Politics
Oyo Abduction: Obi Says He Would Have Entered Forest to Rescue Victims If He Were President
Oyo Abduction: Obi Says He Would Have Entered Forest to Rescue Victims If He Were President
- The NDC presidential candidate criticises President Tinubu’s handling of the Oriire school abduction, insisting on decisive leadership and transparency in security operations.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) , Peter Obi, has declared that he would have personally entered the forest where pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were held if he were serving as Nigeria’s president. The former Anambra State governor made the remarks during an interview on Afia TV’s State of the Nation programme aired live on Thursday. The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire LGA. Two people were killed during the coordinated attacks, according to the Oyo State Police Command, while no fewer than 45 pupils and teachers were reportedly taken away by the gunmen. The incident forced the Oyo State Government to close schools across four local government areas as security agencies intensified rescue efforts. The victims spent about 56 days in captivity before the Presidency announced on July 10 that they had regained their freedom.
Speaking on the incident, Obi stressed that decisive leadership is crucial in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, maintaining that he would not have allowed the victims to remain in captivity for weeks under his administration. He insisted that everyone held by the abductors would have been rescued, even if the operation came at a cost. “Days of kidnap of Oyo children. The president did not call the governor. What do you mean? Fifty days. But I’ll be there in two days. Is the bush not in Nigeria? That bush they went in. The bush is in Nigeria. Everybody in that bush will come out. Everybody. There might be casualties, but everybody will come out,” Obi said. He further criticised what he described as the secrecy surrounding security operations in Nigeria, arguing that authorities should publicly demonstrate results after arresting criminal suspects. “And it is time when we say we resolve something. We arrest some people. Parade the people. Let people see them. What is happening? When America or other countries kill people like that, they parade them. They show it. Everybody sees it. In Nigeria, everything is shrouded in secrecy,” he added.
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Recalling his tenure as Anambra governor, Obi said he confronted criminal activities in forests across the state by taking direct action after consulting then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. He said he informed Obasanjo that a particular forest had become a security threat and insisted that criminal elements operating there had to be driven out. Obi also mentioned several notorious criminals who, according to him, were killed during security operations in Anambra while he was governor. He stressed that effective leadership required clear authority and personal responsibility. “No way. It’s either I’m in charge or you people are in charge. I go home. One person must be in charge. And if you’re in charge, if you want to lead, you should be ready to die. If you don’t want to, you go home. One must be in charge,” Obi said.
Obi faulted President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the abduction, claiming the President failed to personally reach out to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde throughout the more than 50-day ordeal. He had earlier, in a post on his X handle on July 5, alleged that more than 50 days after the incident, President Tinubu had neither contacted Governor Makinde to express sympathy nor discussed efforts to secure the release of the abducted pupils. He had also called on President Tinubu to either resign from office or abandon any plan to seek re-election in 2027, accusing him of failing to demonstrate leadership following the abduction. Drawing a comparison with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction, Obi recalled that Tinubu was among those who criticised then-President Goodluck Jonathan for delaying contact with the affected governor. “I vividly recall that the current President, Bola Tinubu, led a team of vocal critics who called for President Jonathan’s immediate resignation over the incident, citing his delay in calling the state governor. That call for immediate resignation should actually be the case in this matter,” Obi wrote. Obi further alleged that more than 13 school kidnappings had occurred since Tinubu assumed office and questioned why the President had not personally engaged the governor of the affected state more than seven weeks after the latest abduction. He disclosed that he visited Ibadan on July 3 alongside Professor Pat Utomi to express solidarity with Governor Makinde, during which he learned that the governor had not received any call from the President. “I cannot imagine any issue more important than the lives of our kidnapped children, their teachers and the many other Nigerians being held captive across the country. It is now an indisputable fact that governance has completely collapsed under this administration,” he stated.
President Tinubu, speaking on July 30 while receiving a delegation of traditional rulers from Oyo State led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, explained why the Federal Government refused to negotiate with the terrorists. He said security agencies understood the terrain where the victims were held and commended the armed forces for securing the release of the abducted victims. “We refused to pay ransom. We have the geography of the forest. We know what it is,” the President said. He also disclosed that the military was expanding its operational capacity by increasing the number of divisions from eight to 12 to reduce response time and strengthen efforts against insecurity. The President also confirmed that eight of the kidnappers were arrested during the operation, while several others were neutralised.
