Category: PM News

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has declared that the ruling party enjoys strong support among political leaders and ordinary citizens across Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Basiru said the North remains a major stronghold of the APC, expressing confidence that the party’s strength in the region would become evident during the elections.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, October 21, the APC chieftain pointed to growing political mobilisation and support from influential northern figures as indications of the party’s presence in the region.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to stop 46 people who had contact with Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola patient from travelling by air for 21 days.

Keyamo directed the NCAA to inform domestic and international airlines about the restriction and ensure that it is enforced.

The minister disclosed this on Wednesday after a virtual meeting with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

According to Keyamo, the 46 people include 44 individuals who came into contact with the infected woman at a hospital after she developed symptoms, as well as two members of her domestic staff.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has revealed details of his meetings with British government officials and Nigerians living in the United Kingdom, explaining that the engagements focused on efforts to rebuild Nigeria.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, disclosed this in a post on X on Thursday, October 22, after a series of meetings in London.

According to him, he arrived in the British capital at 7 a.m. on Wednesday from Basel, Switzerland, before embarking on a busy schedule of engagements with stakeholders.

He said his activities continued into the evening with a meeting organised by the COPDEM Chief and the NDC Director of Diaspora Affairs, bringing together other stakeholders in London.

Obi explained that discussions with British government officials and the Nigerian diaspora centred on addressing Nigeria’s leadership and development challenges.

‘All the meetings with British government officials and the Nigerian diaspora centred on our collective responsibility to rebuild Nigeria and free our country from the shackles of bad leadership, corruption, and the lack of accountability that continue to undermine our national development,’ he wrote.

The former governor argued that these challenges had deprived millions of Nigerians of essential services, including quality healthcare, education and decent employment.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved a country where opportunities were available to everyone, irrespective of their background or political connections.

‘Nigerians deserve a country where every life matters, where hard work is rewarded, and where every citizen has a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or connections,’ Obi stated.

He further called for a society where personal achievement would depend on merit rather than privileged relationships.

‘We must build a Nigeria where the child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody. A country that works for everyone, not just a privileged few,’ he added.

Peter Obi concluded his statement by reaffirming his vision for national development, declaring, ‘A New Nigeria is POssible.’

The London engagements form part of Obi’s ongoing overseas consultations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The NDC had earlier postponed the inauguration of its National Campaign Council from October 20 to October 26, citing the presidential candidate’s overseas engagements.

A self-confessed member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) identified as Paul Okechukwu broke down in tears on Thursday after he was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for belonging to the proscribed organisation.

Okechukwu was arraigned before Federal High Court, Abuja by the Federal Government

He pleaded guilty to one count of a two-count charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the second count, which alleged his participation in an attack.

In the first count, the Federal Government alleged that Okechukwu, from Nnewi South in Anambra, committed the offence in Imo in 2021 by belonging to IPOB, contrary to Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

The second count alleged that Okechukwu participated in an attack in which two security operatives were killed, contrary to Section 2(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Following an application by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the prosecution, the court struck out the second count after it was withdrawn.

Relying on Section 72 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, Fagbemi applied for a Department of State Services (DSS) witness to review some facts of the case.

The witness, identified as ‘ABC’ for the trial, identified Okechukwu as an IPOB member, adding that the organisation had been outlawed.

He told the court that the defendant was involved in acts of terrorism, including attacks on security agents.

He said he was part of the team that investigated Okechukwu.

The witness tendered a copy of the investigation report, which the court admitted as Exhibit A.

Applying for the defendant’s conviction, Fagbemi argued that the law prescribed a minimum sentence of 20 years for the offence.

Immediately after the application, Okechukwu broke down in tears in the dock, pleading with the court to temper justice with mercy.

Delivering judgment, Justice Hauwa Yilwa said she found Okechukwu guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.

The judge said the court had considered the charge against the defendant and the ripple effect it had on the nation.

She ordered that the convict be remanded in any correctional facility chosen by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, with the sentence running from the date of his arrest.

The court further ordered that the convict be rehabilitated and deradicalised upon completion of his prison sentence.

The 2027 Presidential Candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has paid glowing tributes to the memory and transition to glory of His Most Eminence, Prophet (Dr.) Emmanuel Abiodun Adewale Alogbo, the Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim (C and S) Unification Church Worldwide.

In a condolence statement signed by Comrade Mark Adebayo, the Chief Media and Communications Adviser of the Adebayo-Bugaje Presidential Campaign,

Prince Adebayo described his passing as ‘a monumental loss not only to the C and S fold but to the entire Body of Christ both in Nigeria and globally.

He noted that the vacuum left behind by the spiritual leader will be incredibly difficult to fill, ‘given his historic role in fostering peace and spiritual alignment in the country.’

