The House of Representatives on Wednesday strongly criticised the Federal Government for entering into negotiations with bandits to secure the release of 24 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State.

The condemnation came from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers known as “House to the Rescue,” who described the government’s decision, revealed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, as a betrayal of public trust and a serious threat to national security.

During a special plenary session held on Tuesday, members lamented the worsening insecurity across the country, noting that Nigerians now live in constant fear as kidnappers and armed groups operate unchecked.

In a statement endorsed by lawmakers representing all six geopolitical zones, the group declared:

“The House to the Rescue unequivocally condemns the Federal Government’s engagement with bandits and criminal elements behind the ongoing wave of abductions across Nigeria.”

The lawmakers accused the government of empowering criminals rather than protecting citizens.

“At a time when Nigerians are pleading for safety, the government has chosen to negotiate with those who abduct children, terrorise communities, and challenge the authority of the Nigerian state,” they said.

They argued that President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy amounted to “an abdication of leadership.”

The statement noted that fresh kidnapping incidents in Kano, Kwara, Kebbi, and other states have left communities traumatised. Instead of decisive action, the lawmakers said, the government had offered “silence, excuses, and clandestine concessions to violent groups.”

“No responsible nation rewards criminality with dialogue. Negotiating with bandits has never yielded lasting peace anywhere in the world,” the coalition warned.

To support their position, they cited global examples where talks with violent non-state actors backfired:

Colombia: Negotiations with FARC reportedly increased ransom kidnappings and strengthened the rebels.

Mexico: Secret contacts with drug cartels worsened insecurity and emboldened gangs.

Afghanistan: Concessions, including prisoner exchanges, enabled the Taliban to regroup and eventually topple the entire government.

According to the lawmakers, Nigeria would face similar consequences if it continues to negotiate with criminal groups.

They warned that dialogue with bandits only legitimises their operations, encourages more abductions, and weakens public confidence in the country’s security institutions.

This approach, they said, has already created “a dangerous business model where abductors seize citizens and expect government negotiators instead of security forces.”

The coalition demanded that the Federal Government:

1. End all negotiations with bandits immediately.

2. Adopt intelligence-led military and security operations to rescue abductees.

3. Present a comprehensive national security strategy with clear accountability measures.

4. Subject all unofficial negotiators to National Assembly oversight.

The statement was signed by:
Muhammed Soba (North West), Zakari Mohammed (North Central), Olasupo Abiodun (South West), Sadiq Ibrahim (North East), Uko Nkole (South East), and Bassey Ewa (South South).

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday announced that a total of 2,449,475 Nigerians have successfully completed both online and physical Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ahead of future elections.

According to the commission’s latest report, 1,425,898 applicants finalised their online pre-registration, while 1,023,577 completed their registration through physical biometric capture at INEC centres nationwide.

State-by-State Breakdown

Osun State led the national tally with 193,026 completed registrations. It was followed by:

Imo: 144,209

Kano: 142,433

Sokoto: 132,584

Lagos: 115,334

Borno: 112,226

FCT: 106,855

Kogi: 97,012

Jigawa: 95,543

Zamfara: 90,739

Other figures reported include:

Katsina: 87,661

Kaduna: 82,421

Delta: 79,495

Kebbi: 77,721

Ogun: 77,014

Niger: 73,745

Oyo: 68,559

Akwa Ibom: 68,464

Rivers: 63,621

Further down the list:

Adamawa: 52,381

Kwara: 50,221

Yobe: 49,766

Benue: 46,802

Bayelsa: 41,856

Bauchi: 37,749

Ekiti: 33,393

Gombe: 32,890

Nasarawa: 31,862

Ebonyi: 29,102

Edo: 27,602

Plateau: 25,301

Taraba: 18,731

Enugu: 17,234

Ondo: 16,709

Cross River: 15,339

Abia: 13,875

Anambra State remained at zero, as CVR activities there are still suspended following the recently concluded governorship election, in line with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.

