Television Nigerian

Bashir Gegu, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, has cautioned that if President Bola Tinubu ignores former Governor Yahaya Bello, the All Progressives Congress (APC) may lose Kogi State in the general elections of 2027.

During a political meeting at a Kogi Local Council, Gegu issued the warning.

He maintained that Bello is still the mastermind behind the state’s existing political system and a key contributor to the ruling party’s ongoing hegemony.

“If former Governor Yahaya Bello is not carried along, APC cannot win Kogi State,” the commissioner stated in the address, which he posted on his Facebook page. The basic fact is that.

He denied social media’s criticism of a recent gathering in Lokoja, claiming it was a statement of appreciation for Tinubu and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s leadership rather than a power struggle.

“The rally was an expression of gratitude, not a protest,” Gegu continued. But let no one forget that the APC cannot win in Kogi without Yahaya Bello.

The commissioner said that Bello’s influence is still felt in every district and acknowledged that he laid the foundation for political stability and federal prominence in the state.

Three new judges of the Katsina State High Court were sworn in on Monday by Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, who urged them to maintain honesty, justice, and the confidence of the public.

Judges Abubakar Muhammad Dikko, Shamsuddeen Abdurrahman Ḥ�ammama, and Maryam Umaru Abdullahi have been appointed.

In addition to traditional rulers, members of the State Executive Council, and the families of the new judges, dignitaries from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government attended the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Katsina.

The recently appointed judges join the bench with years of service, professional accomplishment, and intellectual achievement.

Judgment Maryam Umaru Abdullahi is a skilled attorney who holds degrees from the University of Abuja and UK universities.

She has held positions as Deputy Director of the National Judicial Institute, Head of the Notary Public Unit at the Supreme Court, and State Solicitor.

Described as young and intelligent, Justice Shamsuddeen Abdurrahman Ḥ�ammama holds two Master’s degrees from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, including one in oil and gas law from the United Kingdom. He has worked at the National Assembly, the National Judicial Institute, and academics.

With over 20 years of experience, Justice Abubakar Muhammad Dikko is an accomplished practitioner who climbed to the position of Head of Litigation at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He formerly worked as a research assistant to a former Nigerian chief justice and has a master’s degree in law from the University of Abuja.

The swearing-in was “a remarkable milestone in the state’s judicial history,” according to Governor Radda, who also stated that the appointments would improve the court and increase its ability to administer justice.

“Three new judges of the Katsina State High Court are being sworn in today. Because it promotes the administration of justice in our state and expands our capability, this is a major advancement for our judiciary,” he stated.

The State Judicial Service Commission was praised by the governor for carrying out what he described as an open and merit-based hiring procedure.

Call for Honesty and Introspection
Radda reminded the newly appointed judges that their oath of office constituted a sacred bond with God and the Katsina State populace.

I want to start by congratulating you and asking God to help you carry out your duties. All of us in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches need to think carefully about our responsibilities because of this oath of office and act of allegiance,” he stated.

In addition, he emphasized the importance of humility and accountability while advising the judges to periodically review their oaths.

“I suggest that we all return and read this oath again after a while, perhaps a month. It will serve as a reminder that God is monitoring and aware of everything we do, the governor continued.

Justice for All, Especially the Voiceless Governor Radda urged judges to administer justice without fear or favor, emphasizing that the courts were the last hope for the average person.

Everyone, including those without a voice, looks up to you for justice. particularly those who do not. If you carry out your responsibilities with attention and sincerity, I think your position will lead you in the correct direction,” he stated.

The governor emphasized the court and legislature’s significance to Katsina’s peace, order, and government while promising that his administration would continue to support them.

“In order to preserve unity among the three branches of government, we will continue to fully support the legislative and the judiciary. Without a robust and efficient legal system, our state cannot do anything. “In our society, the judiciary continues to be the foundation of justice, peace, and order,” he stated.

Additionally, Radda cautioned that delays in the administration of justice could undermine public trust in the legal system.

Time waits for nobody, as they say. In order to create the kind of society that we all want—one that is based on justice, peace, and unity—it is critical that we administer justice in a timely and equitable manner, he stated.

In advance of the June 20, 2026, election, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has formally declared himself the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Ekiti State.

According to reports, 885 delegates from all 177 state wards overwhelmingly supported Oyebanji, the only candidate, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2022 and the party’s internal policies.

His appearance came after Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo withdrew and Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olajumoke were disqualified for not meeting the party’s qualifications.

