A chieftain of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, Ambassador Tobore Agbah, has accused the council chairman, Olorogun Jaro Egbo, of sealing his business premises shortly after a 10,000-man rally he sponsored.

Agbah alleged that the action, which took place on Sunday, October 4, 2026, was politically motivated, claiming that he had been pressured and threatened to cancel the rally before and during the event.

He said he personally financed the rally from start to finish, including branding, logistics and other arrangements.

According to him, while the march was ongoing, his sister, Gladys, received a call and handed the phone to his wife.

“The caller identified himself as Jaro Egbo and told my wife that the state governor had ordered that her husband’s business premises be demolished,” Agbah alleged.

He said the property had existed for decades, insisting that the extension being referred to was also constructed long before the current council administration.

“The property has been in existence for decades, and several local government chairmen have come and gone during that period. Besides, there are other institutions still along the same stretch that are even closer to the road than mine,” he said.

Agbah further alleged that several political actors had approached or called him to stop the rally, but that he refused.

“The rally took place yesterday. I was the sole sponsor and personally financed the rally from the beginning to the end, including the branding and other arrangements.

“It was while the march was ongoing yesterday that the threats and messages began. Before and during the rally, I had also received several calls and approaches from people asking me to stop the rally, but I refused,” he said.

He also alleged that he received threats to his life and warnings that his properties and vehicles branded for the rally would be burnt.

Describing the development as “politics of bitterness,” Agbah alleged that he was being “witch-hunted” and oppressed for refusing to identify with a particular political camp.

He called on the Delta State Government and security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sealing of his premises.

Oboro spoke on Saturday, October 3, 2026, when Dafinone, who represents Delta Central in the Senate, visited her residence as part of consultations with political leaders and stakeholders ahead of the elections.

The former federal lawmaker pledged her support for Dafinone’s second-term bid and called on her supporters across the eight local government areas of Delta Central to mobilise for the senator and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The local government areas are Ethiope East, Ethiope West, Okpe, Sapele, Udu, Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Uvwie.

Oboro argued that Delta Central’s political and developmental interests would be better served by maintaining representation in the party controlling the Federal Government.

She said closer alignment with Abuja could enhance the district’s prospects for federal projects, infrastructure and other development opportunities, urging the electorate to place the broader interest of Delta Central and the Urhobo nation above partisan considerations.

Earlier, Dafinone said he visited Oboro to formally seek her support and endorsement for his re-election, while also seeking to strengthen unity and grassroots mobilisation within the district.

The senator called for greater cooperation among APC leaders, stakeholders and supporters across Delta Central as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.

Oboro, who represented Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, remains active in Delta Central politics. She was among political stakeholders at an APC mobilisation event in Uvwie in April 2026 and has also publicly congratulated Dafinone on his emergence as chairman of a Senate committee.

The suspended election, held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, was declared inconclusive by the committee following clashes at the voting venue, which it said threatened the safety of participants and the security of lives and property.

In a statement signed by the committee’s Secretary, Hon. Bright Ovayaro, on the direction of its Chairman, Chief Lucky Ohirhian, the committee said the election commenced as scheduled for candidates who had purchased nomination forms and were screened and cleared to contest.

For the President General position, Mr. Peter Oghotomo and Chief Alfred Okoriko were the two cleared candidates.

According to the committee, voting was conducted under a simple majority system, with members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, community leaders, stakeholders and observers present.

It said 199 votes cast for Oghotomo were counted, verified and documented before counting commenced for Okoriko.

“However, upon reaching the 30th vote, the counting process was disrupted following a disturbance and distraction by persons seen to be intruders, hoodlums, thugs and non-Okpe-Olomu indigenes in the voting queue,” the statement said.

The situation, it added, escalated into clashes involving supporters of the two sides, forcing the complete suspension of the electoral process.

The committee said it subsequently consulted community leaders, the Elders Council, the Otota and other stakeholders before resolving to suspend the election in the interest of peace and security.

It stressed that no result had been declared for the office of President General or any other position as the entire election processes of today 3rd October, 2026 was suspended.

It also warned that no individual or group should claim victory or parade themselves as winners of the suspended election.

The committee said it would meet with community leaders and stakeholders to review the circumstances surrounding the disruption and determine the way forward and a new date will be scheduled and announced for flesh election into all executive positions in the community.

