The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Cross River State, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has condemned an alleged statement by Governor Bassey Otu that opposition politicians in the state would be “crushed” ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Sunday night, Archibong described the reported remark as reckless, disappointing and unbecoming of a democratic leader, arguing that it reflects intolerance for dissenting voices and an attempt to intimidate political opponents.

The PDP flagbearer expressed particular concern that the statement was attributed to Governor Otu, who is widely known for his Christian faith and often identified as an apostle.

He accused the governor of embracing political intimidation rather than demonstrating the moral values expected of a man of faith.

Citing Proverbs 22:22-23, Archibong urged the governor to refrain from actions or comments capable of suppressing opposition voices, stressing that democratic governance thrives on accountability and constructive criticism.

He maintained that the opposition would not be intimidated by threats, pledging instead to pursue a peaceful, issue-based campaign focused on the interests and welfare of Cross River people.

According to him, the period leading to the 2027 elections would provide an opportunity for a thorough assessment of the performance of the current administration, insisting that any government that has delivered on its promises should have nothing to fear from public scrutiny.

Archibong argued that the administration had itself provided the basis for criticism through its policies and actions, adding that a truly successful government would be judged by its achievements rather than attempts to silence opponents.

He said the governor should focus on “crushing” poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment through purposeful governance, strategic investments and visionary leadership, rather than targeting opposition figures.

The PDP candidate also challenged the administration to address issues highlighted in the recent SBM Intelligence report, which he said had negatively affected the state’s image.

Reaffirming his commitment to a peaceful campaign, Archibong insisted that no amount of intimidation would deter the opposition from holding the government accountable, adding that Cross River people deserved sustainable wealth creation and tangible development, not merely the signing of memoranda of understanding.

The Director, Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has said that the 2026 primary elections held by different political parties in the country is worse than the ones of 2022.

Amadi made this remark in an interview on Arise Television monitored by DAILY POST on Sunday night.

He said that why no lessons were learnt was that there were often no real consequences for violating due process.

According to him, political actors do not internalize the cost of breaking the rules because they were rarely penalized for doing so.

“The 2026 primaries are worse than the 2022 primaries. If candidates or parties lost elections for failing to follow fair and transparent procedures, they would be forced to learn from those mistakes.

“Unfortunately, a culture of what many describe as political banditry has emerged, where some believe they can disregard due process without consequences.

“When such behavior is rewarded rather than punished, it only encourages further violations and weakens democratic institutions,” he said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed a 31-day series of project commissioning across the capital city.

Wike said the commissioning is earmarked to celebrate the third anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

While speaking at a political lunch in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, the Minister highlighted the important achievements in his administration during his time, crediting the significant infrastructure growth to the President’s strategic support and vision.

Wike stated that the month-long commissioning circuit will include important road systems, public services, and large-scale city improvement projects aimed at completely transforming the country’s capital.

Ignoring the critics, the Minister directly highlighted the scale and quality of what his administration has accomplished in the FCT.

“In this third year of President alone…, we are spending 31 days to start new projects in Abuja. I’m not talking about boreholes. “I dare anyone to disagree with this,” Wike said.

He pointed out that the quick progress happening in Abuja clearly shows strong leadership.

Wike also challenged the opposition leaders to keep up with the extent of the work being done.

As he pointed out his achievements in the FCT, the former Governor of Rivers State shifted to an unexpectedly friendly tone about the strong political tension in his home state, extending a general pardon to all his political rivals.

“I want to take this chance today to say that I have forgiven everyone,” Wike said, emphasizing that ongoing political fighting doesn’t help anyone.

“I truly want you to come back home. We have been involved in politics, and we have hurt ourselves; now is the perfect moment for you to come back,” he said, encouraging both former friends and opponents to put aside their pride and join together again.

Even though there was a big offer for peace, the Minister was very clear about how strong his political team is at home, calling it an unbeatable “rainbow coalition.”

Wike gave serious warnings and made strong statements about the current political situation.

He clearly warned outside groups not to try to disturb the peace in Rivers State, saying, “Anyone from another state who is trying to harm Rivers State will face issues…

“You put your hand in, you get burned.”

He claimed that his political system has successfully secured control over future elections.

“If you’re discussing the governorship election in this state, just forget it; it’s over…

“If you believe that some kind of miracle will happen to change everything for us, that’s not true,” he said.

Assuring his supporters of their strong position, he said, “We are always very alert, any time, any day.” “We will bring you back, and we will collaborate with everyone. We are not selfish.”

Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has threatened to ‘Occupy Aso Rock’ if the abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State were not rescued.

The African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate made this known in a post on X on Sunday.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s security chiefs must act swiftly to secure the release of those held captive.

“If Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his service chiefs fail to track down and secure the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and other kidnapped people, we will have no choice but to occupy Aso Rock Villa this week!” he wrote.

DAILY POST recalls that the victims were abducted on May 15 after gunmen attacked schoolchildren in Oriire LGA of Oyo state.