Omolayo, who officially resigned during the governorship primary at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti, stated that Oyebanji’s performance and the desire to maintain the progress made by his government were the main factors in her choice.

“Governor Oyebanji has done a fantastic job. His accomplishments in inclusivity, governance, and infrastructure speak for themselves. She declared, “I am stepping down to fully support him because he deserves a second term.”

In order to support Oyebanji’s re-election campaign, she further revealed that she had dismantled her political machinery throughout the 16 local government areas. She described her departure as an act of party loyalty and dedication to the advancement of Ekiti.

In accordance with Section 84(11) of the Electoral Act, 2022, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved to ratify Oyebanji’s candidacy as the APC candidate after Omolayo withdrew. Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Adeoye Aribasoye seconded the motion.

Oyebanji became the party’s nominee for the 2026 election when the motion was put to a voice vote and the delegates unanimously chanted “yes.”

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to treat the 2025 capital budget as a national emergency by the Coalition for Equitable Development and Fiscal Justice, or CEDFJ, a civic accountability organization. The group warns that bureaucratic bottlenecks under the Ministry of Finance are impeding economic recovery and undermining public confidence in advance of the 2027 elections.

The group said that the nation’s fiscal management, which is overseen by Finance Minister Wale Edun, “has become a serious drag on the President’s reform agenda” in a statement signed on Monday by its president, Dr. Gbenga Akinbowale, and national secretary, Gloria Maduegbuna. The group accused the ministry of failing to convert policy intent into concrete results.

The President’s economic framework now has the Ministry of Finance as its weakest point. The statement states, “The President has shown courage in reforming foreign exchange policy, national planning, and oil subsidies, but his finance team continues to stifle these reforms with slow execution, delayed capital releases, and bureaucratic aloofness.”

The group claimed that Nigeria’s fiscal system “has become trapped in a cycle of excuses and inefficiency” and that the government runs the risk of losing the support of the populace at a crucial political juncture if immediate action is not made to reform the budget implementation process.

The 2025 capital budget must now be viewed as a national emergency by the president. Every year, the same bureaucratic cycle is repeated, money is granted beyond the deadline, projects stop in the middle, and appropriations lose all of their value due to inflation. The statement went on, “This cannot continue under an administration that came to power promising a break from the past.”

As the 2027 election cycle approaches, CEDFJ cautioned that the present rate of fiscal performance “is not politically sustainable,” emphasizing that delays in capital funding will lessen the impact of Tinubu’s reforms.

Every unfinished hospital, electricity installation, or road project that has stagnated serves as a reminder that people are still waiting for the Renewed Hope that was promised to them. No amount of political messaging will make up for subpar performance if these expectations are not fulfilled.

According to Akinbowale, the coalition’s analysis of previous budgets revealed that between 2021 and 2024, fewer than 70% of capital allocations were used in the majority of MDAs. If this trend continues, it might seriously impair important infrastructure projects in 2025.

“Repeating the same bureaucratic routines that have failed for years is no longer a strategic way to solve the same problem. In order to facilitate progress rather than serve as a gatekeeper of lethargy, the Ministry of Finance needs to be overhauled. This process must be personally led by the President.

He encouraged Tinubu to require quarterly performance reports from the Accountant-General’s office and the finance ministry, as well as to set up a direct presidential monitoring system for capital releases.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda’s legitimacy is based on how faithfully it is followed, not on how effectively the budget is drafted. The organization cautioned, “We risk undermining the very hope that brought this government to power if 2025 becomes another year of excuses.”

Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, has voiced his displeasure at not being able to obtain a form to run for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Chairman position.

According to reports, Lamido had previously announced his desire to run for PDP chairman in a post on his verified Facebook page.

The former governor, who is also a founding member of the PDP, declared that his dedication to democracy and determination to return the nation’s main opposition to its previous standing are unbreakable.

He stated that the necessity to get the party ready for next elections was what motivated him to run.

But on Monday, Lamido was unable to obtain the document at the PDP National Headquarters.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister told reporters that he was ready to run for the party’s chairmanship at the November 15th and 16th elective National Convention, which is scheduled for Ibadan, Oyo State.

Lamido added that if he didn’t receive the form, he would go to court.

Recall that Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties, was supported for the Chairmanship position by governors elected on the PDP platform.

Lamido, Turaki, and former Kano and Kaduna governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Ahmed Makarfi all expressed interest in the race prior to his endorsement.