The electoral committee appealed to candidates, supporters and all sons and daughters of Okpe-Olomu to remain calm and law-abiding while consultations continue.

The committee further urged community members to refrain from statements or actions capable of escalating tensions, stressing that its priority was to ensure an orderly, transparent and peaceful electoral process while protecting lives and property.

Adiotomre, from Ovu-Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, died at the age of 88.

Dafinone, in a condolence message, described his death as a profound loss to the Adiotomre family, Ovu, Ethiope East, Delta Central and the Urhobo nation.

He said the deceased had a distinguished career in the old Bendel State and Delta State, including service as Secretary of the defunct Bendel State Hospitals Management Board.

According to him, Adiotomre distinguished himself in various responsibilities entrusted to him through diligence, integrity and commitment to the wellbeing of his people.

The senator also described the late elder as a bridge-builder and father figure whose experience and counsel were valued by generations of political leaders.

He noted that Adiotomre was a strong advocate of dialogue and reconciliation, adding that he earned respect across political divides through his wisdom and moderation, including as a member of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council.

“On behalf of my family and the good people of Delta Central Senatorial District, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Adiotomre family, the people of Ovu-Inland and Ethiope East Local Government Area, as well as the entire Urhobo Nation,” Dafinone said.

He said the deceased’s long and impactful life, as well as his legacy of wisdom, leadership and commitment to his people, would remain a source of consolation to those he left behind.

Dafinone prayed that God grant the soul of the late Adiotomre eternal rest and give his family, associates and other mourners the strength to bear the loss.

“Urhobo Nation has lost a respected elder and statesman whose contributions to our collective progress and peaceful coexistence will be remembered for generations,” he said.

The group said Pa Everestus Okereke and his eldest son, Ugochukwu, were sentenced to death by hanging in September 2022 over a 2016 incident in Imo State that reportedly resulted in the death of another man.

GOMEP-NG, in a statement signed by its president, Akpovoke Otiti, said it was not seeking to challenge the court’s judgment or deny the deceased’s family justice.

But it called for an urgent legal and humanitarian review to determine whether all available legal remedies had been exhausted.

” We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for scrutiny, transparency, due process and access to justice,” the group said.

Reports cited by the organisation said Okereke was about 79 when he entered custody and has since spent roughly 10 years behind bars. Another son, who was allegedly involved in the confrontation that led to the death, reportedly fled and remains missing.

GOMEP-NG called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), human rights lawyers and civil society organisations to independently examine the case, including the charges, evidence presented at trial, judgment and the status of any appeal.

It also appealed to the Imo State government and relevant justice authorities to clarify the current legal status of the case and ensure that any remaining lawful avenues of appeal or review are identified before any irreversible action is taken.

The group stressed that the family of the deceased was entitled to justice, while the constitutional and legal rights of those sentenced to death must also be protected.

It urged media organisations to report the case responsibly and called for accurate information on the circumstances surrounding the convictions and the current status of the proceedings.

Oborevwori gave the directive on Saturday when he inspected the damaged section of the major highway, which links Delta with Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

The Governor, who was accompanied by the Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Fredrick Wieser; Chairman, Ughelli North Local Government Council, Olorogun Jaro Egbo; Executive Director, NEXIM Bank, Hon Stella Okotete, among others, commended Julius Berger for its swift response to the emergency.

He said the road section collapsed after about six consecutive days of heavy rainfall, making immediate intervention necessary to restore traffic and ease the hardship being experienced by motorists and residents.

“When I saw what happened as a result of the rainfall, which continued for about six days, and the place collapsed, I immediately call Julius Berger, knowing that they are very competent in this kind of intervention, to move in,” the Governor said.

Oborevwori said the immediate priority was to restore traffic, while seeking for permanent solution, adding that “the state government is ready to fund the permanent remedial works”.

He explained that a large volume of water from different parts of Agbarho passed through the affected section, creating serious hydraulic pressure and contributing to the failure of the road.

According to him, Julius Berger had commenced technical studies to determine the most appropriate permanent solution, which could involve the construction of a mini-bridge or a multi-cell culvert.

The Governor stressed that the intervention must go beyond temporary repairs, insisting that the permanent solution should be designed to effectively accommodate the volume of water passing through the area.

