The governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Benue State, Prof. Terhemba Shija, promises to reset the state if he wins the 2027 governorship election.

Shija gave the assurance during an appearance on ARISE News on Wednesday, declaring unacceptable – 900,000 people in Benue State currently living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the state.

Benue State has an official census population of 4,253,641 from 2006, with recent projections estimating the population to be over 6 million people.

Shija, while describing IDP camps as ranching human beings, said “First of all, I have to rescue them from this situation. They have to go back to their land. They have to resume their farming. They have to resume their normal life. We can’t continue normalising what is happening. And once you rescue them, then you set a programme for restructuring. You make sure that Benue is reset afresh.”

“As it is now, this state is in a state of disrepair. The state is no longer in the hands of the owners of the states. Most of over 900,000 people are living in IDP camps. You should know that Benue state is an agrarian state,”he said.

He emphasised “70% of the people of Benue are farmers. They can’t farm. Their land has been taken over by invaders.

Shija, blames the situation on “Herdsmen have taken over Benue land. And these people are living in IDP camps. Now the government has intended to introduce ranching. They have ended up ranching human beings. Human beings are now in IDP camps. And they are at the mercy of people in government.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19 for the conduct of five by-elections in four states; Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr Tunde Oketola, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Oketola said that the by-elections comprised one federal and four state constituencies.

According to Oketola, the by-elections will take place at Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe, while the state constituencies shall take place at Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies in Bauchi State; Udu and Dawakin Kudu in Delta and Kano State Constituencies respectively.((NAN)

The Chief Executive Officer of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has donated 34 campaign vehicles to a support movement mobilising for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in Katsina State.

Tompolo made the donation during the official unveiling of the PBAT Door-to-Door Movement in Katsina, describing the initiative as part of efforts to build grassroots support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The founder and convener of the movement said Katsina was chosen as the first state in northern Nigeria for the unveiling of the initiative.

As part of the launch, 34 local government coordinators were inaugurated and presented with campaign vehicles at the People’s Square in Katsina.

Represented at the flag-off and inauguration by High Chief Kestin Ebimorbowei Pondi, Tompolo said the relationship between Tinubu and Katsina was founded on trust, confidence and inclusion.