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Banditry Allegations: I’ve Reported Defence Minister To NSA, Tinubu – Zamfara gov

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Banditry Allegations: I’ve Reported Defence Minister To NSA, Tinubu – Zamfara gov—-Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has alleged that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is involved in the banditry plaguing the state.

Governor Lawal revealed that both President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, are aware of Matawalle’s alleged ties to bandit groups operating in Zamfara.

Lawal’s accusation follows a recent interview where Matawalle, the former governor of Zamfara, strongly denied any connection to bandits.

Speaking on Channels Television, Matawalle challenged both Governor Lawal and retired General Ali Gusau to swear by the Holy Quran that they have no involvement in the banditry affecting Zamfara and the North-West region.

Matawalle defended his decision to engage in dialogue with bandits during his time as governor, stating that other governors from states like Niger, Sokoto, and Katsina had also entered similar negotiations to curb the violence.

He argued that it was baseless to accuse him of sponsoring bandits simply because of his efforts to mediate peace through dialogue.

However, Governor Lawal’s Chief Press Secretary, Sulaiman Idris, countered Matawalle’s claims, asserting that the governor had already presented evidence of Matawalle’s alleged involvement to the NSA and President.

Idris promised that the evidence would soon be made public, dismissing Matawalle’s defense as lies. He further added that Governor Lawal, who is currently abroad, had sworn by the Quran that anyone involved in sponsoring banditry should face divine punishment.

Idris said, “He has done that (swore by Qu’ran). There was a clip of him during an event, when he was lamenting over an incident that happened. That time, he swore that he didn’t have anything to do with banditry and he prayed that anyone who had a hand in the banditry in the state, God should punish the person.

“He (Matawalle) is lying. We mentioned names. He should come out and clear his name. He needs to explain his relationship with them.

“These two people, they were the ones that he gave Hilux and money and foodstuffs to share with bandits. So, this is not an allegation, we have facts and the NSA is aware of that.

“When the governor met with the President, he explained all these things to him as well. He has also explained to the NSA that this is the situation and these are the facts that we have, but now since he’s asking for facts, I assure you that we are going to bring the facts out.

“He wants a media trial; he’s calling for it. So, we’ll do that because we know we have all the evidence.”

A phone and Whatsapp calls to the Office of the National Security Adviser’s spokesperson, Zakari Mijinyawa, were not answered.

He had yet to respond to the message sent to him to inquire if the NSA had initiated an investigation into the allegations against the minister.

The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, when contacted, said the police were not the lead agency in the operation against banditry in the state.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, could not also be reached as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba said, “Direct your question to the minister’s office, please.”

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BREAKING: After Historic Osun Victory, Adeleke Backs Tinubu for 2027 Re-Election

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BREAKING: After Historic Osun Victory, Adeleke Backs Tinubu for 2027 Re-Election—-Fresh from securing a second term as Osun governor under the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term in 2027.

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027, shortly after securing another four-year term as governor of the state.

Adeleke made the declaration in his victory speech following his successful re-election in the August 15 governorship election, where he contested under the Accord Party after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The governor’s renewed endorsement of Tinubu adds another significant dimension to his remarkable political journey. Adeleke won his first term as governor in 2022 on the PDP platform but subsequently moved to Accord ahead of the 2026 election, successfully defending his seat as an incumbent under his new party.

Adeleke Praises Tinubu After Election Victory

In his post-election remarks, Adeleke expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, who had called to congratulate him on his victory.

The Osun governor praised the President for what he described as his role in ensuring that democracy continued to thrive, while acknowledging Tinubu’s congratulatory gesture following the election.

Adeleke’s comments represent a notable development given the political rivalry and tensions that characterized the build-up to the Osun election.

Before the poll, the governor had repeatedly called on the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. His campaign also exchanged accusations with the APC over the conduct of the electoral process and the role of federal authorities.

Renewed Support for Tinubu’s 2027 Ambition

Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu for 2027 is not entirely new.

The governor had previously declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election campaign before the Osun governorship election. In June, while formally launching his Accord Party re-election campaign, Adeleke described his support for the President as “unshaken and total.”

