Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has declared that members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State remain confident of victory as preparations continue for the 2026 governorship election in the state.

The former Osun State governor made the remarks on Friday in Iragbiji, Osun State.

Addressing party supporters, Oyetola said the APC remained determined to regain control of the state government, stressing that preparations were already underway ahead of the election.

“We are prepared for the contest ahead. By the grace of God, we will vote and we will win,” Oyetola said.

He urged party members and residents not to be troubled by political developments in the state, assuring them that the party would remain focused on its mobilisation efforts.

According to him, “There is no cause for alarm. We are confident that with the support of the people, victory will come our way.”

The minister also used the occasion to call for support for the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He noted that ongoing economic and social reforms by the Federal Government required collective backing from citizens.

He said Nigerians should rally around the leadership at the centre to help achieve national development goals and ensure the success of programmes designed to strengthen the country’s economy.

Oyetola also encouraged eligible residents in Osun State to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and described voter registration as a civic responsibility.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has said it is not surprised by what it described as the desperate actions of the Kano State House of Assembly to impeach the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.

In a statement signed by Ladipo Johnson, its National Publicity Secretary, the NNPP said that Nigerians should not expect anything less, adding that the move was the final kick from a political group that has lost its conscience.

“When men trade their conscience for political favour, they see being loyal to the people as a criminal act,” the statement said.

“The Deputy Governor is being targeted for one specific ‘crime’: he won’t get on the same page as others who have broken the trust given to the NNPP by the people of Kano.

“He has chosen the path of honor, staying loyal to the Kano voters and his party, while others have switched to the ruling party in a shameful act of political opportunism.

“This fake show starting in the House is a clear sign of the old, bad kind of democracy these people follow—a system where the law is used like a weapon to hurt the very people it’s supposed to help.

“They are not looking for a person; they are targeting the authority given by the people of Kano!

“We see this so-called impeachment process for what it is. It’s a clear attempt to create a path for the APC to take over a mandate they couldn’t win either in the polls or through the courts.

“It’s a political killing that’s pretending to be a legal procedure,” it stated.

The NNPP showed their strong support for the deputy governor and the people of Kano State, saying that “These people gave their trust to the NNPP in 2023 for a four-year term. However, this mandate has now been passed to a political party that the people clearly did not support.

“We ask the people of Kano State to stay calm despite this big challenge. You can’t challenge the truth, and you can’t send a notice about ‘gross misconduct’ to the will of the people as a whole. This bad legislation is just a rough way to finish weakening the vote in a sneaky way.

“Let it be known: 2027 is nearer than it seems.
The voters have long memories. Every lawmaker who is trading their honesty for small political favors and their employers will face anger from the people when they vote. The gavel is in your hands today, but the people have the final say. The NNPP stands firm. We remain undeterred.”

DAILY POST reported that the Kano State House of Assembly has begun impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.

The impeachment notice was presented during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action was initiated in line with Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

While addressing lawmakers, Dala outlined a series of allegations linked to Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government between 2023 and 2024, as well as actions allegedly taken in his current role as deputy governor.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Aisha Yesufu has expressed sadness over the retirement of DIG Frank Mba from the Nigeria Police Force.

DAILY POST had reported that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, along with several other senior officers will be retiring following recent leadership changes within the institution.

The departure of the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the subsequent confirmation of Tunji Disu as the new police boss has brought some senior officers on the list for retirement.

Reacting, Aisha Yesufu in a post on X, said she was saddened about the development, alleging nepotism and tribalism by top government officials.

She wrote, “I am so saddened about the retirement of DIG Frank Mba! An officer with so much to offer to the nation, most especially the police force that desperately needs overhauling!

“How do we fight terrorism when we have turned our security architecture into a joke!

“When nepotism, tribalism and lack of merit is the order of the day terrorists will have the upper hand!”

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that the State government will establish the Abia State Safety Commission to ensure effective regulation of safety standards across homes, offices, markets, and industries in the State.

Governor Otti made this known on Friday, when he received members of the House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, led by its Chairman, David Idris Zakarias.

The Governor disclosed that the policy has received State Executive Council approval and is awaiting legislative action for full implementation.

He emphasized that beyond setting up the Commission, public reorientation on safety consciousness was crucial to prevent disasters and protect lives and property.

“In some markets, you see dark-line electrical wires and combustible materials kept unsafely.

“We must continue to educate our people and ensure fire extinguishers are available,” Governor Otti stated.

The Governor promised to ensure that his administration’s safety policy initiative is properly legislated.

Earlier in his speech, David Idris Zakarias said that only Lagos State currently has the Safety Commission, regretting that non-compliance with safety standards was affecting the lives and businesses of Nigerians.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inaugurated the Ebonyi State Taskforce on “Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods”.

The inauguration, which took place in Abakaliki, attracted key stakeholders on the taskforce, comprising NAFDAC, Ebonyi State Ministry of Health, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria and the Nigeria Police Force.

Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christiana Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director, South East Zone, Dr. Festus Ukadike gave an overview of the enforcement initiative, as well as its objectives and urged Ebonyi State to take the lead in confronting the growing threat of counterfeit medicines and unsafe packaged foods.

According to her, “enforce standards, coordinate intelligence-driven surveillance, remove illegal products from circulation, and support legitimate manufacturers and traders by ensuring that compliant businesses are not undermined by counterfeiters and illegal operators.”

She disclosed that the taskforce would carry out coordinated market inspections and rapid testing, including transparent reporting to the Chairman Federal Taskforce on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods.

Contributing, the Chairman of the Federal Taskforce, Dr. Martin Iluyomade (FSI) who spoke through Zoom from Lagos State, said that the taskforce derived its legal backing from an Act of the National Assembly and it supersedes any similar taskforce constituted by a State.

On his part, the Hon. Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma described the circulation of harmful drugs and unhealthy foods as a serious threat to human existence, stressing that the menace kills silently, weakens the healthcare systems and affects the poor and the vulnerable.

He enumerated the efforts made by the Ministry to curb counterfeit drugs.

Ekuma maintained that the inauguration was not a ceremonial event but a call to action and enjoined members of the taskforce to work assiduously to eliminate all forms of health-threatening substances in the State.

On his part, the Ebonyi State NAFDAC Coordinator, Mr. Emeka Orajiaka emphasized that the fight against counterfeit drugs and unwholesome processed foods cannot be tackled by NAFDAC alone, adding that with the collaborative efforts of the newly inaugurated taskforce, significant progress can be achieved in protecting the health and safety of Ebonyi residents.

Responding on behalf of others, the Chairman of the Taskforce, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Lawrence Ezeogo promised that the taskforce would operate with professionalism, integrity, and transparency.

He pledged their readiness to collaborate with relevant agencies, manufacturers, regulatory bodies and the judiciary to dismantle networks making profit from human suffering.

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has told anyone who wishes to run for the governorship of the state to start their campaign in earnest.

The governor also urged them to do so on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, despite the crisis rocking the party’s internal structures.

The PDP has been in jeopardy since the 2023 general elections, with almost everyone of significance in the party abandoning it for other parties.

The PDP has lost almost all its lawmakers and governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the latest being the governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri.

DAILY POST reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, released the final list of candidates for the August 8, 2026, governorship election in Osun State.

In the list released, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, were missing.

Despite the PDP being marred by litigation and a leadership crisis, Makinde, while addressing party faithful in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, said:

“Today, I have freed everyone. Anyone who wants to contest for Oyo State Governor in 2027, please bring out your billboards.

“Don’t be bothered about the PDP crisis. Go ahead and put the PDP logo on your billboards,” Governor Seyi Makinde announced.

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.