Alex Otti has advised youths in Abia State not to depend solely on certificates obtained from higher institutions for job security, but to acquire advanced digital skills and knowledge to survive in the 21st-century economy. Governor Otti gave the advice on Wednesday while addressing 850 Abia youths participating in the three-month Techrise Cohort 3 programme. He made it clear that certificates alone are no longer sufficient for employment and survival in highly competitive environments if the youths lack digital skills for innovation and entrepreneurship. Governor Otti, who was represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, said the three-month training programme was designed to help the youths become entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators, and ultimately escape unemployment. “So do not just look for certificates. Seek deep competence and hands-on problem-solving skills,” Otti charged them. In her address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oge Maduka, said the youths would be trained in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Maduka added that the participants would also receive training in cybersecurity, product design, software development, data engineering, digital innovation, and other emerging technologies.

A ray of hope has come the way of many politicians who lost in the recent primary elections conducted by political parties, following the nullification of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election by a Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, in a judgment, held that the timeframe “imposed” by INEC on political parties to conduct their primaries, submit, withdraw and replace names and particulars of their candidates for the 2027 general elections “is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026,” and is hereby set aside. The judgment was in respect of a suit challenging the electoral umpire’s timeframe for the conduct of the 2027 general elections, aimed at preventing people who lost in primary elections from defecting to another party and vying for the same office they earlier lost in their former party. A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment order revealed that the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016 and filed by the Youth Party, has INEC as the sole defendant. The plaintiff in the suit, dated and filed on March 11 by its counsel, J. O. Olotu, sought several reliefs, including a declaration that, upon a proper consideration and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 29, 82 and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the powers of INEC to receive notice of party primaries and the personal particulars of candidates, and its duty to attend, observe and monitor such primaries, do not extend to fixing or prescribing the timetable within which political parties may conduct their primary elections for the purpose of nominating candidates for the 2027 general elections. “After hearing J. O. Olotu, counsel for the plaintiff, and Sarafa Yusuf, counsel for the defendant,” Justice Umar held that, going by the provisions of Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which requires political parties to submit the personal particulars of their candidates not later than 120 days before an election, “INEC cannot lawfully abridge or limit that statutory period by prescribing a shorter timeframe in its 2027 election timetable.” Similarly, citing Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2026, which permits political parties to withdraw and substitute candidates not later than 90 days before the conduct of an election, the court held that INEC lacks the power to abridge or limit that statutory period by fixing an earlier deadline for the withdrawal and replacement of candidates in its 2027 election timetable. Justice Umar, in addition, held that by the provisions of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2026, INEC does not possess the statutory power to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 general election before the 60-day minimum period prescribed by law. “A Declaration is made that upon the proper construction of Section 98 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the defendant does not possess the statutory authority to fix in its timetable for the 2027 general elections for campaigns to end two days before the elections. “A Declaration is made that upon the proper interpretation of Section 33 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the timeframe prescribed by the defendant for submission of membership registers for the conduct of primary elections is not applicable to primary elections conducted for the purpose of replacing withdrawn candidates.” Justice Umar subsequently made an order “setting aside or nullifying the timeframes imposed by the defendant in its Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election for the conduct of primary elections by political parties for the 2027 general elections, the submission of personal particulars of candidates by their political parties for the 2027 general elections, the withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties for the 2027 general elections, the publication of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections and campaigning for the 2027 general elections, which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.” By the revised timetable, all 18 political parties are to submit their membership registers to the commission by May 10, conduct primaries for the selection of candidates, as well as apply for withdrawal and submit replacement candidates for the 2027 general elections before or by the end of May. While all parties have complied with the regulation and are currently conducting their primaries, the outcome, especially for the ruling All Progressives Congress, has met with strong protests in some states, with many candidates withdrawing from the race over alleged imposition of candidates, among other complaints.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Segun Aina as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. Aina, who will be 40 in July, succeeds Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose two-term tenure expires on July 31, 2026. A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, described Aina as a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure and public-sector institutional reform. “He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security, and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing, both from Loughborough University, United Kingdom. “He has also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School. “A Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Aina began his career with JAMB during his National Youth Service, gaining foundational experience in national admissions and data-driven institutional processes. “These insights have shaped his ongoing contributions to examination reform and systems optimisation. “Professor Aina is a member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET),” the statement said.

