Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, have rejected attempts to link the recent killing of an Accord Party member, Ajayi Rogba, to the Director-General of the party’s campaign council for the August 15 governorship election, Wole Oke.

Ajayi, who was an indigene of the community, was reportedly murdered on Tuesday night by suspected thugs.

During a condolence visit to the deceased’s family on Wednesday, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, allegedly suggested that the killing was carried out by thugs loyal to the APC.

The governor also reportedly criticised Oke, a member of the House of Representatives from the area, while calling on the police to thoroughly investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

However, speaking at a press conference in Esa-Oke on Friday, Prof. Siji Olamiju, who addressed journalists on behalf of APC members in the area, warned against politicising the death of the Accord Party member.

Olamiju described attempts to exploit the incident for political advantage as insensitive to the grieving family and harmful to the pursuit of justice.

“APC members in Ward 7, Esa-Oke, consider it necessary to address the growing attempts by some political actors to exploit this tragedy for partisan purposes.

“We are particularly concerned that certain individuals have hastily linked this unfortunate incident to politics without allowing the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to conclude their investigations,” he said.

According to him, justice can only be achieved through a fair and professional investigation rather than speculation or politically motivated accusations.

“Justice can only be achieved through a thorough, impartial and professional investigation, not through speculation, political rhetoric or media trials,” he added.

Olamiju also absolved Oke of any involvement in the killing, insisting that efforts to associate the lawmaker or the APC with the incident were unfounded and politically motivated.

According to him, there was no credible evidence connecting the party or its leaders to the crime.

“We respectfully urge His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke, and all public office holders to exercise restraint and allow law enforcement agencies to discharge their constitutional responsibilities independently and without interference or premature conclusions,” he said.

The APC chieftain further appealed to security agencies to conduct a comprehensive, transparent and unbiased investigation into the killing.

“The APC remains committed to the rule of law, justice and accountability,” Olamiju stated.

“We firmly maintain that whoever is found culpable after a lawful and impartial investigation, regardless of political affiliation, social status or influence, must face the full weight of the law.”

He also urged political stakeholders to allow truth, due process and justice to prevail over politics and unverified allegations while honouring the memory of the deceased.

The Executive Chairman of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, Dike Briggs Nwankwo, has directed that operations of commercial motorcycles in the council be restricted from 6:am to 6:pm daily, beginning on July 2, 2026.

The restriction was in response to some security challenges around the local government area, including the recent killing of a fresh graduate, Mr. Chinye Uche, whose motorcycle was stolen by his unidentified assailants, among other criminal activities.

A statement signed by Chidi Onyedikachi, the Chief Press Secretary to the local government Chairman, explained that the decision to enforce the restriction followed some extensive consultations with the Ukwa West commercial motorcycle  (Okada) operators’ union, security agencies, and relevant State authorities.

As part of the measures, the Ukwa West West LGA, in collaboration with the Commercial Motorcycle Operators’ Union, will commence identification and registration of all motorcycle operators within the Council, to improve security and monitoring.

In addition to the policy, all commercial motorcycle operators in the Council have been directed to relocate their loading and parking activities to the designated area in front of the market, as agreed with union leadership, to reduce obstruction at junctions, and for free flow of traffic.

The council further warned that any operator or individual found violating the approved operating hours or any of the directives would face enforcement measures, including impoundment of motorcycles, arrest and prosecution.

It further explained that the security measures were applied to protect the lives and property of indigenes of the council.

Ogbeide Associates, Solicitors and Counsel, holding brief for the factional Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, requesting an investigation into the party’s Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, and factional National Chairman, Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed, over a letter dated November 3, 2025, addressed to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The petition alleges that the letter falsely claimed the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) had suspended Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum as Acting National Chairman and appointed Mohammed in his place.

According to the petition, the NWC’s 608th Emergency Meeting of November 1, 2025, held barely 48 hours before the letter was written, resolved to suspend Anyanwu himself, along with three other officers, over allegations of anti-party activities.

The petition stated that no NWC resolution, minutes, or attendance record has been produced showing that the committee ever resolved to suspend Ambassador Damagum or appoint Mohammed.

