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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made a surprise appearance on the runway at the 2026 Lagos Fashion Week, joining professional models in a fashion showcase that drew applause from guests.

The governor walked the runway in a traditional-inspired outfit created by Nigerian designer Ugo Monye, becoming one of the unexpected highlights of the event.

Sanwo-Olu wore a regal off-white ensemble featuring elements of a traditional caftan and a kimono-inspired cut, paired with a beige fedora. He acknowledged spectators as he made his way across the runway, exchanging nods and flashing peace signs to the cheering audience.

The 2026 Lagos Fashion Week, which opened last Wednesday at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, is expected to end on Sunday.

This year’s edition, themed ‘CRAFTED: Heritage,’ features fashion designers, models, industry professionals and enthusiasts showcasing African creativity, craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, has said the ruling party and, by extension, the Federal Government would continue to yield public space to those protesting against a fresh mandate for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as dissenting views are essential in a democracy.

The APC National Chairman made the remarks at the weekend while receiving a pre-election fact-finding mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), led by former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh.

Yilwatda noted that citizens and opposition groups must be allowed to express their views without being automatically subjected to arrest or intimidation.

He maintained that a strong ruling party should be confident enough to compete within the rules of democracy while protecting the political space for opposing views.

He said: ‘Being the largest political party does not mean that we want to suppress anybody. We want a democratic environment in which every party can organise, campaign and seek the support of Nigerians without fear.’

Yilwatda added that the APC understood the realities of democratic competition, having experienced electoral defeats in the past. He explained that the party had, on such occasions, engaged political stakeholders and pursued cooperation where common interests existed.

He cited the political realignments following the APC’s defeat in the Anambra and Osun governorship elections as an example of how electoral competition could be followed by political engagement and collaboration. He noted that such engagements had contributed to broader political alliances and cooperation in support of President Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The APC National Chairman also noted that the ruling party’s extensive and well-coordinated political organisation gives it an edge over rival political parties.

According to him, the party’s strength is rooted not merely in its electoral victories but also in its verifiable membership database, grassroots structures, elected representatives, nationwide support groups and established internal processes.

‘Our party is the largest political party in Nigeria. In terms of structure, organisation and membership, no other political party comes close to us. We are approximately three times larger than the next political party in the country,’ Yilwatda said.

He disclosed that the APC had approximately 13 million registered members spread across all local government areas in Nigeria, with detailed records of members and membership identity cards designed to facilitate verification through their National Identification Numbers (NIN) and voter identification details.

The National Chairman explained that the party’s membership database and identification system provide a strong foundation for effective grassroots engagement, mobilisation, internal coordination and electoral planning.

Prof Yilwatda highlighted the scale of the APC’s organisational network, noting that the party maintains elected and appointed executive structures from the ward level through local governments and states to the national level.

According to him, the APC has more than 261,000 executive members across its organisational hierarchy, a network he described as a major source of its political strength and nationwide reach.

He noted that the party’s structure enables it to maintain contact with its members and supporters at the grassroots while coordinating political activities and campaign strategies across the country.

The APC National Chairman also pointed to the party’s numerical strength in elected offices as evidence of its national acceptance and organisational reach.

Earlier, the head of the ECOWAS pre-election fact-finding mission, former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh, explained that the mission was undertaking a political assessment aimed at contributing to the organisation of free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria.

Foh said the mission’s work would be guided by systematic observation, verification and the collection of reliable data rather than assumptions or arbitrary conclusions.

‘Our monitoring is scientific, and our decisions on issues are based on scientific observation. We verify information before making any pronouncement, and we use a robust application system to collect data. Our reports are therefore not arbitrary,’ he said.

He explained that the mission was engaging relevant political stakeholders to obtain information and perspectives that would assist its assessment of Nigeria’s electoral environment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Foh commended Prof Yilwatda for his detailed presentation, noting that the information provided had offered the mission valuable insight into the APC’s organisational structure, membership, internal processes and preparations for the forthcoming elections.

He expressed confidence that the engagement would contribute meaningfully to the mission’s understanding of the political landscape and the conditions under which the elections would be conducted.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed Peter Obi’s presidential ambition, questioning the former Anambra State governor’s qualifications compared with other prominent South-East politicians, including himself.

Umahi also declared that the South-East had no presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, urging the region to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid instead of backing Obi.

The former Ebonyi State governor argued that supporting Tinubu for another four-year term would strengthen the South-East’s chances of securing the presidency when it becomes the region’s turn.

