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Former Kaduna Central Senator and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Shehu Sani, has mocked the performance of opposition parties in Saturday’s bye-elections, saying the outcome has exposed the difference between politics conducted on cyberspace and what obtains in the real political arena.

Sani, who is the APC’s 2027 Senatorial Candidate for Kaduna Central and represented the zone in the 8th National Assembly, made the remark in a post on X while reacting to the performance of the ruling party in the elections conducted across four states of the federation.

According to him, the APC’s victories in the bye-elections should serve as a lesson to opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, rather than something to be dismissed or explained away.

‘The ruling party swept the bye elections conducted this weekend in the four states of the federation. That is one difference between cyber space politics and real politics. The opposition can either dismiss it or learn some lessons from it,’ Sani wrote.

He further used a football analogy to describe the situation facing the opposition, saying, ‘They want to play with Spain in January, they have started losing to Lesotho.’

The former lawmaker’s comments came after the APC recorded victories in four of the five legislative bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states on Saturday.

World leaders gather in New York this week for the UN General Assembly, bracing for President Donald Trump’s return to the rostrum for a second year running, with talks centering on the widening conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and the risks of artificial intelligence.

Nearly 130 heads of state meet with the post-World War Two order under strain and with the UN itself struggling to remain relevant and weathering attacks from Trump, who has slashed America’s contributions and withdrawn from dozens of UN bodies.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who last addressed the diplomatic jamboree via video in 2021, will skip New York in favour of one-on-one talks with Trump in Washington on Thursday, fueling debate about the UN’s relevance in addressing global crises.

Compounding the crisis of morale and finance are questions about the next leader of the 80-year-old organization: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres completes his term at the end of 2026, with no clear frontrunner in the race to replace him.

The 15-member UN Security Council may hold high-level meetings on Ukraine, AI and the Middle East, including talks with Arab leaders, diplomats said.

More than a year into Trump’s second term, ‘we would no longer say that the UN is in freefall, but we would say that it’s stuck in an open-ended crisis,’ said Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group.

‘The UN may not be in emergency care like it was last year, but it seems to be trapped in a trauma center for the foreseeable future,’ Gowan said.

The US avoided losing its vote at the assembly by paying $725 million in contributions to the regular budget this week, but it still owes the organisation more than a billion dollars and makes ongoing demands for cuts and reforms.

The assembly meets shortly after several artificial intelligence industry leaders called for a coordinated slowdown of the development of the technology, warning that it could soon improve on its own and escape human control.

Guterres has said that AI will be a major topic, adding that countries pushing its frontiers should set up ‘common guardrails in order to avoid this race to the bottom that could lead one day to a gigantic disaster at the global level.’

The secretary-general has long proposed global governance of AI. In 2023, the UN created an advisory body on the technology, with members including tech executives, government officials and academics.

The warning has put Guterres at odds with Trump, who dismissed AI risks as a ‘hoax,’ saying there is a ‘sick conspiracy’ against it and that China would benefit from the doubt being cast on its development.

The Middle East will again be a focus of discussions, as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to drive global inflation and destabilize the region. Recent gains by Houthi militants threaten shipping in the vital ?Bab el-Mandeb Strait and could further spike energy prices.

‘It’s very difficult to have a military solution for that problem, and the experience of fighting in Yemen demonstrated how complicated it is to have successful interventions,’ said Guterres, adding that the UN’s envoy on Yemen was making a ‘huge effort’ to advance talks.

Peace talks remain stalled, however, as Iran and the US continue to exchange strikes and Trump threatens a major escalation of the war.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza that Israel denies – is to speak on Thursday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will for the second year running not be at the gathering in person. The US, ?a close Israeli ally, again denied him a visa. On Thursday, the General Assembly voted to allow Abbas to appear via video.

There is likely to be a high-level meeting on the conflict in Sudan on the sidelines, diplomats said, although a diplomatic breakthrough is unlikely.

