By George Mgbeleke

The increased desperation of the presidency to frustrate efforts by other stakeholders for a clean, fair and democratic contest at the polls in the upcoming 2027 general elections is unhealthy for national growth and development.

In a statement signed by the office of Deputy Director Media, ADC-PWD Unit, recent happenings in the polity where the judiciary, especially, and certain elements hiding under different associations and groups are used to fuel the deregistration of political parties duly registered and recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) tells a dangerous tale that if left unchecked, not only will Nigeria’s democracy be in jeopardy, but the nation may be sliding towards an unpredictable political situation.

Few days ago, the Federal High Court in Kogi State asked INEC to stay action on the registration of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on the grounds that its December 2025 judgment that paved the way to the party’s registration by the electoral body did not take into account, the position of all parties in the suit filed by Peace Movement Party (PMP).

While we recognize and applauds the role of the judiciary in the sustenance of the country’s democracy, however we cannot help but cringe at the tactics of using courts across the country, to create seemingly legal crisis within and around opposition political parties with a view to weakening them and thereby creating a single and indeed, a facade of an overwhelming presidential candidate in the next election.

As Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), we are convinced that if the government succeeds at deregistering the NDC, it will no doubt turn its goons against the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Given that PWDs have in decades suffered more amid the insecurities and economic upheavals caused by this government’s poor performance across sectors; we are calling the attention of the international community to another tactic used by the Nigerian Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to create a situation that would further aggravate the economic, social and political fortunes of PWDs.

Therefore we call on the international community to quickly intervene in the salient war waged by the President Bola Tinubu government against the good people of Nigeria, whose democratic rights he’s bent on undermining.

Information reaching us shows that the government is on Chess by using NDC as a decoy while its real objective is to ensure that the ADC and Atiku are not on the ballot in 2027.

As Persons With Disabilities we strongly condemn this cowardly tactics employed by an administration which has made corruption, nepotism and bad governance enabled by lies and propaganda, a state craft.

While we urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and closely monitor President Bola Tinubu’s desperation to retain power at all costs, we remind the United States of America, the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and other right thinking local and foreign interventionist bodies, that PWDs who form over 3 million of the population of Nigeria are in danger if the administration succeeds in its efforts to provoke other political players to take undemocratic means to remain relevant ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Where will PWDs run to should the political and social crisis being orchestrated by the administration finds full expression ?

We also call on Heads of various security agencies to call those behind these moves to order. The nation is currently facing violent extremism and other forms of criminalities that have stretched our armed forces to their limits. To allow politicians to create another social – political upheaval may be too much for the country to bear.

It’s time for the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, IG of Police, DG DSS, CG NIS, CG NCS, and other relevant Senior Officers of the country’s security apparatus to think beyond political appointments, and put the nation and its interest above all and sundry.

Save Nigeria for us. We have nowhere to run to

By David Owei

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Akpe, has stressed the need for people to fear and serve God to enjoy His manifold blessings irrespective of their backgrounds and present circumstances in life.

Dr Akpe, who is a senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Bayelsa, made the call on Sunday while preaching at the child dedication of his younger brother’s son, Master Samuel Peremobowei Akpe, at the House of Prayer Parish of the Church in Yenagoa.

The Deputy Governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, emphasized that right from creation, God had not and will never abandon or disappoint those who serve Him.

In a sermon titled “the Difference Is Clear” anchored on Exodus Chapter Eleven Verse Seven and Malachi Three Verse Eighteen, Dr Akpe, highlighted divine immunity, security, provisions and peace as some of the benefits available to those who genuinely believe and serve God.

He said although God loves the whole of His creation, there is always a mark of distinction between people who worship God in spirit and truth and those who do not.

Making reference to his family and what God did in the land of Egypt to save the Israelites as examples, the Bayelsa Deputy Governor stressed that God will always deliver those who trust in Him in the event of hardship and troubles.

In their separate remarks, Mr Philip Akpe and his wife, Mrs Tina Akpe, Parents of Master Samuel Peremobowei, expressed gratitude to God for His love upon their lives, especially for the miraculous conception and birth of a male child.

The couple also thanked the Deputy Governor, his wife, Dr Favour Akpe, the Pastors and members of the RCCG family for their support as well as everyone who attended the child dedication and thanksgiving service.

Dignitaries who attended the event were the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Dr Favour Akpe, and some members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including the Majority Leader, Rt Hon. Monday Bolo-Bubou, Colonel Benard Kenebai (Retd), Hon. Timi-Omubo Agala, Hon. Tare Porri, Chief Gabriel Ogbara, and Hon. Oteigbanyon George-Brah.

Others included the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, her non-indigenes counterpart, Mazi, Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, Hon. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, Chairman, Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Chief Diekivie Itiedu, and the parents of the Deputy Governor, His Royal Highness Chief John Agadabiri Akpe and Chief (Mrs) Esther Akpe.

In a related development, the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, led notable political and religious leaders, at the weekend, to attend the send-off ceremony in honour of the Pastor-in-Charge of Rivers Province 18 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor and Pastor (Mrs) Smart Odiaua, where he called on Christians to remain faithful in the service of God and humanity.

Until his recent elevation, Pastor Odiaua served as the Assistant Pastor in charge of Christian Social Responsibility (CSR) in Bayelsa Province Two of the RCCG.

By George Mgbeleke
The Senate Sunday strongly defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, noting that the legislative initiative “is purely a child of necessity and not of political expediency as well as a product of national consensus and not of cynicism.”

The upper chamber, also, noted that the proposal to create state police was one of urgent public importance, which could not and should not take a back seat because of anyone’s political aspirations in the light of stark realities currently facing the country.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele made these remarks in a statement released by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday, highlighting that the process of accommodating state police in the country’s governance structure did not start recently.

Despite some dissenting views, Bamidele said observations had shown that Nigerians largely welcome the passage of the Bill with a conviction that it would significantly de-escalate the country’s security conditions at the subnational level.

He explained that the state police proposal was part of memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, saying the memorandum had been subjected to rigorous process and multi-tiered consultation across the federation due its sensitive nature.

During this process, Bamidele observed that the National Assembly broadly consulted the Executive, Nigerian Governors Forum, Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria and the leadership of the Nigeria Police, among others.

In July 2025, according to him, the National Assembly conducted public hearings in all geo-political zones, and the participants overwhelmingly approved it. At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of stark realities we are facing today.

He explained the contributions of the Nigeria Police to the process of the enacting the constitution alteration bill, which according to him, formed part of the highly vital recommendations that could help the National Assembly develop accountability and oversight mechanisms that would prevent the abuse of state police by some political actors.

The senate leader added that the resolve of the Nigeria Police “to support the Bill obviously highlights its strategic national significance to deal with insecurity at local and state levels.”

Beyond the input of the Nigeria Police, Bamidele further explained how the consideration of the State Police Bill was subjected to intense debates at the Senate and House of Representatives.

He said: “Even though the APC is the majority, there are members of opposition parties – PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party – that exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest and not on parochial basis.

“In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06% approval at the Senate alone, “he disclosed.

Globally, Bamidele said security “is a collective public good that benefits citizenry across ethnic, political and religious divides. Political actors elsewhere always throw off their togas of partisanship and parochialism to support initiatives that will boost and reinforce national security.”

At this challenging time, Bamidele observed that opposition parties and leaders should come forward with ideas that would deepen the peace and stability of the federation.

Even when they disagree on some grounds, according to him, they are under obligations to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our Nation better and greater. Unfortunately, they have not passed this critical test of opposition democracy.