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Suleja, Zuba, others to face power cut today – TCN

Residents and businesses in Suleja, Zuba and neighbouring communities will experience a brief power outage on Saturday as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) carries out preventive maintenance on its transmission equipment.

TCN announced on Friday that electricity supply would be interrupted for about 20 minutes during maintenance work on the Gwarinpa-Suleja 132/33kV Line 2 bay switchgears and associated equipment.

The maintenance is scheduled to take place between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Communities expected to be affected include Suleja Township, FCT College of Education, Field Base, Zuba, Sabon Wuse and surrounding areas supplied through the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

TCN explained that the temporary outage would allow engineers to transfer electrical load from the Gwarinpa-Suleja Line 2 to the Kubwa-Suleja Line 1 while maintenance is carried out.

The company said the arrangement was designed to prevent a prolonged power disruption during the exercise.

According to TCN, the work forms part of its annual preventive maintenance programme aimed at improving the reliability of transmission equipment.

The company apologised for the inconvenience and advised electricity consumers in the affected communities to take note of the scheduled interruption.

2027: ADC’s Umar Salah defects to APC

African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto has suffered another defection as its former Director General, Alhaji Umar Salah, joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Salah was received into the APC on Saturday by the Chairman of the Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal, alongside the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmed Ladan Ala.

The defection came shortly after Salah met with Governor Ahmed Aliyu at the Government House, Sokoto.

Speaking on his decision to leave the ADC, Salah said he was motivated by the development projects and programmes being implemented by the Aliyu administration.

He said, ‘Governor Ahmed Aliyu has done a lot for the state through the execution of various developmental projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the citizenry.’

According to him, the governor’s achievements convinced him to join the APC and support the administration.

Salah also pledged his support, alongside that of his followers, to the governor ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Receiving the former ADC official, Nagwari Tambuwal welcomed him to the APC and assured him that he would be treated equally with other members of the party.

‘There is no discrimination in the APC,’ he said, urging the new entrant to work with other party members for the progress of the state.

The SUBEB chairman also commended Governor Aliyu for what he described as the administration’s impressive performance in executing development projects across Sokoto State.

He prayed to Allah to continue to guide and protect the governor and enable him to sustain his development efforts.

Salah’s defection is the latest in a series of defections involving prominent ADC members in Sokoto State in recent months, with several opposition figures reportedly moving to the APC across the state’s 23 local government areas.

TosinBee’s ‘Praise Affair’ sets tone for 2027 edition

Thousands of worshippers converged on Regal Hall, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, on Sunday, September, 20, 2026, for ‘Praise Affair with Tosin Bee: The Thanksgiving,’ a free gospel concert that blended deep worship with high-energy praise.

The event marked gospel minister Tosin Bee’s first major headline concert since ‘Switch with Tosin Bee’ at the MUSON Centre in 2019. Since then, the singer has been engaged in live recordings, new releases and international ministry.

Performing with his Beezle Nation team, Tosin Bee delivered a bilingual set in English and Yoruba, drawing on his signature Afro-gospel and highlife sound. The crowd responded with dancing, tears and loud shouts of praise throughout the evening.

‘Everything we have, everything we are, is by His grace,’ Tosin Bee said, describing the concert as an act of thanksgiving.

Nine guest ministers joined him on stage: Beejay Sax, Kaestrings, Adeyinka Alaseyori, Eniola Olusoga, Laolu Gbenjo, Steve Hills, Elijah Daniel, SMJ and Lillian Nneji. Each contributed a distinct ministration, from Beejay Sax’s saxophone melodies to Kaestrings’ deep worship and SMJ’s energetic praise.

The Lagos State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Yemi Davids, addressed the gathering, saying, ‘When we are praising God, we are exalting His abilities.’

He later prayed for the convener, his team and the audience.

Attendees commended the organisation of the event, citing the sound quality, stage production, volunteer coordination and programme flow.

Many worshippers said they were already looking forward to the Praise Affair 2027.

Funke Akindele rallies support for Kamo State’s ‘Starlomo’ amid criticism

Following criticism over her absence from the Lagos premiere of ‘Starlomo’, filmmaker Funke Akindele has publicly thrown her weight behind Kamo State’s new film.

The actress and box-office record holder took to social media to urge fans and movie lovers to see the film in cinemas nationwide.

