Party Discipline Must Not Be Mistaken for Victimisation, Aduwo Cautions Gbenga Daniel on Ogun APC Caucus Meeting Saga

The President of the Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity (CCDI), Mr. Olufemi Aduwo, has described attempts to portray recent developments within the Ogun State chapter of the APC as evidence of exclusion or persecution as unconvincing and misleading.

According to Aduwo, such claims reflect a selective reading of events and a disregard for the operational realities of party organisation. He noted that the controversy surrounding Senator Gbenga Daniel and the APC caucus meeting in Ijebu-Ode has been overstated, stressing that what occurred was the routine enforcement of accreditation procedures, not any form of political conspiracy.

“No serious political organisation operates without rules governing access to its internal meetings. Accreditation is essential to order, security and institutional credibility. To present adherence to such procedures as victimisation is to fundamentally misread their purpose,” he stated.

Aduwo further observed that the APC in Ogun State, like any major political party, accommodates internal competition and disagreement, which do not amount to institutional breakdown but are inherent features of democratic politics.

He also referenced the 2023 electoral cycle, noting that allegations regarding Senator Daniel’s political alignment during the governorship contest inevitably influenced internal perceptions, regardless of their substantiation. Despite this, he maintained that the party remained cohesive and electorally successful.

“It is a matter of record that Senator Daniel’s senatorial candidacy in 2023 emerged from internal party arrangements and political accommodation, including the decision of a sitting senator to step aside. This underscores the primacy of collective decision-making over individual entitlement,” Aduwo added.

He emphasised that a caucus meeting is not a platform for personal assertion but a regulated forum governed by rules binding on all members. Recasting the enforcement of such procedures as exclusion, he said, is disingenuous.
Commenting on leadership within the state, Aduwo stated that Governor Dapo Abiodun has demonstrated political responsibility by maintaining cohesion amid internal tensions through a balance of firmness and restraint.

He further advised that, at this stage, it would be more constructive for Senator Daniel to embrace a reflective posture consistent with elder statesmanship, noting that figures such as Chief Olusegun Osoba and Senator Ibikunle Amosun have transitioned into roles where influence is exercised through counsel rather than electoral contest.

Aduwo concluded that political parties are sustained by discipline, not sentiment and cautioned against elevating routine procedural enforcement into narratives of persecution.

*4 BRIGADE HOSTS 2 DIVISION NIGERIAN ARMY INTER-BRIGADE CORPORALS AND BELOW COMPETITION 2026 IN BENIN CITY*

The 2 Division Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition 2026 commenced on Monday, 20 April 2026, at the Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ekehuan Barracks, Benin City, the Edo State capital. The week-long combat competition is being hosted by 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army.

In his welcome address, the Commander 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Balogun, while thanking Almighty God for granting participants safe journey from their respective formations to Benin City, stated that the event could not have come at a better time, given the growing security challenges confronting the nation, in which the Nigerian Army is increasingly engaged. He further noted that the essence of the Corporals and Below Competition is to enhance combat proficiency, leadership skills, organisational ability, teamwork, endurance, and to promote esprit de corps among junior soldiers, thereby preparing them to effectively counter emerging security threats.

He also highlighted that events to be competed for during the week-long exercise include drill, weapon handling and firing, combat cross-country run/obstacle crossing, map reading, and combat swimming.

In his opening remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General Chinedu Nnebeife, who was represented by the Commander 32 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Justin Ifeanyi, urged the competing formations to conduct themselves professionally throughout the competition. He noted that a team of impartial umpires and judges had been carefully selected to ensure fairness, stressing that no team would be favoured or victimised. He further disclosed that all necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free competition, and urged all participants and officials to take the competition seriously and adhere strictly to the rules.

He also expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu NAM, for providing the necessary resources to host the competition. He equally appreciated the Army Headquarters Department of Army Training (AHQ DAT) for their support in enhancing the combat competition every year.

The 2026 edition of the 2 Division Inter-Brigade Corporals and Below Competition has the following formations participating: 4 Brigade, 12 Brigade, 32 Artillery Brigade, 22 Armoured Brigade, 42/52 Engineers and Signals Brigade, and 2 Division Garrison. The ceremony was graced by heads of security agencies in Edo State and friends of the Brigade. Highlights of Day One of the events included the drill competition among formations, presentation of souvenirs and group photographs.

*KENNEDY ANYANWU*
Captain
Assistant Director Army Public Relations
4 Brigade Nigerian Army
Benin City

20 April 2026

After IGP’s Intervention, Splinter Group Of Retired Officers Escalates Protest To Aso Rock

The protest staged by a group of retired police officers at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Monday is increasingly being viewed as a factional action, coming despite recent assurances from the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force that their grievances are already receiving attention at the highest level.

Only last week, representatives of the retirees had gathered at the entrance to the office of the Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, where they presented similar concerns regarding the Police Exit Bill and pension matters. During that engagement, the IGP acknowledged their frustrations and gave a firm commitment that their demands would be formally conveyed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He also reassured them that their concerns would receive the necessary attention and urged patience as he would revert within weeks but they should let the appropriate institutional process run its course.

In light of this, Monday’s demonstration at the Presidential Villa appears to be the action of a breakaway faction rather than a unified position of all retired officers. While the concerns surrounding the Contributory Pension Scheme and the pending Police Exit Bill remain legitimate, the timing of this protest suggests a departure from the collective approach earlier adopted.

Speaking with our correspondent, a security analyst, Mr. Busayo Mogaji, said such uncoordinated actions may weaken the overall strength of the retirees’ demands. “By acting outside the agreed engagement framework, the protesting group risks creating an impression of disunity, which could ultimately slow down progress,” Mogaji said.

He noted that there had already been a clear line of communication and a commitment to escalate the matter to the Presidency. “Allowing that process to mature may have provided a more strategic path to achieving the desired outcome,” Mogaji added.