Nelson Ugwuagbo

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Bode George, has warned that the party risks collapse if former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerges as its 2027 presidential candidate.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, George said Atiku’s candidacy would mark the end of the PDP, especially if secured through alleged manipulation as in 2023.

George criticized Atiku’s leadership, stating he has failed to address internal party crises and is pursuing personal ambitions rather than the party’s interests. He also backed the recent rejection of an opposition coalition spearheaded by Atiku by PDP governors, praising them for “putting on their thinking caps.”

Citing the PDP’s zoning arrangement, George insisted the presidency should return to the South after eight years in the North. He said while Atiku has the constitutional right to contest, he should not be the PDP candidate in 2027.

George also expressed his desire to see the PDP win the next election with a southern candidate, adding that he does not support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Gunmen have reportedly abducted several worshippers during a night vigil at a remote mountain location in Kogi State.

The incident occurred on Friday at Egbola, along Agbaja Road in Lokoja Local Government Area.

According to reports, the assailants stormed the prayer site and began shooting sporadically to cause panic before abducting an unspecified number of worshippers.

A source said the Kogi State Vigilante Service, after receiving information on the attack, mobilised to the scene and engaged the gunmen in a shootout.

One of the abducted victims, identified as Mary Adams Gure, was reportedly rescued during the operation. It was gathered that she escaped amid the confusion and was later secured by the vigilantes.

“A search-and-rescue operation is ongoing to locate the remaining abducted persons,” the source said.

Efforts to reach the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, William Aya, for comments were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to him went unanswered.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has visited Plateau State to commiserate with victims and families affected by the recent wave of attacks in Bokkos Local Government Area.

In a statement shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, Obi described the killings as “senseless” and “unacceptable,” noting that such violence should not occur in a country not officially at war.

“Yesterday, I travelled from Abuja to Jos, Plateau State, to condole with and show solidarity with Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the people of Plateau State over the recent senseless killings in the Bokkos area of the state,” the former Anambra State governor wrote.

During the visit, Obi met with displaced persons, survivors, and children affected by the attacks. He expressed sorrow over the scale of destruction and displacement, and called for urgent measures to protect lives and restore security in the region.

“What has happened in these communities is very saddening and utterly unacceptable. Nigerians should not be killed or forced to flee their homes when we are not at war. Every life is precious, and no Nigerian, regardless of where they live, should have to live in fear or uncertainty,” Obi said.

Offering condolences to the bereaved families, he added, “My deepest condolences go to the families and communities who have suffered tragic losses. No words can truly capture the pain and devastation that such senseless violence brings.”

Obi’s visit comes amid rising insecurity in parts of the country, with repeated calls for enhanced government intervention and protection of lives and property.

The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) has warned of a possible nationwide shutdown of power plants due to unpaid invoices exceeding ₦4 trillion.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Col. Sani Bello (Rtd), the association disclosed that the debt comprises ₦2 trillion accrued in 2024 and ₦1.9 trillion in legacy debts. The APGC said the non-payment for electricity supplied to the national grid has triggered a liquidity crisis, severely affecting the operations of power generation companies (GenCos).

According to the association, the crisis has hindered GenCos’ ability to meet critical financial obligations, posing a significant threat to the stability of the entire electricity value chain.

The APGC has called for the immediate implementation of a payment plan to clear all outstanding invoices. It further demanded a reprioritization of the current payment waterfall arrangement, advocating for the full and timely settlement of GenCos’ invoices.

“A clear financing plan is required to support exposures in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) Supplementary Order to the MYTO and Distribution Revenue Order (DRO) 2024,” the statement read. The association said such a plan would offer financial stability and predictability, allowing GenCos to plan effectively and invest in system improvements.

Additionally, the APGC is seeking payment security guarantees backed by institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to ensure uninterrupted payments to GenCos. This, it said, would support the sector’s growth and expansion efforts.

The association also called for greater transparency in billing, collections, and remittance processes to restore trust in the power sector and ensure that GenCos receive accurate and timely payments.

The APGC warned that failure to address these challenges urgently could lead to national security risks and further undermine the country’s electricity supply.

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday unanimously resolved not to join any coalition or merger as the 2027 elections approach.

The PDP Governors’ Forum meeting, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, was attended by key governors, including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, and Douye Diri of Bayelsa.

Governors Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta and Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom were represented by their deputies.

In a communiqué read by the Governor of Bauchi State and the forum’s Chairman, Bala Mohammed, the forum noted the “nationwide speculations about possible mergers of parties, groups, and/or associations” and resolved that “the Forum will not join any coalition or merger.”

Equally, the forum emphasised that “the PDP, as a major opposition party, welcomes any parties, persons, or groups that are willing to join the party with a view to wrestling power and enthroning good leadership in 2027.”

The governors reiterated their positions regarding the party’s national secretary, stating, “The Forum reiterates its position taken in Asaba regarding the National Secretary of the party.”

They recommended that the deputy secretary temporarily act as national secretary “pending the nomination and ratification of a substantive secretary from the Southeast zone at its next meeting.”

The communiqué also expressed solidarity with the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, stating, “We restate our commitment to stand with him until the end amid the challenges posed by the declaration of a state of emergency in his state.”

Addressing the worsening security situation in the country, particularly in Borno, Katsina, and Edo States, the forum expressed alarm, stating, “The Forum finds alarming the worsening security situation in the country.”

The PDP governors called for a “review and reorientation of priorities and strategies,” emphasising the need for a bottom-up approach to tackle security breaches effectively.

A coalition of women groups on Monday staged a protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in support of the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu in the state.

Dressed in white, the women marched from the Garrison Flyover to Isaac Boro Park, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “State of Emergency is Constitutional” and “We Don’t Want Fubara.”

The demonstration was led by Ifeyinwa Aguma, a former Commissioner for Social Welfare in Rivers State and an ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The protesters expressed support for Ibok-Ette Ibas, who was appointed by President Tinubu as the administrator of the state following the declaration of emergency rule. They urged him to continue his work in the state.

Monday’s protest follows a similar demonstration last week by women who declared their support for the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara.

President Tinubu had last month declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political crisis. He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Citing security reports and recent pipeline explosions in the state, the President described the emergency declaration as “inevitably compelling.”

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that 180 candidates who attempted to cheat during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock exercise will face severe sanctions, including the cancellation of their results.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known on Thursday while monitoring the mock examination at a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in Bwari, Abuja. According to him, the candidates were caught after making payments to a fraudulent website set up by the board as part of its strategy to expose examination malpractice.

“We have opened our own rogue website. As of this morning, about 180 students have paid into it. Attempting to cheat is already an infraction, and we are going to deal firmly with them. Their results, both UTME and Direct Entry (DE), will be cancelled,” Oloyede said.

He added that the board’s decision is aimed at sending a strong message to candidates and institutions encouraging malpractice. Oloyede also warned students against giving out their registration details, stressing that UTME is not a school-based examination and should not be manipulated by third parties.

“Some of these schools want to brag that their students scored high marks, but we are fully aware of these tactics. We are doing everything possible to stop such practices,” he stated.

Oloyede advised candidates to avoid fraudulent websites and individuals claiming to provide exam questions or shortcuts, noting that some candidates paid as much as N30,000 for fake services.

Meanwhile, over 211,000 candidates sat for the 2025 UTME mock examination nationwide on Thursday. The results of the exercise are expected to be released on Friday.