Category: PM News

African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, stirred controversy on Friday after jokingly linking the death of his mother to President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.

Amaechi made the remark during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, after the presenter asked him directly whether Tinubu’s policies were responsible for his mother’s death.

‘Is it Tinubu’s policy that killed your mother?’ the presenter asked.

Amaechi responded: ‘Of course, before Tinubu, my mother was healthy.’

He later made clear that the remark was a joke rather than a literal claim about the cause of his mother’s death.

The exchange came as Amaechi criticised the economic conditions facing Nigerians and argued that the effects of government policies were being felt across households.

When the presenter challenged him over his own responsibility for his mother’s welfare, Amaechi pushed back, saying he was responsible for supporting several people.

‘Do I have a choice? Do you know how many people I’m taking care of?’ he said.

Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 at the age of 89 and was later buried in Ubima, Rivers State.

The former Rivers State governor has intensified his criticism of the Tinubu administration as political activity gathers momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

During the same round of public engagements, Amaechi has argued that economic hardship remains a major issue for voters and has criticised the effects of higher fuel and living costs on ordinary Nigerians.

Amaechi, a former Minister of Transportation, is running alongside ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in the 2027 election.

He has also repeatedly drawn on his years in public office while presenting himself as experienced in both state and federal government, having served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, governor and federal minister.

Captain Smit Machchhar, the pilot who was stabbed during a terrifying mid-air struggle aboard a Flydubai passenger jet, has spoken publicly for the first time about the desperate moments inside the cockpit.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Machchhar revealed how he continued fighting despite being injured as the aircraft plunged during an alleged attempt by his co-pilot to take control of the flight.

The captain said he was lying wounded on the cockpit floor but realised he needed to make one final effort to open the cockpit door and allow others into the cabin.

‘I was lying on the floor injured but I told myself to go for one last push to open the door from inside,’ Machchhar said.

‘Others came in and also played a role.’

He said his immediate concern went beyond saving himself as he feared for the lives of everyone aboard the aircraft.

‘I was of course fighting for my own life but at the same time I knew I was not going to let others die,’ he said.

Machchhar suffered stab wounds during the confrontation with his unidentified co-pilot, who Israeli officials allege deliberately steered the Flydubai jet into a dramatic nosedive.

The aircraft was reported to have been travelling at high speed when the crisis erupted inside the cockpit.

Despite being wounded, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing other people aboard the aircraft to intervene and help bring the situation under control.

The suspected attacker was subsequently restrained and has been questioned by anti-terror investigators.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and the co-pilot’s motive.

Israeli officials have raised concerns that the attack may have been an attempt to deliberately crash the aircraft, although investigators have yet to announce a final conclusion.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Machchhar following the incident and praised his actions during the emergency.

Modi credited the captain’s courage, patience and quick decision-making with potentially saving the lives of those aboard the aircraft.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar, describing him as a ‘true hero.’

Netanyahu said the incident could have ended in a major aviation tragedy had the captain and others aboard the aircraft failed to regain control.

Machchhar remains in hospital recovering from injuries sustained during the cockpit struggle, while investigations into the incident continue.

Veteran Nollywood actor, Pete Edochie, has given hints on the state of his health, saying he is not very well.

The actor said he is currently finding it difficult to walk and has been experiencing swelling in different parts of his body.

He made the disclosure while visiting ailing Ghanaian actor Emmanuel Armah in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday.

Edochie, who is in Ghana to launch the Pete Edochie Legacy Project, an initiative celebrating his contribution to African cinema and storytelling, visited Armah at his home.

A video of the visit online showed Edochie praying with Armah and offering him financial support.

Speaking about his own health, the veteran actor said he been experiencing difficulty in walking and swelling in parts of his body.

‘Sitting down here, I am not very well myself. Walking is a problem for me now, but I still have hope that I will recover.

‘Sometimes I wake up and parts of my body have swollen up. After some time, they go down again. My hand is swollen,’ he added.

The veteran actor, however, remained hopeful of recovering despite his current physical challenges, saying he relied on God and prayed not to become a burden to those around him.

‘I just keep asking God, you are the author of life. Whenever you feel it is time for me to go, just take me. Don’t let me bother the people who are around me,’ he said.

Edochie also expressed optimism about Armah’s recovery, saying, ‘Emma, I believe that you will recover someday, by the grace of God’.

