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SDP flags off 2027 governorship campaign in Zamfara, promises reforms

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has flagged off its campaign in Zamfara State, as its governorship candidate, Hamza Musa Maibulawus, pledged to ensure peaceful rallies in the state.

Maibulawus gave the assurance while speaking during the flag-off of his governorship campaign at Freedom Square in Gusau, the state capital.

He lamented that Zamfara had suffered enough neglect in the areas of insecurity and banditry, adding that the state needed peaceful coexistence among its populace to ensure positive development.

Maibulawus further highlighted some of his manifesto promises, saying that if elected governor of Zamfara State, he would run an all-inclusive government in which security would be given top priority.

‘I developed a blueprint in which both human capital development and infrastructure would be pursued vigorously if given the mandate in 2027.

‘The business community has suffered neglect. Efforts would be made to provide them with all the necessary support and create an enabling environment for them to bounce back,’ he assured.

According to him, women’s groups, youths and vulnerable people are also part of his strategy to ensure that everyone is carried along.

‘Education, health and agricultural sectors would be reformed to meet the aspirations of the people.’

He called on the people of Zamfara State to support his aspiration and give him the mandate in 2027 for sustainable development.

Insecurity didn’t start under Tinubu – Dogara

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has said Nigeria’s security challenges predate the administration of President Bola Tinubu, noting that terrorism, insurgency and banditry had been entrenched in the country before 2023 when Tinubu assumed office.

Dogara, who is the Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, spoke at the institution’s 16th convocation ceremony, where 836 graduands received various academic qualifications.

He said the country’s security problems were rooted in years of porous borders, illegal arms proliferation, youth unemployment and the spread of extremist ideologies.

‘Insecurity in Nigeria did not begin with this administration. This is no excuse, because the facts need no defence. Terrorism, insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and communal violence did not arrive in 2023,’ he said.

Dogara added that the challenges had developed over several years, stressing that their roots went deep before Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.

He, however, noted that Tinubu had consistently identified national security as a major responsibility of his administration. He also congratulated the graduands, saying the country needed their talents, creativity and innovation.

In his address, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, said Nigeria had made significant progress in expanding access to tertiary education but expressed concern about the prospects of graduates after leaving school.

Ayorinde cited figures from the National Universities Commission, which put the number of universities in the country at 312 as of June 2026, comprising 77 federal, 67 state-owned and 168 private institutions.

He said the institutions represented a huge investment in human capital, with parents, governments and lecturers making sacrifices to produce skilled professionals, but questioned what opportunities awaited graduates after completing their studies.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Omolola Irinoye, said the university had remained committed to providing quality education that combines intellectual development, practical skills, character building and social responsibility since its establishment.

Lango transporters hike fares to Kampala over high fuel prices

Transporters in the Lango sub-region have increased fares to Kampala effective November 1, citing high fuel costs.

The United Bus Owners Association’s Friday announcement indicates that transport costs on routes to Kampala City have risen by at least Shs 10,000.

According to the new cost, travellers using executive buses will pay Shs 60,000 from Apac District to Kampala Shs50,000, while ordinary buses will charge Shs 50,000 up from Shs40,000.

From Lira City to Kampala, passengers will pay Shs 40,000 up from Shs 30,000; those travelling from Aduku Town Council in Kwania District will pay Shs 45,000 up from Shs 35,000.

Mr Geoffrey Anok, the executive director of Comfort Travellers Bus Company, told this publication on Saturday that the new rates will keep them in the business amid the spiralling cost of fuel and servicing buses.

“Currently, the cost of servicing the buses has almost doubled, and the cost of the fuel has also skyrocketed. The money we used to pay for fuel for the return journey now is paying for only a single trip.” He said.

The news has caused anxiety among the business community, especially small-scale traders who depend on daily travel to Kampala, Lira and other markets outside Lango Sub-region.

