Politics
Politicians Pressuring Us To Rig 2023 Elections – Nigerian Military
Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has stated that the military and other security agencies are always facing constant pressure from politicians to compromise elections.
Irabor assured Nigerians that the military would maintain its neutrality, in response to questions from journalists at the 61st State House Ministerial Briefing, which was held at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja on Thursday. The briefing was organized by the Presidential Communications Team.
He claimed that politicians sometimes use inducements to exert pressure on military personnel, but he added that the military would continue to be apolitical as long as it followed the president Muhammadu Buhari who had ordered it to do so.
At the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference 2022 on Monday in Sokoto, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a speech to over 300 military officers and instructed the Nigerian Armed Forces to limit their operations within the bounds of the constitution and maintain their apolitical stance throughout the 2023 general elections.
In order to win the support of common Nigerians, he also urged them to refrain from violating human rights.
Journalists questioned the CDS during the media briefing at the Presidential Villa about how the military had handled the usual pressure from politicians and how far they were willing to go to uphold their neutrality as ordered by the President.
But Irabor, in response, said, “Of course, there will always be pressure from all quarters wanting to induce security forces, not just the military, the security force and the police. And that’s what criminal enterprise is all about. That is what something wrong is all about.
‘’But what makes the difference is the professional approach to dealing with those issues. And that’s what, as the military, we are committed to doing.
“Now, this is why we have ramped up our training in that regard; sensitisation-a lot of engagement across the formations and units is being undertaken. And then, we have articulated the code of conduct for all our personnel, which has been done and distributed.
“So what should they act before, during and after the elections; these are being codified in the SOP that had been issued to them. So, it remains the duty of the commanders to ensure that the directive, as indicated and the contents of the SOP is adhered to by every personnel in the armed forces.”
He urged Nigerians to “cease from worrying” and rather trust and encourage others to trust that the military will “keep faith to these directives.”
Politics
2027 Election: Wike Sets Resignation Date If Tinubu Loses Rivers, FCT
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he will resign from office if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu fails to win the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the declaration during an engagement with the leadership and members of the Apo Mechanics and Traders Association in Abuja.
The FCT Minister said his continued stay in office would depend on his ability to deliver electoral support for President Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State.
SEE ALSO: ‘You Can’t Support APC And Other Parties At The Same Time’ – Gov Lawal To Wike
According to Wike, the 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, and if Tinubu loses in the FCT and Rivers, he would announce his resignation the following day.
“If I lose FCT, I’m not supposed to be FCT Minister. By January 17, 2027, I will announce my resignation as FCT Minister should the President lose in Rivers State and the FCT,” Wike said.
He added: “If I cannot deliver where I work, then I’m not worthy to be here.”
Wike also outlined his political strategy for the FCT, saying a multi-party coalition was being put together to secure victory for Tinubu and other supported candidates in the territory.
He declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying: “For the Presidency, it is Bola Ahmed Tinubu!”
The minister also endorsed Philip Aduda for the Senate and disclosed support for two House of Representatives candidates who, according to him, are former Area Council chairmen.
“In the FCT, we are running a unified coalition across parties to deliver results,” Wike said.
The declaration comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election, with Wike positioning himself as a key figure in efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu in the FCT and Rivers State.
The engagement also touched on the ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to address the relocation and land allocation issues involving traders and mechanics operating around the Apo Mechanic Village corridor.
Politics
2027: ‘They’ve Shown Peter Obi More Than One Kobo, Yet He Hasn’t Backed Down’ — Afegbua
Former Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, has challenged Labour Party presidential hopeful Peter Obi over his previous “one kobo” statement on alleged indebtedness.
Afegbua made the remarks while discussing inherited liabilities and the efforts of governments to settle outstanding obligations.
According to him, the fact that an administration inherits funds alongside existing liabilities does not eliminate the responsibility to settle debts owed to individuals or institutions.
