₦airaland Forum

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has arraigned one Igoin Peter, who allegedly posed as a Special Adviser to the President on ICT Development and Digital Innovation, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over an alleged N25m fraud.

The defendant was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on impersonation and obtaining money under false pretences.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a post on its X handle on Tuesday.

According to the EFCC, Peter allegedly presented himself as a presidential aide and used the claim to obtain funds for a purported cryptocurrency exchange licence.

Count one of the charge read: “That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter, sometime between 30th August, 2024 and 30th October, 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N25,941,787.00 (Twenty Five Million, Nine Hundred and Forty One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Naira) through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account No 1312736201 domiciled with Zenith Bank from Dontown Assets Limited under the false pretense that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure cryptocurrency exchange operational license which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count two read: “That you, Igoin Tokoni Peter, sometime between 5th September 2024 and 10 October 2025 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, with the intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of N19,806,500.00 (Nineteen Million, Eight Hundred and Six Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) through Smartz Skyward Energy Limited account No. 1312736201 domiciled with Zenith Bank from Jeriod Limited, under the false pretense that you are the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on ICT Development and Digital Innovations and that the said sum will be used to secure cryptocurrency exchange operational license which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel Christopher Mshelia asked the court for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending trial.

Justice Egwuatu, in his ruling, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N400m with two sureties in like sum. He ordered that both sureties must be resident in Abuja, with one required to be a property owner who must submit property documents, a passport photograph and means of identification.

The second surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 15, who must also submit office identification and a passport photograph.

EFCC added that the judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

It said the case was adjourned to July 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Sunday threw down a gauntlet before delegates of the African Democratic Congress ADC, urging the party to prioritize competence and national reach over sentiments and social media popularity as it prepares to pick a presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku dismissed social media enthusiasm as insufficient test for presidency, insisting they the party must field its strongest candidate to defeat President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku argued that with Nigeria mired in economic hardship, mounting debts, insecurity and institutional decay, the ADC cannot afford the luxury of fielding an untested candidate.

“This is not a season for political experimentation. Nigeria cannot afford a learning-on-the-job presidency,” he declared.

Without naming any rival, the former vice president took a pointed swipe at the wave of enthusiasm surrounding certain contenders, insisting that presidential contests are decided by structures, strategy, and governance capacity — not digital noise.

“Elections are not won on social media enthusiasm alone. Governance is not performance art. The presidency is not a platform for improvisation. The ADC must present to Nigerians its strongest, most credible, most prepared candidate — not merely its loudest,” he said.

Atiku described the choice before ADC delegates as one that transcends ordinary political calculation, describing it as a historic responsibility given the scale of Nigeria’s current crisis.

He said; “At a time when Nigeria is bleeding from every pore — crippled by economic hardship, insecurity, rising debt, institutional failure, and deepening hopelessness — the question before the ADC is simple: who has the capacity not merely to campaign, but to govern effectively from day one?”

Atiku argued that the moment calls for a leader who has “negotiated globally, created jobs through enterprise, managed national crises, built coalitions, and consistently articulated a practical roadmap for economic recovery and national renewal.”

Pointing to his own records, he cited the economic reforms of the Obasanjo-Atiku administration as evidence of his readiness, including the privatisation drive that liberalised key sectors, the fiscal discipline that contributed to Nigeria securing debt relief, and the broader governance overhaul of that era.

"The economic reforms that helped reposition Nigeria, the privatization drive that opened sectors, the fiscal discipline that contributed to debt relief, and the governance reforms of that era were not accidents. They were products of leadership, competence, and courage,” he said.

Posing what he called a “simple but profound question” to delegates, Atiku drew a sharp distinction between symbolism and electoral viability.

“ADC delegates must ask themselves: do we want to make a statement, or do we want to make a president?”

He stressed that defeating an entrenched incumbent in 2027 would demand far more than emotional momentum, insisting the party must think strategically about which candidate can build a winning coalition across Nigeria’s diverse regions, faiths, and demographics.

"The ADC must think beyond sentiment. It must think about victory. It must think about governance. It must think about Nigeria. This is a defining election. The party needs a candidate with national acceptability, political resilience, tested structures, and the capacity to unify disparate interests into one winning coalition,” he said.

Atiku urged delegates to rise above narrow ambitions and honour what he said is a date with national destiny.

“History will remember this moment. The choice before ADC delegates is not merely about ambition. It is about destiny. Nigeria deserves rescue, not rhetoric”, he declared.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged South-East leaders to enter political partnerships with people from other regions.

The Deputy Speaker, who was addressing journalists in his country home of Bende, Bende LGA of Abia State on Friday, said that such partnerships will position the zone for a better political future, as no zone can succeed alone.

