the board.

He said his immediate priority would be to reposition the agency and ensure that its programmes deliver tangible improvements in electricity access, particularly at the grassroots.

Fayose pledged to use his position to provide the political support required to attract funding for both the short- and long-term programmes of the agency.

“Work has started in earnest; we are reaching out very fast and appealing to people to ensure the work is done,” he said.

The former governor assured Nigerians that the new board would work to justify the confidence placed in it by the President.

“I want to use this window to assure Nigerians that your expectation about my appointment and my colleagues will not be dashed.

“We will give our best to achieve the renewed hope of President Tinubu for the country to be better for us all,” he added.

He said the agency must also ensure that the growing Nigerian population benefits from improved access to energy.

According to him, expanding electricity access would have a direct impact on communities and improve economic opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.

“We are not just providing electricity; we are looking at the population of the country who need to feel the impact of the energy,” he said.

The new REA chairman said the agency would work towards ensuring that communities experience tangible benefits from its interventions.

Also speaking, REA Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, thanked President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and pledged to work with the board to expand electricity access.

Aliyu said the agency would continue its efforts to provide power to both served and underserved communities across the country.

Earlier, Tegbe said Nigeria’s electricity sector was undergoing a shift from simply measuring power generation in kilowatts and megawatts to assessing how many communities and people were actually being powered.

He described REA as a strategic institution within Nigeria’s power sector, saying its mandate went beyond connecting communities to electricity.

“We are moving from just counting kilowatts and megawatts to how many communities and people were powered in the country,” the minister said.

Tegbe said every mini-grid project, solar home system and electrification project represented an investment in human capital, economic inclusion and national development.

He said the electrification of markets, schools, primary healthcare centres, farms and productive businesses could unlock economic opportunities and improve livelihoods.

“REA is fundamentally an institution for expanding opportunity,” he said.

The minister said the agency’s role had become increasingly important as the Federal Government continued implementing the Electricity Act and deepening reforms across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

He described REA as a bridge between national electricity policy and grassroots development, noting that the agency was expected to ensure that the benefits of power sector reforms reached communities beyond major urban centres.

“Not only in our major cities but also in the remotest communities across the federation,” Tegbe said.

According to him, the constitution of the new board demonstrates President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening governance and accountability across government institutions.

Tegbe charged the board members to provide effective strategic oversight, promote transparency and innovation, and ensure that public resources entrusted to the agency are used efficiently.

He also urged them to build productive partnerships with development organisations and private-sector investors to accelerate rural electrification.

The minister said the board had assumed office at a critical stage in the country’s power sector reforms and must focus on delivering measurable results.

He urged the members to ensure that every decision taken by the board reflects the needs of ordinary Nigerians.

“Most importantly, I encourage you to continually ask one fundamental question whenever decisions come before the board: ‘How does this improve the lives and livelihoods of ordinary Nigerians?’”

Tegbe expressed confidence that if the board maintained that principle as its guide, REA would continue to exceed expectations and make a measurable difference in electricity access across Nigeria.

An All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Kebbi State, Adamu Yahaya, popularly known as Adam Fakai, has announced the withdrawal of his support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing what he described as a lack of recognition by party leaders.

Fakai made the announcement in a statement, saying he would no longer promote the activities and programmes of the Tinubu administration after spending more than two years publicising government projects and policies across the country.

According to him, he invested his personal resources, time and energy in promoting the administration because he believed in Tinubu’s leadership and development agenda but received no encouragement or support from APC leaders at either the state or federal level.

He alleged that some prominent political figures had used photographs and videos of Federal Government projects he documented without acknowledging or contacting him.

Fakai said the perceived lack of appreciation informed his decision to discontinue promoting the administration, adding that he believed he might have received greater support if he were from another state.

Despite his decision, he expressed appreciation to individuals who supported and encouraged him during the period.

Fakai became known on social media for visiting major Federal Government projects across the country and publishing photographs, videos and reports highlighting the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure and development initiatives.

Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Bashir Ahmad may clash in Osun State on Tuesday ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.

DAILY POST recalls that the duo traded jabs on Thursday after President Bola Tinubu held a telephone conversation with the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is Davido’s uncle.

Following the call, Davido took to his X handle to celebrate the development, stating that he “was there live! I witnessed history.”

Reacting, Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential media aide, said he had bookmarked the singer’s post, suggesting that Davido would return to the platform to lament the outcome of the governorship election.

However, Davido fired back by mocking Ahmad over his recent performance in the APC primary election, where he allegedly secured 16 votes.

