A serving female councillor in Kogi State, Rosemary Aduku, has died in the custody of her abductors days after she was kidnapped.
Aduku represented Ogugu Council Ward III in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state before her death.

The Executive Chairman of Olamaboro LGA, Dr Ameh Williams, announced her passing in a statement issued over the weekend on behalf of the Olamaboro Executive Council.

The councillor was reportedly abducted on October 1, 2026.

However, details surrounding her death, including whether a ransom was demanded or paid, had not been made public as of the time of filing this report.

Expressing grief over the development, Williams described the deceased, popularly known among her colleagues as Hon. Rosella, as a humble, dependable and compassionate individual who was committed to the happiness of those around her.

He said her death was a devastating loss to the Olamaboro Legislative Council, the local government executive, her family and the entire Ogugu community.

The statement read, “It is with deep sorrow we announce the sudden demise of our dear sister and colleague Hon. Mrs Rosemary Aduku, the Honorable Councilor representing the good people of Ogugu Ward 3 in the 8 Olamaboro Legislative Council.”

The council chairman further praised Aduku’s character and the cordial relationships she maintained with colleagues and members of the local government administration.

“Hon. Rosella as she is profoundly called among her colleagues in the council and members of the Olamaboro Executive Council has been a wonderful soul and down to earth.

“She has been a reliable fellow whose idea is to make everyone around her happy. Though your life was short lived but we will definitely take solace in your legacies and testimonies we have received since your demise,” the statement added.

Williams prayed for God to comfort the bereaved family, her colleagues and constituents as they come to terms with the loss.

“At this point we pray that God Almighty continue to rest your soul, grant your entire family, members of the Olamaboro 8 Legislative Council, members of Olamaboro Executive Council and the entire Ogugu district the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.

The local government also announced that Aduku’s burial would take place at 1 p.m. on Friday at her family compound in Ogugu Centre.

Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were invited to attend the burial and join the community in paying their final respects to the deceased councillor.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed optimism that Nigeria will attain economic strength comparable to that of the United States and the United Kingdom when President Bola Tinubu completes his ongoing economic reforms.

Okpebholo made the assertion in a video circulating on social media while addressing supporters, defending the removal of fuel subsidy and insisting that the policy would eventually yield economic benefits for Nigerians.

The governor praised Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to implement the policy, which he said previous administrations had been reluctant to pursue because of its potential political consequences.

“Mr President is a man of courage. For many years, Nigeria has been battling to remove fuel subsidy, and no president, right from Obasanjo to our own Goodluck, could remove fuel subsidy. Nobody dared to say it because the removal of fuel subsidy could even remove a president from office.

“But within a twinkle of an eye, in a few minutes, in a few seconds, this president summoned courage and said it was better for him to deliver this country and reform its economy. He removed that fuel subsidy. That is why you have seen the boost in Nigeria’s economy today.

“The reforms of Mr President are succeeding. Let the common man be the one to enjoy this money. So already, there are so many holes that have been created.

“Those holes are what he is filling now. By the time he cements all those holes, Nigeria will bounce back. Nigeria will be strong like America. Nigeria will be as strong like England. Our economy will be very strong. The only man who had the courage to do it is the president,” Okpebholo said.

The governor acknowledged the economic difficulties associated with the reforms but argued that the government was working to address the disruptions and position the country for recovery.

He also cited the increase in federal allocations to state governments as evidence of the changes under Tinubu’s administration.

Recounting a conversation with former Edo State governor and senator, Adams Oshiomhole, Okpebholo compared the allocations received by state governments during Oshiomhole’s tenure with the amounts available under the current administration.

“I was talking to Adams Oshiomhole. I asked him, ‘When you were governor, how much were you getting?’ He said three billion naira. But today, I thought he was getting close to 20 billion naira,” he said.

Okpebholo further pointed to ongoing infrastructure development in Benin City, the Edo State capital, particularly the construction of flyovers, as evidence of the transformation taking place under his administration.

“Before now, when you got to Benin, which we call the ancient city, it looked different. With the introduction of our new flyovers in Benin, the city is now looking like a modern city,” he said.

Turning to the forthcoming presidential election, the governor urged his supporters to mobilise votes for Tinubu, recalling his pledge to secure 2.5 million votes for the president.

“On the 16th of January, we will go to the polls again to elect our president and vote for our president,” he told the supporters.

He subsequently challenged them to reaffirm their commitment to the target.

“This time, how many of you know my promise of 2.5 million votes? Are you aware of my promise of 2.5 million votes? Are you aware of the 2.5 million votes? Are we going to get them? Are we going to get them?” he asked.

The Federal High Court 2 in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Bashir Abdullahi Gaddafi as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Akko Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections.

The court, presided over by Justice Vera E. Ibrahim, directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh primary election for the constituency within 21 days.

It also ordered the immediate withdrawal of Gaddafi’s certificate of return.

