Category: PM News

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is meeting with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja.

The governors, under the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), arrived at the State House for a closed-door meeting with the President shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The meeting came after an earlier session of the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, which was attended by the governors.

The agenda for the meeting with President Tinubu was not immediately made public as of the time of filing this report.

The meeting comes eight days after campaigns officially began for the 2027 general elections, according to the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It also took place five days after the APC announced the members of its Presidential Campaign Council.

Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, was named Director-General of the campaign council.

The meeting between Tinubu and the APC governors is expected to focus on issues concerning the party and preparations for the 2027 elections.

More than 50 ward chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara Central have dismissed Senator Saliu Mustapha’s defection to the Peoples Democratic Party, describing the move as ‘political tourism’ driven by personal interest.

The chairmen said Mustapha’s exit would not weaken the APC’s grassroots structure ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the ruling party remained intact across the senatorial district.

They were led by Baba Gobir Abdullahi, chairman of Gambari Ward II and chairman of APC ward chairmen across Kwara State’s 193 wards.

Gobir said ward executives remained the ‘engine room’ of the party and would continue mobilising voters behind Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and other APC candidates.

He also rejected suggestions that Mustapha’s victory in the 2023 senatorial election was built solely on his personal political strength.

According to him, the victory was the product of the APC structure, grassroots mobilisation and AbdulRazaq’s leadership.

‘Do not be distracted by the political tourism of individuals who prioritise their personal comfort over your collective progress,’ Gobir said.

‘The APC remains the only party that puts the welfare of the ordinary Kwarans at the centre of governance.’

The ward chairmen subsequently passed a vote of confidence in AbdulRazaq and endorsed the APC governorship candidate, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, pledging to work for the party’s victory in 2027.

Mustapha’s camp, however, rejected the attempt to downplay the defection.

A senior aide to the senator, Alabi Abdulkareem, argued that the volume of reactions from APC figures since Mustapha left the party suggested that the development had rattled the ruling party.

‘Since Senator Saliu Mustapha left the APC, all of them, from top to bottom, have lost sleep,’ Abdulkareem said.

He claimed that several APC figures had appeared on local radio and national television stations to discuss the defection, while emergency press conferences had also been held.

Abdulkareem further claimed that more APC grassroots officials were sympathetic to Mustapha, alleging that over half of the remaining ward chairmen in Kwara Central were ‘fully with us in spirit and soul’ despite remaining formally in the party.

The son of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Bashir, has said that people in the core North are beginning to support the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Bashir said this is the first time in Atiku’s political career that he is being widely accepted by people in the core North.

In a post on X, Bashir said Atiku is gaining support in the region because of his reputation as a politician who is not driven by tribal interests.

He wrote, ‘Atiku is gaining traction in the North. For the first time in his political career, he is being embraced by the core North, in part because of his mantra of being the most detribalised, historically, of the bunch.’

Bashir also said Atiku’s position on fuel subsidy is putting pressure on the Federal Government.

He said the subsidy debate raised by Atiku reflects the economic difficulties many Nigerians are facing.

Bashir added that whenever he visits his father, he is surprised by his positive attitude and strength despite the challenges around him.

He said he asked his father if he still believed the sacrifices he had made were worth it.

According to Bashir, his father answered yes without hesitation.

The Lagos State Government has identified local councils as critical drivers of its ambition to transform the state into a year-round tourism destination, urging them to uncover, develop and promote attractions within their communities.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Idris Aregbe, made the call on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives of local councils and grassroots communities in Lagos.

The meeting, tagged ‘Experience The Best of Lagos,’ was held in the Victoria Island area of the state.

Aregbe said the success of Lagos’ tourism strategy would depend significantly on the ability of councils to identify attractions within their jurisdictions and work with the state government to package them into compelling experiences for local and international visitors.

‘My mandate is to ensure that tourism is boosted in Lagos to become the best. We need to continue to create a better environment in the tourism, art, and culture sector,’ he said.

Addressing the council representatives, Aregbe declared: ‘You are the keys to the door of tourism in your councils,’ urging them to take greater ownership of tourism assets at the grassroots.

He noted that Lagos’ 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) provided an extensive platform for expanding tourism beyond the state’s traditional destinations.

According to him, attractions that residents may regard as ordinary could become major tourist destinations if properly identified, packaged and promoted.

He explained that familiarity often prevented residents from recognising the tourism value of places around them, while international visitors could view the same locations as distinctive and memorable experiences.

Aregbe therefore urged council authorities to take ownership of tourism facilities in their areas and collaborate with the state government to attract visitors to destinations across Lagos.

He said the state was prepared to work with the councils to establish Lagos as a preferred tourism destination throughout the year, rather than one driven largely by the December festive season.