He made the remarks in Abakaliki during a town hall meeting organised by the Directorate of Infrastructure, Mobilisation and Sensitisation of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

Umahi called on religious and traditional leaders in the South-East to openly support Tinubu, warning against remaining neutral in the political debate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing the gathering, the minister said, ‘I want to tell our religious leaders and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), do not stay on the fence. I know when I was struggling to be Governor, CAN took a decision and said justice must prevail. CAN, don’t keep quiet; let us toe the path that must sustain our freedom. ‘There is no way an Igbo man, after staying for 60 years, will want to be President for four years. There is nobody that can accept that. The North has not accepted to be President for four years. Somebody was telling me that Atiku’s son bought buses and donated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and said this is a personal donation.

‘Igbo man needs wisdom, not sentiments. Igbo man should not allow people to be dishing hate speeches on social media on their behalf. Today, our people in commerce, we clear our goods with ease. Today, our roads are being revived in the path of economic activities. Today, we can boldly say we have been integrated. The last time they were choosing service chiefs, it was the Naval Chief. This time, it is Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Works, other Ministers, SSAs, what else? When I say South-East have been fully integrated and included, I mean it.

‘My mouth will not shut up because I am telling our people for a reference for tomorrow. We are supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to finish his remaining four years so that the South-East would have strategically supported another region. So that when it is our turn, we will not get this thing by hate speeches; they will not give to us by sentiments. If strategic leaders of the South-East say this, you will now insult them.

‘You insult anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi. Anybody who is not supporting Peter Obi is a saboteur; you insult the person. Who is Peter Obi better than? Who is he better than? Is he better than Sam Egwu? Is he better than Elias Mbam? Is he better than the Lion of the South-East, myself? Is he better than Anyim Pius? Who is better than?

‘So, I don’t want us to be deceiving ourselves. We don’t have any presidential candidate in the South-East. We have people who are vying; Ebonyi has a right to make a choice. Traditional fathers, do not stay on the fence; religious leaders, do not stay on the fence. Our people in the North do not; our people in the South-West, they do not. Guide our people, let them know what,’ the minister stated.

Umahi further claimed that the South-East had benefited from greater political inclusion under Tinubu’s administration, citing appointments into key government positions and ongoing road rehabilitation projects.

He also pointed to improvements in the ease of conducting business, arguing that the region should consider its political interests before making decisions about the 2027 presidential election.

The Confederation of African Fashion (CAFA) is targeting the growth of Africa’s estimated $30 billion fashion industry into a $500 billion economy through a comprehensive development roadmap to be unveiled at the CANEX Weekend 2026 in Lagos State.

The initiative, which seeks to reposition Africa’s fashion industry as a major driver of economic growth, trade and employment, will be presented at a joint exhibition stand established by CAFA and the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy on 5 November 2026.

The unveiling, scheduled to coincide with CAFA’s first anniversary, will take place at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, formerly known as the National Arts Theatre, Lagos, with the organisation inviting fashion stakeholders, investors, policymakers and international partners to explore opportunities within the proposed framework.

CAFA President, Aare Lai Labode, said the organisation was working with African governments to harmonise policies on sourcing, production, trade and intellectual property to ensure that the continent derives greater economic benefits from its creative industries.

He explained that the initiative was designed to move African fashion beyond creativity and cultural expression towards a structured industrial economy capable of generating wealth, creating employment and strengthening the continent’s participation in international trade.

Nigeria became the first country to sign the African Fashion Industry Growth Charter on 5 November 2025, when the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa, signed the document on behalf of the Federal Government.

Speaking ahead of the unveiling, Musawa said the initiative, known as Afroliganza, was aimed at establishing a sustainable fashion economy anchored on African heritage and driven by indigenous institutions.

‘Afroliganza seeks to build a structured, values-driven fashion economy rooted in African heritage, led by African institutions, and positioned for global impact,’ she said.

The Minister further stressed that strategic investments in the fashion industry could generate millions of employment opportunities, particularly for women and young people, while strengthening local manufacturing and expanding the economic contributions of the creative sector.

Registered in Rwanda, with its headquarters in Kigali and a desk at the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, CAFA is also collaborating with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the African Union’s adoption of the Charter. Rwanda is equally progressing towards becoming the second participating country and the first in East Africa.

Within its first year, the organisation brought together 50 nations at the Egbaliganza-Lisabi Festival in Abeokuta and signed a memorandum of understanding with Trkiye’s ASRIAD.

As part of its industrial development strategy, CAFA is promoting the local processing of African raw materials into finished fashion products, while its ‘Own What We Create’ initiative seeks to strengthen intellectual property protection.

The organisation is also introducing the CAFA Certified Seal and CAFA Heritage Mark to promote quality standards and authenticity, alongside the establishment of African Global Fashion Houses in international markets.

Another major component of the roadmap is the African Global Fashion Games, scheduled to debut in Nigeria in 2028.

