Youths and women of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday converged on Odigbo, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, calling on the leadership of the party not to tamper with the outcome of the House of Representatives primary election held last Saturday. The party faithful, who turned out in large numbers, […]
The post APC youths, women protest alleged moves to alter Odigbo primary results appeared first on Tribune Online.
The Police Command in Lagos State has apprehended six suspected members of a notorious ‘One Chance’ robbery syndicate allegedly terrorising commuters in the Okota area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.
She said the suspects were apprehended during a stop-and-search operation carried out by police operatives along Ago Palace Way, Okota.
Adebisi said that a tricycle with registration number AAA 720 QL, conveying about six occupants, was intercepted while the suspects were allegedly attempting to rob commuters.
The spokesperson added that upon sighting the police, the suspects jumped out and abandoned the tricycle.
“The operatives recovered a cutlass allegedly used for their operations and a mobile phone at the scene.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of the six suspects, who are between the ages 20 and 28.
“The suspects were also found in possession of a dummy pistol allegedly used in carrying out their criminal activities,” she said.
According to her, the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigation.
She said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani reaffirmed the command’s commitment to proactive policing strategies aimed at combating crime and ensuring the safety of residents.
The image maker urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to assist the police in ongoing efforts to rid the state of criminal elements.
Police Nab Six ‘1-Chance’ Robbers In Lagos is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
An aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Ahmed Saleh, has alleged that his mandate was “stolen” after what he described as multiple endorsements by party stakeholders during the candidate selection process.
Speaking to journalists in Mani on Saturday after the primaries, Saleh said he was initially adopted twice as the consensus candidate by stakeholders from Mani and Bindawa local government areas, only for the ticket to later be handed to another aspirant, Hajiya Jamila Abdu-Mani.
He explained that the APC in Katsina had initially agreed to adopt a consensus arrangement in selecting its flagbearers ahead of the elections.
“I was one of the aspirants who contested for the seat of the House of Representatives to represent the good people of Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency,” he said.
“During the first consensus, stakeholders from the two local government areas unanimously endorsed me as their consensus candidate.
“The state governor congratulated me, the state government congratulated me, well-wishers and party faithful congratulated me. As a matter of fact, the Government House press corps published my name and congratulated me,” he claimed.
Saleh, however, alleged that some dissatisfied aspirants later petitioned Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, accusing stakeholders of exclusion and alleging that he financially induced them.
“They lied against the stakeholders and alleged that I bribed them with money. But in reality, I did not give anybody a farthing,” he said.
According to him, the governor later ordered a fresh consensus process in which all aspirants were given another opportunity.
He said stakeholders were asked to openly indicate their preference by raising their hands in support of candidates.
“When my name was mentioned, 25 out of the 27 stakeholders raised their hands in my support. The remaining two were absent due to other engagements. That was how I was again unanimously endorsed,” he stated.
Saleh alleged that despite winning the second exercise, the outcome was overturned.
“Very few minutes before Friday prayers, His Excellency handed the ticket, which I won, to Jamila Mani, who got zero votes during the first and second consensus,” he alleged.
He further claimed he was prevented from participating in the direct primary election, alleging that security operatives detained him on the day of the exercise.
“The operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) came and arrested me on the instructions of the governor. I was detained and denied my civil rights to participate in the primaries,” he alleged.
Saleh also dismissed the outcome of the direct primary election that produced the party’s candidate, insisting that no credible voting exercise took place.
“There was no primary election in Mani/Bindawa as far as I am concerned. They just picked a few individuals and announced that the governor’s anointed candidate scored 20,000 votes, whereas the venue could not even contain 100 people,” he said.
Despite his grievances, he pledged loyalty to the APC and said he would abide by the decision of a reconciliation committee headed by former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari.
“I am a law-abiding citizen, a loyal party member and I will remain in the APC. I will continue contributing to the growth and development of the party,” he stated.
He, however, questioned the governor’s decision, describing it as unfair.
“Could this be a reward for loyalty? Why insist on handing the ticket to someone who, in my view, contributed little to the development of the party in our constituency?” he asked.
