The Social Democratic Party, SDP, Imo State Chapter, has gotten new Interim Executive that will oversees its affairs towards 2027 general elections.

Chigozie Ekeogu emerged Chairman, alongside other executive members.

The new party executive is saddled with the responsibility of galvanizing for party membership registration, as well as leading the party to electoral victories.

Addressing party members, the national youth leader of SDP and its immediate past Imo State Chairman, Ifeanyi Henry Eluwa, said that the appointment was to strengthen the party’s structures across the 27 LGAs of the State.

“Today, we announce Gozie Ekeogu as the Interim Chairman of SDP, Imo State. His leadership will take us to congress and prepare us to participate effectively in electoral contests.

“We will always work in line with the ideologies of the party which is anchored on Social Justice and Good Governance.

“It was on these principles that MKO Abiola based his campaign and won the presidential election that was truncated by the military,” he stated.

Eluwa remarked that SDP is one of the most democratically viable and inclined political parties in the country, without any factional elements, which according to him, made it more formidable and strategically positioned to change political narratives in the State and beyond.

He hinted that over 80 aspirants for elective seats in 2027 have indicated interest in joining the party owing to its unity and stability.

The outgoing Chairman dismissed the rumor that SDP had merged with APP, adding that the party can only form a coalition when the need arises, but not with APP.

He expressed readiness to support and work with the interim Chairman to solidify the party’s structures and achieve success.

Other appointed executive members include: Achonwa Amaobichukwu, Organizing Secretary, Ngozi Amajuoyi, Women Leader, Labour and Civil Society Secretary, Bright Nze, among others.

In his address, the new State Chairman, Ekeogu, on behalf of his executive members, expressed delight and gratitude over their appointments and promised not to fail the party, but would rather strive to strengthen its structures at State, LGAs and Wards levels.

The Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has declared that Eid-el-Fitr festival is not just a celebration.

Obasa noted that Eid-el-Fitr festival is a reminder of the values of sacrifice, compassion, and unity that Ramadan fast instills.

He made these declarations in a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Dave Agboola and made available

DAILY POST reports that the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared Thursday and Friday as the public holidays for Eid-el-Fitr festival celebration.

Obasa while facilitating with the Muslims on the occasion of the festival, reminded them that the festival is not about celebration alone.

He said that it is an avenue to remind the Muslims of the values of sacrifice, compassion and unity that Ramadan instills.

He described the festival as a season of joy, renewal, and gratitude.

Obasa admonished Nigerians to remain steadfast in supporting Tinubu.

He added that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is already delivering measurable progress.

The statement reads, “Obasa, has extended warm greetings to the faithful, describing the festival as a season of joy, renewal, and gratitude.

“Obasa described Eid-el-Fitr as “not just a celebration; it is a reminder of the values of sacrifice, compassion, and unity that Ramadan instills.

“As our dear President steers the ship of Nigeria to the Promised Land, it is our duty as citizens to stand by him with prayers, encouragement, and unwavering support.”

Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA have arrested four suspected bandits’ informants in Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The development was disclosed in a post shared by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert Zagazola Makama via his X handle.

Security sources said the suspects were apprehended at about 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday following credible intelligence on their activities within the Augie axis.

According to the sources, troops of 1 Battalion (Rear), working in collaboration with forest rangers, carried out the operation and effected the arrests without resistance.

The suspects are currently in custody, while further investigation is ongoing to determine their roles and possible links to criminal elements.

Troops have since restored calm to the area, urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly raise the alarm about any suspicious movements or activities.

The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Police Command, CP Danladi Isa has dissolved all Police tactical teams in the Command.

He announced that new tactical teams comprising Anti-Cultism and Anti-Kidnapping units will be set up immediately to ensure accountability, proper supervision, professionalism, and orderliness.

The Commissioner of Police disclosed this on Wednesday during an emergency briefing with strategic officers in the Abia Command including Area Commanders, Tactical Team Commanders, DPOs and Sectional Heads, where he briefed them on the directives of the IGP, Tunji Disu.

The CP instructed officers to avoid duplication of cases, stressing that cases under investigation at the Divisional level must not be hijacked by Area Commands, especially in situations where suspects attempt to report the same matter as complaints at the Area Commands.

He noted that Area Commanders may only request comments for supervisory purposes and that transfer of cases from Divisions must be based on his directive.

CP Danladi warned officers against flouting the Presidential directive prohibiting the posting of police personnel to private individuals or VIPs, noting that officers found culpable will face disciplinary action.

He reiterated that officers must be effectively utilized within their jurisdictions to strengthen and maintain security across the State.

The CP also cautioned officers against involvement in civil matters, particularly land disputes, advising that parties in such cases should seek civil redress in court, even as he directed that suspects involved in bailable offences should be promptly released on bail.

