News

Anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms: NDC members protest

Published

1 week ago

June 20, 2026

There is disquiet within the fold of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over the decision of the national leadership of the party to mandate its prospective candidates for elective offices to sign the anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms.

The members, according to a source, described the decision as ‘autocratic’.

The aggrieved members advised the party to be cautious in handling the matter, saying the move, if not properly handled, could lead to “the party’s early disintegration.”

According to aggrieved members, the party should channel their energy into massive grassroots mobilisation of membership in order to ensure that its presence would be felt across the political wards in the country ahead of 2027.

The aggrieved members believe that the country’s constitution had already taken care of the defection of candidates to other political parties and described the actions of the party leadership as a duplication of duties.

They, however, blamed the leadership of the National Assembly, party leaders and the judiciary for fueling what they described as “defection rascality” among candidates of political parties and the majority of political party members.

“The constitution had already taken care of what happens to candidates who defect from one political party to another.

“We saw the drama that played out at the National Assembly where members cross carpet to other parties, especially the ruling party, without any consequence.

“We saw what happened when parties went to court to challenge the defection of members of political parties to another party.

“How many of them lost their seats, even when there is no serious crisis in the party that could have warranted their defection.

“In all honesty, we (members of the NDC) are beneficiaries of cross-carpeting. We were all members of a political party before joining the NDC.

“The constitution guarantees freedom of association to Nigerians, which includes movement from one political party to another.

“Personally, if they try to coerce people to sign anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms, the same persons can cause a crisis in the party in order to still have their way.

“For me, we should be talking about strengthening our institutions, especially the judiciary, so as to give the people the opportunity to seek justice or redress if they feel that members left the party without any known crisis in the party.

“So, forcing them to sign anti-defection affidavits and indemnity forms will make no meaning and will not stop people from defecting to another party,” a member of the party posited.

News

Edo cracks down on cultists, kidnappers

Published

12 hours ago

June 27, 2026

The Exclusives

Monday Okpebholo

Edo State Government has established a Special Criminal Court to expedite the prosecution of cultists, kidnappers and other criminal offenders as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity in the state.

The Chief Registrar of the Edo State Judiciary, Benson Osawaru, disclosed on Friday that the court was established at the request of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

According to Osawaru, the Special Criminal Court will handle cases relating to cultism, kidnapping and other matters that may be assigned by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring speedy dispensation of justice and curbing the growing wave of cult-related violence and abductions across the state.

“The move is expected to address the rising cases of cult-related violence and kidnappings by ensuring quick prosecution of offenders and serving as a deterrent to criminal elements,” Osawaru stated.

Edo State has in recent months witnessed a surge in violent crimes, particularly incidents of kidnapping and cult clashes in several communities.
Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo has reiterated his administration’s commitment to eliminating kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality from the state.

Speaking at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government election campaign for the Edo Central Senatorial District at the Uromi Town Hall in the Esan North-East Local Government Area, the governor assured residents that decisive measures were being taken to restore security and public confidence.

He said efforts were underway to create a safe environment that would enable farmers displaced by insecurity to return to their farmlands without fear.

The governor stressed that criminal elements terrorising communities would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“Governors are ready to fight insecurity across the nation. The perpetrators will be exposed, and they will run away from the country. In Edo State, there will be security, and our farmers will be able to return to their farms,” he said.
Okpebholo added that his administration would not allow kidnappers and bandits to find refuge in the state.

“I am determined to ensure that kidnappers and bandits do not find a haven in Edo State. Our decisive action against criminals will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

The governor further declared that tough measures against convicted criminals would discourage others from engaging in crime.

“I am serious about the fight against insecurity. By the time we execute one, two, three and more of these criminals, others will run away from Edo State,” he stated.

News

Why insecurity persists in the north, by Nasarawa governor

Published

23 hours ago

June 26, 2026

The Exclusives

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has identified some of the reasons for the incidences of insecurity and out-of-school crisis in the northern part of Nigeria.

Speaking at a Summit on enhancing human capital development in Northern Nigeria in Abuja, Sule said the Almajiri system is “the single largest structural contributor” to Nigeria’s education emergency.

The Almajiri is a traditional system of Islamic education prevalent in northern Nigeria, where young boys leave their families to study the Quran under the guidance of religious teachers (Mallams). Originally a respected scholarship tradition, it has devolved into a socio-economic crisis, leaving millions of out-of-school children vulnerable to destitution and exploitation.

The country has an estimated 18.3 million out-of-school children, and recent data shows Almajiri children make up roughly 72% to 81% of that total, concentrated in the North.

He, therefore, urged the National Assembly to permanently outlaw the Almajiri system.
“Many minors recruited into banditry graduated from the Almajiri system,” Sule said.

Nasarawa accounts for about 430,000 out-of-school children.

At the event, the governor recalled the 2020 mass repatriation of Almajiri children by Nasarawa and Kaduna states but said enforcement alone isn’t enough without alternatives.

He is proposing a total ban on the Almajiri system, replaced with mandatory formal education and skills acquisition.
Sule is seeking total collaboration of the Northern intelligentsia, the political class, and the traditional system.

He urged Northern leaders to turn summit discussions into actionable draft bills, arguing that “policy changes are the only way to defeat regional poverty.”