The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Benue State, Michael Aondoakaa, has said there is no agreement between him, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume; and former governor Samuel Ortom to work for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in 2027.

Aondoakaa, a former Attorney General of the Federation was reacting to claims that he had an understanding to support Atiku’s presidential ambition in 2027.

A group known as the International Centre for Transparency Nigeria, ICTN, had claimed that the former Minister of Justice, Ortom, and the SGF had a pact to work for Atiku in 2027.

Responding, Aondoakaa described the ICTN as a faceless group, stressing that “there was no such meeting, agreement, negotiation or political arrangement involving himself and the other leaders as alleged.”

Aondoakaa said, “The report is built entirely on unverified allegations, the attempt to portray him as a political bridge between Chief Ortom, Senator Akume and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not only false but devoid of any factual foundation.

“Those making the allegation have failed to provide a single piece of evidence showing where such an arrangement was discussed, when it was reached or what role he supposedly played in it.

“The attempt to drag the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, into the concoction also does nothing to make the story more credible. Mentioning prominent names cannot transform fiction into fact.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no meeting or arrangement involving Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa, Chief Samuel Ortom and Senator George Akume to work for the presidential ambition of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. No such arrangement exists.”

The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the release of the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Moyowa Adejoorin, who was arrested in connection with a shooting incident at an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Ilesa.

The incident occurred on Saturday and reportedly left four people injured, including a teenager identified as Tobi Ilesanmi.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adejoorin was taken into custody after police officers arrived at the scene, secured the area and began collecting evidence.

According to Ojelabi, the commissioner’s vehicle was stopped at the location, where an Amotekun operative allegedly linked to the shooting was also found.

“Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene and cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expended cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps.

“Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process,” Ojelabi said.

The development came amid heightened attention to the incident after a video circulated on social media on Sunday showing Adejoorin leaving the police command.

Confirming the development, Ojelabi told Vanguard that the commissioner had been released on bail but said he was still awaiting clarification on the status of the Amotekun operative who was arrested alongside him.

“It is true that the commissioner has been released on bail today, but I am yet to clear the situation with the Amotekun personnel arrested with him,” he said.

Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting are ongoing.

..Slams ADC, threatens legal action over Adamawa candidate substitution

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA — Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, has criticised the presidential candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar under the African Democratic Congress, ADC, while also faulting the party’s handling of its Adamawa State governorship primary.

Lawal made the remarks in a Facebook post on Sunday titled “Kachalla Series Three,” in which he alleged that the ADC replaced Engr. Umar Suleiman, whom he said won the party’s Adamawa governorship primary, with Tukur Moddibo.

He attributed the alleged substitution to ethnic considerations and claimed that Atiku influenced the decision.

In the post, Lawal compared Atiku and the ADC’s candidate-selection process to products purchased from TEMU, an online marketplace.

He wrote: “As the story goes on the streets in the state, APC donated its gubernatorial candidate to the state having purchased him from TEMU the cheap online market place, and it appears that the ADC too has just done likewise, aside giving to the nation a presidential candidate that looks more like he too was a cheap product from TEMU.”

Lawal further alleged that the substitution of Suleiman with Moddibo was influenced by pressure from Atiku and accused the former vice president of favouring candidates on ethnic and religious grounds.

He said Suleiman was a “very competent and experienced gentleman” who, in his view, posed a strong challenge to what he described as an attempt to maintain political dominance in the state.

Lawal also alleged that the substitution violated the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC Constitution and the party’s Primary Election Guidelines.

He said he would challenge the matter in court.

“This criminal substitution which violates the Electoral Act 2026, the ADC Constitution, and the ADC Primary Elections Guidelines will be tested in the courts and it will fail woefully,” he said.

Lawal further said he believed voters in Adamawa State would reject what he described as an attempt to impose a candidate on them.

He predicted that both the ADC and the All Progressives Congress, APC, could lose the governorship election, while noting that voters had other candidates and political parties to choose from.

“The Adamawa masses trust God that both the ADC and APC will lose the gubernatorial elections in the state,” he said.