The comments have generated concern among fans, with many expressing sympathy and praying for the veteran actor.

Edochie’s visit to Armah comes against the background of the latter prolonged absence from active screen work due to health challenges.

The CANs Park has opened applications for the first cohort of PHER, a free programme that supports women-led micro businesses in Abuja with digital adoption and stronger business and financial practices.

The programme is implemented by The CANs Park under the Digital Transformation Center (DTC) Nigeria programme, which is carried out by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Women run a significant share of Nigeria’s small businesses, yet many micro-enterprises struggle to grow beyond their first two years due to limited digital adoption, weak financial systems and a lack of support tailored to their sectors. PHER is designed to address this gap by combining expert advice with practical digital skills.

Over the course of the programme, 40 women-led micro businesses across two cohorts in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Lugbe will receive 10 one-on-one advisory sessions per business: five focused on business operations and five on finance, delivered by industry-specific experts.

Participants will also take part in a hands-on digitalisation workshop and receive digital business tools, support with business registration at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and brand identity support. They will also have access to a peer support network that will continue after the programme ends. Participation is free of charge.

‘Women in Abuja’s markets have already done the hardest part: they have built businesses that serve their communities,’ said Ashley Best, Project Manager of PHER at The CANs Park. ‘PHER is designed around what those businesses need to grow: the right digital tools, sound financial habits and expert advice built around each business, not generic training.’

The programme builds on earlier women-focused initiatives by The CANs Park. Women CAN supported 34 female impact entrepreneurs, while FEM-Money trained 41 female entrepreneurs. PHER held a virtual soft launch on August 27, 2026.

Applicants must be women aged 18 to 35 who own and operate a micro business in AMAC or Lugbe in one of the following sectors: beauty and cosmetics, catering, consumer products or fashion. The business must have been operating for between one and two years.

Applicants are also expected to have a smartphone, basic digital skills and a business page on Instagram, Facebook or WhatsApp.

Applications close on Friday, October 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. WAT. Interested entrepreneurs are required to complete the online application form and submit a short business plan of no more than two pages.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The CANs Park said it will not ask applicants for payment at any stage of the process.

The CANs Park was established in 2019 as an innovation support organisation in Abuja. It serves startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs through collaborative workspaces, business incubation, technology solutions, consulting and community-driven support.

Media contact:

Jennifer Ijeh

Communications Manager, The CANs Park

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has appointed a veteran journalist, Amos Dunia, as Special Adviser on Public Affairs for his 2027 campaign.

Makinde, the presidential candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), disclosed this in a statement in Abuja by Richard Ihediwa, Director, Strategic Communications for the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation.

‘Dunia, a former Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) chieftain brings decades of extensive print and broadcast media experience from prominent outlets, including the Nigerian

Television Authority (NTA) and The Sun, to strengthen the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation’s communications team.

‘The appointment took immediate effect as the campaign pushed its ‘Reset Nigeria’ message ahead of the upcoming election.

‘As a key spokesperson, Dunia would help drive the campaign’s central ‘Reset Nigeria’ message, working alongside other media professionals to secure victory for the party in the upcoming 2027 presidential election.’

According to him, Dunia brings his experience, capacity, skills and connections as a seasoned journalist, public commentator, communication expert and publisher to the Makinde-Daura presidential campaign organisation.

‘As a spokesperson, Dunia joins other professionals in the campaign in driving the Makinde-Daura reset Nigeria message towards ensuring the victory of the APM in the 2027 presidential election,’ he said.

He said following the announcement, Makinde urged all campaign members, party leaders, supporters, and citizens across the nation to remain steadfast in achieving economic prosperity, national cohesion, and political stability together.

‘I charge all members of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign, leaders, teeming members, supporters of the APM and indeed all Nigerians to remain steadfast in the collective quest to use the 2027 Presidential election to reset and put our nation back on the path of stability, national cohesion and economic prosperity,’ the campaign organisation stated.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe, has come under fire over comments in which he invoked ‘AK-47’ against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a viral video circulating on social media, Tenebe was seen speaking at one of the ongoing local government campaigns led by Governor Monday Okpebholo and the party leadership.

He threatened to deal with anyone who opposes the party’s plan to deliver 2.5 million votes to President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

According to him, the number of votes a state delivers to the Federal Government can influence its development, including the creation of more local government areas and states.

