The Nasarawa Police Command on Saturday, April 4, 2026, said efforts are underway to track down suspected perpetrators of deadly communal clashes in Akyawa and Udege Kasa communities of Nasarawa Local Council of the State.
Some hoodlums were said to have on Friday, April 3, launched reprisal attacks on the communities over alleged killing of their kinsmen.
According to the Police,11 people lost their lives in the dastardly incident, with about 52 houses razed in the two affected communities.
A statement from Ramhan Nansel, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, informed that security has been enhanced, with adequate operatives deployed to prevent escalation of the clashes.
According to the statement, the State Commissioner for Police, Shetima Mohammed, who led a team on an on-the-spot assessment of the affected communities, has given a marching order for the immediate location and arrest of all those involved in the unfortunate incident.
The CP also directed a thorough investigation of the actual circumstances surrounding the incident with a firm assurance that justice will be served.
“To prevent any further breakdown of law and order, the CP has also directed the immediate reinforcement and sustained deployment of Police personnel to the affected areas”, Nansel stated.
According to the Police spokesperson, the Command is working in concert with other security agencies, including the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to ensure return of normalcy in the affected communities.
He disclosed that an all-inclusive stakeholders’ parley was held as part of the CP’s efforts at ensuring an enduring peace.
While commiserating with the families, relations and friends of the victims, CP Mohammed called on residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and to cooperate with security agencies in the task of getting to the root of the matter.
The Source reports that the Nasarawa state incident is coming at a time the dust raised by the gruesome attack and killings of no fewer than 30 persons in the Augwa Rukuba area of Jos North on Palm Sunday by suspected terrorist elements is yet to subside.
National Coordinator of Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has alleged a plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the presidential ambition of Peter Obi.
Dr. Tanko, who made the allegation at a press conference in Kano, on Saturday, stated that there are ongoing efforts to deny Obi a political platform for the January 2027 presidential poll through “orchestrated crisis and institutional interference”.
He claimed that the alleged plan began after the 2023 elections and accused the ruling party of fueling internal disputes within the Labour Party to weaken Obi’s political base.
Tanko further alleged that despite a Supreme Court ruling on the leadership of the party in April 2025, subsequent actions by lower courts undermined the judgment.
He noted that Obi eventually exited the Labour Party on December 31, 2025, following prolonged internal crisis, and later aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The coordinator alleged that Obi’s involvement in the ADC and his engagement with political figures, including former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, heightened political tensions.
He also linked recent developments, including the reported delisting of ADC leadership following an Appeal Court ruling, to what it described as attempts to weaken opposition forces.
“The trend is a blatant scheme to undermine democracy, impose a one-party system and deny Nigerians credible choices.”
Dr Tanko called on relevant stakeholders, including electoral bodies and the judiciary, to safeguard democratic principles and ensure a level playing field for all candidates.
He warned that any attempt to exclude opposition figures from the electoral process would undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
Tanko urged Nigerians, particularly youths and women, to remain vigilant and committed to democratic values ahead of the 2027 elections.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has carefully reviewed the recent interview granted by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, and finds it necessary to respond, in order to correct several legal and factual misrepresentations. While the Commission seeks to present its position as one anchored in law and neutrality, the substance of the Chairman’s own statements reveals a fundamental misapplication of both constitutional principles and judicial directives.
First, the Chairman’s repeated assertion that INEC is merely acting within the confines of a “multi-party constitutional order” is, with respect, a deflection from the central issue. The question before Nigerians is not whether Nigeria remains a multi-party state in theory, but whether the actions of INEC in practice are undermining the ability of opposition parties to freely organize and function. The ADC has not alleged the abolition of multi-party democracy in form; rather, it has raised concerns about actions that, in effect, weaken it. The Chairman’s reliance on the existence of multiple parties as proof of neutrality does not address the specific conduct under scrutiny.
On the issue of the Court of Appeal’s order, the Chairman places heavy reliance on the doctrine of status quo ante bellum, suggesting that it requires a rollback to a particular point in time and a suspension of party activities. This interpretation is both selective and legally flawed. The preservation order, by its nature, is intended to prevent actions that would irreversibly alter the subject matter of litigation, not to paralyze the internal functioning of a political party. The Chairman’s attempt to define the “status quo” by tracing the controversy to internal party developments in July 2025 is an administrative interpretation that INEC is not empowered to make. That determination lies strictly within the jurisdiction of the courts, not the Commission.
