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2027: Kwankwaso and I committed to national unity, improved security – Peter Obi

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has said he and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso are committed to national unity, improved security, increased investment in healthcare and education, and policies aimed at reducing poverty.

At an NDC town hall meeting, held in Owerri on Saturday, Obi raised concerns about poverty and insecurity and urged voters to protect their ballots.

He also addressed concerns about electoral transparency, while urging residents to participate in the 2027 general elections.

He advised the people to remain at their polling units to monitor the process until the final results were declared.

The former Anambra governor described protecting votes as an important responsibility of citizens exercising their democratic rights.

He thanked party members, candidates, organisers and supporters in Imo State for participating in the meeting, describing national development as a collective responsibility.

The Owerri engagement forms part of the NDC’s ongoing political outreach ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He criticised President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s economic record.

Obi said that President Tinubu had not spent a night in the state despite spending more than 260 days abroad.

He also accused the administration of accumulating substantial debts without delivering corresponding improvements in citizens’ living conditions.

Obi cited poverty, hunger, insecurity and the number of children outside the education system as major national concerns.

The NDC candidate revealed that more than 140 million Nigerians were living in multidimensional poverty, adding that approximately 18 million children were out of school.

On arrival, Obi visited the Relief Market in Owerri, where he interacted with traders, buyers, and other residents about their experiences with the current economic situation.

Railway pensioners take housing monetisation case to Tinubu

The Association of Nigerian Railway Senior Citizens (ANRSC) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the non-implementation of the Federal Government’s housing monetisation policy for railway quarters.

The association’s Chairman, Mr Olusegun Esan, made the appeal at a news conference on Saturday in Lagos.

Esan said that retired railway workers and their families had been denied the opportunity to own the official quarters they occupied, in spite of the introduction of the policy in 2004/2005.

He explained that the policy was designed to reduce government expenditure on the maintenance of official residences, while providing serving and retired public officers the opportunity to purchase their occupied quarters at affordable rates.

Esan said that prolonged legal dispute had subjected many retirees and their families to hardship, and some affected pensioners had died while others remained homeless.

According to him, the policy has been fully implemented in ministries, departments and agencies of government such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Port Authority and even in the judiciary.

‘We now wonder why the Nigerian Railway Corporation is different. The past management of NRC commenced implementation of part of the monetization process, they monetised vehicles, furniture but left the important aspect – the quarter where retirees live.

‘The NRC was formerly one of Africa’s largest employers of labour, with more than 50,000 workers whose families are spread across different parts of the country.

‘We appeal to Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and the NRC management to facilitate the implementation of the monetisation policy and the 2016 court judgment.

‘We also call for compensation and resettlement allowances for affected retirees and widows, and above all, the government should address their grievances without further delay,’ he said.

Esan said that the association had made several efforts to resolve the dispute, including writing to NRC management, the Minister of Transportation, the Ministry of Justice and other relevant authorities.

He said that the association had also submitted documents detailing the history of the dispute, the affected residential quarters across railway districts and properties allegedly occupied by third parties.

According to him, the present NRC management has engaged the association on possible settlement.

He, however, said that members rejected the proposed conditions because they allegedly contradicted the Federal Government’s monetisation policy and the court judgment.

Defection: Niger APC sues PDP, SDP governorship candidates, others

The Niger State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has instituted a suit against the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mohammed Mamman Nami and Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, SAN, before the Minna Division of the Federal High Court.

The suit followed the defection of the two politicians, alongside their supporters, from the ruling APC to their present political parties.

The case was instituted by a team of 11 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), led by Jacob Johnson Usman of OJOCHOGWU Chambers, Abuja.

Also joined in the suit are the PDP, SDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and several individuals.

Those individuals named in the originating summons include Peter Jiya, Sadiq Mohammed Rabiu, Musa Mamman, Alhassan Adamu Sonfada, Umar Isah, Abubakar Ndanusa and Zango Danlami Idris.

Prior to their defection, Nami and Ndarani were prominent stakeholders in the APC but abandoned the party following disagreements arising from the state primary election.

Zamfara North APC crisis: Stakeholders ask Tinubu to stop November 2 rerun

Concerned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara North Senatorial District have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party’s national leadership to suspend the proposed November 2 2026 rerun senatorial primary citing concerns over the ongoing legal dispute involving Senator Sahabi Ya’u Kaura and Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi.

The party members in a statement signed by Abubakar Matawalle expressed concern over the party’s handling of the controversy warning that proceeding with another primary without adequate clarification of the legal issues could create further complications for the APC.

