—Decry non- scholarship award by govt
–Condemn neglect of student hostels

By Vincent Tyosuugh

Forum of University Student Leaders in Benue State on Tuesday, expressed support for the SDP candidate in the 2027 elections, Prof. Sebastine Hon, SAN, while decrying the rot in student hostels and neglect by the Governor Alia administration.

The students made the declaration during a solidarity visit to the Director General, Sebastine Tar. Hon Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ngutor Anyam, in Makurdi.

The student leaders who took turns to address the DG, lamented the poor state of student welfare under the current government.

To the Coordinator of “Hon Va Youth Movement 2027,” Christian Aondongu, students have been the worst hit by the policies of the present state government. In his words:

“As student leaders, we can testify that students have been neglected.

“Government has no incentives for students.

“Our hostels are bad and the toilets are not fit even for our worst enemies.”

He added that the group is planning a solidarity march in honour of Prof. Hon ahead of the 2027 elections.

Also speaking, the Chairman, National Association of University Students (NAUS), Benue State chapter, Comrade Terfa Kator, lamented the absence of government scholarship, saying:

“We are enarmored of Prof. Sebastine Hon because he has been awarding scholarships.”

To the Coordinator, National Association of Zone C Students, BSU, Comrade Ode Francis, the Alia administration is “anti-students”, adding that:

“Even the Ortom administration tagged the worst awarded scholarships.

“We searched for a candidate to support.

“We are uplifting the candidature of Prof. Hon,” he stated.

Responding, a member of the STH Campaign Organisation, Zaki Godwin Akpen, told the students to remain committed.

“You are leaders right now. If you want a better tomorrow, your ideas for real development will make a difference,” he charged the students.

In his remarks, Dr. Anyam expressed delight at the students’ decision and promised the campaign organisation’s full support.

“You have already identified Prof. Sebastine Hon as a credible leader.

“If you assist him to get into government, you are part of the history of making Benue State great.”

Recalling his university days, the DG said he enjoyed a meal for 50 kobo as an undergraduate and expressed pain over the failure of public service and the decline in the university system in Nigeria. He regretted the unpatriotic attitude of those in positions of authority, saying that:

“A Chinese firm once sought to build hostels for the Benue State University students but the plan was thwarted because management of the university at the time was more interested in milking the company.”

Dr. Anyam outlined key plans of the STH administration to include prioritising scholarships, industrialization, sports development and export of agricultural produce and talents.

The students ended the meeting with chants of solidarity for the SDP candidate.

By Felix Umande

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the political crisis in Rivers State denied Governor Siminalayi Fubara the opportunity to seek a second term, blaming poor counsel from political associates and what he called external interests bent on hijacking the state.

Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during the August edition of his monthly media chat on Channels Television, while reflecting on his fractured relationship with his estranged political ally.

The former Rivers governor said he repeatedly warned Fubara not to abandon the political structure that brought him to power.

“I said, look, don’t derail. I came as governor, I had crisis. When I came as governor, there was nothing. They didn’t even relocate the Government House,” Wike said.

He recounted inheriting an administration with limited resources, adding that he had to borrow ceremonial vehicles from former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko.
“When I came, I had to borrow vehicles from the former governor of Ondo, Mimiko, these parade vehicles. Nobody kept any vehicle; I didn’t have one vehicle.

“But before I left as governor, I packed out from Government House one and a half years before. I renovated Government House. I bought vehicles for the governor, the deputy governor and the governor’s wife. I did that,” he said.

Wike said he expected Fubara to build on that foundation.
“Somebody had laid a foundation. Look, this is where I stopped. If you continue this way, our dream is to be able to compete with Lagos. What is wrong with that?” he asked.

The FCT Minister alleged that individuals who initially opposed Fubara’s emergence later became his close allies and encouraged confrontation.

“Somebody comes, and that’s why you have to be careful. Those who didn’t want you to be governor now became your friends. Obviously, they will destroy you, thinking that coming closer to you is to fight us.

