A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dele Momodu, says the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is making every effort to make President Bola Tinubu the only person on the ballot in the 2027 general elections.

Momodu made this allegation on Thursday in an interview on Arise Television, monitored by DAILY POST.

The former presidential aspirant said that the APC having 31 governors in their party means nothing to the opposition, stressing that if the election is held today, the APC will be defeated.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine also took a swipe at the conduct of the FCT Area Councils elections.

“The APC is trying to make sure that President Tinubu is the only candidate on the ballot.

“They are trying to manoeuvre, but Nigerians are wiser than them. We are not worried or panicking in the ADC.

“Just one election in a small city like FCT, they had to declare a curfew, and the minister of the FCT became the IGP, personally supervising polling stations across the city,” he said.

A Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Frank Mba, along with several other senior officers, are set to retire from the Nigeria Police Force following recent leadership changes within the institution.

The development comes as seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police are being considered for elevation to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

The anticipated retirement of Mba and other DIGs follows the departure of the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the subsequent confirmation of Tunji Disu as the new head of the force.

Disu was sworn in on Wednesday as the 23rd indigenous Inspector-General of Police.

Sources at the Force Headquarters disclosed that the affected DIGs had already begun preparing for their exit but were awaiting formal directives.

According to one of the sources, many of the officers had already started clearing their offices in anticipation of their retirement.

“The DIGs are prepared to step aside, but they are waiting for the official signal. Some of them have already moved their personal belongings from their offices in readiness for the transition,” the source said.

Another insider revealed that seven Assistant Inspectors-General of Police are scheduled to appear before the Police Service Commission on Friday for promotion examinations, a process expected to pave the way for the retirement of the outgoing DIGs.

“Seven AIGs have been shortlisted for elevation to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police, which will ultimately lead to the retirement of the current DIGs,” the source said.

The officers listed for promotion are Margreth Ochalla, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, Ishiaku Mohammed, Zachariah Fera, Zango Ibrahim, Umar Shehu Nadada, and Muhammed Abdul Sulaiman.

They are expected to appear before the commission in Abuja for the promotion exercise.

When contacted, the spokesman of the commission, Torty Kalu, neither confirmed nor denied the development.

Mba, one of the senior officers expected to bow out of service, is a trained legal practitioner. He obtained his law degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after completing his studies at the Nigerian Law School in Abuja.

He later earned a Master’s degree in Law with distinction from the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Throughout his career, Mba also participated in several international training programmes, including the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, United States, as well as leadership courses at Harvard University and the University of Oxford.

During his years in service, he held key positions including Commissioner of Police in Ogun State and Commissioner of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force at the Force Headquarters.

He also served as Area Commander in Ajah and FESTAC areas of Lagos during earlier stages of his career.

Anxiety has gripped residents of Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon communities in Lagos following the conclusion of the assignment of an ad-hoc committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly investigating the demolition of structures in the affected areas.

The committee, constituted by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, wrapped up its deliberations on Thursday, March 5, 2026, after hearing submissions from representatives of the three communities, who presented differing views on compensation and relocation for those displaced by the demolition.

Speaking during the session, the Alase of the Egun Community in Makoko, Francis Agoyon, advocated the permanent relocation of affected residents rather than the payment of compensation.

The Baale of Makoko also supported relocation, stating that most residents would prefer to be moved to another location instead of receiving financial compensation.

He, however, urged the state government to clearly indicate the proposed relocation site and properly define the boundaries of the demolition exercise covering Makoko, Sogunro and Oko-Agbon.

Representatives of the Sogunro community took a different stance, calling for financial compensation for affected residents. They suggested that each displaced person should receive about N10 million, noting that the cost of constructing an average bamboo house in the area is estimated at about N4 million.

The Vice Chairman of the Fishermen Association, identified as Tobi, said the situation had generated tension within the communities, as many residents remained uncertain about the final outcome of the process.

According to him, the people are anxious about what lies ahead, adding that the ultimate decision would rest with the traditional leaders.

Reacting to the submissions, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Noheem Adams, expressed concern over the changing positions of the community representatives.

He recalled that the communities had initially agreed on compensation before later shifting their stance, describing the development as a setback to efforts aimed at reaching a resolution.

Adams said the committee would compile its findings, including the various positions presented by the communities, and submit a report to the Speaker and the full 40-member Assembly for further consideration.

During the meeting, officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABCA, informed the committee that some of the structures previously demolished had been reconstructed.

