The Department of State Services has ordered an investigation into an allegation by former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, that the agency is planning to organise protests in Sokoto State.

The secret police said the investigation was ordered by its Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, despite describing the allegation as inconsistent with its operations to protect political actors across party lines.

Multiple reports had noted on Tuesday that Atiku while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja accused the leadership of the DSS, of recruiting protesters to create disorder in Sokoto and provide a pretext for imposing a curfew to stop the party’s campaign rally.

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the DSS said its “operatives rescued the ADC governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Mannir Daniya, during an attack on October 31, 2026.”

According to the Service, its operatives “deployed to protect Daniya evacuated him to safety during the incident, while two DSS personnel were assaulted and were still receiving treatment in hospital as of Tuesday.”

The agency added that “Daniya personally contacted the State Director of the DSS in Sokoto to express appreciation and requested additional security reinforcement.”

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that the All Progressives Congress and the ADC in Sokoto State on Saturday traded accusations over an alleged attack on the convoy of the ADC governorship candidate Dan’iya.

The DSS also cited its arrest and prosecution of a man, Monday Udeme Steven, in Rivers State on March 2, 2026, over an alleged threat to attack the presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress, Peter Obi.

It said “Steven was prosecuted at a Federal High Court in Rivers State and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.”

The Service said the operations demonstrated its commitment to protecting political actors irrespective of their party affiliations, but acknowledged that Atiku’s allegation had prompted the DG to order an investigation.

“Though these operations to protect all Political Parties is at variance with the elder statesman’s allegation and tend to demoralize our gallant operatives who are risking their lives in the line of duty, the DGDSS has still ordered an investigation into the allegation in deference to the elder statesman,” the statement read.

The DSS also referred to a similar allegation by the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, who accused the agency of involvement in an attack on him in Ekiti State.

It said it welcomed the police investigation into the incident, which, according to the DSS, produced a preliminary report identifying an “altercation” as the cause and led to the arrest of 11 suspects.

The Service said it was awaiting the outcome of the police investigation and would not expend further energy on the matter.

“The Service will continue to remain accountable under the present DG,” the statement added.

Source: punchng.com

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The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has discontinued its parallel presidential campaign structure and renamed its campaign council the Osun State All Progressives Congress Parliamentary Campaign Council.

The party also expanded the legislative campaign council’s membership to accommodate all members of the state executive committee following protests over the initial composition of the campaign team.

The new 183-man council unveiled in Osogbo on Tuesday accommodated all state executives.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Osun APC unveiled a 168-man parallel presidential/parliamentary campaign council that will work for the re-election of President Tinubu and canvass votes for other candidates contesting on the platform of the party in the 2027 general elections.

A statement signed by the Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, said the campaign council was put in place to further strengthen the party’s chances in the poll.

The campaign council has the party’s candidate in the August 8 governorship poll, Bola Oyebamiji, as its Director-General, while the state APC chairman, Lawal, will serve as the Deputy Director-General.

The development comes amid a political disagreement in Osun State after the APC Presidential Campaign Council appointed  Adeleke, a member of the Accord, as the state coordinator of Tinubu’s campaign during the inauguration of the council in Abuja, on October 14.

Shortly after his unveiling, Adeleke announced a separate 344-member campaign council comprising members of different political parties.

In a counter-move, the Osun APC chapter on Monday unveiled its own campaign structure to mobilise support for Tinubu, appointing Oyebamiji as its Director-General.

But the list was greeted with a protest as four members of the state party executive rejected its composition and demanded an immediate review.

They made their grievances known in a statement signed by them and obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday.

The affected executives are the State Publicity Secretary, Wole Adunola; Welfare Officer, Adesola Ayangbile; Assistant Organising Secretary, Rasheed Adeniji; and the Osun APC Ex-Officio, Abiola Ololade.

They expressed concern over the alleged omission of several members of the State Working Committee who, according to applicable guidelines, were expected to be statutory members of the council.