The petition further noted that the official attendance record of the 608th meeting shows that Anyanwu was absent, while Mohammed was present at the meeting.

It noted that Mohammed had direct, firsthand knowledge of the meeting’s actual outcome before the disputed letter was sent.

The petition also draws attention to a subsisting Federal High Court judgment of October 10, 2024 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/579/2024), which recognised Ambassador Damagum as Acting National Chairman and restrained INEC from acting on any document not bearing his signature—a judgment Senator Anyanwu himself had forwarded to INEC for compliance in November 2024.

The petition notes that the Court of Appeal, on March 9, 2026, affirmed the NWC’s suspension of Senator Anyanwu.

In addition to seeking an investigation of the two named individuals, the petition asks the Inspector-General to examine how INEC handled the November 3 letter, given that the commission was already in possession of both the subsisting court judgment and the NWC’s suspension resolution at the time.

“This petition is not about personalities. It is about whether public institutions can be misled with documents that do not reflect the true position of internal party processes, and whether such conduct will be investigated as the law requires,” counsel for the petitioner said.

The lawyers called on the Nigeria Police Force to treat the matter with urgency, while indicating that the petitioner stands ready to provide all supporting documentation, including the relevant court judgments and internal party records, to assist in the investigation.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Dr. Kelechi Anosike, has insisted that only the Wike-led faction of the PDP is recognised by law and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissing the existence of any other faction of the party.

Anosike, while declaring his support for the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, argued that the other factions are not recognised by INEC and that it would be a waste of time to run under any of them.

“There are not two PDPs. We have only one PDP, and it is the one recognised by INEC, with Nyesom Wike as our national leader. The others have moved to different parties,” he said.

He also claimed that, in Abia State, he remains the only candidate of the party and that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and four other political parties have aligned with the PDP in a bid to unseat Governor Alex Otti in the 2027 governorship election.

Speaking on the performance of Governor Alex Otti, Anosike said the administration had failed to adequately cater to the needs of young people in the state. He claimed that many Abia residents, particularly youths, had abandoned the Labour Party and were now supporting the PDP ahead of the next election.

“The Abia State government has neglected the people, especially the youths. There is no meaningful programme targeted at them. About 75 per cent of the youths are with us, and more are joining every day.

“They have adopted our party. Nigerians will see endorsements from these parties and understand that we are serious,” he added.

Responding to claims that he is being sponsored by influential political figures, the PDP candidate dismissed the allegations, insisting that his ambition is driven solely by divine direction.

“Nobody sent me. It is the Almighty God who sent me and is driving this process,” Anosike said.

He also denied reports linking his candidacy to former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Anosike cautioned the Otti-led administration against what he described as the intimidation of opposition voices, urging the governor to be open to criticism and public scrutiny.

“If you have nothing to hide, there is no reason to clamp down on people expressing their opinions. If you believe you have performed well, present your achievements and defend them.

“During debates, we will ask critical questions and expect answers. Arresting people for speaking their minds only raises suspicions,” he said.

The PDP candidate further accused Governor Otti of focusing mainly on road construction while neglecting other critical sectors of the economy.

According to Anosike, infrastructure development alone is insufficient to improve citizens’ welfare, arguing that the state government has failed to address growing poverty and economic hardship.

He also claimed that the Otti administration has benefited from increased federal allocations under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“Previous administrations received as little as N3 billion monthly, whereas the current government receives as much as N30 billion.

“With such resources, road construction alone should not be celebrated as an extraordinary achievement,” he said.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said said only the enemies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike would not see his good works in the capital city.

Akpabio, who said it’s hard to compare Wike’s past record with his current feat, said the minister did miracles as governor of Rivers State.

The Senator spoke during the commissioning of interchange at Arterial Road N16 – Ring Road III Intersection linking Jahi District to Gwarimpa District of the FCT.

The project is part of those earmarked for commissioning to mark President Bola Tinubu’s third year in office.

Tinubu was represented at the commissioning of the project by Akpabio.