The Special Adviser disclosed that the state was already witnessing signs of a shift, with visitors increasingly making hotel bookings months ahead of the ember period.

He added that some visitors arriving during the festive season were now extending their stays by several weeks rather than returning immediately after the holidays.

Aregbe said the state must build on the trend by making the 2026 ember season a turning point for Lagos’ tourism industry.

‘We need to make the 2026 ember season the beginning of a massive turnaround in the country, particularly Lagos tourism,’ he said.

He stressed that the ultimate goal should be to create memorable experiences that would encourage visitors to extend their stays and return to Lagos for future holidays.

Aregbe also called on tourism operators to continually develop fresh experiences, arguing that visitors would be more inclined to return when destinations consistently offered something new.

He further urged stakeholders to adopt a broader understanding of tourism, noting that the sector extended beyond entertainment to include commerce, arts, food and other economic activities.

He said Lagos’ tourism strategy should ensure that visitors could enjoy quality experiences regardless of their budgets.

The Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, endorsed the grassroots approach, calling for a more structured system for identifying, packaging and marketing Lagos’ tourism assets to international audiences.

Drawing from his two years of experience in Lagos and Nigeria, the envoy described his experience as ‘transformational,’ saying he and his family had discovered an extraordinary city and country.

He observed that residents often overlooked the tourism potential of places they encountered daily, while foreigners could find those same experiences fascinating and worth exploring.

According to him, Lagos must identify such assets and transform them into tourism experiences that international visitors could understand, access and pay for.

Rojas-Arbulú identified value, structure and narrative as three critical elements for strengthening Lagos’ appeal to international tourists.

‘It’s understanding that you hold value; you have to find a way to package it in a way that speaks to that international visitor,’ he said.

He called for improved organisation of tourism attractions, transportation networks and service providers to make it easier for international visitors to navigate Lagos and experience its destinations.

The envoy said tourists were willing to pay for well-organised experiences where there was sufficient coordination and structure behind the service.

He also urged Lagos to take greater control of its international narrative by deliberately promoting the city and Nigeria’s positive attributes.

Rojas-Arbulú noted that international audiences were frequently exposed to negative reports about Nigeria, which could create perceptions that failed to capture the country’s creativity, opportunities and cultural richness.

He encouraged stakeholders to highlight Lagos’ entrepreneurship, Afrobeats, food, fashion, tourism attractions and creative industries as part of a narrative capable of creating an emotional connection with international visitors.

‘But if we speak about the amazing entrepreneurship of this country and the city, we speak about Afrobeats, about the food, about the fashion, about the things that can connect you emotionally to an experience, then we’re telling a different narrative,’ he said.

Describing Lagos as ‘a whole world to be discovered,’ the envoy said the state possessed enormous talent and experiences capable of attracting significantly more international visitors.

Both Aregbe and Rojas-Arbulú also highlighted the creative industry, particularly film and digital content, as powerful tools for promoting Lagos as a global tourism destination.

Aregbe said film had historically influenced how international audiences perceived destinations, pointing to the role American movies played in projecting the United States globally.

He said Lagos could adopt a similar strategy by using film and digital platforms to showcase its attractions, culture, transformation and opportunities.

According to him, some audiences still viewed Lagos through an outdated lens despite the significant changes the state had undergone.

‘Lagos has a lot to show now,’ he said, expressing the government’s readiness to collaborate with filmmakers, content creators and other stakeholders committed to promoting tourism.

Aregbe also expressed interest in leveraging YouTube and other digital platforms alongside conventional tourism campaigns to tell the stories of Lagos communities to wider audiences.

Rojas-Arbulú similarly emphasised the power of storytelling, saying films could introduce international audiences to Lagos’ beauty, creativity and diversity.

He expressed willingness to support initiatives aimed at promoting a more positive image of Nigeria among Canadians while strengthening links between Lagos and Toronto’s tourism and creative ecosystems.

Such collaboration, he said, could generate opportunities for increased tourism, investment and broader engagement between the two cities.

The Chairman of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kaduna Mr Mordecai Ibrahim, has dismissed claims former Sen. Danjuma La’ah and a lawyer, Mohammed Abbas of being the governorship candidate of the state for the 2027 election

Ibrahim told journalists on Thursday at a news conference in Kaduna that the controversy over the NDC’s governorship ticket for the state remained unresolved.

Ibrahim said the party would have to conduct a substitution primary to produce a valid candidate following his withdrawal from the race.

‘The bitter truth is that both at the state and national levels, the decision as to who is the governorship candidate of Kaduna State, whether Barrister Mohammed Sani Abbas or Senator Danjuma Tellah La’ah, has not been taken,’ he said.

The chairman explained that he remained the party’s recognised governorship candidate until he voluntarily withdrew from the race.

