News
Reps Minority Caucus Slams Tinubu Over Insecurity, Hardship, Alleged Threats to Democracy
The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday delivered a scathing assessment of the state of the nation, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to address worsening insecurity, deepening economic hardship, and mounting threats to democratic institutions.
The opposition lawmakers also alleged that the government is prioritising political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections over the urgent challenges confronting Nigerians.
Addressing journalists at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, House Minority Leader, Fred Agbedi, said Nigeria was experiencing one of its most difficult periods since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
According to him, persistent insecurity, rising poverty, and growing public frustration have left the country in a precarious situation.
“Nigeria is bleeding, Nigeria is confused, and Nigeria is being deliberately pushed to the brink by a government that has elevated 2027 electioneering above the lives and welfare of citizens,” Agbedi declared.
He said the caucus convened the press conference “with a heavy heart but with unshaken resolve to speak truth to power,” stressing that silence in the face of the nation’s challenges would amount to complicity.
The lawmakers argued that nearly three years into the Tinubu administration, Nigerians were yet to witness meaningful improvements in security and economic conditions despite repeated assurances from government officials.
Security Concerns
A major focus of the briefing was the recent death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was reportedly abducted alongside his wife in Katsina State before dying in captivity.
The caucus described the incident as a tragic reflection of the deteriorating security situation across the country and called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
“That a General of the Nigerian Army, who once commanded troops and defended this nation, could be kidnapped alongside his wife and later declared dead under unclear circumstances is a grave indictment of a failed state. It is a national embarrassment,” Agbedi said.
The lawmakers noted that the incident occurred amid a wave of attacks by bandits, terrorists, and criminal gangs across several parts of the country, including the North-West, North-Central, and parts of the South-East.
They lamented that security personnel, traditional rulers, and ordinary citizens have increasingly become targets of kidnappers and armed groups despite ongoing military operations.
“If a General is not safe within the borders of our nation, then who truly is?” Agbedi asked.
He further expressed concern over the growing vulnerability of community leaders and traditional rulers who have become frequent targets of criminal elements.
“Our security is in the mud. Yet, the political class is busy rehearsing new political dance steps, seemingly unbothered,” he added.
The caucus urged President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to immediately present a comprehensive security strategy capable of addressing the multifaceted threats confronting the country.
“At a period in our nation’s long-drawn battle with these insurgents, victory was close by, especially with the presence of mercenaries on the frontlines. Today, no one is sure what the strategy, if any, is,” Agbedi stated.
The lawmakers also called for improved welfare for security personnel, enhanced intelligence gathering, and a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture.
They expressed concern over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, describing the situation as another example of the state’s inability to guarantee the safety of its citizens.
“As we speak, schoolchildren and their teachers abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity. Their crime? Going to school in Nigeria,” Agbedi said.
The caucus demanded an immediate and coordinated rescue operation, warning that prolonged captivity could expose the victims to grave dangers.
Democracy and Judiciary
The opposition lawmakers also raised concerns over what they described as troubling developments within the judiciary, particularly a Federal High Court judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five opposition political parties.
According to Agbedi, the ruling raises serious questions about the health of Nigeria’s democracy and could undermine political pluralism ahead of future elections.
“This judgment, coming only months before the country’s general elections and after a subsisting Court of Appeal decision on the same matter, is not intended to serve justice. Instead, it appears to be a deliberate ploy to engender judicial chaos weaponised to destabilise the polity,” he said.
The Bayelsa lawmaker described the judgment as “rascality taken too far,” arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent capable of weakening democratic participation and shrinking political space.
He questioned why submissions reportedly made by INEC, indicating that the affected parties had satisfied legal requirements through electoral victories in previous elections, were allegedly disregarded.
The caucus further alleged that opposition parties have increasingly faced institutional barriers, including delays in the registration of new political parties and attempts to frustrate emerging political coalitions.
“From external manipulations and executive meddlesomeness that kept old political structures polarised, to attempts to truncate new alliances through institutional bottlenecks such as the refusal to register new political parties, the whole goal has been to muscle all credible opposition out of the 2027 contest,” Agbedi alleged.
While welcoming the intervention of the Court of Appeal in halting implementation of the Federal High Court judgment, the lawmakers urged democratic stakeholders to remain vigilant.
