Politics
Ondo gov poll: Military, police man boundaries, IG orders lockdown
• BVAS, other materials arrive LGs, PDP govs ask electorate to defend votes, EFCC warns vote-buyers
Ahead of Ondo State’s governorship election on Saturday, security agencies have reinforced measures to ensure a peaceful electoral process, deploying extensive personnel and resources to maintain law and order across the state.
The Defence Headquarters announced the deployment of troops to the border areas and flashpoints in a coordinated effort to support the Nigeria Police Force and ensure the smooth conduct of the election.
According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Buba Edward, the deployment is meant to deter any interference with the voting process and keep troublemakers at bay.
Seventeen political parties are fielding candidates in the election but it is expected to be a straight contest between the incumbent Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress and Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Edward noted that troops would also assist in the transport of sensitive election materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Troops are deployed in strength to assist the police in Ondo State for the off-cycle governorship election on November 16. The military presence is to provide security, enabling voters to cast their ballots without fear of harassment.
“Indeed, troops’ presence is to ensure the security of citizens, enabling them to cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation while keeping mischief-makers at bay. The NAF is already engaged in flying sensitive electoral material in support of INEC,” Edward stated.
On Thursday, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, visited Ondo to oversee final preparations and assess the readiness of military personnel.
Meeting with security agency leaders at the 32 Artillery Brigade in Akure, Musa praised the coordinated approach and urged the agencies to maintain professionalism, avoid misconduct, and support a smooth electoral process.
He also commended the armed forces for their exemplary role in previous elections, particularly the recent Edo governorship poll, and expressed confidence that similar results would be achieved in Ondo.
“President Bola Tinubu was impressed with the conduct of the army in the Edo State governorship election. An election should not be warfare. Your job is to provide security for the electoral umpire and residents of Ondo State,” Musa said.
The CDS urged INEC “not to allow last-minute errors such as late arrival of materials ruin the efforts so far put in place to ensure hitch-free election.”
Heads of other security agencies in attendance and as well INEC assured the CDS that all arrangements had been made towards ensuring a free and fair governorship election in the state.
In preparation for the poll, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed 22,239 officers to maintain security across the state before, during, and after the exercise.
The IG assured residents of a violence-free poll, stating that the police force would be fully prepared to prevent any breach of peace.
He also issued a restriction on all vehicular movement in the state from 6am to 6pm on Election Day.
Exceptions include essential services such as ambulances, media personnel, and fire services, while the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles was also prohibited.
To curb any VIP-related disruptions, Egbetokun banned security escorts from accompanying high-profile individuals to polling and collation centres.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Sylvester Alabi has been tasked with overseeing police security for the election, supported by AIG Bennett Igweh and CP Tunji Disu, both of whom will focus on maintaining order and addressing any security threats.
The Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “As part of the security framework, there will be a restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation from 6 am to 6 pm on Election Day, with the exception of those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.
“Furthermore, security aides and escorts attached to VIPs are banned from accompanying VIPs to polling booths and collation centres to prevent disruptions. Unauthorised security personnel and quasi-security agencies will not be permitted to operate during the election, and a strict ban on the use of sirens by unauthorized vehicles will be enforced.”
He assured that special consideration would be given to the elderly and people with disabilities, among others, on Election Day.
Adejobi said, “In preparation for the elections, the IGP deployed DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi as the coordinating DIG for the election, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period, while AIG Bennett Igweh and CP Tunji Disu are deployed as AIG and CP Elections, respectively.”
Adejobi urged the citizens to report all suspicious activities that may threaten the integrity of the electoral process and reaffirmed the police commitment to fostering a safe and democratic environment as the state gears up for the elections.
“The police will also be working with the military and other federal security agencies as collaborative efforts from all stakeholders are vital to ensuring that the elections are conducted fairly and peacefully. Reports of suspicious activities should be immediately reported to law enforcement,” he added.
DIG Alabi assured that the police and other agencies were ready for Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.
Speaking at a briefing in Akure, the Ondo State capital, where he gave an update on the readiness of the security agencies, Alabi disclosed that the police units would be supported by operatives from the Federal Criminal Investigative Department, Technical Intelligence Unit and the Intelligence Response Unit.
