As political parties conclude their governorship primaries, the battle to succeed Bala Mohammed in 2027 is gradually taking shape.

Mohammed is the current governor of Bauchi state.

Although five candidates have emerged from the major political parties in the state, political observers believe the contest is increasingly narrowing to a three-horse race involving Yakubu Adamu of the All Progressives Movement (APM), former governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Senator Shehu Buba Umar of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

The candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Haliru Dauda Jika, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (Wike-led faction), Usman Adamu Sufi, remain in contention. However, their parties are yet to demonstrate the statewide structure and momentum required to challenge the leading trio.

Yakubu Adamu

Yakubu Adamu enters the race with what many analysts consider one of the strongest political advantages — the backing of Governor Bala Mohammed.

The immediate past Commissioner of Finance is banking on the incumbency influence and the growing agitation for power rotation to Bauchi North.

His emergence followed Governor Bala Mohammed’s defection to the APM alongside a significant portion of his political structure.

From elected officials and party executives to grassroots mobilisers across the state’s 20 local government areas, the governor’s movement has effectively transformed the APM into a major political force.

For many observers, the greatest strength of Yakubu Adamu’s candidacy lies not necessarily in the party itself but in the extensive political machinery behind him.

Bala Mohammed remains one of the most influential political figures in Bauchi State and is expected to deploy his vast network to rally support for the APM candidate.

Beyond the advantage of structure, Yakubu Adamu is also expected to benefit from increasing calls for a power shift to Bauchi North.

The zone has not produced a governor in many years, fuelling sentiments among political stakeholders that power should rotate for equity, balance, and inclusiveness. Should the campaign gain wider acceptance across the state, it could significantly boost his electoral prospects.

However, the APM candidate is not without challenges.

Apart from allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Yakubu Adamu faces another hurdle many political analysts consider significant.

Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, no sitting governor in Bauchi State has successfully installed a preferred successor at the end of his tenure.

The state’s political history has consistently favoured change over continuity.

Former governor, Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu completed two terms between 1999 and 2007 under the PDP but failed to hand over to a successor of his choice, as Isa Yuguda of the ANPP emerged victorious in the 2007 election.

Likewise, Isa Yuguda, who governed the state from 2007 to 2015, could not transfer power to his preferred candidate, as Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC won the governorship election in 2015.

Whether Bala Mohammed can break that political jinx may become one of the defining questions of the 2027 race.

Mohammed Abubakar

For the All Progressives Congress (APC), the emergence of Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar has exposed deep cracks within the party.

The governorship primary triggered the exit of key stakeholders, including Shehu Buba Umar, while many members remain dissatisfied with the process.

Several party members have reportedly defected over allegations of injustice, candidate imposition, and lack of internal democracy.

Aggrieved stakeholders and aspirants accused the APC leadership of sidelining due process during the conduct of governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly primaries.

They alleged that no genuine direct primaries were conducted and claimed candidates emerged through what they described as imposition rather than democratic selection.

Some groups also accused the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, and former governor Isa Yuguda of influencing the emergence of Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar as the party’s governorship candidate.

Among those who exited the party was the member representing Jama’are/Itas-Gadau Federal Constituency, Hon. Rabilu Bala Kashuri, who resigned following his unsuccessful bid for re-election.

Similarly, Katagum Federal Constituency aspirant, Hon. Tijjani Mohammed Aliyu, accused the party of conducting a flawed primary characterised by predetermined results and violations of party guidelines.

Another APC chieftain, Hon. Abubakar Dahuwa Abdulkadir, also quit the party, describing the process as unfair and undemocratic.

In the same vein, Hon. Sulaiman Sunusi Lalaye, an aspirant for the Bauchi State House of Assembly, cited persistent irregularities and injustice as reasons for leaving the party.

Political tensions escalated further when Senator Shehu Buba Umar dumped the APC for the PRP to pursue his governorship ambition.

Unless urgent reconciliation efforts are undertaken, the APC may struggle to maintain its competitiveness.

Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and Minister Muhammad Ali Pate are expected to spearhead efforts to reunite aggrieved members and restore confidence within the party.

APC’s success in healing its internal divisions could ultimately determine how formidable the party remains ahead of the election.

Shehu Buba

Shehu Buba Umar remains one of the strongest contenders in the race owing to his grassroots appeal, political audacity, and growing influence across Bauchi South, the state’s most populous senatorial district.

His defection from the APC and emergence as the PRP governorship candidate have injected fresh momentum into the contest.

Unlike many politicians who depend heavily on party structures, Shehu Buba’s strength is largely rooted in his personal political brand and growing popularity among grassroots supporters.

