Former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has submitted that the current composition of the opposition coalition can’t challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The former Governor noted that the coalition is only a gathering of former presidential aspirants and does not have the backing of any established opposition party.

While Shekarau welcomed the idea of a united coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, he submitted that the current coalition lacks a real structure capable of challenging the ruling party in 2027.

“The coming together of some senior members of opposition parties is a welcome development, as seen recently under what they call a ‘coalition’ of opposition parties. But unfortunately, most people do not realize that this so-called coalition has nothing to do with the major opposition parties; PDP and LP,” Shekarau said in a statement on Friday.

He recalled that unlike the APC, which was formed in 2013 with the merger of four registered parties; the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the present coalition announced by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has no backing of a political party but it’s only made up of individuals.

To this end, the LND leader said the coalition is presently not capable of posing any threat to the APC.

“The first political merger in Nigeria happened in 2013 when four registered parties merged to form the APC. So, technically, the APC is not a ‘new party.’

“It was an alliance of registered opposition political parties that were already well-established, with elected state governors, state and National Assembly members, and significant grassroots support,” Shekarau explained.

Political Situation In Rivers State
The former Kano State Governor added that the inability of the opposition coalition to stop the National Assembly from endorsing the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State shows the coalition’s lack of influence over opposition lawmakers.

He submitted that if the coalition leaders had any real influence, the APC government would not have secured the required votes for the law’s passage.

“What happened at the National Assembly on March 20, 2025, regarding the ‘State of Emergency’ in Rivers State has exposed the so-called coalition. it is clear they have no control over opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly,” he said.

It’s Not Too Late

Shekarau recalled how a similar opposition coalition for the 2019 elections failed to achieve its aim.

He called on opposition leaders to restrategize ahead of the 2027 elections if it plans to unseat the APC and stop the waves of defection.

“The 2019 ‘coalition’ was formally launched almost a year before the elections at the Yar’Adua Center, yet none of the then-elected PDP leaders was in attendance. No amount of noise-making or informal alliances by individual politicians in the name of opposition will have any impact in elections unless the full leadership structure of opposition parties at all levels is involved.

“The simplistic claim that the APC is poaching and destabilizing opposition parties is, to me, naïve. Why are the so-called ‘big names’ in the opposition unable to resist defection? Why don’t they unite to properly fund and build their parties while mobilizing grassroots support?

“It is still not too late. I believe that with the right vision, mission, and focus, combined with a genuine sense of purpose, the opposition can change its narrative in 2025 and position itself for success in the 2027 elections,” he added.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Nkechi Nweje has died after a brief illness.

Naija News reports that Nkechi’s colleague, Stanley Ontop, announced the demise in a post via his Instagram page on Friday.

He wrote, “Nollywood in tears as we lost one of our vibrant Nollywood actress @nkechi.nweje After a brief illness. I couldn’t post since morning because it was like a dream. Ezigbo Nwanyi Onitsha

“Rest in peace ma’am, my best friend, she always calls me on phone advising me. The last time we spoke was during Queeneth saga, she said Ontop stop. Am still speechless.”

Many Nollywood stars have taken to their social media pages to pay tribute to the deceased actress.

In other news, Nollywood actor, Segun Arinze, has dismissed rumours circulating online that he is sick and needs financial assistance.

Naija News reports that Arinze’s clarification comes after photos of him looking frail with a swollen stomach made the rounds on social media.

However, in a video via his Instagram page on Friday, the thespian said he is hale and hearty.

He clarified that the photos circulating online were taken on a movie set and do not reflect his actual health condition.

Segun Arinze also expressed gratitude to those who had reached out through calls and messages and warned fans against falling for scams.

The movie star cautioned members of the public against giving anybody money in the name of donations for his treatment.

Two prominent traditional rulers from Bayelsa and Delta States have accused President Bola Tinubu of executing the agenda of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The monarchs, HRM King Dodo II of the Bilabiri Kingdom and HRH King-jerry Prebor (Snr.), the Amananaowei of the Meinbutus Federated Communities, expressed their concerns following the presidential action that suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other state officials.

