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ITF Boss Debunks Rumoured Interest Senate Race, Support for APC Governorship Candidate

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From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Director General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Joseph Ari has debunked joining the 2023 Plateau South Senatorial race.
He expressed bitterness over the circulation of posters carrying his picture for Senate in the 2023 general election with the slogan “New Dimension” as well as other posters in support of the former Governor of Nassarawa State, Sen.

Umaru Tanko Almakura for the National Chairman of APC in the forthcoming party’s convention in Abuja.

Ari angrily made the objection at weekend during a press conference held at the NUJ State Secretariat in Jos the Plateau State capital.

He said there are over 30 governorship aspirants in the APC in Plateau State who are all his friends but the perpetrators decided to print poster with his own in support of the current Deputy Governor of Plateau State Prof. Sonni Tyoden with the aim of causing mischief.

In his words, “What has come to my attention is that in their desperate attempts, they have printed campaign posters suggesting that I am aspiring for an elective position, and also canvassing support for the aspirations of some candidates that are vying for elective positions in our great party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in upcoming APC National Convention.”

He disclosed that security agencies have been fully informed to handle the mischief makers who plan to litter the APC convention venue with those posters. “I have, therefore, reported the matter to the security agencies for their further necessary action.”

He added, “I have also been reliably informed that these disgruntled elements plot to flood the convention venue with these posters in order to breed mistrust and disharmony and thereby generate rancor for their own selfish purposes as I have never contemplated and not contemplating on vying for any elective position in the nearest future.”

The ITF boss maintained that he had taken the pains to bring what has transpired to the public glare as it will be difficult to convince anyone after the deed has been done, noting that he is fully engaged with the onerous responsibility of deploying the mandate of the ITF to equip Nigerians with  skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

POLITICS

Uba Sani Picks Jerry Adams as 2027 Running Mate

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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has nominated the Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, Jerry Adams, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.

Sani announced the nomination on Tuesday, describing it as a reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to inclusion, justice, fairness, equity and equal opportunities for all Kaduna citizens.

He said the choice followed extensive consultations, deep reflection and prayers, stressing that it reflected values that had guided his administration since assuming office on May 29, 2023.

The governor said the nomination went beyond selecting a deputy governorship candidate, adding that it symbolised the determination to strengthen unity and deepen citizens’ sense of belonging.

According to him, Kaduna’s religious, ethnic and cultural diversity remains its greatest strength and should continue to unite, rather than divide the people.

Sani said his administration had spent over three years healing divisions and restoring public confidence through inclusive governance and equitable distribution of development projects.

He said investments in roads, schools, healthcare, water supply, agriculture and social protection had reached all 23 local government areas without discrimination.

The governor added that collaboration with traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youths and community groups had strengthened peace and promoted shared development.

He said improved security had enabled farmers to return to their fields, businesses to expand and investments to grow across many communities.

Sani described Adams as an accomplished public servant and tax administrator who transformed the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service through innovation, transparency and professionalism.

He said Adams’ leadership strengthened the state’s revenue generation, enabling greater investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and other critical sectors.

The governor also described Adams as a man of integrity, humility and competence, committed to peace, reconciliation and inclusive governance.

He said the nomination underscored his administration’s resolve to prioritise merit, competence and character in public leadership.

Sani urged Kaduna residents to embrace the development through the vision of a united states, rather than the lenses of religion, ethnicity or geography.

He pledged to continue building a peaceful, secure, just and prosperous Kaduna, expressing confidence that the administration would leave a stronger foundation for future generations.

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POLITICS

APC Chieftain Faults Obi’s Call for Tinubu’s Resignation

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Ayoola Lawal, a former Secretary of the APC Committee of Diaspora Chairmen, has filtered calls by NDC Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, urging President Bola Tinubu to resign, saying the Nigerians should allow the ballot to decide.

Lawal, a former House of Representatives candidate, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Obi, a former Anambra governor recently urged President Tinubu to step aside, arguing that the country needed a different level of leadership to confront its growing challenges.

Lawal acknowledged that Obi had raised legitimate concerns about Nigeria’s economic hardship, rising cost of living, insecurity, unemployment and declining purchasing power.

According to him, these challenges are real and continue to affect millions of Nigerians.

Lawal, however, argued that Tinubu’s administration had been working aggressively to address these inherited structural problems through a series of ambitious economic and institutional reforms.