The competition, which will hold every three years and alternate between African and international host countries, will bring designers together under their respective national colours, combining creative competitions with investor engagements, business deals and policy discussions. Its Instant Craft event will challenge competing countries to produce designs using identical materials within a fixed period, placing emphasis on craftsmanship and technical skills.

Labode urged African governments to support the adoption of the Charter and encourage participation in the Games Register by establishing national teams, stressing that the continent must begin to translate its creative resources into measurable economic value.

‘Fashion has always told the world who Africa is. Now Africa will decide what fashion pays,’ he said.

CAFA consequently called on fashion designers, artisans, creatives, diplomats, economists, investors and policymakers to visit its exhibition stand throughout the four-day CANEX Weekend, scheduled to hold from 5 to 8 November, to explore the roadmap and identify opportunities in design, manufacturing, investment, research, trade and international partnerships.

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has been elected the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO).

Prof Ike-Muonso emerged victorious in a keenly contested election at the WAITRO Summit 2026, held in Istanbul, Trkiye, between 26 and 28 October, defeating two other candidates in what was described as a landslide victory.

The other contestants were Prof Wellington Riach Liamba Masamba, Vice-Chancellor of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana, and Prof Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University (AKUM), Nigeria.

His election is considered a significant achievement for Nigeria, as it provides the country with an opportunity to strengthen its participation in international discussions on scientific research, technological innovation and industrial development.

The development is also expected to boost Sub-Saharan Africa’s representation in WAITRO’s governance and decision-making processes, particularly in shaping research priorities, promoting technology transfer and establishing partnerships that translate scientific discoveries into practical industrial applications.

WAITRO is a global association of industrial and technological research organisations committed to strengthening collaboration, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships among research institutions, universities, industries and other innovation stakeholders across the world.

Prof Ike-Muonso’s emergence comes against the backdrop of RMRDC’s efforts to promote research-driven industrialisation, indigenous raw materials development, value addition and technology commercialisation in Nigeria.

Under his leadership, the Council has intensified efforts to bridge the gap between research institutions and industry, encourage local processing of raw materials, commercialise research findings and support the development of a competitive manufacturing sector.

His new position on the WAITRO Board is expected to provide a broader international platform for advancing these objectives through increased collaboration, knowledge sharing, technology transfer and strategic partnerships with research and technology organisations across the continent.

For Nigeria and the wider Sub-Saharan African region, the election presents an opportunity to secure greater visibility in global research and innovation initiatives while promoting indigenous technological solutions, local content development and the effective utilisation of scientific knowledge and natural resources for sustainable economic growth.

The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has said the attempt by the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council to explain President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 electricity pledge amounts to rewriting his commitment.

In a statement signed by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council reacted to comments by the spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dele Alake, and maintained that President Tinubu was clear when he said Nigerians should not vote for him for a second term if he failed to deliver electricity.

According to the ADC-PCC, Nigerians have not forgotten the President’s words.

‘His commitment was clear and unambiguous: ‘Don’t vote for me for second term if I fail to deliver electricity.’ That was the pledge made by candidate Tinubu in 2023, ahead of the presidential election,’ the council said.

The council said no amount of selective editing could erase the commitment from the consciousness of Nigerians.

It said that, rather than end estimated billing, the Tinubu administration presided over increased electricity bills, leaving many households struggling to afford power supply.

The ADC-PCC said businesses, including hospitality facilities, have been forced to ration electricity by switching off power for guests during the daytime to contain operating costs.

It also criticised the introduction of tariff classifications under Bands A, B, C and others, arguing that consumers continue to pay more without receiving reliable supply.

The council said more than three years after the promise was made, Nigerians were still grappling with persistent outages, repeated national grid collapses and inadequate supply.

It also questioned the effectiveness of the Presidential Metering Initiative, saying its implementation had fallen short of expectations while electricity distribution companies continued to impose estimated bills on consumers.

According to the ADC-PCC, the APC’s reliance on the Electricity Act and bond programmes in defending the administration’s record does not address the fundamental question of whether Nigerians enjoy reliable and affordable electricity.

‘An Act is not electricity. A bond prospectus does not power homes and factories. What Nigerians need is electricity that works, not another round of explanations,’ the council said.

The council argued that electricity tariffs have increased substantially while supply remains unreliable, placing additional pressure on households, manufacturers and small businesses already battling rising operating costs.

It maintained that the President’s own condition for seeking a second term was straightforward: deliver electricity or not ask Nigerians for another mandate.

The ADC-PCC called on the APC to address the electricity question directly rather than attempt to dilute the public commitment made by its presidential candidate.

It said the 16 January 2027 election would provide Nigerians with an opportunity to assess the administration’s performance against its promises.

All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant for the Zamfara North Senatorial ticket, Dr Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi, has alleged a conspiracy and warned against any violation of electoral laws and party guidelines.

