The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has announced Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe as the party’s flag bearer for the Federal Capital Territory senatorial election ahead of the 2027 general polls.

Kingibe secured a landslide victory in the party’s primary election, polling 17,535 votes to defeat her sole challenger, Mubarak Tijjani, who garnered 806 votes.

Declaring the results at the ADC secretariat in Abuja, the chairman and returning officer for the senatorial and House of Representatives primaries, Abubakar Adamu, confirmed Kingibe as the winner of the exercise.

The primary election also produced candidates for the two House of Representatives seats in the FCT.

In the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Bala Iyah emerged victorious with 4,937 votes, defeating Yahaya Fatima Goya, who polled 2,015 votes, while Ma’aji Johnson Bello secured 1,546 votes. Ismaila Ishak Ozigi received 105 votes.

For the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje Federal Constituency, Alhassan Salihu clinched the party’s ticket with 9,016 votes, defeating Khalid A. Haruna, who polled 2,955 votes.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the conduct of the primaries.

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will secure victory in the 2027 presidential election, stating that no opposition candidate, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, can prevent the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from retaining power.

Namadi made the remarks after casting his vote during the APC presidential primary election held at his polling unit in Kafin Hausa Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The governor reiterated his commitment to delivering more than one million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the next general election, saying the target was realistic given the widespread support the APC enjoys across Jigawa State.

He noted that the large turnout witnessed during the primary election demonstrated the confidence party members and residents have in both President Tinubu and the APC-led administration.

According to Namadi, the peaceful and transparent conduct of the exercise also reflected the President’s respect for democratic values and internal party democracy.

The governor further stated that the outcome of the APC primary election signalled what to expect in the 2027 polls, predicting an overwhelming victory for the ruling party nationwide.

Namadi described Jigawa as one of the APC’s strongest support bases, pointing out that the state ranks among those with the highest number of registered voters in the country.

The Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Mrs Grace Ogunleye, who was abducted by unknown gunmen along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road on Wednesday, has regained her freedom after a coordinated rescue operation involving security agencies.

The development was confirmed on Thursday by the Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, who disclosed in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti that the council official was rescued alive and unhurt.

According to preliminary reports, Ogunleye was kidnapped on Wednesday while travelling along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti axis.

Her vehicle was later discovered abandoned by the roadside, sparking panic within the local government area and among residents. At the time of her abduction, her mobile phone had reportedly been switched off, making immediate contact and tracking impossible.

Confirming her release, the police spokesperson stated: “One Mrs Ogunleye Grace, the Vice Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, who was allegedly kidnapped on 20th May, 2026 by yet-to-be-identified hoodlums, has been rescued unhurt.”

He further explained that the rescue did not happen by chance but followed sustained pressure mounted on the abductors by a combined security response team.

“The breakthrough came as a result of a joint operation by the police, the military and other security agencies as well as local security personnel, who embarked on a rescue mission and mounted pressure on the hoodlums,” the statement said.

Abutu added that the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, has directed a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the identities of those behind it.

However, the incident has once again highlighted the worsening insecurity situation in parts of Ekiti State, particularly within rural communities and inter-local government road corridors that have become increasingly vulnerable to armed criminal groups.

The abduction of the Vice Chairman also comes against the backdrop of a previous violent attack in the same local government area.

Meanwhile, on April 28, 2026, unknown gunmen stormed a Christ Apostolic Church at Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Local Government Area during a church programme, killing the pastor on the spot and abducting about 15 worshippers.

Despite ongoing assurances from security agencies, those kidnapped worshippers remain in captivity till date, as authorities continue to insist that efforts are ongoing to secure their release alive.