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned that terrorists and bandits have heavily infiltrated the South-West, explicitly stating that at least 40 local government areas across the region are under direct terror threat. His urgent intelligence reports reveal that heavily armed criminal factions fleeing military operations in the North-West are setting up camps in South-West forests. His alerts follow a severe security breach in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where bandits launched coordinated attacks on three schools, killing a teacher and abducting dozens of students. Terrorists and armed bandits have set up camps in forests spanning Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and Ondo states, as well as parts of Kogi and Kwara. He stated that these criminal movements are highly organized and are being coordinated by foreign actors and sponsors. The bandits are executing a dangerous form of guerrilla warfare, shifting their tactics from nighttime raids to daylight attacks on schools, highways, and public markets. He highlighted a highly disturbing escalation where multiple traditional rulers (Obas) have been targeted and killed in their domains. Gani Adams strongly criticized the South-West governors for political complacency and failing to secure their states. He revealed that he has sent numerous letters and proposals to the governors over the last two years to organize a South-West Security Summit, but has received zero responses. He noted that while the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) was an excellent initiative, its recruitment has become heavily politicized, prioritizing political loyalty over operational competence. He lamented that the office of the Aare Onakakanfo has been sidelined, restricting him to merely sharing intelligence rather than actively participating in joint operations with state actors. To halt the impending security implosion, Gani Adams made several immediate recommendations: He announced his readiness to mobilize millions of local hunters and warriors from the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and the South West Security Stakeholders Group (SSSG) to flush criminals out of the forests if the governors grant official permission. He called on surrounding states like Kwara and Kogi to replicate the Amotekun-style localized security framework to protect their border communities. He renewed his advocacy for the immediate creation of State Police to fix the structural weaknesses embedded in Nigeria`s centralized security architecture. He urged traditional rulers and residents to activate robust local intelligence networks and report all suspicious forest movements immediately.

Jude Imagwe, Special Adviser to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has said that there is no evidence that his former principal has bought presidential nomination forms. Imagwe made this statement on Wednesday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on News Central Television. He was reacting to the speculations around the former president’s 2027 ambition, noting that speculations remain unofficial. Recall that a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umar Sani, had claimed that Jonathan had purchased a presidential nomination form ahead of the 2027 general election. But Imagwe dismissed the narrative, saying, “There is no suggested evidence that shows that my boss (Goodluck Jonathan) purchased or obtained the form. “Some people said they granted him a waiver. If they have done that in the circuit, I as an individual do not know that they granted him waiver. They are trying to make all this ceremony out of it. “I find it relatively difficult to suggest right now that my boss, the former president, is actually contesting an election and if he’s contesting an election, it shouldn’t be announced to people by Prozy. “He’s a strong man of strong character and strong personality having served in respective capacities, so, people should not announce for him whether he’s contesting an election or he’s not contesting. It’s a decision that he has to take.”

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has said defeating former President Goodluck Jonathan is not its problem, stating that it plans to unseat President Bola Tinubu. The party’s presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, said this, Wednesday during an interview on Trust TV. He was speaking about the reports that Jonathan has joined next year’s presidential race. “Defeating Goodluck Jonathan is not our problem. Our plan is to defeat Tinubu. If it’s not a case where people have kidnapped his image and brand, Jonathan is coming out to run, I would welcome that because it means that at least he would bring a perspective. “He’s been in the office before. He must have learned one or two things and would want to explain why Nigerians kicked him out of office in the first place. And what lessons he’s learnt from that. “He would also explain why he could not handle insecurity, why a lot of money was lost under his administration and what he wants to do about that now, and so many other things he couldn’t do. “He’s gone round the world now and is a well-known international statesman. He has seen how democracy works. He’s a wiser person now,” Adebayo said.

