Month: May 2026

The former Senate Minority Leader and APC Senate Candidate for Plateau North, Simon Mwadkwon, has called for unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the party’s senatorial primaries, urging aggrieved aspirants and supporters to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mwadkwon made the appeal on Monday during a media engagement held at his campaign office located at Metropolitan Crescent, Tudun Wada in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Speaking on his emergence as the APC senatorial candidate for Plateau North, Mwadkwon described his victory as overwhelming, revealing that he secured over 38,000 votes while his closest rival polled about 4,000 votes.

According to him, the outcome reflected the confidence reposed in him by party members across the zone.

“As far as we are concerned, it was a victory for everybody that participated in the primaries. It was an in-house struggle among brothers and sisters, and now we must unite to face other political parties,” he said.

He extended an olive branch to other aspirants who contested alongside him, stressing that the APC remained one family and that no one should ridicule or insult those who lost during the primaries.

Mwadkwon also congratulated the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Nentawe Yilwatda, whom he said emerged victorious in the APC governorship primary, noting that the result demonstrated his popularity across Plateau State.

Reflecting on his political journey, the APC candidate said his approach to leadership had always prioritized humanity over religious and ethnic considerations. He cited his political upbringing and experience as factors that shaped his inclusive leadership style.

He recalled how former House of Representatives member, Suleiman Kwande, withdrew a court case against him after the 2023 senatorial election despite differences in religion and ethnicity, describing the gesture as an example of politics without division.

On governance and constituency projects, Mwadkwon highlighted several interventions he executed during his time in the Senate, particularly within Jos North. He listed the construction of classrooms in Angwan Rimi, Angwan Rogo, Zaria Road, GSS Kabong, and NDEA Primary School in Tudun Wada, alongside the installation of solar-powered streetlights in communities, churches, and mosques.

The senator said the projects earned him the nickname “Mr. Project” among supporters who witnessed the commissioning exercises.

Addressing the persistent insecurity affecting Plateau North, Mwadkwon acknowledged that several communities across Bassa, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and other parts of the zone had suffered displacement due to recurring attacks.

He described the killings and displacements as a national concern requiring urgent political will and strategic reforms.

According to him, Nigeria already has sufficient laws capable of addressing insecurity, but what is lacking is effective implementation, adequate security personnel and commitment from authorities.

Mwadkwon strongly advocated for the establishment of state police, arguing that community-based policing would significantly reduce insecurity across the country.

He explained that officers deployed from distant states often struggle with language, culture and terrain, making intelligence gathering and rapid response difficult.

“For us to solve this problem, the National Assembly should as quickly as possible pass the bill establishing state police. The duty of every government is the protection of lives and property,” he stated.

The APC chieftain further alleged that some elements within the security agencies compromise operations, warning that unpatriotic officers must be identified and sanctioned to strengthen the fight against insecurity.

On the debate between direct and indirect primaries, Mwadkwon said both systems had advantages and challenges. While acknowledging criticisms that indirect primaries favour moneybags, he insisted popularity and acceptance among the people ultimately determine electoral victories.

He recounted several past contests where he defeated opponents despite spending significantly less money during delegate-based primaries, maintaining that grassroots support remained the deciding factor in elections.

Mwadkwon concluded by thanking party supporters, journalists and constituents for their support, while pledging to continue engaging the people ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Association (CONAECDA) has expressed deep concern over worsening insecurity, increasing incidents of rural banditry, alleged violations of religious freedom, and growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.

Addressing journalists during a press conference, the Secretary-General of CONAECDA, Suleiman A.D. Sukukum, alongside the association’s President, Danladi Jeji, said the country was witnessing an alarming spread of terror attacks and violent killings across several states.

According to the group, recent attacks in Niger, Kwara, and Kogi states signal what it described as a “new frontier” of violence, while communities in states such as Plateau State, Benue State, Nasarawa State, Taraba State, Borno State, Kaduna State and others continue to suffer recurring attacks from armed groups and terrorists.

The association also raised concerns over reports of the influx of armed groups into forests and remote areas around the Federal Capital Territory, warning that many forests and grazing reserves across the country were allegedly being used as operational bases by terrorist cells.

CONAECDA stated that insecurity in Nigeria should not be reduced to ethnic or religious narratives, insisting that terrorists exploit political, economic, ethnic, and religious differences to recruit members and conceal their activities.

Referring to recent violence in Angwan Rukuba in Jos, the association noted that conflicting narratives surrounding attacks on the Plateau continue to fuel division and mistrust among communities.

“Regardless of the reasons advanced for violence, all lives are sacred and must be protected,” Sukukum stated.

The group further argued that debates around indigenous and settler rights in Plateau and other Middle Belt communities should not be manipulated for political purposes. CONAECDA maintained that while all Nigerian citizens have constitutional rights to contest elections and participate politically, indigenous communities also have recognized native rights tied to traditional structures and local identity.

On the growing incidents of rural banditry and terrorism, the association condoled families and communities affected by attacks and expressed solidarity with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies. However, it called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward rehabilitating victims, rebuilding destroyed communities, and ensuring the safe return of displaced persons.

CONAECDA also urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to openly acknowledge the existence of terrorist groups allegedly pursuing religious extremism and genocidal objectives in parts of the country.

The association announced the declaration of the last Thursday of every month as “Black Thursday,” a symbolic day meant to promote the sanctity of human life and draw attention to victims of violence across Nigeria, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

Another major concern raised during the briefing was the alleged conversion of hills, sacred groves, and historical sites into grazing areas in parts of the Middle Belt. The group described the development as a desecration of cultural heritage and called for urgent intervention by communities, conservation agencies, and the international community to protect sacred sites.

On religious freedom, CONAECDA condemned what it described as increasing cases of forced conversion, abduction, and forced marriages involving minors across the country. The association cited reported cases involving underage Christian and Muslim children and renewed its call for the establishment of a Religious Rights Commission to enforce religious freedom and protect vulnerable groups.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the group expressed worries over what it termed growing anti-democratic practices among political actors and parties. It called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair, and credible elections while urging politicians to adhere strictly to democratic rules and principles.

CONAECDA emphasized that democracy can only thrive when citizens are allowed to freely participate in the political process and when electoral institutions guarantee transparent elections.

The statement was jointly signed by Suleiman A.D. Sukukum, Secretary-General of CONAECDA, and Danladi Jeji, President of the association.

A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State, Alfred Dapal Damiyal, has appealed to party faithful and stakeholders to maintain peace, unity, and sportsmanship ahead of the party’s governorship primary election.

In a message addressed to party leaders, elders, women, youths, and members of the PDP, Damiyal expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement he has received during consultations across the three senatorial zones of the state.

The aspirant said the support from party members had strengthened his determination to continue pursuing his “NEWTHINKING” vision aimed at building a safer, united, and more prosperous Plateau State.

Describing the primary election as “a family process within our great party,” Damiyal urged supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and respectfully throughout the exercise.

He called on delegates and party members to vote based on “conscience, competence, capacity, and the shared vision” of repositioning Plateau State for progress and inclusiveness.

Damiyal also extended appreciation to fellow aspirants for their contributions to the growth of the PDP, stressing that the outcome of the primary should not divide members of the party.

“At the end of this process, there must be no winners or losers within the PDP family, only a united party determined to reclaim and reposition Plateau State for greatness,” he stated.

He further prayed for God’s guidance over the party’s decisions and for continued peace and progress in Plateau State.