Furthermore, the Chairman’s claim that holding congresses or conventions would “render proceedings nugatory” is an overreach. Internal party processes, conducted in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, do not extinguish or prejudice pending judicial proceedings. On the contrary, democratic continuity within a political party is presumed under the law unless expressly restrained by a competent court. No such explicit order prohibiting congresses or conventions has been cited. What exists are general preservation directives, which cannot be expanded into a blanket prohibition on party governance.
The assertion that INEC is restrained from monitoring congresses due to an injunction equally exposes a critical misunderstanding of its role. INEC’s duty to monitor is statutory and triggered upon proper notification. A party’s decision to proceed with its internal processes does not depend on INEC’s participation. By conflating its monitoring function with the validity of the processes themselves, INEC effectively places itself above the law, assuming a veto power it does not possess.
The Chairman also references conflicting communications from different factions within the ADC as justification for inaction. However, the existence of internal disputes does not suspend a political party’s constitutional rights. Indeed, such disputes are commonplace in democratic systems and are routinely resolved without administrative paralysis. INEC’s role is not to arbitrate these disputes or to freeze party activities pending their resolution, but to maintain neutrality and allow due process to run its course.
On the invocation of precedents such as Zamfara, the comparison is misplaced. Those cases involved clear and established failures to comply with mandatory legal requirements for primaries. In contrast, the ADC has demonstrated its commitment to conducting its processes in strict accordance with its constitution and the Electoral Act. Pre-emptively warning of hypothetical judicial consequences, as the Chairman has done, amounts to speculation and cannot serve as a legal basis to restrict lawful party activities.
Finally, while the Chairman frames INEC’s position as one of caution to avoid future judicial invalidation of elections, this reasoning cannot justify present overreach. The law does not permit administrative bodies to curtail constitutional rights on the basis of speculative future outcomes. The proper course is to allow parties to act within the law and for courts to adjudicate disputes as they arise.
In conclusion, the ADC reiterates that its right to organize congresses and hold its national convention is constitutionally guaranteed and has not been lawfully suspended by any court. The interpretation advanced by the INEC Chairman stretches judicial directives beyond their meaning and risks setting a dangerous precedent where regulatory caution becomes a tool for democratic suppression.
Indications have emerged that the progenitors and founding figures of the opposition Coalition platform may have envisaged the present leadership quagmire in the party with an alternative plan said to be in place.
The Source reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, shockingly announced its discontinuation of recognition of the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee NEC of the ADC, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal judgment that ordered the maintenance of status quo by parties in the leadership tussle as a major reason.
But not a few political watchers perceive the development as part of the alleged orchestrated plots by the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, and President Bola Tinubu to fend off strong opposition ahead of the 2027 polls.
A viral old video of an interview session between detained former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, and Arise News Channel currently in circulation revealed that the brains behind the opposition Coalition had anticipated the present situation and had, therefore, made contingency plans to overcome the storm.
According to El-Rufai, the leaders of the ADC had factored-in events like the current orchestrated leadership crisis, and had, therefore, made alternative plans including the formation of a new party.
“You don’t go to war with only one plan. So very early in our discussions, the leaders of the coalition took the decision that we will not only look for existing platforms, and identify one that is suitable for all of us to go under one roof, but will also explore the possibility of registering a brand new party .
“Many of the leaders believe that registering a brand new party is the least risky of the proposition going by the obviously instigated crises in the PDP, LP, NNPP and others.
” I think a brand new party does not have legacy problems or any virus because what the Government and the ruling party has been doing is to create problems in opposition parties by recruiting and financing crises to multiply.
“This is what is happening in the Labour Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and even the New Nigeria Peoples Party.
“Many of the leaders then believed that the only way to completely avoid the possibility of external and instigated crises from a mischievous Government and party that are totally immoral, that will do anything to eliminate all opposition, is to register a brand new party. And the constitution and the Electoral Act are very clear about the requirements for registering a new party” El-Rufai stated.
However, the former Kaduna state Governor noted that the coalition leaders were very much sceptical of having a new party registered under the former INEC Chairman Prof Mahmud Yakubu.
“Many of us do not believe that a new party will be registered under the current leadership of INEC. For one, Prof Mahmud Yakubu is not Jega, and President Tinubu is not Jonathan.
“Those were the people in charge when the APC was registered and many were pessimistic about the prospects of registering a new party. But we said: let us try it anyway”
” Let us prove that INEC is not Independent; let us show that this Government (Tinubu’s administration) is interfering to ensure that there is no opposition.
“So we are pursuing both paths- registering a new party and using ADC. And if both become available, then the leadership will then sit down and a decision will be taken”, the former Kaduna state Governor had stated then.