HRH Prebor, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the phone, said: “Tinubu’s actions are biased because throughout his broadcast, he never saw anything wrong with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, who is behind everything happening in Rivers State.

“What the president did is clear, he played the script of Wike whose aim was to impeach Governor Fubara, so the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is the alternative to the impeachment by Wike. The script read by President Tinubu is the same script written for the Supreme Court to execute Rivers State, which gave the Rivers State House of Assembly the impunity to attempt impeachment of the constitutionally elected governor.

“If the President had sanctioned the minister before taking the kind of action he took, it would have been a different thing, but I am glad that of a truth, the governor is the people’s choice. He is humble and developmental.”

On his part, King Dodo II said, “Rivers State is under oppression and siege. The removal of the governor of the state is not democratic. It shows that the federal government led by Tinubu is dancing to the tune of the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike. Why not sack the minister himself who is the one orchestrating all the ugly happenings in Rivers State? The president should sack Wike, in order to manage the Rivers crisis and prevent it from escalating to other parts of the Niger Delta.”

Anthony Joshua has sustained a mysterious injury to the ‘top half of his body’ ahead of his return to action this summer.

Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT.com last month that the long-awaited all-British showdown with Tyson Fury and a rematch against Dubois are the two top options for his client while Joseph Parker, Deontay Wilder and Martin Bakole remain outsiders.

However, Joshua is unable to resume full training after picking up an injury that has left him ‘unable to punch properly’.

Hearn insists the issue will keep AJ out of camp for eight weeks, but wouldn’t reveal the exact injury he suffered.

“Top-half of his body, there you go,” he said when asked for further details.

“Nothing major but it means that he’s been returning to training and it’s not quite ready to turn back to camp.

“He needs about another eight weeks until he can punch properly, you’re looking at what, April-May till he can start camp properly so it leads us to the back end of the summer.”

A rematch with Dubois was initially planned for February but ‘niggles’ ruled Joshua out of the fight.

“AJ desperately wants revenge but the only issue is timing,” Hearn told the BBC earlier this year.

“There are always niggles and he had a few so physically it’s just a case of whether AJ is ready to do that.”

Before losing to Dubois, Joshua was riding a four-fight winning streak.

He bounced back from consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 and August 2022 to beat Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius in a pair of low-output affairs.

His tentative performances left a lot to be desired but he showed the AJ of old in spiteful stoppage wins over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou thereafter.

He entered the Dubois fight in his best form in years and was made the favourite by the bookies.

However, his dream of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion came crashing down when he was flattened by a dynamite right hand from Dubois in the fifth

The Confederation of African Football has announced the details of the dates, kick-off times and venues for the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 fixtures.

The 15th edition of the continental showpiece will be contested by 16 nations between March 30 and April 19, 2025.

A total of four stadiums will play host to matches during the tournament, namely the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia, the Larbi Zaouli Stadium and the Berrechid Stadium, which are both Casablanca, as well as the El Abdi Stadium in El Jadida.

Proceedings get underway at the El Bachir Stadium on Saturday, March 30 when tournament hosts Morocco play East African champions Uganda.

The following day will see Tanzania taking on Southern African champions Zambia to close off the opening round of Group A fixtures.

Later in the afternoon, Casablanca’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium hosts an exciting Group B clash between the last edition’s bronze medallists, Burkina Faso and two-time champions Cameroon.

The last fixture of the day, which takes place at the same venue, sees 2015 runners-up South Africa facing off against champions of the 1997 edition Egypt in an exciting north versus south duel.

Group C and D fixtures will take place on Tuesday, April 1 with the reigning champions Senegal headlining the matches.

The defending champions take on The Gambia at the El Abdi Stadium at 14h00, while Somalia, who are making their second appearance at the finals, face off against Tunisia.

