Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence - Newstrends
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Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence

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Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence

Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence

Five Islamic clerics have reportedly been abducted by suspected terrorists shortly after attending a special prayer gathering for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election at the residence of former Zamfara State Governor and serving Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

The reported abduction occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, shortly after hundreds of Islamic scholars and clerics gathered at Yari’s residence for prayers ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to reports, the clerics were allegedly intercepted and taken away after leaving the gathering, raising fresh concerns over the worsening security situation in Zamfara State.

SaharaReporters reported that the victims included Imam Yahuza, the First Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Magawata Abdullahi, the Second Jumma’at Imam in Dogon Madacci; Malam Shehu Dakko; Imam Bala Fagon; and Na’ibi Tasi’u of Tungar Nagudai.

The clerics were said to have travelled from communities in Bakura and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas to attend the prayer gathering before the alleged abduction.

The reported incident occurred against the backdrop of a major religious gathering held at Yari’s Talata Mafara residence.

While SaharaReporters reported that about 1,000 Islamic scholars attended the gathering, another report by New Telegraph put the number at more than 3,000 clerics and Imams drawn from across the 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.

The prayers were organised to seek divine intervention for the restoration of lasting peace in Zamfara and Nigeria, the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections and the victory of President Tinubu.

Prayers were also offered for Nigerian troops and other security personnel battling terrorists and criminal groups across the country.

According to New Telegraph, several prominent Islamic scholars participated in the prayers, including Sheikh Liman Dan Alhaji of the Gusau major mosque and Sheikh Sadiqu Saddeeq.

Speaking during the gathering, Yari reportedly called for intensified prayers for the security of Nigerians and for an end to terrorist activities in Zamfara and other parts of the country.

The former governor, who is serving as Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, also urged the clerics to pray for the protection of citizens and security personnel.

He reportedly prayed for divine intervention against terrorists troubling Zamfara and Nigeria, as well as for peace and economic recovery.

The gathering therefore brought together Islamic scholars at a time when Zamfara remains one of the states severely affected by banditry, kidnapping and other forms of violent crime.

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However, shortly after the prayer session, the five clerics were reportedly abducted by suspected terrorists.

The identities of the alleged abductors and the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remained unclear as of the time of reporting.

It was also unclear whether the victims were abducted at the same location or intercepted at different points while travelling back to their respective communities.

The reported incident has generated fresh concerns because the victims were allegedly abducted after participating in a high-profile gathering attended by thousands of Islamic scholars.

As of the time of the report, there was no official confirmation from security agencies regarding the alleged abduction.

SaharaReporters reported that the Zamfara State Police spokesman, Yezid Abubakar, had not responded to calls and messages seeking clarification on the incident.

Consequently, the circumstances of the reported abduction, the identities of the attackers, the whereabouts of the five clerics and whether any ransom demand had been made remained unconfirmed.

The development, if confirmed, would further highlight the security challenges confronting Zamfara, where armed groups have continued to target communities and travellers despite ongoing military and security operations.

For now, families and communities of the affected clerics are awaiting further information on their whereabouts and efforts by security agencies to secure their release.

Five Islamic Clerics Abducted After Tinubu Re-Election Prayer At Yari’s Zamfara Residence

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2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

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2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has questioned the economic positions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, while saying the ideas of Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo deserve serious attention ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Ajaero made the comments during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, where he was asked about the economic policies of Atiku and other leading figures in the 2027 race.

Rather than focusing solely on Atiku’s economic proposals, the NLC president highlighted the positions of Adebayo and Accord Party presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, saying he had examined their ideas and was willing to listen to them.

“I have looked at Gbenga Hashim’s position and I think he’s an expert to an extent. I also looked at Adebayo. I may listen to them,” Ajaero said.

He subsequently contrasted the economic approaches of Adebayo and Olawepo-Hashim with those of Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.

“Peter Obi, Atiku and Asiwaju, they all have the same position and they have shown that they are market people from far right,” he said.

Ajaero’s remarks have drawn attention to the economic debate ahead of the 2027 election, particularly as issues such as inflation, fuel prices, electricity costs, unemployment, wages and declining purchasing power remain major concerns for Nigerians.

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Adebayo, who is contesting the 2027 presidency on the SDP platform, has built his campaign around social democracy, increased domestic production, job creation and a stronger role for government in providing public services and expanding economic opportunities.

The SDP candidate has also made energy reform a major part of his campaign, arguing that high energy costs and inadequate electricity supply continue to constrain households, businesses and industrial production.

His policy blueprint, Farewell to Poverty and Insecurity: Governance & Accelerated Development — Blueprint of a New Nigeria, 2027–2031, proposes mechanisms for monitoring government performance through measurable targets, periodic assessments and implementation milestones.

Adebayo has also advocated greater emphasis on domestic production, with the argument that Nigeria must reduce its dependence on imports and foreign exchange while strengthening local industries and productive capacity.

