Politics
BAYELSA GOVERNOR DIRI DECORATES NEWLY PROMOTED POLICE OFFICERS, LAUDS POLICE ROLE IN MAINTAINING PEACE
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has commended the Nigerian Police and the Bayelsa State Command for their efforts in ensuring peace and security in the state.
Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, in a statement, said Governor Diri gave the commendation on Monday while decorating five newly promoted police officers in his office in Government House, Yenagoa. The officers promoted were Sylvester Eseimokumo Ebakumo from Superintendent of Police to Chief Superintendent of Police, Ifidi Ebitimi Henry from Deputy Superintendent of Police to Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Yusuf from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Musa Mohammed from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Udonne Imo Emmanuel from Assistant Superintendent of Police to Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Alabrah stated that Governor Diri congratulated the newly elevated officers and charged them to see their promotion as a call to higher service. He particularly commended the Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, and other officers and men of the command, noting that it was due to their collaborative effort with government that the state remains peaceful and safe for residents. “Let me use this opportunity to appreciate the top rank and junior officers for all that they are doing to contribute to the peace, security and stability of the state and Nigeria as a whole. “We are happy about your elevation because you have dutifully conducted yourselves to the service of this state and Nigeria,” Governor Diri said.
Daniel Alabrah added that Governor Diri urged them to continue to serve diligently and expressed optimism that they would get to the pinnacle of their profession. The Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, was represented at the brief ceremony by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration and Operations), Ofem Arikpo.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as the date for the screening of aspirants seeking to contest for national offices at its forthcoming national convention.
In a notice issued by the party’s Aspirants’ Screening Committee, Secretary, His Excellency, Isa Yuguda stated that aspirants who have purchased and submitted their Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms are required to attend the exercise in person.
The screening is scheduled to hold at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, with proceedings set to commence at 9:00 a.m.
According to the statement, aspirants are expected to arrive early and come along with all relevant supporting documents for verification.
The committee stressed that attendance is mandatory for all aspirants, as the exercise forms a critical part of the process leading to the party’s 2026 national convention.
For further enquiries, aspirants and stakeholders are advised to contact the committee via 08034537560, 08062292972, or 08028925141.
Politics
2027 Shake-Up: Kogi Governor Allegedly Double-Dealing, Campaigns for Opposition in Mopamuro
In a development sending shockwaves through Kogi State politics, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has been accused of orchestrating support for opposition candidates, raising fresh questions about his loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to an APC chieftain in Mopamuro Local Government Area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the governor directed his political appointees led by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo to campaign for ADC’s Hon. Leke Abejide in his bid for a third term in the House of Representatives.
Eyewitnesses said the rally saw appointees don T-shirts and caps celebrating APC achievements but without any party logos, creating confusion about their political stance.
Many APC faithful reportedly resisted participating, with some sustaining minor injuries after falling off vehicles during the walk.
Following the event, appointees from Mopamuro were allegedly summoned to a meeting where they were given an ultimatum: support the ADC candidate or resign.
The insider claimed this move undermines the rotational arrangement in Yagba Federal Constituency, where Mopamuro is expected to produce the next representative.
“It is astonishing that a sitting governor would order his own appointees to campaign for a candidate of another party,” the source said. “It smacks of double-dealing and raises serious questions about his political intentions.”
Attempts to reach Governor Ododo and Commissioner Fanwo for comment were unsuccessful.
Political analysts warn that if these claims are substantiated, they could spark internal crises within APC and reshape the electoral landscape in Kogi State ahead of 2027.
The Lagos State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has distanced itself from a lawsuit currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja, stating that it neither authorised nor endorsed the legal action.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the party’s state leadership clarified that the suit, reportedly filed on behalf of ADC state chairmen and executive committees nationwide, does not represent the position of the Lagos chapter.
State Chairman Gbenga Asiru said the chapter was not consulted prior to the filing of the case and did not grant approval to any individual or group to act on its behalf.
“The action represents the personal position of the named plaintiffs and does not reflect the stance of ADC Lagos State,” the statement read.
The chapter reaffirmed its commitment to internal democracy, the rule of law, and unity within the party, stressing that while individuals have the right to seek judicial interpretation, such actions must not be portrayed as collective decisions.
ADC Lagos added that it remains focused on strengthening its internal structures and advancing the interests of its members and supporters.