The national leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has voiced grave concern over the worsening security situation in Nigeria, stressing that the growing incidents of violence and killings are endangering the nation’s stability.

In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP condemned the recent wave of violent attacks and expressed sorrow over the lives lost in multiple regions of the country.

The party emphasized that the government’s core responsibility is to protect its citizens and ensure their welfare, underscoring that any failure in this area reveals a critical lapse in governance.

“The disturbing reports of widespread killings in various regions—north and south—over the past weeks paint a troubling picture,” the statement read.

“These incidents, both reported and unreported, have created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for citizens.”

The SDP referenced specific violent incidents, including killings in Edo State, where individuals were reportedly killed due to being mistaken for outsiders.

The party also highlighted a brutal attack in Plateau State, where over a hundred lives were lost, and many homes were destroyed.

Additionally, an attack by a group known as ‘Makmuda’ was cited as evidence of the increasingly complex and dangerous security environment.

The statement also raised concerns about the inadequacy of current security frameworks, stressing that existing structures seem to be overwhelmed.

The SDP called for a clear and effective national security strategy to counter the growing threats.

“It is imperative that the government prioritizes the safety of Nigerians above all else,” the statement emphasized.

“President Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, has a constitutional responsibility under Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution to ensure the welfare and security of all citizens.”

The SDP further urged the government to set aside political distractions and focus on tangible security solutions, warning that discussions on future elections should not overshadow the immediate need to address the ongoing crisis.

The party reaffirmed its commitment to fostering national unity and peace while calling for swift, coordinated actions to protect communities and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s leadership.

Former Labour Party Vice Presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step away from the 2027 presidential race, saying doing so would be a politically wise decision.

Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Friday, Baba-Ahmed argued that President Tinubu’s chances in the next election are slim, suggesting that the warning signs are already visible.

“I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel if he is that smart politician that he turns out to be,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed offered a critical view of Tinubu’s political journey, labeling him a “super smart politician” who has been involved in determining presidential candidates since 2007.

According to him, Tinubu’s influence has peaked with the 2023 election.

“He skipped 2007 and jokingly made Atiku (presidential) candidate, made Ribadu and somebody 2011, made Buhari in 2015, Buhari won, and then skipped 2019 and they stole 2023. If he is that smart, everything is there for him that he’s going to lose 2027,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He went further to predict that Tinubu would fail to deliver on his campaign promises, arguing that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has a track record of underperformance.

“Buhari did not develop Nigeria, Buhari did not provide security, Buhari did not fight corruption. Neither will Tinubu ever do this,” he added.

According to Baba-Ahmed, the APC is likely to lose power in the next general election, as Nigerians are gradually waking up to the need for true democratic participation.

“I see APC losing this election. I see Nigerians somehow uniting, listening to what someone like me is saying that if you cannot practice this, democracy is not for you, and then Nigerians will decide to come out and practice democracy for the first time, and then bad leadership will begin to have no hiding place in Nigeria,” he said.

He also hinted that there are already strong potential challengers who could unseat Tinubu in 2027, though he did not mention specific names.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has refuted claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a political liability to the North, affirming that the president remains focused on addressing the region’s numerous challenges before the end of his first tenure in 2027.

In a statement released on Friday in Kaduna, the minister’s Senior Aide (Politics), Ibrahim Danmaliki Gidan Goga, emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy under Tinubu is more stable than ever.

He pointed out that those criticising the president through propaganda and falsehoods are merely seeking political relevance and sympathy.

Matawalle stated, “Our people in the North are wise enough not to be misled by individuals who have failed to secure their political future. These are people who once held power but failed to make meaningful impact, but now resort to mischief to stay relevant.”

He called for unity and support for the Tinubu administration, especially in its efforts to combat insecurity in the region.

He continued, “We must not allow ourselves to be manipulated into becoming part of the problem. Instead, we must rally behind the president to ensure lasting peace and development in the North.”

The minister reassured Nigerians, particularly those in the North, that President Tinubu is committed to securing peace, fostering development, and ensuring a stable future for all.

The Presidency has firmly denied reports that Vice President Kashim Shettima was denied access to the Presidential Villa, describing the claim as completely false and mischievous.

The clarification came in a statement released on Saturday by Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President).

The statement, titled ‘Re: Mischievous Report On Access To The Presidential Villa By Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON’, dismissed the reports as fabricated and misleading.

“The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa,” the statement read.

“This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON. For the record, nothing of the sort ever happened.”

The rumour, which originated from unnamed blogs, alleged that military operatives had blocked the Vice President from entering the Villa. But the Presidency insists the story is entirely baseless.

Nkwocha didn’t hold back in his response, calling the story “the wildest expression of wishful thinking” and accusing those behind it of trying to drive a wedge between President Bola Tinubu and Shettima.

