Politics
2027: Declare me APC Benue guber candidate, Kuraun tells NWC…Accuses Alia of diversion of materials
By Philip NyamAbuja
A gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue state, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun has called for the cancellation of the just concluded governorship primaries due to alleged irregularities and undemocratic practices.
Kuraun, who made the call in Abuja on Thursday at a media briefing, also accused Governor Hyacinth Alia of diversion of election materials demanding that he be declared as candidate of the party in the alternative.
The aspirant alleged that “What transpired was a grave subversion of internal democracy and a deliberate manipulation of a process that ought to have reflected the genuine will of party members across the 276 Council Wards and 23 local government areas of Benue State.
“In view of the overwhelming irregularities, absence of transparency, denial of due process, and the failure of the exercise to meet acceptable democratic standards, I respectfully call on the National Working Committee of the APC to cancel the purported governorship primary election conducted in Benue State on 21st May 2026 and conduct a fresh, transparent, and independently supervised primary election; declare me, Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun, the valid winner of the primary election based on the undisputed fact that I was the only aspirant who substantially complied with the party’s stipulated preparatory requirements for the conduct of the exercise, including the duly acknowledged submission and deployment of agents across the 276 council wards and 23 local government areas of Benue State, as well as the overwhelming turnout and visible participation of my supporters across the state despite the failure of election materials to reach the designated ward centres”.
Speaking further, the aspirant alleged that “The APC Governorship Primary Election conducted in Benue State on Thursday, 21st May 2026 was neither credible, transparent, nor reflective of democratic standards expected within a ruling political party.
“I was the only governorship aspirant who demonstrably prepared for the exercise in accordance with the requirements and guidelines of our great party, the APC.
“Prior to the primary election, I duly submitted the comprehensive list of my Ward and Local Government Agents to the APC Governorship Primary Election Committee at the APC State Secretariat in Makurdi. The submission was formally acknowledged by the Committee.
“To the best of available evidence, no other aspirant submitted such comprehensive agents’ lists covering the entire 276 Council Wards and 23 Local Government Areas.
“Most importantly, I was the only aspirant with agents physically present and verifiably deployed across the field during the exercise. This fact is supported by extensive pictorial and video evidence taken across the wards and local governments in Benue State.
“Our agents and supporters were visibly present, mobilized, and prepared for the democratic exercise. They wore identification tags, coordinated party faithful, and waited for the distribution of election materials in anticipation of a credible process.
“Unfortunately, what followed was deeply disturbing. My agents and supporters across the 23 Local Government Areas patiently waited at their respective ward centres for the arrival of election materials, which reportedly departed Makurdi at about 1:00 p.m. for onward distribution to the designated wards.
“However, in many instances, these materials never arrived at the approved ward centres for the conduct of the primary election.
“Instead, reports and evidence later showed that the materials were seen being taken away or found in the possession of certain government appointees and individuals outside the designated electoral process.
“This unfortunate development ultimately created room for the diversion of election materials to unknown locations and opened the door for the falsification and fabrication of results without actual voting taking place in many areas.
“I challenge anyone claiming victory in that exercise to publicly provide authentic video or pictorial evidence showing actual accreditation, voting, counting, and collation processes across the 276 Council Wards of Benue State.
“Several disturbing irregularities have since emerged from the purported results announced, including:
“Allocation of votes to aspirants whose supporters and agents were not present in several wards; instances where I overwhelmingly won but was falsely recorded as scoring zero votes.
“Inclusion of names of persons who reportedly did not participate in the screening process or were not duly cleared to contest; announcement of fabricated figures from locations where election materials never arrived and voting never occurred.
“These actions represent a direct assault on democratic credibility and internal party democracy. Following the declaration of the disputed results, I immediately activated the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the APC in line with the timetable and guidelines of the party.
“However, when it became time to formally file my appeal before the Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, the Committee members became unavailable and could not be found anywhere despite repeated efforts by myself, my representatives, and my legal team to reach them.
“It is my firm belief that this deliberate unavailability was calculated to frustrate my constitutional and democratic right to seek redress within the party framework.
“Faced with this obstruction, I had no option but to forward my appeal through DHL courier service to the National Chairman of the APC, with copies duly sent to the National Legal Adviser.
“The complaint was officially acknowledged at the office of the National Chairman on 25th May 2026. Regrettably, up till this moment, I have neither received any formal response nor been invited for any meeting, hearing, or discussion concerning the complaint filed”.
Politics
Namdas Congratulates Shettima, Says Tinubu’s Renomination of VP Signals Stability, Continuity
By Philip Nyam
The newly appointed Director General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, Ph.D has commended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to renominate Senator Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 Presidential Election as a bold affirmation of competence, loyalty, and results.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Namdas said, “As a proud member of the APC and a stakeholder committed to the unity and progress of our nation, I heartily congratulate His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, on this well-deserved renomination.
“I also extend my profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the wisdom and foresight demonstrated in retaining a Vice President who has stood firm with him in steering the affairs of this country through challenging times”, he stated.
Namdas noted that “Since assuming office in 2023, the Tinubu-Shettima ticket has provided purposeful leadership anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda. Senator Shettima has not been a spare tire. He has been an active partner in governance. From driving economic reforms, to deepening engagement with the private sector, to representing Nigeria with dignity on the global stage, and to providing calm, thoughtful leadership in the North East and across the country, he has shown capacity, humility, and dedication”.
