Some members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ibadan North West and Ibadan South West LGAs on Saturday staged a protest at the party secretariat in Ibadan over alleged exclusion from the ongoing House of Representatives primary election.

The aggrieved party members accused organisers of denying them participation in the process, claiming that in Wards 1 to 12 of Ibadan South West, about 10 persons per ward were allegedly selected and taken to another location to sign documents.

They further alleged that in Ibadan North West, a similar arrangement occurred where another group of 10 individuals was reportedly picked and made to append signatures without a transparent electoral procedure.

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The protesters described the situation as unfair, insisting that it amounted to an attempt to impose preferred candidates on the constituencies rather than allowing a credible and inclusive primary election.

In response to the development, the Chairman of the APC Primary Election Committee in Oyo State, Mojeed Alabi, said disputes and complaints are common in electoral processes.

He advised dissatisfied members to formally present their grievances to the party’s primary election appeal committee after the conclusion of the exercise, where such issues would be duly reviewed and addressed.

The Editorial Board of Info Daily Media Limited, publisher of Info Daily online newspaper, has condemned in strong terms the harassment of its Editor by a Benin-based Rev. Craig Omorotionmwan, General Overseer of Helpline Ministry International.

A statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Saturday by John Akpos, Chairman of the Board said the publication involving the clergyman is already in court hence he should desist from using operatives of the Nigeria Police Force to harass the journalist.

The Editorial Board argued that the publication of which the journalist is invited by the Force Headquarters is already in court, urging the police to distance itself from the matter.

The Board insisted that the publication of which it was reported that the Benin-based General-Overseer hypnotised a 27-year-old NYSC member was not fabricated, adding that the mother of the said girl “cried out to us and we reported it, and not just that we reported it, we reached out to the man in question but he didn’t pick.”

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The newspaper team said: “A situation whereby the Force Intelligence Unit, Abuja, is inviting our hardworking editor for interrogation in disguise of investigation in a matter that is already in court, we regard it as harassment, intimidation, and an attempt to silence the media. We condemn this in strong terms.

“A woman cried to Info Daily that her daughter who was serving in the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was flown from Abuja to Benin by the said Rev. Omorotionmwan, and that since then the daughter has been living with him. We reported it as said, so what is criminal about that?

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“After she spoke with us with the allegation that the said Rev. hypnotised her daughter, that she has been behaving strangely, we called the girl in question, she picked and denied being hypnotised, thereafter we called the Rev. he refused to pick several calls, thinking that the story will die since he refused to pick, but we went ahead to publish the story, indicating in our report that he refused to pick calls. Ordinarily, we expected him to call our organisation or any media organisation to narrate his own side of the story, but he chose to go to court, requesting N1bn as damages from us. The matter is already in court so what is the role of the police in a civil matter?,” the team questioned.

The Editorial Board, therefore, appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to prevail on his men not to be used by the Benin-based General-Overseer.

The team added: “The IGP was in Benin yesterday and we saw how he spoke against impunity. He declared that impunity would not be tolerated under his watch, this is another impunity mission the operatives are about to embark on. He should not allow his men to be used by some persons who feel they are influential.”

The Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, has dismissed allegations against High Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and the newly sworn-in President of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, High Chief (Barr) Macdonald Igbadiwei.

IPDI, in a statement signed by its National President, Austin Ozobo, described the allegations as “malicious, baseless, and aimed at inciting unnecessary conflicts and destabilization of the Ijaw nation.”

Ozobo said the allegations contained in a recent press release by a faceless Niger Delta Reformed Youths were a deliberate attempt to discredit a legitimate electoral process and incite division among Ijaw people.

According to the group, there were no law and moral implications against people close to Tompolo contesting an election. They added, “even the devil will support people who are close to him contesting for elections or looking for a position in the government, so it is not a crime that Tompolo is supporting people who are close to him to achieve their dreams. So dragging Tompolo on the INC matter, is unnecessary and childish”.

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“It is worth noting that Tompolo for the interest of peace and respect for constituted authority, leaves his country home in Oporoza, Delta State and travelled to Bayelsa Government house to see Governor Douye Diri to address various concerns arising from the INC election. But the self-styled governor general of the Ijaw nation disrespected him and went ahead to make obnoxious and unfounded orders. This is very unfortunate, as it does not tell well about his acclaimed leadership in Ijaw nation” IPDI noted.

“However, Senator Douye Diri should be guided by wisdom and experience, he should know that issues always arise from any electoral process, both in the developed countries and underdeveloped countries. For example, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu election in 2023, His (Diri) governorship election in 2023 in Bayelsa State, the governorship election of Delta State and others, we all know what transpired. When such issues arise people sit and resolve them. Douye is an interested party in the INC election hence he is behaving funny,” IPDI emphasised.

On the traditional rulers, the group said the traditional rulers have an Advisory role to play in INC, and it is not a crime and no moral implications if someone refuses to accept your advice.

“The traditional rulers again are not the law court, they lack power to make a standing order. It should be made clear that even at the time the INC elections were conducted there was no subsisting restraining court order. So Diri should stop this self-promoting fight. Assuming his candidate won there wouldn’t be, the governor saying this or that. It was played out in the Warri INC inauguration, the same CITRE the governor is alleged to have been angry over the election outcome, massively attended the event. So who is fooling who?. So he should be guided about how he goes about the INC issues”, the group asserted.

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“The INC conducted its election in line with its constitution and under the supervision of its electoral committee. The electronic process was adopted, it was free, fair, credible and peaceful. The outcome reflects the will of delegates across Ijaw land. To label it a ‘sham’ without presenting evidence is reckless and dishonorable,” Ozobo stated.

IPDI rejected claims that Igbadiwei abandoned his role as a former member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

The group said Igbadiwei tried his best to represent his people, no human is perfect, and that his defeat in a subsequent election did not amount to betrayal.

“Losing an election is part of democratic practice. To weaponize that against his character is a distortion of political reality and misrepresentation of facts,” Ozobo said.

On Traditional Affairs in the Gbaraun Kingdom, IPDI said chieftaincy matters are governed by the customs of the respective kingdoms and the laws of Bayelsa State.

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The group warned mischief makers to allow the gods to speak for themselves.

“The IPDI urges the public to disregard claims that seek to drag chieftaincy disputes into partisan politics. Such matters are handled by traditional councils and relevant state authorities, not by press statements,” the statement read.

Ozobo urged Ijaw leaders, youths and stakeholders to reject inflammatory language from enemies of the Ijaw nation and focus on the unity and development of the Ijaw nation. He said the INC under Igbadiwei’s leadership had an opportunity to advance advocacy on environmental justice, resource control, and youth empowerment.

“The Ijaw nation cannot afford to be distracted by personal attacks, interest and unsubstantiated allegations. The IPDI stands with a united INC and calls on all sons and daughters of Ijaw land to support the new leadership for the good of our people,” he added.

The IPDI said it would continue to monitor developments and engage stakeholders to ensure peace and stability within the Ijaw socio-cultural space.

Recall, High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei was inaugurated as INC President on May 14, 2026, following a handover ceremony from outgoing President Prof. Benjamin Okaba in Warri Delta State.