The singer also accused the former presidential aide of failing to impact the lives of people in his community positively despite serving in government for eight years.

Responding in a follow-up post, Bashir disclosed that he would be in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, from Tuesday, August 11, for the APC campaign rallies.

“I will be in Osogbo from 11th, David,” Bashir wrote.

Meanwhile, the governorship race has gathered momentum, with APC’s Bola Oyebamiji and the Accord Party’s incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke intensifying their campaigns ahead of the August 15 poll.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has approved the creation of two new districts in Argungu Local Government Area as part of efforts to strengthen local administration and traditional institutions in the state.

The approval was disclosed in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Garba Umar Dutsinmari, and made available to journalists in Birnin Kebbi.

According to the statement, the decision followed the resolution of the Argungu Local Government Council to create additional districts within the local government area.

The commissioner said the newly created Yamman District, with headquarters in Gungu, will be headed by Alhaji Abubakar Mohammad Mera, while Darikwai Muhammadu Ibrahim has been appointed as the District Head of the upgraded Gwagwange District.

He explained that the creation of the new district and the upgrading of Gwagwange District were carried out in line with the provisions of the Kebbi State Local Government Law, 2008, Section 10 (A) and (B), which empower local governments to create and upgrade districts.

Dutsinmari urged the newly appointed district heads to discharge their responsibilities with discipline, honesty, transparency and dedication, noting that their appointments were based on merit and track records.

He also assured them of the continued support of the state government and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the discharge of their duties.

The Ogun State Government on Thursday recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against kidnapping, with the successful rescue of the seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo North Local Government Area, who were abducted by suspected kidnappers earlier this week.

Governor Dapo Abiodun, while addressing journalists at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, in the company of security chiefs and some of the rescued students, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that kidnappers and other criminal elements have no hiding place anywhere in Ogun State.

The Governor disclosed that the rescue was achieved through a coordinated security operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Ogun State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps), local vigilantes and hunters.

“I am pleased to inform the good people of Ogun State that in the early hours of today, Thursday, August 6, 2026, the combined security operation successfully rescued all seven victims alive.

“One of the victims sustained a gunshot injury during the incident and was immediately evacuated for medical attention. The student has since been stabilised.

“This operation is still ongoing, and I wish to assure the good people of Ogun State that our security agencies remain on the trail of every individual connected with this criminal enterprise,” he said.

Governor Abiodun revealed that the operation received a significant boost after the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, approved the deployment of a police helicopter for aerial surveillance, a move that proved crucial to the successful rescue of the students.

“Our resolve is very clear. Ogun State will remain hostile to criminality and safe for every law-abiding citizen, resident and investor,” the Governor declared.

He added that security agencies had intensified efforts to apprehend other members of the criminal gang who remain at large.

According to him, recent joint security initiatives, particularly Operation Kò S’Áyé, have demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence sharing, inter-agency collaboration and sustained operational pressure against criminal elements.

Governor Abiodun also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his administration’s commitment to combating banditry, terrorism and kidnapping across the country, noting that the recent rescue of 308 abducted victims by Nigerian security forces underscores the growing effectiveness of coordinated security operations nationwide. (Reuters)

“At this juncture, I must acknowledge the purposeful leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration has placed the restoration of peace and security at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda through sustained investment in the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

“The strengthening of intelligence coordination, the acquisition of modern security assets and his deliberate reforms have continued to deepen inter-agency collaboration,” he said.

The Governor further noted that the Federal Government has continued to strengthen the nation’s security architecture, adding that the recent approval of a substantial salary increase for officers and men of the Armed Forces would further boost personnel welfare and morale.

He said the successful rescue of the 308 kidnapped victims demonstrates the increasing effectiveness of coordinated security operations across the country, restoring public confidence, strengthening national security and reinforcing Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for both local and foreign investment. (Reuters)

Governor Abiodun expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, community leaders, the families of the victims, the students and the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic for their patience, cooperation and support throughout the rescue operation.

He assured residents that his administration would continue to invest in security infrastructure and provide the necessary logistical support to security agencies to safeguard lives and property across the state.

Speaking during the briefing, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Mr. Bode Ojajuni, disclosed that no ransom was paid to secure the students’ freedom, stressing that the rescue was achieved solely through the coordinated efforts of security operatives.

The police commissioner further revealed that two suspected kidnappers had been arrested and were already providing useful information to investigators, while security agencies had intensified the manhunt for other fleeing members of the gang.