Several supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were injured while vehicles belonging to members of the party were damaged during the party’s consultative tour of Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State on Thursday.
The PDP governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis-Archibong, said the first attack occurred at the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Calabar South, Etubom Nyong Edet Okon I, where gunmen allegedly disrupted the meeting and injured three persons.
He said the victims were taken to hospital for treatment, adding that the violence later escalated at the African Club along Calabar Road, where another meeting was scheduled.
According to him, hoodlums allegedly shot at the party’s convoy and damaged vehicles belonging to members of the consultative team.
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Jarvis-Archibong said about 3,000 supporters attended the exercise and that the party had notified the police ahead of the tour, expecting adequate security.
He said the party restrained its supporters from retaliating and instead moved its convoy to the Commissioner of Police for protection.
The candidate said the PDP would petition the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security agencies over the incidents.
He warned that continued attacks on political activities could undermine the democratic process and lead to a breakdown of law and order as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The PDP State Publicity Secretary, in a separate statement, condemned the attacks and urged security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The party said it had reported the incidents to the Commissioner of Police, Cross River Command, and appealed to its members to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions.
However, the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) denied responsibility for the incident.
The APC Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Inyang, said the PDP should look elsewhere for those responsible, adding that the party was focused on its own political activities.
The Cross River State Police Command confirmed the incidents and said personnel had been deployed to the affected locations.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said police were verifying reports of gunfire, injuries and damage to property, adding that the situation was under control.
He advised residents to remain calm, avoid affected areas where necessary and refrain from circulating unverified information, while assuring that police presence and monitoring had been strengthened to maintain peace and public order.
The Renewed Hope Youth Engagement (RHYE), Plateau State Chapter, on Friday, November 13, 2026, held an educational empowerment programme in Jos, Plateau State, with the distribution of free laptops to deserving students across tertiary institutions in the state.
The initiative, held at Tamarald Event Centre, Jos, was organised in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the vision of Renewed Hope Youth Movement . It is aimed at promoting digital inclusion, strengthening educational opportunities and equipping young Nigerians with the technological resources needed to excel in today’s increasingly digital society.
The event featured the presence of the Grand Patron of the Renewed Hope Youth Engagement initiative, Barr. Seyi Tinubu, who was accompanied by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande Wisdom.
Other notable dignitaries included the Plateau State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Prince Miaphen; the Plateau State Coordinator of the City Boy Movement, Prince David Daser; the State Coordinator of Renewed Hope Youth Engagement, Mr. Manji Wilson; alongside other government officials, youth leaders, political stakeholders and students.
500 LAPTOPS TARGETED, 50 STUDENTS BENEFIT IN FIRST PHASE
A major highlight of the programme was the announcement of plans to distribute 500 laptops to deserving tertiary institution students across Plateau State.
Under the first phase of the initiative, 50 students drawn from various institutions received brand-new laptops to support their academic activities and digital learning.
Among the institutions represented were the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State University (PLASU), Plateau State Polytechnic (PLAPOLY), College of Health Technology, Zawan, College of Health Technology, Pankshin, and other institutions.
According to the organisers, the beneficiaries were selected based on academic merit, particularly their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), through a process facilitated by their respective institutions.
The laptops are expected to enhance students’ access to digital learning resources, academic research, assignments, online educational platforms and the acquisition of essential technological skills.
SEYI TINUBU VISITS GOVERNOR MUTFWANG, BARKIN LADI MEDICAL OUTREACH
Beyond the educational empowerment programme, Barr. Seyi Tinubu’s visit to Plateau State also featured other engagements.
Prior to the event in Jos, he visited a free medical outreach organised by the City Boy Movement in Barkin Ladi, where residents benefited from healthcare services.
He also paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, at the Government House, Jos.
The organisers expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government and the TIME IS NOW administration for their support and cooperation towards the successful hosting of the programme.
JOS ENTERTAINMENT STARS ADD COLOUR TO THE EVENT
The programme also featured entertainment and musical performances, making the occasion a celebration of youth, education and talent.
Popular Nigerian rapper Ice Prince Zamani, alongside Jos-based entertainers including Classic and Seemo Da Black Czar, thrilled guests and participants with live performances.
The entertainment segment added excitement to the gathering, bringing together education, youth engagement and the creative industry on one platform.
AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the organisers emphasised that the laptop distribution goes beyond the provision of electronic devices, describing it as an investment in the future of young Nigerians.
For the beneficiaries, the laptops represent valuable tools that will improve their learning experiences, expand access to educational opportunities, encourage digital innovation and prepare them for a technology-driven world.
The event which was well coordinated by Renewed Hope Youth Engagement further highlights the importance of youth-focused initiatives in promoting education, innovation, digital inclusion and sustainable development.
With a target of reaching 500 students, the initiative is expected to extend its impact to more deserving students across Plateau State as subsequent phases of the programme unfold.
The November 13 engagement marks another major youth-focused activity in Plateau State, bringing together government, youth organisations, educational institutions and the creative community in support of the development and empowerment of young people.
A political analyst, Sam Amadi, has said presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Peter Obi, cannot effectively run a typical Nigerian political organisation because of his minimalist political approach and reluctance to distribute money.
Amadi said Obi's style of politics was fundamentally different from Nigeria's prevailing political culture, where politicians expect financial rewards and other benefits from their political associations.
He argued that some politicians who left Obi's camp were partly driven by what they expected from him but did not get.
Speaking on Arise Television's Prime Time programme on Friday, Amadi said Nigeria's political environment was unstable, with politicians frequently moving between political platforms in pursuit of personal interests.
According to him, some politicians who left Obi's camp had approached him to explain their grievances.
Amadi said their complaints reflected a fundamental disagreement between Obi's political philosophy and the expectations of politicians operating within Nigeria's political system.
The former Director-General of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, maintained that Obi understood his limitations in managing the country's conventional political structure.
He also described Obi as a minimalist who prefers a less elaborate approach to politics, arguing that the former Anambra State governor would rather pursue a straightforward path to political success than engage in the extensive political mobilisation associated with conventional Nigerian politics.
Amadi said: "Peter Obi represents a different kind of politician. Everything about him is often also exaggerated.
"Atiku ran for election with him as vice. The first thing he did after the election was to jump.
"First, Nigeria has a political market that's unstable. Yes. Most of these guys who left, they've come to me, and I talk to them, and they bring issues of grievance. And I say to these guys, look, I've served as Senate president. I've served Jonathan. I disagree with these people, but it's part of it.
"There's a political career. These guys want to move on. Secondly, they also want to have some things Peter cannot offer. That's a deep dissonance between Peter and Nigerian politics. People forget that. Yes, he doesn't give money.
"So Peter is not capable; Peter cannot run a typical Nigerian political organization. He knows that.
"Again, Peter is a minimalist, but it's business. He likes to, if he can, just sneak through this. He doesn't have to open the whole place."