By Hadiza Abdulkadir


The name of Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has been omitted from the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prompting concerns among his supporters in Gombe State.

In a statement dated October 10, 2026, Professor Suleiman Mohammed Gombe said Pantami’s name was missing from the list following a fresh Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary election held on September 29, reportedly ordered by the Federal High Court.

Gombe assured supporters that the omission was a temporary setback, adding that the candidate’s legal and liaison teams were engaging with relevant party organs and INEC to secure a resolution within the period allowed by law.

He urged members of the PDP and the Pantamiyya Movement to remain calm and continue their mobilisation, expressing confidence that the matter would be resolved.

The statement did not specify the reasons for the omission or provide further details of the ongoing legal engagements.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa has advocated the use of mosques as centres for youth rehabilitation, scholarship programmes and other community development initiatives beyond congregational prayers.

Daurawa made the remarks during a sermon at the opening of a newly built mosque in Funtua, Katsina State, on Friday.

He said mosques could play a greater role in addressing social challenges, including drug addiction and other vices among young people, while also supporting educational opportunities and other initiatives that benefit the community.

He further suggested that mosques could contribute to political participation by sponsoring or endorsing candidates during elections.

The cleric’s remarks have highlighted the potential of mosques to serve as centres of worship and platforms for social welfare, education and community engagement.

However, questions remain about why many mosques have yet to adopt such initiatives, particularly when some struggle to adequately support the people responsible for their daily operations.

In a reflection on the issue, a social commentator, Dr. Muhsin Ibrahim, recounted speaking with the muezzin of a major mosque in Kano, who reportedly earns a monthly salary of ₦10,000, reduced to ₦9,500 after bank charges.

The muezzin also shares the money with his assistant, who lives near the mosque and calls worshippers to the Fajr prayer.

The mosque, located near an old, large market in Kano Municipal and surrounded by shops, reportedly struggles to provide adequate remuneration for its staff, raising concerns about its capacity to support wider community initiatives.

Dr. Muhsin argued that imams and muezzins also have families to support and bills to pay, including rent, yet their welfare is often neglected while they are expected to perform their duties consistently.

The reflection called for a reassessment of how mosques are managed, beginning with improved welfare for those who maintain them and extending to broader support for worshippers and community members.

It also stressed that constructing a mosque should not be the end of the effort, noting that maintaining the facility and ensuring it serves the needs of the community are equally important.

By Hassan Saidu Jakusko

Security is a sensitive and important matter that requires wisdom, caution, and a strong sense of responsibility. While every citizen has a role to play in maintaining peace and security, security operations should be left to trained and authorized security personnel who understand the laws, procedures, and responsibilities involved. Everyone must therefore exercise caution when discussing security issues, particularly when such discussions involve allegations against the government or security agencies.

It is important for the public to understand that careless statements about security matters, especially those made without credible evidence or complete information, can create unnecessary fear, confusion, and misunderstanding. In an era where information spreads rapidly through social media, people must be careful not to present rumours, assumptions, or personal opinions as established facts.

This brings attention to discussions surrounding individuals such as KY Tebo and their comments on security-related matters. When concerns or allegations are raised against the government or security agencies, it is important that such claims be supported by verifiable evidence and presented responsibly. Security-related discussions should be guided by facts and constructive engagement rather than speculation, personal attacks, or language capable of unnecessarily increasing public anxiety.

We must also make it clear that criticism is not a crime. Every citizen has the right to express an opinion, question decisions, and demand accountability where necessary. However, the right to freedom of expression comes with a responsibility to communicate respectfully and avoid spreading unverified information. Criticism should contribute to understanding and accountability, not become an avenue for insults, hostility, or the deliberate misrepresentation of sensitive issues.

Security matters require cooperation, credible information, and meaningful dialogue. They should not be reduced to arguments, accusations, or exchanges of insults on social media. Where there are genuine concerns about the conduct of security personnel or the actions of government institutions, the appropriate channels should be used to ensure that such matters receive proper investigation and that the truth is established.

Similarly, Nigerians living abroad should recognize that their comments can influence public opinion and affect perceptions of peace and stability back home. Living outside the country does not remove the responsibility to verify information before sharing it. Everyone, regardless of location or personal opinion, should consider the possible consequences of their statements, especially when discussing matters that concern public safety and national security.