Olawepo-Hashim, whom Ajaero also mentioned, has similarly made energy and industrialisation central to his economic programme. His proposed Energy First agenda focuses on increasing domestic energy production, expanding refining capacity and reducing energy costs.

Ajaero’s comments do not amount to a formal endorsement of Adebayo or Olawepo-Hashim for the 2027 presidential election. Rather, the NLC president said their economic proposals were sufficiently different from those of the politicians he discussed to warrant further engagement.

The intervention comes as political parties and presidential candidates increasingly position their economic policies at the centre of the 2027 campaign, with competing proposals on fuel pricing, taxation, electricity, wages, industrialisation, employment and social protection.

For the NLC, which represents organised labour and has been at the forefront of debates over wages and the impact of economic reforms on workers, the direction of the next administration’s economic policy is expected to remain a major issue ahead of the election.

With the 2027 political contest gathering momentum, the competing economic visions of the presidential candidates are likely to face increased scrutiny from organised labour, businesses and voters as parties intensify their campaigns.

2027: Ajaero Questions Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s Economic Approach, Highlights Adebayo’s Ideas

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2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

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2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

The Anambra State Government has declared former governor Peter Obi and his Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) a threat to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) ahead of the 2027 presidential election, urging APGA supporters to resist the opposition party.

The state government made the declaration in a message issued through its New Media office on Monday, accusing Obi of working to weaken the party that gave him the platform to become governor of Anambra.

The government described its message as a “betrayal alert” to APGA supporters, alleging that Obi had been seeking to undermine the party since leaving it in 2014.

It urged party members in the state not to be swayed by Obi’s current political influence, arguing that APGA remained the political platform responsible for his emergence as governor.

The government said, “Since 2014, Obi has had one mission: to destroy the party that made him,” while calling on APGA members to defend the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development comes amid an increasingly tense political relationship between Obi and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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Obi governed Anambra from 2006 to 2014 on the APGA platform before leaving the party for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He later joined the Labour Party, under which he contested the 2023 presidential election, before becoming the presidential candidate of the NDC ahead of the 2027 election.

The former governor remains an influential political figure in the South-East, particularly in Anambra, where his 2023 presidential campaign recorded strong support.

The Anambra government’s latest position also comes against the backdrop of APGA’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The state government has previously defended its relationship with the President and maintained that supporting Tinubu does not conflict with APGA’s interests.

However, Obi’s emergence as the NDC presidential candidate has created a new political challenge for APGA, particularly because of his longstanding influence among voters in Anambra and the wider South-East.

The NDC has rejected the allegations against Obi, accusing the Soludo administration of attacking the former governor because of concerns about his popularity.

NDC Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada, described the state government’s position as political blackmail and maintained that the party was confident of its prospects in the 2027 election.

The latest exchange has further widened the political divide between the camps of Peter Obi and Chukwuma Soludo, with both sides increasingly positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 presidential contest.

For APGA, the emergence of Obi and the NDC presents a particularly sensitive political challenge because of the former governor’s history with the party and his continued influence in Anambra.

The 2027 election is therefore expected to produce a major political contest in the state, with APGA seeking to retain its influence while Obi’s NDC attempts to convert his personal support base into wider electoral backing.

2027: Soludo Govt Accuses Peter Obi Of Plot To Destroy APGA

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Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

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Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

Nine members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have left the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The lawmakers cited concerns over insecurity, internal party divisions and what they described as inadequate attention to the welfare of residents and their constituents as reasons for their decision.

The lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Muktar Nasir, representing Kaura Namoda North; Faruk Dosara Musa, representing Maradun I; Basiru Bello, representing Bungudu West; Bashir A. Masama, representing Bukkuyum North; Ibrahim T. Tukur, representing Bakura; Nasiru Abdullahi, representing Maru North; Yusuf Muhammad Anka, representing Anka; and Bashar Aliyu, representing Gummi I.

Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, Kagara said their concerns about the security situation in Zamfara had contributed to disagreements with the state government.

He said the lawmakers had raised the issue of insecurity on the floor of the Assembly, but that their position led to disagreements with Governor Dauda Lawal and their subsequent suspension.

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Kagara also alleged that joining the APC did not resolve their grievances, claiming that some party leaders failed to give them what they considered a fair hearing.

Earlier, some of the lawmakers announced their resignation from the APC in separate letters dated October 4, 2026.

In the letters, the lawmakers cited issues including insecurity, alleged injustice, internal divisions, uncertainty and concerns about governance.

One of the lawmakers also alleged that members of the Assembly had gone about 32 months without receiving salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

The claims about unpaid entitlements and other grievances are allegations by the affected lawmakers and have not been independently established in the reports.

The APC in Zamfara initially said it had not received official copies of the resignation letters. The party’s publicity secretary, Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji, said the documents had been seen on social media and that the party was awaiting formal communication through the appropriate party structures.

The defection represents a significant political realignment in Zamfara ahead of the 2027 elections, with the movement of the lawmakers potentially affecting the political balance within the state legislature.

Nine Zamfara Lawmakers Dump APC for ADC Ahead of 2027

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