Also on the agenda is Russia’s more than four-year-old war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will address the General Assembly. Zelenskiy will likely seek to shore up Ukraine’s position ahead of what is expected to be another ?tough winter, diplomats said.

The Security Council has been unable to take action to end the conflict because permanent member Russia holds a veto.

Trump has at times appeared frustrated that he has been unable to broker an end to the war, a goal he declared a priority when he began his second term in January last year. The U.S. president spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin earlier this month, but it was unclear whether he plans to meet Zelenskiy ?in New York.

Guterres highlighted the impact the war was having on civilians but also on food security and energy prices.

‘The effective blockade existing in the Black Sea is creating enormous problems that add to the problems generated by the Middle East crisis, and I think it would be very important to find a way to allow Ukrainian exports and Russian exports of food, fertilizers and energy to take place in a safe way through the Black Sea,’ he said.

At an age when most children are just starting school, Phoenix Giselle Hicks from the United States was already standing at the front of a classroom, teaching yoga.

At just 5 years and 337 days old, Phoenix became the youngest female yoga instructor in the world after completing a full 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course. Her remarkable achievement has earned her a place in the Guinness World Records 2027 book.

Phoenix’s connection with yoga began when she was only three months old, attending ‘Mummy and Me’ classes with her mother.

What began as play gradually grew into a deep passion. Now eight years old, she regularly leads classes for children and adults alongside her mum in Houston, Texas.

Earning a yoga teaching certificate is challenging even for adults. Phoenix was the only child in a class full of grown-ups. She studied anatomy, read extensively, wrote papers, attended daily classes, and completed practice teaching hours.

Her favourite pose is the tree pose, and she often encourages her students with a simple message: ‘It’s okay if you wobble or fall; just try your best.’

Phoenix is also a young author. She recently published a book teaching children how to use breathing techniques to manage big emotions.

Beyond yoga, she trains in ballet, plays the piano, and is part of a robotics team. She even dreams of becoming an astronaut one day – and jokes about being the first to do yoga in outer space.

Her mother, Sydney Hicks, is immensely proud: ‘Through her playful yet powerful teaching style, Phoenix is not just guiding yoga sessions – she’s nurturing a movement. A movement that says you’re never too young to breathe deeply, move intentionally, and change the world.’

Phoenix’s story is a powerful reminder that age is no barrier to passion, discipline, and inspiring others.

The awareness campaign ahead of an upcoming 3-in-1 event by DevReporting, a media platform dedicated to data-driven reporting across Africa, has formally kicked off at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka.

The event, scheduled for Thursday, October 29, is expected to spotlight local governance accountability and drive development journalism.

During a courtesy visit to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) management on Monday, DevReporting’s management explained that the landmark event will feature the premiere of the investigative documentary ‘LG Billions in the Dark’; the formal launch of the Development Reporting Africa Foundation (DRAF); and a strategic fundraising drive.

Led by Managing Editor Christiana Alabi-Akande and Associate Editor Samson Ademola, the DevReporting delegation met with UNILAG officials to introduce the initiative and express gratitude for hosting the event, emphasising the importance of bridging academic communities and civic discourse.

‘We are deeply grateful for the university’s support and partnership, aimed at enhancing gown and town collaborations,’ Mrs Alabi-Akande stated during the visit.

About the documentary

According to the media organisation, the investigative documentary ‘LG Billions in the Dark’ focuses on local government administration in Osun State, South-West Nigeria, using it as a case study to highlight nationwide challenges in public finance management, service delivery, and civic accountability.

‘Our intention is not only to tell the story of Osun State, but also to stimulate a broader national conversation about the state of local governance and the need for citizens and institutions to demand accountability,’ Alabi-Akande explained.

The project is executed in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) through its Local Media Sustainability Fund (LMSF), with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy.

Engaging students and academic communities

Highlighting why UNILAG was chosen as the flagship venue, Mr Ademola noted that local government receives significantly less public scrutiny than state or federal tiers, making student involvement critical.