SEE MORE: ‘Obi Did Not Loot A Kobo’ — Obiaraeri Compares Peter Obi, Akpabio’s Records
Drawing a comparison with Obi, Afegbua said the former Anambra State governor had previously challenged anyone to produce evidence that he owed even one kobo, promising to back down from the presidential race if such evidence was provided.
“We are not like Peter Obi that says he’s not owing one kobo. And even if anybody—he challenges anybody that if they show him one kobo, that he should… he will back down from the race.
“They have shown him more than one kobo, he has not backed down from the race,” Afegbua said.
He illustrated his argument with a hypothetical example of a person inheriting ₦20 million from a parent who had outstanding debts of ₦18.5 million.
Afegbua said the fact that the inherited money exceeded the debt would not remove the obligation to pay those owed.
“The crux of the matter is that your dad was owing people, even though the money he gave to you was more than what he was owing people. He didn’t pay them at that time. That point must be established,” he said.
The former commissioner also criticised what he described as attempts by politicians to present themselves as moral authorities despite controversies surrounding their records.
“You see, it is very difficult for people to wear the—I said it the last time I came here—for people to wear the moralist’s garb and begin to preach morality when the evidences before them do not portray that moralist badge that they try to wear,” he said.
Afegbua further pointed to Obi’s long history in public life, noting that the former Anambra governor had been a prominent public figure for years, including his time in the banking sector.
“So, Peter Obi has not been living in isolation. He has been a public figure for quite a long time when he got into Fidelity Bank, became its chairman, and all of that,” Afegbua said.
He added that Obi should not, in his view, present scenarios that do not reflect reality.
“And he should not be bamboozling us with all kinds of scenarios that don’t exist,” he added.
Afegbua’s comments come amid renewed political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Recalls that Obi has previously made public challenges over claims concerning his record. In a recent interview, he also said he would withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if anyone established that any of the academic credentials he presented were false.
“If they find anyone wrong, I will drop from the race,” Obi said.
Politics
2027: Ogun Police Begins Early Election Security Preparations, Warns Against Political Violence
The Ogun State Police Command has commenced early preparations for the 2027 General Elections, urging political actors and other stakeholders to work together to prevent violence and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The Command began a two-day stakeholders’ workshop on Tuesday at Event Towers, Ibara, Abeokuta, with the theme, “Elections, Security, The Law, Stakeholders & The Media.”
SEE ALSO: Ogun Deep Seaport: Abiodun Thanks Tinubu, Says 30-Year Dream Becoming Reality
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Development Communication Research Centre Ltd. (DCRC), brought together representatives of security agencies, electoral institutions, political parties, the media, legal and human rights bodies, professional associations and community organisations.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Rtd. AIG Sola Subair, said security agencies, electoral institutions, political parties, the media and other stakeholders had a collective responsibility to preserve electoral peace and protect the democratic process.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, stressed that election security should not begin on election day.
He called for early preparation, professionalism, political neutrality, intelligence sharing, respect for fundamental rights and stronger coordination among stakeholders throughout the electoral cycle.
Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s readiness to deploy its personnel and resources professionally to maintain a safe and peaceful environment before, during and after the elections.
The Commissioner also warned against allowing criminal elements and political violence to undermine the electoral process, stressing the need for stakeholders to operate within the law.
The workshop features participation from the Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps, Amotekun Corps, So-Safe Corps, vigilante groups, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association, Police Community Relations Committee, political parties, media organisations and civil society groups.
Professor Bolu John Folayan, Executive Consultant to the workshop, said stakeholders needed a clearer understanding of their respective responsibilities under the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act and Police Act.
According to him, improved knowledge of these responsibilities would strengthen coordination and reduce avoidable friction during elections.
The technical sessions include a keynote presentation by Professor Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf on the relationship between elections, security, the law, professional conduct and responsible communication.
The workshop will continue on Wednesday, September 30, with sessions focusing on election security, stakeholder responsibilities, community engagement, media relations and contemporary social media management.
The Ogun Police Command said the initiative forms part of its proactive approach to election security and its commitment to ensuring a peaceful electoral environment across the state.