“It is understandable, though regrettable, that the mischief-makers continue to underestimate the strength of the bond and goodwill between the President and the Vice President,” he said.

“However, their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray. These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction.”

He also referenced a similar rumour earlier in the week about campaign posters featuring President Tinubu, which was equally debunked.

Nkwocha reassured the public that Vice President Shettima remains undistracted and committed to fulfilling his responsibilities.

“The imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire” would not derail his focus, he emphasized.

He urged Nigerians to disregard the rumour and advised media professionals to verify information from reliable and credible sources, adding that no volume of misinformation would dent the legitimacy of the Tinubu administration.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, alongside the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has come down hard on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of betrayal and of actively working to sabotage the PDP and the interests of Nigerians.

Their reaction followed Wike’s media chat in Abuja on Friday, where he dismissed the credibility of the coalition formed to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s reelection. Wike insisted that the alliance lacked sincerity, claiming that its leaders were motivated by personal ambition.

“Those looking for a coalition are doing so for selfish interests, the likes of Atiku and other people. Which coalition, with whom?” Wike asked.

“Why not come in to repair your party? Everybody wants to become president of the country, nobody wants to say, look, let me build our party so that at the end of the day, our party will be in a formidable position as an opposition party to take over power.”

“You don’t do that, the only thing you want to do is ‘let me find a way; how I will be the one.’ And if that does not happen, then it’s to your tent, oh Israel,” he added.

Wike was referring to the March 20, 2025 announcement by Atiku, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, declaring a coalition designed to unseat President Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

In response, Atiku, through his media aide Paul Ibe, dismissed Wike’s criticism and questioned his moral standing to speak on matters of integrity.

“Wike is not in a position to talk about sincerity. This is a man who betrayed his party, a man working with the APC to destroy and undermine his own party and the interests of Nigerians. So, what does he know about sincerity? Nothing.”

“If he wants to speak on sincerity, let him talk to his principal, Tinubu, an absentee President running government from the Presidential Villa’s WhatsApp group. Wike should be sincere to President Tinubu to return home and do his job.”

He continued, “Wike is not in a position to talk to anybody. Wike is working against his own state where he was once governor.”

“He is trying to ensure he has absolute control of the government in Rivers, working in cahoots with Abuja to get the governor suspended. It is unfortunate that they just open their filthy mouths and speak on things they know nothing about.”

As for the coalition’s goal, Ibe reiterated its relevance: “The sincere Nigerians are determined to end the reckless, irresponsible, clueless APC government. Nigerians want to reclaim their country.”

“The coalition presents Nigerians with a vehicle. Atiku Abubakar and others who are involved in it are just tools to an end. This is about Nigeria.”

Also weighing in, the National Secretary of the CUPP, Peter Ahmeh, dismissed Wike’s comments entirely.

In an exclusive interview with DAILY GAZETTE, Ahmeh, a known ally of Peter Obi, accused the FCT Minister of aligning with the ruling APC to suppress opposition.

“Wike is doing the APC’s bidding. He’s working in the APC government and aiming to support an APC president in 2027.”

“He wants to discredit the coalition because it seeks to democratically remove President Tinubu, his principal. His actions go against the interest of suffering Nigerians, simply to protect his position — a clear reflection of how selfish Wike is.”

Ahmeh further questioned Wike’s credibility: “And people cannot use Wike’s statement as a reference for sincerity.”

“Because you cannot tell me, that if you do proper research now, you won’t find several contradictions in what Wike had said—how he claimed he would never go to the APC, never move to this one, never work with that one. There are contradictions.”

“So, we don’t take Wike seriously and nobody should. Because if there’s anybody today who has been selfish about his interest over Nigeria, who has said one thing, meant another, and done something else, it is Wike himself.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has maintained Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party on its official records, despite a recent Supreme Court judgment that has sparked controversy over his leadership status.

A search by DAILY GAZETTE shows that Abure’s name is still listed on the Commission’s official website.

The Supreme Court’s ruling addressed the internal leadership dispute within the Labour Party, emphasizing that such matters are internal affairs and beyond the jurisdiction of the court.

Consequently, the court set aside previous judgments from the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal that had recognized Abure as the party’s National Chairman.

In response to the judgment, the Labour Party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, asserted that the Supreme Court did not remove Abure from his position.

The party interpreted the ruling as an affirmation that leadership issues are to be resolved internally, thereby upholding Abure’s chairmanship.

However, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and other stakeholders have criticized Abure’s continued claim to the chairmanship.

They argue that the Supreme Court’s dismissal of Abure’s cross-appeal and the declaration that his tenure had expired effectively nullify his leadership claim.

Amid these conflicting interpretations, INEC has stated that it is reviewing the Supreme Court’s ruling to determine its implications for the Labour Party’s leadership structure.

The Commission’s decision to retain Abure’s name as the party’s National Chairman on its records has further fueled the debate over the rightful leadership of the party.