Dr Jesse Ashumate, a Peoples Democratic Party senatorial candidate for Taraba South, has unveiled a comprehensive legislative blueprint aimed at transforming the agricultural sector, restoring lasting peace, and driving economic empowerment across the district.
Ashumate unveiled the agenda at a press conference to officially begin his campaign in Abuja on Thursday, highlighting the untapped agricultural potential of Taraba South, particularly in rice, yam, and fishery.
He stressed that while Taraba south is a primary driver of the nation’s food supply, the region had long been deprived of vital agricultural infrastructure.
“People call Benue the food basket of the nation. While Benue has the basket, I feel that the food is from Taraba.
“Taraba yam and rice are among the highest quality food crops in the country,” he said.
Ashumate said that his legislative priority would include sponsoring bills to establish specialised institutions, such as a school of fishery along the River Benue basin and dedicated crop research institutes that would directly support local farmers.
He also promised to advocate for a shift from traditional rainfall-dependent farming system to a modern and high-yield techniques.
On the recurring security and communal challenges in the zone, Ashumate promised to use legislative mechanisms to blur tribal divides and foster social cohesion.
On farmer-herder conflicts in particular, the candidate called for a modern ranching and stakeholder reorientation rather than outdated nomadic practices.
“With Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, open grazing is no longer viable,” he said.
Highlighting successful ranches on the Mambilla Plateau, he emphasised the need for proper sensitisation of herders to see ranching as a profitable business that improves yield and protects farmland.
Ashumate expressed support for well-articulated state policing frameworks and laws protecting the right of every citizen to live and trade freely across the country.
“My vision centres on expanding rural healthcare infrastructure, securing federal job placements for constituents and supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises to reduce unemployment and redundancy.
“If elected, I will build an egalitarian society where economic growth and harmonious coexistence allow all citizens of Taraba south to thrive,”he promised.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ashumate, an indigene of Wukari Local Government Area, is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians.
He served as a Principal Medical Officer in some public health facilities in Taraba, Director of Health Services at the Federal University, Wukari, and a two-term Commissioner of Finance in the state.(NAN)
Troops of the Nigerian Army have recovered 12 rifles and rescued 10 kidnap victims after three suspected terrorists expressed willingness to surrender in Kwara.
An operational report said the development followed sustained operations around Gbugbu Forest and adjoining communities in the state’s Edu Local Government Area.
The report said the three suspected terrorists, identified as Auta Ilori, Dan Karemi, and Ori Gambali, indicated willingness to surrender their weapons and release captives.
It said troops of the 22 Brigade, working with the State Security Service (SSS), engaged the suspects through their emissaries.
According to the report, the engagement led to the recovery of 12 rifles of different types and the rescue of 10 kidnap victims as the first stage of the surrender process.
The report said the rescued victims and recovered weapons were in military custody, while the surrender process remained ongoing.
“In a related development, troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) arrested a suspected armed robber at Bisichi Village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau.
“The suspect was apprehended at about 7.05 p.m. on November 13 with an AK-47 rifle and 22 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
“Similarly, troops of the operation engaged suspected terrorists riding motorcycles along the Kukawa-Shuwaka-Yelwa Road in Wase Local Government Area.
“The troops neutralised one suspected terrorist and recovered two motorcycles and a mobile phone, while other members of the group fled,” it said.
The report said troops of Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) Composite Team arrested two suspected terrorist logistics couriers in Kwatan Mayo Renewo in Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba.
It said the suspects were allegedly responsible for transporting logistics, including weapons, across River Benue to a terrorist leader identified as Hayatu, operating around the Taraba-Plateau-Bauchi border.
According to the report, preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspects had repeatedly ferried weapons between Karim-Lamido and Ardo-Kola Local Government Areas.
“Troops recovered two mobile phones, a knife, suspected illicit substances, and N83,200 from them.
“In another operation, troops of 6 Brigade, working with the DIA team, raided the residence of a suspected arms courier in Wukari Local Government Area.
“The operation, conducted on November 13, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle following the suspect’s arrest in Jalingo on October 20,” it added.
The report said all arrested suspects and recovered items were in military custody for further action.
The Ogun State chapter of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, has insisted that the executive committee led by Otunba Oluwafemi Soluade remains the legitimate leadership of the party in the state.
The party warned against attempts to impose a caretaker committee or create parallel leadership structures, describing such moves as a threat to internal democracy and its constitution.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Adesina Olanrewaju, the chapter said no individual, regardless of political influence, had the authority to remove an existing leadership structure without following the party's constitutional procedures.
It specifically mentioned Chief Rauf Aregbesola, insisting that he and other individuals could not unilaterally impose a caretaker arrangement on the state chapter.
"Ogun State is not a political playground, neither is the ADC in Ogun State anybody's personal estate where decisions can be imposed through arrogance, intimidation or unilateral administrative pronouncements," the statement said.
The party maintained that its elected executive committee could not be dissolved simply because some individuals wanted a different leadership arrangement to serve their political interests.
It also warned that it would not recognise any parallel leadership structure created outside the party's constitution.
The chapter cited court decisions on disputes over caretaker committees and the tenure of elected party executives.
It referred to a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Abuja on April 29, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, which it said affirmed the tenure of ADC State Working and Executive Committees.
The party also said the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal against the judgment in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/608/2026.
It further cited a November 3, 2026 judgment of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, which declared the purported interim executive committee led by Afeez Adelowo Jimoh in Oyo State illegal and affirmed the four-year tenure of the Yinka Olona-led executive committee.
The Ogun chapter said the judgments reinforced the need for party leaders to respect constitutional provisions and court decisions.
It also cited Articles 2, 12, 13, 17 and 18 of the ADC Constitution, which deal with the supremacy of the party's constitution, the composition and functions of its organs, tenure of office and election of party officers.
"The judiciary is not a decoration. Court judgments are not political recommendations. The rule of law is not subject to anybody's personal interpretation or convenience," the statement added.
The chapter called on the national leadership of the ADC to intervene and prevent what it described as attempts to undermine the party's elected structure in Ogun State.
It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and other stakeholders to respect existing court decisions and the party's constitutional provisions.