A coalition of young people from Kogi State has raised N100 million to procure the presidential nomination form of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election, describing the contribution as a show of confidence in his administration.

The N100 million cheque was formally presented in Abuja on Monday to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo.

Although President Tinubu has not formally declared his intention to seek re-election in 2027, leaders and stakeholders within the APC have continued to signal support for his potential second-term bid.

Party organs including the National Working Committee, National Executive Committee, zonal structures and the Governors’ Forum have openly endorsed him.

Addressing journalists during the presentation, Yilwatda described the gesture as a proud moment for the party, noting that it reflected a shift in youth engagement with governance.

He stated, “We are seeing young people from Kogi State taking decisive action—not to ask what the government or the President will do for them, but to ask what they can do to support Mr President so that he will return in 2027 and do much more for their people.”

According to him, the youths cited improvements in economic indices and security efforts as key motivations for raising the funds.

He said, “They listed their reasons, and they gave valid reasons why they want Mr President to come back. They said the economy has improved and that the indicators are looking green and positive. They also said Mr President is tackling security in their state, working together with the Governor to address pockets of insecurity within communities.

“Mr President has deployed the military, and the Governor has provided the enabling environment and supporting equipment for them to do their job. They also said Mr President has given Kogi indigenes several appointments, including the Chief of Army Staff, the INEC Chairman and other key positions.

“They further said that the Governor of Kogi State has performed excellently in infrastructure, road construction and agriculture. I have seen some of these projects on television, including the rice programme. He has empowered the youths and provided leadership for young people.

“We often say the youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but Mr Ododo and Mr President are saying the youths are the leaders of today. We can see this in the appointments made—many young people are now in governance.”

“Even in the party, I had the opportunity to become the youngest National Chairman under Mr President’s leadership. You can also see many young people appointed as CEOs in different capacities.”

Yilwatda said the party considered the donation historic and symbolic of growing youth participation in politics.

He continued, “That is why these youths have donated the sum of N100 million to Mr President for the purchase of his nomination form and expression of interest form. To me, this is something all Nigerians, especially the youths and party members, should be proud of. We are proud of the Kogi youths.

“This is the first time in Nigeria’s history that youths are not saying, ‘Take us to Mr President so he can give us something,’ but instead saying, ‘We don’t want to see him; we want to buy the form for him.’ That is unique. You are a torchlight. You are a pillar. You are an example to all the youths of Nigeria, and we are proud of you.

“The governor is here with them. They have presented both the dummy cheque and the actual payment. This is not a promise. This is not a voice note. This is not AI. This is real money. The cash has been paid into the party’s account.

“This is the second group to make such a commitment. The first group made a commitment but has not paid. These people came with both commitment and payment. With this payment, I want to announce that nobody should bother bringing money again to buy the form for Mr President, because the form has already been procured in advance by the Kogi youths.”

Governor Ododo, who accompanied the delegation, thanked God for what he described as visionary leadership at the national level.

He said, “I thank God Almighty for making this moment possible. We thank God for giving us a father—Mr. President—at this time in our country, a sincere leader who is leading from the front.

“In the history of this country, no government has given youths the space that Mr President has provided. I am a beneficiary of that.”

The Obidient Movement has rejected the outcome of Saturday’s Abuja Municipal Area Council chairmanship election, describing the exercise as a “brazen assault” on democracy and condemning the killing of one of its polling agents.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, alleged that the poll was marred by widespread irregularities, intimidation and voter suppression, which he said compromised its credibility.

The protest followed reports that the All Progressives Congress secured five of the six area council chairmanship seats in the Federal Capital Territory, winning in AMAC, Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, while the Peoples Democratic Party clinched Gwagwalada.

The elections were held to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship positions across the FCT. Observers reported low voter turnout amid allegations of vote-buying in some areas.

Tanko disclosed that the movement backed the African Democratic Congress candidate for AMAC chairmanship, Dr Moses Paul, popularly known as Dr Mo, describing the support as part of a broader coalition driven by the vision of a new Nigeria.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Tanko said the outcome of the election was not merely a political loss but an attack on democratic principles.

He alleged that party agents of the ADC were harassed and intimidated at several polling units, adding that the situation escalated into violence in Gwagwa, where one of their representatives, Musa Abubakar, also known as Dege, was reportedly killed while attempting to prevent ballot box snatching.

According to him, the killing instilled fear among other agents, forcing some to abandon their posts.

“Our agents were systematically targeted and threatened. The intimidation reached a tragic climax when one of our most committed agents was killed at his polling unit,” Tanko said.

He described the deceased as a devoted family man who believed in democratic change and insisted that those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice.

The movement further accused unnamed actors of orchestrating electoral fraud and held them accountable for the death of its agent.

It commended Dr Mo and his team for visiting the bereaved family and offering support.

Tanko called for a comprehensive and transparent review of the AMAC election results and urged security agencies to investigate the killing and prosecute those involved.

He also criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging that the restructuring of polling units without sufficient public awareness contributed to voter apathy.

According to him, many voters were unable to locate their polling centres and left without casting their ballots, resulting in what he described as a turnout of about seven per cent.

