From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, advocated an increase in the 13 per cent derivation to oil producing states in the country.

Chief Obasanjo said the present benchmark was a starting point that can be negotiated upwards.

The former president spoke at a ceremony marking the inauguration of the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) of the Azikel Refinery at Obunagha in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The one billion dollar refinery project, which is owned by the Azikel Petroleum under the Azikel Group, is expected to produce 2.

Obasanjo lauded the Azikel Group president, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, for initiating the refinery project and urged him to ensure its completion within the next 12 months.

He expressed appreciation to the refinery’s technical and engineering team as well as the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Afrexim Bank for their support to the project and advocated more support to ensure its completion.

Obasanjo also lauded the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for supporting the project, saying whenever Eruani spoke to him about it, he always mentioned the governor’s contribution.

He further stated that the governor has put into proper use funds accruable to Bayelsa as evident in the numerous projects all over the state.

He said: “I have told Dr. Eruani that I will officially be 90 years old by next year March. It means I will take the boarding pass soon. So, he has to make sure the project is completed before I exit.

“Governor, I want to thank you most sincerely.  Every time Dr. Eruani has spoken to me about this project, he has mentioned the critical role you have been playing and that is the way to go.

“You are right that the states and oil producing communities have not got a fair deal so far. Thirteen per cent is the beginning. You can continue to talk. The most important thing is that even the little you have received, you have used it well.

“I want to express appreciation to those who have given the technical and engineering support for this project. When I came here (eight years ago), there was nothing like this but now it has become a diffrent thing.

“I want also to thank those two financial institutions, African Finance Corporation and the Afrexim Bank. My challenge to you Dr. Eruani is to ensure that the refinery is completed within the next 12 months. With this done, you can even double the capacity.”

Also speaking, President, Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, stated that the refinery will kickstart Bayelsa and Niger Delta region’s industrialisation, recalling how Obasanjo laid the foundation for the refinery eight years ago, and expressed delight over his presence for the installation of the CDU, which he described as the  beginning of the completion of the refinery.

Eruani said the refinery was conceived to ensure that the Niger Delta becomes an active player in the oil industry, saying it is the second largest full scale refinery in the country.

He hailed President Bola Tinubu for supporting indigenous refineries, saying they stand in alignment with the vision of the Federal Government to make petroleum products available and affordable to the people.

He also expressed appreciation to Governor Diri as well as the AFC and the Afrexim Bank for their invaluable support.

In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri said the refinery justified the years of agitation by the region against the injustice in the oil industry.

He noted that as producers of crude oil, the people of the region deserved to be key players in the industry.

Governor Diri again faulted the Land Use Act and the current 13 per cent derivation to oil producing states, and maintained that the region deserved more from their God-given resources as obtainable in other parts of the world.

He expressed delight over the establishment of the refinery, saying it will make people of the state major players in the oil industry and charged Bayelsans to equip themselves to benefit from the project.

Diri also emphasised the need for Africans to process their own resources as it was the only way the continent can benefit from them.

The Bayelsa helmsman called on the oil companies operating within the Gbarain/Obunagha area to complement the efforts of the state government by rehabilitating the road leading to the refinery.

His words: “As people of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, we have protested and fought because we feel that God gave us something in our land but we are not benefiting from it. Others are benefiting and see us as second class citizens. It has been a long journey to be part of what God has given to us under our soil.

“The Land Use Act is unfair. Surface resources belong to states but what lies underneath belongs to the Federal Government.  That law is obnoxious and not good for any just society.

“We do not want to take everything for granted. We just want to be co-players in determining how it is done. Thirteen per cent is not enough for the states.”

He congratulated Eruani on behalf of people of the state while charging other youths to emulate the Azikel Group president.

In their separate remarks, a board member of the Azikel Petroleum, Dr. Daru Owei, and the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom and chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo, both lauded Eruani for the project, saying it will impact positively on the economic fortunes of the state, the region and the country.

Lawyers to the Peoples Democratic Party and its Gombe State governorship candidate, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim, have given the Independent National Electoral Commission a three-day ultimatum to publish his name on the final list of candidates for the 2027 governorship election.

The lawyers, led by Ahmed Raji, SAN, made the demand in a letter dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman and obtained by our correspondent, describing the omission of Ibrahim’s name from the list published on October 10 as unlawful and unexplained.

They urged INEC to include his name and give it the same prominence as other candidates’.

The letter read in part, “Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim is a duly registered member of the PDP at Pantami Ward, Gombe State. He duly submitted the updated PDP membership register (containing his name) to the Commission (see Annexure A hereto). He purchased the PDP Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the gubernatorial primary.

“After screening and clearance, he participated in the governorship primary election of the PDP, Gombe State, emerging as the winner on the 26th day of May, 2026. Thereafter, the PDP submitted his personal particulars (Form EC9) to the Commission on the 8th day of August, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Commission published his name on the 29th day of August, 2026, pursuant to Section 29(3) of the Act. Up to this point, no step was taken by the Commission to question any aspect of his emergence.

“The primary of 26th May, 2026, was thereafter challenged in Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 between Usman Aliyu (Garry) v. PDP & 2 Ors and Suit No. FHC/GM/CS/10/2026 between Khamisu Ahmed & Anor v. PDP & 2 Ors before the Federal High Court, Gombe. The second and fourth questions submitted for determination in the Originating Summons squarely challenged Isa Ali Ibrahim’s membership, contending that, because his name was not in the PDP register submitted to the Commission, he was ineligible to contest the primary. Those issues were fully litigated on affidavit evidence and determined.”

