From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primaries for the 2027 general elections produced major upsets in Benue and Nasarawa states, with several incumbent lawmakers losing their bids for re-election.

In Benue State, six serving members of the House of Representatives failed to secure the party’s ticket, as candidates believed to be loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia swept through key contests.

Chairman of the APC National Assembly Primary Election Committee for Benue, Alhaji Sabiu Mahuta, announced the results on Sunday in Makurdi, stating that only four out of the 11 APC House members retained their tickets, while another lawmaker had earlier defected to the Labour Party before the primaries.

Among those who lost their return tickets were Austin Achado of Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, David Ogewu of Oju/Obi, Terseer Ugbor of Kwande/Ushongo, Sekav Iyortyom of Buruku, and Dickson Tarkighir of Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.

Mahuta said Achado lost to David Nongo, who polled 17,429 votes against the incumbent’s 729 votes. He added that elections in Gbemacha Ward were cancelled over overvoting, while voting in two wards was disrupted after electoral materials were snatched.

In Oju/Obi Federal Constituency, Peter Ogbodo defeated Ogewu with 12,993 votes to 120 votes, while Christopher Ikper emerged winner in Makurdi/Guma after polling 37,844 votes against Tarkighir’s 1,746 votes.

Similarly, Gideon Inyom defeated Iyortyom in Buruku Federal Constituency with 10,470 votes against 1,396 votes scored by the incumbent.

Other winners announced included Anthony Agom for Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu and Pastor Ojotu Ojema, who retained the Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency ticket with 11,305 votes.

Also returned were Regina Akume for Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency with 19,638 votes and Blessing Onuh for Otukpo/Ohimini with 17,451 votes.

Mahuta explained that although the primaries were conducted on Saturday, delays in the return of some electoral officers due to distance and security concerns necessitated the postponement of collation and announcement until Sunday.

In neighbouring Nasarawa State, two serving House of Representatives members and the Speaker of the State Assembly also lost their bids to clinch APC tickets for the 2027 elections.

Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Election Committee in the state, Musa Shuaibu-Guri, who announced the results in Lafia, said the primaries were successfully conducted in four of the five federal constituencies.

The affected lawmakers were Mohammed Abdulmumini-Ari of Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, Jeremiah Umaru of Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba, and Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Dr Danladi Jatau.

According to Shuaibu-Guri, Mohammed Al-Bashir won the Nasarawa/Toto ticket with 31,796 votes, defeating Abdulmumini-Ari, who secured 9,039 votes.

In Keffi/Kokona/Karu Federal Constituency, Daniel Ogazi polled 13,083 votes to defeat Jatau, who scored 5,873 votes, while Abdulaziz Danladi got 1,067 votes.

Tony Bala-Shammah emerged victorious in Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/Wamba with 38,333 votes, defeating incumbent lawmaker Jeremiah Umaru, who polled 4,061 votes.

For Lafia/Obi Federal Constituency, Mohammed Al-Makura, who contested unopposed, secured 45,000 votes.

Shuaibu-Guri said results from Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency were still being awaited due to difficult terrain and logistical challenges but expressed confidence that they would be received before Monday morning.

He described the primaries as peaceful and reflective of the wishes of party members, adding that the successful aspirants had fulfilled all constitutional and electoral requirements to emerge as APC candidates for the 2027 general elections.

From Ayinde Akintade, Osogbo

Nigeria’s worsening insecurity came under renewed national focus yesterday after coordinated attacks on schools in Borno and Oyo states led to the abduction of 87 students and teachers within 24 hours, triggering fresh calls for state police and urgent security reforms.

The Nigerian Senate described the incidents as a direct threat to the country’s future and educational system, as Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele called for accelerated constitutional amendments to establish state-controlled policing structures.

Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said the National Assembly was already advancing proposals to decentralise policing and strengthen anti-terror legislation in response to rising attacks on schools and communities nationwide.

According to him, the constitutional amendment process for state police has reached an advanced stage and would soon be transmitted to State Houses of Assembly for approval by two-thirds of the states.

He warned that repeated attacks on educational institutions were undermining national development and worsening Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, now estimated at over 18 million children.

The Senate leader assured Nigerians that security-related bills, including proposed amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, would receive urgent attention when plenary resumes on June 2.

The latest wave of attacks saw armed men abduct 45 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, while suspected Boko Haram insurgents stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, kidnapping 42 students.

In Oyo, the State Police Command confirmed that forensic analysis had commenced on a viral video linked to the abduction as part of efforts to identify the perpetrators and facilitate the rescue of the victims.

Police spokesperson DSP Ayanlade Olayinka said tactical, intelligence, and operational teams were working with other security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted persons, while cautioning residents against spreading unverified information capable of escalating panic.