Tanko added that the intervention of former presidential candidate Peter Obi encouraged greater participation among supporters of the movement and its allied candidates, noting what he termed a marginal increase in turnout compared to previous FCT council elections.

He maintained that the will of the electorate in AMAC was subverted and urged the electoral umpire to address the allegations to restore public confidence in the democratic process.

The Benue State Government has approached the Federal Government for approval to establish a Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) centre aimed at rehabilitating repentant local bandits.

Josephine Habba, Director-General of the Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, disclosed this on Monday during a briefing with journalists in Makurdi.

She explained that the initiative seeks to reintegrate individuals who were coerced into serving as foot soldiers for armed groups, including women and pregnant women who were not originally criminals.

“These persons are not necessarily criminals but were taken in to do dirty jobs for those in the forest,” Habba said.

“Even pregnant women were abducted and turned into cooks. Our biometric survey identified over 1,800 people, but 400 have expressed willingness to undergo rehabilitation.”

The proposed DDR centre, part of a military programme certified by the United Nations, is intended to attract international attention to Benue and support the peaceful reintegration of participants into their communities.

Habba said the programme would last six months to a year, during which time the committee will engage in community resilience projects, restore destroyed livelihoods, compensate affected families, and rebuild schools and hospitals.

She added that the state government made a formal request to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, with the support of local leaders including the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Bishop Isaac Dugu.

A committee of military officials, including Brigadier-Generals and Major-Generals, has already begun assessing the proposed facility.

The centre is expected to be located in Logo Local Government Area, with the project projected to cost millions of naira.

Habba emphasized that the commission, operational since 2023 following repeated attacks on communities in Benue, is working to create mechanisms to prevent recurring conflicts in the state.

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has instituted a ₦1 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), challenging what he described as the unlawful invasion and search of his Abuja residence.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on February 20 by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN).

El-Rufai is contesting the legality of a search warrant issued on February 4 by a Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court, which authorised operatives to search his residence.

In his application, the former governor asked the court to declare the warrant null and void, arguing that it lacked specificity, contained drafting errors, and failed to establish probable cause.

He contended that the warrant’s alleged defects rendered the search unconstitutional and in violation of his right to privacy as guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

El-Rufai named the ICPC as the first respondent, while the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrates’ Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as second to fourth respondents, respectively.

He is seeking seven reliefs, including a declaration that the search conducted at his residence on Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19 by operatives of the ICPC and the Nigeria Police Force breached his fundamental rights to dignity, personal liberty, fair hearing, and privacy under Sections 34, 35, 36, and 37 of the Constitution.

The former governor further urged the court to rule that any evidence obtained during the search is inadmissible in any proceedings against him, having allegedly been procured in violation of constitutional safeguards.

He also requested an order directing the ICPC and the Inspector-General of Police to return all items seized during the operation, alongside a detailed inventory.

El-Rufai is demanding ₦1 billion in general, exemplary, and aggravated damages for what he described as trespass, unlawful seizure, psychological trauma, and reputational harm.

The claim comprises ₦300 million as compensatory damages for emotional distress, ₦400 million as exemplary damages to deter future misconduct, and ₦300 million as aggravated damages for the alleged oppressive conduct of the respondents.

He also sought ₦100 million as litigation costs.
In his legal arguments, Iyamu maintained that the warrant contravened provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and the ICPC Act 2000.

He argued that the document failed to clearly specify the items sought, contained typographical errors, and broadly authorised “all officers” without defined limits.

The counsel cited judicial precedents, including C.O.P. v. Omoh (1969) and Fawehinmi v. IGP (2000), to support the position that evidence obtained through unlawful means should be excluded.

In a supporting affidavit, Mohammed Shaba, identified as a Principal Secretary to the former governor, alleged that officers stormed the residence under a defective warrant and seized personal documents and electronic devices without following due process.

He claimed the operation caused humiliation and emotional distress, adding that the seized items have yet to be returned.

The suit seeks judicial intervention to safeguard the applicant’s constitutional rights and restrain the respondents from relying on any materials recovered during the disputed search.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over the low voter turnout recorded in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing it as troubling for Nigeria’s democratic health.

Reacting to the polls in a statement shared by his media aide on X, Atiku said the average turnout — reportedly below 20 per cent, with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) recording about 7.8 per cent — reflects deepening public disillusionment.

According to him, the weak civic participation in the nation’s capital is symptomatic of broader democratic challenges under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The former presidential candidate alleged that the government of the All Progressives Congress has fostered an atmosphere that discourages opposition and limits political plurality.

He argued that shrinking democratic space, intimidation of dissenting voices, and the marginalisation of alternative viewpoints have eroded public trust in the electoral process.

“When citizens begin to doubt that their votes count, democracy itself is endangered,” Atiku said, warning that what appears as voter apathy may instead reflect frustration and loss of confidence in governance.

He cautioned that continued weakening of participatory governance could inflict lasting damage on Nigeria’s democratic foundations, stressing that vibrant opposition and competitive politics are essential pillars of any functional democracy.

Atiku further called on opposition parties and civil society actors to unite in defence of democratic principles.

“This transcends partisan politics. It is about safeguarding the Republic and ensuring that democracy remains meaningful for all Nigerians,” he said.