Tenebe claimed Governor Okpebholo had promised President Tinubu 2.5 million votes from Edo, a pledge which opposition figures and social media critics had dismissed as unrealistic.

He said the governor had previously proved critics wrong by mobilising over 2.1 million votes for the APC during the last local government elections in the state.

‘What we are trying to achieve now is the 2.5 million votes. Delivering the votes is crucial to securing more development opportunities for Edo State,’ he said.

‘The only person that can create a local government for us is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. If it is that alone, we will not sleep. We will work hard and make sure those votes are turned out,’ Tenebe added.

In the video, the APC chairman then offered what he called a ‘reversal prayer’ against those who would constitute an obstacle to achieving the target.

‘If you invoke Holy Ghost Fire it is heavier, but if you invoke General Purpose Machine Gun prayer it is lighter,’ he said.

‘So, as for anybody who refuses and wants to stand in our way, for us not to have those votes that we intend to give to Mr President – AK-47 fire. Thank you and God bless,’ he prayed.

However, critics have described Tenebe’s ‘AK-47 fire’ prayer as threats, voter intimidation, and potential incitement to electoral violence ahead of the 2027 elections.

For one, the Edo chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused Tenebe inciting election violence ahead of the election with his prayer.

Edo ADC spokesperson, Chris Ojeikere said this in a statement while alleging that similar remarks by Tenebe led to an attack on the the party’s secretariat.

Ojeikere added that the party would forward the video to appropriate authorities for action.

He also said Tenebe should to be held responsible for any resulting violence in the state.

Commentators on the X platform also called on the police and the Department of State Services, DSS to take action against Tenebe over the unusual prayer.

The Political Intelligence Group (PIG) of Politico.ng has released its October electoral map, projecting a shift in the distribution of states among the major political blocs ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

At a press conference in Maryland, Lagos on Friday, the convener of PIG, Lai Omotola, stressed that the monthly electoral map should not be interpreted as a declaration of the eventual election result, but as a snapshot of the political landscape based on developments at the time of the assessment.

According to Omotola, the purpose of the exercise is to enable political parties and candidates to identify areas of strength and weakness and adjust their strategies accordingly.

‘Our monthly electoral map is for parties to see where they are weak and strong and this does not suggest the final result but rather if elections were to be held this month this projection is likely to be the outcome.’

The October assessment comes after a month marked by several developments that PIG said could influence the political calculations ahead of the 2027 election.

Omotola identified the reported denial of entry into Benue State involving Peter Obi, one of President Bola Tinubu’s leading political opponents, as one of the notable developments during September.

He also cited the controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s working vacation, which generated debate over the president’s absence from the country, as another development considered in the group’s assessment.

The group also pointed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s continued focus on the fuel subsidy issue and what it described as a ‘sudden turnaround’ as part of the political developments observed during the month.

Beyond individual political figures, PIG also assessed the level of mobilisation by the major political parties.

Omotola said the APC appeared to be conducting more campaign-related mobilisation across the country, followed by the NDC, while the ADC had established a Presidential Campaign Council but had yet to embark on major nationwide campaigns.

He also drew attention to an emerging disagreement between some APC governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, saying the political dispute could become significant in the evolving electoral calculations.

Under the October projection, PIG said the APC would record a net reduction in its projected state tally, falling from 20 states in September to 19 states in October.

The movement is attributed to the ruling party losing Rivers State while gaining Adamawa State.

Omotola said: ‘This electoral map for October shows APC loose two states of Rivers but gained Adamawa state reducing the number of state win by APC from 20 in September to 19 in October.’

The September PIG map had projected the APC at 20 states, with the ADC on nine and the NDC on eight. Contemporary reports on that earlier projection also described it as a forecast based on prevailing political circumstances rather than a prediction of the final election result.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), according to the October assessment, also experiences a reduction in its projected reach.

PIG said the party, which was projected to win nine states in September, would secure eight states in October, with Adamawa moving into the APC column.

Omotola said: ‘ADC remaining dominant in September 9 states but unfortunately lost Adamawa to APC. In October electoral map projects ADC will win 8 states.’

The change means Adamawa becomes one of the states responsible for the movement in the projected electoral map between the two months.

While the APC and ADC figures declined, the NDC projection increased.

PIG’s October assessment places the NDC at 10 states, compared with eight states in the September map.

Omotola said: ‘In October, NDC have increased the number of states from 8 in September to 10 states in October.’

