—Backs state police, seeks stronger support for military

By Golok Nanmwa

JOS — Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau Central Senatorial District, has described President Bola Tinubu’s decision to retain Vice President Kashim Shettima on the All Progressives Congress, APC, 2027 presidential ticket as a demonstration of stability, courage and continuity in governance.

Speaking with journalists in Jos on Sunday, Plang said he was pleased that President Tinubu resisted pressure to change his running mate, describing the decision as one that would strengthen national unity and policy continuity.

“I thank God that President Tinubu has remained steadfast and retained Senator Kashim Shettima as his vice president.

That is stability at the highest level of leadership. I am proud of that decision because Shettima has been loyal, active, accessible and committed to the success of this administration,” he said.

The senator said Nigerians should be willing to make personal sacrifices in support of the Tinubu administration, insisting that the President’s vision, courage, inclusiveness and commitment to infrastructure development deserved broad national backing.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding alleged fake government agencies, Plang said the Senate would intensify its oversight responsibilities to ensure that only legally established agencies continue to operate.

According to him, the discovery has exposed the need for relevant Senate committees to thoroughly review agencies under their supervision and verify their legal status.

He also commended the Armed Forces and other security agencies for recent successes in the fight against insecurity, particularly the rescue of kidnapped victims and sustained operations against criminal elements nationwide.

Plang acknowledged the sacrifices made by security personnel, noting that many officers had lost their lives in the line of duty while defending the country.

He called for increased funding, improved welfare and the recruitment of more personnel into the military and other security agencies, saying adequate manpower was critical to tackling the nation’s security challenges.

The lawmaker reiterated his support for establishing state police, describing it as a national consensus that would enhance intelligence gathering, improve community policing, and strengthen the fight against insecurity.

He said the creation of state police would enable states to recruit personnel familiar with local terrain, culture and languages, thereby improving response to security threats and complementing the efforts of existing federal security agencies.

Former lawmaker and prominent Egba political leader, Jelili Amusan, has warned against the emergence of back-to-back governors from the same local government and ward in Ogun State, describing such development as inconsistent with the principles of fairness, equity and political inclusion.

Amusan spoke with journalists shortly after the presentation of Mrs Kudirat Balogun as the running mate to the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Solomon Adeola, before Ijebu obas in Ijebu-Ode.

He said the 2027 governorship election presents an historic opportunity to correct the long standing political imbalance by allowing the Yewa-Awori people to produce the next governor of Ogun State.

According to him, while every section of the state has the constitutional right to seek political office, equity demands that power should not remain concentrated in one area.

The former governorship aspirant noted that Ogun State’s political stability has largely been sustained through an unwritten understanding that accommodates the two major political blocs of Ijebu/Remo and Egba/Yewa.

“It will be difficult to justify a situation where both the outgoing governor and another governorship candidate come from the same local government and even the same ward.

“Such an arrangement raises genuine questions about fairness and equal political opportunities for every part of Ogun State,” he said.

The former member of the House of Representatives, argued that preserving political balance remains crucial to maintaining unity, strengthening democracy and giving every section of the state a sense of belonging.

“As an Egba son, I strongly believe that many of us will continue to uphold the long standing tradition of fairness that has defined Ogun State politics. While every political bloc has the right to pursue its ambitions, the overall interest of Ogun State must always come before sectional interests.

“What we are witnessing today is remarkable. The Yewa-Awori people have spoken with one voice behind a single candidate. Even more significant is the convergence of support from past and present political leaders across Ogun State behind that aspiration. That level of consensus is extraordinary and deserves serious consideration,” he added.

Amusan maintained that over five decades since the creation of Ogun State, Yewa-Awori has earned both the moral and political right to occupy the governorship seat.

He described the aspiration as a quest for justice, fairness and inclusive governance rather than a sectional agenda, urging traditional rulers, political leaders and residents across the state to support the cause irrespective of ethnic or political affiliations.

“Breaking the over 50 years barrier will not only correct a long-standing political imbalance but will also reinforce the values of justice and inclusiveness upon which our democracy thrives.

“Beyond the principle of equity, the candidate presented by Yewa-Awori possesses the competence, experience and leadership capacity required to move Ogun State to greater heights,” he opined.

The Edo Independent Electoral Commission, EDSIEC, has declared the candidates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winners of all the 18 local government chairmanship and the 192 ward councillorship seats in the elections held across the state on Saturday.

DAILY POST reports that the Chairman of EDSIEC, Mr Jonathan Aifuobhokhan, declared the APC candidates winner of the election at a news conference on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Benin City.

Aifuobhokhan said the election was successfully conducted across the 18 local government areas and 192 wards in the state.

He explained that accreditation, voting, sorting, counting, collation and declaration of results were carried out in accordance with the Edo State Local Government Electoral Law 2022, as amended in 2026, and other applicable regulations.

“Following the completion of the collation process at the various ward and local government collation centres, the duly appointed ward and local government returning officers announced and declared the results in their respective jurisdictions.

“Based on the official results declared by the returning officers, the commission hereby declares that the All Progressives Congress won the 18 local government chairmanship positions and all the 192 councillorship seats contested in the election,” he said.

While expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the elections and the returning officers, the chairman of the Commission, commended them for discharging their statutory responsibilities professionally, impartially and in accordance with the law.

Aifuobhokhan opined that the election was conducted peacefully across the state, despite minor operational challenges in a few locations.

The EDSIEC chairman who said the
election was conducted peacefully across the state, noted that the minor operational challenges that occurred in a few locations does not substantially affect the overall conduct or outcome of the election exercise.

He, however, promised that the
commission would continue to improve future electoral processes through periodic reviews and stakeholder engagement.

He urged candidates or political parties who may not be satisfied with any aspect of the electoral process to seek redress through lawful channels provided under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He commended political parties, candidates, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, community leaders, youths, women groups and the electorate for their peaceful conduct during the election.

The EDSIEC boss said certificates of return would be presented to the elected chairmen and councillors on Monday, July 13, 2026.