The dispute which centres on the party’s senatorial ticket for Zamfara North ahead of the 2027 general elections has generated considerable political and legal interest following court decisions that nullified the disputed primary election and ordered a fresh exercise.

The Federal High Court in Gusau had earlier ruled in favour of Shinkafi while the Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto subsequently dismissed an appeal filed by Senator Ya’u Kaura and upheld the order for a fresh primary.

However the concerned APC members maintain that the party must exercise caution in view of further legal proceedings reportedly being pursued in connection with the dispute.

They questioned the rationale behind scheduling another primary while according to their position the legal issues surrounding the party’s nomination process have yet to be conclusively resolved.

‘What is the urgency behind conducting another primary election when critical legal questions surrounding the dispute are still being pursued?’ the group queried.

The stakeholders argued that the APC leadership should prioritise due process internal democracy and respect for judicial decisions rather than take actions that could expose the party to further litigation.

CAN raises concern over Christian woman’s conviction in Borno

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed concern over the reported conviction and imprisonment of a Christian woman identified as Lami Samuel Dawa in Borno State.

The association said it was particularly concerned by reports that the case arose from circumstances surrounding the conversion of an adult woman to Christianity.

However it noted that the precise facts and legal basis of the conviction were still being verified.

CAN said an appeal had already been filed adding that it was committed to allowing the judicial process to run its course.

In a statement issued yesterday by its president Archbishop Daniel Okoh the association said the case had raised important questions about the protection of religious freedom and fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It maintained that every individual had the right to freely choose change or practise their religion or belief without coercion intimidation or unlawful punishment.

The association called on relevant authorities to ensure that the rights of all parties were protected and that justice was served in accordance with the constitution and the law.

CAN also said it would continue to monitor developments in the case and engage relevant authorities through appropriate legal and institutional channels.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different religious backgrounds and the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of every citizen.

2027: Pantami makes INEC updated list, Adebutu, Gwarzo missing

Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been included as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Gombe State in the updated list of candidates for the 2027 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

His running mate, Haruna Ahmadu Hasan, was also listed.

However, the names of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and the PDP candidate in Ogun State, Adebutu, were missing from the updated list.

The NDC column for Kano State was left blank, with INEC indicating ‘court Order’ in the comments section. The commission said Gwarzo’s final clearance would depend on the outcome of the pending court case.

INEC also listed former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, as the NDC senatorial candidate for Delta Central and Iyabo Obasanjo as the PDP candidate for Ogun Central.

The electoral commission published the updated list of candidates for the national elections, covering the presidential and National Assembly seats, as well as state elections for governorship and Houses of Assembly, on Saturday.

The inclusion of Omo-Agege and Obasanjo had attracted attention because both were aspirants in their respective parties before joining the NDC and PDP. Their eligibility had been questioned in connection with the Supreme Court judgment on the validity of Section 77 of the Electoral Act.

INEC also left the Accord Party’s presidential candidate column blank, despite a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja directing the commission to recognise Olawepo Hashim as the party’s candidate.

The party has appealed the judgment, arguing that Hashim failed to meet the deadline for the expression of interest and purchase of nomination forms.

In Kaduna State, where the NDC candidate was omitted from the final list published on October 10, INEC listed Mohammed Sani Abbas instead of Danjuma La’ah, whose name appeared during the claims and objections period.

The updated list contains 20 new governorship candidates. One additional candidate was listed in each of Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Oyo, Taraba and Zamfara states.

Two new candidates were added in each of Kaduna, Cross River and Nasarawa states, while Gombe and Kano had three additional entries each, including the blank NDC slot in Kano.

The number of parties contesting the governorship election in Abia State was also reduced from 15 to 14.

According to the list, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) have candidates in 28 of the 28 states where governorship elections will hold, while the PDP and NDC have candidates in 26 states each.

The PDP has no governorship candidates in Kebbi and Ogun states, while the NDC has none in Abia and Ogun. The NDC candidate in Abia, Ndubuisi Ogah, whose name appeared on the earlier final list, was omitted from the updated version.

New NDC governorship candidates included John Odey Upan in Cross River, Shammah Danladi Dodo in Nasarawa and Muktar Farouk Alhaji in Kebbi.

INEC also listed former Minority Whip, Ali Isa JC, as the APC candidate for Balanga/Biliri Federal Constituency in Gombe State, despite a Federal High Court judgment in the state nullifying his nomination and barring him from participating in another primary election.

The commission stated that none of the candidates published before the Supreme Court judgment had been affected by the latest changes.

Confirming the update, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said some petitions submitted by political parties had succeeded while others were rejected.