Kalu, who praised the entrepreneurial milestones of the Igbos in different parts of the country, said that such success should be replicated in politics.

"The Igbos need to partner with the South West, the North, and other zones. Such partnerships will benefit us now and in the future,” he said.

He expressed joy that peace is now returning to the South-East region, compared to the past when police stations and other security installations were set ablaze.

He attributed the newfound peace in the South-East to the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), which he launched in December 2023, and thanked President Bola Tinubu, South-East governors, and other stakeholders for their support of the PISE-P initiative.

The Deputy Speaker also called for collaboration between himself and the Abia State government in the development of the state, noting that such cooperation is needed to transform rural communities.

He lamented that some state and local government officials in Abia State allegedly obstructed him from building educational and medical facilities for rural residents.

On the recent allegations that the APC is buying up voters’ cards and National Identity Numbers (NIN) during the party’s e-registration in Abia State, Kalu dismissed the claims as falsehood.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, says President Bola Tinubu is addressing the numerous security challenges facing the country.

The traditional ruler stated this on Friday after meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

“The major problem that we really have now is the problem of insecurity. Farmers find it difficult to go to their farms. It is already coming to the South also,” Ladoja stated.

“Everybody is apprehensive of going to the farm; everybody is apprehensive of going about their daily businesses. I don’t think it is insurmountable; we believe that the President is tackling it currently,” he added.

When asked about his mission to Aso Rock, the ex-Oyo State governor said he came to thank the President for his support.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, exchanges pleasantries with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on January 23, 2026. Credit: State House.

He explained that since his coronation as Olubadan of Ibadan in September 2025, he had been looking for an opportunity to visit Tinubu in Abuja.

Weighing in on Tinubu’s style of governance, Ladoja said the President had a record of turning around the economic fortunes of Lagos while as governor.

Describing Nigeria as a complex country, he expressed confidence that Tinubu would transform the country like he did in Lagos.

He particularly stressed that before Tinubu leaves office in 2031, Nigeria would be better placed than it is currently.

Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, discusses with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on January 23, 2026. Credit: State House.

“If you know from where he (Tinubu) is coming, you will know that he knows what he is doing. He was able to get Lagos from where it was to where he left it.

“I am sure that the situation in Nigeria might not have been as bad as it was. The problem is that Nigeria is more complex than a state because of the fact that not all of us have the same notion about what we want in Nigeria.

“The states have more money than we had when we were governors. They are able to meet their commitments more than what we had when we were governors. The economy is being fixed, we hope that when he is leaving in 2031, he will have put Nigeria where all of us would be proud of,” he stated.

By Luminous Jannamike

Former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, has mourned the death of Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, describing the late cleric as a rare example of humanity and moral courage whose actions saved lives and offered Nigeria a powerful lesson in leadership rooted in compassion.

In a statement on Friday, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate said the Imam’s life stood as a stark reminder that true leadership is not defined by position or power, but by the willingness to protect human dignity in moments of danger and division.

“I received with deep sadness the news of the passing of Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, a man whose life stood as a quiet but powerful rebuke to hatred and division.

“By opening his home and his mosque to those in danger, he reminded us that the truest expression of faith is the protection of human dignity.

“While many may mourn Imam Abubakar, I believe it is more fitting to celebrate him. He turned his life into a living lesson, showing us that we are strongest when we see one another first as human beings, regardless of religion, tribe, or background.

“At a time when the abuse of faith cast long shadows across our land, he stood as a beacon of light, reminding us that the essence of Islam is peace and the protection of the vulnerable.

"We honor this great soul because he understood that true leadership is not measured by power wielded, but by mercy shown.

“May Allah grant us the vision and courage to build the new Nigeria of our dreams, where leadership is anchored on competence, capacity, and compassion,” Obi said.

Imam Abubakar Abdullahi gained widespread recognition for sheltering both Muslims and Christians during violent attacks, an act that has since become a lasting symbol of interfaith courage and humanity in Nigeria.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed rumours suggesting that it might not participate in the 2027 general election following ongoing litigations within the party, particularly those linked to the post-Ibadan convention.

The party’s national publicity secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, described the speculation as unfounded and a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to drag the name of the party into disrepute.

Speaking in an interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend, Ememobong said there is no legal or institutional impediment preventing the PDP from contesting the 2027 general election.

“I do not know where this rumour is coming from because, as far as I know, there has been no hindrance to our participation in the 2027 election,” he said.