He enjoys significant influence in Bauchi South, widely regarded as the state’s biggest electoral battleground due to its voting strength.

A commanding performance in the zone could place him in a strong position as the campaign intensifies.

The senator is also expected to benefit from protest votes by APC members dissatisfied with the outcome of the party’s primary election.

For many observers, his candidacy offers a viable alternative for voters seeking change without aligning with the ruling APM.

His role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence has further enhanced his visibility and projected him as a politician with influence beyond Bauchi State.

Nevertheless, significant challenges remain.

The allegation linking him to banditry during his political disagreement with Governor Bala Mohammed is expected to resurface during campaigns. Although the claim was denied and never substantiated, opponents may seek to weaponise it politically.

More importantly, the PRP faces the daunting task of building a statewide structure capable of matching the organisational strength of both the APM and APC.

Political popularity may attract attention, but elections are often won through effective grassroots mobilisation, polling unit management, and voter turnout operations.

For Shehu Buba, the real test will be translating growing public sympathy into a formidable electoral machine.

A Senatorial aspirant for Edo South on the platform of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinwa, has pinpointed what he refers to as the issue facing the NDC.

Agbonayinwa has been vocal regarding his purported exclusion from receiving the party’s ticket for the senatorial district, which he asserted he secured following the NDC primary elections held on May 29.

The former member of the House of Representatives is among the dissatisfied members of the party who are displeased with how the party’s leadership has managed the candidate selection process.

DAILY POST reports that the NDC has not yet disclosed the results of the primary elections for the Senate, House of Representatives, state governors, and state legislatures.

During an appearance on Arise News on Friday, Agbonayinwa stated that the most significant issue within the NDC is that the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, is imposing his will on everyone.

He said, “I think what is wrong is that one man cannot dictate for the whole NDC. You have national leader, you have national chairman, a senator of reput, a wonderful guy, a great guy. I respect him.

“You have the secretary, Barrister Ikenna, wonderful people. You have the national public secretary, they are great men, but at the same time we have the National Organising Secretary, wonderful people working day and night, but guess what? One man cannot detect and decide for the future of members of NDC.

“So for me, I cannot be going to the leader’s house every day waiting from morning till night. This is not democracy, for God’s sake. This is undemocratic.

“Democracy is for the people, by the people. You must allow the people to decide their own faith, I won the senatorial seat. There’s no two ways about it.

“What stopped them from announcing the result for God’s sake? Primary was on May 29, this is June 5. What are they hiding?

“He said they’re featuring one lady, that the lady is going to be giving affirmation, that they need a woman to be among the senator.

“You don’t do that. We went to primaries, those who won should be given the opportunity. Since I have won, I should be given the opportunity.”

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has announced restrictions on the operations of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada operators, as part of measures to strengthen security across the state.

Makinde announced the directive in an Executive Order issued on Friday.

The governor, while addressing residents of the state on the ongoing efforts to secure the release of abducted teachers and pupils of Oriire Local Government Area, assured the people that the state government remained committed to ensuring their safe return.

Makinde, in a video seen by Saturday PUNCH, said the operations of motorcycle riders would henceforth be restricted between 10:30pm and 5:30am across the state

He noted that the directive formed part of additional security measures introduced through an executive order aimed at curbing criminal activities and improving public safety.

“With the signing of this executive order, we are also introducing additional measures to enhance security across our state. Consequently, the operations of motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, will now be restricted between the hours of 10:30pm and 5:30am throughout Oyo State,” the governor said.

Makinde stressed that the government would not relent until the abducted teachers and schoolchildren regained their freedom, describing their continued captivity as painful for their families and communities.

“We will not relent until our teachers and children are returned safely home. Every day they remain in captivity is a painful day for their families, their communities, and all of us in Oyo State. They have not been forgotten, and they have not been abandoned,” he said.

According to him, the government may not be able to disclose details of ongoing rescue operations due to security considerations, insisting that intensive efforts were being made behind the scenes in collaboration with security agencies.

“We may not be able to disclose every step being taken because of the sensitive nature of the operations involved, but I ask our people not to mistake our silence for inaction. A great deal of work is being done behind the scenes, and we remain fully engaged with all relevant security agencies,” Makinde added.

The governor also called on residents to support security agencies by providing useful information that could help prevent crime and improve security in their communities.

“We can create laws and regulations, but their success ultimately depends on the cooperation of our people. This is another opportunity to remind us all that security is a shared responsibility.

“If you see something, say something, and the authorities will do something,” he said.

Makinde further urged residents to make use of the state’s toll-free emergency lines to report suspicious activities and security threats promptly.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has said he has no apology for his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his campaign for a second term in office.