Ms Susan Akello, a produce dealer in Apac Main Market, said the hike will force them to increase commodity prices.

“When transport goes up, everything goes up. I buy beans from Lira. If I pay an extra 10,000 for transport, I must add it to the price of beans. In the end, the final consumer suffers. Customers are already complaining that things are expensive,” Akello said.

Another trader, Mr Jacob Ogwang, who deals in second-hand clothes, warned of low sales during the festive season.

“Customers have no money. If we increase prices of commodities because of transport, they will not buy. We are stuck. Government should intervene on fuel prices,” Mr Ogwang said.

Mr Joseph Ebong, 17, a resident of Apac Sub-county who travels to Kampala for medical treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital, called upon the government to regulate fuel prices and have dialogue with transport operators.

“I always travel to Kampala for medical check-ups, but the fare is now too high. I may not be able to afford this fare. This fuel price is killing us,” he lamented.

Fuel prices have been steadily rising in the past weeks, with some pump stations currently charging up to Shs7,200 for a litre of diesel, up from Shs4,700 in April this year.

US court rejects discovery bid against Tinubu DCI Group in FOIA suit

A United States federal court has rejected an attempt to obtain discovery from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and DCI Group in an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a ruling delivered on Friday October 30 2026 denied a motion filed by Aaron Greenspan seeking limited discovery from the Nigerian President and DCI Group over alleged cyberattacks on his website.

The development was disclosed in a statement posted by Bayo Onanuga the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy on his verified X handle @aonanuga1956.

According to the statement the court held that the proposed discovery was not sufficiently relevant to the substantive issues in the FOIA litigation involving the two American federal law enforcement agencies.

The ruling effectively rejected Greenspan’s attempt to introduce the alleged cyberattacks into the proceedings limiting consideration to matters directly connected to the underlying information-disclosure dispute.

Onanuga’s post also said the court rejected Greenspan’s motion for summary judgment along with other applications connected to the litigation.

It specifically denied a separate application by Karl Von Batten a non-party to the proceedings seeking permission to submit an ‘amicus curiae’ or friend-of-the-court brief.

Greenspan’s related request for judicial notice was equally denied.

In response attorney Christopher W. Carmichael described the ruling as a reaffirmation of the legal boundaries governing FOIA proceedings.

‘The Court’s decision makes clear that this Freedom of Information Act proceeding cannot be used to pursue discovery unrelated to the legal questions before it.

‘By denying the request for discovery against President Tinubu and DCI Group the Court reinforced the importance of keeping this litigation focused on the issues properly before it’ Carmichael said.

Another attorney Oluwole Afolabi said the decisions had established important procedural limits on the scope of the litigation.

‘The Court also denied the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and rejected a separate request to introduce an amicus brief.

‘While the underlying FOIA issues remain before the Court these rulings establish important procedural boundaries and clarify which matters are appropriate for consideration in this litigation’ Afolabi said.

Uba Sani Is A Champion Of Human Capital Development-Institute

Governor Uba Sani has bagged the Distinguished Human Capital Development Champion Award, in recognition of his outstanding investments in education, skills development, youth empowerment and sustainable development.

The Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria (CIHCDN), which honoured him with the award, noted that it celebrates the Governor’s people-centred policies.

The award which was presented at the Institute’s National Conference held at Merit House, Maitama, Abuja, applauds Governor Uba Sani’s initiatives in expanding access to education, healthcare, vocational skills, economic opportunities and improved living conditions of citizens of Kaduna State.

The Institute stated that the award recognises exceptional leadership in advancing education, healthcare, skills development, rural transformation, financial inclusion, youth empowerment and capacity building.

It described Governor Uba Sani’s initiatives as a model of people-centred governance capable of delivering sustainable development and improved opportunities for Kaduna State citizens.

Speaking after receiving the award, the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, expressed the Governor’s appreciation to the Institute, for recognising the commitment of Kaduna State to human capital development.

