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Manchester City climbed back to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after a commanding 2-0 victory over Everton at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland once again proving the difference.

The Norwegian striker, who has been in unstoppable form this season, struck twice in the second half to seal all three points for Pep Guardiola’s side.

For much of the first half, City struggled to find their rhythm, while Everton created the better chances. Iliman Ndiaye tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a powerful effort, and Beto missed a golden opportunity from close range. Jake O’Brien also came close to gifting City a goal when his header rattled his own crossbar.

But once Haaland found space, the story changed quickly. Nico O’Reilly delivered a pinpoint cross, and Haaland powered a header past Jordan Pickford to open the scoring. Just five minutes later, he doubled City’s lead, finishing off a low cutback from Savinho that took a slight deflection off James Tarkowski.

The brace took Haaland’s tally to an astonishing 23 goals in 13 matches across all competitions this season. The 25-year-old has now scored in 11 consecutive games for club and country.

Everton’s bright start faded as City took control, and although Pickford made two fine saves to deny Haaland a hat-trick, the visitors never looked like mounting a comeback.

The result extends City’s unbeaten run to eight matches in all competitions and puts them top of the table on goal difference, ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Fulham later in the day. Guardiola will also be boosted by the return of Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, and Mateo Kovacic, who all featured after recent injuries.

For David Moyes, it was another painful reminder of his struggles against the league’s elite. The Everton manager has now gone 37 matches without a win over a side that finished in the Premier League’s top three. The Toffees have also failed to beat City in their last 17 league meetings, stretching back to that 4-0 triumph during Guardiola’s first season.

The publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of putting pressure on opposition members to defect to their party.

Momodu made the statement during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, which was monitored by PM News. His reaction followed the recent defection of several top politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Those who have left the PDP include Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.

Speaking on the matter, Momodu alleged that the APC is using both persuasion and pressure to attract opposition members.

‘I’m starting to think that Nigerians have been somehow influenced by politicians, because what we’re seeing doesn’t seem normal,’ he said.

‘Some of these people have no reason to cross over. Imagine a governor in his second term – where exactly is he going? What’s he running from?’

Momodu added that many politicians are motivated by personal gain rather than service. ‘Some just want to enjoy the benefits of being close to power.

Everyone knows the Federal Government of Nigeria holds enormous power even more than the American president,’ he concluded.

Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former Senior Special Assistant on Domestic Matters and Social Events to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has dumped the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Dudafa, who also served as a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, made the announcement in a statement released on Saturday in Yenagoa.

In his resignation letter, addressed to the Chairman of PDP Southern Opokuma/Ayibabiri Ward 8 in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Dudafa said the decision came after a period of deep reflection and consultation with political allies, supporters, and family.

The letter said, ‘It is with a heavy heart that I tender my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party with immediate effect. Throughout my time with the party, I have remained deeply committed to our shared values and objectives. It has been an honour to work with so many dedicated individuals.’

He blamed unresolved internal disputes, particularly at the national level, for creating a hostile environment that no longer aligns with the vision and ideals he holds dear.

‘These disputes have significantly hampered our progress and created an atmosphere of persistent conflict that is no longer conducive to genuine advancement,’ he added.

Dudafa expressed continued commitment to public service, stating that his move was driven by a desire to better serve his people and pursue their welfare and development.

On his decision to join the APC, he said: ‘After careful reflection and consideration, I have chosen to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), a platform I believe represents renewed hope, unity, and a stronger foundation to tackle the challenges facing our beloved state.’

In a message to APC members, he wrote: ‘I look forward to working alongside new colleagues who share this vision and are equally committed to meaningful progress.’

Nigeria’s Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the senior women’s national team have been shortlisted for honours at the 2025 CAF Awards.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released the list on Friday, with Nigerian names dominating several categories.

Ajibade, who captained the Super Falcons to their record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco, is nominated for the African Player of the Year. She is joined by teammate Esther Okoronkwo, who was named Woman of the Match in the WAFCON final.

Ajibade, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, was voted Player of the Tournament at WAFCON 2024 after delivering key performances, including one goal and two assists.

In the Goalkeeper of the Year category, Nnadozie, of Brighton and Hove Albion, is chasing her third consecutive crown after winning in 2023 and 2024.

The Super Falcons are also nominated for National Team of the Year, while their coach, Justine Madugu, makes the shortlist for Women’s Coach of the Year.

Nigeria’s U-17 side, the Flamingos, are also in contention after an unbeaten run to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. Their coach, Bankole Olowookere, is up for Coach of the Year, while captain Shakirat Moshood has been named among the finalists for Young Player of the Year.

Rounding off Nigeria’s strong showing, Bayelsa Queens, champions of the 2025 Nigerian Women’s Football League, earned a nod for Club of the Year alongside Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), ASFAR (Morocco), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), and Gaborone United (Botswana).

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has described claim that some leaders of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are pressuring his to contest against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election as ‘another lie from idle minds who have nothing to contribute to the development of the country.’

Wike said this in a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka on Saturday.