The Oyo State Police Command on Wednesday arrested two suspects, Shehu and Abubakar, in connection with the abduction of two staff members of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria at Idi-Ayunre in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state. A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, in Ibadan, said the incident occurred at about 6 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2026. He explained that a distress report was received at the Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters from the chief security officer of CRIN, reporting the abduction of two staff members of the institution by unidentified armed men who reportedly invaded the premises and whisked the victims away to an unknown destination. The PPRO said upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, during which preliminary findings revealed that about six armed men invaded the area before abducting the victims. Ayanlade said, “The State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that on May 19, 2026, at about 1800hrs, a distress report was received at Idi-Ayunre Divisional Police Headquarters from the Chief Security Officer of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, reporting the abduction of two staff members of the institution by unidentified armed men who reportedly invaded the premises of the institute and whisked the victims away to an unknown destination. “Upon receipt of the report, police operatives immediately visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment, during which preliminary findings revealed that about six armed men invaded the area before abducting the victims.” He said intensive bush combing and coordinated search operations had commenced across surrounding forested locations linked to the incident. The PPRO added that the state Commissioner of Police, Olugbemiga Abimbola, had directed the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence assets, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the apprehension of the perpetrators. The police spokesperson said, “It was during one of such operations on May 20, 2026, at about 0810hrs, that police operatives encountered and accosted two suspicious individuals identified as Shehu and Abubakar. “Upon preliminary interrogation, the duo volunteered to lead the operatives to the hideout of their accomplices. “However, while approaching the suspected location, the team came under gunfire attack from armed men believed to be members of the kidnapping syndicate. “The operatives responded professionally, repelled the attack, and successfully extracted the two suspects, who are currently in the custody of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad for further investigation and intelligence exploitation. “While these operations are ongoing and yielding actionable leads, the command has observed with serious concern the circulation of false and misleading reports by certain media outlets and social media platforms alleging another mass abduction in Abanla community and other parts of Ibadan. “For the avoidance of doubt, the State Police Command categorically states that no such incident has been reported anywhere within Ibadan metropolis or its environs apart from the already reported CRIN incident presently receiving robust operational attention. “The command views the dissemination of such unverified and sensational reports as highly irresponsible and capable of creating unnecessary fear, panic, and tension among residents. “Beyond this, the spread of false information has the tendency to undermine public confidence in ongoing security efforts while equally diverting limited operational and emergency response resources away from genuine security concerns requiring immediate attention. “It is against this backdrop that the command strongly advises media organisations, bloggers, and social media influencers to uphold the principles of responsible reportage by verifying security-related information through appropriate channels before publication.” He said the police remain committed to maintaining a productive relationship with the media, adding that such partnership must be guided by accuracy, professionalism, and the collective interest of public safety and national security. The command reassured residents that robust security measures have been emplaced across the affected axis and other strategic locations within the state to deny criminal elements any operational foothold. It also encouraged the general public to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding while continuing to support the police and other security agencies with timely and credible information capable of aiding ongoing operations.

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has declared that the Nigerian government will end killings in the country. Bwala made the remark while maintaining that Nigerians reserve the right to defend themselves with lethal weapons against aggressors in their houses. He spoke on Arise Television on Wednesday in reaction to the killings in Esiele community in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. On Friday, gunmen had invaded the LA Primary school where teachers and pupils were abducted. Reacting, Bwala said: “Solution is what we all look to, evil men operate anywhere in the world, no matter how tight you are as a government. “You do your best and expect that with the help of God and collective participation of the people through collective intelligence we will be able to put an end to it. “I know the Nigerian people will continue to complain. So because if for example, no matter how we say that we are sorry and the incident happened again people will complain, cry and mourn because it’s the life of the Nigerian people that are taken away by the evil element. We will put an end to this as a people. “Every eve of elections in Nigeria from 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026 you will see that crisis increases because of the idea of a crisis economy. A lot of people take advantage of that but the will and spirit of the collective people is what will put an end to this situation. “The constitution has guarantee to every citizen of Nigeria the right to self defense, you have the right to defend yourself. “When your right, my right, and that of my neighbour is put together, it becomes collective right to defend ourselves and Nigerians have the right to defend themselves. “If you come to my house to try to kill me, any lethal weapon I use to defend myself is guaranteed by the constitution. “Number two as a people we have vigilante and in Borno State we have paramilitary organizations that provide intelligence to law enforcement. “Nigerians don’t have the right to bear certain arms unless those arms are permitted but the collective people can come together to apply to the government for the right to coordinate themselves.”

