The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State chapter, has called for stronger collaboration among the church, government and traditional institutions to promote peace, unity, good governance and sustainable development in the state.

The call was contained in a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of a three-day Ministers of the Gospel Conference held at the CAN Secretariat along FGGC Road, Jalingo.

The conference, themed “The Roles of the Church and the State in Advancing God’s Purpose in a Changing World,” brought together bishops, pastors, church leaders, traditional rulers, politicians and CAN leaders from the 16 local government areas and two development areas of the state, as well as participants from across the country.

The communiqué, signed by the CAN Chairman in Taraba, Rev. Fr. Williams P. Awoshiri, and Chairman of the Conference Working Committee, Bishop (Dr.) Innocent R. Solomon, stated that the church and government had distinct but complementary roles in nation-building.

“The church has a spiritual and moral responsibility to preach the gospel, defend human dignity, promote peace and justice, care for vulnerable people and speak for the voiceless,” the association said.

It said government was responsible for providing security and justice, delivering essential services and creating an enabling environment for development.

CAN urged Christians holding political offices to regard their positions as opportunities for service rather than personal advancement, citing biblical figures such as Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah as examples of integrity and effective leadership.

The association also called on the church to provide moral and ethical leadership without becoming an instrument of partisan politics.

It urged churches to prepare Christians not only for participation in elections but also for responsible service in governance, including in the areas of economics, security, law, agriculture, education and technology.

On church-state relations, CAN advocated constitutional independence, mutual respect and constructive cooperation.

It urged the church to complement government efforts in education, healthcare, poverty reduction and peacebuilding while retaining the courage to speak truth to power when necessary.

The association further called for greater consultation between government and traditional rulers, describing traditional institutions as important custodians of culture and grassroots values.

It urged authorities to involve traditional rulers in policies affecting their communities.

CAN expressed concern over divisions among Christians and called on church leaders to resolve differences within and across denominations, stressing that denominational differences should not undermine Christian unity or become sources of conflict.

The association also resolved to establish continuous channels of engagement among church leaders, traditional rulers and Christian politicians beyond election periods and times of crisis.

It said such engagement should focus on government policies and issues affecting citizens.

CAN called for greater involvement of church leaders in conflict prevention and peacebuilding, particularly in view of Taraba’s multi-ethnic composition and history of communal conflicts.

It urged leaders to adopt early intervention mechanisms and traditional methods of dispute resolution to prevent conflicts from escalating.

Popular Nigerian activist, Omoyele Sowore has criticised Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, also known as Davido, over the latter’s recent outing with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

DAILY POST reports that the singer and his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, visited Wike at his residence in Abuja on Thursday.

In a 16-second video currently making the rounds on social media, Davido was captured having a light conversation with Wike about the outcome of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

Reacting, Sowore described them as political hustlers, wondering why the singer was “genuflecting before Nyesom Wike” despite the killing of Osun residents during the election period.

In a post on his X handle, Sowore wrote:

“Nigerian political hustlers will deceive the public, and the gullible will swallow the deception whole.

“Here is the loud and lousy @davido genuflecting before Nyesom Wike @GovWike, barely a week after their ‘agreement is agreement’ election politics in Osun, a contest marred by deadly violence and the loss of scores of lives.

“Behind all the public grandstanding, insults, and manufactured outrage, these political actors know exactly where their interests converge.

“Dissemblers. Gerrymanderers. Carpetbaggers. Political hustlers. Lying machines. When their interests are at stake, the masks come off.”

There were reports that supporters of both the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Accord Party were murdered before and during Saturday’s election.

The opposition African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ebonyi State chapter, has held a fresh primary election for the Ebonyi South Senatorial District, with Dr Ideyi Prince Gamax emerging as the party’s candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He stood as the sole aspirant in the primary, polling a total of 450 votes to emerge as the winner.

The Returning Officer and Deputy Chairman of the ADC in Ebonyi State, Dr Victor Uduma, who announced the result, stated that party members from the Ebonyi South Senatorial District participated in the primary.