Shinkafi raised the alarm on Saturday night while briefing journalists at his residence in Gusau, the state capital, ahead of a fresh primary election scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026.

He urged the APC national leadership to ensure a free, fair, credible and transparent primary, expressing concern that he had been given short notice of the exercise.

‘Lack of formal communication to as an aspirant, the short notice given for the exercise, and the security challenges affecting Zamfara North required adequate preparations and consultations with relevant authorities.

He expressed dissatisfaction with the way the party leadership had handled concerns over the proposed primary election in the senatorial district.

‘I sent three text messages to the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, after seeing a notice announcing the schedule of activities for the Zamfara North senatorial primary on social media scheduled for Monday, 2nd November, 2026.

Shinkafi appealed to the national chairman to liaise with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure adequate preparations for the exercise.

Although he said he had no objection to the scheduled primary, he insisted that the process must be transparent, credible, and conducted in accordance with electoral laws and APC guidelines.

He also appealed to Governor Dauda Lawal, the APC state chairman, INEC, and security agencies to maintain neutrality and ensure a transparent, credible, and acceptable primary election in Zamfara North.

A coalition of Nigerian civil society organisations (CSOs) has urged the judiciary to uphold its integrity and ensure public confidence in the judicial process as it handles the ongoing legal dispute involving Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Job Samuel Danfulani of the Centre for Public Integrity; John Samuel Nangi of Nigeria Integrity Watch; Mohammed Ibrahim Sumaila of the Northern Council of Nigeria; Abdullahi Salisu of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Forum; and Hassana Mohammed of the Foundation for Democracy in Africa.

The CSOs said the case presented an opportunity for the judiciary to demonstrate its commitment to fairness, impartiality and the rule of law amid lingering public debates over previous electoral disputes in Imo.

In a statement issued in Bauchi, Bauchi State, the group recalled the controversy surrounding the Supreme Court’s 2020 judgment that declared Uzodimma the winner of the Imo State governorship election, displacing the then governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

It also drew attention to conflicting accounts surrounding Uzodimma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.

According to the coalition, Uzodimma had claimed that he emerged through Option A4, while the APC national leadership reportedly told the Federal High Court that he secured the party’s ticket through a consensus arrangement.

The group said the controversies surrounding previous electoral disputes in Imo State had generated public debate about the judiciary, stressing the need for the courts to handle the latest dispute in a manner that would strengthen confidence in the administration of justice.

It urged the judiciary to ensure that the case was determined strictly on its merits, without external considerations, adding that public trust remained essential to the credibility of democratic institutions.

The coalition also commended Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for what it described as his commitment to judicial independence and the administration of justice.

It said Nigeria needed more judges who would demonstrate impartiality, courage and dedication to the rule of law, adding that Justice Egwuatu deserved commendation and national recognition for his conduct.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has asked states to regulate excessive upfront rent demands following viral incident in Benin City, Edo.

Atiku made call in a post on his X handle on Sunday while reacting to report of tenant in Benin City who allegedly assaulted his landlord for increasing rent from N300,000 to N1 million.

‘No rent dispute should ever end in blood, and I urge calm on all sides. Yet viral scenes from Benin City speak to pain that young renters across Nigeria know well: sudden increases, arbitrary charges, and nowhere fair to turn,’ he said.

He said states should adopt laws that reflect current wage realities and protect both tenants and landlords.

‘I will require states to adopt wage-reflective tenancy laws, regulate excessive upfront rent demands, set clear rules for rent increases and evictions, and create fast, accessible dispute resolution for landlords and tenants alike. A roof over one’s head should not be a battlefield,’ Atiku said.

A fire outbreak has destroyed 110 buildings and structures at Kofar Ruwa Timber Market in Kano State, leaving traders and business owners with significant losses.

The Kano State Fire Service, while confirming the incident in a statement, said the inferno razed 75 permanent buildings and 35 temporary structures across different sections of the market.

The Service’s Public Relations Officer, PFS Kabiru Isah Jafaru, said the fire broke out at approximately 7:39 a.m. on Saturday.

The agency received a distress call from a timber dealer identified as Alhaji Abba, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters from various stations across the Kano metropolis.

Jafaru disclosed that upon arrival at the scene, firefighters discovered that the flames had spread to several sections of the market, causing extensive damage to properties.

According to him, the firefighters eventually brought the inferno under control, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the market and causing further destruction.

The Fire Service spokesperson urged traders and business owners to remain vigilant and adopt appropriate fire-safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

He particularly warned that extra caution was necessary during the harmattan season, when dry and windy weather conditions could increase the risk of fire outbreaks.

As at the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire and the total financial losses suffered by affected traders had yet to be established