‘This recognition is a testament to Governor Uba Sani’s unwavering commitment to placing people at the centre of governance. His Excellency firmly believes that the greatest investment any government can make is in its people, particularly the young, women and the vulnerable,’ Maiyaki stated.

He cited the establishment of three Vocational Training and Skills Development Centres in Rigachikun, Soba and Samarun Kataf, designed to equip approximately 32,000 young people annually with practical, industry-relevant skills across 14 trades.

‘These centres represent a deliberate shift towards building a productive, skilled and economically independent generation. Our objective is to transform young people from job seekers into skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and employers of labour,’ he explained.

The Commissioner further noted that the administration has made substantial investments in education, including the construction of 736 new classrooms, renovation of over 1,200 classrooms, recruitment of 10,000 teachers and training of more than 33,000 teachers to strengthen quality education and enhance access.

He recalled the reduction of tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions by up to 50 per cent, alongside expanded scholarship and bursary interventions, demonstrating the Governor’s determination to remove financial barriers to education.

On agricultural development, Maiyaki disclosed that the administration has distributed 1,400 trucks of free fertiliser to 420,000 smallholder farmers, describing the intervention as a major investment in rural livelihoods, food security and economic empowerment.

‘Governor Uba Sani recognises that human capital development goes beyond the classroom. It includes empowering farmers to become more productive, equipping young people with employable skills, strengthening healthcare delivery and creating opportunities for families to achieve economic independence,’ he said.

Maiyaki also highlighted the Governor’s investments in healthcare, including the revitalisation of 255 Primary Healthcare Centres, improved welfare for healthcare professionals and initiatives to expand access to quality medical services, particularly in underserved rural communities.

He stressed that the administration’s development agenda is anchored on inclusive governance, by ensuring that opportunities and government interventions reach communities, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations.

‘This award is not merely a recognition of achievements recorded; it is an encouragement to do even more. His Excellency remains resolute in building a Kaduna State where every child has access to quality education, every young person has an opportunity to acquire productive skills, and every citizen has a fair chance to prosper,’ Maiyaki added.

The Commissioner assured the Institute that the recognition would further strengthen the Governor’s determination to consolidate ongoing reforms and accelerate investments in human capital development.

Ogun 2027: Adebutu will be on ballot campaign insists

The Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation yesterday insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State would be on the ballot in the February 6 2027 election despite reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected his petition to be included in the list of contestants.

Afolabi Orekoya Head of Public Communications of the Organisation said in Abeokuta that the PDP was still awaiting an official statement from INEC on the petition.

He asked the public to disregard reports that Adebutu’s petition has failed.

Orekoya told The Nation that Adebutu would be on the ballot as the party followed due process picking Adebutu as its flag bearer.

He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of political victimisation.

His words: It is so clear that this is political victimisation.

‘ APC is trying to kill democracy in the country. They are desperate because they don’t want any contest. ‘They know that they don’t have a sellable gubernatorial candidate; that is why they want a one-party system in 2027.

‘We want to assure our supporters that our candidate will be on the ballot in 2027. We followed due process before the emergence of our governorship candidate and we never did anything contrary to the law as stipulated by INEC.

The commission on Thursday issued an update on its review of 130 petitions submitted by political parties over alleged irregularities in the nomination process.

Of the number 66 were favourably considered while the remaining 64 were knocked out.

Subsequently 66 candidates received the nod to contest the election.

Among those restored to the lists are former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Ali Pantami the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Gombe State; and Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate in Kano State.

However the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State Ladi Adebutu remains excluded after INEC rejected his petition challenging his omission.

Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC) Mohammed Kudu Haruna said the commission received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states on the governorship race. Of these 41 were successful while 28 were rejected.

For the State Houses of Assembly elections INEC received 61 petitions from 11 political parties across 11 states. Twenty-five of the petitions were successful while 36 were unsuccessful.