Oborevwori disclosed that Julius Berger had assured the state government that the affected section would be temporarily made accessible to motorists, with the two lanes expected to be opened for traffic shortly.

The Governor sympathised with motorists and residents affected by the incident, saying government’s responsibility during difficult times was to find solutions and demonstrate empathy.

He also appealed to Nigerians to desist from exploiting unfortunate incidents for political purposes, stressing that what mattered most was finding solutions to challenges confronting the people.

“When people are in difficult times and facing challenges, we are supposed to support them and show empathy, rather than exploit the situation,” he said.

Oborevwori said the East-West Road was a critical economic artery connecting several states in the South-South and beyond, stressing that its accessibility was vital to the movement of people and goods.

“This is the only road that leads to Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. It is a major road; that is why it is called East-West Road,” he said.

He added that his administration remained focused on delivering infrastructure and other development projects across the state, assuring Deltans that government would continue to work to improve their welfare.

“Our own is to serve and to help the people. We were elected to serve our people, and we will continue to do that,” the Governor said.

Responding, Julius Berger Regional Manager, Fredrick Wieser, said the company was initially carrying out emergency works to restore the flow of traffic while simultaneously conducting surveys and hydraulic assessments.

“At present, we are only doing emergency work to enable traffic to flow. We are already on the ground carrying out a survey, and our design team is already working on the design,” Wieser said.

He explained that the permanent solution would either be a mini-bridge or a multi-cell culvert, depending on the outcome of the hydraulic calculations.

“It will either be a mini-bridge or a multi-cell culvert. That means three or four cells. Based on the hydraulic calculations, it will be decided how many culverts need to be constructed,” he said.We will go to som

The Anambra State Police Command has alerted residents to an emerging pattern of robbery and other criminal activities involving the use of motorcycles.

The warning followed recent incidents, including the arrest of a motorcycle rider allegedly found with a pistol during a stop-and-search operation in Nnewi.

The command also said it was investigating a separate incident in Aguleri, where a motorcycle rider was reportedly attacked and dispossessed of his motorcycle and personal belongings before he was killed.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Friday on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama.

According to the command, preliminary observations indicate that criminals may be exploiting motorcycles to facilitate their movements and target unsuspecting members of the public, including fellow motorcycle users.

The police also expressed concern that some motorcycle owners fail to properly register their motorcycles or keep adequate ownership documents, making it difficult to trace and recover stolen motorcycles or determine their subsequent use in criminal activities.

The CP consequently directed Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers across the state to intensify sensitisation and community engagement with motorcycle riders’ associations, Presidents-General of communities, vigilante groups and other stakeholders.

The engagements, the command said, would strengthen community intelligence, improve motorcycle identification and documentation, and enhance information sharing to prevent criminals from exploiting motorcycles for robbery and other offences.

The police urged motorcycle owners and riders to ensure that their motorcycles were properly registered and that relevant ownership documents were readily available.

Residents were also advised to report suspicious motorcycle movements, persons or activities to the nearest police station or through established emergency communication channels.

The command further urged motorcycle riders’ associations, community leaders and other stakeholders to provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in identifying and disrupting criminal activities.

The police warned residents against confronting suspected criminals, stressing that security remained a shared responsibility.

The conference, scheduled for Thursday, November 26, 2026, will hold at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, opposite the Central Bank of Nigeria Headquarters, Abuja, from 10:00 a.m.

Themed, “Securing Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: The Role of Online Media in Information Integrity, Public Trust and Democratic Resilience,” the event will bring together online media practitioners, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to examine the place of digital journalism in Nigeria’s electoral process.

According to GOMEP-NG National Publicity Secretary, Tochukwu Eluwa, discussions will focus on information integrity, public trust and responsible journalism ahead of the 2027 general elections, with particular attention to the challenges posed by misinformation and disinformation.

Other issues expected to feature include professional ethics in online journalism, credibility of digital information and the role of the media in strengthening democratic resilience.

The guild said Governor Oborevwori’s participation would provide a governance perspective to discussions on responsible journalism, public trust and the information environment surrounding the 2027 elections.

The governor’s administration has anchored its development programme on the MORE Agenda, Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security, with emphasis on infrastructure, healthcare, education, youth and women empowerment, and economic development.