‘Empirical evidence suggests that local governments do not receive as much attention as federal and state governments,’ Ademola stated. ‘Despite being closest to citizens, many remain unaware of local governance activities. Bringing students together will allow them to understand these issues, contribute to the conversation, and advocate for transparency.’

UNILAG management commends development journalism

Welcoming the team, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Professor Folasade Ogunsola commended DevReporting’s focus on constructive, development-driven reporting that addresses challenges while recognising progress.

‘As a country, we need to change the narrative and talk about a nation striving to survive and develop, keeping the perspective positive while confronting our challenges,’ Prof. Ogunsola remarked. ‘This is the type of journalism we need as an institution to work with, and we look forward to DRAF and the documentary screening.’

High-level university presence

The vice-chancellor was joined by top members of UNILAG management, including Deputy Vice-Chancellors Prof. Muyiwa Falaiye (Management Services), Prof. Afolabi Lesi (Development Services), and Prof. Mathew Ilori (Academics and Research).

Also present were Registrar Victoria Wickliffe, Bursar Oluwafunmilola Adekunle, University Librarian Prof. Olatokunbo Okiki, Director of Quality Assurance Prof. Olufemi Saibu, Director of Works Olaniyi Ayeye, and Director of Academic Planning Prof. Olufunlayo Bammeke.

More than 60 per cent of those listed to speak at the ongoing 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) are being represented by either their vice presidents or foreign ministers, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, has said.

The envoy also assured that Nigeria would retain its designated position at the UNGA, including its front-row seat, as Vice President Kashim Shettima stands in for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ibrahim, who chairs the UN Committee on Budget and Administration, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and other top government officials would also join the Vice President at the high-level session.

In a statement by the Nigerian Mission to the United Nations in New York, Ibrahim noted that it is not unusual for countries to delegate representation to senior government officials when their presidents are unable to attend.

‘The Vice President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are adequately positioned to represent Nigeria at the General Assembly and participate fully in the diplomatic engagements surrounding the session,’ he said. The envoy explained that President Tinubu would not personally attend the session as he is currently in France on annual leave.

‘The absence of the President should not be interpreted as Nigeria being inadequately represented. Our delegation will continue to participate fully in the proceedings,’ he said.

Ibrahim urged Nigerians to view the country’s participation within the broader context of diplomatic representation, stressing that Nigeria would continue to play its role fully at the General Assembly.

Also, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States, where he will present the country’s position on major global issues.

Shettima, who will represent the President at the annual gathering of world leaders, will deliver Nigeria’s national statement during the General Debate scheduled to hold from September 22 to 28.

The General Debate, with the theme: ‘Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All,’ is expected to focus attention on pressing global challenges and efforts to strengthen multilateral cooperation.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima will articulate Nigeria’s priorities on issues affecting national development, peace and security, economic growth and international cooperation.

The Vice President will lead a high-level Nigerian delegation comprising Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his Zamfara State counterpart, Dauda Lawal; ministers and other senior government officials to the global event.

Besides delivering Nigeria’s national statement, Shettima is also scheduled to participate in a number of high-level meetings during the UNGA week, including engagements on the Right to Development, climate action and other issues considered strategically important to Nigeria and Africa.

He is also expected to join other world leaders at the traditional reception for Heads of Delegation and hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of other countries, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

The Presidency said the engagements would provide another platform for Nigeria to advance President Tinubu’s economic diplomacy and deepen strategic partnerships with other countries and international institutions.

Nigeria is also expected to use the meetings to strengthen its advocacy for reform of the global financial architecture, sustainable development, increased access to climate finance and stronger multilateral cooperation.

The country has consistently pushed for reforms of international institutions to give developing countries, particularly African nations, a stronger voice in global decision-making.