The agency subsequently sought the Assembly’s approval to remove the newly erected buildings.

Leaders of the three communities, however, agreed that the government should go ahead with the demolition of any structures rebuilt on the affected sites.

Earlier, the Assembly had directed the communities to constitute 10-member committees made up of women, youths, students and traditional leaders to assist in addressing the concerns of displaced residents and facilitate the resolution process.

The three communities have since submitted their reports to the Assembly Secretariat.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has taken a swipe at opposition parties, accusing them of thriving on “lies and hypocrisy.”

He insisted that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in a stronger political position than in 2023.

Speaking on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at an interfaith breaking of fast for Ramadan and Lent held at the State House, Shettima criticised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over its push for electronic transmission of votes.

He alleged that when the party opened its portal for membership registration, it was “overwhelmed by an avalanche of fake names and fictitious identities.”

“The same people who were adamant that we must have electronic transmission of votes opened their portal for membership registration, and it was flooded with fake names and fictitious identities,” the Vice President said.

Taking a broader swipe at opposition politics in the country, Shettima declared that misinformation has become their driving force.

“You and I know that, as Winston Churchill once said, ‘truth is so precious that it must be surrounded by a bodyguard of lies.’ Lies, lies, lies that is what is driving the opposition in this country,” he stated.

Addressing the gathering of political and religious leaders, Shettima urged party faithful to remain united as the political season approaches.

“Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the political season is around the corner. We are all political actors. We have to sell our government. We have to stand behind our administration,” he said.

He further maintained that the APC is now more politically comfortable than it was during the 2023 general elections.

“Politically speaking, we are in a more comfortable position now than in 2023,” he said.

On the recent wave of defections into the ruling party, Shettima insisted that governors joining the APC were doing so voluntarily.

“Nobody is coercing the governors of Rivers, Delta, Kano or any other state to join the APC. It is at their own volition because they have seen the light,” he added.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has boasted that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has 31 governors, stressing that more are expected to join.

Okpebholo said this on Wednesday during the official reception of defectors in Benin City, the state capital.

He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the people of Edo State over their support for the ruling party.

“Let me start by thanking Edo people for the unity that is binding us together and making us one party.

“We now have 31 governors in the All Progressives Congress, APC. And I want to tell you that more governors are still coming to join us.

“I want to also express my profound gratitude to our father, for whom we are here today, President Bola Tinubu.

“He’s being so good to us and we promise to deliver Edo State to him come 2027 general elections,” the governor said.

Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, has sealed up eight facilities in Umuahia, the State capital, for alleged failure to comply with Environmental Impact Assessment.

Some of the sealed facilities were also alleged to have channelled their wastes improperly in a way they polluted the environment and were consequently sealed by ASEPA, with a court order.

The affected companies included Pros P and Nova Heaven Apartment Hotels Amakama, Rich Vision Water, Confidence Hotels, Waveron Gas, Delatinos Event Centre, Hilltop Hotels and Bar, among others.

Explaining the action of his office, the General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Ogbonnaya Okereke, said the action followed a court order.

Mr Okereke, who spoke through the Head Monitoring and Revenue ASEPA, Mr Okpara Macauley frowned at the attitude of owners of the sealed property for allegedly operating without due authorization and without obtaining Environmental Impact Assessment.

Okereke also said that the facilities did not have an Environmental Evaluation Reports, and also channelled wastes from their facilities wrongly.

He advised those establishing eateries, hotels, among other companies, to ensure that they obtained the necessary requirements, warning that failure to comply attracts penalty in line with the law.

One of the sealed hospitality companies was ordered to pay N2.5 million fine to the State government and another N50,000 to the Abia State Judiciary account as penalty.

Former Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Wilson Inalegwu, says the Nigeria Police Force is understaffed, underfunded and under-equipped.

Inalegwu stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

He also said that the job of the Nigeria Police Force is done by the military and other security agencies.

The ex-Police Commissioner was reacting to the demand for the creation of state police in the country, which has become a national debate.

DAILY POST recalls that the newly sworn-in Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, on Wednesday threw his weight behind the creation of state police.

Airing his own opinion, Inalegwu said, “State police in itself is not a bad thing. The big question is that- is state police responsible for the challenges of insecurity that we have Today?

“The problem is because the police are understaffed, underfunded, unequipped, and so ordinarily the job that should be that of the Nigeria Police Force is now ware-housed in the military.

“One of the critical challenges of security management is coordination and collaboration. The Constitution is very clear. Section 214 states that there shall be one established federal police in Nigeria.”