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The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has returned to Nigeria after spending some time abroad.

A video making the rounds on social media showed Edun at a hotel in Abuja, where he reportedly held a closed-door meeting with a Qatari delegation on Sunday.

Edun was earlier reported to have taken ill and flown abroad for medical treatment. He was earlier said to have received medical care in Nigeria before traveling overseas for further attention.

Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, had last week confirmed that the minister was indisposed.

In Edun’s absence, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, led Nigeria’s delegation to the annual meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C., United States.

While abroad, the finance minister was sighted at the O’DA Art Gallery booth during the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London, where a viral video showed him addressing guests.

He was accompanied by two other individuals.

The clip was shared by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, with a brief caption: ‘Minister Wale Edun. Today. Art Gallery.’

Onanuga, who also shared the video on X, clarified that Edun was in the United Kingdom on an officially approved period of rest.

‘Finance Minister Wale Edun visits an art exhibition in the UK. He is in the country for an officially sanctioned few days of rest from the rigours of managing the Nigerian economy,’ Onanuga wrote.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas to account for the missing N18.6bn meant for the construction of the National Assembly Commission Office Complex.

It also urged the National Assembly to disclose the name of the construction company that reportedly collected N18.6bn for the said project, including the names and details of the directors, shareholders and the company’s address.

The organisation further sought explanation for the failure to follow the Procurement Act, particularly in carrying out needs assessment before the award of the contract and other processes including advertising the bidding, issuance of contract agreement and bidders’ quotations before the construction company was paid N18.6 billion.

It also demanded explanation as to the rationale behind the alleged inflation of the contract, further asking for the disclosure of the implementation status of the project. It said the allegations are documented in the latest 2022 annual report published by the Auditor-General of the Federation on 9 September 2025.

In the letter dated 18 October 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: ‘These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and national and international anticorruption obligations.’

SERAP said, ‘the National Assembly can only effectively perform its oversight and anti-corruption roles if it can demonstrate exemplary leadership to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement involving the NASS commission.’

According to SERAP, ‘the National Assembly ought to live up to its constitutional responsibilities by upholding and defending the basic principles of transparency, accountability and the rule of law.’

The letter read in part: ‘Addressing the allegations would improve public confidence and trust in the ability of the National Assembly to exercise their constitutional and oversight responsibilities, and to adhere to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.’

‘It would also show that the National Assembly is acting in the best interest of the people, and not for personal interest.’

‘We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you, the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service Commission to comply with our request in the public interest.’

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate in the 2023 Kogi State governorship election, Alhaji Yakubu Murtala Ajaka, has described recent political activities by former Governor Yahaya Bello as calculated attempts to mislead the people of the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Daily Trust reports that Yahaya Bello, alongside Governor Usman Ododo, held an event in Lokoja at the weekend where they endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.

Speaking during the endorsement rally, Bello described Tinubu as an ‘angel sent by God’ to restore and transform Nigeria.

However, in a statement issued on Sunday, Ajaka said Bello’s political manoeuvres were ‘mere theatrics,’ adding that Kogi people are now politically aware and would no longer be swayed by deceit or intimidation. He stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not need what he called Bello’s brand of ‘manipulative politics’ to win the trust of Nigerians but should instead focus on genuine performance and credibility.

‘President Tinubu doesn’t need deceit or intimidation to earn the trust of Nigerians. What he needs is performance and credibility,’ Ajaka said.

The SDP chieftain questioned Bello’s political relevance, recalling that the former governor was unable to deliver his senatorial district in the last general elections.

‘It is laughable that someone who couldn’t even deliver his senatorial district during the last election now claims he can deliver Kogi in 2027,’ he said.

Ajaka maintained that Kogi people would vote based on performance rather than fear or manipulation, adding that a new generation of politically conscious citizens was ready to shape the state’s political direction.

‘When the time is right, credible individuals with true political voice and moral standing will rise to deliver the President and the state to a better future. The era of deceitful politics and intimidation is over,’ he added.

Ajaka, who contested against Bello’s preferred candidate in the 2023 governorship election, is a vocal critic of the former governor’s leadership style, often accusing him of divisive politics and poor governance.

Former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as an ‘angel sent by God’ to restore and transform Nigeria.

Bello made the remark on Saturday during an endorsement rally for President Tinubu and Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo, which was broadcast live on TVC.

‘We will not wait for God to send an angel with wings to fly into Nigeria to fix it. The angel is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ Bello said. ‘If you are waiting to see an angel flying with wings to come and fix Nigeria, you will wait forever.’

The former governor praised Tinubu’s administration for implementing key reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, the introduction of student loans, and the floating of the naira exchange rate. He said these policies were part of the ‘new Nigeria’ citizens had long demanded. ‘Before 2015, we said we wanted a new Nigeria without oil subsidy, a new Nigeria with student loans, a new Nigeria with a floating exchange rate, and one where there will be more money in the hands of both government and citizens. That is what is happening today,’ Bello stated.

