The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared Governor Sim Fubara as the leader of the party in Rivers State.

This comes amid the renewed hostilities between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike over leadership postion in the state.

Following his defection to the APC, Fubara had declared himself as the 001 of APC in the state.

But, Wike had dismissed the governor’s stance, stressing that he controls the political structure in the state, since APC and the Peoples Democratic Party have teamed up to support President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Reacting, the APC National Chairman, however, said he would support Fubara for a second term if he wins the party’s primaries.

In an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy, Yilwatda said: “Governor Fubara is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, but he would need to coordinate with every other person in the state.

“I don’t choose who to support in the state’s primary election. If Fubara emerges as the APC candidate, I’ll support him.

“If he loses the primary, I’ll sympathise with him and go with the person who wins the primary election.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has reacted to comment by Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State that some supporters of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are now backing President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at a new year banquet on Thursday in Port Harcourt, Fubara said Prince Uche Secondus, Rt. Hon. Austin Opara, Alabo Abiye Sekibo, and former Governor, Sir Celestine Omehia are now supporting him and Tinubu.

Reacting, Wike said these men failed to give Atiku 10 percent votes during the 2023 presidential election.

Speaking in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) Local Government Area of Rivers yesterday, Wike assured Tinubu of the required support to win the 2027 presidential election.

He said: “I heard somebody (Fubara) say, ‘Oh, those who want Atiku are back.’ they couldn’t give Atiku 10% in 2023, so what is the political advantage?

“I won’t call their names but you all know them, we will do all we can to see that we give Tinubu the total support that is required.”

He also lambasted the Ohanaeze President-General, John Mbata for referring to him as a semi-illiterate.

Wike said: “Ordinarily, I won’t have bothered myself but I will say it. Somebody who was a former senator said the FCT Minister is a semi-illiterate but the same person dropped out from Rivers State University when he was reading law, he could not make it.

“I meant to University of Port Harcourt, finished, went to the same university he dropped out and went to the law school, today, I’m life bencher.

“The semi-illiterate has the fourth highest national award in Nigeria.”

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government’s priority in 2026 is reliable, accessible and sustainable electricity supply.

The assurance is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr Bolaji Tunji.

Tunji said Adelabu gave the assurance in his New Year message to Nigerians and the people of Oyo State.

“Looking ahead, our focus remains unshakable: to deliver reliable, accessible and sustainable electricity to power our homes, industries and dreams,” Adelabu said.

He said the path forward would be driven by continuity and renewed vigour, with efforts to enhance grid stability and expand transmission infrastructure.

Adelabu said collaboration with Electricity Distribution Companies would be intensified to improve service delivery and ensure metering initiatives reach every community.

“Our Light Up Nigeria initiative remains a priority, focusing on industrial clusters and agricultural hubs to stimulate economic growth and job creation,” he said.

The minister said renewable energy development would also be prioritised, with solar and hydropower deployed to serve underserved communities.

He described 2025 as a year of focused groundwork and deliberate strides in the power sector, despite prevailing challenges.

According to him, progress was recorded in strengthening the national grid and improving overall stability during the year.

Adelabu said the Presidential Power Initiative, known as the Siemens deal, had helped curb frequent grid collapses experienced in previous years.

“As Phase One of the PPI continues, we assure Nigerians of a strengthened grid that will make disturbances a thing of the past,” he said.

The minister thanked Nigerians for their resilience, saying their support remained critical to building a robust energy future.

“The journey ahead requires a united front,” Adelabu said, calling on governments, communities, the private sector and citizens to partner in reforms.

He urged Nigerians to protect power infrastructure and adopt energy-efficient practices, describing them as vital national contributions.

Extending greetings to Oyo State residents, Adelabu said the new year would usher in measurable progress in the power sector.

“To my kinsmen and women in Oyo State, your unwavering support continues to fuel my dedication at the national level,” he said.

Rivers State Executive Council on Friday approved N1.854 trillion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year.

The budget, which was tagged the “Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development” was given approval after a thorough deliberation at the EXCO meeting.

The meeting, which marked the first in 2026, was presided by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara with his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and others in attendance.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting, Fubara’s Special Adviser on Economic Matters and Social Development, Prof Peter Medee said the council approved N1,854,248,734,475.76 for the provision of goods and services in the state in 2026.

Medee explained that the proposed estimate was designed in such a way that it would reflect the development priorities of the Fubara’s administration.

He noted that the budget is also expected to address some other critical obligations of the state.

The Osun State Police Command has warned against an alleged plan by some individuals to disrupt the smooth resumption of duties by local government employees under the aegis of the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, across the state.

The warning was contained in a public service announcement issued by the command following credible intelligence reports on Friday.

According to the statement, which was signed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan and issued by ASP Giwa-Alade Emmanuel, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, “the alleged plan targets council secretariats in the 30 local government areas, Ife East Area Office, Modakeke, as well as local council development areas.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, cautioned that “any individual who is not a bona fide staff member of the local government authorities must refrain from approaching or loitering around the secretariats.”

