Former African Democratic Congress, ADC, candidate for the Baure/Zango Federal Constituency, Balarabe Lawal Daga, and other opposition stakeholders have defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Baure Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The defectors, drawn from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and ADC, joined the APC at a ceremony attended by Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda on Saturday.

Daga, who previously contested the Baure/Zango Federal Constituency seat on the ADC platform, was among the prominent opposition figures who moved to the ruling party.

Radda described the development as a boost to the APC’s structure in Baure, while urging party members to maintain unity and peaceful relations at the grassroots.

The governor said the influx of members from different political parties reflected growing support for the APC in the local government.

He, however, cautioned party stakeholders against turning the defection ceremony into a campaign, noting that political campaigns would begin at the appropriate time.

The governor also urged party members to remain focused on governance and grassroots engagement.

The factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has disowned a meeting reportedly held by members of his faction to endorse Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris ahead of the 2027 elections.

Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, denied knowledge of the meeting in a response to an enquiry sent to him.

He stated that “we are not aware of the meeting.”

The meeting was reported by an online medium to have involved a former minister, Buhari Bala and General Ishaya Bamayi (Rtd), who were said to have facilitated discussions that culminated in a resolution to support the Idris administration in the 2027 elections.

Turaki, however, said his faction was not aware of the gathering and therefore could not endorse any resolution reached at the meeting.

“We are not aware of the meeting. ‘Shirmen banaza ne’”, he said.

The development comes amid continued factional divisions within the PDP as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Neither the Nyesom Wike nor the Turaki-led faction of the party has publicly announced its governorship candidate for Kebbi State for the 2027 election.

By Shina Abubakar, OSOGBO

The Police have arrested Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Asejoorin, in connection with gunshots fired at the All Progressives Congress, APC, holds rally in Ilesa on Saturday.

Four persons were reportedly injured in the incident.

Reacting, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign team, The Imole Campaign Council, described the arrest as a plot to silence Accord leaders in the state.

On the shooting, it was gathered that the APC supporters, during the rally in Ilesa metropolis, were attacked by some Accord chieftains, during which sporadic gunshots heard.

As a result, people sustained different degrees of injury, including a 14-year-old Ilesanmi.

As at press time, no casualty has been recorded. But the injured victims have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

An eyewitness, Kola Adeoti disclosed that the boy was at his mother’s shop when he was hit by a stray bullet on his thigh.

He added personnel of a security outfit based in the state, who escorted the Accord chieftains shot directly at the APC members which led to protest in Ilesa.

Why we arrested him – Police

Contacted, the Osun State Police Command spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi confirmed the report.

He said the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mayowa Asejoorin was arrested in connection with the incident.

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

“Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested the scene and has been taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process,” he added.

Adeleke’s camp reacts

Reacting, the Imole Campaign Council spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, told newsmen at the Imole Media Centre on Saturday, in Osogbo, that the manner of arrest is particularly disturbing.

He described the arrest as nothing short of a bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority.

Olajengbesi called on the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu to reign in Osun Police Command and especially the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gothan.

He added that Accord leaders and members will not be intimidated, and that the will of the people can not be arrested.

He said, “The latest victim of this alarming pattern is the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Mayowa Adejoorin, a prominent native of Ikiyinwa in Obokun Local Government Area of the state.

“The manner of his arrest is particularly disturbing. We consider what happened to Hon Adejoorin nothing short of a bandit-line abduction carried out under the cover of police authority.

“For some time now, we have witnessed a disturbing pattern in which prominent Accord leaders and supporters in Ijesaland are picked up by the Police on allegations that are apparently motivated by sinister political calculations, kept away from their families, communities and campaign activities, and thereby removed from circulation at a critical period of the electoral process.

‘APC desperate’

“The APC is desperate in Ijesaland. And rather than face the people in a free, fair and competitive election, there is a growing concern that these rejected political actors may be seeking to weaken the Accord Party’s structures by removing its leaders from the field.

“We are therefore deeply concerned that these arrests may be connected to an attempt to create an environment conducive to electoral manipulation in Ijesaland ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

“We therefore call directly on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunde Disu, to urgently intervene in the situation in Osun State.

“Mr Inspector-General, the buck stops at your table. We call on you to rein in the Osun State Police Command and Mr Gottan in particular and immediately investigate the disturbing pattern of arrests involving Accord leaders, particularly in Ijesaland.

“We demand answers. On what basis was Hon Mayowa Adejoorin arrested? What offence has he committed? What evidence exists against him? Why was his arrest carried out in such a manner? And why does the Police appear increasingly willing to deploy its powers only against Accord political leaders at this critical moment in our democratic process?

“We demand the immediate release of Hon Mayowa Adejoorin, as we believe, there is no lawful and credible basis for his abduction and detention.”

Vanguard News