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JUST IN: Tension in Osun as controversial LG election holds amid security threats

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There is tension in Osun State following Governor Ademola Adeleke’s insistence to conduct the controversial Local Government election despite security threats and stiff resistance from opposition parties.

Stakeholders, particularly opposition parties and security agencies, have raised concerns over the security situation in the state, predicting unrest.

The concerns followed previous events where members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Congress, APC, clashed, resulting in the death of at least six party members on Monday.

The crisis escalated when the previously sacked local government chairmen and councillors moved to return to council offices after a court judgement.

The APC members had moved to enforce the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, delivered on February 10, 2025, which overturned their sack by the verdict of the Osogbo Federal High Court on November 25, 2022.

Recall that a judgment by Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of an Osogbo Federal High Court, delivered on November 25, 2022, had sacked the chairmen and councillors elected in the poll conducted by the immediate past Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.

However, the Court of Appeal nullified the judgment on February 10 this year, leading to chaos across all the Local Government Areas in the state.

Despite resistance from the PDP members, the reinstated Chairmen insisted that the planned election must be cancelled until their tenure elapsed in October 2025.

AGF warns Governor Adeleke against disobeying Appeal Court ruling

Wading into the crisis on Thursday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi urged Governor Adeleke to respect the Appeal Court judgement, stating that the tenure of the chairmen and the councillors has been restored.

The AGF accused Governor Adeleke of attempting to override the judiciary and warned that proceeding with the election would constitute a serious violation of the Nigerian constitution.

According to him, such elections will “not only be invalid since the term of office of the elected officials just restored by the judgment of the Court of Appeal will still be running until October 2025, but it will also amount to an egregious breach of the Constitution which Governor Adeleke has sworn to uphold”.

Court orders conduct of polls SaturdayDespite the legal advice from the AGF, an Osun State High Court in Ilesa on Friday ordered the State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, to conduct elections for the LG chairmen and councillors in all the 30 council areas on Saturday (today).

Justice A. Aderigbigbe, who gave the judgement, stated that there is vacancy in the 30 local government areas of the state as earlier held in a judgement by the Federal High Court.

The court also directed and compelled all the security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services, DSS, Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, among others, to provide adequate security, during and after the election.

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Kano Deputy Governor Resigns

The decision to step down does not amount to an admission of the allegations leveled against him by the Kano State House of Assembly.

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The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdusalam Gwarzo, has resigned from office ahead an ongoing impeachment process by the State House of Assembly.

Abdulsalam Gwarzo has resigned from office, according to a statement issued by the on.

Spokesperson for Kwankwasiyya Movement , Habibu Mohammed, confirmed the resignation in a statement on Friday, stating that the decision was taken in the overall interest of the people and to ensure stability in the state’s governance.

The Assembly had earlier issued an impeachment notice to the deputy governor over allegations of misappropriation and gave him a two-week ultimatum to respond. The deadline elapsed penultimate Friday,

The statement explained that recent developments had significantly limited the deputy governor’s ability to fully discharge the responsibilities of his office, making it necessary for the position to function without constraints in the public interest.

It, however, clarified that the decision to step down does not amount to an admission of the allegations leveled against him by the Kano State House of Assembly.

The embattled deputy governor who is a strong ally of Rabiu Kwankwaso refused to follow the governor to join the APC.

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Abia State Holds State Burial for Renowned Evangelist Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai

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The Abia State Government on Thursday, March 26, 2026, organised a grand state burial service in honour of the late Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, one of Nigeria’s most influential Christian evangelists and founder of the Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association.

The solemn ceremony took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, beginning at 10:00 a.m. It drew top government officials, religious leaders, and mourners from across Nigeria and beyond to celebrate the life and legacy of the cleric, who died on October 6, 2025, at the age of 80.

The remains of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, a native of Asaga in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, were earlier received with full honours at the Akwa Ibom-Abia state boundary before being conveyed to Umuahia for the state funeral service.

The body had previously lain in state in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he resided for many years.

Governor Alex Otti’s administration described the late evangelist as a “towering figure” whose life of faith, leadership, and humanitarian impact left an indelible mark on Abia State, Nigeria, and the global Christian community.

The state burial was part of a week-long programme of funeral rites that culminated in the final interment on Friday, March 27, 2026, at his hometown of Asaga, Ohafia.

Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai, born on January 7, 1945, was celebrated as an international preacher who ministered for nearly six decades. He was widely respected for his powerful crusades, teachings on faith and prosperity, and establishment of numerous charitable initiatives, including educational and medical outreach programmes.

Dignitaries in attendance included senior government functionaries, clergy from various denominations, and notable figures who paid glowing tributes to his spiritual legacy and contributions to nation-building through the gospel.

The state burial reflects Abia’s recognition of Rev. Dr. Uma Ukpai’s immense role in promoting moral values and spiritual development. Family members, while expressing gratitude for the honour bestowed on their patriarch, described his passing as a “glorious home-going.

”As the final interment proceeds today in Asaga, Ohafia, many have described the occasion as not just a farewell but a celebration of a life well-lived in service to God and humanity.

The Abia State Government has urged residents and visitors to observe the period with dignity and solemnity.

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Soludo Orders Suspension of Absentee Workers After Surprise Secretariat Visit

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Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has directed the immediate suspension without pay of civil servants found absent from their duty posts during an unscheduled visit to the state secretariat in Awka on Thursday.

The governor stormed the secretariat around 10:30 a.m. on March 26, 2026, for an on-the-spot assessment of workers’ punctuality, conduct, and commitment to duty across various ministries and departments.

To his dismay, many offices were empty or sparsely staffed, with several departments recording only one or two workers or none at all well past the official resumption time.

Addressing journalists after the inspection, Governor Soludo issued a stern directive: any worker not found at their duty post by 10:00 a.m. should be suspended without pay.

He reportedly remarked that by 10 a.m., if staff are not in their seats, “we don’t need them,” signaling zero tolerance for lateness and absenteeism in the state civil service.

The surprise visit has sparked tension at the secretariat, with officials now compiling lists of present and absent staff for enforcement of the governor’s order.

Some reports indicate the suspension could last up to six months for those affected, though exact durations and the number of workers impacted are yet to be officially confirmed.

This move forms part of Soludo’s broader efforts to reform and reposition the Anambra civil service, emphasizing accountability, discipline, and improved public service delivery in his administration.

The governor has previously warned non-performing staff of potential disengagement and is pushing for a more efficient bureaucracy aligned with his development agenda.

Civil servants and political observers have reacted with a mix of surprise and support, with some describing the action as a necessary step to weed out ghost workers and enforce work ethics. Others have called for a holistic review of the civil service, including verification of attendance registers.

The Anambra State Government is yet to issue a formal statement detailing the full list of suspended workers or further sanctions.

The development comes amid ongoing reforms in the state’s public sector as Soludo continues his second term in office.

Members of the public and affected workers have been advised to await official communication from the relevant ministries regarding implementation.

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