The statement was issued in respond to reports that some chieftains of PDP are mounting pressure on the FCT Minister to contest in the 2027 presidential election.

While faulting the claim, Wike said he has always been open about his support for President Tinubu till 2031.

Thus, the former Rivers State governor said he had endorsed re-election of the President in 2027.

‘The Minister has made it clear where he stands as long as the 2027 presidential election is concerned – he is with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,’ the statement read.

‘Wike does not function in hiding. He does what he says and says what he does. It is shameful that the ‘pull-Wike-down’ elements could not reason beyond such kindergarten tactics. It is clear that they need better brains to think for them.’

Also, the statement faulted the meeting held by some PDP leaders in Lagos on August 20, 2025, on which the report was based.

Olayinka said the outcome of the PDP attended by PDP stakeholders from the southern part of the country was released in a statement titled ‘Re: Purported Meeting Of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,’ signed by several PDP leaders from the South-East and South-South, including state party chairmen, lawmakers, and former officials.

‘He has said it clearly that from now till 2031, it is on the mandate of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he will stand.

‘The only meeting that took place on August 20, 2025, was that of PDP stakeholders from Southern part of Nigeria, and the purpose was the meeting scheduled for Lagos on August 21, 2025, by some elements to rubberstamp a decision to micro-zone party positions zoned to the South.

‘Outcome of the meeting was made public via a press statement titled, ‘Re: Purported Meeting Of PDP Southern Zoning Consultative Summit,’ signed by State Party Chairmen of Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers, Austin Nwachukwu, Abraham Amah, Barr. Venatuis Ikem, Rt. Hon Aniekan Akpan and Aaron Chukwuemeka, respectively, as well as the National Vice Chairman (South-East), Hon. Chidiebere Egwu Goodluck, and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon O. K. Chinda.

‘Others who signed the press statement were Senators Igwe Nwagu, Mao Ohuabunwa, George Sekibo, Mike Ama Nnachi, former National Secretary, Rt. Hon. Onwe S. Onwe, Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barr. Okechukwu Osuoha, former Ebonyi State Legal Adviser, Barr. Mudi Erhenede and others. Obviously, the above names were picked from the press statement published in all major newspapers and aired on national television stations to advance the latest mischief.

‘We know their intention, though. But unfortunately for them, and the platform they are using to propagate their idle plots, the person and character of the FCT Minister is known to everyone – he does not do anything in hiding.’

OpenAI has taken a decisive step concerning how the image of civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is used across its platforms, following rising concerns about the misuse of his likeness.

In a statement shared on X on Thursday, the company confirmed it had reached an understanding with the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr., Inc., to regulate how the late activist is represented in videos generated through its AI model, Sora.

OpenAI said it had ‘paused generations depicting Dr. King’ while it strengthens safeguards around the portrayal of historical figures. The move, it explained, was made in consultation with Dr. Bernice A. King, King’s daughter, and the AI Ethics Council, to ensure dignity and respect in the use of the civil rights leader’s image.

‘While there are strong free speech interests in depicting historical figures, OpenAI believes public figures and their families should ultimately have control over how their likeness is used,’ the company stated.

The decision comes amid a broader review of how Sora, OpenAI’s advanced video-generation tool, handles real-world likenesses. The newest version of Sora, launched on September 30, can now create highly realistic videos complete with speech, sound effects, and physical accuracy, a feature that has drawn both excitement and ethical questions.

The company added that it is building stronger ‘guardrails’ to ensure responsible AI use, especially concerning deceased or historical personalities.

OpenAI expressed appreciation to Dr. Bernice A. King, John Hope Bryant, and others for helping facilitate ‘meaningful conversations’ on the issue.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that adults and societal leaders owe it to the youth to provide truthful, transparent, transformational, and selfless leadership.

Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta on Saturday at the grand reunion and maiden lecture series of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), United Kingdom Alumni Association, Nigerian Chapter.

The former president delivered a lecture titled, ‘The Challenges of Youth in a Fractured World.’

Represented by the Deputy Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, Professor Samuel Daramola, Obasanjo defined youth as the period between childhood and adulthood, marked by vitality, idealism, hope, expectation, dreams, and a touch of adventure and naivety.

He noted that today’s leaders once passed through this phase-marked by fantasy, energy, beauty, and idealism-but now, the youth face numerous challenges in a fractured world.

‘Some of us were youths immediately after the Second World War; I was. Most of you were youths at the height of the Cold War.

‘The world was not perfect, but there was some order and respect for international law, rules, and regulations. There were threats, but no impunity.

‘They talked of a ‘balance of terror’ in those days, with reasonable stability, predictability, peace, and common security, as well as shared responsibility and prosperity among the leading nations of the world.

‘Developing nations could breathe reasonably freely. The superpowers negotiated and consulted among themselves.

‘Today, the youth face herculean challenges that they must not be left to handle alone,’ he said.

Obasanjo called on leaders to prioritise the future by investing in it, rather than depleting resources meant for future generations.

