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EPL: Arsenal Suffer First Defeat Of Season At Brighton

English Premier League champions, Arsenal, were consigned to a 3-0 defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion for their first loss of the league season.

The Gunners were silenced by their Seagull hosts who put on a dominant display to claim a third win of the season with goals scored by Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas, and Chema Andres.

Brighton took the lead on the half hour mark through Gross’ well-placed finish, and doubled the lead on the stroke of halftime as Kostoulas, who assisted the opener, slotted home after Brighton won the ball deep in Arsenal territory.

Arsenal were unable to mount a comeback against a Brighton side that pressed the North Londoners throughout the encounter, and they would get the third goal to seal the deserved victory through Andres’ clinical strike for a 3-0 scoreline. The Gunners suffered their first defeat at Brighton on their sixth visit, and the defeat in their first in any competition this season.

It is also the first time Arsenal have failed to score in the EPL since January, and Arsenal are second on the EPL log with 12 points from four matches as the five weeks old season goes on a three-week international break.

Asean chairship: A path to sustained prosperity

We are entering the fourth quarter of 2026 and the Philippines’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) chairship is drawing to a close. Asean’s 11 member nations take turns leading the regional bloc, so the opportunity to shape its agenda does not come often.

The task now is to sustain the opportunities created this year for both the region and our own economy. We may hold the chairship for only a year, but its initiatives can create opportunities for Filipino businesses long after political leadership changes.

Our chairship has sought to open doors through trade agreements and stronger regional cooperation. This must support a long-term national strategy that delivers gains felt by ordinary Filipinos.

The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) is a good example. President Marcos said the LEC is more than a collection of infrastructure projects; it is a strategy for organizing growth. By integrating transport, logistics, energy, digital connectivity, and advanced manufacturing, the corridor can strengthen the country’s productive capacity and competitiveness.

The LEC links Subic’s maritime and industrial gateway, Clark as an emerging aviation and urban center, Metro Manila as the capital and commercial center, and Batangas as a manufacturing and trade hub. Better connections among these areas can reduce business costs, improve the movement of people and goods, and help Filipino enterprises reach regional and global markets.

Initially conceived as a tripartite agreement among the Philippines, Japan, and the United States, the LEC now enjoys support from a multinational coalition of investors from 13 nations. This reflects strong international confidence. The challenge is to convert that confidence into firm commitments and commercially viable projects.

Most significant is the LEC’s potential to give the Philippines greater access to the Asean market through stronger production capacity. Such access matters only if we have the infrastructure and industries needed to produce competitive goods and services.

The LEC can also provide a concrete platform for carrying forward the priorities developed during our Asean chairship. The Philippine chairship creates diplomatic and business momentum; the LEC can translate that momentum into investment, infrastructure, and supply chain projects.

The corridor seeks to mobilize private capital and public-private partnerships across energy and water, transport and logistics, digital connectivity, and advanced manufacturing. Together, these can reinforce critical supply chains and position the Philippines as a competitive manufacturing, logistics, technology, and regional maritime hub.

International partners are already showing how they can contribute. Denmark has committed to bringing its maritime expertise into the LEC. Danish Ambassador to the Philippines Franz-Michael Mellbin highlighted how a revitalized shipbuilding and ship repair sector can strengthen industrial competitiveness, retain more economic value in the country, and reinforce the corridor as a gateway for regional trade. Shipbuilding, ship repair, shipbreaking, and maritime manufacturing can create opportunities for thousands of Filipinos.

Sweden is also looking to support innovation in key growth sectors. Its areas of interest include infrastructure beyond Metro Manila, reliable and diversified energy, and a stronger manufacturing base in industries of the future, including digitalization, medical devices, health care, renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable mining, and minerals processing.

Australia, meanwhile, has brought major investors to Manila to explore opportunities in energy, transportation, and infrastructure. The delegation represents 1.4 trillion Australian dollars in assets under management, underscoring the scale of international capital looking at the Philippines.

Beyond this year, the LEC can help sustain partnerships formed during the chairship and move conversations with Asean and other partners from trade and investment discussions toward specific projects.