The command urged residents to provide credible intelligence that could aid investigations and ongoing rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, said it had launched extensive forest and community-wide operations to track down the abductors.

Amotekun Commandant, Col. Olayanju Olayinka (retd.), disclosed that operatives, alongside local hunters and vigilantes, were combing forests and suspected hideouts across Oriire and adjoining communities.

Security agencies said the gunmen, reportedly dressed in military camouflage, invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School during the coordinated attacks.

Despite intensified rescue operations, anxiety remains high among affected families and communities awaiting the return of the abducted children and teachers.

Meanwhile, in the wake of recent school kidnappings in Oyo state, Governor Ademola Adeleke has ordered immediate revitalization of the Safe School Initiative by the Ministry of Education and other relevant government and security agencies.

The governor issued the directive on Sunday as a precautionary step to forestall possible spillover of school kidnappings recently experienced in Oyo state.

The governor additionally directed immediate beefing of intelligence gathering especially around schools located in border areas and remote sections of the state.

The Amotekun security service was specifically instructed to strengthen the partnership with various non- government peace organisations currently providing security services across many schools within the state.

The governor who assured parents and school authorities of the safety and protection of their wards and also directed his special adviser on security matters to follow up the new plan with service commanders across the security agencies.

 “We are resolved to secure our pupils across our school system. Necessary steps are ongoing to improve security of schools especially in rural areas. The existing safe school plan will be strengthened.

 “The Commissioner for Education and the Security Adviser are to meet to firm up the revitalization plan. I assure parents and school authorities of their safety and protection”, the governor was quoted as saying in the statement.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Latest reports from the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) indicates that Nigeria’s inflation rate for April 2026 reached 15.69% year-on-year, confirming a continued upward pressure from the 15.38% recorded in March.

Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, statistician General of the Federation in a statement said the report showed that the slight increase follows a rise in food and energy costs in March marking a halt to earlier disinflationary trends.

The NBS said following the completion of the recent rebasing exercise, the current report is centred on a new CPI base year of 2024 and a weight reference period of 2023, adding that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 138.

According to the report, the month-on-month headline inflation rate in April 2026 was 2.13%, which was 2.05% lower than the rate recorded in March 2026 (4.18%).

‘At the divisional level, the three major contributors to the headline inflation were Food and non-alcoholic Beverages: 6.40%, Restaurants & Accommodation Services: 3.56%, andstatement Transport: 1.70%; while the least contributors a were Recreation, Sport, and Culture: 0.01%, Alcoholic Beverages, Tobacco, and Narcotics: 0.01%, and Insurance and Financial Services: 0.03%’.

The Food inflation rate in April 2026 was 16.06% on a year-on-year basis, lower than 24.68% recorded in April 2025.

Also, on a month-on-month basis, the Food Inflation rate in April 2026 was 3.63%, down by 0.54% points from March 2026 (4.17%). This can be attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of Millet Whole grain, Yam Flour, Ginger (Fresh), Beef, Garri, Yam Tuber, Pepper (Fresh), Cray Fish, Cassava Tuber, Beans, Irish Potatoes, Tomatoes (Fresh), Wheat Grain (Sold loose), Soy Beans, Guinea Corn, Plantain, Carrots (Fresh), among others.

Core Inflation, which excludes the prices of volatile agricultural produce and energy, stood at 15.86% in April 2026 on a year-on-year basis.  On a month-on-month basis, the core inflation rate was 1.03% in April 2026, down by 3.0% compared to March 2026 (4.03%).

The inflation rate of the sub-indices for April 2026 shows that the monthly change recorded were Farm Produce (6.0%), Energy (8.0%), Services (2.1%), Goods (3.2%) and Imported Food (4.4%).

Meanwhile, the inflation rate on a year-on-year basis recorded were as follows; Farm Produce (19.8%), Energy (4.6%), Services (16.7%), Goods (15.7%) and Imported Food (10.5%).

On a year-on-year basis, the urban inflation rate in April 2026 was 15.40%. On a month-on-month basis, the urban inflation rate was 1.86% in April 2026, down by 1.3% compared to March 2026 (3.16%).

The rural inflation rate in April 2026 was 16.36% on a year-on-year basis. On a month-on-month basis, the rural inflation rate in April 2026 was 2.80%, down by 3.93% compared to March 2026 (6.73%).

In analysing price movements under this section, it should be noted that CPI is weighted by consumption expenditure patterns that differ across States and locations.

Accordingly, the weight assigned to a particular Food or Non-Food item may differ from State to State making interstate comparisons of consumption basket inadvisable and potentially misleading