₦airaland Forum

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released social activists Randy Peter and Precious Oruche, popularly known as Mama Pee, after both honoured an invitation from the anti-graft agency in Abuja.

The two supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, regained their freedom shortly after midnight on Wednesday following several hours of engagement with officials of the commission.

Their release came after concerns spread across social media over their whereabouts. Supporters and associates had raised questions after the activists remained at the EFCC headquarters long after reporting for the scheduled meeting.

A fellow activist, Justice Cracks, confirmed their release in a statement shared on social media. He disclosed that he accompanied both individuals to the EFCC headquarters on Tuesday afternoon after they received the invitation from the commission.

According to him, the meeting lasted for several hours before the activists were eventually allowed to leave the premises.

“My dear brother, @Peter4Nigeria, and my sister, @MamaPee__ were invited by the @officialEFCC. I personally accompanied them there on the afternoon of 15th July 2026, at about 1:00 p.m. It was a very long day,” Justice Crack said.

He further stated that the activists were released at about midnight after spending roughly 11 hours at the commission’s office.

“They were eventually released at around 12:00 a.m. and were asked to return the following day, 16th July 2026. For now, everything is fine,” he said.

Justice Cracks also shared a video from the EFCC headquarters while waiting for the pair to conclude their meeting with officials of the agency.

Earlier in the day, concerns had intensified after reports emerged that the activists had not been seen leaving the commission’s office several hours after arriving.

The development prompted widespread reactions online, with some supporters expressing fears that the duo might have been detained.

Among those who raised the alarm was Esther Umoh, a photographer who worked with Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign.

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed increase in registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination, describing the move as “a victory for the Nigerian people.”

Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, shortly after the Federal Ministry of Education announced the suspension of the planned fee review following widespread public criticism.

He commended the government for responding to public concerns but argued that the proposed increase should never have been introduced given the prevailing economic hardship facing many Nigerian families.

While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” Obi said.

According to him, access to education should be expanded rather than restricted at a time when many households are struggling with the rising cost of living.

He maintained that education is a fundamental right and a public good that should not be treated as a source of government revenue.

Imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education. At that stage, the State has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school,” he added.

The former Anambra State governor further stated that effective leadership involves not only making policy decisions but also having the willingness to reverse those that place undue hardship on citizens.

True leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people. Many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration,” he said.

Obi also expressed appreciation to parents, education advocates, civil society groups and other Nigerians whose opposition to the proposed fee increase contributed to the government’s decision to suspend the policy.

Earlier on Monday, the Guardian learnt that the Federal Ministry of Education announced the withdrawal of its June 18, 2026, circular conveying the proposed adjustment of examination registration fees to allow for wider consultations with relevant stakeholders before any final decision is taken.

In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry said the suspension reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.

The proposed review would have increased the registration fee for the 2027 WAEC and NECO Senior School Certificate Examinations from N27,500 to N50,000.

The planned increase had attracted widespread criticism from parents, education stakeholders and advocacy groups, who warned that the higher fees could further limit access to secondary education, particularly for students from low-income families.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed Peter Obi’s claim that his life could be in danger ahead of the 2027 general election.

He said the former Anambra State governor would be alive to contest the election and suffer another defeat at the polls.

Umahi spoke while inspecting ongoing federal road projects in Ebonyi State.

The inspection comes days after the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was frustrating his livelihood and targeting opposition figures.

Obi, during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, had claimed that virtually everything he does for a living was being deliberately obstructed by the government.

He also said he was being attacked because of his opposition politics and suggested that, if given the opportunity, the current administration could ensure he was not alive before the 2027 election.

Reacting to the remarks, Umahi described the allegations as unreasonable, insisting that nobody wished Obi dead.

“Nobody wants Obi dead; it’s not just reasonable. We all want him alive to contest this election and watch himself lose again,” the minister said.

The former Ebonyi State governor said Obi’s fears stemmed from his belief that the South East remained firmly behind him following the 2023 presidential election.

“What he is afraid of is because he said the South East is his catchment area because of the last election, which I call an accident of history,” Umahi said.

He argued that the political equation in the region had changed under the Tinubu administration, citing ongoing federal infrastructure projects and appointments given to people from the South East.

According to him, those interventions had convinced many residents of the region that supporting Tinubu remained in their best interest.

“We have come with visible development in the zone, and our people have now agreed with us that we are better off with President Tinubu to complete the good works he is doing for us than playing Artificial Intelligence kind of politics,” he said.

Umahi also renewed his challenge to Obi to publicly debate the achievements of the Tinubu administration.

He said he was ready to defend the government’s record on infrastructure and inclusiveness.

In the interview that triggered the exchange, Obi had alleged that he was being denied entitlements and subjected to persistent harassment because of his criticism of the Federal Government.

He cited an incident at the Lagos airport where, according to him, his vehicle was clamped while other vehicles parked in the same area were left untouched.

He also claimed that some people now avoid greeting him publicly for fear of becoming targets of the government. The Presidency, however, rejected the allegations.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it is on track to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) July 11 deadline for the submission of its presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections.

A senior member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke anonymously, said the upload of candidates’ details to the INEC portal had reached an advanced stage.