Acknowledging the challenges of governance, Bello noted that the process of rebuilding the nation would take time due to years of systemic decay. He urged Nigerians to support the president’s efforts to deliver on his promises.

‘No government can fix everything at once because of the long years of decay in the system,’ he said. ‘Mr. President is fixing it, and he will fix it. We will support him to fix it.’

Bello also stressed the importance of leadership legacy, urging Nigerians to back Tinubu’s long-term vision for the country.

‘Going into the future, not only the 2027 election, we want a situation where Mr. President will leave behind a lasting legacy,’ he said. ‘Leadership without legacy is zero-it’s as good as never coming to power.’

Reflecting on his own political journey, Bello said he felt fulfilled by the progress made under his watch and his continued support for the current administration.

Bello’s remarks come as political alignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with President Tinubu’s supporters highlighting his economic and governance reforms as evidence of a renewed national direction.

Chief Promoter of the Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has submitted that liberal democratic model ‘is struggling to deliver the developmental outcomes that once justified its global prestige.’

In an article titled ‘Can Authoritarianism Build Faster’, Showunmi argued that the democratic promise of freedom and accountability is ‘increasingly undermined’ by ‘institutional fatigue.’

‘Democracies today are louder but less effective. They produce elections, but not direction; expression, but not execution,’ the public affairs analyst said.

According to him, authoritarian nations are developing faster than democracies, arguing that concentrated authority, when competently applied, delivers results with a speed and precision that liberal systems often fail to achieve. He examined what he called the ‘efficiency paradox’ – the ability of non-democratic systems to achieve large-scale development despite global preference for democracy.

The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) questioned why centralised states such as China, Singapore, and South Korea during their developmental years could mobilise resources, plan long-term, and implement large projects effectively, while many democratic governments remained trapped in cycles of debate and delay.

‘The question is not moral but empirical. Concentrated authority, when competent and strategically deployed, has proven capable of generating growth at a speed liberal democracies can rarely match,’ he said.

He noted that China’s rapid economic transformation, which lifted over 800 million people out of poverty within four decades, demonstrates the potential of a coordinated governance model. He compared this with the gridlock and short-termism that often characterised democratic institutions.

According to him, the world must begin to assess governments not by ideology but by performance and their ability to improve lives, reduce poverty, and expand opportunity.

Showunmi clarified that his position was not an endorsement of authoritarianism but a call for democracy to evolve into a more decisive, performance-oriented model.

‘These are not rejections of democracy, but recalibrations of it. If democracies cannot deliver tangible prosperity, they risk ceding both moral and practical ground to systems they have long dismissed as inferior,’ he warned.

He concluded that while democracy remains a noble aspiration, it must prove its worth in the modern age by combining freedom with efficiency and direction with delivery.

Opposition presidential candidate, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, has announced plans to publish ‘original’ polling station reports to prove his victory in Cameroon’s October 12 presidential election.

He said this while challenging early trends that favor incumbent President Paul Biya.

In a statement released Sunday, Tchiroma said, ‘To ensure transparency and prevent any manipulation, our campaign team will, in the coming hours, release electoral trends based on the official polling station reports (PVs) signed at the polling sites and transmitted by our scrutineers.’

Tchiroma, who leads the National Salvation Front (FSNC) and is backed by the Union for Change, a coalition of opposition parties, is mounting a direct challenge to Biya, the long-serving president and leader of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).

Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982 and is seeking another term amid growing calls for reform.

The National Commission for the General Counting of Votes has yet to announce official results, but preliminary trends suggest Biya is ahead.

Tchiroma’s campaign disputes this, citing data from 18 strategic departments that represent nearly 80% of the national electorate.

‘These departments include Wouri, Mfoundi, Bénoué, Diamaré, Mayo-Danay, Mayo-Tsanaga, Vina, Logone-et-Chari, Mungo, Noun, Mayo-Louti, Mayo-Kani, Mayo-Sava, Menoua, Mifi, Mayo-Rey, Lom-et-Djérem, and Lékié,’ the statement noted.

Tchiroma emphasized the credibility of his methodology: ‘It is based on official polling station reports, which are verifiable. Every figure published will be accompanied by documented proof to prevent any dispute.’

He called on the international community and Cameroonians to monitor the trends closely: ‘They represent the people’s voice and must neither be stolen nor manipulated. Together, we shall defend the truth of the ballot box!’

Meanwhile, tensions are rising across the country.

In the Far North city of Garoua, supporters have formed a civilian-led security unit to protect Tchiroma, declaring, ‘We will not let anything happen to our leader, we are here to protect him.’

Security forces have reported violent protests in Dschang, Garoua, and other cities.

The Gendarmerie released images of paramilitary drills and stated, ‘These acts of violence, perpetrated by protesters who claim victory for their candidate, have caused significant damage to property and loss of human life.’

In a bid to calm tensions, the National Council of Traditional Chiefs of Cameroon issued a joint statement urging restraint. Signed by National President Tsala Ndzomo Guy and Secretary General Fon Chafah, the release reaffirmed their commitment to peace and stability as the nation awaits the Constitutional Council’s official proclamation.