The ruling followed a suit instituted by Adamu Hassan Kashere, who challenged the process through which Gaddafi emerged as the ADC candidate for the House of Representatives seat.

Kashere alleged that the party failed to conduct primary elections across the wards in Akko Federal Constituency before declaring Gaddafi its candidate.

He also questioned Gaddafi’s eligibility, claiming that he was a public servant who participated in the party’s primary without formally resigning from his employment.

However, in its judgment, the court held that the plaintiff failed to establish the allegation that Gaddafi continued to receive salaries while participating in the primary election.

The court also acknowledged that Gaddafi was a registered member of the ADC and was qualified to participate in the party’s primary.

During the proceedings, the plaintiff sought to tender documents to support his claims, but disagreements arose over the admissibility of the relevant documents.

Kashere had filed the suit against Gaddafi, the ADC and INEC, seeking to challenge the validity of the process that produced the candidate for the Akko federal constituency.

Following the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff, Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, and counsel to the defendants, Benjamin Sati, said they would consult their respective clients before determining their next course of action.

A Senior Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja has issued bench warrants for the arrest of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and the use of false documents.

The court also ordered the arrest of Timothy Ama Chuks and Amen Okorocha, who were accused of conspiring with the former governor to forge and submit purported All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election results allegedly indicating that Okorocha won the party’s senatorial ticket.

The warrants authorise police officers nationwide to arrest the four accused persons and produce them before Senior Magistrate Court 3 in Jiwa, Abuja.

Issued on September 9, 2026, the warrants list criminal conspiracy, forgery and the presentation of false documents among the allegations against the defendants.

The case was instituted by the Inspector-General of Police against the four individuals.

The development comes amid a separate move by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to have security agencies investigate Okorocha over allegations that he circulated purported APC primary election results that the commission has rejected as fake.

INEC maintained that the authentic results submitted to it by the APC showed that Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, won the senatorial primary for Imo West Senatorial District, popularly known as Orlu Zone.

The commission further stated that the APC subsequently submitted Uzodimma’s name as its candidate for the district.

In a letter dated October 8, 2026, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police in Imo State and the state director of the Department of State Services (DSS), INEC called for an investigation into the disputed document allegedly being circulated by Okorocha.

The letter, signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Chukwuemeka Ibeziako, described the matter as a case of “fraudulent and fictitious All Progressives Congress senatorial party primary report for Imo State dated 18th May, 2026.”

INEC raised concerns that a document allegedly being circulated on social media contradicted the results officially submitted by the APC to its headquarters.

According to the commission, the authentic result identified Uzodimma as the winner of the primary, while the disputed document purportedly presented Okorocha as the victorious candidate.

“The fictitious document wrongly presented Senator Ethelbert Rochas Okorocha as the elected candidate for the party,” INEC said.

The electoral body reportedly attached copies of the original results submitted by the APC, alongside the disputed document, to its letter to the security agencies.

Urging the police and the DSS to conduct a thorough investigation, INEC warned of the potential security implications of the alleged conduct.

“In these circumstances, I urge you to graciously use your good offices to investigate and neutralise this spurious conduct that has a serious likelihood of causing the breakdown of law and order in Imo State,” INEC charged the police and the DSS.

The Federal High Court in Jos, Plateau State, has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct fresh primary elections in 10 wards of the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency over alleged irregularities in the exercise that produced Dachung Bagos as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Dorcas Agishi issued the order on Friday in a suit instituted by Esther Danboyi against Bagos, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court also awarded ₦1.5 million in costs against the defendants, directing each of them to pay ₦500,000 to the plaintiff.

The suit, marked FHC/J/CS/42/2026, challenged the validity of the APC primary, alleging that the party failed to comply with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and its own guidelines for conducting primary elections.

According to the plaintiff’s counsel, Ritji Yilwatda of Gyang Zi & Co., the court found that the required elections had not been conducted in the 10 disputed wards and consequently directed the party to organise fresh polls in the affected areas within 30 days.

The affected wards are Du, Shen, Zawan ‘B’, Fobur ‘A’, Fobur ‘B’, Jarawan Kogi, Mai Juju/Doss, Federe, Shere East and Shere West.

Yilwatda further disclosed that his client had accused the APC of denying her a fair hearing despite submitting petitions to the party and its Primary Election Appeal Committee over the disputed process.

He added that the court dismissed the preliminary objections and counter-affidavits filed by the defendants.

The legal battle arose from Danboyi’s challenge to the primary election that produced Bagos as the APC candidate for the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency.

She alleged that the party failed to conduct valid elections in the affected wards and did not adequately address her complaints through its internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.

Consequently, she asked the court to nullify the disputed results and compel the APC to conduct and conclude primary elections in the wards where she claimed the exercise had not taken place.

The court’s order for fresh primaries within 30 days marks a significant legal development for the APC as it prepares for the 2027 general elections in Plateau State.