Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for an urgent national stakeholders’ engagement to address the emerging trend of serving governors, senior public officials and political gladiators descending on states during off-cycle elections.

Jonathan made the call in a statement personally signed by him on Tuesday in Abuja, entitled: “Osun and the need to set new boundaries for political conduct in off-cycle elections.

He warned that the practice witnessed during recent governorship elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States, if left unchecked, could create an undue pressure that could threaten Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political parties and the people of Osun for the peaceful conduct of the governorship election, Jonathan stressed that political mobilisation on Election Day must have boundaries.

He said that the outcome of the state election demonstrated that Nigeria still possessed the capacity to conduct elections in a manner that strengthened public confidence in the country’s democratic institutions.

“While we commend the electoral process itself, there are developments surrounding the election and, more importantly, an emerging trend in political conduct during off-cycle elections that raises concerns.

“The growing practice whereby serving governors, senior political office holders, party leaders and other influential government functionaries, accompanied by a large number of aides and heavy security details from outside a state, converge on states where elections are being conducted raises an issue that demands national attention.

“The conduct witnessed around the recent elections in Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states was, in my view, unusual. It is not a practice that should become normal in a democratic society,” he said.

The former president recalled that, as president, similar situations arose during the 2013 Anambra and 2014 Ekiti governorship elections where senior political leaders mobilised and descended on the states.

“Upon being briefed, I ordered party leaders and senior government officials to leave the states immediately,” he said.

Jonathan described the trend as unwholesome, saying if left unchecked, it could threaten Nigeria’s fragile democracy and have serious long-term implications for democratic stability.

“Political parties are entitled to campaigning, mobilising their supporters and deploying their legitimate party structures. That is an essential part of democracy.

“However, there is a point at which political mobilisation, particularly when it involves the overwhelming presence of serving governors, senior public officials and powerful political actors from across the country on Election Day, can create an atmosphere of apprehension, intimidation, bullying and undue pressure.

“We must ask ourselves whether the increasing deployment of political power and large-scale mobilisation by senior office holders on Election Day in states holding elections is consistent with the spirit of free, fair and peaceful democratic competition. This hardly happens in other democratic countries.

“We must not allow political competition to become a contest in which victory is perceived as something that must be achieved at all costs,” he said.

According to the former president, there is also the question of precedent.

“If the current trend becomes established, what happens when governors from opposing political parties begin to descend on every state holding a competitive election?

“What happens when each party seeks to match political power with political power, governmental influence with governmental influence, and mobilisation with counter-mobilisation?

“Such a development would not strengthen our democracy. It would deepen political tensions and could make elections increasingly resemble battles for political survival rather than peaceful contests for the mandate of the people,” he stated.

The former president said that he believed that the matter should not be treated as a partisan dispute concerning the Osun election, describing it as a broader national issue concerning the future of Nigeria’s electoral democracy.

“Those of us who have occupied public offices must recognise that our conduct carries a greater responsibility.

“The power and influence attached to public office should be used to strengthen democratic institutions, not to create apprehension among political opponents or citizens,” he said.

Jonathan called on the National Peace Committee to convene, as soon as practicable, a stakeholders’ engagement to provide a neutral and constructive platform for political leaders and other stakeholders to reflect on the emerging practices around elections and agree on standards that would protect Nigeria democracy and preserve peace.

He said that the engagement should bring together key stakeholders, including the leadership of registered political parties and INEC.

Other stakeholders, according to him, should include relevant security agencies, the leadership of National Assembly, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Governors’ Forum; civil society organisations and the media, to interrogate what he described as the troubling trend.

“I believe that the National Peace Committee is particularly well placed to lead this conversation because of the confidence and moral authority it has built over the years in bringing political leaders together at moments of national tension.

“An early national conversation can help us establish appropriate boundaries and expectations for political conduct before practices that are unusual today become accepted as normal tomorrow,” the former president said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has directed the FCT Department of Development Control to immediately demolish all structures built on water channels and right-of-way zones across the territory.

Wike, who gave the directive while briefing newsmen after inspecting the flood-affected areas on Tuesday in the high-brow Maitama District, Abuja, declared that “no big man or senator will be spared”.

Wike stated that the recent flooding in parts of the nation’s capital was heavily aggravated by man-made factors, particularly illegal developments blocking natural drainage channels.

