By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, Orji Uzor Kalu, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), party stakeholders, and the people of Abia North following his victory in the APC senatorial primary election.

He secured the APC ticket for the 2027 National Assembly election after defeating his challenger, Philip Nto, by a massive margin of 63,548 votes recently.

Official figures released by the APC Primary Election Committee showed that out of the 72,028 registered voters, 69,441 members were accredited, while a total of 67,854 votes were cast during the exercise.

In a statement issued on Tuesday on his official media platforms after the declaration of the results, Kalu said he was overwhelmed with gratitude to God and the people for the overwhelming support given to him throughout the process while he described the outcome of the exercise as a humbling reaffirmation of the trust and confidence reposed in him by the party and the people.

“Today, I speak with a heart full of gratitude to Almighty God for His grace, mercy, and the privilege of life and service to humanity,” Kalu stated.

“I remain deeply humbled by the confidence reposed in me once again by our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as its candidate for the 2027 Abia North Senatorial election.

“I sincerely appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leadership of our great party, APC leaders and stakeholders across Abia State and beyond, members of our political family, the OUK Movement and Reality Organisation, party faithful, and supporters for their steadfast loyalty, encouragement, and belief in our shared vision for Abia North.

“Most importantly, I thank my beloved people of Abia North, the good people of Arochukwu, Ohafia, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Umunneochi. Your love, prayers, support, and trust over the years continue to inspire me. I love you all deeply,” he added.

Reflecting on his journey in the Senate since 2019, Kalu said his representation had focused on giving Abia North a stronger voice at the National Assembly while attracting meaningful development projects to communities across the district.

According to him, his legislative contributions include the sponsorship of over 20 bills targeted at improving governance, security, education, infrastructure, industrialisation, and economic growth in Nigeria.

Among the bills listed by the senator are the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act Amendment Bill, Armed Forces Act Amendment Bill, Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act Amendment Bill, Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Administration of Criminal Justice Act Amendment Bill, National Food Bank Establishment Bill, Tax Crime Commission Bill, NESREA Amendment Bill, and the Electric Vehicle Transition and Green Mobility Bill.

He also disclosed that he sponsored constitutional alteration bills aimed at granting concurrent legislative powers on railways and electricity to deepen decentralisation and fast-track national development.

 “I have also consistently advocated stronger community policing structures and reforms aimed at improving security and governance at the grassroots level,” Kalu stated.

On infrastructure, the senator said his office had facilitated over 70 road projects spread across the five local government areas of the district through strategic partnerships and effective representation.

Beyond road infrastructure, Kalu highlighted interventions in healthcare, education, youth empowerment, industrialisation, and economic development.

 “In the healthcare sector, our mothers, elderly citizens, and vulnerable groups have benefited from free healthcare services through the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.

 “In education, we embarked on the renovation and construction of over 100 schools, alongside the distribution of desks, instructional materials, free STEM textbooks, school sandals, and uniforms for pupils across communities.”

The former Abia State governor further revealed that foreign scholarship opportunities and overseas training programmes had also been facilitated for youths and women as part of efforts aimed at sustainable human capital development.

According to him, leadership should be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens and future generations.

 “For me, leadership must always be about building a stronger tomorrow for our people. It should be about creating opportunities for the child in Isu, Amanagwu Arochukwu, Ndi Ibe Ohafia, Ndi Inyang Abam, Ezeukwu Bende, Nneato Umunneochi, Uturu in Isuikwuato, and every other community in Abia North to have a brighter future,” he said.

Kalu also pointed to ongoing industrial and investment-driven projects in the district, including the completed Cashew Processing Factory in Igbere, as well as the ongoing Solar Panel Factory and Keke Manufacturing Plant projects, which he said were aimed at creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

He added that thousands of women and youths across the district had benefited from empowerment initiatives involving the distribution of tools, equipment, and support materials to improve livelihoods and encourage self-reliance.

The senator further noted that interventions had equally been carried out in erosion and flood-prone communities within the district to mitigate environmental challenges affecting residents.

From Rabiu Sanusi, Kano

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf has declared support for the re-election bid of the member representing Bichi Federal Constituency, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, Abba Bichi, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

The governor stated this during the APC affirmation exercise held in Bichi, where Abba Bichi emerged as the party’s sole candidate for the House of Representatives seat.

Yusuf praised the lawmaker for what he described as quality representation and impactful constituency projects across Bichi Federal Constituency.

“I want to commend Hon. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar for his quality representation.

“Since 2023, I have prayed to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to work closely with him, and today we are working together for the development of Bichi and Kano State,” the governor said.

He noted that Abba Bichi’s efforts in youth empowerment and community development had continued to positively impact the lives of the people.

Yusuf also urged residents of Bichi to sustain their support for the lawmaker ahead of the 2027 elections.

The event attracted prominent APC stakeholders and political leaders, including representatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, federal lawmakers and party officials.

The Governor noted that the affirmation in Bichi is second to none across the country in terms of coordination and mass mobilization.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have apprehended a total of 16 suspects and recovered arms and other items in a series of coordinated operations across multiple theatres nationwide.

This was contained in an operational report on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the report, the arrests and recoveries were recorded within the last 24 hours under ongoing operations, including Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Operation MESA, Operation ENDURING PEACE and Operation UDO KA.

The report revealed that in the North-West, troops of 8 Division Garrison, under Operation FANSAN YAMMA raided a suspected terrorist logistics base in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

It added that troops recovered a fabricated pistol loaded with 10 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and seized hard drugs, while 11 suspects were apprehended from identified hideouts during the operation.

“Similarly, troops of 1 Brigade Combat Team, responded swiftly to a distress call in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara, providing immediate intervention and medical evacuation for victims, thereby preventing further escalation.

“In Kebbi, troops of 8 Division Strike Force, while on patrol, successfully located and recovered the remains of a missing soldier, ensuring proper evacuation,” the report said.

It also revealed that troops in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and local security groups conducted coordinated raids on criminal hideouts in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo.

According to the report, the operation led to the arrest of two suspects and recovery of weapons including machetes, a spear and a mobile phone used for criminal activities.

The report also said that the troops of 20 Model Battalion working with Defence Intelligence Agency operatives arrested one suspected gunrunner in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba.

According to the report the suspect was linked to the supply of 23 AK-47 rifles to a rogue vigilante leader in what officials described as a major breakthrough in efforts to curb illegal arms proliferation.

“Further successes were recorded in Plateau under Operation ENDURING PEACE, where troops foiled a cattle rustling attempt in a border community between Bassa and Jos South Local Government Areas, forcing the armed group to abandon their mission.

“In the South-South, troops of 245 Battalion under Operation UDO KA intercepted one suspected criminal during a stop-and-search operation in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River.

“The suspect was found in possession of two locally made pistols. He has provided useful intelligence, with follow-up operations ongoing,” it added.

The report noted that the sustained successes underscore the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency collaboration and proactive deployment of troops across critical locations.

It added that efforts would be sustained to deny criminal elements freedom of action across the country.