He pointed to the party’s recent activities as proof of its legal standing, noting that the PDP had successfully submitted the names of its candidates for the Abuja Area Councils election, which were duly rectified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ememobong also addressed concerns surrounding the removal of the PDP’s Ekiti State governorship candidate, clarifying that the development was a result of litigation arising from the conduct of the party’s primary election, not from any question about the PDP’s eligibility to field candidates.

According to him, the matter has progressed to the Court of Appeal, and the affected candidate is awaiting the outcome of the legal process.

Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti nullified the PDP governorship primary election that produced Dr Wole Oluyede as the party’s candidate. The court held that the primary election did not comply with the provisions of the PDP constitution and the Electoral Act.

Specifically, the court ruled that the PDP failed to submit an original and authentic list of statutory and ad hoc delegates, a requirement under the law. Consequently, the court ordered the party to conduct a fresh governorship primary election that must include all eligible aspirants.

The spokesperson for the Julius Abure’s bloc of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, speaks with IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI, on the defection of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress

You recently said the Labour Party regretted presenting Peter Obi as its presidential candidate in 2023 following his defection to the ADC. Considering the nationwide visibility and electoral relevance he brought to the party, on what basis does the party now describe his candidature as a regret?

I am not sure I ever said we regretted fielding Obi in 2023, because at that time, we assumed he was the best candidate because he passed some of our qualification standards. And he appeared to us as somebody that would understand the politics of social democracy, equal opportunity, and justice, because that was our main emphasis in choosing all our candidates. Everything we campaigned for was according to that vision.

Subsequently, what we saw from him was not what we expected. He became anti-democratic in the sense that he wanted us to follow routes that are not democratic at all. That was the point of departure from him, and the rest is history. We don’t want to be talking about the past. We are talking about the present and the future.

What specific actions did Obi take that are considered inconsistent with the LP’s principles and values?

We expected that after the election and the court cases, as a leader that he was, Obi ought to begin to work towards improving on the six million votes that we got, by way of doing a postmortem of what happened and bringing everybody on board; appreciate the leadership that worked with him, that went through Sambisa, all nooks and crannies of this nation to campaign for him. We stood by him during the court matter, refused every offer here and there. We refused to budge, and we supported him.

Only for him to, after a few months, come back and say that our executive should leave. We asked him why our executive should leave office when we were elected, and he even supported the convention. And before you know it, he mobilised some members of the National Assembly that were loyal to him, and the Abia State Governor to remove us by all means.

The party’s constitution stated how somebody should be removed from office, but he didn’t have the patience to wait until our tenure elapsed. So, are those not enough reasons to tag him undemocratic? These are our reasons.

However, there are allegations that the party’s fallout with Obi stemmed from his refusal to give money to the LP’s executives. How do you respond to this claim?

I am hearing that for the first time. Nobody has ever accused us of making a demand from Obi. And of course, he would not even give. When the election was going on, he gave nothing. I’m sure you remember that mantra: no shishi, Obi no dey give shishi. Even during the presidential campaign, he managed his own funds. I’m sure you read it everywhere, with people like Aisha and the rest of them.

The party was not part of his campaign management or the finance of the campaign, and we didn’t bother about that. Everything that was supposed to get to the party, he didn’t give us. He didn’t even donate a bicycle, not a single car. So, we were not interested in all those things. We wanted a Nigeria that would be good for everyone because we knew that if we won, with the Labour Party ideology, everybody would be fine.

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, says Nigeria can afford basic necessities as a country, noting that they are often not prioritised due to incompetent leadership.

In a series of posts published via X on Tuesday, the former governor of Anambra recalled meeting a young Nigerian who had just graduated from nursing school in the US and was visiting Nigeria for the first time with her parents on an Air Peace flight.

Obi said during the trip, the lady shared her “sadness and confusion” about the current state of Nigeria, while asking questions about why basic things are difficult to get in the country.

The former governor of Anambra said she narrated her experience at a government-owned hospital in Nigeria when her sister had a domestic accident.

"On arrival, even though her sister’s hand was bleeding, the hospital staff insisted that payment must be made before any treatment could begin,” Obi wrote.

“Shocked, they asked the hospital attendant whether he truly did not see the urgency of the situation. In response, they were shown other patients with even worse conditions who were also being left unattended because they had not paid.

"They eventually paid, and it was time for the blood test. Traumatised, they realised the hospital had only one blood-testing machine for all patients, and it was not being sterilised between uses.

When she raised concerns that the equipment had not been properly sterilised, they were bluntly told to stop asking questions if they wanted her sister to be treated. Despite their payment, they had to buy all the items needed for her treatment.

She found it hard to believe because, according to her training and every hospital she had visited, treatment comes first – payment comes later.

“She told me they had considered organizing a GoFundMe to support healthcare back home, but relatives warned them that any money raised would likely be embezzled.

