The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened on Wednesday as two rival candidates for the 2027 Benue State governorship election separately received Certificates of Return from different factions of the party.
Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN, received his Certificate of Return at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, after emerging the governorship candidate of the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Aondoakaa was accompanied by his running mate, Dr Oyije Ochaekiti Ogbenjuwa, as well as prominent PDP leaders and stakeholders from Benue State.
Speaking after receiving the certificate, Aondoakaa thanked the leadership and members of the party for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to justify the mandate by uniting the PDP and leading it to victory in the 2027 governorship election.
However, in a parallel development, the rival faction of the party led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), also presented a Certificate of Return to Dr Emmanuel Agbo, Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, after declaring him the winner of its governorship primary.
While the Wike-backed faction held its certificate presentation at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, the venue of the ceremony organised by the Turaki-led faction could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.
The parallel presentation of Certificates of Return marks the latest chapter in the protracted leadership crisis that has divided the PDP into rival camps, with both factions laying claim to the party’s structure and leadership.
With both Aondoakaa and Agbo now holding Certificates of Return from their respective factions, attention has shifted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which is yet to publish the final list of candidates for the 2027 Benue State governorship election.
The Plateau State Government has intensified efforts to strengthen its community-based security architecture with the retraining of 353 operatives of Operation Rainbow and the provision of operational vehicles to enhance security operations across the state.
The operatives successfully completed their training and passed out on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a colourful parade held at the New Zaria Road Stadium in Jos.
The retraining programme is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the operatives in intelligence gathering, early warning mechanisms, community engagement and rapid response to security threats.
The initiative is also expected to improve collaboration between local security structures and other conventional security agencies, particularly in identifying potential threats and preventing security breaches before they escalate.
The provision of operational vehicles is another significant step towards improving the mobility, operational efficiency and response capabilities of Operation Rainbow personnel, especially in communities where timely security intervention is critical.
With the retraining of the 353 operatives and the additional logistical support, the state government is reinforcing its commitment to community-driven security and proactive measures to protect lives and property.
Operation Rainbow remains an important component of Plateau State’s local security framework, particularly in strengthening grassroots intelligence and fostering cooperation between security personnel and local communities.
The development represents another step in the state’s ongoing efforts to build a more responsive, coordinated and effective security system across Plateau State.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, in Cross River State has welcomed the directive by Governor Bassey Otu for the arrest of suspected thugs accused of attacking opposition figures, describing it as a step towards protecting political participation and preventing violence ahead of the 2027 elections.
The council said the action would help protect the rights of political parties and create an atmosphere for peaceful political competition in the state.
The state chairman of IPAC, Engr. Effiom Edet Okon, stated this in a press statement issued on Monday, November 9, while outlining the council's plans to promote political accountability and peaceful coexistence ahead of the elections.
The council, however, urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, responsible communication and peaceful competition, warning that political ambition should not endanger lives or public order.
As part of its accountability drive, IPAC announced plans to tour the 18 local government areas to inspect government projects, assess their level of implementation and determine their impact on communities.
It said the exercise would also identify areas requiring intervention and provide recommendations for improved service delivery.
The council disclosed that the tour would involve local government chairmen, security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political party leaders, aspirants, candidates and community representatives.
IPAC also announced plans to organise a statewide political stakeholders' conference to promote dialogue, consensus-building and responsible political participation.
In addition, it scheduled a political parties' peace walk for Saturday, December 5, 2026. The event has as its theme, 'Unity in Diversity, Peace for a Greater Cross River'.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the democratic space and ensuring that political disagreements do not degenerate into violence as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.