Abduction in Plateau State: Mr. Ndubisi Onuigbo was abducted by unidentified gunmen at Angwan Kaji Village in Bassa Local Government Area on the night of Monday, August 24, 2026 [cite: Troops of Sector 3, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), have launched a search and rescue operation following the abduction of a man in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State., The victim, identified as Mr Ndubisi Onuigbo, was reportedly abducted at Angwan Kaji Village on Monday night, August 24, 2026.].....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Commitment to Grassroots Projects: Leaders and representatives from the eight local government areas within the Niger North Senatorial District committed to focusing their 2027 budgets on people-oriented initiatives that directly impact residents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Stakeholders’ Meeting Venue: This pledge was made during a Wednesday stakeholders’ budget preparation session held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru, located in Wushishi Local Government Area.

• Economic Realities and Infrastructure: Council heads stated that their 2027 proposals will reflect economic realities and available resources while urging increased government intervention to repair poor state and federal roads hindering local movement and trade [cite: The council leaders said their 2027 proposals would be guided by available resources and prevailing economic realities, with an emphasis on projects that could deliver tangible benefits to their communities., The council leaders also called for greater government intervention on state and federal roads across the state, noting that poor roads were affecting movement, economic activities and residents’ wellbeing.].

• Planning Commission and Security Praise: The officials lauded the Niger State Planning Commission for maintaining the annual budget engagement program for three years and commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for boosting regional security via three deployed battalions [cite: They commended the Niger State Planning Commission for sustaining the stakeholders’ budget engagement programme for the past three years, describing it as important for allowing communities and local authorities to contribute to government planning., They further commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for strengthening security in the zone, particularly the deployment of three battalions to tackle insecurity.].

• Budget Preparation Concerns: Hajiya Hauwa Musa, Director of Local Government Budget and Planning, warned that some chairmen lack familiarity with their budgets because directors draft them independently, and she urged closer collaboration ahead of the September 7 budget screening [cite: Meanwhile, the Director of Local Government Budget and Planning, Hajiya Hauwa Musa, raised concerns over the involvement of some council chairmen in budget preparation., Musa said directors sometimes prepare council budgets without sufficient involvement of the political leadership, leaving some chairmen unfamiliar with the contents of their budgets when they appear for screening. She called for chairmen and budget officials to prepare the budgets together., Her comments came ahead of the September 7 budget screening, where councils are expected to present and defend their proposals.].

• Inclusive Governance and IPSAS Adoption: Wushishi LG Chairman Hon. Dr. Engr. Mohammed Ibrahim Lokogoma emphasized prioritizing education, health, and youth development, while Permanent Secretary Hajiya Aishat T. Usman—representing Planning Commission Chairman Hon. Mustapha Ndajiwo—noted that local 2026 budgets have been successfully streamlined using the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) [cite: Earlier, Chairman of Wushishi Local Government, Hon. Dr. Engr. Mohammed Ibrahim Lokogoma, said the meeting provided an opportunity for residents to make their voices heard and ensure their needs were captured in the 2027 budget., He identified education, healthcare, women and youth development and environmental concerns as critical areas requiring attention., Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Aishat T. Usman, the Chairman of the Niger State Planning Commission, Hon. Mustapha Ndajiwo, said the engagement was aimed at making the budgeting process more responsive and participatory., He also disclosed that the 2026 budgets of all local government councils had been streamlined and converted to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), using the six segments and 54 digits of the National Chart of Accounts.].

NBA Conference Address: Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore criticized politicians who failed to defend their mandates during previous electoral cycles [cite: The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has berated politicians who failed to protect their mandate in past elections., reports that Sowore shared his reservations at a plenary session of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.].....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Warning on 2023 Mistakes: Urging voters not to replicate past errors, Sowore—referencing former senator Dino Melaye—pointed out that many candidates won votes in 2023 but abandoned their mandates instead of fighting for them [cite: Sowore urged voters not to repeat what he described as the mistakes of the 2023 election, when some politicians allegedly won mandates but failed to fight to protect them., He specifically referenced former Kogi State senator Dino Melaye, describing him as his former friend, who had raised concerns about how candidates would protect their votes.].

• Resistance to Electoral Theft: Sowore strongly asserted that any attempt to rob him of a legitimate victory would be fiercely resisted, declaring that he would prevent such an outcome even at the cost of his life [cite: The AAC flag bearer said he would personally resist any attempt to deny him victory at the polls, insisting that voters should determine the winner on election day rather than through litigation., “I am standing here. If anybody takes a vote on an election I won, the person will not be president of Nigeria; I can assure you that. Even if it takes my life,” he vowed.].

• Call to Avoid Litigation: Highlighting a preference for conclusive results at the polling units, Sowore stated that the judiciary should only be involved in swearing in the victor, rather than determining election outcomes [cite: Sowore vowed to fiercely defend any mandate given to him, insisting that elections must be concluded transparently at polling units rather than through judicial declarations., “It is the reason why we must not rely on judges and lawyers to determine our elections,” Sowore said. “We don’t want our elections to go to your courts again. We must determine the winner of the election on the day of the election, so that the only thing a lawyer will do in an election is to help us swear in the winner of the election. Nothing more, nothing less.”].

• Threat of Nationwide Shutdown: He warned that uncredible elections would face staunch opposition, adding that his supporters would shut down the nation to protest unfair outcomes.