INEC noted that the current phase of CVR, which began on August 18, 2025, is set to end in August 2026.

States in the South-West, especially Osun and Lagos, have consistently recorded high registration numbers.

However, INEC reported a recent surge in participation from several northern states, attributed to increased mobilisation efforts by community organisations, religious leaders and local government authorities.

These groups have been actively encouraging eligible voters to register as the 2026 deadline approaches.

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday dismissed reports claiming he was planning to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling them false and politically motivated.

The rumours suggested that Alia had secretly met with former Senate President and ex-PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to discuss a supposed defection.

Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Terso, the governor described the claims as “laughable, malicious, and part of a smear campaign” aimed at distracting him from governance and misleading the presidency for political gain.

The statement, titled “Mischievous Fake Story on Governor Alia’s Alleged Defection to ADC,” clarified that all Alia’s meetings with elders and state leaders, including Ayu, were purely consultative and in the spirit of inclusivity, with no political or religious motives.

Alia also met other respected figures such as Senator David Iornem, Elder David Amo, and Ambassador Terhemen Tarzoor as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the APC across Benue State.

The statement added:

“Under the clear directives of His Excellency, opposition structures across Benue are collapsing into the APC, with defection ceremonies happening in virtually all local government areas. Influential individuals are leaving their former parties to join the ruling party in unprecedented numbers.

Governor Alia remains fully committed to building a united and dominant APC in Benue State.

He is prepared to engage even the fiercest political opponents and bring them into the party as part of a broader strategy for 2027 consolidation, both for his administration and for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The governor urged the public to ignore the social media claims, warning that such misinformation could create confusion and weaken the growing strength of the APC in Benue State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted the names of three ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the submission during Wednesday’s plenary session, noting that the nominees are Kayode Are (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State) and Ayodele Oke.

Akpabio added, “The list contains three names for now. I am sure others will follow.”

Since assuming office in 2023, President Tinubu has not appointed any ambassadors, a delay that has attracted public criticism.

Detail shortly…

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has proposed a ₦1.39 trillion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as a “People’s Budget of Expansion and Growth” aimed at deepening infrastructure development and improving livelihoods across the state.

Presenting the proposal before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Governor Eno said the budget reflects insights gathered from the state’s Town Square Meetings and is designed to respond directly to citizens’ needs.

The 2026 proposal represents a ₦260 billion (16%) reduction from the revised 2025 budget.

Of the proposed ₦1.39 trillion expenditure, ₦354.867 billion (25%) is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure while ₦1.035 trillion (75%) is allocated to Capital Expenditure.

The governor explained that prioritising capital spending would accelerate economic activities, support infrastructure expansion, and drive long-term growth.

Key sectoral allocations include: ₦387.5 billion for roads and infrastructure, ₦31.6 billion for education and ₦136.1 billion for health.

Governor Eno reiterated his request for quick legislative approval, saying:
“I urge you to quickly pass this budget so we may continue to work for our people.”

The governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for removing the petrol subsidy, noting that the policy has created fiscal room for states to fund more development projects without borrowing.

According to him, all ongoing projects have been fully funded, consistent with the administration’s ARISE Agenda, with priority areas including food security, mechanised agriculture, rural income expansion, and poverty reduction.

Governor Eno highlighted ongoing agricultural reforms, noting that 69,107 farmers have benefited from the state’s agricultural revolution, 13,060 registered farmers have received processing machines and equipment and a new palm tree crop revolution will soon be launched to build long-term wealth, particularly in rural communities.

Total projected capital receipts for 2026 stand at ₦1.035 trillion, comprising ₦791.978 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and ₦243.155 billion from other financing sources.

Further details of project-specific allocations, the governor said, will be presented by the Commissioner for Budget.

Speaker of the Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, commended the governor for presenting a budget consistent with the state’s development blueprint and for prioritising the ongoing transformation of the Assembly complex.