Reflecting on the critical intersection of faith and governance, the SDP standard-bearer stated that ‘religious leaders craft the moral compass for society.’ Prince Adebayo emphasised that ‘at a time when Nigeria is navigating deep economic and socio-political anxieties, the structural guidance, values, and prayers provided by genuine men of God serve as an irreplaceable anchor for national stability and human conscience.’

The campaign further highlighted that the man of God ‘lived an exemplary but simple life filled with compassion, humility, and unwavering commitment to the service of God and humanity. Despite sitting at the apex of a global spiritual body, the late Supreme Head remained a remarkably accessible and humble shepherd who consistently used his platform to advocate for the poor, support the downtrodden, and champion inter-faith harmony across the country.’

Prince Adebayo extended his deep condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the leadership of the C and S Worldwide, and the millions of congregants globally. He prayed that the Almighty grants them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, and that the soul of the departed leader finds eternal rest in the bosom of the Creator.

The Nigerian Army has deployed the first batch of 300 personnel to India for specialised mountain and jungle warfare training aimed at strengthening troops’ operational capabilities.

The Nigerian Army personnel departed the country through Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft, a C-17A and an Airbus A321A on Thursday.

An operational report of the Nigerian Army indicated that Maj.-Gen. Umar Yusuf, Coordinator, Nigerian Army Military Training and Simulation, Army Headquarters, Department of Army Training, represented the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, at the departure.

It said that Yusuf addressed the departing troops and witnessed their departure alongside the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.

According to the report, the movement was conducted without any hitches.

‘Arrangements are ongoing for the airlifting of the remaining 300 personnel to India, bringing the total number scheduled for the specialised training to 600.

‘The training is expected to expose the personnel to specialised techniques for operating in mountainous and jungle environments, where difficult terrain and demanding conditions require advanced combat skills and adaptability.’

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has missed the statutory deadline to publish the preliminary voters’ register on its website for public scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections, despite a legal requirement to make the register accessible both online and at registration areas.

Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires the commission to designate a seven-day period, not later than 90 days before a general election, for displaying or publishing copies of the voters’ register at every registration area and on its official website or another website established for that purpose.

The provision states: ‘Subject to the provisions of section 9 (6) of this Act, the commission shall, not later than 90 days to a general election, appoint a period of seven days during which a copy of the voters’ register for each Local Government, Area Council or ward shall be displayed or published for public scrutiny at every registration area and on its official website or any website established by the commission for that purpose.’

With the first set of elections approaching, the commission conducted a nationwide display of the preliminary voters’ register at registration areas between October 9 and 15, allowing registered voters to verify their details and identify errors.

However, the commission did not make the register available on its website within the period, as required by the Electoral Act.

The online portal for the preliminary voters’ register continued to display the message, ‘There are currently no preliminary registers to display. Please check back later,’ as of October 18.

PM News also visited the website, and found that the message remained unchanged.

INEC spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission had displayed the register at registration areas for claims and objections and was compiling submissions to produce a clean copy for publication.

‘We published the voter register for claims and objections at our registration areas between October 9 and 15,’ he told PREMIUM TIMES.

‘Right now we are in the process of receiving and compiling the claims and objections to have a clean copy for publication by the 2026 Electoral Act deadline of December 15.’

However, when pointed out that the law also requires online publication, Haruna had yet to respond to a subsequent request for clarification.

A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mujeeb Abdulwasiu, described INEC’s failure to publish the register online within the stipulated period as a breach of the law.

Mr Abdulwasiu said Section 19 requires the commission to make the register available both physically and online, adding that the statutory timeline was binding.

‘It’s clearly a breach,’ he said.

‘Not only that they are required to publish for public scrutiny, such publication is time bound.’

He added: ‘So two things, it is time-bound within 90 days to the general election, and not only that they are required to publish online, but they are also required to publish in each of the local governments.’

Section 19(5) of the Electoral Act also provides penalties for an INEC official who fails to display or publish the voters’ register as required.

Under the provision, an official found guilty of the offence faces up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of N100,000, or both.

The preliminary voters’ register is a crucial stage in the electoral process, allowing registered citizens to verify that their names and personal details have been correctly captured before the register is finalised.

The exercise also enables voters to flag errors, challenge the inclusion of unqualified persons and seek the restoration of names wrongly omitted from the register.

Section 19 provides for claims and objections concerning the omission or inclusion of names, including those of deceased persons and other individuals deemed unqualified to register. It also requires INEC to receive and consider such complaints and make necessary corrections within 14 days following the display or publication of the register in accordance with the law.

The failure to publish the preliminary register online raises concerns about public access to the verification process and compliance with the legal safeguards established ahead of the 2027 elections.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Thursday asked the Lagos State Government to develop a spatial development and investment compact to coordinate cross-border infrastructure, regional economic corridors, environmental resilience, and investment opportunities in the South-west

Bamidele, also, urged the state government ‘to move from planning as a governmental activity to planning as a coordinated system for delivering economic value, social welfare, environmental resilience and regional prosperity.’