He stated, “Four police officers and additional personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Correction Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency will be on duty at each polling unit and voting point in the state.”
Alabi said the police had done a comprehensive threat analysis of the eight area commands and 54 divisional police headquarters under the state police command “to identify flash points and the attendant risks posed by individuals and groups before, during and after the election.”
The DIG assured of police resolve “to provide a level-playing ground for all contesting candidates irrespective of party affiliation or status, ensure a secured environment for a successful and peaceful conduct of elections throughout the state and provision of adequate security for election officials and materials from all take-off points to their respective destinations and vice versa.”
He stated that residents could be arrested on Election Day “for being in possession of any offensive weapon or wearing any dress or having any facial or other decorations calculated to intimidate voters, exhibiting, wearing or tendering any notice, symbol, photograph or party card referring to the election.”
Other offences, he said, include using any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party, loitering without lawful excuse after voting or being refused to vote, snatching or destroying any election materials, blaring siren and convening, holding or attending any public meetings during the election hours.
Meanwhile, INEC has distributed sensitive materials, including ballot papers to the 18 local government areas in the state in a move to ensure the timely arrival of electoral materials at the polling booths.
The materials were distributed on Thursday from the Central Bank of Nigeria in Akure under the supervision of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola.
Representatives of political parties, security agencies, and other key stakeholders witnessed the exercise.
“We are committed to transparency and are making every effort to ensure the voting process is as smooth as possible,” Babalola stated.
She also emphasised the logistical preparations made for riverine and remote areas of Ondo.
The Navy is supporting the efforts by providing gunboats for transporting materials to difficult-to-reach locations, while alternate transport arrangements have been made for other challenging terrains.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Ahead of the 2027 National Assembly elections, a mass protest voting movement may be building up in Anambra South Senatorial District, following reported moves by members of major political parties to support the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Ebuka Onunkwo.
The development is said to be linked to grievances among some members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and remnants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the treatment allegedly meted out to Onunkwo during previous political contests.
Onunkwo, who had previously contested the Anambra South senatorial seat under APGA, later emerged as the NDC candidate for the 2027 election.
Although the ADC is currently embroiled in legal disputes over the authentic candidates and the conduct of its primary elections, some members of the APC and APGA are also reportedly dissatisfied with developments within their respective parties.
It was gathered that a section of APGA members, in particular, are backing Onunkwo as a form of protest over the conduct of the party’s senatorial primary, while some members of other parties are also believed to be considering voting for him irrespective of their party affiliations.
Confirming the growing support for Onunkwo, the Chief Executive Officer of NOWAS Oil and Gas Limited and a major stakeholder in Anambra South politics, Chief Ignesus Ikechukwudere Nnubia, said the NDC candidate currently enjoys widespread acceptability across party lines.
Nnubia said the growing support for Onunkwo had made his party affiliation less significant, arguing that voters would ultimately vote according to their conscience and assessment of the candidates.
He said, “At the moment, the number of APGA members with him and supporting him makes one wonder what is left of that party. Even the remnants of the PDP have pitched their tents with him, while members of the ruling APC at the national level are also behind him.
“So, the party that he belongs to is not a factor at all. You know that it is a game of numbers, and people are going to vote according to their conscience and not necessarily because of the political party they belong to.
“People are not bound to vote for their party, and some of them are ready and willing to vote for him.
“We are not talking about the party because he will surely get votes from the NDC, APGA, APC and even other political parties that are already closing ranks to support him as their candidate.”
Nnubia further described Onunkwo as the candidate currently standing tall among the contenders for the Anambra South senatorial seat, expressing confidence that his emergence would usher in what he described as a “new dawn” for the district.
He said political parties should not be the major consideration for voters, stressing that what matters most is the ability of elected representatives to improve the lives of their constituents.
According to him, political parties exist because of the people, and therefore the influence of party structures and incumbency has its limits during elections.