He commended Commanders 28 PMF, ACP Adesina Adeniran, and CTU, CSP Chisom Ezebuiro, and their training teams for the recently concluded combat training in the Command, emphasizing that training of police personnel will continue, for enhanced tactical capacity and professionalism.

The All Progressive Congress, APC, in Kano State, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the NNPP Spokesperson, Ibrahim Karaye and the NNPP to retract the allegations that the Kano government of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf is Influencing court proceedings, and tender a public apology.

The APC, warned that failure to comply with the ultimatum would result in legal action for defamation against the NNPP and its spokesperson.

APC described the allegation as “false, malicious and legally indefensible,” stressing that the Kano state government has never interfered with judicial processes.

Recall that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had accused Kano state government of influencing court proceedings.

A statement issued by APC spokesperson in Kano, Auwalu Soja Gwale, said the allegation, reportedly made by the factional Spokesperson of NNPP, Ibrahim Karaye, lacked evidence and was aimed at discrediting the judiciary.

The APC specifically denied the claims that the state government paid huge sums to influence proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, demanding immediate retraction.

According to the statement, the claim was part of a pattern of what it called “reckless rhetoric” by elements within the NNPP whenever political outcomes do not favour them.

The APC urged the Kwankwasiyya faction of NNPP to focus on resolving its internal leadership disputes, citing ongoing litigations involving factions linked to Boniface Aniebonam and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso rather than interfering on frivolous matter.

They said it was inappropriate for a party embroiled in internal crises to accuse the judiciary of corruption without proof.

The APC reaffirmed commitment to the rule of law and urged the public to disregard the allegation, describing it as baseless.

Former presidential candidate and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Peter Obi, has alleged that the Federal Government is working to prevent him from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

Obi made the allegation while calling for a transparent and credible electoral process.

Addressing a group of Nigerians in a video, Obi spoke about his political journey, reflecting on past challenges.

He noted that he has endured political isolation and legal battles.

“I have been in this very difficult business where people abandoned you completely for one election. I spent three years in court and no one followed me there.

“I have been impeached, returned to my village where no one wanted to see me, and removed from office twice,” he said.

He added that such experiences have prepared him for future challenges.

“So there is nothing I will not see again. All these things being said about me are not new,” he stated.

Obi further claimed that there are efforts by the Federal Government to stop his presidential ambition in 2027.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria does not want me to contest in the 2027 presidential election. We are not asking for much. They already have the governors and ministers; we are only asking for a free and fair election,” he said.

He also suggested that those in power have greater access to influential networks.

“They have all the contacts. They know the queen and the king, while we do not. They have everything,” he added.

Residents and business owners in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have continued to lament persistent disruption of mobile networks in the area, particularly those of MTN Nigerian and Globacom. The residents say most of the network providers in the area have abandoned customers who depend largely on their networks to transact businesses.

The residents were hard hit on Wednesday when they woke up to yet another disruption in mobile network services affecting users of MTN Nigeria, a development many say is crippling communication and business activities in the area.

Reports early Wednesday morning indicated that MTN subscribers across Bwari and neighbouring communities were unable to access network services, leaving many residents stranded without communication or internet connectivity.

A check by DAILY POST confirmed the situation, with several residents complaining that the network failure had severely disrupted commercial activities, particularly transactions that depend on internet connectivity and mobile banking services.

Some residents who spoke with DAILY POST noted that the problem was not new, stressing that the community has been battling intermittent network failures from both MTN and Glo mobile for a long time without a lasting solution from the companies

Residents, Businesses Decry Impact of Poor Network

Mr. Koboko Master, a popular Nigerian comedian who resides in the area, described the situation as a recurring challenge that frequently leaves residents cut off from communication.

“MTN Internet in our area is bad, very bad, Sometimes the network disappears totally and you become completely incommunicado, except for those who have routers that can still use WhatsApp. But if you don’t use WhatsApp, it means you will miss everything entirely.” He said.

“This has been very consistent. It turns on and off regularly. It’s not something that happens once in a year or once in a month. It happens consistently, and it is a very big problem,” he added.

Madam Ogochukwu Jenifer, a building materials dealer at SCC Bwari and an MTN subscriber, also lamented that the poor network service was negatively affecting her business.

“Network is very bad in this Bwari area,” she said.

“Honestly, it is affecting our business. You cannot use your internet and so many things are not working. You want to do transactions, but there is no transaction because of network.

“So it’s not funny. No communication means no business. Things are just standing still.”

A banker in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that the persistent network problem was affecting not only individuals and businesses but also banking operations.

“Most of the time people come with complaints about failed transactions, but at the end of the day, you discover that the problem is not from us. It’s because they don’t have good internet service to complete their transactions, or they don’t have network at all,” he explained.

“That situation is also affecting us here because people who normally do simple transactions at home are forced to come to the bank. That can lead to an increase in customer queues,” he lament.