The governor made the remarks on Wednesday at an event organized by the Tinubu Support Organisation, TSO, in Birnin Kebbi, where endorsements were also made for President Tinubu and the governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Idris responded to criticisms over his public support for the president, saying those questioning his position were not familiar with the realities in the state.

“I saw a clip last week questioning why Governor Idris should be in the forefront of supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said, adding that the author of the clip was not from Kebbi State.

He maintained that President Tinubu “believes in Kebbi and loves its people,” noting that ongoing federal projects in the state reflect the strength of that relationship.

According to him, his support for the president is based on ongoing federal projects and development efforts in the state.

“That’s why we are enjoying federal projects today. The essence of democracy is to deliver democratic dividends to the doorsteps of the people,” he said.

Idris also reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu, describing him as a leader and mentor, and insisting that Kebbi State remains fully behind his re-election bid.

“Tinubu is my leader and mentor. We support him 100% in Kebbi State,” he stated.

The governor recalled that residents of the state had earlier gathered at the Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi to endorse President Tinubu for a second term, describing it as one of the earliest such endorsements in the country.

“Last year, Kebbi people converged on the Haliru Abdu Stadium in Birnin Kebbi in their thousands to endorse Tinubu for a second term in office, the first state to do so in Nigeria,” he said.

Idris added that his administration would continue to support initiatives aligned with the development of Kebbi State and the country at large.

A pressure group within the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Kebbi State has called on the party’s governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, to select a running mate from Kebbi South Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The group, operating under the banner of the Kebbi ADC Unity Forum, specifically recommended Paul Gambo Tase for the deputy governorship position, arguing that the choice would promote equity, inclusiveness and regional balance within the party.

The forum’s coordinator, Garba Abdulkareem, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi.

According to him, Tase, a former Labour Party governorship candidate and an indigene of Kebbi South, possesses the experience and competence required for the position.

Abdulkareem said the forum believes the deputy governorship slot should be zoned to Kebbi South, noting that Malami hails from Kebbi Central Senatorial District.

He added that the recommendation was based on considerations of fairness, merit and political inclusion as consultations continue ahead of the 2027 election.

The forum described itself as a coalition of party members, professionals, community leaders, youths and women seeking to strengthen the ADC’s prospects in the state.

According to the group, Tase has indicated his willingness to serve if nominated by the party and its governorship candidate.

Tase was the Labour Party governorship candidate in Kebbi State during the 2023 general election and is a retired economist who previously worked with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, recently emerged as the ADC governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Kebbi State.

What began as a brutal terrorist attack on communities in Odeni Gida Ward of Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has now evolved into something even more disturbing – the apparent occupation of deserted communities by the very attackers accused of forcing residents out.

Months after coordinated attacks left more than 80 people dead across several communities, survivors say the pain has not ended.

Homes were burnt, food stores looted, farms abandoned, and properties worth hundreds of millions destroyed.

Yet, beyond the bloodshed and displacement, many residents now fear there may be a deliberate effort to redefine what happened and bury the truth beneath the softer language of “communal clash.”

From the onset of the violence, several residents and community voices rejected attempts to describe the attacks as ordinary communal unrest. They insisted that what happened was a coordinated armed invasion carried out by alleged heavily armed Fulani attackers who stormed multiple communities simultaneously.

Despite this, some government officials and security authorities repeatedly leaned on the “communal clash” narrative, a description many affected residents believe grossly misrepresented the scale and nature of the killings.

For many survivors, the concern was not only about semantics, but about what that classification could eventually mean, accountability, justice, compensation, and even ownership of ancestral lands.

During a recent visit to affected areas by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Community Engagement, Dr. Abiodun Essiet, another painful reality reportedly emerged.

Several of the attacked communities remain largely deserted, with displaced villagers yet to fully return home due to lingering fear and insecurity.

According to residents, some of the same individuals identified as participants in the attacks are now openly grazing cattle in those abandoned communities without resistance or challenge.

To many locals, that development has strengthened suspicions that the attacks may have been more than mere reprisals.

“The attackers have now taken over the very communities they displaced.

“That tells you this was never just a clash. It was a conquest,” one resident lamented.

Videos and photographs circulating online appear to support the scale of displacement, showing villagers, including women and children, fleeing with loads balanced on their heads as they searched for safety in neighboring settlements.

What has further fueled frustration among residents is the belief that the issue is gradually fading from public attention while attacks and intimidation allegedly continue in isolated forms, especially on farmlands.

Some community members accuse local leaders of weakening the push for justice by participating in reconciliation meetings that, according to critics, prematurely portrayed the crisis as resolved while victims were still displaced.