The Peace Corps of Nigeria, PCN has expressed grave concerns over the continued invasion of educational institutions by bandits across the country with callous abductions of innocent pupils and teachers for ransom purposes. The Corps warned that the systemic criminal assault on the academic system, if left unchecked, will undermine the fabric of the educational sector. Addressing a media conference in Abuja on Wednesday, National Commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh lamented that the wanton attacks on schools will not only induce severe psychological trauma and pervasive fear among students, but will also profoundly discourage parents from sending their wards to schools and colleges, thereby jeopardizing the future of Nigerian youth. In view of the escalating insecurity across the country, most notably the frequent invasions, targeting, and kidnapping of staff and students, Akoh canvassed the deployment of Peace Corps personnel to educational institutions to tackle the challenges headlong. According to him, “the initiative seeks to deploy a layered security framework that integrates grassroots monitoring with robust early-warning systems to detect and mitigate threats before they escalate. “By training and deploying disciplined officers and men as specialized safety officers, the initiative will address critical issues such as cultism, drug abuse, and unauthorized access, establishing a proactive, community-driven presence within schools and colleges to safeguard lives and property. “Operating at the front-lines of the educational institutions, deployed personnel will focus primarily on continuous surveillance and intelligence gathering within school perimeters. “By maintaining a constant, vigilant presence, the Corps will be strategically positioned to identify vulnerabilities, track suspicious activities, and detect potential security breaches by intruders. “This critical, real-time intelligence will be seamlessly and rapidly transmitted to conventional security agencies, creating a vital link that enables a rapid, coordinated response to neutralize threats before harm can befall the academic community. Akoh pleaded with the appropriate authorities to consider the position of the Corps towards combating banditry in schools so as to safeguard the educational future of the citizens and national development of the country.

. The Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, has protested and condemned what it called the avoidable kidnapping and killing of pupils and teachers in Oyo State as well as similar incidents in other parts of Yorubaland. OPC’s President, Mr Wasiu Afolabi, accused governors of the South-West and other Yoruba-speaking states of ignoring the threat posed by Fulani terrorists and the alarm the organisation raised in times past about the danger. Afolabi, in a statement, said: “The kidnapping, killing and beheading of our defenceless Yoruba kinsmen in Yorubaland is not only condemnable, it is highly provocative; and it will not be tolerated. “We, hereby, urge the government to permit and equip the OPC and other self-determination groups to confront the threat posed by terrorists in order to terminate the insecurity being imported into Yorubaland from the North. “Yorubaland is under attack. Long ago, we warned; we shouted. But our leaders continued to play politics and refused to act on the matter. Now we must face the reality that the enemies have surrounded us. “Our people say: To be forewarned is to be forearmed. But Yoruba people and our governors have been wallowing in this unbelievable sense of fake safety and security, while ignoring the looming danger by foreign bandits, terrorists and their local collaborators. “We will not tolerate a situation where our children cannot safely attend school, where our people cannot travel or where our farmers cannot farm because of some foreign elements. “Time has come to take the bull by the horn and confront these unprovoked, cold-blooded and needless killings.” He described as worrisome and unacceptable that soldiers and police would shoot at demonstrators filing out to protest in places where such kidnappings and killings by bandits had taken place. According to Afolabi, such a situation smelt of suspicion about the security agencies acting out a secret agenda in favour of terrorism and ethnic expansion. Expressing anger over the beheading of one of the abducted teachers, OPC said: ”What offence did this defenceless teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun commit to deserve such a horrible fate of being beheaded? How can you report for duty in the morning, get kidnapped and wind up beheaded like a chicken?” OPC warned that every minute terrorists remained in the forests would only give them a stronger foothold to build a fortress from which they would unleash more evil against Nigerian citizens. “OPC wants governors in Yoruba-speaking South-West and beyond to urgently invite all vigilante, hunter and militant groups to join the war against terrorism in Yorubaland. Governors must immediately declare a state of emergency and get all hands on board to collaborate with the security forces to restore peace to our native land. “We cannot fold our arms anymore and wait for bandits and terrorists to be entering our homes, our towns and villages to kidnap and kill at will. Enough is enough. The government must rise up, support and equip patriotic and willing individuals and groups like OPC to enter the forests to restore sanity.” Urging all the relevant executive and legislative arms of government to expedite action on the creation of states-run police, OPC called for the South-West to adequately equip all the groups for adequate security in the meantime.