“Then she said something that struck me deeply: ‘I now understand what happened to Boxer Joshua. This is why there was no ambulance to rush him to a nearby hospital’.

She wondered aloud whether it was simply because the country is poor. Yet she added that she would willingly offer her skills and service for free and help raise money to make things better.”

‘FUNDS SPENT TO RENOVATE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE CAN BUY 400 AMBULANCES’

The former presidential candidate said after listening to the lady’s lamentation, he encouraged her not to lose hope in the country.

Obi said the money used for the refurbishment of the International Conference Centre in Abuja and the residence of Vice-President Kashim Shettima should have been used to buy ambulances for emergency treatment.

" I painfully replied by encouraging her not to lose hope. The country is not poor, but it is poorly governed,” he added.

“Nigeria can afford basic necessities, especially critical and necessary ones, but they are often not considered priorities due to incompetent leadership.

"A standard ambulance costs about ₦150 million ($100,000). Nigeria spent ₦39 billion refurbishing the National Conference Centre in Abuja and ₦21 billion rebuilding the vice president’s residence.

“Those two projects alone—₦60 billion—could have provided about 400 brand-new ambulances, roughly 11 per state, including the FCT. Had 11 functional ambulances existed in Ogun State, one might have been available for Joshua.

"Building a primary healthcare centre in a community costs about ₦75 million. Yet we spent about ₦300 billion ($200 million) on an additional presidential jet – money that could have built over 4,000 primary healthcare centres, about 110 per state.

“The only visible value the jet adds is the ability of the president to occasionally disappear without the public knowing where he is, as is the case now.”

Moves by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to scuttle the 2027 re-election bid of his successor, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, appear to have suffered a setback as several All Progressives Congress governors rallied behind the embattled Fubara.

Multiple sources in the APC confirmed to The PUNCH on Monday that the renewed hostilities between Wike and Fubara were ignited by some top APC governors’ decision to back Fubara’s second term bid, a development the FCT minister found galling and is bitterly opposed to.

The latest development was further compounded by the APC leadership’s endorsement of Fubara, who appeared to have endeared himself to the party’s top echelons, many of whom have been praising his projects across the state.

Trouble reportedly started when forces loyal to Wike attempted to back the erstwhile National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Samuel Anyanwu, as the next governor of Imo State without consulting Governor Hope Uzodimma.

The move reportedly infuriated Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the APC governors. Following the development, some APC governors reportedly began to mobilise other colleagues against the FCT minister.

“The plan is to weaken the FCT minister in his home state and reduce his influence and political power. This was further compounded by the fact that Wike is reportedly not favoured by some powerful members of the Tinubu administration. So, some APC governors mobilised their colleagues to support Fubara, and the result is what is playing out in the form of the renewed hostilities between the two men,” a senior APC official told The PUNCH on Monday night.

Another insider disclosed that Fubara had been emboldened by the promised backing of the APC governors for his re-election bid, hence his readiness to challenge the FCT minister’s political strength in the state.

Meanwhile, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and Wike on Monday traded words over Rivers politics and the minister’s insistence that he would not support Fubara for a second term.

Basiru, in a statement, asked the ex-Rivers State governor to resign his ministerial position and focus on what he described as his obsession with Rivers State politics.

He said he was unfazed by what he termed veiled threats from the minister, insisting that his political background had prepared him to withstand intimidation.

Basiru had, in an exclusive interview with Sunday PUNCH, declared support for Fubara amid ongoing confrontations between him and Wike.

The APC scribe also cautioned the South-South Chairman of the APC, Victor Giadom, against derogatory remarks about Fubara or any other governor, stating that members of the National Working Committee of the party should not take sides in political crisis.

Giadom had said Fubara could not succeed in the state without Wike’s support.

While noting that Wike is the only dominant political figure in Gokana LG where he hails from, Giadom described the minister as a “dependable leader”, adding that his influence in the LG remained unchallenged and essential for any political inroad or success in the area.

"I guarantee, on behalf of my brothers, that the Gokana people are for Wike and Tinubu, and nobody will challenge Wike’s influence in Gokana.

“Gokana is a ‘no-go area’ for anybody, even the so-called Governor, for him to win anything in Gokana, he must pass through Wike,” the APC chieftain stated, a position that irritated Basiru, who, in a statement, berated Giadom for belittling Fubara.

Basiru, while speaking late last year, during the inauguration of the newly completed Permanent Secretaries’ Quarters at Elimgbu community in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, called on the people of Rivers State to rally behind the ruling party and support President Bola Tinubu and Governor Fubara in the 2027 general elections.