“Anyone who has objectively followed the administration of President Bola Tinubu will acknowledge that these challenges are indeed legitimate.

“They will also recognise that the administration is working hard to confront them through far-reaching reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, strengthening institutions and laying the foundation for long-term national growth,” he said.

The APC chieftain noted that since assuming office, the Tinubu administration had implemented some of Nigeria’s most significant structural reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy.

He added that others were liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, fiscal and tax reforms, the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), ongoing power sector reforms and renewed investment in strategic road infrastructure.

Lawal said among others were initiatives to strengthen local government financial autonomy, digital economy reforms, expanded military recruitment and security operations, and policies designed to restore investor confidence.

He said there were major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, ongoing rehabilitation of key federal highways, railway development, and port modernisation.

The chieftain said these demonstrated that the administration was pursuing long-term development in spite of immediate economic difficulties facing the country.

While maintaining that the government should continue to be held accountable for the impact of its policies, Lawal said criticism must remain anchored on constitutional principles and democratic norms.

“In every constitutional democracy, disagreement with an incumbent administration is resolved through constitutional institutions and, ultimately, through the ballot box.

“Calling for the retirement of a sitting President, in the absence of constitutional grounds such as resignation, impeachment or incapacity, neither advances democracy nor strengthens public accountability,” he said.

Lawal questioned the practical implications of Obi’s position, asking what constitutional or national purpose would be served if a sitting President were to resign only months before another general election in a couple of months.

He said: “If Tinubu was to retire today, then for whom? And to what immediate national benefit? Nigeria is already approaching another electoral cycle.

“The democratic path is clear: allow the reforms to be assessed, let the opposition present a superior alternative, and allow Nigerians to make their decision at the ballot box. That is how constitutional democracies function.”

Lawal further argued that while the opposition had a constitutional responsibility to scrutinise government policies, it also had a duty to provide practical alternatives rather than focus on personalities.

He said Nigeria’s democracy was sufficiently mature to resolve political disagreements through elections, not through calls for the resignation or retirement of elected leaders outside the constitutional framework.

He maintained that President Tinubu’s administration should continue to be evaluated on measurable outcomes and that Nigerians remain the ultimate judges of whether the ongoing reforms have delivered on their promises.

He said: “The Tinubu administration must continue to account for every policy and every promise. Equally, the opposition must continue to perform its oversight role.

“However, whether the President deserves another mandate is a decision that belongs exclusively to the Nigerian people at the next general election-not to political rhetoric.”

Lawal said judging by all the administration had done so far, Tinubu deserved a second term to consolidate his policies and projects.

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POLITICS

CVR in Ondo Satisfactory – Says INEC

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The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) in Ondo State says the conduct of residents during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the state is satisfactory.

Mutiu Agboke, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, said this on Sunday while monitoring the end of the phase 3 extension of CVR in the state.

Agboke said the exercise had been peaceful, orderly, and recorded impressive turnout across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The REC, who attributed the turnout of eligible voters to the commission’s advocacy, campaign and voter education, said the online platform added to the smooth conduct of the exercise.

“Our monitoring today is to see the reaction of the registrants, the people and we saw that people are still forced to come out because of the closure today.

“We can’t rule out whether it is closing today or not, a lot of people are eager to be registered, that’s one thing that satisfies me.

“Moreso, our advocacy, campaign and voter education to people usually prepare them to come, and they really came out.

“At one of the centres, someone said it doesn’t matter the time the exercise ends today, he is going to register, even if he closes with them.

“So, this shows the indication of enthusiasm and readiness, and for me, the totality of the exercise is the joy and my satisfaction in Ondo State,” he said.

Agboke also reiterated the commission’s readiness to conduct free, fair and transparent elections, and said INEC would focus more on the 2027 general election activities after the Osun State governorship election.

According to him, the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in the first, second and third phase, including the extension, will be harmonised for printing.

Adegoroye Kayode, a 76-year-old Evangelist, who came for voters card transfer at Ondo West Local Government INEC centre, said the late transfer was due to his change of environment.

INEC’s CVR phase 3 extension commenced on May 11, 2026 and officially ended on July 26, 2026.

Agboke was accompanied by the commission’s administrative secretary, Tadese Adenike, and other members who visited some centres at Ondo Central and Southern Senatorial District of the state.

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