Asean’s existing system provides a strong foundation for broader economic cooperation with external partners. Through Asean Dialogue Partnerships, the Philippines already engages closely with countries such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea, key partners that are also supporting the LEC.

The true legacy of our Asean chairship will be measured by what endures. The LEC can help turn this year of regional leadership into lasting economic strength and shared prosperity.

Investing in the future

With several Philippine companies still pursuing plans for their respective initial public offerings (IPOs), one can’t help but wonder what they are seeing that many of us do not?

After all, the Philippine economy is facing headwinds on various fronts. The peso closed at P62.73 to the dollar on Sept. 17. Headline or overall inflation reached 6.1 percent last month. Foreign direct investment net inflows into the country plunged to its lowest monthly level in more than 11 years.

These headwinds are also reflected in the Philippine stock market. The PSE index closed at 5,958.64 also last Sept. 17, with higher oil prices and the peso’s weakness expected to weigh further on investor sentiment.

But despite these economic troubles, potential entrants to the Philippine stock exchange remain interested. Two are already underway, that of Mynt Inc. (GCash’s parent company) and VITRO REIT of PLDT, with at least five other companies considering their own IPOs next year.

The presence of several potential IPOs in the PSE pipeline appears counterintuitive. But companies do not decide to pursue an IPO just based on how an economy is performing at a given time. Their decisions also reflect expectations about future business and market conditions.

Likewise, difficult macroeconomic conditions do not necessarily prevent companies with strong fundamentals and long-term growth prospects from entering the public market.

Take the case of Mynt. AB Capital Securities estimates its equity value at P531 billion to P834 billion, citing its structural growth, established profitability and substantial room to further monetize its customer base. It says that this fintech company deserves a premium valuation due to these factors. Morgan Stanley also highlighted Mynt’s profitability, with the company generating P17.2 billion in net income in 2025, a net margin of 21.6 percent and a return on equity of 32.1 percent. Mynt’s net margin during the first half of 2026 strengthened to 25.2 percent and it estimates that the firm could generate P21.2 billion in net income in 2026.

Mynt’s premium valuation is a claim about the future, analysts say. Investors are not being asked to value the company solely on what it makes today but on what its market position, large customer base and expanding financial ecosystem could generate in the years ahead.

These current economic headwinds have buried more optimistic expectations about our economic recovery. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. has said that the economy could fully recover in 2027. Multilateral institutions and credit rating agencies also expect the economy to rebound.

The current IPO pipeline may reflect a similar expectation. Companies preparing to list today are not making decisions based on the economy’s state now but are making a bet on 2027 and beyond.

While IPO activity should not be treated as the sole proof of economic recovery, it deserves greater attention alongside other forward-looking indicators of business and investor confidence. Large IPOs may attract foreign portfolio investors and generate capital inflows, providing some support to the peso. The public too should also look forward to these offerings since they provide additional investment opportunities in productive domestic assets.

Impartial justice

The Supreme Court recently overturned the 2018 conviction by the Sandiganbayan of former First Lady Imelda Marcos for violations of the anti-graft law, saying the prosecution failed to establish her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

The case filed against Marcos accused her as a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa (IBP) then of having financial or pecuniary interest in a number of entities that were used to hold and transfer at least $200 million abroad through foreign bank accounts. The Sandiganbayan said that she participated in the management of these foundations which is a financial or pecuniary interest prohibited by the 1973 Constitution and is therefore guilty of violating Section 3h of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in seven criminal cases.

Marcos was convicted of violating a constitutional prohibition applicable to Cabinet members. No similar prohibition however was imposed on members of the IBP. However, the information in the criminal cases charged her in her capacity as a member of the IBP.

According to the High Tribunal, public interest could not substitute for the evidentiary standards required in criminal proceedings.

The SC noted that there was a fatal disparity between the allegations in the information and the legal basis for her conviction by the Sandiganbayan.