Social media users must also understand that not every report circulating online is accurate. Before sharing information, it is essential to examine its source, confirm its authenticity, and distinguish between verified facts and unsubstantiated claims. Responsible communication can help prevent unnecessary panic, protect public confidence, and encourage a more informed discussion of security challenges.

We therefore call on all Nigerians, both at home and abroad, to demonstrate patriotism, mutual respect, and a commitment to peaceful coexistence. Differences in opinion are normal in any democratic society, but they should never be used as an excuse for insults, hatred, or the spread of misleading information. We can disagree without being disrespectful, ask questions without making reckless accusations, and demand accountability without undermining the importance of lawful security operations.

In conclusion, security is everyone’s responsibility, but security operations require professionalism, training, and lawful authority. Citizens should support peace and stability by providing credible information, cooperating with the appropriate authorities, and engaging in responsible discussions. Let us avoid rumours, verify information before sharing it, respect the law, and handle security-related concerns with wisdom and maturity. After all, peace remains the foundation of national unity, development, and progress, and its protection requires the collective effort of everyone.

Hassan Saidu Jakusko Writes from Yobe State.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to launch his campaign for re-election in the 2027 general elections in Kaduna on October 24, according to Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council.

Yari announced the date on Friday after briefing Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on preparations for the campaign.

He said the President had requested an update on the council’s readiness and discussions on the proposed schedule of campaign visits across the country.

Yari said the campaign council’s inaugural meeting would hold on October 14 at the State House Banquet Hall, ahead of the Kaduna rally.

He announced, “By God’s grace, his team, I, and Mr President himself, we have agreed on how it’s going to be done.

“We have put forward a proposal. The inaugural meeting [of the campaign council] is going to be done on the 14th of this month. That’s next Wednesday at the State House banquet hall, and by God’s grace, on the 24th of October, we’re going to do our flag-off campaign in Kaduna, inshallah.

“Then we outlined our state visits to each and every place where we will go, and the President has approved them. So we are going to hit the ground running by the 24th of October, inshallah.”

According to Yari, Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Maiduguri in Borno State will be among the campaign’s next destinations after Kaduna.

He said the full itinerary would be made public following the council’s inauguration.

“We have the timetable, and we are going to make it available after the inauguration. But this has all been understood and approved by the team of Mr President and I,” he said.

Defending Tinubu’s prospects against opposition challengers, Yari argued that the President’s political influence and past support for other politicians would work in his favour.

“We are talking of the President of the country, and this President, who, by God’s grace, Almighty God used him to support Atiku some time back, and at the same time to support Peter Obi.

“So if Allah uses me to support you, there is no way Allah will use you to bring me down,” he said.

Yari also maintained that a presidential candidate needed substantial support in both northern and southern Nigeria to win the election.

He questioned whether opposition candidates had enough political control across the two regions to defeat the incumbent.

“Can the ADC candidate today in the southern part of the country beat his chest and say he has control of one state in the South? And I don’t think Peter Obi, who used to be my colleague, can beat his chest. Can he say he has control of one state in northern Nigeria?

“So this calculation shows us that even if you have control of 80 per cent of the South, if you don’t have anything in the North, you cannot make it.

“If you have 80 per cent of control of the North, if you don’t have any state in the South, you can’t make it, and that’s what it is.”

Citing former President Muhammadu Buhari’s previous election campaigns, Yari argued that Tinubu had a broader geographical base of support.

He claimed that Buhari had enjoyed significant backing in the North but struggled to secure sufficient support in the South, while Tinubu had support across both regions.

“This is calculation, it is not rocket science,” he affirmed.

Yari also defended the administration’s economic record, arguing that the government had made progress since taking office.

He said Tinubu “has turned around the situation that he met on ground, and the economy is moving.

“So I think we have done enough that we can tell our opponents about what we did. We are not promising. We are doing it, and we are going to continue.”

Tinubu appointed Yari to lead the APC Presidential Campaign Council on August 22, 2026, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma serving as secretary. Tinubu chairs the council, while Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda serve as vice chairmen.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027. According to the timetable cited in the report, campaigns are permitted from August 19, 2026, until January 15, 2027.

The presidential contest is expected to feature candidates from several political parties, including Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, whose running mate is former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Tinubu has assured Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum that security agencies will take necessary measures to rescue children abducted from Mussa community in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

Zulum disclosed this on Friday after meeting the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where they discussed the security situation in Borno State.

The governor said he brought the recent abductions in Askira-Uba and other communities to Tinubu’s attention during the meeting.