Saleh described the development as “a broad daylight robbery” and “political banditry” against his mandate.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of Media to the governor, Maiwada Dammalla, dismissed allegations linking Governor Radda to the reported arrest and detention of the aspirant by the Department of State Services (DSS), insisting that governors do not control security agencies.
Reacting to the claims, he said it was unreasonable to suggest that the governor ordered the arrest.
“Governors are not constitutionally empowered to exercise authority over security agencies, the DSS in this regard. It defies logic therefore for the aggrieved aspirant to accuse His Excellency, Governor Radda, of his purported arrest or detention by the DSS,” he said.
He added that the DSS operates under federal authority and is responsible for maintaining internal security and investigating potential threats to public peace.
“Although governors are the chief security officers in their states, this should not be confused with running the daily affairs of the DSS or any security agency. It is not the purview of state governors to order the DSS to do their bidding,” he said.
Maiwada added that only the DSS could clarify the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrest, urging journalists to seek clarification from the agency and the complainant.
“The DSS is in the best position to confirm the circumstances as well as the facts of the purported arrest for appropriate action where and if necessary.
“Rather than amplify the allegations of the aggrieved aspirant, it makes better sense for journalists to first ask the aggrieved why he was arrested. This may probably solve the puzzle,” he added.
APC Aspirant Alleges Manipulation Of Katsina Primaries, Cites Stolen Mandate is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern ( PHEIC ), its highest level of alert, following a rapid surge in cases and deaths that has alarmed global health authorities.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced this on Sunday after more than 336 suspected cases and 88 deaths were recorded.
The outbreak was officially confirmed on Friday.
Tedros said, “There are significant uncertainties to the true number of infected persons and geographic spread associated with this event at the present time.
“In addition, there is limited understanding of the epidemiological links with known or suspected cases.”
The WHO further warned that the high percentage of positive cases among tested samples, the spread to Kampala, and clusters of deaths across Ituri province all “point towards a potentially much larger outbreak than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant local and regional risk of spread.”
Health authorities have confirmed the outbreak was caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.
First identified in Uganda in 2007, the Bundibugyo strain has only been recorded in three outbreaks in history, leaving scientists and health workers with limited experience responding to it.
The DRC accounts for the majority of cases, with the epicentre in the eastern Ituri Province, a high-traffic mining region bordering both Uganda and South Sudan. The suspected index case is a nurse who died at a hospital in Bunia on April 24.
Africa CDC Director-General Dr. Jean Kaseya described how one of the cases crossed into Uganda, saying the man “came from DRC, landed in Uganda, went to hospital. He was sick in this community and he was surrounded by a number of people. He took public transportation to Uganda.”
The patient later died at a Kampala hospital, and his body was transported back to Congo for burial. Kaseya acknowledged that slow detection had given the outbreak critical time to spread.
Two confirmed cases with no apparent links to each other have been reported in Kampala, both involving patients who had travelled from the DRC. A further confirmed case has also emerged in Kinshasa, the DRC’s own capital, roughly 620 miles from the epicentre in Ituri, raising fears that the virus is moving well beyond the original outbreak zone.
The WHO described the overall situation as “extraordinary,” citing the combination of rapid geographic spread, deep uncertainty over the true scale of infections and the heightened risk of amplification in fragile health systems.
Despite the declaration, Tedros stressed the situation “does not meet the criteria of pandemic emergency”. WHO advised strongly against border closures or travel restrictions, saying such measures “have no basis in science” and risk pushing movement into unmonitored routes and making contact tracing harder.
The agency urged governments to activate national emergency mechanisms and strengthen cross-border screening.
Kenya, on Saturday, said it faces only a moderate risk of importation but has already assembled an Ebola preparedness team and reinforced surveillance at all points of entry.
WHO Declares Global Emergency Over Ebola Outbreak In Congo, Uganda is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo has reacted after United States President Donald Trump shared a video in which the cleric appealed for intervention over alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria. Responding to the repost on Saturday, Dachomo simply wrote, “@realDonaldTrump Thank you.” Trump shared the video on his official Truth Social account hours after announcing that US […]
The post Rev Dachomo reacts as Trump shares video alleging ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria appeared first on Tribune Online.
