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Kebbi School Girls Abduction:Govt Officials Insensitive, Irresponsible-HURIWA Blasts Akpabio

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President of the Senate Senator Godswill Akpabio shaking hands Apostolic Nuncio and representative of the Pope, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crottywith Papal.

By George Mgbeleke

Pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has expressed consternation and disappointment that in the wake of the recent mass abduction of dozens of girls from a government Girls college in Kebbi State in the North West of Nigeria, that the Senate President Mr. Godswill Akpabio can be so insensitive as to make thoughless and fallacious sarcastic comments which seemed to normalise the unprecedented attacks by terrorists and all genres of armed non-state actors on vulnerable citizens.

HURIWA also stated that from available statistics and information, the Federal Government is not transparent and accountable in the procurement of hardwares and weapons for the armed forces of Nigeria which was evidenced by the overwhelming attacks in an ambush staged by the terrorists that kidnapped the school children in Kebbi State just as the Rights group said the successful ambush and wounding of scores of soldiers on rescue mission and the destruction of their rickety looking armoured vehicles shows that the government needs to embrace accountability and purchase quality military hardwares and adequately motivate the soldiers to be constantly ahead of the enemies of Nigerians who have continued to attack both Nigerian citizens including vulnerable schoolchildren and even soldiers sent to rescue the kid hostages.

HURIWA condemned the laissez-faire and lackadaisical approach to the insecurity threatening to destroy Nigeria as displayed in the plenary recently during which time the senate President Godswill Akpabio, urged Nigerians to maintain perspective on the country’s security challenges, arguing that no nation in the world including the United States, is free of crime.

Akpabio made the remarks while presiding over plenary during a heated debate on the killing of Brigadier-General Uba Musa in Borno State and the abduction of 25 schoolgirls, alongside the killing of a vice principal, in Kebbi State.
The incidents occurred within a 24-hour span.

“We sympathise deeply with the families affected, but we must remember that Nigeria is a very large country,” the Senate President said.
“It is not even possible to deploy one policeman to each polling unit during elections. Our security agencies are overstretched and find themselves in places they shouldn’t ordinarily be,” he added.

He added that crime exists everywhere, and nations including global powers struggle with their own security issues.
“There is no society without crime. Even the almighty America records crime on a daily basis. But we must continue to do our best to minimise it,” Akpabio said.
After the resolutions were harmonised, the Senate went into a closed-door session for further deliberations on national security matters.

HURIWA however takes exception to the thoughtless comments by the Senate President because the same Senator Akpabio wouldn’t be this flippant if some of the schoolgirls kidnapped on gunpoint by the Kebbi terrorists were his daughters just as the Rights group used an analogy of an Igbo adage that states that when another corpse from another distant place is being conveyed, onlookers could mistake it for just being so ordinary and not a Solemn incident that deserves thoughtful mourning.

HURIWA said the statement of the Senate President that crimes happens everywhere including the all powerful USA, is childish and irrational because the United States Congress wouldn’t let the US Government to be so insensitive and weak as to not adequately equipping the US military and train the soldiers to decisively defeat terrorists but the Rights group insisted that the Nigerian situation is incomparable to no other sovereign entity because the National Assembly is too weak, compromisedand corrupt to provide the needed legal oversight to ensure that the President and commander-in-chief of the Armed forced of Nigeria give the military what they require to become battle ready, tested and trusted.

HURIWA said the evidence of lack of proper equipping of Nigerian soldiers have been witnessed in multiple successful ambushes and attacks by terrorists on the Nigerian Army during which time dozens of soldiers are killed, military hardwares and softwares are stolen by the Islamic terrorists.

HURIWA cited the most recent incident in Kebbi State in which several soldiers sustained injuries after terrorists launched an ambush on troops heading to rescue kidnapped schoolgirls in Kebbi State.

The attack occurred just 24 hours after the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, directed troops of Operation Fasan Yamma to go “all out” against the bandits responsible for abducting students of Government Girls Secondary School, Maga.
“You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children,” Shaibu has ordered.

He further instructed commanders to leverage intelligence for intelligence-based operations, emphasizing: “Once you receive information on something like this, act professionally and decisively. This is not just about our image; it is about doing our job properly.”
Troops were ordered to maintain 24-hour operations until all abducted students are safely rescued and reunited with their families.

HURIWA said that for the government to be taken seriously and trusted by the citizens and the rest of the global community, it must ensure that what it says is backed up by quality actions because it is a pitiable situation that the Nigeria Army could send out soldiers on rescue mission apparently with inferior hardwares and weapons and without top-rated intelligence which made it easier for the terrorists to successfully ambush the troops and then make it difficult to quickly rescue the victims.

“How many more successful and daring ambushes should the terrorists stage before the military imbibe superior strategic planning and counter measures to beat the terrorists in their game? Why should the terrorists be allowed to ambush the soldiers as if the nation lacks the intelligence and the drones technology to gain insight on the movements of terrorists before the Army would embark on counter attack to rescue the victims of the dastardly attacks by the mass murderers?”

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ADC: We Remain Focused — Says Party Will Present Right Candidate for 2027

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By George Mgbeleke
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that, despite what it called “recent distractions,” the party remains focused on its set objectives to rescue the country from the misgovernance of the ruling APC and save the country from the travesty of a one-party dictatorship.

Reacting to suggestions in some quarters that the party will not produce candidates in the 2027 elections, the party dismissed such views as unfounded and mischievous scaremongering, with no basis in reality or in any law, insisting that it will field credible candidates for the elections.