According to him, the President assured him that the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services and the Office of the National Security Adviser would take steps to secure the children’s release.

Gunmen reportedly abducted between 42 and 44 children from a primary and junior secondary school, as well as nearby homes, in Mussa on May 15, 2026.

The children have remained in captivity for nearly five months, leaving their families to continue appealing for urgent action to secure their freedom.

Despite the incident, Zulum said the security situation in Borno had improved over the past six months to one year.

He also stated that more than two million people had returned to their ancestral communities across the state over the past seven years.

The governor, however, identified Kareto, an area between Damasak and Gubio, as one of the locations requiring additional security measures.

The latest assurance comes amid continuing concerns over the safety of residents and the need to secure the release of the abducted children.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with a clash between farmers and herders in Guda Village, Ningi Local Government Area, which left one farmer dead and several houses burnt.

The deceased, identified as 40-year-old Usman Jibrin, reportedly died while receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Habib, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the police, the incident occurred on September 23, 2026, after three farmers discovered cattle belonging to a herder grazing on and destroying their crops at Guda Hill.

The statement read, “On September 23, 2026, at about 07:40 hours, three farmers from Guda Village went to their farms on Guda Hill and found cattle belonging to a herder grazing on and destroying their crops.

“They chased the cattle to the herders’ settlement, where an argument ensued and degenerated into a fight. In the process, the three farmers sustained injuries. Sadly, in retaliation, some youths from Guda Village mobilised and set ablaze houses at the herders’ settlement.”

The police said operatives from the Ningi Division responded to the incident, restored calm and evacuated the injured to General Hospital, Ningi, for medical attention.

However, one of the injured farmers later died while receiving treatment.

The command said its operatives arrested four suspects on October 8 following intelligence-led efforts.

The statement added, “Through intelligence-led efforts, our operatives have, on October 8, 2026, arrested four suspects in connection with the offences of criminal conspiracy, causing grievous hurt, mischief by fire and culpable homicide.”

The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for a thorough and discreet investigation.

The police have not disclosed the identities of the suspects as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the clash and the subsequent burning of houses.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A youth political support group in Cross River State, the Evidence Group, has endorsed President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu for a second term ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement was announced on Friday during the unveiling of the group in Ogoja Local Government Area, where its Ogoja working committee was also inaugurated.

The group said it planned to mobilise grassroots support for Tinubu, Otu and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the state.

Speaking at the event, the group’s Director-General, Eyoma Bassey, said its mobilisation drive would cover campuses, villages, wards and polling units.

“The group is a youth based support group that rallies support for Mr President, our Governor and the APC candidates. With this initiative, we are going to different campuses, villages, wards and polling units to mobilize people to vote for the APC.”

Bassey directed the newly inaugurated committee to begin mobilisation at ward and polling-unit levels. He added that the group’s structures would require approval from its central leadership before they could be publicly announced.

He said the organisation would also promote the achievements of the Tinubu and Otu administrations as part of its campaign for their re-election.

“This gathering demonstrates the readiness of Cross River youths to mobilise support for the APC-led administration at both the state and federal levels. Therefore, we will remain proactive in selling the achievements of both President Tinubu and Governor Otu administrations to the people”, the DG said.

The group’s Ogoja Coordinator, Jude Fingha, said the chapter was prepared to work towards the APC’s victory in the 2027 elections.

He disclosed that the group had adopted the slogan “5 over 5” as part of its drive to secure electoral victories for the party’s candidates at different levels in the state.

Fingha described the initiative as an effort to mobilise support for the current administrations and urged young people to participate peacefully in politics without resorting to violence or intolerance.

“The entire purpose is to galvanise support once again and bring back the governor and others who are in line back to office by 2027,” he said.

The group’s Director of Women Mobilisation, Precious Bessong, called on women to take an active role in encouraging their families and communities to support the APC.

Bessong argued that empowering women benefits families and the wider society, urging them to promote continuity in government.

The endorsement forms part of early political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, as parties and support groups begin efforts to build grassroots backing for their preferred candidates.

By Dahiru Kasimu Adamu

We were in the car of Dr Abubakar Mohammed of the Department of Mass Communication, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). He graciously gave us a ride. There were five of us in total; three of us were non-academic staff at UDUS.

As we drove from the UDUS Bus stop, Dr Abubakar tuned the car radio to an Alfijir Radio phone-in programme. I don’t know the exact title of the programme, but it focused on current security issues. 