Nnubia said those factors would ultimately be tested by the electorate in the 2027 election, which he described as a contest in which voters’ choices would determine the outcome.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ebonyi State election, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, has pledged to attract more than ₦2 trillion in private-sector investment to the state within six months of assuming office if elected.
Odii made the pledge while addressing supporters in Lagos ahead of the formal commencement of his campaign.
He said his investment strategy would cover key sectors of the Ebonyi economy, including mining, hospitality, real estate and manufacturing.
According to the PDP candidate, he has identified more than 2,000 prospective investors, each capable of investing about ₦1 billion in the state.
“I have over 2,000 people who can invest ₦1 billion each. When you multiply it, you will get over ₦2 trillion. This has been structured in such a way that all aspects of the economy will be involved,” Odii said.
He said the proposed investment drive was designed not only to inject capital into the state but also to create jobs, expand the productive base of the economy and provide opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs.
Odii said Ebonyi’s natural resources and strategic location placed it in a strong position to attract large-scale investments if its economic potential was properly harnessed.
He promised that his administration would prioritise private-sector participation, industrialisation and job creation while creating an enabling environment for both local and foreign investors.
The candidate also said existing businesses in the state would be supported to expand, while new investors would be encouraged to establish operations across various sectors.
His pledge comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with economic development, employment generation and wealth creation featuring prominently in his campaign message.
The proposed ₦2 trillion investment target within six months, if achieved, would represent a significant boost to Ebonyi’s economy and rank among the most ambitious private-sector investment mobilisation plans proposed in the state.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The planned visit of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to Anambra State has sparked controversy following a protest by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, that the party was not informed about the visit.
Anosike said the APC in Anambra was never consulted or briefed about the proposed visit, adding that the party was taken aback by reports that the wife of the party’s national leader and presidential candidate, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would be visiting the state without recourse to the state chapter.
He said, “It is indeed strange that the First Lady of our presidential candidate is visiting Anambra State without recourse to the party in the state.
“The party wishes to state categorically that we are not part of the arrangements for the reception of our First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, because the party was never put in the picture.”
Anosike also dismissed the mantra that “The Progressives Are Working Together”, being canvassed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), describing it as a smokescreen by the ruling party in Anambra to hijack President Tinubu’s re-election from the APC.
He said, “For instance, the APGA-led government in Anambra State did not interface with us on the organisation of the visit, and the party wonders if the progressives are indeed working together.”
The APC chairman, however, said the development would not compromise the First Lady’s visit, urging all APC members and supporters in the state to turn out and give Senator Oluremi Tinubu a warm welcome.
He stressed that despite the party’s reservations over the arrangements, APC members remained committed to welcoming the First Lady to Anambra State.
Former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Sagir Saleh, has resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saleh, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Isa Yuguda, announced his resignation in a letter submitted to the party leadership in Katagum Local Government Area.
He cited personal reasons for his decision but did not provide further details.
His exit comes amid growing disagreements within the Bauchi APC following the party’s 2027 governorship primary. Other prominent members, including former governorship aspirant Bala Jibrin and Sunusi Kunde, an associate of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, have also reportedly left the party.
Jibrin, a former National Auditor of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), resigned on August 31, 2026, following his opposition to the emergence of former Bauchi Governor Muhammad Abubakar as the APC’s 2027 governorship candidate.
He had criticised the primary process and questioned how the candidate emerged.
Kunde also resigned from the APC in August, submitting his resignation to the party chairman of Beti Ward in Misau Local Government Area.
The latest departures are coming as efforts continue to resolve internal disputes and disagreements among APC members in the state.
The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to assassinate former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general election.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video shared on his verified X account on Sunday, urging both opposition figures to strengthen their security and remain vigilant.
The cleric did not identify those allegedly behind the purported plot but claimed that attempts were being made to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
According to him, divine intervention would prevent the alleged plan from succeeding.
“Obi and Atiku, be very conscious of your security. They are looking for any means to eliminate Obi and Atiku.
“But God will never allow it to happen. Watch out and be cautious about your security,” he said.
Ayodele also urged President Bola Tinubu to reconsider travelling to the United States, alleging that there were forces in America working against his political fortunes.
The claims come as political activities and realignments intensify ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
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