Tinubu, Adeleke, Fubara, Malami, Oduah, Soyinka, Ewhrudjakpo in the spotlight

In Abuja, President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his stance on security sector reforms, insisting there would be no retreat on the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escorts. In Osun and Rivers states, political realignments shifted the terrain as Governors Ademola Adeleke and Siminalayi Fubara made bold moves ahead of the 2026 and 2027 elections. […]

In Abuja, President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his stance on security sector reforms, insisting there would be no retreat on the withdrawal of police officers from VIP escorts. In Osun and Rivers states, political realignments shifted the terrain as Governors Ademola Adeleke and Siminalayi Fubara made bold moves ahead of the 2026 and 2027 elections. Meanwhile, the anti-corruption spotlight intensified, with the EFCC detaining former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and arraigning ex-Aviation Minister Stella Oduah over alleged multi-billion-naira fraud. Adding to the national discourse, Wole Soyinka publicly criticised the scale of security deployed around President Tinubu’s son, Seyi. And Bayelsa State deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo died on Thursday.

 

No going back on police withdrawal from VIPs, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has said the directive to redeploy police officers working with VIPs, VVIPs and ministers was not negotiable, admonishing all ministers to ensure immediate compliance.

Speaking at the opening of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in the State House Council Chamber, the president warned against non-compliance.

“If you have any problem because of the nature of your assignments, please contact the IGP and get my clearance,” he said.

President Tinubu directed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egebtokun, to follow up on the implementation of the order.

The president noted that police officers were trained to protect the lives and property of citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in the society, adding that the protection of a select group of VIPs and VVIPs was not their responsibility.

Tinubu said the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, would make arrangements for the replacement of police officers by the Civil Defence Corps.

“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are trained for VIP protection; and they are armed,” he added.

The president noted that the police would be mobilised appropriately to tackle the country’s security challenges.

He said the entire structure would be reviewed to better address vulnerable citizens and communities.

“We face challenges of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism here and there. We need all forces utilised. I know some people are exposed; we will make the exceptions. The Civil Defence is very much around,” the president said.

 

Adeleke emerges Accord Party’s governorship candidate

The Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday emerged the Accord Party’s candidate for the August 8, 2026 governorship election.

Adeleke, the only aspirant in the primary election of the party held in Osogbo, polled 145 votes out of 150 cast by delegates drawn from the state’s 30 local government areas.

Announcing the result of the primary, the secretary of the electoral committee, Abdulazeez Salaudeen, said five votes were voided.

“The electoral committee has delivered on its mandate after voting and counting witnessed by agents of the candidate and the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Having the highest number of votes, I declare Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the primary,” Salaudeen said.

Adeleke, his deputy, Kola Adewusi, and several political appointees were present as the exercise commenced.

A heavy security presence, including the police and the State Security Service, was deployed, while INEC officials observed the exercise.

Adeleke had on Tuesday announced his defection to the Accord Party and disclosed his intention to seek a second term.

“I joined the Accord Party more than a month ago, precisely on November 6, as a platform to seek re-election in 2026. This was after weeks of consultation with stakeholders and opinion leaders,” he said.

He explained that the party’s philosophy of welfarism aligned with his focus on citizens’ and workers’ welfare, and pledged to continue delivering good governance and democratic dividends.

 

Fubara defects to APC

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fubara announced his defection at a meeting with some government officials at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The governor’s defection came hours after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

At the meeting, Fubara explained that his decision to defect to the APC was to enable him offer “full support” to President Tinubu.

The governor noted that he visited Mr President on Monday to “brief him on the situation of things” in Rivers State, and that the “most interesting part” of the meeting was their discussion about his planned defection to the APC.

“The most interesting part of the meeting is what you all have been waiting for; what you have been asking me. The signal has finally arrived,” he said, apparently referring to the defection.

Mr Fubara added: “For everyone here who has followed me, who has suffered with me, my decision this evening is: We are moving to the APC.

The officials in attendance immediately began to sing in expression of solidarity and appreciation to the president.