‘The accused may only be convicted of the crime charged. Since she was charged in her capacity as a member of the IBP and for violating the constitutional proscriptions applicable to such position, she cannot be convicted of violating the prohibition applicable to Cabinet members. Her right to due process was violated when the Sandiganbayan convicted her of an offense which she had not been legally informed of, warranting acquittal,’ it said.

It added that evidence used by the prosecution were inadmissible and lack probative value. ‘Relevant Swiss documents were not properly authenticated and prosecution failed to present credible witnesses who could have attested to the genuineness and due execution of the documents. Thus, they are inadmissible as evidence. And being hearsay evidence, the documents cannot be given credence, for these do not have probative value,’ the Court held.

And since Section 3h prohibits Cabinet members from having financial or pecuniary interest in any business and the prosecution failed to establish that the foundations were engaged in business, the prosecution likewise could not establish another element of the offense, it added.

This most recent decision of the High Court dated June 10 but made public only recently serves as a reminder that even the most controversial public figures remain entitled to the protection of the rules that govern everyone, including those many have already judged. As emphasized by the SC, the rules on the sufficiency of allegations in the information and the admissibility and probative weight of evidence, in so far as they may cause injury to the rights of the accused to due process of law, cannot be casually brushed aside by the invocation of substantial justice and public interest.

‘When the Court dons its robe, inclinations and personal beliefs are set aside. It is the constitutionally mandated duty of the Court to dispense justice in an impartial manner,’ the SC emphasized.

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (?)

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 19/09/2026 UNTIL 0600 20/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1013hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased cloud coverage will be present at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally at first Northwest to North 3 Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest to North Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, gradually locally Southwest to West 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, gradually locally Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest to North 3 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning West to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, gradually locally Southwest 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest 4, soon West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Aznar Shipping to stay in the Visayas even with IPO

Aznar Shipping Corp. plans to keep its expansion within the Visayas even as the Cebu-based shipping company prepares to raise fresh capital from an initial public offering (IPO), betting there are still enough opportunities in its home market.

On Friday, company president and CEO Kyle Alexander Aznar said they have no immediate plans to venture outside the region, where they specialize in short-haul feeder routes.

‘I’d say the Visayas still has a lot of unmet demand,’ Aznar said. ‘There’s still a lot of room for us to grow.’

Aznar Shipping currently operates nine vessels, with another one coming in, according to the CEO. Its network covers Cebu, Leyte, Panay and Negros Occidental.

Shorter routes

Unlike operators plying longer routes, Aznar Shipping focuses on crossings that typically take one to three hours.

The company’s major routes include Tabuelan-Escalante, Danao-Isabel, Bogo-Palompon and Kawit-Santa Fe.

Aznar said this enables the company to complement rather than directly compete with operators that serve longer routes.

‘Some of it (routes), the end point is not really Cebu. It’s actually the neighboring islands, the neighboring provinces. That’s where we come in,’ he said.

The company is pursuing an IPO of up to one billion primary common shares, with an overallotment option of up to 100 million secondary shares.

The indicative offer price is up to P0.67 per share, subject to book building.

At the maximum price, the primary offering could generate as much as P670 million in gross proceeds. The overallotment shares could add another P67 million.

Fleet and facilities

Fleet expansion will take priority as Aznar Shipping deploys fresh capital, while plans to develop a shipyard and dry-docking facility will come later.

‘The first priority will be our fleet expansion,’ Aznar said, adding that the proposed shipyard remained in its preliminary stages.

The company is seeking to expand after a strong first half. Revenues more than doubled to P210.99 million from P100.59 million a year earlier. Net income surged 155 percent to P53.19 million.

Rolling cargo and vehicle transport generated about 86 percent of first-half revenues. Passenger transport accounted for the remaining 14 percent.

Possible EV link in June Aster fire prompts ferry bans, safety review

The possibility that an electric vehicle was involved in the explosion aboard the fire-hit MV June Aster has prompted shipping companies and government agencies to evaluate safety protocols for transporting EVs and hybrid vehicles by sea.

Since last week, Philippine Coast Guard investigators have been trying to determine the cause of the incident following survivors’ accounts that they heard a loud explosion from the ship’s cargo deck before the fire broke out.