The party said it remains the country’s primary opposition platform, with a clear focus on organising, mobilising, and preparing to win the 2027 general elections.

In a statement, the ADC said Nigerians should disregard baseless assertions, noting that the party is fully compliant with all legal requirements and is actively building the structures necessary to contest and win elections at all levels.

The full statement reads:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to state, clearly and unequivocally, that we remain focused on our mission to rescue Nigeria from the failure of the APC-led government and to prevent the dangerous slide toward a one-party state.

We have taken note of recent suggestions that the ADC will not produce candidates in the 2027 elections. We find such claims to be entirely unfounded, mischievous, and designed to create confusion where none exists. They have no basis in law, in fact, or in the reality of our preparations as a political party.

Let us be clear. The ADC will present candidates in the 2027 general elections. Not just candidates, but credible, competent, and nationally acceptable candidates who are capable of leading this country out of its current crisis.

We remain a law-abiding political party, fully compliant with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. There is no legal impediment to our participation in the 2027 elections, and any suggestion to the contrary is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and dampen the growing momentum around our party.

The ADC stands today as the primary opposition platform in Nigeria, and we take that responsibility seriously. We are not distracted by noise. We are focused on the real work, organising across the country, mobilising Nigerians who are tired of insecurity, rising costs of living, and limited opportunities, and building the structures required not just to contest, but to win.

We urge our members, supporters, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard these baseless assertions. The task before us is too important to be derailed by speculation.

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Politics

ADC: We Remain Focused — Says Party Will Present Right Candidate for 2027

Published

on

By

By George Mgbeleke
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has declared that, despite what it called “recent distractions,” the party remains focused on its set objectives to rescue the country from the misgovernance of the ruling APC and save the country from the travesty of a one-party dictatorship.

Reacting to suggestions in some quarters that the party will not produce candidates in the 2027 elections, the party dismissed such views as unfounded and mischievous scaremongering, with no basis in reality or in any law, insisting that it will field credible candidates for the elections.

The party said it remains the country’s primary opposition platform, with a clear focus on organising, mobilising, and preparing to win the 2027 general elections.

In a statement, the ADC said Nigerians should disregard baseless assertions, noting that the party is fully compliant with all legal requirements and is actively building the structures necessary to contest and win elections at all levels.

The full statement reads:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) wishes to state, clearly and unequivocally, that we remain focused on our mission to rescue Nigeria from the failure of the APC-led government and to prevent the dangerous slide toward a one-party state.

We have taken note of recent suggestions that the ADC will not produce candidates in the 2027 elections. We find such claims to be entirely unfounded, mischievous, and designed to create confusion where none exists. They have no basis in law, in fact, or in the reality of our preparations as a political party.

Let us be clear. The ADC will present candidates in the 2027 general elections. Not just candidates, but credible, competent, and nationally acceptable candidates who are capable of leading this country out of its current crisis.

We remain a law-abiding political party, fully compliant with the Constitution and the Electoral Act. There is no legal impediment to our participation in the 2027 elections, and any suggestion to the contrary is a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and dampen the growing momentum around our party.

The ADC stands today as the primary opposition platform in Nigeria, and we take that responsibility seriously. We are not distracted by noise. We are focused on the real work, organising across the country, mobilising Nigerians who are tired of insecurity, rising costs of living, and limited opportunities, and building the structures required not just to contest, but to win.

We urge our members, supporters, and all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard these baseless assertions. The task before us is too important to be derailed by speculation.

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Politics

ADC Releases Timetable for 2026 Primaries Elections — Urges aspirants to ensure full compliance with party constitution and the Electoral Act

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By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially released its timetable for the conduct of its 2026 primary elections, outlining the guidelines and requirements for nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary,Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi,”The timetable reflects the party’s commitment to internal democracy, orderliness, and full compliance with electoral guidelines.

“As outlined in the timetable, the process is already underway, with the collection of application forms running from April 1 to May 4, 2026. The sale of nomination forms will take place from May 5 to May 10, 2026, while the submission of completed forms is scheduled for May 11 to May 13, 2026.

“The party will conduct the screening of aspirants from May 14 to May 15, 2026, followed by the publication of screening results on May 17, 2026. Appeals will be heard between May 18 and May 19, 2026, with the final list of cleared aspirants to be released on May 20, 2026.”/

Continuing Abdullahi said,”The party’s primary elections will commence on May 21, 2026, with elections for State Houses of Assembly, House of Representatives, and Senate seats holding simultaneously at the ward level. The Governorship primaries will take place on May 22, 2026, while the Presidential Primary is scheduled for May 25, 2026.

“This will be followed by a meeting of the National Executive Committee on May 26, 2026, and the Special National Convention on May 27, 2026, where final ratifications will be made.

“In line with its commitment to inclusivity and broad participation, the ADC has also approved a structured fee regime for nomination forms across all elective positions. The presidential nomination form is pegged at N100 million, governorship at N50 million, Senate at N20 million, House of Representatives at N10 million, and State House of Assembly at N3 million.

“To encourage wider participation, the party has introduced concessional rates, offering a 50 percent discount for youthsand a 25 percent discount for women and persons with disabilities.

“The ADC calls on all members, stakeholders, and aspirants to adhere strictly to the outlined schedule and guidelines, as the ADC continues to position itself as the primary platform for Nigerians seeking competent, accountable, and people-focused leadership in 2027.”

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