Akindele’s show of support comes days after her absence from the premiere sparked speculation of a rift with the skitmaker-turned-actor Akinyoola Ayoola, popularly known as Kamo State.

Kamo State, however, clarified that they had no disagreement, explaining that Akindele was out of the country at the time of the premiere.

In a post backing the project, Akindele congratulated Kamo State and director Kayode Kasum, and called on her followers to go to the cinemas.

‘STARLOMO. Let’s go see a good movie this weekend. Congratulations @kamo_state @kayodekasum. I wish you all the best at the box office. Starlomothemovie is now showing in all cinemas nationwide. Go see it!!’ she wrote.

‘Starlomo’, which opened in cinemas on September 25, 2026, tells the story of Ayotide, a young man who abandons his family’s food business to pursue a music career in Lagos.

After tragedy forces him back home, he uncovers a hidden history of his parents’ music careers and a lost family legacy, which he uses to reclaim his family’s name.

Directed by Kayode Kasum, the film stars Kamo State alongside Ibrahim Chatta, Abiola Adebayo, Lateef Adedimeji and others, and marks another major step in Kamo’s transition from skit-making to feature-film production.

Defense of ‘nefarious political idols’ makes Constitution useless – Palace

What renders the 1987 Constitution futile is when Filipinos begin defending acts of corruptions by ‘nefarious political idols’ and normalizing unlawful execution of innocent people, the Palace said Saturday.

Palace press officer Claire Castro made the pronouncement amid criticisms against the Senate impeachment court’s recent ruling modifying the two-thirds conviction threshold on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

‘The Senate has its own mandate, and conducting an impeachment trial falls squarely within its jurisdiction,’ Castro said.

‘This will be the real scenario… our Constitution will be rendered futile if the Filipino people begin to defend acts of corruption of their nefarious political idols, or if they normalize the unlawful execution of innocent people under the guise of dispensing justice,’ she warned.

The Senate impeachment court last Wednesday voted to revise the 16-vote threshold needed to convict Duterte in her impeachment trial.

Under the newly-adopted rules, the constitutionally required two-thirds vote for conviction will be based only on senators who remain legally and factually capable of participating in the impeachment proceedings at the time of voting.

The computation will exclude senators who are detained, suspended or otherwise legally restrained from performing their functions.

It also bars persons who are sought by authorities whose whereabouts are unknown and those suffering from a physical or medical incapacity.

It also prohibits those who are beyond the coercive processes of the Senate; and others similarly situated.

The decision garnered criticisms, particularly from Duterte’s supporters and political allies.

Carlos Yulo has quick turnaround time to next big tournament-the Worlds

More than winning a second gold after another spectacular triumph, Carlos Yulo is leaving the 20th Asian Games with momentum and a renewed fire for the next two major battlegrounds he wants to conquer again.

Three weeks from now, the two-time Paris Olympics gold medalist will travel to Rotterdam in the Netherlands for the 2026 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, where the best of his kind are likewise coming in sharp as they all prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

‘This Asian Games will remind me of what I can do when I’m in good shape,’ Yulo said after a golden effort in the vault on Friday that made him account for both Philippine golds thus far. ‘The world championship is where I test if this level [of performance on the Asian level] can hold [up] against the world again.’

Simply dominant

By becoming a double gold medalist here, Yulo’s campaign has transformed into a statement of dominance.

After conquering the floor exercise two days ago, the Filipino gymnastics marvel doubled down with a masterful performance in the men’s vault final on Friday, securing the title with a sharp, controlled average of 14.599 built on power and precision.

Yulo launched into his spectacular first vault, a 14.733 built on a 5.6 difficulty and a crisp 9.133 execution. With the tension broken, Yulo sealed the gold with a clean, confident second vault at 14.466, outlasting Iran’s Mahdi Olfati and Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Ki.

Two golds down and finally completing his collection of regional championships, Asia’s finest is now turning his gaze towards Rotterdam.

The World Championships on Oct. 17 to 25 will be Yulo’s next proving ground. It’s a stage where he has claimed glory three times, and a stage that now serves as a crucial prelude to his long-term Olympic mission.

‘This tournament will show me where I stand heading into LA 2028,’ he said. ‘I’m coming in fully prepared, determined to deliver my best performance.’

