Incumbent Senator representing Plateau Central, Diket Plang, on Thursday led a delegation of aggrieved aspirants of the All Progressives Congress to the party secretariat in Jos, Plateau State, where they formally submitted petitions challenging the conduct and outcome of the recently concluded APC primaries.
The group, which included senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly aspirants, called for the nullification of the exercise, describing it as flawed, non-transparent and inconsistent with the party’s electoral guidelines.
Among those who accompanied the senator were Chris Giwa, aspirant for Plateau North Senatorial District; Ephraim Usman Gar; John Tongshinen; Beatrice C.J Dakas; and Komsol Alphonsus Longgap, all of whom are contesting various positions in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Senator Plang expressed strong dissatisfaction with the primaries, insisting that what transpired fell far below acceptable democratic standards within the party.
“I am a serving senator… we are here in loyalty and obedience to the guidelines of our great party, APC… but for us on this platform, today’s election is the worst,” Plang said.
He alleged widespread irregularities in the conduct of the primaries, including lack of accreditation, absence of party agents during voting, and manipulation of results.
Plang also accused some unnamed party officials of allocating votes rather than conducting credible elections, citing his own case where he claimed 1,423 votes were assigned to him without a proper electoral process.
“That is a total blackmail. That is unacceptable. And this cannot be tolerated,” he said.
According to him, in several constituencies across Plateau State, elections were either not conducted or were abruptly discontinued, yet results later surfaced from unclear sources.
The senator further argued that direct primaries, as provided for in the party’s guidelines, were meant to ensure broad participation of registered members, but alleged that the process was instead compromised by administrative irregularities.
He maintained that the aggrieved aspirants remain loyal to the APC and its leadership but insisted that justice must be served through the party’s appeal mechanism.
“We remain loyal to the party, but whatever has been done should be nullified and proper guidelines must be followed,” he added.
Other aspirants who submitted petitions at the secretariat echoed similar concerns, calling for a review of the exercise and fresh primaries in affected areas.
The petitioners also urged the party’s appeal committee to intervene and restore confidence in the internal democratic process of the APC in Plateau State.
The Defence Headquarters says the Armed Forces of Nigeria has sustained an unrelenting multi-layered campaign of coordinated land, air and maritime operations across all geo-political zones.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the Joint Security Press Briefing organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Uba said under the strategic leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, troops executed 588 distinct security operations in September and October.
He said troops neutralised 435 terrorists and bandits, including high-profile commanders like Ali Mandara, Abba Gajiri, Habu Ikkima, Nakif Yana Faruk, Commander Gogore and Abdussamad Ohida.
He also said that troops arrested 809 suspects, secured the voluntary surrender of 198 insurgents and successfully liberated 717 kidnapped victims and captives.
Uba listed the rescued victims to include 20 prospective NYSC members in Owerri, Imo, and 11 individuals in Danko-Wasagu, Kebbi.
According to him, troops recorded major tactical breakthroughs in Buniyadi, Baga, Kukawa, Bittai and the Owo forest, which severely fractured enemy networks.
He added that to dismantle their war-making capacity, troops recovered 5,666 arms, ammunition, explosives and Improvised Explosive Devices, alongside vital logistical assets.
He said that in the Niger Delta, economic protection operations destroyed 57 illegal refining sites and recovered over 1,061,000 litres of stolen petroleum products thereby directly boosting national crude production.
The defence spokesman said while security hotspots persist in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo and Kaduna States, forces continue to adapt through aggressive synergy clearance patrols and deep inter-agency.
He also said that beyond tactical theatres, the DHQ championed indigenous defence manufacturing and technology transfer at Africa International Defence Exhibition 2026.
He further said that the DHQ also convened high-level regional forums to reposition the Multinational Joint Task Force in Lake Chad basin and prioritised personnel welfare through veteran engagement tours and launch of Defence Discount Shop in partnership with Konga and Zinox.(NAN)
Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has inaugurated the Tinubu/Alia 2027 Campaign Council as the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue begins preparations for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Alia in the 2027 general elections.
Alia said Nigeria and Benue State had no reason to look elsewhere, insisting that he was steadily delivering on his promises while President Tinubu was also making progress and providing relentless support to the state to regain its lost glory.
The Tinubu/Alia Campaign Council, which has Hon Citizen Richard Asema as Director-General, was inaugurated by the governor at IBB Square on Thursday. The event was followed by the commissioning of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Office at Wurukum, Makurdi.
Speaking during the occasion, Governor Alia charged members of the council to demonstrate unity, commitment and dedication, describing their appointments as a reflection of the confidence reposed in them by the party leadership and the people of Benue State.
The governor also urged party members in the state to put aside personal grievances, embrace reconciliation and work collectively towards securing victory for the APC in the forthcoming elections.
He described the Director-General, Citizen Asema, as an experienced political leader with the capacity to coordinate the campaign and deliver the desired result.
Highlighting his achievements in office, Governor Alia attributed the successes recorded by his administration in security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and industrialisation to the cooperation and support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government.
He particularly acknowledged federal interventions that had strengthened security operations and supported efforts to restore peace to previously troubled communities in the state.
The governor also listed the recruitment of 9,700 primary school teachers, improvements in public school infrastructure, regular payment of salaries and pensions, road construction and the establishment of agricultural processing facilities among the achievements of his administration.
He noted that the partnership between the state and the federal government had contributed significantly to these developments.
On infrastructure, the governor disclosed that efforts to connect all 23 local government areas of the state through road networks were nearing completion, with approximately 25 per cent of the work remaining.
He also cited the revival and completion of previously abandoned projects, including Taraku Mills, the International Conference Centre at IBB Square and the Cancer Centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, as evidence of his administration's commitment to continuity.
He promised that, if re-elected, he would concentrate on consolidating existing achievements rather than starting new projects from scratch.
According to the governor, his administration remained committed to implementing its development blueprint since assuming office in 2023 and would focus on sustaining ongoing initiatives, strengthening completed projects and ensuring that public investments delivered lasting benefits if re-elected in 2027.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, the governor further stated that industrialisation, agriculture and strategic investments in education, healthcare and commerce would remain central to his administration's determination to break the cycle of poverty and expand economic opportunities for the people.
He expressed confidence that Benue's enormous agricultural potential, coupled with its emerging oil and gas prospects, could provide the state with the resources needed to build a stronger economy and generate substantial internal revenue, thereby reducing its dependence on federal allocations.