The complaints centred on the omission of certain political parties the wrongful inclusion of candidates whose names were not in the membership registers submitted by their parties and alleged multiple nominations.

Haruna said the commission reviewed the complaints alongside relevant records and applicable legal provisions before reaching its decisions.

He explained that some representations were found to have merit resulting in the approval of the affected candidates and political parties while those considered to be without merit were rejected.

The commission also said that some candidates whose names had appeared in the original lists were removed after verification showed that they were not included in the membership registers submitted by their political parties.

It further approved the removal of candidates whose nominations did not meet the applicable legal requirements.

A comparison of the October 10 and October 30 governorship lists shows that Pantami has now been included as the PDP candidate in Gombe State while Gwarzo has been added as the NDC candidate in Kano State.

Gwarzo’s exclusion from the original list had prompted the NDC and the candidate to approach the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling INEC to restore his name and that of his running mate Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso to the list.

However INEC subsequently approved the petition concerning his exclusion and included him in the updated list.

Adebutu on the other hand remains absent from the Ogun State list after his petition was rejected. Reports indicated that his name was not included in the list of candidates originally submitted to INEC by the PDP.

The commission said the affected candidates political parties and states were reflected in the updated lists published on its website.

The latest development follows an earlier clarification by INEC on October 13 in which it explained its decision to exclude some candidates from the original lists.

The commission had cited the Supreme Court judgment of September 24 2026 on the mandatory submission of political parties’ membership registers under the Electoral Act 2026.

The judgment affirmed the constitutionality of the relevant provisions requiring political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC a requirement the commission said it was bound to enforce.

INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency and the credibility of the electoral process.

Atiku to INEC: Name officials responsible for AI photographs on voters’ register

African Democratic Congress ( ADC) presidential candidate, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) must name its officials responsible for the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated photographs in the voter register.

Atiku, in a statement by the Director, Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said INEC’s admission that AI generated images and other irregularities entered the voter register through its registration officers, is a scandal that strikes at the heart of the commission’s credibility.

The former Vice President charged opposition leaders and the international community to demand an independent audit, full disclosure and accountability on the voter register scandal.

The ADC candidate, while accusing the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration of allegedly enabling the crisis by allowing INEC to evade scrutiny, stated that the electoral umpire has no right to demand trust while shielding those responsible for the infraction.

‘INEC has admitted that some AI generated images are on the voter register and that registration officers introduced irregularities across the country. The Commission charged with protecting Nigerians’ votes has acknowledged that its own system was abused by those entrusted to operate it. This is a catastrophic failure of leadership and safeguards.

‘Professor Joash Amupitan through Boyode Lawrence says INEC knows what its officers did and how they tampered with the register, yet claims it does not know why. That is a disgraceful evasion, not an answer. Even ordinary WhatsApp, Facebook and email accounts appear to have stronger security safeguards than those INEC’s ICT director described on national television. How can the database holding the votes of millions of Nigerians be less secure than a personal social media account?

‘If INEC knows how the register was compromised, it must disclose the evidence, identify every officer involved and explain why they have not been suspended and prosecuted. Amupitan cannot admit the misconduct, withhold the perpetrators’ identities and expect Nigerians to accept ignorance as an excuse. He must account for this failure now,’ Atiku stated.

He stated that INEC must not quietly ‘clean up’ the voter register and bury the evidence, noting that allegations that more than 20 million AI generated images may be involved demands an independent forensic audit.

‘INEC has no right to demand trust while concealing evidence and shielding those responsible. Name the culprits, expose the contractors and submit the register and election materials to independent scrutiny. Until then, its assurances are worthless. The credibility of the 2027 election is on the line.’

We must give our children confidence, capability to be part of digital future – Awolowo Dosumu

It is a pleasure to welcome you to this year’s Byte Busters Coding Club Showcase, and to celebrate once again the energy, imagination and promise of our young people.