However it is not yet known how and when the ADC leaders will be activating the “brand new party” in the face of INEC’s onslaught
The Source further reports that El-Rufai, who is currently being held in custody, is facing inter-agency investigations and prosecutions over multiple charges bordering on alleged money laundering, diversion of public funds and security related Offences.
His bail application filed at a Federal High Court in Kaduna where he has been arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, will be coming up for ruling on April 14, 2026.
He is also expected to be arraigned at the Kaduna State High Court on April 10, while the the Department of State Service, DSS, will charge him on April 23, 2026 for alleged wire-tapping of the telephone number of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Following the deadly attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos, Plateau State, Benue and Bauchi State Governments have evacuated their indigenes studying at the University of Jos. At the last count, 664 students have been evaluated.
The attack which took place on Palm Sunday, recorded 28 fatalities and dozens injured.
The University authorities were forced to postpone the first semester examination as well as approve the immediate evacuation of all students from the hostels and other areas, as from Thursday, April 2, 2026.
The Benue State Government evacuated 600 students while Bauchi State evacuated 64 students.
The Benue government disclosed that it acted based on the approval of the University Management, no thanks to the security situation.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Kula Tersoo, noted that the evacuation of Benue indigenes studying at the UNIJOS started on Thursday.
“Following the recent attack on Angwan Rukuba and surrounding areas, which claimed lives and triggered widespread tension in Jos, Plateau State, Governor Hyacinth Alia, on Thursday, April 2nd, 2026, commenced evacuation of students of Benue origin studying at the University of Jos, back to Benue State.
“The evacuation of the students of Benue indigenes was necessary to safeguard the lives and welfare of the people, especially the future leaders studying far from home.
“Already, over 600 students of Benue origin have been successfully evacuated back home with another batch of buses deployed to Jos, to help evacuate the remaining set of students and other indigenes of the state willing to return home, given the current tension in the capital city”, the statement read in part.
Governor Alia, assured his subjects that he would continue to prioritise their security and welfare.
Hadiza Kango, Bauchi State Commissioner for Higher Education and Regional Integration, said the Government intervened following a distress call from Mohammed Suleiman, the President of the National Union of Bauchi State Students who alerted the State Government that the students were trapped in their hostels due to the unrest
She said, “My attention was drawn to the situation by the NUBASS President, Mohammed Suleiman. Immediately he alerted me, I took action, and the government responded swiftly with full support and cooperation to rescue the students.”
The President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria, SCSN, Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, has flayed the planned Voter revalidation exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, warning that it could trigger unrest in the country.
This is as he reaffirmed the earlier call by the Sharia Council for the resignation of the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.
Dr Umar, also, called on all relevant authorities, particularly the National Assembly, to reject the planned Voter revalidation exercise.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan
In his Friday sermon, Dr Umar who is the Chief Imam of Al-Furqan Mosque in Kano said the directive by the electoral body for all register voters across the country to revalidate their voters cards within the short period remaining before the 2027 polls could lead to the disenfranchisement of millions of voters.
The renowned Islamic scholar and cleric expressed serious concern about the timing and motives behind the INEC strange policy which he fears may severely affect millions of Nigerians, especially those in densely populated areas.
While describing the planned exercise as unfair and unjust, Dr Umar warned it could precipitate unrest ,and other unintended consequences, including the disruption of the 2027 general elections.
Referencing similar protests and instability in such countries as the Sudan, Libya,
Syria, the SCSN President cautioned Nigerian authorities not to take for granted the fragile peace and stability in the country.
The Islamic Cleric expressed regret that the INEC is embarking on such an exercise with the potentiality of disenfranchising millions of voters, even when there is no provision for such in the Electoral Act.
“Whosoever has a voter’s card has the right to vote and decide who governs. They are simply trying to render the voter’s card useless despite the fact that we spent a long time sensitizing people on its importance”, Umar lamented.
According to him, an exercise that is scheduled for within two months ,is only primed for some sinister motives, including mass disenfranchisement of voters.
While reiterating his earlier call on the INEC Chairman to resign and or be removed, the SCSN leader accused him of harbouring sinister intentions against Muslims in Nigeria.
He alleged that the revalidation exercise is targetted at wilfully reducing the voting strength of the people, noting that insecurity and travel difficulties will not allow many to revalidate their voters cards.
The short timeline for the exercise, according to him is untenable, and will only achieve one purpose – the disenfranchisement of eligible voters.
Worried by the spate of insecurity in the North West, Senator Ibrahim Lamido, representing the Sokoto East District, has announced his intention to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing the move to the deteriorating security situation and a perceived lack of government action against banditry in his region.
Speaking with journalists in Sokoto on Friday, the lawmaker explained that the escalating violence has left him with no choice but to align with the plight of his constituents.
