Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the retired Archbishop of Abuja, recently voiced worries that the current administration under President Bola Tinubu is fixated on securing victory in the 2027 polls at any cost. He argued that government resources might be used to compromise electoral integrity and warned that the president is being shielded from the true struggles of ordinary Nigerians by his advisors.
Security forces in Katsina successfully thwarted a bandit raid in Sabon Gulbi village, Musawa Local Government Area. A collaborative effort between the police and the Katsina State Community Watch Corps resulted in one attacker being killed and the seizure of an AK-47, ammunition, and a motorcycle.
The Independent National Electoral Commission released a preliminary list of presidential hopefuls for next year, featuring notable figures such as President Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi. The commission has shared documentation for these candidates and their running mates to allow for public review.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike criticized Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of political betrayal. Wike alleged that the governor acted prematurely in establishing an independent political structure, thereby disregarding those who were instrumental in his rise to power.
Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President, revealed that he provided financial and material support to Olusegun Obasanjo following the former president’s release from prison. This statement follows Obasanjo’s public expression of regret regarding his selection of Atiku as his running mate years ago.
The Presidency issued a sharp rebuke to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, stating that these religious leaders do not hold exclusive insight into the nation’s condition. Furthermore, the administration condemned Cardinal Onaiyekan for sharing details of a private meeting with the President, labeling his actions a violation of protocol.
A fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria headquarters in Abuja on Saturday. The flames quickly moved to the upper levels of the office complex located near the Central Bank of Nigeria.
In Lagos, authorities have launched an inquiry into a video depicting police officers from Area E Command allegedly assaulting a gold merchant in the Festac district. The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the investigation via social media.
Kwara State Police Commissioner Ojo Adekimi rejected reports claiming 176 people were kidnapped during a recent terrorist raid in the Kaiama Local Government Area. While he admitted that kidnappings did occur in the Woro and Nuku communities, he clarified that the figure cited by reports is not officially verified.
Nigerian Army troops attached to the 34 Artillery Brigade have apprehended several members of a criminal group linked to a May 4 ambush. Lt.-Col. Olabisi Ayeni reported that the suspects were captured during an ongoing security operation, noting that the original ambush had resulted in the death of one soldier.