Atiku yet to respond to our invitation — Chatham House, to host INEC boss, Kwankwaso  - Newstrends
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Atiku yet to respond to our invitation — Chatham House, to host INEC boss, Kwankwaso 

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ThChatham House Director of Africa Programme, Alex Vines, has said the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, did not respond to the invitation of the institute.

Vines disclosed this on Monday in his opening remarks while hosting the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, at the Chatham House in London.

He said the institute had earlier hosted the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu.

Vines added the institute would host the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmoud Yakubu, and presidential candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on January 17 and 18 respectively.

“We have sent an invitation to the candidate of the PDP Atiku Abubakar but he is yet to reply to our invitation,” the director said.

 

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Omo-Agege Escapes Assassination Attempt in Usiefrun, Six NDC Members Injured

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Omo-Agege Escapes Assassination Attempt in Usiefrun, Six NDC Members Injured
Former Deputy President of the 9th Senate and Delta Central Senatorial candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

Omo-Agege Escapes Assassination Attempt in Usiefrun, Six NDC Members Injured

Former Deputy President of the 9th Senate and Delta Central Senatorial candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has alleged that he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Usiefrun, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Thursday, August 13, 2026 — an incident he describes as part of a “well-orchestrated campaign of violence” ahead of the 2027 elections. The former lawmaker claimed that armed men affiliated with Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori opened fire on his delegation during a ward-to-ward consultation, injuring six NDC members. Omo-Agege stated that the attack also targeted the NDC Governorship Candidate, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, and other party leaders.

“Yesterday, Thursday, August 13, 2026, armed men affiliated with the Governor of Delta State attempted to take my life in Usiefrun. Thankfully, by God’s grace, they failed,” Omo-Agege said in a press release issued on Friday, August 14.

According to Omo-Agege, six NDC members sustained injuries in the shooting. He identified four of them as Mr. Believe Biadoyo, Mr. Joshua Oghenetega Oyibocha, Owhos Peter, and Ojiyovwin Dennis.

The Senator alleged that eyewitness accounts and video evidence identified the alleged masterminds as Hon. Simon Mudi, also known as “TEMPLE,” a Protocol Officer to Governor Oborevwori; Mr. Flash Oghenetega Origbon; Mr. Ochuko Origbon; and Mr. Alex Awherhurho. He further alleged that all four individuals are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.

Omo-Agege linked Thursday’s incident to two earlier attacks he had flagged on July 29 — an alleged assault on Hon. Temple Mudi at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, and an attack on Deacon Chris Iyovwaye in Agholokpe. He described the sequence of events as part of a coordinated campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

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“On July 29, I raised the alarm about the rising violence in Delta. It was no longer a series of isolated incidents. Today, that warning has come to pass,” he stated. “Agholokpe happened. Effurun happened. Now Usiefrun. This is a pattern. Our warning has become evidence,” he added.

Significantly, the political tensions had already drawn an official response days before the Usiefrun incident. On August 11, 2026 — just two days before the alleged Usiefrun attack — the Delta State Government suspended the Commissioner for Works (Highway and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, indefinitely over allegations linking him to the assault on Simon Mudi at PTI, Effurun. The state government announced the suspension in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, saying it was “to enable the security agencies to carry out an unbiased investigation of allegations associating him with the assault on the Senior Special Assistant on Protocol, Mr Simon Mudi.” A High Court sitting in Effurun had earlier remanded the embattled commissioner for 14 days over the alleged attack on Temple.

Omo-Agege seized on this development, noting the irony that Hon. Temple Mudi, who was earlier reported as a victim in Effurun, has now been named as a mastermind in Usiefrun.

The NDC candidate called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Delta State Commissioner of Police to arrest and prosecute the named individuals immediately. He also demanded that the Delta State Government suspend any appointee linked to the attack and urged security agencies to investigate the Agholokpe, Effurun, and Usiefrun cases as connected events.