As the political standoff intensifies, all eyes remain on the release of Tchiroma’s polling station reports and the Constitutional Council’s final verdict, expected in one week.

The Federal Government has said Mathematics is a compulsory subject for all students sitting for O-Level examinations.

This was conveyed in a press statement issued by Boriowo Folashade, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, on Sunday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Boriowo had announced that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities would no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for tertiary admissions.

Boriowo had stated that the reform became necessary after years of restricted access, which denied many qualified candidates admission opportunities. She had said while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination annually, only about 700,000 gain admission.

However, the issue had generated controversy as some educationists rejected the policy shift, saying it would further encourage laziness among students and negatively impact their academic excellence and performance.

But in the new statement, Boriowo said the new admission guidelines do not exempt any candidate from registering and sitting for Mathematics.

‘All students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations,’ the statement read.

The statement added that while institutions may now admit candidates into certain programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics are not mandatory, students are still required to take both subjects during their O-Level exams.

‘This adjustment affects only admission criteria, not the requirement to take these subjects,’ she clarified.

According to the statement, the reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development.

‘English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning,’ the Ministry noted.

The Ministry also urged students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for verified policy updates

Asked if the new development meant a U-turn on the earlier stance of the ministry, Boriowo said, ‘No, no U-turn – it’s a clarification on the streamlined admission requirements to expand access to tertiary education, please.’

Senator Ned Nwoko has opened up on the cause of the problem with Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, who is one of his wives.

In a viral video and social-media posts, on Saturday, the actress was seen accusing her husband of domestic violence.

In footage, Daniels was seen in tears while her friends consoled her.

She had said she was tired and could no longer tolerate alleged mistreatment by her husband. ‘In Ned Nwoko’s house, I am nothing, but in my house, I am a queen. Not again, I cannot stand the violence, it is too much,’ she said in the clip.

The matter gained further attention after Sammy West, Daniels’s brother, posted on his Instagram story accusing the senator of physically assaulting his sister, fleeing the scene and later sending men to intimidate the family.

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Nwoko said the actress was battling with drug substance, which he claimed had taken a toll on their marriage.

‘Regina was not always like this. Her current battle with drugs and alcohol abuse is the root of our problem. She must continue her rehabilitation program, or I fear for her life and safety.

‘Now she has moved to a place where she will have unrestricted access to drugs. I have other wives, and none will ever accuse me of violence. Regina is the violent one here, slapping and hitting 3 staff in the past 48 hours and destroying property, including cars and windows, for no just cause.

‘The truth is, I have set a clear condition for her to accept rehab in Asokoro or outside Nigeria, especially Jordan, where she will not have access to drugs. A clear headed Regina would have taken moon to the hospital but instead she even threatened to kill our resident nurse(for exposing her drugs abuse).

‘While I took Moon to the hospital, a scene of chaos unfolded at home, orchestrated by Sammy, Regina’s main drug supplier. Another known supplier of drugs to Regina is the tiny evil devil called Ann.’

Daniels and Nwoko’s union has long been a subject of public discussion, largely due to their 40-year age difference.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has become unpopular among Nigerians, noting that the growing defections into the ruling party will not guarantee its victory in 2027.

The coalition was reacting to comments credited to the APC National Chairman, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, that ‘key ADC figures’ would join the ruling party next week.

Yilwatda, who spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Jos, noted that key ADC figures would be received into the APC next week, adding that the said ADC chieftains had concluded their medicals and would soon be unveiled.

‘Next week, I will be receiving some notable figures from the ADC. Some of those who had earlier defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ADC are now returning to the APC.’ ‘In another two weeks, we will unveil yet another big figure who just finished his own medicals. He tried to unveil himself the day before yesterday, and you may have seen it in the news. But officially, we’ll be receiving him soon,’ Yilwatda said.

Reacting to the comment, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, said the scramble for membership from across the political spectrum by the APC underscores the party’s realisation that it has become ‘hugely unpopular with ordinary Nigerians who now hate the ruling party for the hardship it has brought upon them.’

Abdullahi maintained that the statement by the APC National Chairman underscored a deep realisation by the ruling party that it cannot be saved even if all the governors in Nigeria defected to the ruling party.

‘This is why even with all the governors and senators they have been bragging about, the APC is still desperate for ADC members.’

‘The truth remains that the APC realises that it has become the most hated party in Nigeria, and no amount of defections can save the party from Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods the ruling party has destroyed since it came to power.

‘Like we have noted earlier, the recent gale of high-profile defections to the ruling party is properly understood by ordinary Nigerians as a gang-up against the people by a ruling elite who have left the people behind in abject poverty and are only interested in self-preservation even as their people wallow in misery.’

The coalition wondered if the APC has run out of governors to seduce that it has now turned to shadowy references to unnamed ADC members, arguing that the Chairman would have mentioned the names of the individuals if they were prominent.

‘It is the same ruinous game that the PDP played at the height of its powers. The APC will also learn the bitter lesson that real democratic power lies with the people and not a few power merchants.’