“My people are going through untold hardship. Communities have been destroyed by bandits, and I cannot continue to remain in a system that has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to addressing this crisis,” he declared.
The Senator highlighted that the persistent attacks have devastated numerous villages, leading to mass displacement and the destruction of local livelihoods.
Despite his efforts to secure federal intervention, Lamido expressed frustration over the lack of progress.
“My people are suffering. Entire communities have been ruined by bandits, and as their representative, I cannot remain in a system that has not shown enough commitment to ending this crisis.”
He further clarified that his departure is a result of extensive consultations with community leaders and supporters who collectively decided to seek a platform that prioritizes security.
Stressing the fundamental duty of any administration, Lamido remarked, “Security is the foremost duty of any government. When communities are repeatedly attacked and people are forced to flee their homes, leaders must take responsibility and act decisively.”
He warned that failure to protect lives must be met with accountability, adding, “This decision is not about personal ambition or political gain. It is about the survival of our communities and the responsibility we owe the people who elected us.”
While Lamido has not officially confirmed his next destination, many of his political associates have recently defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
He urged the Federal Government to intensify the fight against banditry in the North-West to prevent a deepening humanitarian catastrophe, maintaining that “the decision followed extensive consultations with traditional leaders, political stakeholders, and supporters across the senatorial district.”
The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has asked Edo state Governor, Monday Okpebholo to either resign or face governance of the state.
CRPP declared its support for the anti-hardship protests that paralyzed parts of Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
In a move that intensifies the political pressure on the state government, the coalition, accused the administration of lacking the initiative required to combat rising poverty and the high cost of living.
The CRPP further alleged that the Governor is preoccupied with President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid at the expense of effective governance.
This follows Wednesday’s demonstrations where youths blocked the Benin–Lagos Expressway near the University of Benin, protesting against what they labeled “disconnected political promises.”
The protesters, who left commuters stranded for hours, demanded immediate government action on unemployment and skyrocketing food prices.
In a statement, CRPP Chairman, Dr. Samson Isibor emphasized that the Governor must take drastic steps to prove he has the people’s interests at heart.
He stated:“We have noted with grave concern that wherever you turn to in Edo State, it is lamentation.
“The heat of poverty is staring us in the face. We have never had it this bad in Edo State. That was what led to the massive protest by youths and other citizens in Benin on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Criticizing the state’s current leadership style, Isibor added:“CRPP condemns the lackadaisical and nonchalant attitude of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
“Sadly, there is no visible effort from his government to ameliorate the suffering of our people.”
The coalition Chairman painted a grim picture of the state’s current affairs, noting that:“Edo is at a standstill as if there is no government in the state.
“Insecurity is at its worst state ever, kidnapping is unabated, unemployment is high, cost of house rent is beyond the reach of the citizens.
“We, therefore, call on Okpebholo to either wake up to his responsibilities or resign, because it is obvious that he is bereft of ideas to solve the alarming poverty confronting Edo people.”
Controversial Kaduna based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has attributed the surge in insecurity in the country to the deep socio-economic discrepancy in the society.
Gumi, in a Facebook post, spoke out again amid increasing security challenges in the country.
Giving his reasons for the rise, he pointed out that the country has neglected and ignored its underprivileged class for decades, creating a fertile ground for exploitation by foreign interests.
The cleric highlighted the deep socio-economic discrepancy in the society, stressing that the stratification has turned the country’s teeming youth into ready-made foot soldiers for those seeking to divide and rule, while plundering national resources.
“Nigeria, for decades, has ignored the underprivileged section of its society. There is a significant socio-economic discrepancy, and the society is stratified.
“This makes our teeming youth ready-made foot soldiers for any foreign interest trying to divide us and rule us. To plunder our resources while we are involved in a vicious circle of violence,” Gumi said.
He emphasized that the political class has remained inattentive to the plight of the poor, while the intelligentsia is held hostage by the daily struggle for existence.
“Unfortunately, the political class is unattentive while the intelligentsia is held hostage in the struggle for existence,” Gumi stated.
Gumi referenced a quote from Tupac Shakur, ‘How can the devil take a brother if he’s close to me,’ to underscore the need for closer integration of marginalised groups into the society.
In 2021, the cleric stated that he took proactive steps to bring some of these “uncouth elements” back into the national fold rather than allowing them to be exploited.
“I took the bull by the horns in an attempt to bring some of these uncouth elements back to our fold rather than letting them be exploited by the devil.”
He maintained that this approach remains the only viable solution to Nigeria’s security challenges, but it requires strong political will and determination from the leadership.