Uduma said, “We had the only candidate here, Dr Ideyi Gamax, who had a total of 450 votes.

“Party members from Ebonyi South Senatorial District were particularly enthusiastic and happy and have given him the mandate to represent them in the forthcoming 2027 general election as the ADC candidate.”

Speaking after his emergence, Gamax explained that the substitution primary was conducted as part of the party’s administrative process following an earlier primary held on April 22, 2026, where he also emerged as the senatorial candidate.

Expressing confidence that the ADC would win the 2027 senatorial election in Ebonyi South, he said consultations across the district indicated that the people were eager for a change in representation.

Gamax said the people of Ebonyi South were looking towards the ADC as a vehicle for change and effective representation, as well as the delivery of the dividends of democracy.

“I am very hopeful. Our people are eager for change, and they are looking at ADC as a vehicle to bring about this change and give us the kind of representation that will benefit our people,” he said.

Dr Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor, the ADC state chairman, described the primary as peaceful and well monitored by security agencies, the media and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the state.

She explained that the substitution primary became necessary following an alteration in the party’s earlier process, adding that the national leadership directed the state chapter to conduct a substitution primary.

According to her, the exercise, held at the ADC state secretariat on Thursday, August 20, 2026, was the authentic substitution primary recognised by the state chapter and would be forwarded to the national leadership.

Adibe-Nwafor also dismissed reports of another ongoing primary, saying she was not aware of any parallel exercise.

“If there should be any primaries, I should be the one in charge of the primaries. I am not aware of any other primaries going on anywhere,” she said.

The ADC chairman further disclosed that the party would participate in the Ebonyi State local government elections scheduled for August 22, 2026.

She expressed optimism that the party would record a strong performance in the elections.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu has said the former vice president is not proposing a return to the old fuel import subsidy racket.

Shaibu explained that Atiku is proposing a targeted, capped and audited subsidy for domestic production.

In a Facebook live session, Atiku had pledged to restore the fuel subsidy regime if elected president in 2027.

Reacting, media personality, Rufai Oseni, wrote: “President Tinubu once fought against subsidy removal. He wrote an article calling it Jonathan’s tax.

“Today, he’s condemning Atiku for saying he will bring back subsidies.

“How is Atiku different from President Tinubu who fought and protested against subsidies?”

Providing further clarification, Atiku’s aide, Shaibu posted on X: “The issue isn’t simply ‘subsidy or no subsidy.’ It is what kind of subsidy, who benefits, and how it is administered.

“Atiku is not proposing a return to the old import-subsidy racket. He is proposing a targeted, capped and auditable subsidy for domestic production: supporting Nigerian refining, not foreign imports and middlemen.

“So the real debate should be:

“Do we subsidise imports and consumption, or strategically support Nigerian production and jobs? Those are two fundamentally different economic choices.”

A Professor of Gender and Humanitarianism at the Centre for Gender and Humanitarianism and Development Studies, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Prof. Oluwatoyin Olatundun Ilesanmi, has proposed five priority solutions to address gender-based violence and complex humanitarian challenges in Nigeria.

Ilesanmi made the recommendations on Thursday while delivering the university’s 24th inaugural lecture titled, ‘Vulnerability, Voice and Valour: Navigating Transformative Frontiers in Gender, Humanitarianism, and Psychosocial Wellbeing’.

The professor called for a fundamental shift in Nigeria and Africa’s approach to crises, arguing that contemporary challenges require integrated responses covering gender, mental health, governance, security and community wellbeing.

She said the traditional approach of addressing humanitarian and psychosocial challenges in separate boxes was no longer effective, stressing the need for greater collaboration among relevant disciplines and institutions.

Former Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal has expressed his condolences to the families of victims of a boat mishap in Gorau community, Goronyo Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Thursday, Tambuwal said he was deeply saddened by the tragic incident which claimed the lives of 41 people.

The National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, confirmed the rescue of 11 people so far after the incident.