When we gathered for the inaugural Showcase last year, we were witnessing the early fruits of an ambitious idea. Today, that idea has grown in reach, confidence and substance. Byte Busters now operates across all six South-West states, and the quality of the projects before us shows clearly that our students are not merely learning how to use technology, they are learning how to think with it, build with it, and apply it to problems that affect their schools, families and communities.

That distinction is important.

Our young people are growing up in a world in which artificial intelligence, digital platforms and new technologies will shape how they learn, work, communicate and create. It is therefore not enough for them to become passive users of technologies developed elsewhere. We must give them the confidence and capability to participate actively in shaping the digital future.

This is the purpose that sits at the heart of the DEFINED Project.

I wish to commend Professor Seun Kolade, Project Director, for the clarity of vision and sustained leadership he continues to bring to this work. I also congratulate the Assistant Project Manager, Temilorun Okediji and the DEFINED Project team, our Project Assistants, ICT teachers, our fantastic college of mentors, school leaders and all those working quietly behind the scenes across the various centres. The progress we celebrate today is the result of their collective persistence, creativity and commitment.

I am especially delighted by the continued expansion of the programme and by the increasing sophistication of the projects being developed by the students. From applications addressing learning and accessibility to ideas connected with agriculture, commerce, public safety and indigenous language, these young people are showing us what becomes possible when talent is given opportunity.

The Foundation has also widened its approach through the Digital Literacy Training for Teachers programme, recognising that sustainable transformation in education must include those who stand in our classrooms every day. By equipping teachers with practical digital skills and using a Train-the-Trainer model, we are building capacity that can multiply far beyond the first cohort.

Yet we must not become satisfied too quickly.

The success of Byte Busters should strengthen our determination to reach more pupils, particularly in under-served communities. There are many more children across our region with the same curiosity and potential as those presenting here today. What they need is access.

I therefore call on our six owner states, corporate partners, philanthropists, old students’ associations and friends of the Foundation to deepen their support for this work. The task before us is one of scale, continuity and shared responsibility.

To our Byte Busters, I say this: keep learning, keep experimenting and keep believing in what you can build.

Osun: Three dead, five rescued as two-storey shopping complex collapses

Three persons have reportedly died following the collapse of a two-storey shopping complex at Owode Ede, Osun State, while five others were rescued alive by emergency responders.

The building, located in Zone 8, Oke Alaafia Community, collapsed late on Friday, October 30, trapping several persons beneath the rubble.

The Federal Fire Service, Osun State Command, confirmed the incident through its Public Relations Officer, DSF Ojo Omoyemi Olamide, ANIPR, who said its rescue team was alerted at about 11:30 p.m. through its emergency line and arrived at the scene three minutes later.

According to the command, the structure was a commercial complex with six shops on each of the two upper floors and two stores on the ground floor.

The rescue team, working alongside the Osun State Fire Service, police and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, immediately commenced efforts to locate and evacuate those trapped in the debris.

Five victims were eventually rescued alive and taken to Idera Specialist Hospital, Ede, for medical attention.

Three other victims were recovered during the operation with no signs of life and handed over to the police at A Division, Ede.

The Federal Fire Service said preliminary findings pointed to possible structural defects and the use of substandard construction materials as factors that might have contributed to the disaster.

Police personnel led by SP Bamidele and NSCDC operatives under the leadership of CSC Oyekunle participated in the rescue operation.

The search-and-rescue exercise lasted several hours and was called off at about 9:26 a.m. on Saturday, October 31, after the operation had been completed.

The command put the estimated value of the property destroyed at N100 million, adding that property worth about N150 million was saved.

In its reaction, the Federal Fire Service expressed sympathy with the families of those affected and urged builders, developers and property owners to comply with approved building regulations.

It also advised residents to report emergencies immediately to the appropriate authorities to facilitate timely intervention.

