Politics
Gbenga Daniel: Nigerians’ Experience, Not GDP, Measures Economy
Former Governor and senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, said the true measure of Nigeria’s economic progress should be the lived experiences of citizens rather than growth in Gross Domestic Product, GDP, alone, saying that Nigeria cannot have a strong economy without security.
Daniel mentioned this yesterday at the 7th Annual Lecture of Freedom Online in Lagos, as he argued that economic growth and security are inseparable.
His comments came days after the NBS reported that Nigeria’s GDP grew by 4.43 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, up from 4.23 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
According to the senator, although the latest GDP figures and improvements in agriculture and services are encouraging, they did not fully reflect the economic realities confronting Nigerians.
“Nigeria cannot have a strong economy without security, and it cannot have lasting security without a strong economy, which effectively means that both of them are inseparable,” he said.
Daniel said the real test of economic progress is whether Nigerians could secure decent jobs, access their farms safely, operate businesses profitably and attract investment.
He asked: “In our country today, can a young person find decent work? Can a farmer safely reach the farm? Can a manufacturer produce competitively?
“Can a small business survive the cost of power and transport? Can investors commit their resources with confidence?”
The former Ogun State governor described security as an essential component of economic infrastructure, rather than an issue exclusively for the military, police and other security agencies.
He said insecurity has direct economic consequences, noting that farmers who could not safely access their land will be unable to produce enough food, while insecurity along major roads will increase the cost of transporting goods.
Daniel further argued that excessive expenditure on security measures could undermine business competitiveness, while insecurity in communities could discourage both domestic and foreign investment.
He called for an approach that treats security and economic development as mutually reinforcing priorities.
Politics
2027: APC PCC Disability Directorate Promises To Mobilse 5m Votes For Tinubu
The Directorate of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has promised to mobilise a minimum of five million votes across the country to secure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in next year’s presidential election.
Speaking to newsmen after the second inaugural leadership meeting of the Directorate held in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Muhammad Abba Isa, stated that the PWD community remains an integral pillar of the current administration.
While commending President Tinubu for establishing a dedicated presidential office for special needs and ensuring the integration of persons with disabilities into the party and government structures at both federal and state levels, he assured that the community is ready to come out in force to vote for him.
“I want to use this medium to commend Mr President for creating the Directorate for Persons with Disabilities in line with the belief that no one should be left behind. The community of persons with disabilities is an integral part of this administration.
“APC is the only party that has prioritised the rights of the disability community in Nigeria. Currently, almost 29 states have signed and established agencies to safeguard the lives of persons with disabilities. The community is ready to come out in force and re-elect President Bola Tinubu so he can continue his good reforms,” he said.
On the controversy surrounding their voting strength, Abba Isa emphasised that the political weight of the disability community extends beyond standard estimates.
He revealed that active engagements are ongoing with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address accessibility and voting rights at all polling units nationwide.
“To win an election is all about strategy and organisation, and we are well-organised. From our Directorate, we are going to mobilise at least five million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We have been engaging with INEC to ensure accessibility in the electoral process — how wheelchair users, visually impaired voters, and others can cast their ballots seamlessly so that no person with a disability is disenfranchised. We are a strong political mass, and we are ready to deliver,” Abba Isa stated.
Equally speaking, the APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities and Co-Director of the Directorate, Aare Durotolu Bankole, reiterated the party’s confidence ahead of the general elections, declaring that rival political parties lack the structure to challenge the ruling party.
Bankole said: “We are committed to putting in our best to ensure that the re-election of the President and all APC candidates comes with a big vote margin. In APC, we are confident. We want to show clearly to the world that APC is the only ready party in Nigeria. Others know they are not ready and cannot win this election; they will only make media noise. We are here to strategise and tell the world that come 2027, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.”
While highlighting gender inclusion within the campaign hierarchy, Deputy Director for Women with Disabilities, who is also a board member of the Maryam Abacha National Centre for Women Development, Lois Auta, lauded the party for giving women with disabilities a prominent seat at the decision-making table.
” President Tinubu has done remarkably well for persons with disabilities, including women. He established the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and work is ongoing on the Reserved Seats Bill for women and PWDs.
“This is the first time a political party is having a dedicated woman with disability in the PCC Directorate leadership. We are proud of this inclusiveness. We have the numerical strength and the political power to ensure the re-election of President Bola Tinubu,” she said.
The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including the Directorate Secretary, Misbahu Lawan Didi, and the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Ayuba Burki Gufwan, underscoring the party’s organised structure to mobilise disability support nationwide.