He emphasised the need for young people to be integrated into all aspects of family, private, and public life.

Obasanjo, who is the grand patron of the association, encouraged youths to develop resilient character traits-essential for self-reliance and breakthroughs in today’s fractured world.

‘Youth are not leaders of tomorrow-they are leaders today. Let them be part and parcel of leadership now, in preparation for tomorrow,’ he said.

Earlier, the President of the Association, Maj.-Gen. Oluwaseun Oshinowo (Rtd), explained that the association was inaugurated eight years ago, adding that this year’s gathering aimed to discuss critical issues capable of moving the nation forward.

‘Our main aim is to tell the world that we are here and available for whatever roles they want us to play when it comes to strategic-level discussions and debate,’ he said.

Oshinowo also underscored the importance of youth to national development.

In his goodwill message, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama, described the event as an important platform for reflection, reconnection, and renewal for those who had passed through one of the finest institutions of strategic learning in the world.

Maitama, represented by a Director at the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Mrs Abosede Awolola, noted that the RCDS holds a special place in the architecture of global leadership formation.

‘The administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to a foreign policy that is citizen-focused, economically driven, and globally respected,’ he said.

The Special Guest of Honour, Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, Olusola Subair, said the breakdown of family values remains a significant threat to national development.

Abiodun urged all stakeholders to play their part in reshaping the minds of the youth towards more productive ventures.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Royal College of Defence Studies was established in 1927 in the United Kingdom.

The body of former Kenyan Prime Minister and opposition leader, Raila Odinga, arrived in his hometown of Kisumu on Saturday to a sea of mourners as thousands thronged the city’s main stadium to pay their final respects.

Odinga’s coffin was flown in by helicopter and received with thunderous chants, tears, and waving flags, as emotional crowds surged toward the arena.

AFP correspondents reported moments of chaos after mourners breached a security gate and climbed over walls to gain entry into the already filled venue.

Security forces struggled to maintain order as people jostled to catch a glimpse of the late political icon, whose decades-long struggle for democracy earned him the title ‘People’s President.’

Odinga, 80, died in India earlier this month, where he had been receiving treatment. His death has plunged Kenya into mourning, with tributes pouring in from across Africa and beyond.

The state funeral is expected to continue through the weekend with several African leaders in attendance.

The Yobe Police Command says it has commenced an investigation into the discovery of a female corpse near the Federal University, Gashua.

Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer of the command, stated this on Saturday while addressing newsmen on Saturday in Damaturu.

He said the incident was reported to the police on Friday by one Yusuf Sarkin Baka, a resident of Sabon Daula Ward in Bade Local Government Area.

Abdulkarim said the lifeless body, identified as a 45-year-old Falmata Abubakar of Abasha, Sarkin Hausawa Ward, Gashua, was discovered near the fence of the university, dressed in a black hijab.

He said police operatives from the Gashua Division visited the scene and evacuated the body to the Specialist Hospital, Gashua, where she was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased was transported in a vehicle and dumped at the location, about two kilometres from her residence.

He said the corpse was later released to her family for burial after an autopsy was conducted in line with Islamic rites.

‘The Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ado, has assured members of the public of a thorough and professional investigation aimed at uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident,’ he said.

Abdulkarim said the commissioner also called for calm and urged the residents to assist the police with useful information that could aid the investigation.

The police spokesperson reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property as well as maintaining peace across the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended a former chieftain of PDP, Dele Momodu for allegedly accepting that President Bola Tinubu remains politically unstoppable in 2027.

The Lagos chapter of APC said this in a statement on Saturday while dismissing recommendation of Momodu that other presidential candidates should deploy religious, ethnic politics to defeat Tinubu in 2027.

The APC Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo in a statement in Lagos affirmed that ethnic politics cannot stop the re-election of Tinubu in 2027.

He dismissed Momodu’s counsel to opposition parties to come together and play the ethnic card in 2027 to defeat Tinubu.

Oladejo commended Momodu, who recently dumped PDP for African Democratic Congress (ADC) for finally admitting ‘the obvious – that President Bola Tinubu remains politically unstoppable’.

He said: ‘Let it be known that the days of weaponising ethnicity as a shortcut to power are long gone.

‘The Nigerian electorate has evolved. They are now focused on who can deliver results, not who can divide the nation.

‘Nigerians know better. They know that leadership is earned through vision, performance, and consistency – not through editorials written from the sidelines of social gigs.’

According to him, under Tinubu, Nigeria is being rebuilt on the foundation of equity, inclusion, and reform.

He said that these cut across infrastructural renewal to economic stabilisation and social investment.

‘This administration is proving that leadership is about ideas, not identity,’ he said.

Oladejo urged Momodu to focus on rediscovering his own political direction before attempting to offer others advice.

‘Truth be told, political realists have accepted the defeat of the opposition, come Year 2027, individually and collectively.

‘The 2027 election will be a referendum on competence and performance, not on ethnicity or nostalgia. And in that contest, Dele Momodu’s brand of political showmanship will have no place,’ he added.