News
Plateau 2027: Jude Dakur Defects from APC to ADC, Reaffirms Governorship Ambition
A frontline governorship aspirant and former Commissioner in Plateau State, Hon. Jude Eli Dakur, has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and reaffirmed his ambition to contest the 2027 governorship election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring his resolve to provide purposeful leadership and drive sustainable development across the state.
Dakur made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Kerang District, his hometown, where he engaged elders, youth leaders, women groups, and political associates on his defection to the ADC and his political plans.
Addressing the gathering at the weekend, the governorship aspirant said his decision to leave the APC was informed by the need to pursue a people-oriented vision anchored on inclusiveness, sincerity, and effective governance.
He stressed that his ambition remains unwavering, noting that his desire to serve is driven by a commitment to restore hope, strengthen institutions, and rebuild public confidence in leadership.
“My ambition is rooted in the desire to bring purposeful leadership and sustainable development to Plateau State.
“We must work together to restore confidence in governance and ensure that every part of the state feels the impact of good leadership,” he said.
Dakur, popularly known as the “Captain of the Plateau Faith Project,” called for unity among the people, emphasizing that peace, harmony, and collective responsibility are critical to the progress of the state.
He urged citizens to rise above ethnic and political divisions and embrace a shared vision that guarantees security, prosperity, and equal opportunities for all.
Some stakeholders who spoke at the occasion recalled Dakur’s tenure as commissioner, describing it as impactful and result-oriented.
They noted that he demonstrated administrative competence and a strong commitment to service delivery, particularly in initiating programmes that directly benefited communities and improved livelihoods.
According to them, his time in office was marked by transparency, accessibility, and a hands-on approach to governance, qualities they said endeared him to the grassroots and strengthened confidence in his leadership capacity.
Stakeholders at the meeting also commended his courage and commitment, expressing support for his vision and leadership drive.
In his remarks, the chairman of the stakeholders offered prayers for the success of Dakur’s political movement, asking for divine guidance and victory in his quest.
The former commissioner also visited Mangu, where he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Da. Y.M. Dapan, praying for the repose of the deceased and comfort for the bereaved family.
Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has criticised the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar's reported position on power returning to the North, describing the argument as an insult to Nigerians from the region.
Akande, a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, made the remarks while speaking on Symfoni TV on Friday.
Speaking on the readiness and viability of presidential candidates ahead of the coming election, Akande argued that the country must maintain the principle of rotational presidency to promote a sense of belonging among its various regions.
“Atiku is just basically saying that, okay, the North is angry; we want power back. And that idea, with due respect to our brothers in the North, is an insult. It’s an insult. This country, we must maintain rotational presidency for purposes of building a sense of belonging,” he said.
Speaking on the ADC's choice of presidential candidate, he said, “If they were serious, they should have picked Amaechi, or they should have prevented Obi from leaving, and then Atiku would have been a star.”
‘Atiku’s push for return of power to North is insult’ — Laolu Akande
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has confirmed that the Ebola virus detected in Nigeria is highly similar to the virus identified in Kenya’s first imported case.
Mr Pate disclosed this on Friday during a briefing at the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja, saying genomic sequencing showed that the viruses differed by only one mutation.
He said the analysis was conducted by sequencing teams at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Institute of Genomics and Global Health at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, with the team led by virologist Christian Happi.
However, he cautioned that the finding does not establish how the Nigerian first case acquired the infection.
“Based on the genomic analysis, there is no evidence of travel of that index case in Kenya that links it to Nigeria, but the viruses are appearing to be related,” he said.
He added that the finding could change the understanding of the route of transmission as further investigations and testing continue.
Kenya has so far recorded nine confirmed Ebola cases caused by Bundibugyo virus, including one death, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Eight of the cases were linked to the country’s first imported case from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including four healthcare workers.
Africa CDC probes link
The genomic finding came on the same day the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said it is investigating a possible connection between Nigeria’s case and Kenya’s first imported case.
The agency said both patients had travelled through Entebbe International Airport in Uganda on 3 October, prompting investigations into whether they had shared equipment or had other contact. Africa CDC, however, stressed that no connection had been established between the infections.
The Kenyan patient travelled from the DRC through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi. He later died, becoming the first recorded Ebola death in Kenya’s current outbreak.
The Nigerian patient also passed through Uganda, but Ugandan authorities had earlier rejected suggestions that this established the country as the source of her infection.
Uganda denies active case
On 21 October, Uganda’s Ministry of Health said it had no confirmed active Ebola case and that the Nigerian patient’s transit through the country did not establish that she contracted the virus there.
The ministry said preliminary information indicated that the Nigerian woman had travelled to eastern DRC for business and passed through Uganda in early October without showing symptoms. It said the location of her exposure remained under investigation.
The new genomic finding now provides evidence of similarity between the Nigerian and Kenyan infections, although Nigerian authorities have not established that the patient was infected in Kenya.
One confirmed case
Mr Pate said Nigeria still has only one confirmed Ebola case and that authorities were continuing contact tracing, quarantine and additional testing of contacts.
Some tests have returned negative results, while others are pending, he said.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant but calm, saying there is no need for panic.
“We will continue to work diligently to ensure that we contain this virus as much as possible, and that we avoid a situation that spills over to the communities,” he said.
READ ALSO: Ebola: Atiku demands details of FG’s N10bn emergency fund
The minister said the government is also strengthening infection prevention and control measures in health facilities and would train health workers on how to identify and manage suspected cases.
He urged hospitals to notify public health authorities of suspected cases and encouraged Nigerians to observe basic preventive measures, including regular handwashing and hygiene.
Mr Pate also said Ebola is not currently known to be transmitted through the air but through close contact with infected body fluids.
He urged Nigerians to rely on information from public health authorities, including the NCDC, Federal Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation and Africa CDC, rather than unverified information on social media.
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