The rescue operation, which involved the military, police, intelligence agencies and local vigilante groups, took about a month to execute and resulted in the safe return of all 44 victims. The military acknowledged that some of its personnel were killed during the operation. The rescued victims were taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment. Rachael Folawe Alamu, headteacher of Community Grammar School, spoke about the 56-day ordeal she and other teachers and students faced while in captivity deep in the bush, being frequently moved by the kidnappers at night and often walking for several hours. She described how two of her male colleagues were killed by the kidnappers—one soon after their abduction and another in June. “They killed them purposely because they thought it would force the hand of the government to provide them whatever they wanted,” she said. Three men were later sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to concealing information about the kidnappers and confessing to being members of an affiliate of Boko Haram. Governor Makinde also inaugurated an eight-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the abduction to establish the facts, identify any institutional lapses, and recommend measures to strengthen the protection of schools.
Oyo Abduction: Obi Says He Would Have Entered Forest to Rescue Victims If He Were President
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Politics
2027: Northern Students Back Tinubu, Pledge Campus-to-Campus Mobilisation
2027: Northern Students Back Tinubu, Pledge Campus-to-Campus Mobilisation
Student leaders from tertiary institutions across Nigeria’s 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, promising to mobilise students across campuses in support of his candidacy.
The declaration was made in Kaduna at the inauguration of the Students’ Wing of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), a support group created to coordinate student mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The organisers said the students’ position was influenced by policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration, particularly in education, student financing, skills development and youth empowerment.
The coordinator of the A4A Students’ Wing and President of the Bayero University Kano Students’ Union Government, Abdulmudallib Sheriff, said the students’ support was intended to translate into an organised mobilisation network rather than remain a symbolic declaration.
Sheriff cited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) among the federal government programmes that informed the students’ position, saying the scheme had provided financial support to students facing difficulties funding their tertiary education.
He also pointed to government initiatives in technical and vocational education, skills acquisition and youth development as areas the student leaders considered relevant to young Nigerians.
According to the organisers, the A4A Students’ Wing plans to build a coordinated structure capable of reaching students in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the northern region.
The Kaduna inauguration was attended by student union leaders and representatives of tertiary institutions from different parts of Northern Nigeria.
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Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who addressed the gathering, urged the student leaders to base their political engagement on policies and verifiable records rather than personal attacks against political opponents.
Sani highlighted areas including education, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture and technical and vocational education, while drawing attention to programmes such as NELFUND and federal TVET initiatives.
The student endorsement comes amid increasing political mobilisation across Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general election.
Several groups in the region have recently announced support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, including organisations representing Muslim women scholars, preachers and Da’wah leaders. Other groups representing communities and youth interests in the North have also held meetings and launched mobilisation activities ahead of the election.
A separate group representing Igbos living in the 19 northern states and the FCT has also expressed support for Tinubu and pledged to mobilise voters for his re-election.
The growing activity reflects efforts by political support groups to build grassroots structures well ahead of the 2027 poll, with youth and student voters expected to remain an important constituency for political parties and candidates.
The Tinubu administration has made NELFUND one of its prominent education initiatives. The programme provides loans and related financial assistance to eligible Nigerian students in tertiary institutions, with the government presenting it as part of efforts to reduce financial barriers to higher education.
The administration has also promoted technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as part of its broader youth skills-development agenda.
However, the endorsement announced in Kaduna represents the position of the participating student leaders and organisations. It does not necessarily reflect the views of all students, tertiary institutions or young people across Northern Nigeria.
The political development also comes as opposition groups and presidential aspirants intensify their own mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 election.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other opposition political actors are building structures across the country, while presidential contenders, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are also seeking support ahead of the election.
The student leaders backing Tinubu said their immediate focus would be to extend the A4A Students’ Wing to more campuses and strengthen its mobilisation network across the North.
Their declaration adds to the growing series of political endorsements and campaign activities taking place ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as competing political groups seek to attract young voters and build support at the grassroots.
Ultimately, the endorsement remains a declaration by the participating student organisations, while individual voters will make their choices through the electoral process.
2027: Northern Students Back Tinubu, Pledge Campus-to-Campus Mobilisation
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Politics
2027: Court Gives Atiku Seven Days to Serve Tinubu Through APC in Eligibility Suit
2027: Court Gives Atiku Seven Days to Serve Tinubu Through APC in Eligibility Suit
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar seven days to serve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a suit challenging his eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order after granting an application for substituted service, allowing Atiku and the ADC to serve the President through his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, was instituted by Atiku and the ADC against Tinubu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku is asking the court to determine whether Tinubu is qualified to participate in the 2027 presidential election based on allegations concerning an NYSC discharge certificate allegedly submitted to INEC.