He said he formally notified the NDC National Chairman and the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commissioner of his withdrawal in line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2026.

Ibrahim said he submitted a withdrawal letter dated Aug. 7, which was received at the office of the national chairman, alongside an affidavit supporting his withdrawal.

He also presented what he described as an INEC summary of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2027 general election, which listed his name as the NDC governorship candidate.

The development, he said, had triggered a fresh dispute over who should inherit the party’s ticket, with La’ah and Abbas laying competing claims to the nomination.

Ibrahim said a faction of the party had denied issuing a governorship ticket to La’ah.

He also cited a statement by the NDC Deputy National Chairman, North, Alhaji Sidi Bomi, dismissing a purported document bearing La’ah’s name and circulating on social media.

According to Ibrahim, Bomi said the document did not emanate from the party and should not be relied upon as evidence that La’ah had emerged as the NDC candidate.

Abbas has also maintained that he remains the legitimate governorship candidate of the party.

However, Ibrahim rejected the claim, accusing Abbas of falsely claiming to have participated in and won a governorship primary.

He said the party would resolve the controversy through the appropriate internal process and ensure that a valid candidate emerged in accordance with electoral requirements.

A 40-year-old Kano man, Badamasi Ibrahim, has been rescued by officers of Kano State Fire Service, after being trapped inside a well, while trying to rescue his five-year old cow.

Luck came the way of Badamasi, who was almost dying inside the well when officers of the Kano Fire Service, came to his rescue following alarm raised by his neighbours.

The five-year- old cow was also rescued alive, alongside the owner.

The incident occurred at Sabon Ruwa Village in Makoda Local Government Area of Kano state.

The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif Abdullahi, said the Emergency Response Unit of the Danbatta Fire Station received a distress call from one Ibrahim Jibrin, who reported the incident at the station.

According to him, firefighters immediately mobilised to the scene and found that a five-year-old cow had fallen inside the old well.

He further stated that the owner of the cow, Badamasi Ibrahim, attempted to rescue the animal, but also became trapped inside the well and had difficulty breathing.

But the firefighters successfully rescued both the man and the cow alive.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, has cautioned members of the public against entering wells in an attempt to rescue people or animals.

He advised the public to immediately contact the Fire Service or other emergency responders whenever such incidents occur, warning that entering wells without the necessary equipment and expertise could lead to serious injury or loss of life.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, has revealed that Africa is expected to experience a lunar eclipse.

The announcement, made vis the administration’s website, explained that the eclipse will start on Friday in Africa at 9:23pm, ET, when the moon first enters the outer part of earth’s shadow till 10:33pm, ET, when the earth’s shadow starts to envelop the lunar surface, appearing to take a ‘bite’ out of the lunar disk.

‘Aug. 27-28, 2026, partial in Americas, Europe, Africa, Western Asia,’ NASA wrote.

The eclipse is expected to peak at 12:12am, ET, and end at 3:01am, ET.

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has adviced President Bola Tinubu to relinquish the chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 election, arguing that the responsibility should rest with the party structure.

Ndume made the call during an interview on ARISE Television’s Prime Time, where he questioned why the President should personally head the campaign machinery seeking his re-election.

According to the senator, Tinubu is the APC’s candidate and should be treated as the political ‘product’ being presented to Nigerians, rather than the person directing the entire campaign operation.

‘If I had the ear of Mr President, he does not need to be the Presidential Campaign Council chairman. What is the party doing?’ Ndume said.

Tinubu had last week constituted the APC Presidential Campaign Council and named himself chairman as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

Ndume, however, argued that the party’s national leadership and governors should take greater responsibility for driving the campaign.

He proposed that APC governors should head the presidential campaign in their respective states, with a central team coordinating activities nationwide.

‘The governors of every state should head the presidential campaign in their respective states, and there should be a coordinating team to coordinate them,’ he said.

The senator’s intervention adds to growing debate over the structure of the APC campaign council and the roles assigned to senior government and party officials ahead of the election.

Ndume has in recent days also raised concerns about the quality of advice available to the President, while maintaining that Tinubu’s political team must be properly organised if the APC is to mount an effective campaign in 2027.

Social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has doubled down on his allegations against the Nigeria Police Force, insisting that he will produce evidence of alleged police involvement in kidnapping and other violent crimes only when the matter gets to court.

VeryDarkMan was responding to an invitation from the police following controversial remarks he made at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt.

During the conference, he alleged that some police officers stationed at checkpoints along major highways pass information about travellers and their movements to kidnappers and bandits.

The Nigeria Police Force subsequently asked him to provide evidence supporting the allegations.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the invitation was intended to give VeryDarkMan an opportunity to substantiate his claims.

But the activist, responding through his official Facebook page, refused to withdraw the allegations.

