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Ahead of the 2027 presidential election, former President Goodluck Jonathan has failed to show up for the submission of his nomination form as announced by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A faction of the PDP backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had announced that Jonathan would be screened as the party’s presidential aspirant on Tuesday.

Ahead of the planned screening, Jonathan, who was expected to submit his nomination form on Monday, reportedly failed to appear.

A PDP chieftain and member of the second faction, Lere Olayinka, disclosed this in a post on his official Facebook page.

According to him, the Turaki-led PDP “waited from morning till 4pm today for President Goodluck Jonathan to come and submit a nomination form to contest for president.

“As at 4pm, they didn’t see Jonathan. They had to announce that the submission was postponed indefinitely.”

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President Bola Tinubu has assured that all victims abducted during the attack on schools in Oyo State will be rescued, while condemning the reported killing of one of the kidnapped teachers.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Bandits invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, abducting staff, students and pupils of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.

According to the statement, security operatives are working round the clock to rescue the victims and apprehend the bandits and their collaborators within the community.

Tinubu described the reported killing of one of the abducted teachers as barbaric and sympathised with Governor Seyi Makinde, the government and the people of Oyo State over the incident.

“I am saddened by the reported killing of one of the teachers kidnapped by the gunmen who invaded the community. I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims.

“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims. I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and the deployment of a tactical and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) team to rescue the victims.

“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas. The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police,” the President said.

Governor Makinde, on Sunday, confirmed the killing of one of the teachers abducted alongside other victims and pledged that the government would continue efforts to rescue the remaining abductees.

He said that seven teachers and an as-yet-unconfirmed number of pupils were abducted.

The governor said one of the abducted teachers, believed to be a Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists.

“What we know right now is that seven teachers were abducted. Unfortunately, we received a video this morning indicating that one of the teachers, understood to be the Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists. Our prayers are with the family,” Makinde said.

Meanwhile, teachers on Monday shut down classroom activities in Ogbomoso and staged a peaceful protest to the TESCOM office in the town over the kidnapping of students and teachers, which resulted in killing of one teacher.

The protesters marched with placards bearing various inscriptions, calling on governments at all levels to intensify efforts toward securing the release of those currently being held captive by kidnappers.

The teachers also demanded improved security around schools and safer learning environments for both staff and students.

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President Bola Tinubu has called on the National Assembly to accelerate the passage of the bill establishing state police, saying the growing wave of kidnappings across the country highlights the urgent need for decentralised policing.

Tinubu made the call on Monday while reacting to the abduction of teachers, students, and pupils from schools in the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The president said cases of kidnapping and insecurity in underserved communities have made the creation of state police increasingly necessary.

He noted that state police would strengthen local security architecture and improve response to criminal activities in remote areas.

“Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas. The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police,” Tinubu said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

Tinubu also sympathised with Governor Seyi Makinde, the government, and the people of Oyo State for the incident and assured them that the federal government will collaborate with the state government to rescue the victims.

He stated that security operatives are working around the clock to rescue the victims and apprehend the bandits and their collaborators within the community.

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I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims.

“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims. I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and the deployment of a tactical and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) team to rescue the victims.

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“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Bandits invaded the Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, abducting staff, students, and pupils of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery, and Primary School and L.A. Primary School.

One of the abducted teachers was killed by the bandits in captivity on Monday.