His training team, led by coach Aldrin Castañeda with physiotherapist Bethel Solano and assistant Josh Garcia, has been tightening every detail of his routines.

The vault and floor exercise, where he also struck gold in Paris 2024, remain his strongest weapons. But Rotterdam will demand more consistency across apparatuses and the ability to regain peak form in a short turnaround time.

For Yulo, the Asian Games and the World Championships are not isolated tournaments. They are stepping stones toward the next Olympic gold-or more-he wants to claim in Los Angeles.

Crisis: Osun NURTW chief wants urgent intervention by NLC

As the leadership crisis in the Osun State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) continues to escalate, a former state officer of the union, Mr. Ayowole Micheal Faniyan, has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to take over the control of the union in the country.

Mr. Faniyan, who is popularly known as Aluwaye also said the NLC, upon taking control of the affairs of the union, should also set up a statutory electoral body which will be conducting a free, fair, credible and violence-free elections whenever the tenure of any NURTW leadership expires in this country.

Faniyan, who was the chairman of the NURTW in Ilesa West and East local governments of the state, said this was the only way to curb the leadership violence which is bedevilling the NURTW in Nigeria.

He said: ‘When I was the chairman of NURTW in Osun before I stepped aside in 2007, the situation wasn’t like this. We used to conduct a free and fair elections to pick our leaders and this used to be in a very peaceful manner. At the end of the election, whoever emerges as the winner will embrace the loser while they will all celebrate the electoral victory together with the others. But nowadays, the politicians have taken over and they are now using them as political thugs.’

He commended a past national treasurer of the union, Alhaji NashiruKomolafe; a former National Secretary, Alhaji Moshood Ajao; Alhaji Azeez Aruna Bundle Owo, Mr. Joseph Awoniyi and Baba Suuru among others, whom he said did well during their time to ensure that the members’ welfare and passengers’ safety on the road.

FaniyanAluwaye called on the NURTW leadership and members across Nigeria not to allow the politicians to turn them to political instruments to win elections but work for how the glory of the union would be restored.

According to him, a situation where members use guns and cutlasses to take over the leadership of garages instead of an organised, peaceful election portended danger for life and property of not just passengers but also members of the union.

2027: Over 10,000 Otukpo old boys back Akume, endorse Tinubu

The Government Secondary School Otukpo Old Boys Association (OGSSOBA) has declared its support for its alumnus, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

The association, which said it has more than 10,000 members across the former Benue-Plateau and Gongola states, said it was supporting Akume’s political direction and backing Tinubu to enable the President to continue and complete ongoing development projects and economic reforms.

Speaking in Abuja, the National Convener of the support group, Okpe Oko, JP, described Akume, who graduated from the institution in 1971, as a political leader whose direction the alumni body had resolved to follow.

Oko said the association regarded Akume as a father and mentor and had therefore decided to support his political position ahead of the 2027 election.

He said the decision to back Tinubu also stemmed from the group’s belief that the President should be given the opportunity to continue his administration’s programmes.

The association said it would mobilise support through its members and branches ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

‘He is our father. Wherever he goes, we go; whatever he says, we follow him,’ Oko stated. ‘That is why we have decided to queue behind him to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term presidential bid, to continue with the work he started and bring it to completion.’

Defending the administration’s policy direction, Oko described President Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy as a bold leadership step necessary to prevent hyperinflation and long-term economic collapse.

‘Now, we have a bold leader who decided to swallow the bitter pills and took the bullets on behalf of the entire nation,’ he added.

Corroborating his views, the group’s National Coordinator, Chief Ali Igboyi, acknowledged the current socio-economic challenges but emphasised that subsidy removal was crucial to dismantling cartels that had long exploited the country.

Chief Igboyi highlighted key federal interventions driving economic recovery in the North-Central region, citing major road networks such as the Buruku-Logo Bridge, the Makurdi-Gboko Road, and the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway, alongside the newly commissioned $250 million lithium processing facility in Nasarawa State.

According to Igboyi, these infrastructure, security, and industrial investments are laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth, job creation, and prosperity across the region and Nigeria at large.

Rivers Assembly issues arrest warrant for Odili’s PAMO varsity’s VC

The Rivers State House of Assembly has issued a warrant of arrest on the Vice-Chancellor of PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) owned by former Governor Peter Odili.