Basiru also praised Fubara for what he described as commendable governance strides and quality project delivery.

However, Wike, during his “thank-you” visit to Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday, warned Basiru to steer clear of the state’s politics.

“Let me warn those who come to Rivers State, because you have heard that we have N600bn, you come here, you collect, and you open your mouth to talk anyhow.

“I say it here, take this message to your National Secretary, leave Rivers State alone. Go and ask those who have done it before. Please don’t take our support for Mr President for granted. You have to be careful with the statements you make.

Today, you are enjoying in Osun, you don’t know those who did the work. You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State. Anything you see, take it.

“Go and ask other people what has happened to them before. If your hand burns, no be me burn am o (I’m not the now who burnt them). This state is a no-go area. Take the one you have taken, stop making unnecessary comments.”

Responding to Wike’s comments in a statement he personally signed on Monday, Basiru said the minister lacked the authority to interfere in the affairs of the ruling party, stressing that Wike was not a member of the APC.

Basiru maintained that contrary to Wike’s impression, he had the authority to oversee affairs of the APC across the country as the national secretary of the party.

He said, “From my record, he isn’t a member of APC. I don’t see which authority or temerity he has to be dabbling in APC affairs.

“I am the National Secretary of APC, and I don’t see any basis for him to be making comments about my activities either in Rivers State or in any part of Nigeria.

“As the National Secretary of the party, my activities aren’t confined to Osun State, contrary to his wrong impression.

"I am the head of the National Secretariat of the APC. So, he has no locus whatsoever to engage me in any political activity that concerns the APC until he joins the party.”

Basiru also dismissed allegations linking him to an alleged interest in Rivers State funds, describing the claims as baseless and inconsistent with his personal record.

“I take strong exception to his allusion that I am interested in the N600bn allocations of Rivers State. My records of service are those of integrity and commitment to service. I am not an opportunist, and I have never shied away from taking principled positions on any matter, no matter whose ox is gored.

"I am one of the young Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship. I can’t be bullied by anybody, no matter how highly placed. My records as National Secretary are above board, and I can’t be queried by somebody who isn’t a member of APC.’’

The prospect of Fubara seeking a second term has remained contentious following the political crisis in the state, which was triggered by a rift between the governor and Wike, his predecessor.

Following the intervention of Tinubu, a resolution was reportedly reached and signed by both parties. It was widely reported that a key aspect of the agreement was that Fubara would not seek re-election in 2027.

However, Basiru appeared to offer renewed hope to the governor, whom he described as one of the latest entrants into the APC.

Sequel to the political disagreements with Wike, Fubara officially left the PDP and joined the ruling APC on December 9, a move widely seen as a major political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defection came shortly after several key members of the Rivers State House of Assembly also defected to the APC. Fubara’s switch effectively ended his long-standing ties with the PDP and positioned him as the APC’s leading figure in Rivers State.

In response, Wike has spent the past week criticising Fubara, accusing him of failing to honour agreements and questioning his prospects for re-election.

The FCT minister also claimed that Fubara lacked the support of the APC, insisting that he is being misled and would not win re-election as governor of the oil-rich state in 2027.

Backing the minister, APC National Vice Chairman for the South-South Zone, Victor Giadom, expressed support for Wike, stating that Fubara must contend with the former governor to secure re-election.

Indications have emerged that a joint presidential ticket involving former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is being considered ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the pair expected to challenge former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for the presidential ticket of the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC), amid renewed efforts to unify the opposition.

Obi and Kwankwaso, who were the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) respectively in the 2023 elections, had attempted to form an alliance before that poll. The talks collapsed following disagreements over who would be the candidate and the running mate.

The renewed push for a joint ticket comes against the backdrop of the 2023 election, which saw both men post strong but regionally concentrated performances. Obi secured over six million votes nationwide, winning in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and the states in the South-East, while also mobilising an unprecedented youth-driven movement across urban centres to come third. Kwankwaso, on his part, delivered a decisive victory in Kano State, reaffirming his control of one of Nigeria’s largest voting blocs through his Kwankwasiyya political movement to come fourth.

Daily Trust gathered at the weekend that fresh efforts to reconcile both camps are being spearheaded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is said to be convinced that a united Obi-Kwankwaso ticket offers the opposition a better chance of mounting a credible challenge to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Multiple sources familiar with the talks said Obasanjo has been able to tentatively persuade Kwankwaso to accept to be Obi’s running mate.

While Obi formally joined the ADC penultimate week and had earlier indicated his intention to be on the ballot in 2027, Kwankwaso, who remains in the NNPP, told his supporters at the weekend that he was in discussions with political leaders and would soon announce his next line of action.