“At the end of the fight, I have not lost anything. What have I lost? Nothing. But you have lost. Your intention was to go for a second term, is it not correct? And you are not going,” Wike said.

He further alleged that external actors saw Rivers as a “cash cow” and sought to control it for financial gain.
“There are external forces who want to hijack Rivers State. You don’t allow them to hijack Rivers State. There are those who see Rivers State as a cash cow.

“I can tell you so many things happened. There are people, even some Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who you would never believe can play that kind of role, who were virtually living with us in government,” he said.

According to Wike, those individuals later advised Fubara to resist his political camp.
“When this thing happened, they were so bitter that they started giving the governor wrong advice: ‘Don’t worry, the law says this, the law didn’t say this.’
“They were sending them aircraft, then they would relax in the jet. To them, they were king. So, for him to continue to be there, they would exert that kind of influence.

“We said no, this cash cow must end now. You won’t have it again. Take as much as you can, but you have to stop,” he added.

Asked if he still loved Fubara, Wike replied: “If I don’t love him, why would we support him? That’s the point I’m making.”

He disclosed that efforts were made to reconcile both camps but collapsed over political calculations.
“There was a time we all thought, we all agreed, and said, ‘Look, can we allow bygones to be bygones?’ But something fundamental came up in politics.

“They said, ‘Look, if you allow this now, there are those who are here who want to see that we are no longer politically relevant,’” he said.

The rift between Wike and Fubara began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, when Wike accused him of dismantling the political structure that produced him. The dispute escalated into a confrontation involving the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats by lawmakers loyal to Wike, and a six-month state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025 that suspended the governor and legislature.

After his reinstatement, Fubara defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, citing gratitude to Tinubu for his intervention. He later picked APC governorship nomination forms for a second term but withdrew in May 2026, a move Wike and others linked to a peace understanding that he would not seek re-election.

In July 2026, Fubara announced his return to the political family that brought him to power, joined the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition backing Tinubu, and endorsed the coalition’s preferred governorship candidate.

By Felix Umande, Makurdi

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday released the final list of presidential and national assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections, shutting the door on several high-profile politicians who had hoped to return to the ballot.

The publication, displayed at INEC offices nationwide, ended months of political suspense and confirmed a major shake-up across the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

Notable absentees include former President Goodluck Jonathan, whom the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP claimed to have presented to INEC as its presidential candidate. His name did not appear on the final list.

Also excluded are Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North; former Ogun State governor, Gbenga Daniel, Ogun East; former Gombe State governor, Danjuma Goje, Gombe Central; and Senator Garba Maidoki of Kebbi South.

In Delta, Nwoko’s name was missing from the list posted at the INEC office in Asaba. Former Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, emerged as the APC’s senatorial candidate, confirming Nwoko’s earlier defeat in the party primary.

In Gombe, Goje lost the APC ticket to retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ahmed.

The exclusions come two months after Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured lawmakers who lost their return tickets during the APC primaries that the party leadership was working to address grievances.

While the APC reinstated six serving senators after reviewing petitions submitted to its Primary Election Appeal Committee, many other influential politicians who sought redress remained off the final list forwarded to INEC.

On the PDP side, former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo secured the ticket for Gombe North Senatorial District, while Senator Anthony Siyako emerged as the candidate for Gombe South.

In Bauchi State, two serving federal lawmakers were also absent. Senator Shehu Buba, Bauchi South, elected on the APC platform, will not seek re-election after defecting to the Peoples Redemption Party, where he picked the governorship ticket.

Also missing is Mansur Soro, representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, who earlier announced he would not contest either the Bauchi Central Senatorial seat or return to the House of Representatives.

Despite the wave of exclusions, Benue politicians made the cut. Names on the final INEC list include Achado, Zam and Udende, signaling that the state will retain strong representation in the 2027 polls.

With the final list now public, political parties are expected to shift fully into campaign mode ahead of the 2027 general elections.