He stated that police personnel had been “directed to act decisively against anyone found attempting to incite unrest or disrupt public order at council premises.

“Such malicious plans will not be tolerated and will be met with resolute and decisive action by the Command to maintain law and order.”

CP Gotan added that it would not allow any group to undermine the prevailing peace and tranquillity maintained across Osun State.

CP Gotan reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to the protection of lives and property, noting that officers would continue to carry out their constitutional duties with vigilance and professionalism.

He urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and vigilant, and to cooperate with security agencies by promptly reporting suspicious activities.

Residents were also advised to “contact the Police Control Room on 08039537995 or 08123823981, the Complaint Response Unit on 08035143235, 08066286549 or 08030732461, or through the Command’s official social media platforms for assistance.”

DAILY POST had reported that NULGE in a statement on Monday announced that its members across the state would resume back to work on Monday, January 5, 2026 after an eleven month strike.

The decision to go back to work was coming after NULGE Osun State chapter declared a strike in February, 2025 after elected officials of both the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, violently clashed over control of the local government secretariats in the state.

The violent clashes repeatedly led to the loss of lives in opposing camps prominent among whom is Remi Abass, an APC stalwart in Ikire, Irewole local government council area of the state.

Prof Pat Utomi, a political economist, has said that he would walk away from the former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, whenever he decides to become someone’s running mate.

Prof Utomi stated this on Thursday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television monitored by DAILY POST.

He was speaking on Peter Obi’s defection to the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

DAILY POST reports that Obi alongside other prominent leaders of the Southeast on Wednesday officially defected to the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“I can tell you that Peter Obi will contest for the presidency come 2027 general elections. The day he becomes somebody’s running mate, I will walk away from his corner. I can tell you that for a fact.

“And secondly, something very important for this election to bear in mind is that the Nigerian presidency has become a retirement home where people go for the Nigerian state to pay their medical bills.

“This is not acceptable. They don’t have the fitness to run the country. The last one and even the current one do not have the fitness to run the affairs of this great nation,” he said.

Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Borno State have called on Governor Bala Mohammed and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde to sheath their swords, embrace party unity, and realign their loyalty to FCT Minister, Nyesom  Wike.

Chairman of the stakeholders, Grema Kyari, made this call while addressing journalists in Maiduguri, commending the FCT Minister for his commitment to discipline and institutional integrity.

Kyari, a member of the National Working Caretaker Committee,  also hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for rejecting the outcome of the Ibadan Convention, which produced Kabiru Turaki as the National Chairman of the party.

The group further extolled the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Caretaker Committee for its bold, timely, and lawful decision to dissolve the Borno State PDP Executive Committee and approve the constitution of a Borno State PDP Working Caretaker Committee.

It noted that the action has brought renewed hope to party members across the state just as it reflected the aspirations of PDP faithful in Borno State who have long awaited justice and internal democracy.

“Wike’s steadfast commitment to discipline, constitutionalism, and institutional integrity remains unprecedented, especially in the face of sustained pressure and actions from governors Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde, who are supported by Barrister Kabiru Turaki, which have deepened the internal crisis of our party.

“In view of these undeniable facts, we hereby call on Barrister Kabiru Turaki, Governor Bala Mohammed (former Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum), and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to sheath their swords, embrace party unity, and realign their loyalty with our National Leader, His Excellency Chief Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, whose role in strengthening and repositioning the PDP is well known,” the group said.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG, in charge of Zone 17, Ajani Musibau, has strongly condemned the attack on the Ipele Divisional Police Headquarters in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, describing it as a grave and unacceptable threat to public peace and security.

The AIG made the remarks during an on-the-spot assessment of the damaged police facility on Thursday, alongside the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal.

The inspection team included senior officers of the command, as well as representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and other security agencies.

During the visit, the team examined the extent of damage caused by the attack, in which armed assailants reportedly set the police station ablaze, destroying the building and several important exhibits.

No casualty was recorded, as all officers stationed at the division were unharmed.

Speaking after the assessment, AIG Musibau expressed deep concern over the scale of destruction and vowed that the Nigeria Police Force would spare no effort in ensuring that those responsible are identified and prosecuted.

He described the incident as an unforgivable assault on the security architecture of Ondo State, stressing that all lawful and operational measures would be deployed to track down the perpetrators.

The AIG further assured that security has been reinforced in the area, adding that welfare arrangements would be made for affected personnel.

He also disclosed that plans were already underway for the reconstruction of the damaged police station.

In his remarks, Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, commended the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, noting that ongoing reforms and technological innovations under his administration have continued to strengthen policing operations across the state.

CP Lawal also acknowledged the support of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his consistent backing of security agencies in maintaining peace and public safety.

He assured residents that the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified efforts to apprehend those behind the attack.

According to him, additional operational resources, including Tactical Units, Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) teams, as well as Police Mobile Force units, have been deployed to the area to restore and sustain security.

The commissioner urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious movements to security agencies, assuring residents that the situation is under control and that investigations remain ongoing.