They also said its composition was inconsistent with the earlier presidential directive reportedly naming Governor Ademola Adeleke as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council in the state.

Adunola and others faulted the omission of several members of the State Working Committee, who they said were expected to be statutory members of the council, insisting that their exclusion raised concerns about consultation and respect for the party’s leadership structure.

“The attention of some members of the Osun State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to the recently released list of the Osun State Presidential Campaign Council.

“Following a careful review, we express our strong dissatisfaction with the composition of the list, which, in our view, does not adequately reflect established party guidelines, due process and the principle of inclusiveness required in constituting such an important campaign structure.

“We, therefore, reject the list in its present form. Of particular concern is the omission of several members of the State Working Committee who, according to the applicable guidelines, are expected to be statutory members of the council.

“The exclusion of these recognised party officials raises serious concerns about consultation, due process and respect for the party’s established leadership structure.”

It also said the composition of the list appeared inconsistent with the earlier presidential directive naming Adeleke as the coordinator of the Tinubu campaign in Osun State.

“Furthermore, the composition of the list appears inconsistent with the earlier presidential directive reportedly naming Governor Ademola Adeleke as the coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council in Osun State.

“Following that directive, the governor promptly inaugurated a broad-based campaign team to drive the presidential campaign across the state.

“It is, therefore, unclear why a different structure has now emerged without adequate clarification or alignment with the existing arrangement.”

The aggrieved executives called for an immediate review of the published list, with appropriate consultations involving relevant stakeholders, including the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru and Adeleke.

However, in the renamed and expanded Osun APC parliamentary campaign council, Oyebamiji retained the post of Director-General.

Oyebamiji’s running mate in the election, Benjamin Adereti, and Kehinde Olamolu are to serve as Assistant Director-General 1 and 2, respectively.

The three APC senatorial candidates and the nine House of Representatives candidates were also listed as members of the council.

Other notable inclusions in the expanded list, apart from all state executives of the party, are former governor Adebisi Akande; the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; and Basiru.

In the statement that accompanied the new list, Lawal said, “Following the inauguration of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council by the national leader of our party and its presidential candidate, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on October 14, 2026, in Abuja, and the subsequent inauguration of the Osun State PCC by the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Governor Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on October 22, 2026, we consider it extremely important to therefore bolster the efforts of the PCC to deliver massive votes for the re-election of our President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the forthcoming general elections.

“As a party, we are resolute to work in unison with every member of the State Presidential Campaign Council to deliver on our mandate as we muster concerted efforts to ensure victory for all the National and State Assemblies candidates of our great party.”

In a new twist, the Osun APC Welfare Officer, Ayangbile, has denied rejecting the composition of the party’s campaign council for the 2027 general elections in the state.

Less than an hour after the statement, which included her name, was obtained, Ayangbile issued another statement disowning the earlier release.

She said she was not informed before her name was included in the statement and pledged commitment to the party.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state categorically that I was neither consulted nor involved in the drafting, deliberation, adoption, or authorisation of the said statement.

“I did not give my consent for my name to be included as a signatory, and I, therefore, reject any impression that I endorsed or authorised the publication.

“I consider it inappropriate for my name and official position to be associated with a collective statement without my knowledge, consent, or express approval.

“I remain a committed and loyal member of the All Progressives Congress, with unwavering respect for the leadership and established structures of our great party.

“My commitment to the success of our presidential candidate, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains unquestionable. Furthermore, I wish to state emphatically that my loyalty remains firmly with His Excellency, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, and our party’s governorship candidate, Alhaji Munirudeen Bola Oyebanji (AMBO),” Ayangbile wrote.

Speaking with The PUNCH during a telephone interview, Ayangbile insisted that she was not informed about the controversial statement before it was made public.