The PDP lawyers said the Federal High Court did not establish that Professor Pantami was ineligible to be recognised as a member of the party or to emerge as its governorship candidate for Gombe State in the 2027 election.The legal team, citing judgments in Suits Nos. FHC/GM/CS/9/2026 and FHC/GM/CS/10/2026, said the court ruled against the plaintiffs on the questions concerning Ibrahim’s membership and eligibility.

They added that the court held that the party’s recognition of Ibrahim as a member, supported by his membership card and the party register, was sufficient to dismiss the claims of ineligibility.

The letter added, “By the two judgments of the 24th day of September, 2026, the Court nullified the primary of 26th May, 2026, on grounds relating to the conduct of that exercise, and directed the PDP to conduct a fresh gubernatorial primary election within 30 days, in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026, its Constitution and its Electoral Guidelines, ‘affording the Plaintiff and all other aspirants whose clearance from the screening exercise of 14th May 2026 remains valid the opportunity to participate.’

“The Court’s consequential orders restrained the PDP and the Commission only from recognising, accepting, publishing or giving effect to a nomination arising from the exercise of 26 May 2026′ (judgments annexed as Annexures B and C, respectively).

“In compliance with the Court Order, the PDP gave the Commission due notice of the court-ordered primary and conducted the fresh gubernatorial primary election on Tuesday, the 29th day of September, 2026. The Commission conducted the exercise in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026, the PDP Constitution and its Electoral Guidelines, and officials of the Commission attended, observed and monitored it; the Commission’s monitoring report is in its custody (Annexure D hereto).

“At the conclusion of that exercise, Isa Ali Ibrahim emerged the winner, and his name was again submitted to the Commission as the nominated candidate of the PDP.”

The PDP lawyers argued that only a court can order the removal of a nominated candidate’s name, adding that INEC’s role in party primaries is to observe, monitor and report, not disqualify candidates.

They stated, “It is settled law, binding on the Commission, that the removal of a nominated candidate’s name is exclusively a judicial act: DINGYADI & ANOR v. INEC & ORS (2011) LPELR-950(SC); RAYMOND v. INEC & ORS (2023) LPELR-61366(CA); AC & ANOR v. INEC (2007) LPELR-66(SC). The Commission’s role in primaries is to attend, observe, monitor and report, not to disqualify and not to cherry-pick.

“In the circumstances, we have our Clients’ firm and unequivocal instructions to demand, and we hereby demand, that the Commission, on or before Wednesday, the 14th day of October, 2026, publish and circulate the name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the office of Governor of Gombe State in the 2027 general elections, in the same manner and with the same prominence as the names of all other candidates published on the 10th day of October, 2026.

“We trust that the Commission, as an impartial electoral umpire committed to the rule of law and compliance with judicial orders, will take immediate corrective action and confirm in writing the steps taken to resolve this matter.”

INEC on Saturday published its final list of candidates for the February 6, 2027 governorship elections, leaving out the PDP from the lists for Ogun and Gombe states.

The lists, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, include 13 candidates for Ogun and 16 for Gombe, excluding PDP nominees Ladi Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, in a statement on Sunday, appealed to the affected candidates, members and supporters to remain calm as talks with the commission continued.

Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Dr. Ibrahim Kana, has urged defence correspondents to sustain positive reportage of Nigeria’s security situation.

Kana made the call in his goodwill message at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) Conference 2026 on Monday in Abuja.

The conference has as its theme, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security”.

He said he had maintained a very cordial relationship with defence journalists since his first day in the Ministry of Defence, recognising the importance of journalists.

”Over the years, Nigeria has had a bad image, not because the country is bad, but because people choose to represent the nation in a very bad light.

”I have seen that virtually all of you are highly responsible Nigerians. You report Nigeria positively, and I say congratulations,” he said.

He noted that reportage was taken very seriously globally because it constituted open source intelligence, adding that people use social media to access such intelligence.

”I want to urge you therefore as you have been doing to continue reporting the Armed Forces and the security situation in a very positive light”, he said.

The permanent secretary commended the armed forces for their sacrifices, saying Nigerians would not appreciate what the military does until they work closely with them.

”Truly, some people are sleeping. Some people are remaining awake, while some of us are actually sleeping and sleeping soundly.

”It is only the armed forces in Nigeria that can stand proudly to say it represents Nigeria in all facets of our lives.

”They represent Nigeria positively, devote their lives, sacrifice their families, their freedom, and their own world just to protect the integrity of our country,” he said.

Kana said he was proud to be associated with Nigeria and the defence community, even though he was no longer in the ministry of defence.

”When I was departing the ministry, the then Chief of Defence Staff actually gave me an honour, the Defence Recognition Medal. I still have that medal with me and I attach it to my name as DRM.

”Therefore, I cannot but continue to associate with the defence industry,” he said.

On his part, DECAN President, Odita Sunday, said the theme of the programme reflected what was going on in the country at present.

He said the war against terrorism required collaborations to nip it in the bud.

”Intelligence gathering and the use of modern technology must work in sync to address these challenges.

”Our security agencies must work together and share timely information to be ahead of the enemies of the state,” he said. (NAN)