Fubara’s defection happened days after 16 members of the Rivers House of Assembly, including the Speaker, defected to the APC from the PDP.

There has been political crisis in Rivers State triggered by the feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

 

EFCC detains Malami, arraigns Oduah

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), after he allegedly failed to meet the bail conditions earlier granted him.

A senior EFCC official who confirmed the development on Tuesday said the former minister would remain in custody until he fulfilled the requirements.

“We arrested him for not meeting his bail conditions, and he will remain in our custody until he meets those conditions.

“He was initially granted bail but did not meet the conditions. The offences against him are many. Presently, we are investigating him for 18 different offences. Some of them are money laundering, abuse of office and terrorism financing. We cannot put a figure to the amount involved now because we keep uncovering some of the deals as we investigate,” the official said.

Malami had earlier disclosed his interrogation by the commission on November 29 in a post on X, describing the engagement as productive and insisting that allegations against him were “fabricated.”

In another development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Stella Oduah, a former minister of aviation, before an Abuja High Court over an alleged fraud involving N2.4 billion.

Oduah was arraigned on Wednesday, alongside Gloria Odita, on a five-count charge bordering on alleged fraud – obtaining by false pretence and criminal breach of trust.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty.

 

Bayelsa deputy governor dies at 60

Bayelsa State deputy governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, died on Thursday after he collapsed while in office and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa where he later passed

An official of the hospital who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the deputy governor was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

The deputy governor’s media aide, Mr Doubara Atasi, confirmed that his principal slumped and was taken to the hospital. Ewhrudjakpo died at the ICU at the FMC after several efforts to resuscitate him proved abortive. No official statement has been released regarding the cause of his death, but sources suggest it may be related to a cardiac emergency.

A source close to the deputy governor noted his demanding schedule, saying, “He’s a workaholic; he should find time to rest.”

Condolences and tributes have been pouring in following his demise.

The late deputy governor, who was born on September 5, 1965, refused to join his principal, Governor Douye Diri, when he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), preferring to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

His shocking death happened amid speculations that he was on his way out of the PDP for an unnamed political party.

 

Soyinka tackles Tinubu over son’s security details

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has criticised what he described as an excessive deployment of security personnel around Seyi, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In his remarks, Soyinka said the scale of the protection raised questions about Nigeria’s priorities and security management.

He recounted witnessing what he thought was a movie shoot at a hotel in the Ikoyi area of Lagos, only to discover that it was a security detail attached to the president’s son.

“I was coming out of my hotel and saw what looked like a film set. A young man detached himself from the group and greeted me very politely. I asked jokingly if they were shooting a film,” he said.

He said the environment was occupied by a large team of armed personnel.

Soyinka further said, “I looked around and there was nearly a whole battalion occupying the ground of the hotel in Ikoyi. There were at least some 15 or so heavily armed security personnel. They looked sufficient to take over a small neighbouring city like Benin,” he stated.

Soyinka said the scene alarmed him enough to attempt reaching the National Security Adviser to confirm whether the deployment was official.

“I was so astonished that I started looking for the National Security Adviser. I said I had seen something I could not believe. I asked if a child of the head of state goes around with an army for his protection,” Soyinka added.

He added that further inquiries showed the large security escort was not unusual.

“Later on, I did some investigative journalism and found that apparently, this is how this young man goes around,” he said.

Soyinka joked that President Tinubu did not need to mobilise the military to quell instability in neighbouring Benin Republic, suggesting that the security personnel attached to his son were enough to subdue an uprising.

“Tinubu did not have to send the air force and the military to deal with that insurrection. There is an easier way. The president should just call that young man and say, Seyi, go and put down those people. You have troops under your command,” he noted.

He stressed that while leaders across the world have children, public office must not be used to confer undue power or privilege on them.

“This is not the first country whose head of state has a family. Children should know their place. They are not potentates. They are not heads of state,” he stressed.

Soyinka said such displays of force distorted the country’s security priorities.

According to him, “The security architecture of a nation suffers when we see such heavy devotion of security to one young individual.”