Gunmen had kidnapped no fewer than 45 schoolchildren and teachers and killed an assistant head teacher as well as a commercial motorcyclist.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has announced the appointment of Commandant Offor Kenneth Onyeso as the new State Commander of its Rivers State Command.

Offor, who hails from Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, officially assumed duty as the 27th State Commander of the command on May 20, 2026.

A graduate of Education Administration and Accountancy from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Offor joined the NDLEA as a cadet officer on November 1, 1994.

Over the years, he has served in several strategic capacities within the agency, including as Deputy State Commander of the Ebonyi State Command and Deputy Zonal Commander of Zone 12 in Owerri, Imo State.

In a statement on Friday, the agency described him as a seasoned narcotics officer whose experience, professionalism and dedication to duty contributed to his appointment.

During his resumption, Offor pledged to strengthen the agency’s operations in the state through intelligence-driven enforcement and sustained preventive initiatives.

He said, “I will uphold the core values of the agency through robust enforcement, intelligence led operations, and sustained public sensitisation and prevention programmes.”

The new commander also appealed to stakeholders, traditional institutions, the media and members of the public to support the agency’s efforts to rid Rivers State of illicit drugs and related crimes.

Osun State chapter of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, has affirmed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde as its preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The party also intensified efforts to attract members and structures of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, into its fold ahead of future electoral contests.

The affirmation came as the party concluded its primary elections and announced candidates for National and State Assembly positions across federal and state constituencies in Osun State.

Chairman of the Primary Election Committee, Adewale Adebayo, said Makinde was affirmed across the 332 wards of the state.

Adebayo described the outcome of the primary exercise as a demonstration of unity, consensus and shared commitment among party members.

He said, “In every generation, political movements survive not only by competition, but by cohesion, discipline and collective purpose. Today, APM is sending that message clearly and boldly.”

According to him, “The affirmation of our candidates across all elective positions reflects the confidence of the party in credible leadership and our determination to move forward as one united political family.

“Sometimes, the strongest democracy is not in division, but in agreement built on trust, consultation and common vision.”

Announcing the presidential endorsement, Adebayo said, “After the successful conduct of our primaries, we have Today affirmed His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, the sole presidential aspirant of our great party, as the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement for the 2027 general election.”

He noted that the affirmation followed what he described as the peaceful and successful conduct of the exercise across all 332 wards in Osun State without rancour or disruption.

Adebayo disclosed that the party had activated reconciliation mechanisms aimed at engaging aggrieved members and encouraging them to remain committed to the party’s objectives ahead of the 2026 Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.

He also called on members and supporters of the PDP, as well as other Nigerians, to join the APM, describing it as a platform capable of strengthening opposition politics and advancing its political agenda ahead of future elections.

A good governance advocate, Isaac Fayose has expressed optimism that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, may lose the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.

Fayose was reacting to a viral video that captured a mammoth crowd receiving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede in Ado Ekiti on Friday.

Oluyede and his running mate, Hon. Deji Ogunsakin had stormed the Ekiti State capital to pay a strategic courtesy visit to the Muslim Society in the city.

In the viral video, the PDP candidate was seen accompanied by a very large number of supporters, who vowed to sack the incumbent governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of the APC via the June 20 governorship election.

Reacting, Isaac Fayose, in a post on his Facebook page, said the ruling “APC is gone” in Ekiti State.

He, however, stated that “the only way for APC now is to rig”, stressing that except the outcome of the election is manipulated, Ekiti people would now have a breath of fresh air.

Isaac Fayose claimed that the end of all the former governors and other political leaders, who, according to him, sabotaged the growth of the state, has come.

“Thank you for coming out today to tell all the former governors in Ekiti State that their time is up. You all came out today to say enough is enough, bye bye to APC”, he added.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has said that the various states of the federation have benefited from the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu since May 29, 2023.

AbdulRazaq, who is also the governor of Kwara State, made this remark on Friday in Lagos when the NGF, led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, paid a Sallah homage at Tinubu’s Lagos residence.

He was speaking on President Tinubu’s bold decision to remove fuel subsidies since his inauguration in 2023.

According to him: “I remember we were in China when I got a call from the NSA and DSS DG to be informed that oil subsidy would be removed and there is no going back.

“We went into panic mode, and I sent a message to my colleague governors, and nobody wanted to hear that.

“I gathered my colleagues and decided to book an appointment with you to register our disagreement with the policy, but when the president invited us for dinner, we sat and listened to his vision for the country and at the end of his speech, we couldn’t even bring up the topic. We didn’t even know if he had gotten security reports about why we wanted to see him, but we couldn’t bring up the issue.

“We went back to our room and decided to implement it. So we agreed to call State executive council meetings because we were expecting serious riots due to the removal of fuel subsidies. There were already bad government riots, but lo and behold, there were no riots.

“I think the nation was shocked by the audacity of the president to implement that policy.

“Today, we benefit from that policy. In my own state, we have reduced our debt by 40%. Some states have also cleared their debts.”