“We have gone there, and we have seen how people have blocked channels where in the master plan, that is the right-of-way where water is supposed to be channeled.

“People, by their positions, have blocked it, believing that nothing will happen. I have told people this in life that nothing happened yesterday does not mean that something will not happen today.

“Now you have done your own by blocking the water channel, and nothing has happened. Thank God the flood has come and have drawn our attention to the place; now something will happen. I’m going to bring those houses down.

“Any house found on the water channel will go down. From today to Saturday, let the Development Control not find any excuse —they cannot,” Wike declared.

He noted that when the demolition commenced, people would complain that the timing was wrong because of campaigns for 2027 elections.

“The next thing you’ll hear is ‘oh, why is he doing this during the election period?’ ‘It’s politics. Let us finish the election.’ All those houses will go down.

“Some of the owners of those houses are senators, some of them are big men. Heaven will not fall; rather, heaven will be at peace that the right thing has been done,” he said.

The minister rejected attempts by critics to frame the administration’s response as a failure of governance or a political vendetta.

He emphasised that flooding is a global issue driven by climate change that affects even developed nations like the United States, England, and Dubai.

He also identified man-made causes through illegal developments, unauthorised conversion of public green areas into commercial parks and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage manholes.

He equally pointed at people or government officials not carrying out their functions by desilting the drainages as another man-made problem.

“It is these man-made factors we have been trying to tackle, and we will continue to tackle. So, you cannot take all these factors as failures of government. No, it’s not correct,” he said.

He pointed out the illegal structures obstructing the waterways were not erected by the poor, but by high-net-worth individuals allowed by previous administrations that lacked the political courage to enforce the Abuja Master Plan.

Wike denied claims that the current administration allocated water channel pathways to developers, challenging accusers to produce verifiable evidence and building approvals.

He declined to engage the critics, stating that he would not waste energy replying to political commentators on television channels who aim to politicise natural disasters.

Addressing public comments made by Sen. Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT at the Senate, regarding synergy and administration oversight, Wike dismissed the remarks as political posturing.

He urged Kingibe to focus on introducing impactful legislation on the floor of the National Assembly rather than seeking media attention during crises.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The National Command of the Man O’ War Nigeria has kickstart its 4th National Camping Exercise in Jos with over 3000 participants to undergo morden security intelligence and detection of threats to school environments across Nigeria.

The National Commander, Man O’ War Nigeria, Adedamola Gbenga charged the participants of the 4th National Camping to see the exercise as a mission to build safer schools and more resilient communities across Nigeria.

He stated this on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the Camp, held at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Mountain School, Shere Hills, Jos, Plateau State.

The Camp which runs from 9th to 15th August 2026, brought together volunteers, officers and partners from across the country. 

The Commander stressed that the National Camp is “more than a gathering, more than a camping exercise, and more than an annual organizational event. It is a strategic platform for strengthening our volunteers, renewing our commitment to national service, building leadership capacity and preparing Man O’ War Nigeria for greater responsibilities in the years ahead.”

The theme of the camp is, “Strengthening Community Based Safe School Framework; for a Secure and Resilient Nigeria” with the sub theme: “Building Safer School through partnership, Preparedness and Collective Responsibilities.”

A major highlight, according to the Commander, is the capacity-building program for Safe School Awareness and Preparedness Training (SSAPT) with resources drawn from across the country. 

Some of the areas listed for the training include; “safeguarding and child protection, early warning and early response, emergency preparedness, security awareness, school risk management, community mobilization and resilience building, more so, to speak in strong terms against the recruitment and use of children in armed violence.”

Commander Gbenga urged participants to approach the camp with all seriousness, “To all participants, particularly our SSAPT Coordinators, I charge you to take this training seriously. Do not see this camp merely as an opportunity to meet colleagues, participate in drills and enjoy the beautiful environment of Jos. See it as a mission”, he tasked the participants

The National Coordinator of Safe School Initiative Hajiya Halima Iliya said the training activities of the Man O’ War Nigeria is part of the efforts to challenge the federal government’s safe school plan launched in 2022.

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang represented by the Commissioner for EducationDr. Kacholom Gang disclosed that the state is set to train 1000 Safe School security personnel that will be deployed across the state.

The Governor reassured the safety of children in school across the state and the participants of the 4th National Camping Exercise in Jos.