At one point, relief materials meant for affected persons were reportedly shared in ways some residents interpreted as equating victims with alleged attackers, a move critics say reinforced the “communal clash” narrative they had consistently opposed.

Although meetings were later held between affected communities and Fulani leaders, residents say little has been heard about whether agreements reached during those engagements were ever implemented or respected.

Meanwhile, reports of fresh attacks on farmers and continued insecurity in surrounding areas have persisted quietly, even as public discussions around the tragedy gradually diminished.

One of the loudest voices challenging the official narrative is Yahaya Kana Ismaila, who insists the attacks fit the pattern of organised armed violence rather than communal conflict.

According to him, the affected Eloyi communities share neither ethnic ties nor territorial identity with the armed men accused of carrying out the attacks, a major factor he argues weakens claims that the violence was communal in nature.

He maintained that the attackers came in large numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacking multiple settlements simultaneously before burning homes and forcing residents to flee.

The debate over terminology has since become central to the crisis itself. While authorities and some stakeholders continue to frame the violence as communal unrest, many residents believe such descriptions risk minimising the gravity of what occurred.

Kana, a public affairs commentator, further described the Udege killings as a grim reminder of the growing insecurity in Nasarawa State, warning that the continued absence of arrests and accountability could deepen fear and hopelessness among residents.

According to him, despite reports that more than 70 people lost their lives in the attacks, no suspect had been arrested at the time of his reaction, a development he said raises serious concerns about justice and protection for vulnerable communities.

He lamented the destruction of homes, farm produce, motorcycles, and livelihoods built over several years, stressing that many affected families may never fully recover from the losses inflicted on them.

He further argued that the crisis had created an atmosphere where many rural residents now feel abandoned and helpless, especially in the face of recurring attacks linked to disputes over kidnapping, grazing, and destruction of farmlands.

“The painful reality is that many innocent people have been left traumatised, displaced, and uncertain about their future.

“Entire communities have been shattered, while survivors are expected to simply return and rebuild their lives amid fear and insecurity,” he stated.

He warned that unless decisive action is taken by security agencies and government authorities, the perception that armed groups can attack communities without consequences may continue to embolden criminal elements across the state.

As fear spreads across affected communities, residents continue to issue desperate appeals for urgent intervention from both the Nasarawa State and Federal Governments.

Reacting to renewed tension in parts of Odeni Gida Ward, Abdulwahid Angala Odeni described the situation as devastating.

“My people are shattered and homeless. My heritage is under invasion by radical hoodlums Fulani herdsmen. Odeni Gida Ward, Udege Development Area, Nasarawa Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

“The Government of Nasarawa State should come to our aid.”

Another resident, Suleiman Otto Wakili, also called on federal authorities to step in.

“Fulani herdsmen attacked Sabon Gida Angwa Ogiri in Odeni Gida Ward, Nasarawa State. The Federal Government should take action concerning our situation please,” he said.

For many displaced residents, trust in local authorities appears to be fading rapidly.

Questions are increasingly being raised over the response of the Nasarawa State Government, security agencies, and emergency institutions.

Particular concern has also been expressed over the absence of large-scale humanitarian support, despite earlier assurances that aid would be provided to assist displaced persons and encourage safe return to affected communities.

Now, many victims believe the only remaining option is to push their case directly to the Presidency and demand federal intervention before more communities are permanently lost to fear, displacement, and silence.

As displaced families continue to wander between uncertainty and survival, one painful question continues to echo across Odeni Gida:

If the people cannot safely return home, then who truly owns the land now?

The Presidency has said that the establishment of state police to curtail insecurity in the country is close at hand.

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents on Thursday after a high-level consultative meeting convened by the Presidency at the State House, Abuja.

Gbajabiamila stated that the Federal Government has made substantial strides toward establishing state police, with a constitutional amendment anticipated in the coming weeks.

According to him, deliberations on the framework for state police began three to four months ago, following a direct order from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Establishing state police is not something that you do with the snap of the fingers. There is a lot involved in terms of constitution and legalities.

“Thank God we have now gained a lot of traction. Hopefully, the amendment will come shortly, and the details of the amendment will come after that. It is close at hand,” he said.

The Chief of Staff further explained that discussions have now advanced to the stage of fine-tuning the necessary constitutional amendments, after which an enabling law will be enacted.

“Right now, what we are looking at is the constitutional amendment itself, and then the enabling law would follow thereafter,” Gbajabiamila added.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives noted that the national conversation has shifted from whether state police should be established to how best to design its legal and institutional framework, adding that there is broad support across the country for the initiative.