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.”

By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 election, Atiku Abubakar, has counselled President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the security of Nigerians over campaign activities for the 2027 general election, even as he welcomed the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo State.

In a statement on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku commended the courage, professionalism and sacrifice of the officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies whose gallantry made the rescue operation possible.

The former vice president noted that it was particularly striking that the Ogbomoso schoolchildren and their teachers regained their freedom on the very day the national leadership of the president’s party launched its “Door-to-Door” campaign for the 2027 presidential election.

He said, “No serious government should be consumed by the politics of re-election while innocent schoolchildren have remained in the custody of kidnappers for weeks. The first campaign of any responsible administration must be the campaign to rescue its citizens, restore security and reassure anxious families. Politics can wait; the lives of innocent children cannot. Yesterday should have been dedicated to the war room, not the campaign room.”

Atiku said that while the military rose to the occasion, the presidency failed to rise to the moment.

“What Nigerians expected yesterday was to see a commander-in-chief leading from the front. Following the successful rescue operation, the president ought to have immediately addressed the nation alongside his defence chiefs—not merely to announce the good news, but to brief Nigerians on the operation; acknowledge the bravery of the troops; highlight the lessons learned; reassure families that no effort would be spared to rescue those still in captivity; and send an unmistakable message to bandits and terrorists that the Nigerian state remains resolute.

“Such moments are not ordinary press events; they are defining demonstrations of leadership that strengthen public confidence, boost military morale, and remind criminal elements that they are confronting a government that neither sleeps nor surrenders,” Atiku said.

Instead, he observed, the responsibility of announcing one of the most significant security successes in recent times was left to the president’s spokesman while the president remained publicly engaged in political activities.

The former vice president warned that symbolism matters greatly in the fight against terrorism. “When our troops accomplish a difficult mission, they deserve visible presidential recognition. When citizens witness their President speaking with conviction after such an operation, they draw strength and confidence. Equally, those who seek to terrorise our people are reminded that they are confronting a united and determined state. The opposite risks creating an unfortunate perception that politics has taken precedence over the solemn responsibility of securing the nation.

“There is an old African proverb that says, ‘When the drum of danger beats, the village chief does not send a messenger to dance in his place.’ Yesterday belonged to our brave soldiers, and they acquitted themselves with honour. But it should also have been the moment for the commander-in-chief to stand before the nation, salute their courage, comfort anxious families and send a chilling message to every bandit and terrorist that the Nigerian state will pursue them without rest until every captive is free. Leadership is not only measured by victories won on the battlefield but also by the courage displayed from the highest office in moments that define a nation,” Atiku said.

He stressed that the successful rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren should not distract the nation from the painful reality that many other Nigerians, including abducted schoolchildren and innocent citizens in Borno and several other parts of the country, remain in captivity.

According to him, the greatest campaign any president can undertake is not for re-election but for the safety and security of the Nigerian people.

Atiku urged the federal government to sustain relentless pressure on terrorists, bandits and kidnappers until every abducted Nigerian is rescued and every community under siege regains peace and security.

The spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship campaign in Osun State, Adebisi Nurein Debo, has reaffirmed the party’s opposition to vote buying and election violence.

Debo spoke on Friday at the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Guest Platform, where he described the ADC as an emerging political force and defended the party’s campaign strategy.

The ADC campaign spokesperson who condemned vote buying and vote selling also urged voters not to exchange their votes for financial inducements.

“Collect whatever money is offered because it is everybody’s common wealth, but do not vote for them,” he said.

While outlining the ADC policy direction ahead of the 2026 governorship election, Debo disclosed that the party has grown significantly within the last year, saying the party has become a serious opposition coalition in Osun State.

“A year ago nobody spoke of the ADC. A year and five days today, ADC has become a serious contending coalition of opposition. The result is there to show because the ADC is a force to reckon with,” he said.

He added that the party rejected popularity gained through election violence, maintaining that the ADC remained committed to peaceful democratic participation.

Debo said the party’s governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, had a clear vision for Osun anchored on the ADC’s 10-point agenda. 

He added that, apart from former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, only Salaam had presented a prepared development plan for the state, warning that “trial and error will lead to multiplicity of errors.”

He said the party’s agenda prioritises workers’ welfare, agriculture, security, commerce and business without increasing taxes, improved electricity supply to boost productivity, and good governance through people-oriented policies.

According to him, “the ADC aims to implement at least 70 per cent of its campaign promises within the first three years of assuming office.”

He also alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State had engaged in “political agenda theft.”

Debo assured residents that Salaam would provide good and visionary leadership if elected and disclosed that an ADC administration would focus on talent discovery and create employment opportunities for 20,000 youths within its first 100 days in office.

Speaking on Salaam’s relationship with former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Debo said “Aregbesola had established himself as a household name in Osun and Nigerian politics, adding that Salaam’s alignment with the former governor had strengthened his electoral appeal. Aregbesola is a mentor and leader to Najeem Salaam.”

On local government administration in the state, Debo attributed the current situation to what he described as abuse of power by the APC and incompetence by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke. 

He also claimed to observe a dangerous political trade by barter between Abuja and Osogbo over the issue and questioned the governor’s endorsement of “his tormentor in chief.”