The movement represents a two-state increase in the group’s monthly projection. PIG cautions against treating map as election result

Summarising the October assessment, Omotola said: ‘The summation of the projection is APC is leading with 19 states, NDC with 10 states and ADC with 8 states.’

He immediately added an important qualification to the figures, stressing that the projection assumes a free and fair electoral process.

‘Let us caution that this result is presumed under a free and fair elections.’

The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority (OYRLEA) has impounded 20 cows during separate enforcement operations in Ibadan over alleged violations of the state’s open grazing regulations.

The operations, carried out in collaboration with security agencies, took place at Batake Village along the Ibadan-Eruwa Road and Idi-Iroko in the Moniya area of Ibadan.

OYRLEA Chairperson, Justice Aderonke Aderemi (retd.), disclosed the development in a post on X on Thursday.

She said the first operation was conducted at about dawn on Wednesday, September 30, following a petition from Adewolu Farms over alleged repeated encroachment by cattle and destruction of crops on its farmland.

The farm, according to the authority, grows cassava, maize, yam and cashew.

Aderemi said enforcement officers and security personnel moved into the area after receiving the complaint, but the herders allegedly attempted to take the cattle away after noticing their presence.

Nine cows were nevertheless seized during the operation.

Another enforcement exercise was conducted early on Thursday, October 1, at Idi-Iroko, Moniya, where 11 more cows were impounded.

The authority said the second operation involved allegations of residential cattle rearing and open grazing.

The two operations brought the number of cattle seized by OYRLEA to 20.

The authority said the enforcement actions were undertaken as part of efforts to implement the Oyo State Open Rearing and Grazing Regulation Law, 2019, while protecting farmers, residents and legitimate economic activities.

OYRLEA urged residents and farmers to report suspected breaches of the law through the appropriate channels.

‘Residents and farmers are urged to report violations through appropriate channels,’ the authority said, assuring members of the public that ‘all legitimate complaints will be attended to in accordance with the law.’

Aderemi said the authority would continue enforcing the relevant legislation in the interest of residents and farmers.

OYRLEA also appealed to members of the public to cooperate with enforcement agencies by providing information about activities suspected to contravene the state’s open grazing regulations.

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede has reiterated the need for accountable conduct and zero tolerance of corruption by every Nigerian in order to give values to the ongoing reforms of the government.

Olukoyede said this in Abuja on Thursday, October 1, 2026, in his Independence Anniversary message to Nigerians.

Olukoyede applauded efforts being made to grow the commanding heights of the polity and described them as ‘building blocks of the greater nation we desire.’

He called on Nigerians to couple all the reform-focused efforts with zero tolerance for corruption.

‘At 66, Nigeria has come a long way. Independence has offered us liberty and self- determination. We are also making considerable progress in nation building. All these efforts are significant. They are the building blocks of the greater nation we desire. Let’s therefore couple all our reform- focused initiatives with zero tolerance for corruption’, he said.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would fare better and emphasized greater need for rejection of corrupt practices in all its forms.

‘We cannot be building and allow corrupt practices to vitiate our efforts. Progress only comes with purposeful rejection of compromises. Nigeria will surely get better!’, he said.

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, has warned party leaders that another victory for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027 could effectively end the political careers of the current crop of opposition leaders.

Amaechi made the declaration on Wednesday while speaking at the ADC National Women League Conference in Abuja, where he urged party members to leave the capital and return to their states to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of the presidential election.

The former Rivers State governor told the gathering that ADC leaders could not afford to remain in Abuja while the battle for votes was being fought across the country.

‘If you are not from FCT, go home and campaign. Me, I am going on Wednesday. I will not wear a suit, I will dress like a young man,’ Amaechi said.

He then issued a blunt warning about what he believes would happen to the party’s current leadership if the APC retains power in 2027.

‘Let me tell you what will happen, we the crop of leaders you see here, if APC wins the 2027 elections, we are retired from politics.

‘So if you don’t want us to retire from politics, we must go home.’

Amaechi urged ADC members to focus heavily on mobilisation at ward level, arguing that delivering substantial votes across communities could determine the outcome of the presidential contest.

‘If you bring two thousand votes per ward, just bring two thousand votes and we have won the election,’ he said.

His remarks came as the ADC intensifies preparations for the 2027 presidential election and pushes its leaders and supporters to strengthen mobilisation across the states.