The Sokoto South Senator applauded the rescuers and all those who participated in the emergency response for their efforts to save lives and provide assistance to the victims.

He urged the relevant authorities to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and strengthen safety measures on the nation’s waterways to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic boat mishap that occurred earlier today.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, their loved ones, and the people of Gorau community and Goronyo Local Government Area over this devastating loss.

“The loss of so many lives in a single incident is deeply painful and heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.

“May Almighty Allah forgive the shortcomings of those who lost their lives, grant them Aljannatul Firdausi, and give their families the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he tweeted.

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has warned against the use of state institutions to manipulate the 2027 general elections, insisting that the credibility of the polls must be “non-negotiable”.

Mark also cautioned against intimidation, violence and other forms of electoral malpractice, saying the ADC expected the next general elections to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from interference.

The former Senate President spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), which is in Nigeria as part of its assessment of preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to Mark, the integrity of the electoral process would be critical to determining whether Nigerians would have confidence in the outcome of the 2027 polls.

“For us in the ADC, the credibility of the 2027 elections must be non-negotiable. We expect the electoral process to be transparent, inclusive, peaceful and free from manipulation, intimidation and the abuse of state institutions,” Mark said.

He expressed concern over what he described as the recurring abuse of the electoral process by governments in power as well as non-state actors, warning that such practices could undermine democratic governance and erode public confidence in elections.

Mark made particular reference to the violence and intimidation reported during the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, which he said should serve as a warning ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said reports indicated that no fewer than 30 people were killed during the election, describing the development as reprehensible and condemnable.

“Elections should not be treated as war or a do-or-die affair. There should be a democratic process through which citizens freely choose their leaders and advance their aspirations for development and a better quality of life,” he said.

The ADC chairman said his party was committed to an electoral process conducted in a secure environment where voters could freely cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.

He added that every vote must count and that mandates freely given by the electorate must be respected.

His comments come as political parties and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with concerns over electoral violence, the neutrality of state institutions and the credibility of the electoral process already featuring prominently in discussions ahead of the polls.

Earlier, the IRI delegation said its visit was aimed at assessing the country’s level of preparedness and engaging key stakeholders on issues that could affect the conduct of the elections.

The African Regional Director of IRI, Jenai Cox, said the organisation was conducting a pre-election assessment mission to evaluate preparations for the 2027 polls.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dele Momodu, has replied to a statement made by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on the recently concluded Osun State governorship election.

Speaking during an interview on News Central Television on Wednesday, Momodu described the statement as “an empty boast.”

The minister had said he would have been in Osun State to help secure victory for the All Progressives Congress, APC, if President Bola Tinubu had wanted the party to win the election.

Replying, Momodu said Wike’s influence could not be greater than that of the Senate President and several governors who were unable to secure the desired result in Osun State.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine slammed the statement, describing it as unfortunate, and warned that the minister’s rhetoric suggested a strategy of enforcement to ensure APC victories in the 2027 general elections.

“I think it was a very unusual, uncommon and unfortunate statement for a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make, but nothing is beyond our friend, Wike, the FCT Minister.

“When I listened to him, I had to respond instantly because I knew that was an empty boast. If he had been in Osun, he would not have achieved anything.

“He is not bigger than the Senate President and all the governors who carried themselves to Osun to try to deliver Osun to the APC. But the danger in his statement must be noted, especially as we approach January 2027.

“The only way the APC can win the next presidential election and all the governorship elections is very simple. They will need to repeat what they attempted in Osun and failed woefully.

“I need to also remind Wike, in case he has already forgotten, that five of them abandoned the PDP in the last election, and three of them were from Abia, Enugu and Benue states.

“The then governors, three of the G-5 governors, attempted to win senatorial seats in their respective states and also failed spectacularly. So, that is to tell you that governors don’t have the power of life and death.

“Wike would have to divide himself into 36 states plus Abuja for him to perform the kind of magic he thinks he can perform,” Momodu said.