According to him, “Mr. President’s choice to retain Senator Shettima sends a clear message to Nigerians and to the world: that this administration values continuity, experience, and teamwork. It tells our citizens that performance will be rewarded, and that the job of nation-building is not for grandstanding, but for steady hands.
“I also congratulate our great party, the APC, for presenting what is, without doubt, the most formidable presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general election. With President Tinubu at the helm and Senator Shettima as his deputy, the APC is offering Nigerians a tested team that understands the assignment and has the courage to take the hard decisions required to reposition our economy, secure every part of Nigeria, and create opportunities for our young people.
“The road ahead will demand more sacrifice, more unity, and more belief in the Nigeria project. But with this ticket, I am confident that the APC will not only retain power in 2027 but will do so with an even stronger mandate because Nigerians can see that the foundation being laid today will deliver the prosperity we all seek tomorrow.
“Once again, congratulations to Senator Kashim Shettima. Thank you, Mr. President, for your confidence and for putting Nigeria first. And congratulations to the APC family. The work continues, and victory, by the grace of God and the will of the people, is assured”.
— Vatsa, APC Chieftain Tells Bago
By Michael Lim
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger state has been urged to select a Christian running mate for the 2027 governorship election for fairness and to garner more Christian support.
Jonathan Vatsa, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, has advised.
He warned that failure to do so could cost the party significant votes due to the ongoing marginalisation of Christians in the state’s political landscape.
Speaking with journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa expressed concern that the APC’s recent primaries produced almost exclusively Muslim candidates.
He noted that only one Christian secured a ticket for the entire State House of Assembly, while all three senatorial candidates, 11 House of Representatives candidates, and 26 out of 27 House of Assembly candidates are Muslims.
According to Vatsa, Christians have also been sidelined in political appointments, despite Governor Bago’s public outreach to Christian groups.
But he argued that symbolic gestures such as attending church programmes or making donations cannot substitute for genuine inclusion in governance.
“It’s not about attending church programmes, singing choruses or making donations. What matters is fairness and inclusion in appointments and elective positions,” he said.
Vatsa maintained that nominating a Christian deputy would help restore balance and strengthen the APC’s chances in 2027.
He cautioned that if opposition parties present Christian running mates, they could attract sympathy votes from the Christian community.
He further stressed that the credibility of candidates, rather than party platforms, will play a decisive role in the upcoming elections.
By Isa Abdul, Abuja
After a review of party primaries across the federation, Governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved to meet with Prof Netanwe Yilwatda, Chairman of the party, and other leaders.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), said the resolution was reached at the forum’s meeting which ended in early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.
The PGF is an umbrella body of all serving APC governors.
Uzodimma, while addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting said that the governors also resolved to work to ensure that Nigerians were better off.
He said that the meeting reviewed the outcome of the party’s primaries across the federation, the recent Ekiti governorship election and various by elections in which the APC came out in ”flying colours”.
“We have resolved to work towards solving the problems and challenges facing our democratic space and ensuring that our people are better off.
“We also resolved to meet with the leadership of the party to plan the coming 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. We are ready and good to go,” he said.
The PGF chairman added that the forum further resolved to continue to work with the APC leadership to support and strengthen it and prepare it for future elections.
The meeting was attended by governors of Ekiti, Zamfara, Taraba, Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom and Borno States among others.
The meeting may not be unconnected with what some sources believe is the group’s displeasure with how the primaries were reportedly handled by the party hierarchy scheming out their candidates out for the 2007 polls
Supreme Court Orders Lawyers to Upload Case Doduments Online Ahead of September-December 2026 Hearings
Spread the loveBy Our Reporter The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed all legal practitioners with matters scheduled for hearing...
“Dai Dai” FIFA Soccer Anthem Makes Burna Boy First African #1 on Billboard Global 200 Chart
Spread the loveBy Michael Lim Burna Boy, the Grammy Award,-winner Nigerian Afrobeat superstar, has become the first African artist to...
No More Graduation Ceremonies But Speech and Prize-giving Days inNiger Private Schools says Niger State Govt
Spread the loveBy Michael Lim For the financial strain on parents, guardians and the commercialisation of school celebrations, the Niger...
EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of 48 Properties Linked toMalami
Spread the loveBy Isa Abdul Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, held that EFCC had successfully established...
Nigeria eyes drones, AI to seal 1,497 Illegal routes, build smart border shield
Spread the loveBy Nick Ibe Nigeria is set to overhaul its border security system by shifting from manpower-driven patrols to...
Akume Faults Makinde Over Oyo Kidnap Comment, Says Tinubu Prioritized Rescue Over ‘Telephone Call’
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, on Tuesday faulted Oyo State...
FG Pledges Built Environment Regulation to Check Building Collapse
Spread the love–Framework To Tackle Quackery, Enforce Construction Standards Coming By Isa Abdul The federal government is set to overhaul...
2027: We’ll Restore Benue’s Lost Glory — Akume
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, has expressed optimism that...
Reps Drop Own State Police Bill, Back Tinubu’s Executive Proposal For ‘Coherent Framework’
Spread the loveBy Felix Umande The House of Representatives on Tuesday rescinded its earlier constitutional amendment bill on state police...
Makinde Calls on UN to Probe Oyo Schoolchildren, teachers’ Abduction
Spread the love–Presidency accuses Gov of strange conspiracy theory By Isa Abdul Dissatisfied with the issues surrounding the abduction and...