Economic Hardship
Turning to the economy, the caucus painted a bleak picture of conditions facing Nigerians, citing inflation, rising food prices, declining purchasing power, and widespread hardship.
The lawmakers argued that the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira—key reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration—had imposed severe burdens on citizens without adequate social protection measures.
“From Sokoto to Enugu, from Borno to Lagos, the story is the same: hunger, killings, kidnappings, collapse of the naira, collapse of hope,” Agbedi said.
The opposition lawmakers accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of prioritising politics over governance.
“Yet what preoccupies the ruling party and the Presidency are 2027 endorsement rallies, defections, re-election strategies, and town hall meetings to discuss tenure security,” he added.
They challenged President Tinubu to temporarily suspend political activities linked to the next election cycle and focus squarely on addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.
“President Tinubu must suspend all 2027 political activities and declare a six-month National Security and Economic Recovery Plan,” Agbedi said, urging the President to “lead or leave.”
Recommendations and Call to Action
As part of its recommendations, the caucus called for:
- An independent and transparent investigation into the abduction and death of Major General Rabe Abubakar;
- Immediate efforts to secure the release of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and their teachers;
- Urgent reforms within the security sector;
- Intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria in controversies arising from conflicting court judgments on political parties; and
- Stronger efforts by INEC to safeguard democratic competition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Agbedi warned against what he described as attempts to weaken opposition voices through judicial and institutional means.
“The attempt to kill opposition parties through judicial ambush, to ignore mass killings while chasing a second term, and to normalise the abduction of children is a declaration of war against Nigerians,” he said.
He vowed that opposition lawmakers would continue to hold the government accountable through constitutional and legislative means.
“We will not be silent. We will not be intimidated. We will use every legislative instrument to hold this government accountable,” he stated.
Addressing Nigerians directly, Agbedi urged citizens not to lose faith in democracy despite the country’s present challenges.
“To Nigerians, do not despair. 2027 will not be decided in Aso Rock or by compromised courts. It will be decided by you, the people.
“The opposition parties will stand with you. The opposition will not be muscled out. Nigeria will be rescued.”
The briefing was attended by House Minority Whip Mansur Soro, Deputy Minority Leader Abdussamad Dasuki, and the leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress caucus in the House, Afam Ogene.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on (Information & Strategy) Bayo Onanuga says, “this approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.”According to the statement, “the expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.”Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases.
The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) worldwide, a pan-Igbo socioeconomic pressure group, has urged the Federal Government to direct the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to supply Dangote Petroleum Refinery adequate crude.
The Chairman of NUF, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu while reacting to Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s move to start direct sales of refined Petroleum products in dollars.
It would be recalled that a top management official of the Dangote Group said that its refinery was receiving just four million barrels of crude oil monthly under the arrangement, instead of about 13 million barrels envisaged after President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 directive.
The refinery had attributed its decision to switch from naira-denominated fuel sales domestically to dollar transactions to the crude supply shortfall, saying it would also increase exports of refined petroleum products to earn foreign exchange.
Chukwudum called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently before things get out of hand and Nigerians suffer the more.
According to him, fuel price remains major determinant of prices of other commodities and services in the country as transport cost depends on.
“Things are bound to get worst if the Federal Government neglect to take immediate and decisive actions meant to better the life of the citizens.
“NUF is rasing this alarm because this administration is behaving as if they are not answerable to the people their are supposed to be serving.
“The Federal Government should direct NNPCL to supply all the crude oil needed by Dangote Refinery since the company has the capacity to meet local or domestic petroleum needs of the country.
“The government must stop all forms of fuel importation because that money been used for importation is a waste and put a pressure on our fragile foreign reserve as a nation,” he said.
The NUF boss noted that the refinery company must be allowed to pay in naira with this move, suffering of citizens would be curtailed.
Chukwudum also reiterated the call of the group for the Federal Government to set up judicial panel of inquiry to look into the account of NNPCL for some years now.
A commotion reportedly erupted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State after some officials were accused of demanding ₦2,000 from applicants before processing voter registration and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The allegation surfaced in a video circulating on social media, which showed what appeared to be a heated confrontation between applicants and officials at the electoral commission’s office.