Former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has sounded a strong warning about Nigeria’s rapidly worsening insecurity, saying the country is “dangerously close to normalising terror.”

In a statement, Essien described the surge in killings, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks as a full-blown national emergency that requires urgent, firm leadership.

He urged President Bola Tinubu to take bold and immediate action to halt the decline.

Essien highlighted a series of violent incidents recorded in recent days:
– the abduction and killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba and three soldiers in Borno,
– the kidnapping of over 64 people in Tsafe, Zamfara,
– the abduction of 25 female students and school officials in Kebbi,
– the murder of a police officer in Yobe,
– attacks on Christian worshippers in Kwara,
– and the mass kidnapping of more than 300 Catholic school students in Niger State.

“These incidents are no longer isolated,” he stressed. “They have become daily realities in many parts of the country, showing a disturbing level of coordination and cruelty.”

According to the elder statesman, communities are increasingly shutting down, farmers are abandoning their farmlands, and places of worship are losing their sense of safety.

Essien accused the Federal Government of failing to respond with the urgency the crisis demands.

He recalled that President Tinubu was once one of the most vocal critics of security lapses under former President Jonathan, yet the insecurity Tinubu condemned has worsened under his administration.

The leadership Nigerians were promised during the campaigns, he said, “has simply not emerged.”

He also expressed concern about the quality of individuals appointed to critical security roles, arguing that the defence sector must be led by professionals, not political appointees.

Terrorist groups, he said, evolve too quickly to be confronted by leaders who lack deep expertise.

“Defence is not a political reward; it is the backbone of national survival,” he insisted.

Essien criticised suggestions that some figures within government may have ties to terrorist organisations or sympathise with them.

No country, he argued, can win the war on terror if parts of its security apparatus are compromised.

He called for an overhauled national security strategy centred on intelligence-driven operations, stronger community-based security networks, a better-equipped military, and stricter accountability.

Those who fund, protect, or assist terrorists, he said, must be exposed and prosecuted regardless of status.

Turning to the root causes of extremism, Essien lamented the growing number of underage, uneducated children wandering the streets—children who often become easy recruits for bandits and extremist groups.

He urged the government to invest in policies that offer hope, opportunity, and dignity to vulnerable populations.

On corruption, Essien, formerly Chair of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics, and Values, said graft remains a “cancer” weakening the nation’s security framework.

He blamed persistent financial leakages, diversion of public funds, and the government’s refusal to act on investigative findings for starving the security sector of the resources it badly needs.

“The politicisation of security is becoming more dangerous than the terrorists themselves,” he warned. If nothing changes, he added, Nigeria risks losing public trust, facing mass displacement, and descending further into ethnic and religious division.

“Propaganda and political manoeuvring must not overshadow the urgent need for decisive security reforms.”

A suspended member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Bernard Udemezue, representing Ayamelum Constituency, was on Wednesday forced out of the legislative chambers after attempting to resume plenary despite being under sanction.

Udemezue, who was suspended four months ago for allegedly leaking details of lawmakers’ earnings on social media, arrived at the Assembly for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.

He was placed on a three-month suspension for what the House leadership considered a breach of internal procedure.

Ahead of the governor’s arrival, security operatives, including the Police, DSS, and NSCDC, took positions around the complex.

Commissioners, special advisers, media aides, heads of MDAs, traditional rulers, party members, and civil society groups were already seated for the budget session.

Tension rose when Deputy Speaker Chukwuma Okoye and Oyi Constituency lawmaker Innocent Ojike, accompanied by security personnel, approached Udemezue and escorted him out of the chambers.

The House leadership also went to the public gallery to eject the lawmaker’s supporters who had accompanied him.

Sources within the Assembly told DAILY GAZETTE that Udemezue was removed because he did not follow the stipulated procedure for resumption after suspension, despite the expiration of the three-month ban.

Reacting to the incident, Udemezue insisted he complied with all requirements for his return, including submission of formal letters to the appropriate authorities before appearing in the chamber.