Efforts to get a response from MTN Nigeria on the cause of the network disruption and the steps being taken to address the problem were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

Social Media Reactions Highlight Widespread Frustration

The frustration of residents was also evident on social media. In a post shared in the popular Facebook group “Bwari Abuja Connect,” a user Johnson Oyakhire, raised concerns about the persistent network issues, asking other residents whether they were experiencing the same challenge.

“A beg, this MTN network wahala – na my phone get problem or na general issue?” the post read.

The question quickly drew reactions from other residents who confirmed experiencing similar problems.

One commenter, Bishop David Akin Asoore, said the situation appeared to be limited to certain areas of Bwari.

“As soon as I got to Dutse Express, network came fully,” he wrote, suggesting that the network disruption may be location-specific.

Another user, Samuel Harrison replied “Na general wahala ooo, Me since yesterday, I never use my network.To make matter worse, my 2gb don go” closed by crying emoji.

In a related post on X (formerly Twitter), a user, Adeboye Sylvia Omotayo, called on MTN Nigeria to urgently address the issue.

She wrote that the network had been unavailable for several hours, noting that she uses three MTN SIM cards but had been unable to access services.

“There is a downtime in Bwari, Abuja. Kindly look into this urgently please. I use three SIMs, all MTN, and it is sad because your service has been down for hours now,” she wrote.

Responding to the complaint, MTN Nigeria apologized for the inconvenience and asked the customer to send additional details through a direct message to enable the support team investigate the problem.

“Yello! Thank you for contacting MTN. We sincerely apologize for the network experience. Kindly DM the affected phone number, specific location, duration of the network challenge and confirm if it is voice or data related for support,” the company said.

It’s Not Just MTN – Users

Meanwhile, a GLO customer in Ushafa Abuja, Andrew Otene also lamented persistent network disruption of the network. According to him, virtually all networks in Bwari Area Council of the FCT are weak, especially Glo.

“Can you imagine that I subscribe huge data on my Glo almost every month but I don’t use it. So if we are blaming MTN for network disruption, we shouldn’t keep quiet over Glo,” he said.

Findings by DAILY POST shows that more people complain about both Glo and MTN than any other network in the area council.

According to one Okoro John, a Pharmacist, Glo network could just disappeared for days without any action from the service provider.

According to him, “ They just restore network anytime they want. They may decide to disrupt our network for even one week and it will look normal. This is sad,” he said.

There has been no official statement or notification from the companies to its subscribers regarding the situation in the area.

Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, says it has deployed 620 personnel across the State to ensure a peaceful and secure environment before, during and after the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.

The State Commandant, CC Chukwuemeka N. Odimba disclosed that comprehensive operational orders have been issued to Area Commanders and Divisional Officers across all LGAs.

According to the NSCDC, strategic emphasis of their assignments would be on the protection of critical
national assets and infrastructure.

He stated that specialized units, including the Rapid Response Squad, Tactical Team, and Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), have been mobilized to conduct intensive patrols at recreational centres, vulnerable locations, and other flashpoints, to nip in the bud any criminal intentions.

The Commandant reassured residents of his Command’s commitment to professionalism and civility while discharging their duties.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and supportive of security agencies by reporting any suspicious movements or activities within their communities.

Odimba further called on Muslim faithful to pray for peace and unity in Abia and Nigeria.

The Nigeria Police Force has disbursed over N2.4bn in insurance benefits to 1,075 beneficiaries and next-of-kin of deceased officers under its Group Life Assurance and IGP Family Welfare Schemes.

The cheques were presented on Wednesday by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a ceremony held at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement by the Force spokesman, DCP Anthony Placid, the total sum of N2,435,421,584.11 covers multiple policy years, including 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, 2024/2025, and 2025/2026, as well as outstanding claims recovered from previous years.

Speaking at the event, the Force Insurance Officer, ACP Lydia Ameh, said the disbursement reflected the IGP’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of officers and their families.

She noted that the payments also represented the recovery of long-standing insurance obligations, adding that measures had been put in place to ensure compliance by insurance providers to prevent future delays.

Ameh further assured that the Force Insurance Unit remained committed to delivering efficient, transparent, and accountable services.

In his remarks, Disu described the occasion as a solemn recognition of the sacrifices made by officers who died in the line of duty, stressing that personnel welfare remained a key focus of his administration.

He said the gesture went beyond financial support, serving as a demonstration of the Force’s enduring responsibility to honour fallen officers while supporting their families.

The IGP also pledged to strengthen welfare frameworks, improve administrative processes, and eliminate delays in claims processing.

“Efforts would be intensified to strengthen welfare frameworks, improve administrative efficiency, and eliminate delays in the processing and disbursement of benefits.

“The Force will also leverage modern technology to enhance transparency, streamline claims processing, and ensure accountability in welfare administration,” he added.

The disbursement comes amid ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Police Force aimed at improving personnel welfare and addressing long-standing delays in insurance claims