Akpabio said: “The honourable Minister of FCT, the performing Minister, the game changer, Mr deliver we are very proud of you, the country is proud of you.

“Only your enemies will not see what you are doing, no matter how you work they will not see.

“Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State you did a lot of miracles for the state and now as Minister of FCT I don’t know how to compare whether you are better as governor of Rivers State or as Minister of the FCT.

“Let me say that God would continue to guide you, you have turned the FCT around, even in terms of administration, the FCT is no longer the same.

“Today you have Permanent Secretaries in the FCT that previous administration never had, Today you have Head of Service of the Government of the FCT that previous administration never had, Today FCT staff know that they will not retire only as directors all because of your cooperation with President Tinubu.”

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Remi Tinubu, has come under heavy criticism on X after advising Nigerians that starting small businesses such as akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli does not require much capital.

Speaking while explaining the administration’s support for small businesses through grants, in a video on X, the First Lady said:

“To start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan, we gave them a grant. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. I also gave to several others.”

Her comments generated reactions on X, where many users argued that the remarks failed to reflect the economic realities facing many Nigerians.

An X user, @Susan, described the statement as insulting.

“This is an insult to Nigerians and these people needs to be put in their places! The country needs to be made ungovernable for them.”

Another user, @DedeHydra, blamed Nigerians for electing the current administration, saying the comments showed a disconnect from the suffering of ordinary citizens.

“Nigerians from different tribes and religions, this is you guys’ fault. You see what a First Lady is telling your mothers, wives and daughters. She and Tinubu is going to increase your suffering seven times if you don’t vote them out.”

Also reacting, @YanaOffycial said the First Lady’s comments reflected poorly on the administration.

“It’s now clear. The husband don corrupt the wife finish. Nothing remain again. If these people are to come back for second term, I swear to God, it will be disastrous.”

PoliticalPhoenix argued that the grants being distributed could not address the broader economic challenges facing Nigerians.

“Remi Tinubu giving small grants for akara and roasted corn while her husband’s policies have destroyed millions of businesses and pushed Nigerians into extreme poverty? This is not hope – it’s crumbs from the table they shattered. Fuel prices, inflation and hardship remain unbearable. Nigerians need real economic recovery, not PR grants.”

Another user, @MrEazzy, also criticised the remarks, writing:

“When your husband fails in 2027, we’ll ensure you and your children start Akara and Kuli-Kuli business on the coastal expressway. Can’t you guys just make sense for once?”

Similarly, DonC said the First Lady’s advice suggested that the government lacked a broader vision for young Nigerians.

“When your First Lady has the mentality that you are not supposed to be innovators, engineers and young entrepreneurs, it shows they have absolutely nothing to offer. You judge one’s intelligence by the ideas they offer. This family never disappoints in committing blunders.”

However, not everyone agreed with the criticism.

An X user, @Akikanju, defended the First Lady, arguing that selling akara is a respectable and profitable business.

“Akara business is one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria. Start-up cost is the lowest and the profit margin is over 50 percent.

“Akara sellers sent many kids like you to universities, built houses, bought cars and provided good quality of life.

“Sadly, many Nigerian youths lack the mental and physical capacity to explore and engage the immense opportunities around them. You are doing yourselves, not the First Lady.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has slammed the Department of State Services, DSS, over the conduct of its operatives during the arrest of the African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, describing the incident as an embarrassment and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

The NLC condemned what it called the ‘rowdy scene’ bullish behaviour, and mass intimidation’ displayed by DSS operatives while taking Sowore into custody.

“We are appalled by the conduct of the DSS at the Federal High Court, Abuja while taking into custody Mr. Omoyele Sowore. This is a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

“The rowdy scene, bullish behaviour, the mass intimidation by the personnel and the humiliation of Sowore were totally unnecessary and embarrassing to an organisation that carries with it a certain level of sophistication or elegance.

“We are opposed to this kind of drama by our Secret Service as there was no need for it. Who were they re-enacting this for, anyway,” Ajaero asked.

The NLC president equally queried the involvement of the DSS in the case, expressing concern that the agency appeared to be acting as both the complainant and the custodian of the accused.