The Coast Guard said it is looking into several possibilities, including a terrorist attack or an explosion involving the EV aboard the vessel.

The MV June Aster was carrying one EV, five motorcycles, a forklift, a pickup truck and other cargo when it was engulfed in flames on September 9.

Authorities stressed that they have not determined the cause of the fire, as the investigation remains ongoing.

Developing safety guidelines

This week, at least two shipping companies announced restrictions on EVs and hybrid vehicles aboard their vessels.

In a memorandum dated September 16, Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. announced that hybrid and electric vehicles would no longer be allowed aboard its passenger and cargo vessels across all routes.

“The measure is being implemented as a preventive safety precaution to minimize the risk of fire, explosion, thermal runaway, and other potential hazards associated with electric and hybrid batteries during vessel operation,” the memorandum read.

Another shipping company, Island Water, also released a memorandum on September 17 restricting EVs and hybrid vehicles aboard its passenger vessels.

“In consideration of marine safety standards and risk management regarding alternative powertrain technologies and high-capacity battery systems, this measure is enacted to ensure the utmost safety and protection of all passengers, crew, and cargo during transit,” it said.

The Department of Energy (DOE), meanwhile, said Thursday, September 17, that it recognizes the safety concerns raised over the transport of EVs by sea.

The agency said it is coordinating with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and other concerned agencies to develop broader safety guidelines for transporting EVs aboard vessels.

One confirmed shot, as NDC alleges attack on supporters during Effurun rally

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that its members and supporters were attacked by suspected political thugs during a mobilisation exercise along Airport and Refinery Roads in Uvwie council area of Delta State, on Friday.

The allegation followed the disruption of a mobilisation rally involving supporters of the NDC, including backers of its presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, around Delta Career’s College.

Videos circulating online showed a tense confrontation involving supporters in blue shirts, some of whom were seen carrying sticks.

Comrade Efemena Umukoro, an NDC supporter, made the allegation in videos posted on his Facebook page, accusing supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of carrying out the attack.

Videos seen by The Nation showed a confrontation involving men described by Umukoro as APC thugs and NDC supporters. Police officers were also visible in the videos as the confrontation unfolded.

Umukoro claimed that two NDC supporters were shot during the incident and that an AK-47 rifle allegedly recovered from the attackers was handed over to the police.

In one of the videos, Umukoro while referring to the Delta State Government, said: ‘If you have done anything good why are you fighting the opposition?’

He added: ‘This is the second time this is happening to me. As you believe you have thugs. Your boys came to beg us at Angle Park Roundabout for us to shift grounds, we did. They came to the next roundabout with their thugs, but the masses came out for us and we were able to force our way through.’

He later posted: ‘My men just recovered an AK 47 rifle from APC thugs,’ adding that the weapon had been handed over to the police.

The Delta State Police Command has however denied claims that it was handed an AK-47 rifle, adding that the gunshot wound sustained was from a local gun.

SP Bright Edafe, told The Nation, ‘It should be those small locally made guns, because it is pellets that were removed from his body. He’s alright now. But we are on the trail of the attackers.’

Meanwhile, the NDC governorship candidate in Delta State, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye, condemned what he described as a violent attack that disrupted the party’s rally in Uvwie.

In a statement posted on X, Iyovwaye said the incident would not deter the party from continuing its campaign.

He said anyone seeking to lead the people must prioritise the protection of lives, respect citizens and create an environment where every citizen can live without fear.

The candidate vowed that the NDC would continue to ‘speak, engage, organise and peacefully demand a better Delta State’, stressing that the people deserve better and that the party’s resolve remained strong.

Similarly, the NDC House of Representatives candidate for Ughelli/Udu Federal Constituency, Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini, has blamed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the APC for allegedly mobilising thugs to attack NDC members during the party’s ‘1,000,000-Man March for NDC candidates, 5-over-5’ in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.

Reports from the scene said NDC supporters, including members of the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements, were marching around the Airport Road-Effurun axis when they were confronted by a group of men described by witnesses as political thugs.