He again reaffirmed that position after winning the Osun election, emphasizing his continued backing for the President’s second-term ambition. Vanguard and Punch both reported the governor’s renewed endorsement following his victory.

Adeleke also described Tinubu as a son of Osun, further highlighting the personal and political connection he says exists between the President and the state.

Adeleke’s Historic Political Switch

The endorsement comes just days after Adeleke achieved a major political feat by retaining the Osun governorship despite switching parties.

The governor was elected in 2022 as a PDP candidate but later abandoned the party following a prolonged internal crisis. He subsequently joined Accord and secured the party’s ticket to contest the 2026 election.

His decision created considerable political uncertainty because he was defending his position as an incumbent governor without the PDP structure that had originally brought him to power.

Adeleke ultimately overcame the challenge, winning another term under Accord and strengthening his position as one of the country’s most prominent politicians outside the traditional major-party platforms.

Tinubu Congratulates Adeleke

President Tinubu has also congratulated Adeleke on his re-election, describing the result as a reflection of the will of the people.

The President said the outcome demonstrated that democracy continues to flourish in Nigeria and urged the governor to use his renewed mandate to serve the people of Osun State.

The development creates an interesting political dynamic ahead of 2027, with Adeleke now firmly positioned as an Accord governor who is publicly supporting the incumbent President’s re-election bid.

For Adeleke, the immediate priority will be delivering on the mandate he has just received from Osun voters. But his decision to publicly back Tinubu also signals that his political calculations extend beyond the state and into the increasingly important national contest ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

After securing a historic second term under Accord, Adeleke has now turned his attention toward the next political battle — throwing his weight behind Tinubu’s bid to remain President beyond 2027.

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JUST IN: From PDP to Accord, Adeleke Makes History as Incumbent Governor Wins Re-Election in Osun

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JUST IN: From PDP to Accord, Adeleke Makes History as Incumbent Governor Wins Re-Election in Osun—-The Accord Party candidate defeated APC challenger Bola Oyebamiji by 66,252 votes after winning 19 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas.

Jubilation has erupted across Osun State after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke the winner of the 2026 governorship election, securing another four-year term in office.

Adeleke, the candidate of the Accord Party, polled 511,067 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who recorded 444,815 votes. The result gave Adeleke a winning margin of 66,252 votes.

The governor’s victory was formally announced early Sunday at the INEC collation centre in Osogbo by the Returning Officer, Professor Joshua Ogunwole, following the collation of results from the state’s 30 local government areas.

Adeleke won 19 of the 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji secured victory in the remaining 11, highlighting the closely fought nature of the contest despite the eventual margin in the overall vote tally.

The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, finished a distant third with 17,180 votes, while the other candidates shared the remaining votes.

Celebrations Break Out

News of Adeleke’s victory triggered celebrations among his supporters across the state, with party loyalists and residents taking to the streets to celebrate his return to the Osun Government House.

One of the most prominent reactions came from Afrobeats superstar Davido, Adeleke’s nephew, who had played an active role in his uncle’s campaign. Shortly after INEC announced the result, Davido posted “WE DID IT UNC!!!” on X alongside a video of himself celebrating the victory.

Davido had served as chairman of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Campaign Council and had been heavily involved in mobilising young voters for his uncle during the campaign.

Adeleke Extends His Stay in Government House

Adeleke’s re-election gives him another four years to pursue his administration’s agenda after first winning the Osun governorship election in 2022.

His victory also represents a significant political achievement for the Accord Party, as the governor successfully defended his position against a strong challenge from the APC.

The election was held across Osun’s 30 local government areas on Saturday, with the final results collated into the early hours of Sunday before INEC made the declaration.

With his victory now officially announced, Adeleke is set to begin another four-year tenure as governor of Osun State, while supporters who gathered to celebrate his success hailed the result as a fresh mandate from the people.

For the opposition APC, the defeat means another setback in its attempt to regain control of the South-West state.

The outcome also brings an end to an intensely contested election that attracted significant attention across Nigeria, with Adeleke ultimately emerging victorious and securing his place at the helm of Osun State for another term.

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