A political pressure group, Soft Nigeria, has commenced grassroots mobilisation for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group said it would deploy its structures across political units, wards and local government areas to engage voters, sensitise youths and canvass support for the two leaders.

Speaking during a media interaction, Executive Board member of Soft Nigeria, Dr. Okoh Ezekiel Oghenetega, said the organisation began as Soft Delta in 2021 by members who identified with Oborevwori during his campaign for the governorship of Delta State.

Okoh said the group was attracted to Oborevwori by what its members regarded as his youth-friendly disposition and humanitarian orientation, adding that it later evolved into Soft Nigeria after the 2023 elections.

He said the organisation identified areas of convergence between its humanitarian objectives and programmes of the Tinubu administration, prompting its expansion beyond Delta State.

According to him, Soft Nigeria is a humanitarian political pressure group committed to supporting candidates its members consider youth-friendly and people-oriented.

Okoh said the group had resolved to support Tinubu and Oborevwori in 2027, stressing that its campaign would start from the grassroots.

“We are going to go down to the units, from the units to the ward, from the ward to the local government and from the local government to the states,” he said, adding that members were ready to use their Permanent Voter Cards to participate in the election.

He urged youths to reject electoral violence and pursue political victories through strategy and peaceful democratic participation.

Also speaking, Director of Human Rights and Social Justice, Soft Nigeria, Activist Kelvin Ejumudo, said the group’s October 1 Independence Day “Run and Rein” was organised to provide young Nigerians with an avenue to interact, connect and celebrate the country peacefully.

Ejumudo said the initiative was designed to harness the potential of youths, create awareness and strengthen interaction between citizens and government, noting that Soft Nigeria had also provided free legal assistance to disadvantaged persons whose rights were allegedly violated.

He described the organisation’s name as a reflection of its aspiration for a peaceful, compassionate and inclusive Nigeria, adding that an incident reportedly witnessed at the beginning of the Independence Day programme did not derail the event.

According to him, the event attracted participants from different backgrounds, while the situation was managed peacefully before the programme continued with a road run through parts of Warri and Effurun, followed by an evening entertainment session.

Another Executive member, Vincent Udume Odogbor, said Soft Nigeria provided a platform for young Nigerians to participate actively in governance and contribute to national development.

Odogbor described the reported incident as unfortunate, saying it did not represent the objectives of the organisation, which he said remained focused on promoting unity and peaceful interaction among Nigerians.

Similarly, Favour Chidiebere Philip said the organisation was open to Nigerians irrespective of gender, background or social status, urging women and the girl-child to participate actively in civic activities.

Meanwhile, another member, Yemi Otuedon, called for respect for citizens’ political choices ahead of the 2027 elections, urging security agencies to investigate any alleged attempts to disrupt political events and calling for disagreements to be resolved through dialogue and peaceful democratic engagement.

Otuedon said Soft Nigeria remained firmly connected to the grassroots and would continue engaging citizens, including those who disagreed with its political position, by answering their questions, addressing their concerns and encouraging peaceful participation in the democratic process.

Oborevwori, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, described Adiotomre as an institution of knowledge, wisdom and experience whose contributions to public service, politics and peace-building left an enduring mark on Delta State.

According to the governor, Adiotomre was not only a father figure in politics in Ethiope East and Delta Central, but also “a school, a library and a compass” to those who sought wisdom and direction from him.

The governor said the late elder served the old Bendel State and Delta State meritoriously, including as Secretary of the defunct Bendel State Hospitals Management Board and in other strategic public positions.

He said Adiotomre distinguished himself through a commitment to public service and an uncommon ability to promote dialogue and understanding across political divides.

Oborevwori noted that the deceased remained a voice of calm in times of political tension, adding that his counsel was respected across party lines.

The governor recalled that Adiotomre’s reputation for moderation and reconciliation informed his inclusion in the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, where he was recognised as a “voice of wisdom and moderation.”

“His interventions always birthed understanding, unity and reconciliation, a testament to true heroism and statesmanship,” Oborevwori said.

The Governor commiserated with the Adiotomre family of Ovu-Inland, the people of Ethiope East and the entire Urhobo nation over the loss.

He prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and give his family and associates the strength to bear the loss.