According to a resident who narrated the incident in the video, some INEC officials allegedly insisted that applicants pay ₦2,000 before their voter registration or PVC processing could be completed.
The situation reportedly escalated when one of the applicants challenged the alleged demand, insisting that voter registration and PVC-related services are free and should not attract any payment.
The applicant was said to have confronted the officials and attempted to record the exchange with a mobile phone, triggering a heated argument that attracted other applicants and bystanders.
Although raised voices and a commotion could be heard in the footage, the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.
The video has since sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the alleged extortion and calling on INEC to investigate the incident and sanction anyone found culpable.
INEC has consistently maintained that voter registration services are free of charge. These include fresh registration, collection of PVCs, transfer of voter information, correction of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
The commission has also repeatedly urged members of the public to report any cases of extortion, bribery or illegal charges involving its permanent or ad hoc staff during voter registration and PVC distribution.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement specifically addressing the allegations involving its Onitsha South Local Government Area office.
The incident comes as the electoral commission continues its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC has also introduced an online self-service platform to enable prospective voters and existing registrants to complete several registration-related processes conveniently, while reiterating that voter registration services remain free of charge.
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has restored power supply to parts of Enugu metropolis, which witnessed darkness.
Some parts of Enugu metropolis, under the Band A tariff regime, during the weekend witnessed three consecutive days of blackout.
The Head, Communications of MainPower, Mr Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to him, MainPower wishes to inform its esteemed customers that power supply to the Gariki Injection Substation was successfully restored on Monday, July 20, at about 8:30p.m.
“This is following the successful resolution of a major fault involving the indoor 11kV breaker at the station.
“The fault, which occurred on Friday, July 17, affected electricity supply to customers served by the Army and Gariki 11kV feeders.
“Consequently, normal electricity supply has now been restored to all affected areas,” he said.
Ezeh appreciated residents and customers for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the outage.
He noted that the company remained committed to delivering safe, reliable, and improved electricity services to its customers and residents of the state.
It would be recalled that MainPower, which is a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), is in-charge of electricity distribution in Enugu State.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Four herders and several cattle were killed on Tuesday when suspected gunmen attacked a cattle camp in Ifite Awka Community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident has sparked concern in Awka, the state capital, as the attackers reportedly invaded the settlement and opened fire on the herders before fleeing the scene.
The attack has also prompted the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to appeal for calm among its members, expressing confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice.
In a statement, the National Deputy Director-General of MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said the four deceased herders were members of the same family.
According to him, the incident occurred at the cattle camp of Alhaji Aminu Mohammed on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
He said, “According to reports, unknown armed assailants invaded the cattle camp while the herders were peacefully engaged in their legitimate cattle-rearing activities.
“The attackers opened fire sporadically, resulting in the deaths of four herders, namely Mohammed Bujumi, Hassan Bujumi, Abubakar Bujumi and Sani Bujumi.
“Several cattle were also killed during the attack, while the assailants reportedly fled with some of the cattle carcasses towards the nearby Mgbakwu Community.”
Siddiki added that another herder, identified as Usman Iliyasu, narrowly escaped the attack.
MACBAN condemned the incident as “heinous and senseless,” calling on security agencies to immediately investigate the attack, apprehend those responsible and prosecute them.
The association also urged the Anambra State Government to take urgent steps to strengthen security and protect the lives and property of residents.
While appreciating the prompt intervention of the Joint Task Force and the state government in recovering the bodies of the victims, Siddiki appealed to MACBAN members to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
“We urge everyone to cooperate fully with the security agencies and allow the government to carry out the necessary investigations and take appropriate action to ensure justice is served,” he said.
Confirming the attack, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team responded to the scene following a distress call.
He said the operatives discovered the bodies of four male victims who had suffered fatal injuries.
“Preliminary observations revealed that the victims had their hands tied and sustained multiple injuries, including machete cuts and blunt force trauma. Also, two residential huts within the settlement were set ablaze during the attack,” Ikenga said.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that four dead cows were found within the vicinity, while two other cattle had been slaughtered, with portions of their meat removed.
He added that security operatives recovered sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat a short distance from the scene.
According to Ikenga, preliminary findings indicated that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns and machetes.
He said one survivor escaped unharmed and was assisting the police-led joint security team with useful information that could aid the investigation.
The Anambra State Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
The Command said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.
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