Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has said President Bola Tinubu should not seek re-election in 2027 if he truly considers himself a smart politician.

Speaking during an appearance on Prime Time, a political programme on Arise Television, Baba-Ahmed said all signs point to defeat for Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general election.

“I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel if he is that smart politician that he turns out to be,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed took a swipe at Tinubu, referring to him sarcastically as the “super smart” politician who backed several presidential candidates before finally winning in 2023.

“He skipped 2007 and jokingly made Atiku candidate, made Ribadu and somebody in 2011, made Buhari in 2015, Buhari won, and then skipped 2019. They stole 2023. If he is that smart, everything is there for him that he’s going to lose 2027,” he said.

The LP chieftain also accused Tinubu and the APC of failing to deliver on their promises, saying the party has proven to be “a lie.”

“Buhari did not develop Nigeria, did not provide security, did not fight corruption. Neither will Tinubu ever do this,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed predicted that Nigerians will rally ahead of 2027 and vote out bad leaders.

“I see APC losing this election. I see Nigerians uniting and deciding to come out and practice democracy for the first time. Then bad leadership will have no hiding place,” he added.

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Three officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been hospitalized after gunmen attacked them during a raid in Jahi area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Thursday night. Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi, said this in a statement on Friday, April 18. Babafemi said: The incident occurred when a team of NDLEA operatives acting on intelligence and surveillance report raided an uncompleted building at NNPC area of Jahi where 74 bottles of codeine, 10 litres of codeine syrup, 48grams of tramadol 225mg and 4.9kgs of skunk, a strain of cannabis, as well as five android phones were recovered. As the NDLEA team made their way out of the location, they came under gun attackm He said that three of the NDLEA personnel involved in the raid sustained gunshot injuries. One was shot in the rib and two others on their back and leg. He said that the wounded officers were initially stabilized at the Police Clinic in Garki Area 1 before they were transferred to the National Hospital Abuja for further medical attention. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the staff of the Police Clinic for their prompt support. He also thanked the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital who was personally reached by him for overseeing the treatment of the wounded officers.The post 3 NDLEA officers shot during raid on Abuja building appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared that convicted kidnappers in the state will face the death penalty, specifically by hanging.

The Governor disclosed this at the stakeholders’ session at the Uromi Town Hall on Friday, April 18, 2025, expressing his readiness to sign the death warrant of convicts.

The meeting served as an interactive session between the Governor and leaders and members of the Arewa community in Esan land following the recent gruesome murder of 16 travelling Kano hunters.

According to Okpebholo, the Edo State House of Assembly has passed a bill amending the Kidnapping Prohibition Act (and Related Matters) 2013.

He explained that the bill prescribes the death penalty for kidnappers and mandates the confiscation and demolition of properties used in the commission of their crimes.

ALSO READ: Uromi Killings: Okpebholo suspends security chief, illegal vigilante groups

The Governor, who read the riot act, said his administration will not tolerate killing, insecurity, and kidnapping anymore, promising to deal ruthlessly with all criminal elements in the state.

“I take the issue of insecurity seriously and will not bend the rules but apply them strictly. The new law in the State permits us to demolish their properties and confiscate their lands. We will build vigilante team offices on those lands.

“We will bring kidnappers to the public and execute them to show our seriousness according to the laws already passed by the EDHA. I will not be afraid to sign it,” he was quoted in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Friday, April 18, 2025.

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Okpebholo seeks stakeholders’ support

Okpebholo appealed to all stakeholders to collaborate with his administration to secure Edo State amid the recent rise in kidnapping incidents, which has raised concerns among residents.

“The kind of security we want to have in the State is one where security remnants women are paid salaries, unlike before, where the people will just put on uniforms without being paid. We are going to employ vigilante teams and pay them salaries, and stop people from just putting on their uniforms.

ALSO READ: Okpebholo praised for firm response to security challenges in Edo

“These people will work with security agencies, and they will be trained on how to fight crimes and handle criminals. I will not wait until campaign time to solve your problems. I will start addressing the problems facing our people in the market and everywhere.

“It is time to start profiling people from other States who claim to be from the North and ensure they don’t spoil your name. We will fence the market, put streetlights, build abattoirs for those killing cows. We want to secure the people of Edo State.”

He stressed that President Bola Tinubu loves the North and has been very supportive to ensure that the Uromi killing didn’t degenerate into more destruction.