By Peter Omopo
Political activities ahead of the 2027 governorship elections have intensified across Nigeria following the formal commencement of campaigns, as candidates and political parties unveil policy proposals aimed at winning the support of voters.
The campaign season officially opened on Wednesday, September 9, with candidates focusing their messages on issues including insecurity, agriculture, education, healthcare, workers’ welfare and economic development.
Across the North West, South West and South East, political parties have begun presenting their programmes while appealing to voters and calling for peaceful, issue based campaigns. Security, economic hardship and the delivery of essential social services are expected to dominate the contests as candidates seek to distinguish themselves ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has announced a major redeployment of senior officers to key command, operational and staff positions as the military moves to strengthen its response to the country’s evolving security challenges.
The redeployments were approved by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu, and are expected to affect several strategic formations across the Service.
According to the Army spokesperson, Appolonia Anele, Maj Gen I. A. Ajose has been moved from the Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations to the Theatre Command, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, where he will serve as Theatre Commander.
The Army said the postings were part of efforts to enhance operational effectiveness and align its leadership structure with prevailing security demands.
In the petroleum sector, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have become embroiled in a legal dispute over the regulator’s directive suspending propane loading and truck out operations at the refinery.
The dispute came before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, with NMDPRA asking the court to discharge an interim order preventing it from enforcing the suspension.
Dangote, however, accused the regulator of abusing its powers, as both parties presented their positions over concerns surrounding the quality and distribution of propane from the refinery.
The court had earlier, on August 31, restrained NMDPRA, its officers, agents and representatives from entering, sealing, shutting down, restricting access to, obstructing, suspending, disrupting, inspecting, supervising or sanctioning operations at the refinery pending the hearing and determination of the substantive application.
Elsewhere, the Benue State Police Command has arrested 46 people allegedly linked to the blockade of the convoy of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, during his visit to the state on Tuesday.
The Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, disclosed the arrests at a press conference in Makurdi on Wednesday.
Nwadiogbu said police personnel deployed for Obi’s visit adopted a professional and tactical approach to prevent the situation from escalating into violence that could have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property.
The development has triggered widespread condemnation, with attention focused on the circumstances surrounding the incident and the response of security agencies.
In the United States, President Donald Trump has also made a major campaign pledge ahead of the November midterm elections, promising a $5,000 federal dividend to every adult American if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress.
Trump made the pledge on Wednesday at the Republican Party’s first midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, where he urged voters to support Republican candidates in the House of Representatives and Senate.
He said the proposed payment would be made if Republicans succeeded in retaining control of both chambers, turning the political gathering into a major campaign appeal ahead of the elections.
The developments have placed politics, national security, the petroleum industry and international political developments among the major stories attracting attention as Nigeria and other countries approach significant political and economic milestones.