Kwankwaso had also, through one of his close aides, confirmed to Daily Trust that “high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum” were ongoing.

“While our party has not yet finalised its position or reached a full consensus on our path forward, we can confirm that we are engaged in high-level discussions with key stakeholders across the political spectrum, including political parties and individuals.

"Our position will very soon be known to the public. We firmly believe that Nigeria urgently requires a departure from the current environment characterised by rampant insecurity and the widespread collapse of essential systems.

“We kindly urge the public to remain patient and to continue supporting our movement as we work tirelessly towards building a better Nigeria for all citizens,” the aide said.

The aide was responding to Daily Trust’s enquiries on a meeting Kwankwaso reportedly held last week with Obasanjo and Obi. While the former Kano governor neither confirmed nor denied the meeting, sources said two strategic options were being pursued to ensure an Obi-Kwankwaso ticket features prominently in the 2027 race.

According to sources, the first plan is to clinch the ADC presidential ticket by confronting Atiku directly at the party’s primaries.

"Kwankwaso went to Abeokuta to meet Baba Obasanjo last week and Baba told him to join the ADC and accept to be Obi’s vice. This is similar to what General Ibrahim Babangida told him weeks earlier, although IBB did not go as far as discussing the vice-presidential slot. He only advised him to join the ADC,” one of the sources said.

"The thinking is that the political momentum and current dynamics, both local and international, favour an Obi presidency. Baba Obasanjo is a key promoter of Obi’s ambition. Even Atiku has acknowledged in the past that it was Baba who recommended Obi to him as vice-presidential candidate in 2019.

"The goal is to get Obi and Kwankwaso to work together in order to challenge Atiku for the ADC ticket. They know Atiku will not back down easily, and that the internal dynamics of party politics favour him. There is hardly a chance that either Obi or Kwankwaso, acting alone, can defeat Atiku at the primaries. But with both of them pulling their weight together, they believe they may stand a chance,” the source added.

Daily Trust, however, gathered that promoters of the proposed ticket are also considering a fallback option anchored on securing a platform outside the ADC should the primaries prove unfavourable.

“They have decided that if they fail to secure the ADC ticket, knowing how formidable Atiku is within the party, they will move to another political party to actualise the joint ticket,” another source said.

Efforts to get a reaction from the Atiku Media Office were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. Calls to Atiku’s media advisers, Paul Ibe and Phrank Shaibu, did not connect.

Similar efforts to get a reaction from the national coordinator of the Obidient’s Movement, Yunusa Tanko, who often speaks for Obi, was unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

A member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, has claimed that Peter Obi’s strong showing in the 2023 presidential election was primarily driven by religious anxieties among Northern Christians, who feared restrictions on their religious freedoms under a Bola Tinubu presidency.

“People, especially the Northern Christians, believed that they would be in trouble if Asiwaju came in as president. They believed they would not have room to exercise their faith, but it’s not like that today,” Abejide said in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday.

The comments by the lawmaker, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, come as Obi defected to his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday.

He also warned that opposition parties attempting to replicate the 2023 electoral dynamics are building their strategies on a faulty foundation, as the political landscape has fundamentally shifted since President Tinubu assumed office.

"The way the president handled the whole thing, they know he’s not a religious bigot, and he does not believe in extremism of any religion, whether Christian or Muslim,” he added.

He also criticised recent registration activities by opposition figures, specifically referencing Obi’s ADC registration in Enugu State rather than his home constituency in Anambra State.

“He’s supposed to go to his ward and register from his ward. Then it can be recognised. If you go to the zonal office and you register as a politician, this kind of politics is a new system to me.”

Addressing speculation about potential opposition alliances, the lawmaker dismissed calculations suggesting that combining votes from the 2023 election would guarantee victory over the APC in 2027.

"If anybody is capitalising on what happened in 2023 and calculating that if they put Atiku’s vote and put Obi’s votes, they’re going to beat APC, it’s just like the person is building castles in the air,” he stated.

Abejide also highlighted ongoing challenges within the ADC, the party adopted by the opposition coalition.

“The leadership of ADC today is in crisis, and until the court decides, nobody can say this is going to defeat the APC,” he said.

Despite the critique, he extended a welcome to politicians considering joining the ADC, though with clear conditions attached.

“They are welcome, and we’ll see what the outcome is going to be, but if you want to join, join properly.”

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has lambasted political economist, Prof Pat Utomi, over his comment on the political future of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In a post on his official X handle on Friday, Momodu, faulted Utomi’s recent comments after Obi’s defection to the ADC.

DAILY POST recalls that Utomi had in a Channels Television interview on Thursday, warned that he would withdraw his support for Obi if he accepted the position of vice-presidential candidate in the emerging opposition coalition.