Shettima demands stronger voice for small businesses in policy decisions

Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the expansion of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Stakeholders’ Meeting to give business owners a stronger voice in government policies and decisions.

He also ordered that the forum meets quarterly with each session reviewing decisions taken at the previous meeting to ensure accountability and progress.

Shettima issued the directives yesterday during the MSMEs stakeholders’ meeting at the State House Abuja where he called for closer collaboration between government and the private sector to support enterprise growth.

Commending the Special Adviser to the President on MSMEs and Job Creation Mr Temitola Adekunle-Johnson for his commitment to the sector the Vice President said business owners must participate meaningfully in deliberations affecting their livelihoods.

‘I therefore direct him to expand this forum’s membership and convene this meeting once every quarter. Business owners must have a more decisive voice in our deliberations and each meeting must account for the decisions taken at the previous one’ he said.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President Stanley Nkwocha Shettima said the importance of small businesses extended beyond their owners with millions of households depending on them for education healthcare and employment.

‘The smallest shop on a Nigerian street may carry the weight of an entire household.

‘Behind its counter are school fees a parent’s medicine and an apprentice’s first chance at independence. Whenever that shop closes the loss travels far beyond its owner. Whenever it grows a little more of our country stands on its own feet’ he said.

The Vice President reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to making MSMEs a national priority acknowledging the contributions of government agencies financial institutions state governments and private sector partners in translating public commitments into practical assistance.

‘We do this because millions of Nigerians earn their living from businesses that survive and those businesses survive more readily when institutions perform their duties’ he said.

Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had placed business financing at the centre of his economic agenda recognising that entrepreneurs needed access to capital to turn their ambitions into productive ventures.

‘The woman who can fulfil a larger order and the artisan who can afford better equipment are helping to build the economy we seek. We know that the cost of staying in business has tested even the most resourceful Nigerians. Their perseverance places an obligation upon us’ he said.

He highlighted the President’s approval of ?200 billion in business support comprising ?50 billion in grants ?75 billion in loans for MSMEs and ?75 billion for manufacturing.

Under the interventions eligible manufacturers can access up to ?1 billion through the Bank of Industry he said adding that the support was intended to help enterprises withstand economic pressures and expand.

Shettima also recalled the MSMEs team’s engagements across states saying they demonstrated the administration’s determination to honour its commitments to business owners.

Earlier Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment Senator John Owan-Enoh called for sustained support for small businesses describing their activities as central to Nigeria’s economy.

‘These are people who run businesses that we see every day. It goes beyond MSMEs being the engine room of the economy; they are the Nigerian economy’ he said.

The minister commended Tinubu for establishing the Directorate of Manufacturing and MSME Sector Mobilisation in the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council describing it as recognition of the sectors’ strategic importance.

Adekunle-Johnson attributed achievements in the MSME sector to productive partnerships between government and stakeholders. He assured associations cooperatives and business groups of continued support particularly in accessing affordable finance and modern production facilities.

In separate remarks the heads of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria Mr Charles Odii; Nigerian Export Promotion Council Mrs Nonye Ayeni; Nigeria Export Import Bank Mr Abba Bello; and Industrial Training Fund Dr. Afiz Oluwatoyin Ogun pledged to deepen their agencies’ interventions.

They said further support was planned in training capacity building market access affordable finance grants and production equipment.

The President of the Association of Women in Textile and Garments Hauwa Abubakar appealed for improved financing training and access to international markets to enable women entrepreneurs to expand and employ more people.

‘Women are determined and have the skills to run their businesses create jobs and contribute to the economy but most women in my association face challenges with training funding access to international markets and engagement with relevant stakeholders’ she said.

Also speaking the President of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists Solomon Daniel Vongfa urged the government to strengthen engagement with small businesses and expand targeted interventions.

‘Because of the numerical strength of MSMEs we need more government support. We are very relevant and the government must make deliberate efforts to strengthen this sector for the country to attain its full industrial potential’ he said.