Politics
District Head In Taraba Suspended After Son Refuses To Drop ADC Bid For Election
The District Head of Wurbo Gashiri in Kuma Chiefdom, Alh. Babaji Abubakar Garba Jugulde, in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, has been suspended by the Kuma Traditional Council following his son’s refusal to withdraw from the 2027 Gembu State Constituency House of Assembly election under the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The suspension, which took effect on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, was communicated in a letter issued by the Office of the Mbondua, Kuma Traditional Council according to report.
The development comes amid allegations that the incumbent member representing Gembu State Constituency, Hon. Abdulazeez Suleiman Titong, is apprehensive about the prospect of losing his seat in the forthcoming election.
Sources familiar with the development said the suspension of the district head was connected to his son, Hon. Auwal Babaji Jugulde, who is reportedly unwilling to abandon his ambition to contest the 2027 election under the ADC.
The source said, “The district head was accused of acting outside the rules of the traditional council and engaging in ‘anti-governmental’ activities.”
The council also stated that an investigation would be conducted to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations before a final resolution or further measures were taken.
The letter dated October 21, 2026, bearing reference number KTC/SLGAITR, was addressed to Alh. Babaji Abubakar Garba Jugulde.
Titled “Suspension Letter,” it stated: “This is to notify you that, you have been suspended from the District head of Wurbo Gashiri, Kuma Chiefdom by the traditional Councils members. With effect from today the 21 October, 2026.”
The council listed two reasons for the suspension.
It stated: “We observe that you are acting outside the rules of traditional council by doing thing according to your wish.
“Secondly, you are playing anti-governmental rule which is contrary to the provision of the traditional council guideline or rules.”
“However, proper investigation shall be carried out by the council to ascertain your action/activities before the final resolution or proper measures,” the letter added.
The letter was signed by Jelani B. Hammawa Yana, Secretary of the Kuma Traditional Council the report concluded.
Politics
Osun APC Not Briefed About Tinubu Campaign Inauguration – State chairman
Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said it was not formally informed about the inauguration of the state Presidential Campaign Committee for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The party disclosed this on Thursday in a statement signed by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, following the announcement of the committee’s inauguration and the appointment of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as its coordinator.
The APC said it supported Tinubu’s re-election bid and considered the campaign a collective responsibility requiring the participation and cooperation of party leaders, members and supporters across the state.
“In as much as we consider the re-election of the national leader of our party, President Tinubu, as a collective task which we have been working vigorously and assiduously to achieve through various means, it is our view and conviction that such an exercise should be properly scheduled,” the statement said.
Lawal said the exercise concerned the re-election of Nigeria’s president under the APC, which he described as the largest democratic party in sub-Saharan Africa, and should therefore follow appropriate official procedures.
The chairman said the party became aware of the committee’s membership through a list shared on social media by Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are reiterating the fact that we did not have the knowledge of any inauguration beyond the social media listing of some names yesterday afternoon by the spokesman of Governor Adeleke,” the statement said.
The APC expressed concern that the notice period was too short, arguing that the announcement, made less than 12 hours before the scheduled event, could prevent some party leaders and members from attending.
It also questioned the decision to publish the committee’s membership less than 24 hours before the inauguration without first holding consultations with the party’s state leadership.
The statement suggested that the arrangement could create avoidable tension between the Osun APC and Adeleke, who was appointed to coordinate Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the state.
“In our view, the current arrangement of the said state Presidential Campaign Committee was designed to stoke and promote an avoidable misunderstanding between our party and the appointed state coordinator of the campaign in the state,” Lawal said.
Despite its reservations, the party maintained that it was not opposed to any arrangement aimed at securing Tinubu’s re-election, stressing that its concern was the process adopted to organise the campaign committee.
“We are reiterating the fact that we are not opposed to conceding anything for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the forthcoming presidential election but our concern is that things should be done in a proper way to achieve desired results,” the statement said.
The Osun APC also acknowledged that Adeleke’s appointment as state campaign coordinator could improve Tinubu’s electoral prospects through cooperation among the political parties involved, while calling for proper consultation and coordination in the campaign process.
Recall that the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, former governor Bisi Akande, and former governor Adegboyega Oyetola have earlier been named among prominent political leaders expected to participate in the inauguration of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council, scheduled to hold in Osogbo today.
The statement said the campaign council would comprise political leaders, elected office holders, former lawmakers, party executives and other stakeholders drawn from the All Progressives Congress, APC, Accord and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
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