Ominimini alleged that the confrontation was not spontaneous, but an attempt to intimidate members of the opposition party and disrupt its campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘We hold Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the APC responsible for mobilising thugs to attack our members during the peaceful 1,000,000-Man March in Effurun,’ he said, according to reports of his reaction.

He described the alleged attack as a threat to democratic participation and called on security agencies to investigate the incident and identify those responsible.

The NDC candidate also urged party supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, insisting that the reported confrontation would not stop the party from continuing its mobilisation across Delta.

The Delta State Government and APC had yet to respond to the allegations as of press time.

Meanwhile, an NDC member in a video posted on X has appealed for blood donations for supporters allegedly injured in the incident.

‘Please urgently, we need blood… Please NDC, we’re donating blood for our injured people; we are in the hospital. If you can donate, please come,’ the member said in a message circulated online.

The incident comes amid increased political mobilisation in Delta State ahead of the 2027 elections, with opposition parties stepping up activities across the state.

Security guard killed in Ilocos Sur shooting; suspect surrenders

A 35-year-old security guard was killed in a shooting in Barangay Cadanglaan, Banayoyo town in this province on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the suspected gunman later surrendering to police in Sta Cruz town, also in this province.

The shooting occurred at 1:37 p.m. inside a house in Barangay Cadanglaan. Police found the victim in the living room, lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound to the head.

Police said the suspect, a neighbor of the victim, stopped the victim from entering the house. When the victim insisted, the suspect allegedly fired a single shot at him using an unidentified firearm before fleeing.

The victim was rushed to Candon General Hospital in Candon City but died while being treated.

Later that day, the suspect surrendered to the police. He was taken to Candon General Hospital for a medical examination before being returned to the Banayoyo municipal police station.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine the motive for the shooting.

Ndejembi warns 39 Union institutions against working in isolation

Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi has urged the heads of 39 Union institutions to stop working in isolation and instead strengthen cooperation to ensure quality services reach Tanzanians on both sides of the Union.

He said the institutions are known as institutions of the United Republic of Tanzania and must therefore uphold the spirit of the Union through their actions, not merely in words.

Mr Ndejembi made the remarks on September 19, 2026, when he opened a meeting of the institutions in Unguja, warning against a tendency by some institutions to overlook one side of the Union, particularly when they receive international opportunities or invitations.

‘It is disappointing to see an institution operating as though it stands alone without involving the other side of the Union, whether the Mainland or Zanzibar,’ he said.

‘Leave here today with the understanding that we are building one house. Whether it is the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar or the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, we are building one house. There is no reason for us to compete against each other or engage in conflicts when it comes to serving citizens on the ground,’ Mr Ndejembi said.

He added that what citizens need are quality services that improve their economic, educational and health outcomes, rather than internal disputes between institutions.

He also reminded the institutions that the Office of the Vice President would continue to coordinate, oversee and provide guidance to ensure the rights and interests of both sides of the Union are upheld.

For his part, Minister Masauni stressed the importance of the institutions having a broad understanding of the mandate and spirit of the institutions they lead in serving Tanzanians.

He said his intention was to bring the institutions together so that they could become more effective in serving the nation.

Director General of the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), Efrahim Mafuru, said his institution works closely with its Zanzibar counterparts, particularly the Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Agency (ZEEA), in coordinating external trade and providing entrepreneurship education.

He said TanTrade has an office in Zanzibar and that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar had already allocated land for the construction of a permanent office.

Mr Mafuru also stressed that TanTrade’s leadership observes the Union balance, with the deputy director general required to come from Zanzibar whenever the director general is from the Mainland.

Executive Secretary of the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (Necta), Professor Said Mohamed, said that, according to the Constitution, all the council’s activities fall under Union matters.

According to Professor Said, Necta works with regional and council committees across the country to administer examinations and appoint examiners from both sides of the Union.

‘In 2024, Necta officially began administering the national Form Two assessment to candidates in Zanzibar, and preparations are under way to begin constructing a permanent office in Zanzibar in the 2026/27 financial year,’ he said.