At international forums, the Tinubu administration has also canvassed greater access to development financing for African countries and changes to the global financial system to address what it considers structural constraints confronting developing economies.

Shettima is expected to return to Nigeria at the conclusion of his engagements in New York.

A sociocultural group in Remoland, the Pan Remo Movement (PRM), has cautioned political leaders and aspirants from the zone against derailing the zoning arrangement ahead of the 2027 governorship election, saying such a move could undermine the goodwill and trust built among the zones of Ogun State.

The group, which spoke against the backdrop of the debate over the aspiration of a governorship hopeful from Remo, said the people of the zone should be mindful of the support they received from other parts of the state when Governor Dapo Abiodun contested and won the governorship in 2019 and 2023.

In a statement, its President, Otunba ‘Poju Akintayo-Ayodele and General Secretary, Oloye Tunde Adekoya, argued that Remo had occupied the governorship for 16 of the 28 years since the return to democratic rule in 1999, having produced former Governor Gbenga Daniel and the incumbent, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

The group said the time had come for the zone to reciprocate the support it had enjoyed by allowing power to shift to another parts of the state, particularly Ogun West, in the interest of equity and fairness.

‘We are not ingrates. Remo has had its fair share of the governorship. Governor Gbenga Daniel and Governor Dapo Abiodun have represented our zone and the state.

‘We must, therefore, appreciate the support extended to us by other zones and be willing to support the legitimate aspiration of other parts of the state to also produce the governor.

‘Yewa deserves a sense of belonging. It is only fair that power should move to another zone,’ the group said.

It cautioned politicians and stakeholders in Remo against putting personal ambition above the broader interests of the zone and the state, warning that any deliberate attempt to upset the existing understanding on power rotation could have far-reaching consequences.

The group also appealed to the people of Remo not to support what it described as a selfish political agenda capable of eroding the confidence other zones have in the zone.

According to it, political arrangements are sustained by trust, reciprocity and mutual respect, stressing that the support Remo receives today could be affected if the zone is perceived as unwilling to reciprocate such gestures.

‘Those who deliberately work against this understanding may be sowing seeds of conflict and destruction for generations yet unborn. We must think beyond one election, one candidate or one political ambition.

‘The question should be what is fair and equitable for Ogun State and how we preserve the trust among the different zones,’ it added.

The group, which also announced plans to host the 2026 edition of its annual Pan Remo Forum soon, said this year’s edition will focus on the need to preserve the goodwill and peaceful coexistence among the various zones of Ogun State before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

PRM maintained that the political leadership of Ogun should continue to promote an arrangement that gives every zone a sense of inclusion and belonging.

It therefore urged Remo political leaders, traditional institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to consider the long-term political stability of the state and resist actions that could create unnecessary division among its various zones.

The group further appealed to all stakeholders to respect the principle of equity and allow Ogun West, which it said had yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state, an opportunity to occupy the governorship.

It stressed that the issue should not be reduced to the ambition of any individual, but viewed from the broader perspective of fairness, political accommodation and the need to preserve harmonious relationships among Ogun’s major political blocs.

Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued 23 kidnapped victims, foiled terrorist attacks and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group in Sokoto State.

The operations were conducted in separate locations across the state, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Media Information Officer of JTF Northwest, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja.

Danja said troops responded to an attack on Sabon Gari in Wurno Local Government Area, where terrorists invaded the community and opened fire, forcing residents to flee.

He said the troops engaged the attackers, forcing them to withdraw, and rescued six kidnapped victims.

One civilian who sustained a gunshot wound during the attack was evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.

Danja said troops subsequently dominated the area to deny the terrorists freedom of movement.

In a separate operation along the Isa-Kwanar Isa-Shinkafi Road in Isa Local Government Area, troops engaged terrorists with firepower, forcing them to retreat and rescuing 17 kidnapped civilians.

One of the rescued victims, who sustained a fracture, was evacuated to General Hospital, Isa, for medical attention.