He made the call in a keynote address he delivered at the Lagos Physical Planning Summit held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, seeking the creation of a Lagos-Southwest Development and Investment Compact.

Speaking at the summit on Thursday, Bamidele said Lagos ‘must move from planning as a governmental activity to planning as a coordinated system for delivering economic value, social welfare, environmental resilience and regional prosperity.’

The transition, according to him, requires a compelling change in our mindset, the strengthening of our institutions, a re-organisation of investment priorities, and the building of a much closer relationship between development plans and implementation.

He said: ‘Lagos’ long-term prosperity cannot be secured through isolated state planning alone. Its economy is closely connected to neighbouring states through shared boundaries, labour markets, housing, agriculture, manufacturing, transportation logistics, trade and environmental systems.’

He, therefore, proposed the development of a Lagos-to-Southwest Spatial Development and Investment Compact as a practical framework for coordinating cross-border infrastructure, regional economic corridors, environmental resilience and investment opportunities.

He explained that the establishment of the Lagos-Southwest Spatial Development and Investment Compact would serve as a platform through which Lagos and willing partner states can coordinate regional planning, identify shared infrastructure priorities, and mobilize investments for projects that deliver benefits across state boundaries.

He said the proposed compact should bring together Lagos and Southwest state governments, relevant federal institutions, planning authorities, infrastructure agencies, the organised private sector, professional bodies, and development partners.

He added that Lagos, with other Southwest states, should develop a framework involving Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States, through which governments can harmonise regional transport planning, power infrastructure, industrial policies, tourism development, and investment promotion.

Bamidele suggested that the development plan should prioritise regional transportation, complementary economic corridors, cross-border urban planning, environmental resilience, and regional investment mobilisation.

He advised the Lagos State Government to exploit the emerging digital revolution by expanding broadband infrastructure, smart city technology, digital services, innovation hubs, and technology-driven enterprises, while equipping its workforce with relevant digital skills.

Bamidele submitted that the future of Lagos ‘will depend not only on the quality of its development plans, but also on the determination with which those plans are financed, coordinated and implemented.

‘We must connect physical planning to economic development, infrastructure investment to measurable public benefits, digital innovation to effective governance, and state-level priorities to regional cooperation.

‘This requires capable institutions, predictable regulations, transparent financing, responsible investment, and sustained collaboration among government, the private sector, professional institutions, communities and development partners.’

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Committee will meet on Thursday to investigate incidents recorded during the first-leg encounter between Nigeria’s Rangers International and Algeria’s MC Alger in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.

CAF has received video footage of the incidents, which will be examined during the virtual meeting as part of its investigation into the match.

Both clubs will have the opportunity to respond to questions and present their positions before the committee as it reviews the circumstances surrounding the incidents.

The investigation is expected to help CAF determine whether disciplinary action is necessary under its regulations.

However, CAF has yet to announce any sanctions, as the matter remains

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai still owes his former political associates for the role they played in building the political structure that helped him win elections, his former Chief of Staff, Bashir Saidu, has claimed.

Saidu insisted that El-Rufai did not single-handedly build the political machinery that brought him to power, arguing that several associates had been active in politics long before the former governor joined them.

Speaking during an interview with RFI Hausa, Saidu dismissed allegations that he and other former allies betrayed El-Rufai by withdrawing their political support.

According to him, the former governor benefited from a political network they jointly established, adding that those now accused of abandoning him had made significant sacrifices for their political struggle.

‘We begged him to join politics,’ Saidu declared.

He recalled that his involvement in politics dated back to the era of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

Saidu mentioned Professor Ango Abdullahi and other prominent political figures as people familiar with the history of their political activities.

He also challenged the perception that El-Rufai personally controlled the political structure associated with his rise to power, maintaining that the contributions of his associates could not be overlooked.

The former Chief of Staff further rejected claims that he abandoned El-Rufai during difficult times, recounting his own experiences of detention and imprisonment.

According to him, he was arrested on New Year’s Eve and spent 50 days in prison before being released.

He said he was subsequently taken through several court proceedings until his bail was revoked, resulting in another 54 days behind bars.

Saidu also recalled spending the last Eid-el-Adha celebration in prison.

‘It is an outright lie to say we abandoned him,’ he insisted.

He explained that the disagreement arose after some associates became convinced that their loyalty and sacrifices were no longer appreciated.

Saidu maintained that his relationship with El-Rufai had developed beyond politics into a family-level association, making the allegations of betrayal particularly troubling.

He also disclosed that disagreements over political succession contributed to the breakdown of their alliance.

According to him, members of their political camp were supporting Malam Jaafaru as their preferred candidate in Kaduna without knowing that El-Rufai had already settled on another candidate.

The former Chief of Staff’s remarks followed El-Rufai’s recent complaint that some people he supported during difficult periods had turned their backs on him.

Saidu, however, maintained that the decision to part ways was driven by dissatisfaction with how the former governor treated his political associates.