The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State has called for the prosecution of Orlu LGA Chairman, Chris Mbarie, over what it described as inciting remarks against opposition members in the state, alleging that APC ‘s act of intimidating opposition parties and the electorate will no longer be tolerated.

The party, in a press statement issued by its spokesperson, Lancelot Obiaku, condemned the alleged remarks attributed to the Council boss, who was accused of saying that opposition political parties would not be allowed to operate freely in Orlu LGA ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Obiaku, a video of the statement was circulated on social media even as he pointed out that the language used by the Council Chairman is not only disturbing but borders on political intimidation and incitement.

The PDP spokesperson asserted that the remarks have raised serious concerns about public safety, electoral freedom and the integrity of the democratic process.

“The party therefore calls on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, DSS, to immediately investigate the statement, its context and the intention behind it, and where the investigation establishes criminal culpability, arrest should be made, and prosecution should be followed in accordance with the law,” he said.

Obiaku averred that it is unacceptable for a public official to suggest that any part of the state can be declared a political no-go area for opposition parties, pointing out that Council Areas belong to the people and not to the APC or any political office holder.

The party maintained that no Chairman, Governor or political party has the constitutional authority to prevent citizens from freely associating, assembling, campaigning or supporting the political party of their choice.

“More importantly, any statement suggesting an intention to intimidate opposition parties or interfere with their activities ahead of an election must be treated with the seriousness it deserves. The security agencies must not wait until threats translate into violence before acting.

“Furthermore, Imo PDP notes that this is not the first time the APC is employing the antics of intimidation of voters in an election, as in the last governorship election in the state, the party went as far as brazenly using town criers in many communities to announce that anyone not voting for APC should not bother being at the polling unit. What a crime. It shall no longer stand,” the release added.

The party also warned that opposition parties in the state, especially the PDP, will not allow any individual or group within the ruling party to intimidate voters, suppress them or attempt to compromise the electoral process.

The PDP insisted that the era of political intimidation and impunity must end, saying that it will no longer be business as usual in Imo State.

Obiaku hinted that the PDP is out to defend the constitutional rights of its members and supporters to participate freely in the political process.

“We will document threats, report violations and pursue every lawful avenue to protect the people’s votes and democratic rights.
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“We therefore call on INEC, civil society organisations, the media, election observers and the international community to take note of this disturbing development and closely monitor political activities in Orlu and other parts of the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

“If the APC and its officials truly enjoy the confidence of the people, they should go to the polls and earn their votes. Elections must be decided by the people, not by threats, intimidation or violence. But we are quite aware that the APC in Imo stands no chance at any election without electoral crimes,” the release further stated.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19, 2026, as the date for bye-elections to fill two vacant seats in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

The polls will be held in Sakwa State Constituency, Zaki Local Government Area, and Disina State Constituency, Shira LGA.

The Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, announced the date on Wednesday at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security in Bauchi.

He said the commission would issue the notice of election on August 20, ahead of political party primaries scheduled for August 21 to 25.

Ibrahim said the submission of nomination forms would open online on August 29 and end at 11:59 p.m. on September 2. The final list of candidates is expected to be published on September 8.

He added that parties had until September 10 to submit the names of their polling agents, while campaigns would close by midnight on September 17.

The REC disclosed that Sakwa Constituency has 100 polling units spread across five wards, while Disina has 95 polling units across five wards.

He called on political parties and candidates to adhere to the electoral guidelines and avoid actions capable of disrupting the exercise.

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, who co-chaired the meeting, assured stakeholders that the command would remain neutral and professional throughout the electoral process.

Aliyu asked political parties to provide their campaign schedules ahead of time to enable the police to make appropriate security arrangements.

DAILY POST recalls that the Sakwa seat became vacant following the death of its occupant, Wanzam Zaki, who also chaired the House Committee on Budget and Appropriation. He died on June 21, 2026.

In Disina, the vacancy followed the resignation of Saleh Hodi, the former representative of the constituency and Majority Leader of the House, to contest the Shira Local Government chairmanship election.

By Adeola Badru

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has intensified efforts to resolve its internal disagreements ahead of the 2027 general elections, as its National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, received the report of the state reconciliation committee in Ibadan.

The meeting was conspicuously held in the absence of some of the party’s prominent aggrieved governorship aspirants, including former governor and Senator Teslim Folarin, Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, Akeem Agbaje, Hakeem Alao and former deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan.

The reconciliation meeting, which also had the party’s Oyo State governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, in attendance, was convened as part of efforts to resolve lingering grievances arising from the party’s governorship primary and reposition the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, Yilwatda described reconciliation within the party as a continuous process, while stressing that unity among members would be critical to the APC’s ambition of reclaiming Oyo State from the ruling party in 2027.

The National Chairman said the disagreements within the party should be viewed as an internal family matter, expressing optimism that the issues would be resolved through dialogue.

He said, “The APC is a family. Whatever that is happening in the party is a family issue. It is normal for members of the same family to have challenges but we are happy that the issues are being addressed as a family.

“We are a family. It is normal for children of the same family to have some little difficulties. But we are happy that the party is still stable.

“Also from the report that we gathered from the reconciliation committee and other stakeholders, the party is stable and we are good to go.”

Yilwatda maintained that the reconciliation exercise had not been concluded, assuring that the concerns raised by aggrieved members would be considered and addressed by the party leadership.

According to him, the renewed reconciliation process is designed to address grievances, rebuild trust among members and strengthen the party’s organisational structure ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said the APC would continue to engage its members in order to prevent the internal disagreements from undermining its electoral prospects in the state.

On the outcome of the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, Yilwatda said the APC had yet to adopt an official position on the result.

He explained that the National Working Committee (NWC) would first review the election with the party’s candidate and other relevant stakeholders before taking a definitive position.

“We have not sat down as a party to take a position. A position as a party will involve the National Working Committee inviting candidates and taking a review of what happened in Osun State,” he said.

The APC National Chairman, however, described the Osun election as a learning experience for the party, stressing the need for political maturity and sportsmanship among its members.

Earlier, the chairman of the Oyo State APC Reconciliation Committee, Femi Lanlehin, said the committee was making progress in its efforts to bring the aggrieved members back together before the 2027 elections.

Lanlehin disclosed that the committee had met with all the aggrieved governorship aspirants and submitted its findings to the National Chairman for further action.

He said, “The party is making headway in its efforts to reconcile the aggrieved members before the conduct of the 2027 elections.

“The committee had met with all the aggrieved aspirants and the findings have been presented to the national chairman.

“We just came out of the primaries and some people are not happy with the outcome. They expressed their disappointment.

“They were aggrieved. We have presented our findings to the National Chairman of our party to act on it.”

Lanlehin further disclosed that the APC leadership was planning to meet with President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to resolve the crisis internally and prevent the disagreements from affecting the party’s chances in 2027.

He insisted that the party could not afford to allow the lingering disagreements to hand an advantage to opposition parties in Oyo State.

“We cannot afford to lose the 2027 election to any opposition party in Oyo State. I am assuring you that we will win all the elective positions at all levels in 2027 in Oyo State,“ he said.