Danja also said troops, acting on intelligence, intercepted suspected members of the Lakurawa group who were allegedly moving a herd of rustled cattle from Sarma Village to Illela.

He said troops established a snap checkpoint along the suspected route in Illela Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of four suspected Lakurawa members and the recovery of six cows.

The suspects and recovered livestock are in military custody for further investigation, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the group.

Danja said the operations demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led and proactive measures by troops to disrupt terrorist activities, rescue kidnapped civilians and restrict terrorists’ freedom of movement across the Joint Operations Area.

He reiterated the troops’ commitment to sustaining operations to protect communities within their area of responsibility.

Nigerian marketing strategist Anietie Udoh has been named to the jury for the inaugural Tomilli Summit.

Udoh is the Divisional Director of Marketing Edge Publications, a media group focused on marketing, advertising and integrated communications.

He has nearly two decades of experience across journalism, public relations and integrated marketing communications. In his current role, Udoh leads strategies to enhance brand visibility and the international profile of Nigeria’s marketing and communications industry.

Udoh has also served as a judge at international industry awards, including the Native Advertising Awards and the AME Awards, where he served on the Grand Jury and evaluated entries from around the world.

As a member of the Tomilli Summit jury, Udoh is expected to bring expertise in brand strategy, integrated communications and storytelling, particularly in relation to African markets.

He will serve alongside professionals including Tor Rueda of Google, Minahil Waqas Rather of Spotify, Dina Abdelazim of The Coca-Cola Company, Tania Ramos of Mercado Libre, Ger Roe of Publicis Dublin, Kika Douglas Castroviejo of LePub and André Baldez of WASTAI.

The Tomilli Summit’s academic and curatorial teams invite companies, startups, organisations and professionals to submit projects for consideration ahead of the October 2, 2026 deadline.

The first edition of the Tomilli Summit is scheduled to take place in Dubai, bringing together creative and innovation professionals from across the world.

The final recognitions will be announced on November 12, 2026, during the Tomilli Summit ceremony at the Sheraton Grand Dubai.

Six members of the same family were killed in a building collapse in the Nenwenta community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, following torrential rainfall that triggered landslides in the area.

Villagers told our correspondent that the victims were a man, his wife, their three children and their grandmother, who were crushed when a head tank collapsed on the building.

Only one child, said to be four years old, survived and was later rescued and rushed to hospital.

The tragedy occurred on September 18, 2026, amid a landslide that cut off Nenwenta and neighbouring Ugwueme communities from the rest of Enugu State, leaving residents stranded and making access for emergency responders difficult.

The development also forced residents travelling out of the affected communities to pass through Abia and Imo states before reaching other parts of Enugu State.

The member representing Awgu South State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Nwankwo, confirmed this when he raised the matter on the floor of the Assembly on Monday under a motion of urgent public importance.

Nwankwo painted a grim picture of the disaster, saying the collapse of the head tank claimed the lives of six members of the same family, while a four-year-old child survived.

He lamented that the victims might have been rescued alive but for the lack of access to the communities, which made emergency intervention difficult.

‘I move that the House do write the relevant authorities to intervene to open the road leading to Ugwueme and Nenwenta,’ Nwankwo said.

The lawmaker appealed to the Enugu State Ministry of Works, Enugu State Emergency Management Authority and the Ecological Fund to urgently intervene, reopen the road and prevent further loss of life and property.

Contributing to the motion, lawmakers sympathised with Nwankwo and residents of his constituency, while supporting immediate intervention to restore access to the affected communities.

The lawmakers representing Ezeagu, Nkanu East and Oji River constituencies, Chima Obieze, Okey Mba and Osita Eze, respectively, described the incident as a natural disaster and warned residents against building close to hills or engaging in reckless excavation of soil and stones.

They urged the government to urgently open the cut-off road and provide relief to residents of Ugwueme and Nenwenta, stressing the need to prevent further casualties in the affected communities.