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APC Primaries : 18 states dare Oshiomhole, opt for indirect primaries
The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the method to be adopted in the election of its candidates for the 2019 general elections is assuming a frightening dimension as more state chapters of the party continue to dare the party’s leadership by opting for indirect primaries rather than direct primaries as directed by the National Working Committee (NWC).
Sources told this newspaper that the governors elected on the platform of the ruling party are leading rebellion against the Adams Oshiomhole-led NWC. APC presently has 21 governors. No fewer than 14 of the governors have adopted indirect primaries in the selection of candidates for the 2019 general elections.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ruling party had, on August 30, adopted the direct primary method for the selection of its presidential candidate, while states were empowered to choose which of the methods best suits their peculiarities. But the NWC, in a counter directive, ordered that all primaries must be by the direct method. So far, 19 state chapters of the party have rebuffed the directive of the Adams Oshiomhole-led APC NWC.
They include Imo, Sokoto, Plateau, Yobe, Ekiti, Kogi, Enugu, Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, Ondo, Oyo, Adamawa, Borno, Katsina, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Delta and Bauchi. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also adopted indirect primary. Some of the states, which adopted indirect primaries, also agreed on consensus arrangement. Eleven states opted for the direct primary option as directed by the party leadership.
They are Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Kano, Abia, Niger, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue and Cross River. Six state chapters are yet to decide on which option to adopt.
They are Anambra, Edo, Taraba, Jigawa, Gombe and Kwara. But major stakeholders have kicked against the adoption of indirect primaries in Yobe, Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Ondo, Adamawa, and Borno. In Imo, the state chapter of the party arrived at the option of indirect primaries at 6th State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting held in Owerri, the state capital, on Thursday.
It is the same story in Sokoto, where APC leaders also adopted the indirect primary election and consensus as the process to select candidates for all positions in the state after a stakeholders’ meeting. In Yobe, the state APC adopted both indirect primaries and consensus to choose its candidates for the election.
This was arrived at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Damaturu, under the chairmanship of the deputy governor of the state, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu. The meeting drew participants from across the 17 local government areas of the state. Also adopting the indirect primaries, the Plateau State chapter of the party cited security challenges in the state.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the state working committee of the party, stakeholders, elders, lawmakers and local government chairmen chaired by the state APC chairman, Hon. Letep Dabang and attended by the deputy governor, Prof. Sonny Tyoden, who represented Governor Simon Lalong.
Ekiti APC Chairman, Chief Jide Awe, who confirmed that the party in the state has opted for indirect primaries, said: “For the last, governorship election in the state, APC operated indirect primaries and it still subsists.” In Kogi, the party’s stakeholders also adopted indirect primaries during a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by Governor Yahaya Bello.
The stakeholders, in rejecting the direct primary method approved by the party’s NWC, said it would be too expensive. They also cited lack of record of party membership. Another state chapter of the APC, which opted for indirect primaries and consensus, is Enugu.
The decision was reached during the state executive committee meeting of the party. The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mrs. Kate Offor, explained that consensus would be used where there is agreement among aspirants, while indirect primaries would be used where there is serious contention.
Also opting for indirect primaries, the Kaduna State chapter of the party cited lack of a comprehensive register of party members. The Zamfara APC chairman, who also justified adoption of indirect primaries by party stakeholders in the state, said the decision was not a deviation, but in line with the directive of national headquarters of the party.
But, a faction of the party in the state, led by senator representing Zamfara Central, Kabiru Marafa, rejected the decision. The factional APC state chairman, Surajo Maikatako,who spoke with journalists, said since the government’s side of the party’s leadership decided to adopt indirect primaries, they would as well conduct direct primary to select their governorship candidate as well as for other positions.
Also citing lack of comprehensive register and security issues for adopting indirect primaries, the Borno State APC chairman, Hon. Ali Dalori, said: “We are adopting the indirect primaries because as I am speaking to you, we don’t have authentic register of members of the party in the state or national secretariats and because of insecurity facing the state.”
However, a faction of the party, led by former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff, rejected the decision of the party stakeholders, saying it was unconstitutional and a breach of the party’s constitution.
The Adamawa leadership of the party and stakeholders also cited security issues as reason for adopting indirect primaries to candidates for the election in the state.
The state chairman of the party, Ibrahim Bilal, who spoke with our correspondent, particularly listed Madagalli, Michika, Mubi North and Mubi South councils as areas affected. Similarly, the leadership of Ondo State APC cited security and lack of authentic membership register as reasons for adopting indirect primaries to pick the party’s candidates in the state.
More than ₦3 billion was targeted, but about ₦677 million reached the culprits, with recovery and prosecutions underway, reflecting how banks are responding to more sophisticated fraud risks.