According to the source, the details of President Bola Tinubu and his running mate are expected to be uploaded before the middle of the week.

We are progressing smoothly with the uploading of the details of our National Assembly candidates. We hope that on or before next Wednesday, we shall upload the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate. We are completely sure of meeting the July 11 deadline,” the source said.

Sources at the APC’s ICT department also disclosed that the details of most principal officers of the 10th National Assembly, several serving lawmakers and four governors who secured senatorial tickets have already been uploaded to the INEC portal.

The development comes after the APC reviewed over 700 petitions filed by aggrieved aspirants following its primaries, leading to the replacement of six senatorial and 19 House of Representatives candidates across several states.

APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the party’s immediate focus is ensuring all approved candidates complete and submit their INEC Form EC9 nomination documents before the deadline, adding that the final list of candidates will be made public at the appropriate time.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has dramatically reshaped the outcome of its recently concluded National Assembly primaries, replacing 26 candidates who were initially declared winners after reviewing more than 700 petitions filed by aggrieved aspirants.

The revised list, covering seven senatorial districts and 19 House of Representatives constituencies across Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states, has already been forwarded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The move came just days after the APC publicly dismissed reports circulating online about the outcome of the primaries, insisting that no official list had been released and warning members to rely only on the party’s official communication channels.

Investigations, however, revealed that while the party was urging caution publicly, it had already begun transmitting the names of its approved candidates to INEC following the conclusion of its internal appeals process.

Among the most notable changes are the replacement of former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, who lost the Benue North East senatorial ticket to Senator Emmanuel Udende, and former Customs Assistant Comptroller-General Benjamin Aber, who was replaced by Senator Titus Zam in Benue North West. In Kogi West, Senator Sunday Karimi reclaimed the ticket from Aro Samuel Bamidele.

Several other senatorial candidates in Abia South, Taraba North, Ondo Central and Ondo North also lost their tickets after the National Working Committee (NWC) adopted the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeals Committee.

The House of Representatives list witnessed even wider changes, particularly in Benue, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Taraba, Kaduna, Abia and Ebonyi, where several aspirants who had celebrated victory during the primaries were replaced with new flag-bearers.

According to APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, the party received over 700 petitions challenging the conduct and outcomes of the primaries. He said every petition was carefully reviewed, leading to corrections where necessary, while unsuccessful appeals left the original winners intact.

Morka explained that the appeals process had now been concluded and that the party’s immediate priority was ensuring all approved candidates completed and submitted their INEC nomination forms before the electoral deadline, rather than publicly releasing the final list.

The development has nevertheless generated fresh discontent within the party.

In Ondo State, aggrieved APC members staged protests against the revised list, insisting it did not reflect the outcome of the direct primaries conducted across the state’s wards. Protesters accused the party leadership of overturning the will of members through what they described as “Abuja results.”

Reports also indicate that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is considering alternative political options for some of his loyalists who lost their tickets after the review, although the governor has declined to comment publicly.

Meanwhile, the APC national leadership is reportedly considering disciplinary action against some members of the Ondo State executive committee over their alleged involvement in the protests, describing the demonstrations as acts capable of undermining party discipline and cohesion.

Despite the controversy, the APC insists its internal nomination process has now been concluded following the appeals, with all approved candidates already receiving nomination forms for submission to INEC.

While the party says it has activated its internal conflict resolution mechanism to address lingering grievances, affected aspirants who remain dissatisfied are expected to explore legal options as the race toward the 2027 general elections gathers momentum.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued access codes to nine political parties, enabling them to upload the names of their candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and several others.

The uploaded candidates will contest for the offices of President, Senate, House of Representatives and governorship positions across the federation, excluding Kogi and Osun states, which conduct off-cycle governorship elections.

senior INEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Monday that the NDC was among the parties granted access to the commission’s candidate nomination portal, dismissing reports that the party had been denied the required credentials.

“It is misinformation to suggest that the NDC was denied access code to upload its candidates to the INEC portal,” the official said.

The commission has no reason whatsoever to deny any registered political party access to the platform. I can confirm on good authority that the NDC was among the parties that received their access codes to upload the names of their candidates.”

The clarification follows claims by officials of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which is currently challenging a court ruling seeking its deregistration.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, had earlier alleged that the NDC approached INEC for the access code but was informed that the commission would respond later.

We approached INEC to collect the access code to upload the names of our candidates to the INEC portal. They told us that they would get back to us,” he had said, insisting that any delay should not be blamed on the party.

However, the INEC official maintained that the commission had treated all eligible political parties fairly and transparently, adding that additional parties were expected to receive their access codes before the close of business on Monday.

According to the official, the number of political parties granted access could increase from nine to 13.

The commission also urged Nigerians to disregard reports suggesting that any registered political party would be prevented from accessing the candidate nomination portal, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all participants in the 2027 general elections.

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pay their taxes and levies, assuring that his administration will continue to deliver more infrastructure projects across the country.

Tinubu made the appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16–Ring Road III Interchange, linking the Jahi and Gwarimpa districts of Abuja.

