Apparently disappointed, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has summoned the chairmen of the FCT area councils and the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, FCT Wing, for a meeting.

The meeting aims to find lasting solutions to the prolonged strike by primary school teachers over unresolved welfare issues.

Wike disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday after inspecting ongoing projects ahead of their inauguration, planned to commemorate President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary in office.

He made the statement in reaction to the protest by teachers that took place early Wednesday.

Describing the situation as “very unfortunate,” the minister questioned the integrity of the FCT area council chairmen.

He said the council chairmen had failed to pay the teachers their entitlements, despite receiving approved funds meant for that purpose.

“They were unable to pay them. In fact, I got the report yesterday and have summoned all of them for a meeting.

You see, that’s the problem we have in this country; by the time I apply the big stick, people will be saying all kinds of things.

“I don’t know why people don’t have a conscience that these are teachers who take care of our children, and you are happy that you are not paying them their salaries,” he said.

Wike clarified that primary schools fall under the jurisdiction of the area councils, not the FCT Administration, emphasising that the councils are responsible for managing primary schools.

He appealed to the NUT for patience, assuring them that the matter would be resolved soon.

Earlier, the NUT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafa, who led the protest, acknowledged Wike’s intervention in the ongoing strike. He noted the release of N4.1 billion to the area councils to pay the striking teachers.

However, he accused the area council chairmen of diverting the funds. He called on the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to step in and hold the chairmen accountable.

Primary school teachers have embarked on multiple strikes over the non-payment of minimum wage and a 40 per cent Peculiar Allowance.

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, on Thursday, alleged that the All Progressives Congress attempted to bribe his witnesses at the tribunal with N30 million.

Ighodalo, however, expressed gratitude to his witnesses for their perseverance and loyalty to the cause, vowing to take the battle to the Supreme Court to “claim his mandate.”

Speaking at the PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Benin, Ighodalo stated that he, his running mate Osarodion Ogie, and other party members in the state would continue the fight despite the tribunal’s verdict, which he believed sought to undermine justice.

“We will fight this battle to the end. Many of our supporters left their homes to be here. All our witnesses have been steadfast, despite being offered N30m to sway them. They stood firm with the party, and I thank everyone,” he said.

In the election held on September 21, 2024, APC’s Monday Okpebholo won with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who garnered 247,655 votes.

Dissatisfied with the result, the PDP and Ighodalo filed a petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Okpebholo, and the APC at the tribunal.

On April 2, 2025, the Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petition and upheld Okpebholo’s victory.

Unfazed, Ighodalo and the PDP proceeded with an appeal.

At Thursday’s stakeholders’ meeting, Ighodalo stated, “The tribunal’s verdict was not fair. We’ve appealed, and we’ll take the case to the Supreme Court. We are confident that God will intervene because He is just. We must remain strong and focused, despite everything happening around us.”

Ighodalo promised that once they reclaim the mandate, they would build upon the foundations laid by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion.

“When we get our mandate, we will pick up where leaders like Lucky Igbinedion left off. After our eight years in office, everyone will be comfortable, except those unwilling to work. God has been teaching us humility and strength of character. If we had been sworn in after the election, we would have made a big mistake by appointing the wrong people. The loyalty of party members will be rewarded when we take office,” he said.

A party leader and former Minister of External Affairs, Chief Tom Ikhimi, accused the APC of attacking the PDP to pave the way for a one-party state.

He expressed confidence that Ighodalo and Ogie had won the election, asserting that the “stolen mandate” would be retrieved.

“The PDP kickstarted this Fourth Republic, and I’m glad to see the first governor and deputy governor of the state here with us. Their presence provides leadership to the party, and it is commendable. The PDP is a family, and despite the current challenges, we will prevail. The APC has been hijacked and is now serving personal interests. The best way forward is to ensure the survival of the PDP,” he said.

Edo State PDP Caretaker Chairman, Tony Aziegbemi, acknowledged the party’s current struggles but expressed optimism that these difficulties would bring out the best in the PDP.

He assured that the majority of the state still supported the party.

“We may be facing challenges, but we are the majority in the state. The quality of people in this party will shine through when we face adversity. If the APC is using coercion to bring in PDP members, it only shows the weakness of the APC at the national level,” Aziegbemi said.

Igbinedion, former governor of the state, emphasised that there were only two political parties in Nigeria: the PDP and everyone else.

He urged Edo State PDP members to focus on marketing the party and building support.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, admitted that the party was facing difficult times, but reiterated that the challenges were not new.

“Every serious political organisation with a mandate to serve must occasionally pause, reflect, and recommit to its core values. That’s exactly where we are today,” he stated.

The priest in charge of the Saint Gerald’s Qausi Catholic Parish in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Reverend Father Ibrahim Amos, who was abducted by bandits on Thursday morning, has regained freedom.

This was confirmed in a statement on Friday by the Chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Jacob Shanet.

The statement said that the abducted priest was released by his abductors at about 10pm.on Thursday.

The statement thanked security agencies and the public for their prayers and overwhelming show of concern following the priest’s abduction.

Reverend Father Shanet described the love and prayers showed by the public as a testament to the fact that the church was not alone in the struggle to respect and promote the dignity of human life.

Father Ibrahim Amos was kidnapped from his residence at Saint Gerald’s Qausi Catholic Parish in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the early hours of Thursday morning.