Frontline governorship aspirant, Alfred Dapal Damiyal (ADD), has officially submitted his completed Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the 2027 Plateau State governorship election at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The submission, which took place on Tuesday, marks a major step in his bid to secure the PDP governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking shortly after the exercise, Damiyal said his aspiration was driven by the desire to provide purposeful and people-oriented leadership capable of repositioning Plateau State for peace, development, and prosperity.
He stressed the need for accountable governance, unity among communities, youth empowerment, and policies that would stimulate sustainable economic growth across the state.
According to him, Plateau possesses enormous potential that can only be unlocked through visionary leadership committed to addressing insecurity, unemployment, rural neglect, and economic hardship.
The atmosphere at the party secretariat was described as lively as supporters and party faithful expressed confidence in his leadership capacity and vision for a better Plateau.
With the submission of the nomination forms, Damiyal has now formally joined the race for the PDP governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 polls.
A video has surfaced online showing some members of the Agaji volunteer group of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah, JIBWIS, popularly known as Izala, chanting lyrics that appear to call for armed attacks on citizens in Enugu and Jos.
The footage, which gained attention on social media, particularly X on Sunday, shows a group of uniformed young men wearing brown attire and blue berets, reportedly associated with the Agaji volunteer wing of the Islamic organization.
In the video, one of the men leads a morale song containing references to obtaining an AK-47 rifle to attack people described as “infidels” in Enugu and Jos.
The chant includes the lyrics: “He should be given AK47. He would then go to Enugu, the land of the infidels. On Sunday when they are worshiping and clapping, he would then open fire, so that he can kill the infidels.”
The singer subsequently repeats the call for an AK-47, this time referencing Jos, and chants about killing more people he describes as infidels, before referring to the act as “the training.”
“He asked to be given AK-47 again. So that he can go to Jos and kill more infidels. That is the training.”
The exact date and location where the video was recorded have not been verified.
The footage, which has sparked reactions online, raised concerns over the possibility of attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
Arise News Political Editor, Sumner Sambo, has told opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, that they cannot defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, with only press statements.
Sambo spoke during the Arise TV Morning Show, on Monday, while reacting to political developments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said that the opposition parties are not doing enough on the ground to convince Nigerians that they are serious about taking power from APC.
According to him, the APC is already in campaign mode and President Bola Tinubu has flagged off his re-election bid in Kaduna, while opposition parties are still issuing statements from Abuja.
"You can't beat APC with press statements. You have to be proactive. You have to go to the grassroots," Sambo said.
He said Nigerians want to see the opposition in their villages, wards and local governments, not just on television.
Sambo added that ADC and NDC must show unity, structure and a clear alternative message if they want to defeat Tinubu and APC in 2027.
He said if they continue with press conferences without grassroots mobilisation, APC will easily retain power.
He advised the opposition to learn from APC's strategy of early mobilisation and massive rallies.