He disclosed that INEC received 69 petitions from 12 political parties across 26 states concerning governorship elections. Of the petitions, 41 were successful, while 28 failed.

For State Houses of Assembly elections, Haruna said the commission received 61 petitions from 11 parties across 11 states, with 25 succeeding and 36 failing.

PTAD pays N13.87bn pension arrears to 18,822 retirees

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has disbursed N13.87 billion in pension increment arrears to 18,822 retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), covering outstanding payments arising from approved increases for former workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and five other agencies.

The payments comprise N9.42 billion paid to 7,391 former PHCN pensioners and N4.46 billion disbursed to 11,431 retirees from five defunct agencies, according to a statement signed by Olugbenga Ajayi, Head of Corporate Communications at PTAD.

‘The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid ?13,873,565,547.52 (Thirteen Billion, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Three Million, Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Forty-Seven Naira, Fifty-Two Kobo) in pension increment arrears to 18,822 Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) Pensioners. The payment reflects the accrued arrears arising as a result of the 13.8% and 20.55% increments to PHCN Pensioners and Pensioners from some of the Defunct Agencies under PTAD,’ the statement read

The directorate said the former PHCN workers received 65 months of arrears arising from a 13.8 percent pension increment, covering the period from June 1, 2021, to October 31, 2026.

The second tranche of N4.46 billion represents 22 months of arrears arising from a 20.55 percent pension increase, covering January 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026.

The beneficiaries of the 20.55 percent increment are pensioners from the People’s Bank of Nigeria, Assurance Bank, NICON Insurance, Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation and NITEL/MTEL.

PTAD said both pension increments were approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) in a circular dated January 14, 2026.

The payments bring the total arrears disbursed under the two increments to N13.87 billion, with the former PHCN pensioners accounting for about 68 percent of the total amount.

The directorate said the disbursements reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees and ensuring that pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme receive their entitlements.

It also credited the administration of President Bola Tinubu with supporting efforts to address outstanding pension obligations and improve pension administration.

PTAD reaffirmed its commitment to the timely payment of pension entitlements and the continuous improvement of the welfare of retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

RCCG National Youth Affairs moves to expand youth development initiatives in Oyo

The National Youth Affairs of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), led by its National Youth Pastor, Pastor Oluwafemi Oyetunde, has visited the Oyo State Secretariat, the state Police Command headquarters and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to discuss areas of collaboration on youth development, security and agriculture. Pastor Oyetunde’s three-day visit to Oyo State comprised an executive meeting with the leadership of the Mission’s Youth Affairs in Oyo on the first day, official visits to key institutions on the second day and a 24-hour Prayer and Word Retreat, themed ‘BUILDUP’, on the third day.

At the Oyo State Secretariat, the delegation met the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Victor Olojede, who pledged the state government’s support for the proposed programmes.

Olojede said the state government wanted to be involved in the initiative, noting that it could create opportunities for young people and students.

‘The Oyo State Government wants to be involved in this project,’ he said.

He disclosed that he would submit a memo to the state government to facilitate students’ participation and assured the delegation that his office would work with RCCG.

During the meeting, the national youth pastor outlined plans for a free three-month technology skills programme targeting about 10,000 young people in Oyo State. The programme would combine virtual and physical classes.

The delegation also visited the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, where it met the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga.

Oyetunde said the church was interested in working with the police on crime prevention and improving relations between young people and law enforcement officers.

‘We are here to also talk about crime prevention. How can we prevent crime, and how can we also build trust between young people and the police?’ he said.

He also sought information on police career opportunities, including short-service entry pathways, to enable young people to understand the available options.

Responding, Olugbenga stressed the importance of respect for the rule of law and community policing in relations between the police and young people.

He said community policing would enable the police and members of the public to identify common problems and discuss possible solutions.

‘Community policing makes it possible for us to identify a common problem and discuss the way forward. It will not be the police alone solving that problem,’ he said.

The commissioner advised young people to familiarise themselves with the country’s laws and engage public institutions peacefully when expressing grievances.

At IITA, the delegation discussed a proposed partnership to expand agricultural opportunities for young people and support the church’s farming activities.

Oyetunde said RCCG’s General Overseer, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, had directed provinces and regions of the church to embrace farming as part of efforts to contribute to food production.

He disclosed that the church had about 165 hectares of land at Redemption Camp, as well as other arable land around Ijebu earmarked for agricultural activities.

According to him, RCCG has more than 50,000 parishes in Nigeria and runs feeding programmes that serve more than two million people every August and fewer than one million in December.

Oyetunde said the church wanted to establish an agricultural empowerment programme to help young people become food producers, entrepreneurs and employers of labour.

