The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has backed comments by the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, that President Bola Tinubu has done his best to address Nigeria’s security challenges, but argued that the President should now “go home and rest.”

Obi made the remarks during an interview with Chude Jideonwo uploaded on YouTube on Thursday while explaining why Nigerians should support his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 election.

Responding to Adeboye’s recent comments on Tinubu’s handling of insecurity, Obi said the respected cleric’s assessment was accurate.

“Somebody asked me yesterday, they said that Pastor Adeboye said Tinubu has tried his best and he’s not happy. And I said, no, Pastor Adeboye remains a very revered, respected religious father, whom I believe in his genuineness and goodness.

“And what he said was correct. He said he has tried his best. He’s trying his best. That’s it. It’s the correct answer. The question to ask is: Is his best good enough? Where we find ourselves today, that leads to the issue of capacity.”

Obi maintained that Nigeria’s leadership challenge goes beyond effort, insisting that the country requires leaders with the competence and capacity to tackle its pressing problems.

“When I talk about leadership, I say competence, capacity, compassion, commitment, character. These are the issues. President Tinubu is tired. He needs to go home and rest,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also urged Nigerians to assess his past record alongside his current policy proposals when deciding who should lead the country.

“It’s for you to look at my past and look at what I’m saying now,” he said.

Adeboye had recently defended Tinubu against criticism over worsening insecurity, arguing that the President had fulfilled his responsibility by issuing directives to the military rather than personally participating in operations.

The cleric, however, also expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation and urged the government to intensify efforts to tackle terrorism, kidnapping and their sponsors.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State has dismissed reports that it plans to replace any of its candidates who emerged from the party’s recent primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party’s state chairman, Dr. Aliyu Bello, made this known on Saturday in Lafia while distributing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Forms EC9 and EC13E to the party’s 24 House of Assembly candidates.

Bello described the reports of candidate substitution as false and challenged anyone making the claim to provide evidence.

“No candidate has been replaced, and nobody is planning to replace anyone. If anyone says he has been substituted, let him provide evidence. What is being circulated is mere speculation,” he said.

He explained that the forms were issued only to candidates whose names were submitted by the APC National Secretariat, adding that the same names would be uploaded to the INEC portal.

“You cannot substitute anybody because we are distributing the forms based on the names sent to us by the APC National Secretariat, and those are the names that will be uploaded,” Bello added.

The APC chairman also said the party was working closely with INEC to ensure compliance with the timetable for the 2027 elections.

According to him, INEC forwarded Forms EC9 and EC13E to the APC National Headquarters for distribution to all successful candidates.

Speaking on the party’s chances in the 2027 elections, Bello expressed confidence that the APC would emerge victorious.

“By the grace of God, we will continue to work hard for victory in the 2027 elections. Our party has recorded successes in off-cycle and by-elections across the country, and we are confident of another victory. We are also putting in place a reconciliation committee to engage aggrieved members and strengthen the unity of the party.

“Leadership comes from God. It is God who makes leaders, not Aliyu Bello, not Governor Abdullahi Sule, and not even the APC,” he said.

THE Edo State Police Command has restricted movement across the state as a result of today’s local government area election. The police said the restriction would be from 12 midnight to 6 pm on Saturday, July 11.

A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASO Eno Ikoedem said the police would collaborate with other security agencies in the state to ensure a peaceful exercise.

She urged members of the public to abide by the directive as violators would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The statement said   “The restriction is part of the comprehensive security measures put in place by the Command in collaboration with other security agencies to guarantee a peaceful electoral process, protect voters, electoral officials, and sensitive materials, as well as prevent any breakdown of law and order.

“Consequently, all vehicular and human movement within the state is prohibited during the stated period, except for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, accredited election observers, duly accredited media personnel, security agencies, emergency and other essential service providers on election duty.“Members of the public are advised to comply fully with this directive, as security operatives have been strategically deployed across the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state to enforce the restriction and maintain law and order. Any person or group found violating the restriction or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, reassures the good people of Edo State that adequate security arrangements have been made to safeguard the election and urges residents to come out peacefully to exercise their civic responsibility in line with the guidelines issued by the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission, as the Command remains committed to ensuring a free, fair, peaceful, and credible electoral process.”