The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would be defeated in the 2027 general elections if the polls are conducted freely and fairly.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Dickson said widespread dissatisfaction with the APC-led administration would translate into electoral defeat for the ruling party.

“As leader of the NDC, and as a Nigerian who knows the feelings and yearnings of Nigerians, and who also knows that their aspirations have not been met, we believe that the APC government, the APC as a party, not just the President, will be defeated massively,” he said.

He called for an open democratic process, urging authorities to allow all political parties to participate in the elections without interference.

“Allow every party that wants to contest. You can only defeat them in an electoral contest. So, let us have a free and fair election,” Dickson added.

The former Bayelsa State governor also said the NDC remained open to discussions with other opposition parties ahead of the 2027 elections, although he expressed hope that any eventual coalition would support the party’s candidates.

“As an opposition leader, our party, the NDC, will be open to conversations within that space,” he said.

“We hope that whatever discussions take place will lead to the NDC candidates being backed because we know the value of the candidates we are putting forward.”

Dickson, however, said it was too early to predict the outcome of any coalition talks.

“We are not claiming superiority. After the nomination process has ended, we will move into another phase of discussions. Whether there will be an agreement, I don’t know. We will try. Where it will lead, I don’t know, but all those are options that remain open,” he stated.

His comments come amid ongoing efforts by opposition parties to forge alliances ahead of the 2027 polls following political realignments involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

Dickson also dismissed a lawsuit seeking the deregistration of the NDC, describing it as “frivolous” and politically motivated.

He maintained that the legal challenge would not affect the party’s participation in future elections, insisting that all its candidates would be on the ballot.

According to him, the party complied with all constitutional and legal requirements during its registration and remains confident in both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary.

The former governor also rejected claims challenging the NDC’s logo, arguing that no individual or organisation could claim exclusive ownership of the internationally recognised peace sign, which he said has been used for decades by prominent global and Nigerian leaders.

Yoruba Nation advocate Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said members of his private security outfit, Iru Ekun, who were injured during an ambush by suspected bandits in the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State have recovered.

Igboho gave the update in a video shared on Sunday, where he dismissed rumours about his wellbeing and confirmed that he was safe.

He also said the injured members of the outfit had recovered from their wounds and reaffirmed his determination to continue efforts against those threatening peace in the region.

He said, “I greet you, my fathers and mothers. It’s your son, Sunday Igboho. My brothers and sisters all over the world, today is the 28th of June, 2026. Rumours have been going around, but I’m using this opportunity to tell all my loved ones around the world that I am okay. Those who sustained injuries are now okay. We will not rest until we ensure that those disturbing the peace of our land depart.”

The update follows an attack on members of Iru Ekun, a private security outfit linked to Igboho, during an operation inside the Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State.

The operatives were reportedly on a mission to track suspected kidnappers and other armed criminals believed to be operating within the forest reserve when they came under attack.

The team had deployed surveillance drones to locate suspected criminal camps and monitor the movement of armed groups before moving into the area.

The operation later turned into a gun battle after heavily armed men, believed to be members of cross-border criminal networks, opened fire on the security operatives.

Some members of the Iru Ekun team sustained injuries during the exchange.

…Hails Gov Mbah’s investment in modern security infrastructure

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has commended the Governor Peter Mbah Administration for setting up what he described as a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for effective surveillance of the state.

Disu, who expressed surprise at the sophistication of the security infrastructure, wished every other state could come over to understudy the Command and Control Centre and set up one to boost security of lives and property in every part of the country.

The IGP spoke during a tour of the facility on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, Enugu, a strategic partnership between the Mbah Administration and the Godfrey Okoye University to promote scientific, evidence-based justice and war against criminality.

“I must confess that I am surprised we have this kind of facility here in this state because you know I worked for Lagos. I know we had something like this in Lagos, but the advancement of this present one amazed me.

“This is a control room that has a lot of facilities with the ability to see almost everywhere in this state. There is no place that is left ungoverned from the control room. We can see the forest. We can zoom in – I think over 40 per cent – to be able to see far away. We can zoom in close to 30 kilometers away. That is great security.

“I wish every state in Nigeria will come here and emulate what is happening. I have seen AI cameras. I have seen officers dedicated to certain areas of the state watching, seeing what is happening.

“I have also seen records of the successes recorded through this control room. One more time, I wish all the states in Nigeria will come around, see what is happening here and emulate it,” Disu said.

He equally commended the state’s Distress Response Squad initiative, a special police unit with over 150 security vehicles installed with AI-enabled cameras and also linked to the Command and Control Centre.

“I moved around. I saw the state’s DRS and then we put them to test. They did not know I was listening to them. We put them to test. We asked them to move to a certain part of the town and within two, three, four minutes, they were there. It shows their efficiency.

“Then I am sure you know I was the former commander of the Rapid Response Force in Lagos too and then I do not want to mention here which is better – whether the DRS here or the Rapid Response Force. But the most important thing is that they have shown efficiency. They have shown capacity and I thank the governor of this state for investing in security of the people of the state,” he stated.

Also in the tour was the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

It is recalled that the Enugu State Command and Control Centre built by the Mbah Administration was formally inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu during his official visit to the state on January 4, 2025.