Source: punchng.com

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A fresh disagreement has emerged within the political groups backing Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential ambition, as the United Kingdom Coordinator of the OK Movement, Adebayo Brown, accused leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council and the Obidient Movement of fuelling divisions among supporters.

The accusation followed a disagreement over claims that Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, had dissociated themselves from the OK Movement.

The dispute has drawn reactions from the NDC Presidential Campaign Council and Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Moses Paul, with both dismissing the controversy as a distraction from the campaign and the task of mobilising voters for Obi.

In a statement made available to The PUNCH, Brown urged Paul to concentrate on rebuilding the group, strengthening its grassroots structures and coordinating supporters rather than engaging in public disagreements with the OK Movement.

He argued that the approaching elections required strategic planning, effective coordination and grassroots mobilisation, warning that internal disputes could undermine efforts to rally Nigerians behind the opposition’s presidential candidate.

He said, “Two appointments have been given to individuals who now appear more interested in political disputes than in the responsibilities of their offices: one as Coordinator of the Obidient Movement and another as Director General of the NDC Campaign (Ibrahim Abdulkarim).

“Unfortunately, rather than concentrating on these critical responsibilities, their attention appears to be directed towards the National Director General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu.

“With only 76 days to the general elections, one would expect serious-minded leaders to be preoccupied with building structures, strengthening grassroots engagement, and preparing for the enormous responsibility of electoral mobilisation.

“Instead, Dr MO (Paul) continues to make claims that Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso have dissociated themselves from the OK Movement.”

Brown also challenged Paul to clarify the basis of claims about Obi and Kwankwaso’s relationship with their leaders, arguing that the Obidient Movement coordinator could not unilaterally speak for the two politicians.

He said, “The coordinator of the Obidient Movement does not automatically speak for Peter Obi, nor can he unilaterally determine or represent his interests and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso. Such positions should be established through clear and verifiable communication, not personal assertions.”

Despite the disagreement, Brown said the OK Movement did not consider either the Obidient Movement or the NDC an enemy, urging the groups to focus on their shared democratic objectives ahead of the elections.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the OK Movement and the Obidient Movement are not enemies. Neither are we in conflict with the NDC. We have a common democratic challenge ahead, and the priority should be mobilising Nigerians, strengthening political structures, and working towards credible elections in 2027,” he said.

Brown also defended the National Director-General of the OK Movement, Ughulu, against what he described as attempts to undermine his commitment to the organisation.

He said, “We recognise and respect the tenacity, capacity, and integrity of Hon John Ughulu, National Director-General of the OK Movement, who has made significant sacrifices to build the movement into what it is today.

“His commitment should not be misrepresented as a pursuit of personal gain.”

Brown urged Ughulu to ignore the controversy and remain focused on strengthening the OK Movement and contributing to what he described as the defence of Nigeria’s democracy.

However, the spokesperson for the NDC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Constance Ikokwu, dismissed his statement as a distraction, saying the campaign was focused on its immediate priorities.

“We’re heavily focused on the campaign right now. We don’t need unnecessary distractions,” she told our correspondent.

Also reacting, Paul’s media aide, Chidi Iloamaeke, said the Obidients coordinator was not a member of the OK Movement and was focused on his responsibilities within the organisation.

In an exclusive telephone interview with The PUNCH, Iloamaeke said Paul’s position as global coordinator required him to concentrate on the activities of the Obidient Movement and mobilise support for Obi’s presidential ambition.

“Dr Mo is not a member of the OK Movement. His office as the global coordinator of the Obidient Movement allows him to concentrate on the activities of the Obidient Movement as well as delivering the people’s mandate of ensuring that Peter Obi becomes the president of Nigeria come 2027,” he said.

Iloamaeke urged eligible voters to turn out in large numbers to vote for Obi in the 2027 election.

“He wants to use this opportunity to urge well-meaning Nigerians to ensure they come out in their numbers to vote for Mr Peter Obi,” he added.

Source: punchng.com

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