‘We want to establish a sustainable agricultural empowerment programme that will transform young adults and youths in RCCG from job seekers to food producers, entrepreneurs and employers of labour,’ he said.

He added that the church required technical expertise, agricultural technology, business incubation and institutional support to implement its agricultural plans.

Adetola Adenmosun, IITA’s Country Coordinator of Youths in Agribusiness, identified access to land and markets as major challenges facing young people interested in agriculture.

She said access to land was particularly difficult for women in some parts of the country, adding that women accounted for about 80 per cent of participation in some IITA programmes.

Adenmosun also stressed the need to connect agricultural training with market opportunities to enable young people to establish sustainable businesses.

She said IITA considered market demand when organising training programmes to ensure that participants produced goods for which there were established markets.

Another IITA representative from the business development unit advised RCCG to adopt a phased approach to the proposed programme, noting that the church’s 165 hectares of land would require careful planning.

The representative also recommended that the programme should include mentorship, practical support and marketing arrangements.

The delegation included Pastor Fabulous Oluwabusiwa, Pastor-in-Charge of Province (PICP), Youth Province 4; Pastor Wole Akindele, Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of Province (APICP); Pastor Oyesanmi James, Regional Youth Evangelist, Region 21; Pastor Oluwafemi Oladele, Central Operations Officer; and Pastor Daniel Nwoji, Director of Programs, and Victory Adudu, Director of Prayer.

Others were Pastor Moses Oladimeji, Regional Youth Pastor, Region 42; Pastor David Olagunju, Regional Youth Pastor, Region 21; Pastor Enoch Olatunji, Area Coordinator, Youth Province, C12; and Ayotunde Folahan, Assistant Director of Media, NYAYA.

Landmark Africa advances vision to redefine entertainment, tourism

Landmark Africa says it is advancing its vision to redefine West Africa’s entertainment and tourism landscape through the proposed development of Landmark City. The city is a US$250 million integrated destination anchored by the Dream Theatre Entertainment Centre.

Landmark Africa is a leading Nigerian hospitality, real estate, and tourism development company, known for creating premier lifestyle and leisure destinations across Africa.

The proposed Dream Theatre Entertainment Centre, recently unveiled, is a 20,000-seat indoor arena that will anchor a landmark entertainment, tourism, and leisure destination on a 10-hectare Atlantic Ocean beachfront site in Lagos.

Located on a 10-hectare site along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront, approximately 15 kilometres along the coastline from the existing Landmark Village ecosystem in Victoria Island, Lagos, the development represents a significant expansion of Landmark Africa’s established business, leisure and lifestyle model.

The project is being advanced in partnership with African Capital Alliance (ACA), a leading Africa-focused private equity and investment management firm, combining Landmark’s destination development expertise with ACA’s investment capabilities and institutional relationships.

A new destination for entertainment, tourism and leisure

More than an arena, Landmark City is envisioned as a vibrant, year-round destination that brings together world-class entertainment, hospitality, retail, sports and recreation within one integrated ecosystem.

At its heart, Dream Theatre will provide a purpose-built, all-weather venue capable of hosting international concerts, basketball tournaments, sporting competitions, theatrical productions, exhibitions and major corporate events.

The wider development will feature a beachfront resort, retail avenue, hospitality accommodation, convention and exhibition facilities, themed restaurants, recreational parks, family attractions and a signature Ferris wheel.

Together, these attractions are designed to create a destination that remains active beyond major event days, encouraging longer visits, repeat patronage and sustained commercial activity.

Building on Landmark Africa’s proven experience

Since its establishment in 1997, Landmark Africa has evolved into one of Nigeria’s prominent developers and operators of integrated business, leisure and lifestyle destinations.

Its flagship Landmark Village ecosystem in Victoria Island demonstrated the commercial potential of bringing together corporate offices, hospitality, retail, entertainment and recreation in one location, attracting millions of annual visitors and supporting numerous businesses.

Landmark City builds on this experience, translating a proven destination-development approach into a larger, internationally competitive entertainment and tourism offering.

The project is targeting approximately five million visitors annually, with the potential to stimulate tourism spending, support local enterprises and generate employment across hospitality, entertainment, event production, retail and supporting services.

Connecting African entertainment to the global stage

Nigeria’s growing influence in music, sports and popular culture presents an opportunity to develop the infrastructure needed to attract major international productions and sporting events.

As Afrobeats continues to reach global audiences and interest in African sports expands, the demand for modern, large-capacity entertainment venues is becoming increasingly significant.