Represented by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the President described infrastructure development as the foundation of prosperity and a key pillar of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the newly commissioned interchange is more than just a road project, saying it represents improved mobility, economic growth, and renewed confidence in governance.

“This is not just a bridge and slip roads; this is freedom of movement and time returned to the people. This is renewed hope that you can even drive on,” Tinubu said.

He noted that the intersection had long been a major traffic bottleneck in Abuja, causing severe gridlock stretching from Maitama to Gishiri and from Jahi to Gwarimpa, resulting in lost productive hours, wasted fuel, and economic losses.

“With this project, that story ends. Workers will get home earlier, businesses will thrive, and security will improve because criminals thrive when society stands still,” he added.

The President stressed that roads are the arteries of a nation and that connecting communities ultimately connects opportunities and destinies.

“Build the roads, unlock the economy, and let Nigerians thrive. The Jahi-Gwarimpa interchange is proof that Nigeria is not beyond redemption. With focus, discipline, and political will, Nigeria can deliver, and we are delivering,” he stated.

Tinubu, however, urged citizens to fulfill their civic obligations by paying taxes, saying government revenue is critical to sustaining infrastructure development and improving public services.

“Pay your taxes and levies so that government can do even more for you,” he said.

Several members of the security team of Yoruba nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo were reportedly injured after suspected bandits ambushed them in a forest in Oyo State.

The attack reportedly occurred during a security operation in the forest, where the gunmen opened fire on Igboho’s security operatives, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire.

Sources said several members of the security team sustained varying degrees of injuries during the ambush, while the attackers fled into the forest after the confrontation.

The exact number of casualties has yet to be officially confirmed, and authorities have not released a formal statement on the incident.

The attack comes amid growing security concerns in parts of Oyo State, where criminal activities, including kidnapping and armed attacks, have continued to pose challenges despite ongoing security operations.

Rivers 2027: Dumo Lulu-Briggs wins NDC governorship ticket, set to battle Wike’s ally, Chinda

Alabo Dumo Lulu-Briggs has been declared winner of the just concluded National Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship primary election in Rivers State.

The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant was elected unopposed in the exercise conducted on Tuesday.

It was gathered that no other aspirant showed up during the exercise that took place across all the local government areas.

Speaking after the exercise, the NDC candidate expressed gratitude to the party for the overwhelming confidence reposed in him, saying that the process was calm and peaceful.

Dumo Lulu-Briggs is now expected to contest the governorship election against the recently elected All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Kingsley Chinda.

Chinda, a loyalist of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike had won the APC ticket after the incumbent governor, Siminalayi Fubara withdrew from the race.

Seunmama:
I have never seen this type of primaries in the history of Nigeria
A primary that recorded upto 1.1 million voters in Kano State in an ordinary primary election
What will now happen in the main general election.
As it stands now, Peter Obi will clear all the North.
This is mysterious

numericalguy:
No be Atiku party be that?

President Bola Tinubu had no hurdle picking the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the 2027 presidential election.

Unlike in 2022, when he faced fierce but ultimately weak opposition within the party, this time it is a mere coronation.

In 2022, he had to sweat it out with the sitting vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, and others.

However, times have changed, and the president is completely in charge of the body and soul of the APC.

In fact, nobody ordinarily should have summoned the courage to challenge or engage him in any form of contest, whether spiritual or physical, for the party’s ticket.

Now that the ticket in his hand, the next question is who will become his running mate: Will he keep his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, or look for someone else?

There were pockets of opposition in 2022 when Tinubu picked Shettima as his running mate. The resistance was primarily based on the country’s fragile religious composition.

Tinubu is a Muslim and so is Shettima, and religious balancing was placed on the front burner, especially amid allegations of a plot to Islamize the country.

However, as the 2027 polls draw nearer and Tinubu has secured the party’s ticket, there are indications he will run the race with Shettima. Some political analysts have described Shettima as the most loyal deputy in nearly three decades of democratic government in Nigeria.

The vice president, the analysts say, understands and interprets the policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration without animosity or confrontation.

He appears to have studied his boss to know the best way to follow him.

Another factor working in Shettima’s favour is loyalty.

In politics, loyalty must be total; any suspicious move leads to friction.

Shettima appears to have avoided missteps and thus earned Tinubu’s confidence.

The issue of a same-faith ticket (Muslim/Muslim) appears to have faded, especially with the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, being a Christian and a pastor in the Redeemed Church.

The idea of Islamization cannot hold water given Mrs. Tinubu’s influence in government.

As a master political strategist, Tinubu may have concluded that it would amount to political suicide to drop Shettima at this critical time. Politics is a game of numbers, and the vice president is one of the heavyweight politicians from the northern flank.

He has his followers who are ready to lay down their lives for him.

Observers also point to the cordial relationship between Mrs Tinubu, and the wife of the vice president, Hajia Nana Shettima.

The First Lady founded the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), which has impacted women and girls positively.

Hajia Nana Shettima is the national vice-chairman of RHI and routinely represents the First Lady at RHI events and outreach programmes across states.

As it stands, despite intrigues and quiet political manoeuvring, it would be surprising to see Tinubu drop Shettima.

But in politics nothing is impossible.