However, Momodu said he was taken aback by Utomi’s stance, insisting that anyone who rules out the possibility of Obi serving as a running mate does not believe in democratic choice.

“Anyone insisting that Obi cannot run behind anyone is definitely not a Democrat who wishes to rescue Nigeria from a one man dictatorship,” Momodu wrote.

President Bola Tinubu has declared that 2026 marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth for Nigeria, pledging to drive down inflation further, strengthen foreign reserves and sustain the country’s GDP growth trajectory.

In his New Year message to Nigerians on Thursday, the President expressed confidence in the nation’s collective resolve, saying the new year would be a more prosperous one for the country, its citizens, and all who call Nigeria home.

Tinubu argued that during 2025, his administration sustained momentum on major reforms, achieved a fiscal reset and recorded steady economic progress. Despite persistent global economic headwinds, he said, Nigeria recorded tangible and measurable gains, particularly in the economy.

“These achievements reaffirm our belief that the difficult but necessary reforms we embarked upon are moving us in the right direction with more concrete results on the horizon for the ordinary Nigerian,” he stated.

The President disclosed that Nigeria closed 2025 on a strong note, with annualised GDP growth expected to exceed four per cent for the year.

Trade surpluses were maintained and greater exchange rate stability was achieved, while inflation declined steadily to below 15 per cent, in line with his administration’s target.

“In 2026, we are determined to reduce inflation further and ensure that the benefits of reform reach every Nigerian household,” he said.

Tinubu pointed to the performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which, he said, posted a robust 48.12 per cent gain in 2025, consolidating its bullish run that began in the second half of 2023.

On foreign reserves, he disclosed that sound monetary policy management had seen reserves stand at $45.4bn as of December 29, 2025, providing a substantial buffer against external shocks for the Naira. He expressed optimism that this position would strengthen further in the new year.

Foreign direct investment, the President noted, was also responding positively. In the third quarter of 2025, FDI rose to $720m, up from $90m in the preceding quarter, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction, which global credit rating agencies, including Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard & Poor’s, had consistently affirmed and applauded.

Malami’s Son ‘Suddenly Falls Ill,’ Rushed To Kuje Prison Clinic Amid N8.7Billion Fraud Charges Against Family

Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, son of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (SAN), Abubakar Malami, who was remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre alongside his father and the latter’s fourth wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, has been rushed to the prison clinic.

Sources told SaharaReporters that Abdulaziz was admitted for observation after he suddenly fell ill on Tuesday.

“Malami’s son suddenly fell sick and was rushed to Kuje clinic to stay there for observation,” a prison source told SaharaReporters.

Earlier on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Malami alongside his fourth wife, Asabe, and his son, Abdulaziz, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

The defendants face a 16-count charge of conspiracy, procuring, disguising, concealing, and laundering proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to ₦8,713,923,759.49, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the commencement of proceedings, prosecuting counsel Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, stated that the arraignment was to enable the defendants take their pleas. Defence counsel J.B. Daudu, SAN, raised no objection. All three defendants pleaded not guilty.

According to court filings obtained by SaharaReporters, the EFCC alleges that Malami used fronts and corporate entities, including Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd and Meethaq Hotels Ltd, to launder public funds while in office.

One of the charges claims Malami and his son procured over N1,014,848,500 through Metropolitan Auto Tech Ltd between July 2022 and June 2025 to conceal the origin of funds in a Sterling Bank account.

Another alleges that Malami used N600,000,000 as collateral to secure a loan for Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, despite allegedly knowing the money was suspicious.

Multiple counts accuse the defendants of using properties company and Bureau De Change operators to disguise payments for high-end properties in Maitama, Jabi, Asokoro, Gwarimpa, and Kano, including: N500 million luxury duplex, Amazon Street, Maitama; N700 million property, Onitsha Crescent, Garki; N850 million Meethaq Hotels, Jabi; N430 million Rhine Street property, Maitama; N537 million properties in Abuja, Kano and Birnin Kebbi.

Two of the properties were described as “Hamonia Hotels Ltd, Area 11 Garki” and Meethaq Hotels on Rhine Street in Maitama.

In documents tendered to the court as Proof of Evidence, the anti-graft agency listed witnesses including investigators, Bureau De Change operators and bankers.

The EFCC says its officials, Folarin Dare, Chinedu Eneanya and Sani Lukeman, will testify about how petitions and intelligence reports triggered the probe into “monumental corruption” allegedly linked to the former minister.

A witness, Hassan Aliyu, reportedly claims his company’s account was used for suspicious multi-million-naira transactions without his full knowledge.

