The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects in connection with the attack on the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, and members of his team at a restaurant in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad at their hideouts in the Atikankan area of the town at about 10pm on Friday, following a tip-off.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abutu Sunday, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Saturday, noting that several items were recovered from the suspects.

The suspects were identified as Joseph Tayo, 32; Olatunji Abayomi, 41; Isaac Amba, 22; Kehinde Ajigbana, 18; Tosin David, 18; Solomon Iyanu, 18; Ogunsola Ayomide, 21; Ojo Ayodeji, 22; Kayode Dada, 32; Segun Olatunji, 28; and Salami Emmanuel, 53.

Items recovered during the operation included two walkie-talkies, substances suspected to be Indian hemp and Colorado, two Indian hemp crushers, a pack of Rizla, seven ATM cards and 13 mobile phones.

Other recovered items were two vehicle keys, a flash drive, an MTN 5G Wi-Fi device, identity cards, eight international passports, three complimentary cards, two suspected criminal charms, a gas lighter and ₦250.

The police said investigations were ongoing to determine the individual roles of the suspects and establish whether they had any connections to the attack.

The Commissioner of Police, Falade Michael, assured residents that anyone found responsible would face the full weight of the law.

He said the command “will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all those found culpable are brought to justice.”

Reacting to the arrests, Sowore called on the police to go beyond apprehending the suspects and identify those who allegedly planned, financed and sponsored the attack.

In a post on X on Saturday, the AAC presidential aspirant described the incident as a coordinated assault rather than an ordinary disagreement.

He maintained that arresting 11 suspects would not be sufficient if those who allegedly masterminded the attack were allowed to escape prosecution.

“Arresting 11 suspects is not enough if those who planned, financed, coordinated and facilitated the attack remain untouched,” he wrote.

Sowore also alleged that some of the attackers were linked to the City Boys group and called for investigations into possible connections between the incident and officials of the Ekiti State Government.

He further appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Falade Adegoroye Michael, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to preserve and release CCTV footage from the scene to assist in identifying everyone involved.

The activist also demanded an explanation from the police over their initial description of the incident as an altercation.

Nigerian journalist Seun Okinbaloye has warned that the 2027 general election is already being compromised through alleged irregularities in the voters’ register.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Okinbaloye raised the concern on Friday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take immediate steps to review and sanitise the register.

He said intelligence reports and emerging indications suggest that politicians may have begun manipulating the voters’ register, with allegations of underage registration, multiple registrations and the inclusion of ghost voters being reported in different parts of the country.

The journalist called on INEC to conduct a comprehensive audit of the register and remove fictitious names, deceased voters and underage registrants.

He warned that Nigerians should not wait until election day before raising concerns about electoral manipulation, arguing that a compromised voters’ register could undermine the entire electoral process.

He said, “The 2027 election is already being rigged right now. Not on election day. It is being rigged with the voters’ register. If INEC does not clean it up now, we are wasting our time.

“If the register is dirty, the election is dirty. INEC must act now.”

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on INEC to identify the officials responsible for the inclusion of artificial intelligence-generated photographs in the voters’ register.

Atiku made the demand in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

The former Vice-President accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of contributing to the controversy by allowing INEC to avoid scrutiny.

He described the alleged AI-generated images scandal as an issue that strikes at the heart of the electoral commission’s credibility.

Atiku also urged opposition leaders and the international community to demand an independent audit of the voters’ register, full disclosure and accountability over the alleged irregularities.

Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State have expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will defeat the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and other opposition contenders in the state during the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

They made the remarks while speaking with journalists at a political gathering organised by President Tinubu’s daughter and Nigeria’s Iyaloja General, Dr Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

The event marked the inauguration of the Iyaloja General Movement (IGM), a support group established to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

Speaking at the gathering, the Lagos State Director-General of the movement, Barrister Adejumbo Omofumilewa, described the inauguration as a mini-rally in support of the President.

Omofumilewa expressed confidence that the APC would perform better in Lagos in 2027, saying the party had resolved the issues responsible for its poor showing in the state during the previous presidential election.

He blamed Tinubu’s 2023 defeat in Lagos on the party’s failure to properly assess the political situation, describing the outcome as a betrayal.

“What happened in 2023 that made our candidate lose the presidential election in Lagos State has already been taken care of, because now, everybody is following him,” he said.

‘Peter Obi Not A Threat’

The APC chieftain dismissed the possibility of Peter Obi and other opposition candidates posing a serious challenge to the ruling party in Lagos.

“Obi is not a threat, neither is any party a threat in Lagos State. We are in charge,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the IGM, Dr Nasiru Ladan, revealed that the movement had attracted more than 2,500 support groups, with several other organisations expressing interest in joining.

He said the groups had been integrated into the movement’s structure, while efforts were underway to create a database of supporters across states and local government areas.

Ladan explained that the organisation had begun building its grassroots mobilisation network, with structures extending from the state level to local governments and wards.

According to him, the movement plans to appoint 10 facilitators in every polling unit, each tasked with mobilising 100 voters.

He said the arrangement was part of the group’s strategy to achieve its target of securing 10 million votes for Tinubu, although he did not explain how the target would be independently measured.

Also speaking, the Lagos State APC Chairman, Cornelius Oyefolu Ojelabi, said the party was taking the 2027 elections seriously and would leave nothing to chance.

He noted that APC activities and support groups were expanding across states and local government areas as part of efforts to mobilise voters for the President.

Ojelabi added that the party was engaging Nigerians to showcase the achievements of Tinubu’s administration and seek support for its plans to build on them.

He described the APC’s performance in Lagos during the 2023 presidential election as a wake-up call, particularly given that the same political party had governed the state since the return to democracy in 1999.

According to him, the experience had strengthened the party’s resolve to intensify its mobilisation efforts ahead of the next election.

Ojelabi also supported Tinubu-Ojo’s decision to bring Iyaloja Generals from across the country together under the movement to mobilise support for the President.

In his remarks, the Akwa Ibom State Coordinator of the IGM, Prince Mendy Achibong, expressed confidence in the movement’s growing presence in the state.

He pledged that Akwa Ibom would deliver more than 80 per cent of its votes to Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, claiming the figure would exceed the state’s performance in the previous election.