News
PDP Chieftain Slams Police Deployment to Zamfara Election, Urges Focus on Insurgency
The Founding Director-General of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has condemned the deployment of senior police officers to Zamfara State for the bye-election, describing it as a misplacement of Nigeria’s security priorities.
Onaiwu expressed concern that the deployment of an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), a Commissioner of Police, and Mobile Police (MOPOL) from various formations in the north to oversee the election in Zamfara State is an overkill, considering the security challenges facing the country.
He emphasized that the north is “bleeding” from escalating insurgency and banditry in parts of the North-East and North-West, and that more combined and concentrated efforts of the police and military are needed to wipe out the menace.
Onaiwu cautioned that the deployment of senior officers and specialized units for election matters in Zamfara State undermines the urgent needs of communities still under siege from insurgents and bandits in the North-East and parts of the North-West.
He urged the police to be impartial and allow the will of the electorates to prevail.
Nigeria is currently battling multiple security threats, including insurgency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states; banditry in Zamfara, Katsina, and Kaduna; and communal clashes across parts of Plateau and Benue. According to security analysts, overstretching the police and military for political purposes could weaken the broader fight against terrorism and criminal gangs.
Onaiwu called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the Inspector General of Police to urgently redirect top police officers and military resources to communities facing persistent attacks.
He stressed that national security must never be sacrificed on the altar of politics and that protecting Nigerians themselves is far more urgent than protecting elections.
“Democracy thrives when citizens are alive and safe. Protecting elections is vital, but protecting Nigerians themselves is far more urgent,” Onaiwu insisted.
The PDP chieftain’s intervention comes amid heightened debate on how best to balance Nigeria’s electoral process with its pressing security challenges. Many observers argue that until peace and stability are restored across troubled regions, democracy itself will remain fragile.
Foreign news
Algeria’s Glorious Revolution: Embassy Marks 72nd Anniversary in Abuja
Joel Ajayi
The Embassy of Algeria in Nigeria has commemorated the 72nd anniversary of the country’s Glorious Revolution of November 1, 1954, with a reception in Abuja, highlighting Algeria’s liberation struggle and strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
The event, held on November 9, 2026, at Continental Suites Hotel, attracted prominent personalities, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, members of the Federal Government, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions and other friends of Algeria.
Speaking at the reception, Algeria’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hocine Mezoued, welcomed guests and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives during the struggle for independence.
He described the November 1, 1954 revolution as the foundation of modern Algeria, noting that the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs made it possible for the country to reclaim its sovereignty.
On Algeria’s development agenda, Mezoued said President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s administration had continued to pursue economic reforms, diversification and national development under its New Algeria vision.
He noted that the country was recording progress in non-hydrocarbon exports, while improvements in the business environment had boosted investor confidence and attracted significant foreign investments.
On foreign policy, the ambassador reaffirmed Algeria’s commitment to non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, peaceful conflict resolution and the right of peoples to self-determination.
Addressing security challenges in the Sahel, he stressed that lasting peace could not be achieved through military measures alone, insisting that economic development, inclusive dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential.
Turning to Nigeria-Algeria relations, Mezoued described the partnership as one founded on shared values and the commitment of both countries’ leaders to advancing African development.
He identified the Trans-Saharan Highway, Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Fibre Optic Backbone as major strategic projects receiving attention from both countries.
The ambassador also disclosed that Algeria had continued to provide scholarships to Nigerian students to strengthen human capital development and capacity building.
He further announced that Air Algérie expanded its Nigerian operations on October 26, 2026, with the introduction of two weekly flights to Lagos, expressing confidence that the service would boost trade and tourism.
Looking ahead, Mezoued said 2027 would offer fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation, particularly through the fifth Joint High Bi-National Commission scheduled to hold in Abuja.
He expressed optimism that the meeting would provide an opportunity to assess existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and move Nigeria-Algeria relations towards a more practical and results-driven phase.
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