Operatives from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered a stash of military-grade ammunition hidden inside bags of cassava flakes, commonly known as garri, during one of the agency’s anti-narcotics operations. Additionally, the agency found thousands of 225mg tramadol pills concealed within a keg of red oil during a separate interception. In a statement […]
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The Committee on Works, Transport and Aviation of the Federal Character Commission, FCC, has reiterated the need for fairness, inclusiveness and balanced representation in Nigeria’s public service system.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Peter Eze, stated this during an interactive session with the Surveyors Council of Nigeria, SURCON, and the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting formed part of the committee’s oversight activities aimed at assessing compliance with the Federal Character Principle among government institutions and agencies.
Speaking during the session, Hon. Eze said the committee remained committed to ensuring transparency, accountability, and equitable representation across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs.
According to him, the engagement was necessary to strengthen adherence to constitutional provisions guiding federal character, especially in appointments, recruitment, staff development, and distribution of opportunities in public institutions.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between the FCC and regulatory agencies in promoting national cohesion and administrative fairness.
The SURCON delegation was led by the Surveyor-General and Registrar, Surveyor Olugbemiro Kunle, while Dr. Bayero Salih Farah headed the delegation from NITT.
During the discussions, participants examined issues relating to institutional efficiency, compliance mechanisms, inter-agency cooperation, and ways of improving communication among government agencies.
The leadership of SURCON and NITT also reaffirmed their commitment to professionalism, accountability, and compliance with government regulations guiding public service administration.
The committee further stated that stronger oversight and institutional cooperation remain necessary for effective service delivery and improved implementation of federal character principles across sectors.
Members of the committee present at the session included Hon. Halima Ahmadu Jabiru, Hon. Eludayo Eluyemi, Rt. Hon. Victor Sabor Edoror, Hon. Engr. Modu Mustapha, and Hon. Sani General Garba.
FCC committee advocates fairness, inclusiveness in public service
Former Chief of Air Staff and 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State, Air Marshal Sadiq Baba Abubakar (Rtd), has announced his exit from partisan politics.
Abubakar disclosed this in a video message circulated on social media, saying the decision followed recent developments and internal crises affecting political parties in the country.
The retired Air Force officer, who was recently linked with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition in Bauchi State, described his withdrawal from politics as a painful but necessary decision.
Speaking in Hausa, he thanked his supporters for their loyalty and understanding since he ventured into politics after retiring from service in 2021.
“With a heavy heart, I have decided to step away from politics for personal reasons,” he said in the emotional message.
He noted that the support and encouragement he received from the people of Bauchi State and Nigeria made the decision difficult.
Abubakar apologised to his supporters over the development and prayed for God’s blessings upon them.
The former governorship aspirant, however, said he would continue rendering humanitarian services through his Marshal Care Foundation, with focus on healthcare and education.
“Leaving politics does not mean I will stop serving humanity. Through the Marshal Care Foundation, I will continue supporting people, especially in education and healthcare,” he stated.
He also prayed for lasting peace, unity and progress in Bauchi State and Nigeria.
Abubakar contested the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the APC but lost to the incumbent governor, Senator Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Prior to his announcement, political observers had speculated that he might seek the governorship seat again in 2027, particularly after his association with the ADC coalition movement in the state.
His decision to quit politics has, however, generated reactions among supporters and political associates across Bauchi State.
Ex-NAF Chief, Air Marshal Abubakar, resigns from active politics
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon Abdul Oroh, has called for a holistic reform of Nigeria’s electoral process, insisting that only the people should nominate and elect those who represent them at all levels of government, rather than political executives.
DAILY POST reports that the former human rights activist and journalist made the call on Saturday, May 16, 2026, ahead of the nationwide All Progressives Congress, APC, House of Representatives primaries.
Oroh, who contested the APC primary for the Owan Federal Constituency seat, said the challenges associated with election management, particularly intra-party primaries, are not peculiar to the APC alone.
He noted that the issue remains one of the major challenges confronting political leadership and electoral processes in the country.
According to him, “I am a scholar on election issues. I know how elections are won and lost in Nigeria, as well as the factors that make it possible for someone to win or lose an election.