Dream Theatre seeks to address this opportunity by providing the facilities required to host major international tours, sporting competitions and large-scale live experiences within Nigeria.

The development is also attracting investment interest from American and Canadian investors, reflecting the growing opportunities for international capital and strategic partnerships within Africa’s entertainment and tourism industries.

Beyond the venue itself, Landmark City is expected to generate wider economic opportunities through increased demand for accommodation, transportation, food and beverage services, event technology, logistics and other supporting businesses.

A Vision for Africa’s Entertainment Future 974,756

For Landmark Africa, the Dream Theatre vision represents more than an infrastructure investment. It is an opportunity to establish Lagos as a leading destination for world-class entertainment, sports, tourism and cultural experiences.

By combining private-sector investment, international partnerships and its experience in developing successful destinations, Landmark aims to create a commercially sustainable ecosystem capable of attracting global audiences while delivering lasting economic value.

The ambition is clear: to build not just an arena but a destination that brings the world to Lagos and places African entertainment on a truly global stage

Tundu Lissu’s brother’s final words: ‘Live in love and unity’

Arusha. The final message delivered by the brother of Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu, Alute Mughwai Lissu, 72, to his family was a call for maintaining love, unity and cooperation and continuing the good deeds he had initiated.

The message was reportedly delivered shortly before his death at 2 am on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Arusha, following a prolonged illness.

Speaking to reporters at the deceased’s home in the Fire area of Arusha, where the family was receiving mourners, one of the relatives who cared for him, Mr Peter Lissu, said the deceased had not said much shortly before his death but left a brief message for the family.

‘Just before he died, he did not say many words, but he told us to live in love, cooperate as a family and continue the good things he had started,’ said Mr Peter.

He explained that their late brother had told them he first fell ill in 1999 and had battled the condition for a long time.

Earlier, the deceased’s younger brother, Dr Vincent Lissu, who spoke on behalf of the family, said Mr Alute had died after his condition deteriorated significantly in recent days.

He said Alute had become the family’s spokesperson and clan leader, adding that his death had left a huge gap.

‘We will sit as a family and provide further details on other arrangements, but for now, what we can say is that our brother Alute Lissu had become our family’s spokesperson, clan leader and, generally, the head of the family,’ he said.

According to Dr Vincent, the deceased was also an important figure in Tundu’s life.

Both were lawyers, and the family expects him to be buried in Mahambe Village, Ikungi District, Singida Region, after the judgment in Lissu’s case, scheduled for November 6, 2026.

‘We expect the burial to take place in Singida, but we will announce the date later. We want to attend the judgment in our brother Tundu’s case, which is scheduled for Friday. Following this death, we have postponed the burial arrangements slightly so that we can be in Dar es Salaam on Friday to attend the judgment,’ he said.

He said the family would provide further information on the burial arrangements and other programmes the following week, after the judgment.

He explained that some family members living in Dar es Salaam, accompanied by Chadema leaders, had gone to Ukonga Prison, where Tundu Lissu is being held, to formally inform him of his brother’s death.

‘Alute was like a father to our family. He was a role model to us, particularly Tundu. He was a lawyer, and we believe Tundu may have been inspired to pursue law by looking up to his brother,’ he said.

‘Therefore, we know this is a huge loss and a source of grief for us. But think about Tundu, who is in prison and did not have the opportunity to care for his brother. This will be particularly painful for him. That is why we felt it was necessary to send people to formally inform him, rather than have him learn about his brother’s death through reports circulating outside or in prison,’ he added.

He said Alute, who was a widower, had left behind five children.

According to Dr Vincent, their mother, who was the senior wife in their father’s family, had 10 children, of whom five were still alive.

‘We have always been united and loving towards one another. Even when Tundu was in court, our brother Alute often accompanied us. Even when he was seriously ill, he still managed to attend the court proceedings. We have therefore remained a closely united family, loving one another, and his death has left a huge gap,’ he said.

‘Alute was like our father and the head of our family. Losing him is a huge gap and a great source of grief. But matters of God are in God’s hands. Regarding his illness, he had been sick for a long time, for several years,’ he said.

Chadema Deputy Secretary General Amani Golugwa said the family had informed the party of the death, which had been received with deep sorrow.

He said the family was mourning while arranging to attend the judgment in Tundu Lissu’s case.

‘The family has said the burial arrangements will take place after Tundu Lissu’s judgment. If he is released, he will be able to attend his brother’s funeral. We have received that information from the family, and as a party, we will stand with them during this period of mourning,’ he said.

‘The party will issue an official statement conveying its condolences to the family, and we will fully participate in the funeral arrangements,’ he said.