One contributor called in and aggressively expressed his view, directly accusing the government. Part of his comment was: “basa aikinsu… suna da hannu ciki…”

Before he could finish, the call broke up, perhaps because of a poor connection. I could hear the presenter saying, “Hello, hello… kana tare da mu…”

Eventually, the call ended. The presenter cited network issues as the reason for the failed communication.

Immediately, one of the passengers in Dr Abubakar’s car responded:  

“Ba network na ba. Hakanan suke. Su na amfani da dabarunsu wurin daƙile mutane su faɗi ra’ayinsu, haddai in ya shafi gwamnati. Yan jaridar nan hakanan suke… ba su da gaskiya.”

“It’s not a network issue. That’s their style. They use different manoeuvres to prevent people from expressing their views, especially when it concerns the government. These journalists are not honest…”

The man continued, attacking journalists and calling them different names.

The other two non-academic staff nodded in agreement, muttering their own grievances against the press. The car was now a bubbling cauldron of anti-media sentiment.

Dr Abubakar tried to ask me a question about what the responder had accused the presenter of doing. But the man kept going. When I tried to respond and debunk his fallacy, Dr Abubakar told me to let the man finish.  

Unknown to the man, he was inside the car of a veteran broadcaster, a PhD holder in Mass Communication, and a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication.

When the man made his point, Malam zan iya cewa wani abu? Dr Abubakar asked.

 Dr Abubakar responded calmly, in a clear, academic and scholarly manner.

He told the man, “Every profession has its ethics. Journalism is no exception. Legal frameworks and codes of ethics guide journalism. Broadcasters are to abide by these regulations.”

He mentioned some of the core ethical principles relevant to the man’s accusation: Balance, Objectivity, and Fairness.

Dr Abubakar also elaborated on the Law of Defamation and how journalists can be held liable if they cross that line.

Another interesting part of his explanation was a personal experience. He described how he narrowly escaped a defamation case brought against him involving the former Governor of Yobe State, Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

He further clarified that Alfijir Radio is a private radio station, not government-owned. Therefore, its philosophy and mission would not necessarily support the government completely.

Before Dr Abubakar’s explanation, the three passengers shared the first respondent’s mindset. But after his lecture, they partially changed their minds. They began to understand some aspects of journalism and why journalists cannot just allow people to make reckless, unsubstantiated, and potentially defamatory comments on air.

This scenario highlights how many people misunderstand journalism and misrepresent journalists as they carry out their duties.

People need to know that journalism is guided by laws and regulations. Healthy journalism is a tool for a healthy society.  

Therefore, everyone should have media literacy.

If a car ride can transform minds, then a concerted media literacy campaign can change a nation. Citizens must understand that healthy journalism is not a threat; it is a tool for a healthy society. When people understand the “why” behind a journalist’s actions, trust is rebuilt.

The next time you hear ‘ba network ba ne, ask yourself: Is it censorship, or is it the law protecting us all?”

Dahiru Kasimu Adamu is a young journalist and Mass Communication student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

By Muhammad Abubakar

The Kano State Police Command has handed over a recovered orange Vibe motor vehicle and an ash-coloured Haojue motorcycle to their rightful owners.

The command disclosed this in a press release issued by its Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, on Friday.

According to the statement, the two properties were recovered through intelligence-led operations and handed over to their owners at the command headquarters in Bompai, Kano, after the verification of ownership documents and completion of necessary procedures.

The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the police for recovering their properties, praising the command for its professionalism, commitment to justice and prompt response.

The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, congratulated the owners and said the recoveries aligned with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

The vision, the statement said, emphasises the protection of lives and property, the restoration of stolen items to victims and the promotion of public trust through transparent and accountable service.

Bakori reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Kano State, adding that all recovered stolen properties would be returned to their legitimate owners after due verification.

The command urged members of the public seeking further information to contact the investigating police officer on 08140081608 or visit the office of the Police Public Relations Officer at the Bompai Police Headquarters.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The exercise covers eligible voters who registered during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, as well as those who applied for polling unit transfers or replacements for lost or damaged PVCs.

Registered voters have been advised to contact their respective INEC offices to confirm whether their cards are ready for collection and to obtain information about the collection process.

Those who applied for polling unit transfers should also confirm their updated registration details to ensure they know their designated polling units ahead of the elections.