Nigeria’s expanding digital banking sector is facing increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts, as financial institutions adapt to faster transactions and broader online services.
A recent case involving First City Monument Bank (FCMB), linked to fraudulent activity detected in December 2025, has drawn attention to how banks are responding to such incidents, with a focus on limiting exposure, recovering funds and working with law enforcement.
According to findings referenced in proceedings before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, the incident involved unauthorised transactions tied to a digital product. Early reports erroneously suggested more than ₦3 billion was lost. Subsequent clarification shows that over ₦3 billion was targeted, ₦2.4 billion was blocked and recovered, while ₦677 million got into the possession of the culprits. This outcome reflects the bank’s cyber security and monitoring capabilities, as well as improved collaboration among regulated financial institutions and with law enforcement agencies. Several suspects and beneficiaries have been apprehended, while recovery and prosecution efforts are ongoing, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Proceedings at the Lagos State Special Offences Court have resulted in convictions, including that of a repeat offender, with restitution orders issued. Related matters are also being handled at the Federal High Court in Lagos, where additional suspects are being tried in connection with the scheme. This process is aimed at ensuring that bad actors are identified and permanently blacklisted from the financial system.
Authorities say recovery efforts are continuing as additional funds are traced.
Analysts note that the pace of legal action reflects closer coordination between financial institutions and enforcement agencies in addressing cyber-related financial crime.
The case comes as banks contend with more complex fraud methods, including social engineering and automated exploitation of system processes.
As digital products and platforms expand, so too does the risk associated with cyber-crime and related fraud.
“The scale of digital banking means risks are evolving alongside the systems,” said a Lagos-based financial analyst. “Institutions are now judged by how they manage these events.”
Observers say the sector is moving toward a stronger focus on response and recovery, rather than prevention alone.
This includes improving monitoring capabilities, strengthening transaction controls and enhancing collaboration with regulators and law enforcement. The FCMB case, with limited exposure relative to the amount targeted and ongoing recovery, reflects that shift.
For customers, the primary concern is the safety of their funds. In this case, there has been no indication of losses affecting customer deposits. Maintaining that level of protection remains central to sustaining trust in the financial system.
Nigeria’s financial sector continues to grow, supported by digital innovation and expanding access to banking services.
However, analysts say fraud attempts are likely to persist as systems become more complex and interconnected.
They say institutions will increasingly be judged not only on their ability to prevent incidents, but on how effectively they respond and recover when they occur.
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Ex-APC Deputy Guber flag bearer, Joshua MacIver backs Tinubu, express fears over implosion in Bayelsa APC
….congratulates new State Party Chairman, Warman Ogoriba
APC Deputy Governorship Candidate in the 2023 general elections in Bayelsa State, Great Joshua MacIver has declared his total commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu come 2027, declaring that the Tinubu re-election project is non-negotiable.
Great Joshua MacIver, in his statement titled ” BAYELSA APC CONGRESSES: GOING FORWARD, A CALL TO LOOK INWARDS” and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, warned APC leaders in the state to look Inward and take note of certain factors which may hinder or cut short our victory.
According to Great Joshua MacIver, such noticeable pitfalls include the imbalance in the united front being put up by the State Governor,Senator Douye Diri among various political blocs in the state.
In the statement issued at the weekend. Great Joshua MacIver stated that “First, before His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, joined the APC in the state, there were clearly two political blocs that made up the party, with the approximate population ratios of the blocs standing at 95% to 5%.”
“After the entrance of His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, ONLY THE SMALLER BLOC IS BEING CARRIED ALONG IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE PARTY, leaving the greater percentage to their fate, and this situation has the potential to build anger and dissatisfaction in our dear party.”
” The consequence of this has been the high level defection we have witnessed in the party recently and we believe more may likely follow, if we do not put our house in order.”
” If we do not pull together as a party, we may witness a situation where we will lose key stakeholders, especially after the State and National Assembly Primaries as well the Gubernatorial Primaries.”
“Finally, while it is very clear that we are the party to beat in the 2027 elections and that our loyalty to Mr. President IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, we must make haste to say that we cannot afford to create situations or loopholes in our unity which will be exploited by other political interests in the state. We cannot afford to under-rate anyone.”
“Our core interest remains the re-election of Mr. President, a project to which we have committed our all. We also pledge our total loyalty to the party as we have no alternative to the APC. However, our concern is that we must, as a party, look inwards and ensure that we do not create loopholes that can impede our common goal.”
Great Joshua MacIver, however congratulated the newly elected State Executives of the APC in Bayelsà State led by Hon. Warman Ogoriba, saying their emergence is welcomed at this critical time in our national history.
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
https://www.stanbicibtcbank.com/nigeriabank/personal/products-and-services/all-loans/stanbic-ibtc-mreif-home-loans
More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
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