‘On the Nigerian police, I SAID WHAT I SAID, you will get your evidence when I am charged to court,’ he wrote.

He went further, alleging that some police personnel were behind crimes attributed to so-called ‘unknown gunmen.’

‘I repeat, THE POLICE ARE THE UNKNOWN gunmen and they aid kidnappings,’ VeryDarkMan alleged.

He said he intended to present whatever evidence he possesses before a court rather than hand it over at this stage of the police invitation.

‘I’m going to give the police my evidence. I will be charged to court and I will tender the evidence in the court,’ he said.

The activist has not publicly released the evidence he says supports the allegations.

The Association of Energy Correspondents, Abuja (AECAF), has congratulated Abdulrazaq Isa, OFR, and Bala Wunti on their appointments as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the World Energy Council (WEC) Nigeria, respectively, describing Nigeria’s return to the global energy body as a significant development for the country’s energy sector.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the association said the appointments of Isa and Wunti, alongside members of the inaugural board, had provided WEC Nigeria with a leadership team possessing extensive experience across the energy industry, regulation, finance, academia and professional associations.

AECAF said Nigeria’s return to the World Energy Council came at a critical period when the global energy industry was undergoing major changes driven by energy security concerns, technological innovation, geopolitical developments and the transition towards more sustainable energy systems.

The association expressed confidence that the new leadership would help Nigeria maximise the opportunities provided by renewed membership of one of the world’s major energy networks.

It particularly commended Isa for his contributions to indigenous refining and industrial development, noting that his experience would be valuable in strengthening Nigeria’s energy ambitions and promoting greater local participation in the industry.

AECAF also welcomed Wunti’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer, describing his more than three decades of experience in the energy sector as an important asset to the council.

The association highlighted Wunti’s expertise in strategy, policy development, revenue optimisation and sectoral reforms, saying his background would position him to provide strategic direction and ensure that WEC Nigeria translates its renewed international engagement into meaningful outcomes for the country.

According to AECAF, the return of Nigeria to the World Energy Council presents an opportunity to strengthen the country’s voice in international energy discussions and ensure that Nigeria’s unique energy challenges and opportunities receive greater attention at the global level.

It said Nigeria’s participation would provide a platform to contribute to conversations on energy security, affordability, sustainability and a just energy transition, while also enabling the country to promote its interests within the evolving global energy architecture.

The association noted that the development could have wider economic implications if properly leveraged, particularly in attracting investment and technology into Nigeria’s energy sector.

It said stronger engagement with the World Energy Council could facilitate partnerships among Nigerian institutions and international energy companies, investors, technology providers, research institutions and policymakers.

AECAF further noted that Nigeria could use the platform to promote investment opportunities across its oil and gas industry, refining, natural gas, power, renewable energy and emerging energy technologies.

The association stressed that the benefits of the country’s renewed participation should extend beyond institutional representation, urging the new leadership to pursue initiatives that generate practical opportunities for Nigeria and strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders.

It also said Nigeria’s return could help amplify broader African concerns in global energy policy discussions.

According to the association, Africa continues to face significant energy-access and infrastructure challenges, making it important for countries such as Nigeria to ensure that the global energy transition takes account of the development needs of emerging economies.

AECAF said Nigeria should advocate for an energy transition framework that balances environmental objectives with the need to expand energy access, support industrialisation, create jobs and improve living standards.

The association also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as the foresight and leadership that facilitated Nigeria’s return to the World Energy Council.

It said the development demonstrated an effort to reposition Nigeria as a more active participant in the global energy community and create additional avenues for international cooperation, investment and sustainable economic development.

AECAF urged the new WEC Nigeria leadership to build strong partnerships with government institutions, private-sector operators, professional bodies, academia and other stakeholders in order to maximise the benefits of the council’s membership.

It also called for greater stakeholder engagement and transparency, stressing that the media would remain an important partner in communicating the council’s programmes and ensuring that Nigerians understand the opportunities associated with Nigeria’s renewed international energy engagement.

Established in 2007, AECAF comprises editors and reporters covering Nigeria’s oil, gas and wider energy industry in Abuja and the northern region.

The association said its members recognised the growing importance of the World Energy Council as the global energy system responds to the energy transition, technological developments and emerging geopolitical challenges.

It pledged to maintain a constructive relationship with WEC Nigeria under the new leadership and support informed public discourse on policies, investments and innovations necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s energy sector.

AECAF wished Isa, Wunti and members of the inaugural board success as they assume their respective responsibilities, expressing confidence that their leadership would help deepen Nigeria’s engagement with the African and global energy community.

The association said the ultimate measure of Nigeria’s return to the World Energy Council would be the extent to which the country could convert its renewed international presence into stronger partnerships, increased investment, technological advancement and tangible improvements in its energy sector.