Director General of the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Dr Jabir Bakari, said the authority provides technical advice and guidance to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport and oversees airlines operating in Zanzibar to ensure they meet international safety and service standards.

2027: City Boy Movement inaugurates Ekiti excos, targets 10m votes for Tinubu

The City Boy Movement (CBM) has inaugurated its Ekiti State executive council, with the Director-General of the movement, Francis Oluwatosin Shoga, saying the organisation is working to mobilise 10 million votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Shoga made the declaration on Friday in Ado-Ekiti during the inauguration of the Ekiti State executives of the movement.

He said the 10 million membership target was achievable through sustained grassroots mobilisation and active participation of young Nigerians across the country.

According to him, the movement is building a network of active Nigerian youths across the 36 states of the federation, adding that a membership base of 10 million active members with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) could translate into 10 million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Shoga said the target was not merely a political slogan, as structures were already being established across the country, including Ekiti State.

‘The 10 million membership is not bogus. We are building a network of Nigerian youth that, if the City Boy Movement can have 10 million active members, means it is possible for us to deliver 10 million votes to support the President come 2027,’ Shoga said.

He explained that the movement had embarked on engagements across the 36 states, with Ekiti being one of the states where it was consolidating its grassroots structure and reaching out to young Nigerians.

Shoga urged Nigerian youths to abandon political apathy and become active participants in the political process, saying the future of the country could not be shaped by those who remained on the sidelines.

‘We are telling young Nigerians that as long as you are on the sideline and you are not involved, there is no way the youth of Nigeria can move forward. Be active participants and decide your future; decide the future that will take young Nigerians to a better place,’ he said.

The CBM Director-General also urged youths to leverage what he described as opportunities provided by the Tinubu administration for greater youth participation in governance.

Speaking, the state director of the movement, Oluwafemi Kasali, said the organisation had deliberately built its structure beyond existing party lines, targeting undecided voters, newly eligible voters and those who had previously shown little interest in elections.

He said the organisation had established structures across the 16 local government areas and 177 wards of the state, with coordinators and volunteers also deployed across the state’s 2,445 polling units.

According to him, the movement’s strategy was to engage groups often overlooked during elections, including professionals, bankers, university lecturers, civil servants, artisans, students and other members of the communities.

Kasali said the objective was to encourage the groups to participate actively in the electoral process and vote for President Bola Tinubu.

He said: ‘If I am canvassing APC members, it is like preaching Jesus to a pastor or Muhammad to an Imam. Our target from day one has been the undecided voters, those who were not 18 during the last election but have now attained voting age and registered, as well as those who are lukewarm and usually do not come out to vote.

‘We are talking about the big men and women in society, bankers, lecturers in the universities and civil servants. These are people who hardly come out on election day. What we have been able to do is to reach out to many of them and bring them into our fold so that they can come out and vote for President Bola Tinubu in 2027.’

The state director said the next phase of the movement’s activities would focus on an aggressive membership registration and mobilisation drive, with a target of registering at least 200,000 members in Ekiti by October 31.

He added that the movement was also targeting 1,000 members in each of the 177 wards, expressing confidence that the target was achievable based on the organisation’s previous mobilisation efforts.

Kasali commended members of the movement, including state and local government coordinators, ward leaders, polling-unit teams, volunteers and grassroots members, for their commitment and sacrifices.

He said their collective efforts had contributed to the growth of the organisation in the state.

He also appreciated the patron of the group, Seyi Tinubu, Director-General of the City Boy Movement, Oluwatosin Shoga, and other national leaders for their support for the activities of the movement across the country.

Kasali particularly commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his support for the movement and youth development in the state, recalling that Ekiti was among the first states where the movement received a warm reception from a sitting governor.

‘Inauguration comes with responsibility. The offices being assumed today are not merely positions or titles; they are responsibilities and trust entrusted to individuals to serve, organise, listen and contribute to the growth of the movement,’ Kasali said.

The event was attended by dignitaries including Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Sunday Asefon; SSA on Community Engagement (South West), Moremi Ojudu; Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; Commissioner for Information in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun; and State party chairman, Sola Elesin, among others.