“I also know the problems with election management in Nigeria, especially as it affects intra-party elections, which are the primary elections.
“It is one of those issues that we need to address in the process of leadership elections, either by reviewing the legal framework or finding better ways to conduct the process. What we are seeing now is not peculiar to the APC,” he said.
Oroh alleged that aspirants are often pressured to commit huge financial resources, compromise their principles, or engage in practices they ordinarily would not consider if the electoral process were free, fair, and transparent.
“There are also enormous pressures from the executives. How can the executive determine who becomes a legislator? It is the people who should choose those who will oversee the executive, but in Nigeria, it is the other way round.
“These realities have complicated the process and made it difficult to have an electoral system that satisfies the majority of the people. We still need to reform the process,” he added.
APC Primaries: Oroh calls for electoral Reforms to restore public confidence
Stakeholders at a dissemination meeting on the outcome of the 2026 World Hepatitis Summit in Bangkok have called for urgent scale-up of treatment for people living with hepatitis B and C, alongside improved coverage of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, to help achieve global elimination targets by 2030.
The targets, set under the World Health Organization’s Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, aim to reduce hepatitis incidence by 95 per cent by 2030, significantly cut new hepatitis B and C infections, and achieve a 65 per cent reduction in hepatitis-related deaths.
The strategy also seeks to ensure that 90 per cent of people living with hepatitis B and C are diagnosed, while 80 per cent of those eligible receive treatment.
The dissemination meeting was convened over the weekend in Jalingo by the Centre for Initiative Development (CFID) and brought together stakeholders from the health, education, and professional sectors across Taraba state.
Officials from the Taraba State Ministry of Health commended CFID for its sustained public health interventions, noting that its awareness campaigns and support services had improved hepatitis testing and increased public awareness of personal health status.
The ministry called for continued collaboration with development partners to further strengthen hepatitis response efforts in the state.
A representative of the World Health Organization also underscored the dangers posed by hepatitis and stressed the need for coordinated global and local action to meet the 2030 elimination target.
The official commended CFID’s efforts in reducing hepatitis prevalence in Taraba State and emphasised the importance of continuous capacity building for health workers using updated global data.
Health institutions, including the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Taraba State University, and Muwanshat College of Health and Technology, pledged to intensify awareness campaigns within their institutions and deepen collaboration with CFID to boost testing and treatment uptake in communities.
The Nigerian Medical Association, Taraba State chapter, called for wider dissemination of updated global hepatitis reports across health facilities, saying improved access to current data would strengthen clinical response and disease management.
Similarly, the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to promoting routine hepatitis testing and counselling, stressing that early diagnosis remains critical to reducing transmission and long-term complications.
Reeling out her lived experience, a legal practitioner, Barrister Gloria highlighted widespread misconceptions about hepatitis transmission, clarifying that the disease is not spread through sweat. She called for increased investment in hepatitis prevention and treatment, noting that stigma continues to hinder testing and access to care.
Presenting global data, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CFID, Prince (Dr.) Danjuma Adda, said about 237 million people are living with hepatitis B worldwide, with two deaths recorded every minute. He added that about 46 million people are infected with hepatitis C globally, resulting in one death every two minutes.
Adda noted that 2.9 per cent of the global population is living with chronic hepatitis B, while 58 per cent of the global hepatitis C burden in 2024 was concentrated in ten countries, including Nigeria. He further stated that hepatitis B and C account for more than 95 per cent of viral hepatitis-related deaths worldwide.
According to him, about 1.8 million new hepatitis B and C infections were recorded in 2024, while approximately 1.3 million deaths occurred within the same period, mainly from liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
He added that ten countries, including Nigeria, account for 69 per cent of chronic hepatitis B-related deaths, while another ten countries account for 58 per cent of hepatitis C-related deaths globally.
However, Adda noted progress, disclosing that 85 countries have already met the 2030 target of reducing chronic hepatitis B prevalence among children under five to below 0.1 per cent.
“With all hands on deck, the dream of attaining the global elimination target of the virus can be achieved,” he said.
Stakeholders call for expanded hepatitis B, C response to meet 2030 elimination goal