As political tension continue to rise in Idanre Local Government Area following speculation around alleged consensus candidates towards the upcoming primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), elder statesman and Chairman of the Governors Advisory Council in Ondo State, Chief Pius Akinyelure, has called for calm, urging party faithful and stakeholders to refrain from action capable of disrupting the peace of the ancient town.

In a strongly worded but conciliatory message made available to the press, Akinyelure dismissed claims of any officially endorsed consensus candidates in Idanre at this stage, describing such reports as premature and capable of heating the polity in the local government and in Ondo State.

He noted that while internal democratic processes may generate disagreements, members must prioritize unity, discipline, and respect for party structures rather than resort to hostility or misinformation.

“Our attention has been drawn to growing tension fuelled by unverified claims of consensus arrangements. Let it be clearly stated that there is no basis for such assertions at the moment. Party members should disregard any narrative intended to mislead or create unnecessary division,” he said.

The respected APC chieftain cautioned political actors and their supporters against heating the polity, warning that desperation and inflammatory rhetoric could undermine the long-standing reputation of Idanre as a bastion of progressive politics in Ondo State.

He emphasized that peace and reconciliation remain the most potent tools for sustaining the strength and electoral viability of the APC, particularly at a time when unity is crucial for consolidating the gains of the party at both state and national levels.

Akinyelure further urged aggrieved members to channel their concerns through established party mechanisms, stressing that dialogue and consultation are the hallmark of a mature political system.

“Political contests should not degenerate into conflict. We must remember that we are members of one family, bound by a shared vision. Violence, intimidation, or the spread of falsehoods will only weaken our collective strength,” he warned.

He also appealed to party leaders, youths, and grassroots mobilizers in Idanre to demonstrate restraint and responsibility, noting that the actions taken at this critical moment would determine the party’s electoral fortunes in Idanre in next year’s elections. He assured that available positions would be fairly distributed among qualified candidates.

Reaffirming Idanre’s historical role as a bastion of progressive ideology, Chief Akinyelure called on all stakeholders to close ranks and work towards reconciliation, adding that unity within the party would ultimately translate into electoral success next year.

Political observers in Idanre and Ondo State say this intervention by the apex leader is timely, coming amid heightened anxiety and speculation among party members. This latest intervention by the elder statesman is expected to help douse tension while reinforcing confidence in the party’s internal processes.

The federal government has filed a 13-count charge before the federal high court in Abuja against alleged plotters of a coup to oust President Bola Tinubu.

Among the suspects are a retired major general, a retired naval captain, a serving police inspector and three others.

The defendants are accused of waging a war against Nigeria and committing acts bordering on treason and terrorism.

THE ALLEGED PLOT

In October 2025, the federal government announced the cancellation of a parade earlier scheduled to celebrate the country’s 65th independence anniversary on October 1.

Days later, there were reports that the cancellation of the independence anniversary event was linked to an alleged coup attempt.

However, the DHQ dismissed the reports, insisting that the cancellation had no links to the alleged coup attempt.

On October 31, 2025, it was reported that 16 military officers were arrested in the first week of the month over the alleged coup attempt, while two other officers were on the run.

In January 2026, the defence headquarters (DHQ) confirmed that there was a plot to overthrow Tinubu.

Samaila Uba, the DHQ director of defence information, had said investigations conducted in line with established military procedures found some personnel involved in a coup plot.

Uba had said the officers would be arraigned before relevant military judicial panels.

In March, family members of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot appealed to Tinubu to allow the suspects to be tried in an open court.

During a press conference in Abuja, wives and other family members of the detained officers also requested access to the alleged coup masterminds.

In April, families of the detained military officers protested at the entrance of the national assembly to demand a speedy trial and access to their relatives.

DEFENDANTS

The defendants in the case are Timipre Sylva, a former minister of state for petroleum resources; Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired major general; Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired captain; and Ahmed Ibrahim, a police inspector.

Others are Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.

The alleged coup plotters are expected to be arraigned before Joyce Abdulmalik, a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on April 22.

The charges were filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by Rotimi Oyedepo, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation.

In the charge sheet, the federal government accused the defendants of treason and terrorism, failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.

The federal government alleged that the defendants conspired with one another to “levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Bukar Kashim Goni was alleged to have “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000, which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: terrorism financing”, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2 million from a similar source.

Umoru was alleged to have “without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10,000,000″, and also retained an additional N8.8 million suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.

Ibrahim, the police inspector, was also accused of taking possession of N1 million linked to the same alleged scheme.

Ibrahim and Umoru were accused of participating in meetings tied to terrorist activities.

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM (AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA (still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with one another to levy war against the state to overawe the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004,” part of the charge sheet reads.

“That you, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMED IBRAHIM GANA -(RTD), CAPTAIN (NN) ERASMUS OCHEGOBIA VICTOR -(RTD), INSPECTOR AHMED IBRAHIM(AP776373), ZEKERI UMORU, BUKAR KASHIM GONI, ABDULKADIR SANI, TIMPRE SYLVA(still at large) and others, sometime in the year 2025, in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowing that COLONEL MOHAMMED ALHASSAN MA’AJI (N/10668) and others intended to commit treason, did not give the information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or a Peace Officer and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 40(b) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 LFN 2004.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South LGA of Ogun.

In a statement on Monday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu also approved a special take-off grant of N15 billion for the college.

“The President’s approval was in fulfilment of the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, particularly with respect to the expansion of the Police Academy based in Wudil, Kano state, into multiple campuses across the country,” the statement reads.

Onanuga said the fund would be sourced from the 2026 allocation of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) to “finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets”.

The presidential spokesperson said the siting of the new police campus in Erinja was recommended at a high-level consultative meeting involving Tunji Alausa, minister of education; officials of his ministry; Tunji Disu, the inspector-general of police (IGP); and Abdullahi Ribadu, executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

“The meeting considered student intake capacity, funding realities, academic quality assurance, and the long-term needs of the Nigerian Police Force, which is currently recruiting more men,” he added.

“President Tinubu believes the expansion will strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education, and national security.”

On December 9, 2024, Ibrahim Gaidam, minister of police affairs, said Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 30,000 police officers annually for the next six years.

Gaidam spoke when he visited the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano state, during the screening exercise of recruits.

The police affairs minister said the federal government was committed to transparently recruiting more police officers.

Gaidam said the annual recruitment of police officers is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring Nigeria has enough personnel to address the prevailing insecurity.

“The number of police being recruited, 10,000, is not enough to cover all the states, so the president has given approval for the recruitment of 30,000 policemen annually for the next five to six years,” he said.

“I believe if this is done, by the end of the year, we should be able to get enough policemen to take care of our security challenges in this country.”