It was gathered that the assembly took the decision following failure of the VC to appear before an ad-hoc committee established by the House to investigate about N28 billion reportedly paid to the university by the state government for scholarships.

The committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol, had in its last sitting insisted that the VC must appear in person to justify the utilisation of the funds.

He maintained that the appearance was necessary because the VC being the university’s chief accounting officer was required to speak directly to financial documents presented by the state Ministries of Finance and Education.

PAMO, a private medical university owned by Odili, has enjoyed years of patronage from the state government, which sponsors medical students from Rivers on scholarship.

Maol had complained that PAMO failed to appear when other stakeholders, including the Accountant-General, Commissioner for Finance, Commissioner for Education and their Permanent Secretaries, honoured the committee’s invitation.

According to him, the committee’s powers to summon the university’s chief accounting officer are backed by Section 129(A), (B) and (C) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

‘The only person that can come and speak to this document presented by the Ministry of Finance to this committee is the Chief Accounting Officer of the university, which is the Vice-Chancellor, and that is in line with the Constitution,’ he said.

A statement signed yesterday by Martins Wachukwu, the Special Assistant to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, said the House reconvened yesterday to deliberate on the report of the committee.

The lawmakers, after deliberating on the report presented by Maol, resolved to issue a warrant of arrest on the Vice-Chancellor in line with the recommendation of the committee.

The House, among other recommendations, also urged the state government to set up a committee to recover all unaccounted funds in possession of the PAMO University and deposit them in the Consolidated Revenue Account of the state.

The committee chronicled how the university received over N29 billion from the state government, claiming that there was no corresponding students’ enrolment, which it said gave credence to the reason behind the VC’s refusal to honour the invitations.

Commenting on the report, Speaker Amaewhule acknowledged the good intentions behind the government scholarships, but lamented its faulty implementation.

Amaewhule frowned on a situation where documents presented by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, and the Office of the Accountant-General were at variance.

He said by simple deduction, out of the over N29 billion released by the state government to PAMO University, the school only utilised N5 billion.

The speaker harped on the determination of the Assembly under his leadership to do the right thing irrespective of whose ox was gored, stressing that no individual could be bigger than the House as an institution empowered by the Constitution.

Raffia Bag: A Piece of Art

Raffia bags possess a quiet beauty, the kind that does not announce itself, but waits to be noticed. Made from the fibres of the raffia palm, raffia bags marry the earth’s own texture with the patience of human hands.

In Nigeria, one of the places strongly associated with raffia craft is Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom, popularly known as the ‘Raffia City.’ There, artisans have long transformed palm fibre into bags and other useful and decorative pieces such as baskets, hats, and mats. What begins as a humble strand of palm becomes, in the language of fashion, a little poem one can carry.

What makes the raffia bag special is the process. The fibre is prepared and woven by hand, giving the maker room to create different shapes, textures, handles, patterns, and finishes. Each strand seems to take its place like a line in a verse; together, they form a beautiful piece. The result can be a simple everyday tote or a structured handbag. This is where the ordinary fibre becomes fashion, and craftsmanship becomes its own kind of literature.

Raffia bags are also no longer confined to traditional or casual settings. Contemporary fashion has embraced them in polished designs, from large shoppers to smaller structured bags. In Nigeria, raffia bags are readily available in different forms, while international fashion retailers also market raffia pieces as sophisticated accessories. The old craft has found a new chapter, and the chapter is written in texture.

The charming look of the raffia bag is best styled with a simple dress, a shirt and trousers, or an elegant African-print outfit. Its natural texture adds character without overwhelming the wearer. A well-made raffia bag can therefore move easily from a relaxed daytime look to a carefully styled occasion. It does not merely accompany an outfit; it whispers its own story beside it.

That is what makes the raffia bag a piece of art. It is not simply a container for a phone, purse, or other personal items. Every strand, pattern, and shape reflects decisions made by the person who created it. The bag carries texture, labour, and cultural memory in a form that can be worn. In its woven silence are echoes of hands, heritage, and home.

Xquisite Style is about discovering precisely these rare gems, and ‘Raffia Bags’ is one of its kind. Its smooth blend with colours makes fashion a rainbow. It is a must-have for every fashionista lady.