By Favour Bibaikefie

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to closing the human capital development gap in the Niger Delta, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts in that direction are firmly on course.

Otuaro said the expansion of educational opportunities under the Presidential Amnesty Programme demonstrates the President’s determination to equip young people from the Niger Delta with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to the development of the region and Nigeria.

This was contained in a statement signed by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, and made available to the IduwiniVoice News Desk on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

According to the statement, more than 9,000 beneficiaries have so far been deployed by the programme to universities within Nigeria and overseas for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Otuaro said President Tinubu’s support for the expansion of the programme’s educational interventions was informed by the need to increase access to higher education for Niger Delta youths and strengthen the region’s human capital base.

The PAP Administrator made the remarks while addressing another batch of 35 offshore postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries who departed Nigeria on Monday for universities in England and Scotland in the United Kingdom.

He urged the beneficiaries to remain conscious of their responsibilities to the Niger Delta and Nigeria as they pursue their academic programmes abroad.

“The deliberate effort to reduce the human capital development gap in the Niger Delta is on course under President Bola Tinubu, and he is resolutely committed to it”, he said.

“This is reflected by the over 9,000 scholarship beneficiaries we have deployed within and outside the country because of the President’s favourable disposition to expansion of educational sponsorships and other initiatives of the programme.”

The beneficiaries are pursuing postgraduate programmes in areas including forensic audit, construction engineering management, data science analytics, law, software engineering, oil and gas engineering, cyber security, global public health and fintech analytics.

The 35 scholars form part of the 150 overseas postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries who participated in a pre-departure orientation organised by the programme in August.

Two earlier batches comprising 54 and 31 beneficiaries had already departed Nigeria for the United Kingdom.

According to the statement, the PAP Administrator has dispatched 243 beneficiaries for offshore scholarship programmes this year, further expanding the programme’s educational intervention for youths from the Niger Delta.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as the priority accorded the Niger Delta under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He charged the scholars to concentrate on their academic pursuits and avoid conduct capable of jeopardising their studies or stay abroad, stressing that the region would rely on their knowledge and expertise in advancing sustainable peace, stability, community development and nation-building.

“You are expected to focus on your studies because that is the primary purpose of your academic journey overseas. Gird yourself, go for excellence, and don’t engage in activities that will endanger you and your studies”, he said.

Otuaro further expressed confidence that scholarship opportunities under the programme would be sustained if President Tinubu secures reelection next year.

He consequently urged people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate what he described as the President’s commitment to the region by supporting him for continuity.

The PAP Administrator also acknowledged the role of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, commending him for his supervision of the programme and efforts towards ensuring that its interventions achieve the desired impact across the Niger Delta.

He equally praised stakeholders of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for their contributions towards maintaining peace and security in the region, noting that sustained cooperation remains essential to consolidating stability and development in the Niger Delta.

By Favour Bibaikefie

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Tanimu Turaki has rejected reports suggesting disagreements with its 2027 election candidates over the submission of nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement issued by the faction’s leadership, the group described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that its governorship, National Assembly and state assembly candidates remain united and fully support the party’s leadership.

The faction explained that its candidates were duly nominated through internal party procedures and expressed confidence that the process complied with relevant electoral guidelines. It also maintained that there was no conflict between the party leadership and candidates regarding access to INEC’s nomination portal or the submission of candidates’ details.

According to the group, attempts to portray internal disagreements are part of efforts to create confusion and undermine its preparations for the 2027 general elections. It urged party members and supporters to disregard what it called unfounded speculation.

The Turaki-led camp reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all lawful and constitutional measures to protect what it described as the mandate of its candidates. It added that the party remains focused on strengthening its structures and preparing for the upcoming elections despite the ongoing leadership dispute within the PDP.

By Rukevwe Odeh

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed July 7, 2026, to hear all pending applications and the substantive suit filed by the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the party’s interim National Working Committee led by Kabir Turaki.

The hearing date was set by Justice Salim Ibrahim after lawyers representing the parties agreed to exchange all outstanding court documents before the next sitting. The court directed that every process must be filed and served on or before July 6, warning that no further delays would be accepted.

In the suit, the PDP BoT is asking the court to compel INEC to update its official records to reflect the Turaki-led interim leadership ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The plaintiffs argue that the electoral commission is legally obligated to comply with previous court decisions, which they claim nullified the party’s 2025 national convention and upheld the suspension of certain party officials.

The outcome of the case is expected to play a significant role in determining which leadership structure INEC officially recognises as the PDP continues efforts to resolve its internal leadership dispute before the next general election.