According to the plaintiffs, the disputed certificate bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”, which they contend raises questions about its authenticity and its connection with the President. Atiku’s case also alleges that the document was presented to INEC as genuine and raises questions about information contained in the electoral documents submitted by Tinubu.
The allegations remain claims before the court and have not been established by a final judgment.
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The plaintiffs are relying on provisions of the 1999 Constitution relating to the presentation of forged certificates to INEC. They are seeking, among other reliefs, orders that would prevent Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election on the basis of the allegations contained in the suit.
The latest ruling followed a procedural dispute over how the President should be served with the court processes.
When the matter came up earlier in September, Atiku’s lawyers told the court that they had been unable to personally serve Tinubu. Although counsel representing Tinubu indicated that he was prepared to accept service on behalf of his client, the plaintiffs declined, saying they wanted to avoid possible technical objections concerning the validity of service at a later stage.
The court subsequently allowed the issue to be addressed through substituted service.
Justice Ekwo had earlier adjourned proceedings to September 28 following the service dispute. The judge also warned lawyers involved in the case against discussing the matter in the traditional or social media, directing that arguments concerning the case should be presented in court.
Meanwhile, Tinubu and the APC have rejected the allegations and asked the Federal High Court to dismiss the suit.
In their response, the President and the APC denied that Tinubu submitted a forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections. They also questioned the legal foundation of Atiku and the ADC’s action and raised preliminary objections to the case.
The defendants have argued that the disputed certificate has not been established as forged and that the NYSC has not disowned the document at the centre of the controversy.
They have therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit rather than proceed to the substantive claims.
INEC has also challenged Atiku’s case and opposed aspects of the plaintiffs’ application to amend their suit. The electoral commission has raised procedural and legal objections, including arguments concerning the competence of the action and the plaintiffs’ standing.
The case has consequently developed into a series of preliminary procedural and legal disputes even before the court determines the central allegations surrounding the disputed NYSC certificate.
Atiku and the ADC maintain that the alleged certificate and information submitted to INEC raise constitutional questions concerning Tinubu’s eligibility for the 2027 presidential election.
Tinubu and the APC, however, deny the allegations and are seeking the dismissal of the case, while INEC has also opposed the action.
The Federal High Court’s latest decision is limited to the method and timeframe for serving Tinubu with the court processes.
It does not constitute a ruling that Tinubu is ineligible to contest the 2027 election, nor does it establish that the disputed NYSC certificate is forged.
The substantive claims, alongside the objections raised by Tinubu, the APC and INEC, remain before the court for determination.
2027: Court Gives Atiku Seven Days to Serve Tinubu Through APC in Eligibility Suit
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Politics
“Clash of Egos”: Ayo Fayose Downplays Public Feud Between Wike and APC Governors
“Clash of Egos”: Ayo Fayose Downplays Public Feud Between Wike and APC Governors
On Channels Television, the former Ekiti governor says tensions over the ‘Rainbow Coalition’ will not hurt President Tinubu’s 2027 prospects.
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has weighed in on the sharp exchange between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, characterizing the disagreement as a battle of individual egos rather than a genuine threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Speaking Tuesday night during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Fayose noted that public friction often surfaces when assertive leaders navigate complex multi-party arrangements.
The spat erupted after Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, speaking for the APC Governors’ Forum, announced that party executives would reject any outside alliance or coalition capable of diluting the party’s strength or challenging its candidates in upcoming elections.
Wike responded swiftly during a televised broadcast, describing the governors as politically lazy and clarifying that his “Rainbow Coalition” was created specifically to mobilize cross-party votes for the president rather than fight local battles on behalf of state governors.
Addressing the controversy, Fayose remarked that everyday Nigerians understand Wike’s outspoken personality just as they understand the institutional posture of the Governors’ Forum.
He insisted that the rhetorical crossfire has no direct bearing on the president’s electoral fortunes, observing that political leaders across the spectrum possess strong personal pride that occasionally spills into public view. Fayose maintained that practical grassroots voter mobilization will ultimately outweigh public posturing as the 2027 race draws nearer.
“Clash of Egos”: Ayo Fayose Downplays Public Feud Between Wike and APC Governors
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