Despite the weight of the accusations, Malami and his co-defendants insist they are innocent. They entered a not guilty plea, forcing the case into full trial.

Suspected bandits on Wednesday evening attacked a police station in the Ipele-Owo community in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The incident which occurred while Christians were preparing to go to church for crossover services threw the community into pandemonium, as officers at the station and residents ran for their lives.

It was also gathered that the suspected criminals burned down the police station.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity narrated that the attackers, numbering about 20, stormed the community around 10 pm on Wednesday, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee their homes for safety.

“It was a terrorist attack. The attackers numbering about 20, came into the Ipele community in a commando style and began to shoot sporadically before attacking the Police Divisional Station in Ipele.

“It was a serious incident because many of us had to flee into the bush. The sounds from the attack were terrifying, and none of us could withstand it,” the eyewitness said.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the attack but said details were still sketchy.

He said, “Yes it happened but we will get the details out tomorrow.”

However, state security operatives were said to have been deployed to the community to calm the situation.

Activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, on Sunday berated controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, over his criticisms of the United States airstrikes against terrorists in Sokoto State.

Adeyanju said Gumi should not be “crying” when the US airstrikes failed to kill any ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State of Nigeria.

On Christmas day, President Donald Trump had ordered airstrikes on ISIS terrorists in Sokoto State.

It’s believed that the mission failed because there has been no record casualties on the side of the terrorists.

Amid the controversies trailing the attack, Gumi has continued to rubbished the mission with his several commentaries.

However, Adeyanju posted on X: “If the Donald Trump air strike against Nigerian ISIS didn’t kill any terrorist, why is Gumi crying? Should he not be happy that all his colleagues are still alive?

“Why the tears? We need more collaborative efforts between the US and Nigeria against these barbaric terrorists terrorizing our nation.”

The Federal Government, on Tuesday raised the alarm over how terrorists are devising different means including use of Point of Sale (PoS) to escape when carrying out their nefarious activities.

It also disclosed that Nigerian security agencies are working with major social media companies to identify and take down accounts used by terrorists and criminal groups to promote their activities and raise funds.

The Director-General of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Adamu Laka, a Major-General, disclosed this to journalists at the Centre’s headquarters in Abuja during 2025 end-of-the-year press briefing.

The senior military officer lamented that ransom payments remained a major source of terror financing, with Point of Sale (PoS) operators increasingly exploited to move the funds.

He explained that in many cases, ransom payments were transferred to accounts belonging to PoS operators, who then released the cash to kidnappers, making tracking of such money more difficult

“You see a transfer made by terrorists, and when you investigate the account, it belongs to a PoS operator. The kidnappers give out the PoS operator’s number, the money is transferred, and they go to collect it,” he said.

According to him, security agencies had intensified efforts to track ransom payments, arrest those involved and disrupt terror financing networks, stressing that operational details could not be made public for security reasons.

He revealed that several arrests and prosecutions had been made in connection with ransom payments and terrorism financing.

Laka noted that asset recoveries and seizures formed part of Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards.

He listed TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and X as some of the platforms being used by terrorists to publicise operations, display looted items and communicate with supporters.

According to him, security agencies have held several engagements with social media companies to address posts and accounts that pose threats to national security.

“These platforms are businesses and are interested in growing their user base, but we engage them and explain the implications of certain posts on national security, and we take them down,” Laka said.

He noted that terrorist tactics continue to evolve, including the use of aliases and unverified accounts, adding that security agencies constantly adapt to counter such developments.

A public affairs analyst and activist, Adekunle Adebayo, has raised the alarm over what he described as a plot to arrest and intimidate key opposition figures in Nigeria, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Adebayo disclosed this in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Tuesday, warning that the alleged move forms part of a wider strategy to weaken opposition politics and entrench a de facto one-party system in the country.

He alleged that Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State G overnor Nasir el-Rufai have been marked for arrest.

According to him, other prominent political figures, including Isa Ali Pantami, Rauf Aregbesola, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, and others, are also being targeted.

Adebayo further claimed that the alleged plan follows earlier arrests and detentions of former governors of Sokoto and Anambra states, Aminu Tambuwal and Chris Ngige, as well as former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

He warned that if the reported arrests are carried out, they would amount to serious violations of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), citing threats to personal liberty, freedom of association and expression, equality before the law, and the independence of the judiciary.

“Selective application of law enforcement based on political affiliation is incompatible with constitutional democracy,” Adebayo stated.

He urged Nigerians, civil society organisations, and the international community to closely monitor unfolding events, cautioning that the country risks sliding into a system where democratic institutions exist only in form, while political power is consolidated through coercion and selective justice.

vincent10:
Are they Islam, because I don't understand