“I still believe this is the only way out of our predicament. However, it needs the political will and determination to achieve” he noted.
As the 2027 General Election gathers momentum with alignment and realignment, Femi Falana, Human rights lawyer, and the Yoruba Generalissimo, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, have both warned that Nigeria could end up having only one Presidential Candidate in the 2027 election if the Judiciary continues to interfere in political party affairs.
Both men said that the nation is gradually becoming a One Party State with the current political happenings in the country.
They made this assertion at the Fifth Year Memorial Lecture of Yinka Odumakin, the late Activist and former National Secretary of Afenifere held at the Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The event had in attendance the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumide Fusika.
It was hosted by the President of the Oluyinka Odumakin Foundation, a baby of the Wife of the deceased, Dr. Joe Odumakin. In attendance, also, were the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, IPC, Lanre Arogundade, Agba Jalingo and Richard Akinola.
Delivering the memorial lecture, Falana asserted that court orders and conflicting judgments are being used to destabilise political parties and could lead to a situation where only one political party would present a presidential candidate in the 2027 election.
He spoke against the backdrop of Wednesday’s pronouncement of the Independent National Electoral Commission that it would no longer recognise the factions of the African Democratic Congress led by David Mark or Rafiu Bala.
The INEC based its decision on a Court of Appeal judgment, which directed the Commission to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of David Mark’s leadership of the opposition party.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, further criticised the Judiciary for interfering in the internal affairs of political parties despite provisions of the Electoral Act prohibiting such interference.
Falana said: “Through the manipulation of Nigerian courts and senior lawyers, you may have only one candidate contesting the presidential election in this country.
“If that happens, Nigeria may not even need to spend money on a presidential election.”
He also warned that actions capable of undermining democracy could provoke unrest if Nigerians felt they no longer had a genuine electoral choice.
He urged civil society groups, labour unions and political activists to organise and defend democratic values, warning that unorganised protests could lead to anarchy rather than meaningful change.
“We must stop agonising and start organising in the interest of our people and democracy,” he said.
In the same vein, Adams warned that Nigeria was gradually drifting towards a one-party system, accusing those in power of using the judiciary to suppress opposition parties and the will of the people.
He said the situation reminded him of the political repression experienced during the military era and the struggle for democracy in the 1990s.
Adams: “We are moving towards a one-party system. Those in power are using the judiciary to suppress the will of the people. We may end up having only one presidential candidate in Nigeria if care is not taken.”
He urged Nigerians not to remain silent because their ethnic group was in power, noting that political power rotates and silence in the face of injustice could later be used against those who failed to speak up.
According to him, Nigerians must continue to speak against injustice and defend democracy regardless of ethnic or political affiliations.
He added that the best way to honour the late Odumakin was for activists and civil society groups to remain committed to justice, democracy and good governance in Nigeria.
Delivering a lecture titled, “Can Nigeria’s Democracy Work without Restructuring?” Falana said restructuring had already been taking place in the country, but largely in favour of the political class, especially state governors and members of the ruling elite.
According to him, Nigeria operated more like a federal system in the First Republic when regions controlled the police, courts and local governments, but the 1999 Constitution returned the country to a unitary system with more items on the Exclusive Legislative List.
He said, “In 1963, there were about 45 items on the Exclusive List, but today we have about 68 items. Practically everything is controlled by Abuja. What we have now is more of a unitary system than a federal system.”
Falana explained that some powers had been taken from the Federal Government through court cases filed by states, particularly on issues such as local government administration, Value Added Tax, and control of land.
Gani Adams
He noted that despite the agitation for restructuring, many state governments had failed to utilise the powers already granted to them, especially in areas like electricity generation, railways and prisons, which were moved from the Exclusive List.
He said, “Some of those who shout restructuring don’t believe in it. Electricity, railways and prisons were removed from the Exclusive List, but how many states have generated electricity, built rail lines or established prisons? None.”
Speaking on the debate over state police, Falana warned that the system could be abused by state governors to suppress political opponents, citing abuses recorded during the First Republic when regional governments controlled the police.
He said the Police Council, which includes the President, Inspector-General of Police, Chairman of the Police Service Commission and state governors, was supposed to manage the Federal Police collectively, but the body hardly met, leaving policing effectively in the hands of the President.
Falana also criticised the political class for cornering the country’s resources, especially oil blocks and solid minerals, alleging that a few individuals had become extremely wealthy through government allocations of oil blocks and mining licences.
He said illegal mining and smuggling of minerals were also contributing to insecurity in some parts of the country, as unemployed youths were being recruited into illegal mining operations and criminal activities.
