Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the North-Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum has urged first term governors elected on the platform of the party in the zone to sit up in order to ensure their return for a second term.

The North-Central APC Forum asserted that improved performance by the governors will translate to victory for the party in the forthcoming election.

The APC Forum made the call on Sunday in a statement released by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, after a second quarter stakeholders consultative meeting in Abuja.

First term governors in the North-Central, who are seeking re-election in the 2027 election, include Ahmed Ododo, Kogi, Hyacinth Alia, Benue, Mohammad Bago, Niger and Caleb Muftwang, Plateau.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Abdullahi Sule, the governors of Kwara and Nasarawa, respectively, the two other states in the North-Central, are rounding off their second terms in office.

The North-Central APC Forum, while expressing a desire for the APC to retain the control of all the states in the zone after the 2027 elections, said the performance of the first term governors will go a long way in determining their chances of re-election.

It urged the governors to step up in the provision of dividends of democracy as the elections approach.

“We urge the first term governors in the North-Central to sit up in the discharge of their duties as the elections draw closer. Our target as the North-Central APC Forum is that the party will continue to retain control of all the states in the zone.

“As leaders of the party in their respective states, we urge the governors to take the lead towards ensuring that the North-Central remains totally under the control of the APC after the elections. The North-Central was the first geopolitical zone to come under the control of one party, APC, and we as stakeholders are proud of the feat.

“As stakeholders and dedicated party men, we declare our resolve to ensure that the North-Central retains its enviable position as the number one APC zone in the country. To this end, we are calling on the first governors to redouble their efforts in the provision of dividends of democracy to the people. We particularly urge them to pay special attention to security, the economy, agriculture, education, youth and women empowerment, and the general welfare of citizens,” the Forum said.

However, the North-Central APC Forum in the same vein commended the governors of Niger and Plateau states for their achievements in office.

The Forum noted that Bago and Muftwang have recorded notable achievements in various sectors, which it said have improved the living conditions of citizens in the two states. It highlighted improved security, economic advancement especially through investment in modernized agriculture, and empowerment programmes initiated by the governors in their states.

The Forum said Bago and Muftwang have prioritized the welfare of workers and implemented policies which have improved business activities, thereby attracting much needed private investment.

“Following the second quarter 2026 assessment of governance in the North-Central, we believe that the governors of Plateau and Niger states, Mohammed Umaru Bago and Caleb Muftwang, respectively, have recorded commendable achievements in various sectors.

“The Bago administration in Niger State has recorded major infrastructure and industrial projects including the 1,000km statewide road network and flyovers, 500-hectare solar farm and industrial park in Diko/Sabon Wuse, the Minna urban renewal and overhead bridge expansion, and the 500-unit housing estate in Kontagora.

“In Plateau State, the Muftwang administration has executed several landmark infrastructure, as well as agricultural and tourism projects, including the 19.7 km Mangu Bypass, the Plateau Potato Value Chain Project, and the remodeling of hospitality and sports centers like the Hill Station Hotel and Rwang Pam Township Stadium.

“Added to these, the administrations have recorded improvements in security and economic empowerment and several other sectors, which we believe would ensure victory for the APC in the 2027 election. Other first term governors in the zone have also made progress, but we urge all of them to do even more as the elections approach. It is our fervent desire that the North-Central retains its pride of place an the number one APC zone in the country at the end of the 2027 elections,” the Forum added.

The APC Forum expressed confidence that, with the strides recorded by Bago and Muftwang, and the performance of other governors, the pledge to deliver six million votes from the North-Central to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election is on course.

It would be recalled that, in December 2024, the Forum became the first political organization to endorse Tinubu for a second term, pledging six million votes for the President from the North-Central zone.

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.