Omo-Agege gave Governor Oborevwori 48 hours to publicly condemn the attack and ensure arrests, warning that “silence will be seen as complicity.” He also appealed to INEC, civil society organisations, and the international community to deploy observers to Delta Central, which he described as “unsafe” ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, in a swift reaction, Mr. Simon Mudi, the Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Protocol, debunked the allegations, describing them as “malicious and baseless.” Speaking via telephone on Friday, August 14, Mudi challenged the Senator to produce the video evidence he allegedly referenced on his Facebook page and insisted that no such incident occurred. Mudi made it clear that he is presently receiving medical treatment in Asaba and could not possibly have been present at Usiefrun at the time of the alleged attack. He questioned how Omo-Agege and his associates could claim to have sighted him at the location when he was confined to the state capital for health reasons. He further clarified his identity and origins, stating firmly that he is an indigene of Ekakpamre community and has no residential or ancestral connection to Usiefrun, contrary to the senator’s assertion.

In a scathing assessment of the senator’s motives, Temple accused Omo-Agege of premature political desperation. He said the senator was already “wailing ahead of his looming failure” in the 2027 general elections, describing the outburst as both premature and revealing of deep insecurity. Temple predicted that Omo-Agege would suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of Senator Ede Dafinone, advising him to wait until after the polls before issuing such complaints.

As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from Governor Oborevwori’s office or the Delta State Government on the Usiefrun allegations. Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement confirming or denying the reported attack.

Despite the attack, Omo-Agege said the NDC would continue its ward-to-ward engagements. He urged his supporters not to retaliate, stating: “We refuse to be intimidated or silenced. Do not retaliate. Do not live in fear. Violence will not stop us. We will win on our ideas and our record, because Delta deserves capable leadership.” He concluded: “On July 29, I called it ‘a shame.’ Today, it is an assassination attempt and an assault on our democracy. Enough is enough.”

Omo-Agege Escapes Assassination Attempt in Usiefrun, Six NDC Members Injured

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Osun Election: APM, PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Governor Adeleke

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Osun Election: APM, PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Governor Adeleke

Osun Election: APM, PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Governor Adeleke

With less than 48 hours to go before voters in Osun State head to the polls, two governorship candidates have withdrawn from Saturday’s election and thrown their weight behind the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke. The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adebayo Simon Adewale, announced his withdrawal from the race at a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday, August 13, 2026, directing members of his party and his supporters across the state to vote for Governor Adeleke, who is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party. Adewale said his decision followed “deep reflection and extensive consultation” with party leaders, supporters and other stakeholders, and he stressed that the move was not influenced by pressure or personal interest but by what he described as the need to place the interest of Osun State above personal ambition.

Adewale explained that after assessing the political situation in the state, he believed Governor Adeleke deserved another term to consolidate what he described as the achievements of his administration. “Having carefully assessed the situation, I believe Governor Adeleke deserves another term to consolidate the progress his administration has recorded,” Adewale said. The APM candidate subsequently declared his full support for the governor’s re-election and called on his supporters, APM members and residents of Osun State to back Adeleke at the poll. He emphasized that his decision was ultimately about the future of the state rather than his political ambition, stating, “This decision is about the future of Osun. Politics should always serve the people, and today I have chosen the path that I believe will best advance peace, stability, development and the collective interest of our state.”

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In a separate development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Adedamola Adebayo, popularly known as Fryo, also announced his withdrawal from the election and endorsed Governor Adeleke. Adebayo made the declaration during a press briefing in Osogbo, where he explained that his decision followed extensive consultations with stakeholders and a careful assessment of the political situation in the state. He stressed that his priority was the broader interest of Osun State rather than personal political ambition. “I encourage all PDP members, supporters and structure to share this position peacefully. Support the emergence of Ademola Adeleke as the governor till 2030,” he said.

The withdrawals come just hours before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026. Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party after leaving the PDP. The main contenders in the race include Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The APGA candidate, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro, had earlier withdrawn from the race and endorsed Oyebamiji, creating a complex web of political realignments as various candidates and parties position themselves for the contest.

The APM had earlier built its campaign around Adewale, with the party also attracting political support from sections of the PDP. The withdrawal represents a significant shift in the political landscape, as Adewale’s decision to back Adeleke effectively dissolves the APM’s challenge to the incumbent. This development comes after former Osun governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola had earlier announced his support for the APM candidate, Adewale Adebayo, ahead of the August election. Oyinlola had rejected claims of a PDP-Accord arrangement in the state and said the political structure he was working with had aligned with the APM. “This is a movement that combines APM and PDP. We form an alliance to present a formidable force for the forthcoming elections,” Oyinlola had said.

However, it is worth noting that the political landscape remains competitive. A faction of the Accord Party, led by Chris Imumolen, has reportedly withdrawn its support for Adeleke and endorsed the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji. This development highlights the internal divisions within political parties and the fluid nature of political alliances in the run-up to the election. The faction’s decision to back the APC candidate further complicates the electoral calculus and underscores the intense competition between the major political forces in the state.

The last-minute realignments, though significant politically, are not likely to affect the number of candidates on the ballot, which INEC has already designed for the election. The withdrawals and endorsements reflect the strategic calculations of political actors seeking to maximize their influence and position themselves for the post-election landscape. As voters prepare to cast their ballots on Saturday, the shifting alliances and political maneuverings underscore the high stakes involved in the Osun State governorship election.

Osun Election: APM, PDP Candidates Withdraw, Endorse Governor Adeleke

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29-Year Kwankwaso Ally Who Swore on Qur’an Defects to APC

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29-Year Kwankwaso Ally Who Swore on Qur'an Defects to APC
Kabiru Adamu Abdullahi

29-Year Kwankwaso Ally Who Swore on Qur’an Defects to APC

Kabiru Adamu Abdullahi, a long-time ally of Kwankwasiyya leader and Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice-Presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing nearly three decades of “failed promises” within the opposition party.

Abdullahi, who had previously sworn on the Qur’an to affirm his loyalty to Kwankwaso after parting ways with Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, announced his resignation from the NDC in a letter addressed to the ward party chairman of Kofar Ruwa Ward in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State. In his resignation letter, Abdullahi said his decision was prompted by what he described as “failed promises” within the NDC, adding that he would now support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid under the APC. “I have been with Kwankwaso for 29 years but have only benefited from failed promises. I will go to where I will be respected more,” Abdullahi said. He thanked the NDC for the opportunity to serve but announced his immediate exit from the party.

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The defection carries particular political weight given that Abdullahi had previously taken an oath on the Qur’an to declare his loyalty to Kwankwaso, a gesture that followed his earlier split from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The move signals growing discontent within the movement’s inner circle ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive election season. Kwankwaso was ratified as the NDC’s presidential candidate on May 29, 2026, alongside Peter Obi as the party’s presidential flagbearer, having resigned from the African Democratic Congress earlier that month on May 2, 2026. Abdullahi’s departure adds to the political pressures facing the NDC as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The defection comes against the backdrop of deepening internal tensions within the NDC. Reports indicate that Kwankwaso has been embroiled in disputes over candidate selection in Kano State, with party officials accusing him of attempting to dominate party structures and control the nomination process. Under a power-sharing arrangement brokered when Kwankwaso joined the NDC, his Kwankwasiyya movement was allocated 60 percent of the party’s Kano structure, with the original party leadership retaining 40 percent. However, the agreement has reportedly collapsed, with allegations that all nomination forms for elective positions in Kano were taken by Kwankwaso’s loyalists, leaving long-standing party members without access. The NDC leadership in Kano subsequently replaced several Kwankwasiyya-nominated candidates, a move that was rejected by Kwankwaso, who has threatened to leave the party if the changes are allowed to stand. However, the party’s National Publicity Secretary has denied claims of a possible exit by Kwankwaso, describing them as “unfounded and politically motivated”.

29-Year Kwankwaso Ally Who Swore on Qur’an Defects to APC

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