In Group D, Mali, who finished fourth in the last edition, take on tournament debutants Angola, while former champions Cote d’Ivoire eye an opening victory against Central African Republic.

The TotalEnergies CAF U-17 AFCON Morocco 2025 also serves as a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Africa will be represented by 10 teams at the newly expanded showpiece set to take place in Qatar later this year.

Former Juventus midfielder Paul Pigba has expressed his determination to return to full fitness.

The France international who is currently without a club after departing Juventus, is now eligible to return to football following an 18-month ban for a prohibited substance.

Speaking via a video on his Instagram story, Pogba stated that he”s currently in the United States trying to get fit soon.

“So we’re here in Miami, training, try to get fit as soon as possible, you already know the story,” Pogba said on a video on his Instagram story.

“I’m here and there’s some fans around, United fans and Barcelona fans, big up to all of them. This gentleman (the Barcelona fan) tried to challenge me.”

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles secured a crucial victory over Rwanda in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, defeating the Amavubi 2-0 in Kigali on Friday night.

A firs half brace from Victor Osimhen sealed the win for Nigeria, strengthening their position in Group C of the African qualifiers.

Osimhen opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a powerful shot from a Ademola Lookman free kick,silencing the home crowd.

Osimhen doubled the lead just before the end of the first half capitalizing on a defensive error to slot the ball past the Rwandan goalkeeper.

Despite Rwanda’s spirited performance, the Nigerian defence held firm to secure a clean sheet.

Nigeria’s next qualifier will be against Zimbawe on Monday 24th March at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo

Transcorp Hotels Plc has been awarded “Hospitality Company of the Year 2024” at the Independent Newspapers Awards.

The editor-in-chief of Independent Newspaper, Steve Omanufeme, said the media company recognises the transformation the Transcorp brand had undergone over the years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. He said, “Such a feat has come through deliberate asset renewal, planning and reinvesting that has ensured that the company is not only able to grow revenue sustainably but also remains profitable to the admiration of shareholders and other stakeholders.”

Managing director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, Uzo Oshogwe, said the hospitality company was deeply honoured to receive the award. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and passion of our entire team.”

We would like to express our gratitude to the Independent Newspapers for this recognition and to our valued guests, partners, and stakeholders for their continued support. We are committed to consistently raising the bar in the hospitality industry and providing our guests with unforgettable experiences.”

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 10 suspected internet fraudsters in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

Taking to its verified social media handles on Friday, EFCC said the suspects were arrested on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in a coordinated sting operation at different locations across Uyo.

“While five were arrested at Shelter Afrique, others were arrested at Ifa, off Oron Road, both in Uyo.

“Two of the arrested suspects are undergraduates, three are online cloth vendors, one forex trader and another one film director,” it stated.

Items recovered from the suspects include 21 mobile phones, six laptops, one international passport, and three luxury cars

Kogi Central constituents have described the recent court injunction obtained by the embattled Senator representing the Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from receiving a petition for her recall, as a sign that “she has realised that she is as good as gone.”

According to the constituents, who cut across the five local government areas of the Senatorial District, once intentions are not pure, individuals are bound to commit irreversible blunders, “which is the case of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan, even in the construction of her court injunction statement. 

In a statement released on Friday by the Kogi Central Renaissance Assembly, the constituents claimed that desperation had pushed the suspended Senator to describe the recall signatures as fictitious, saying that should have been left for INEC to unravel during its verification exercise.

“It is laughable that the same person who has called the recall process a sham is the same person that has gone to tell the court to restrain the electoral umpire from receiving or acting on the petition, even when she says the signatures are fictitious.

“We understand your plight. This is last-minute desperation to save yourself the embarrassment of a recall. But we, Constituents of Kogi Central, insist that you have already embarrassed both yourself and the District, and home you shall come.

“The courts are for everybody. You can’t force yourself on us. Even you should know that this your course of action is dead on arrival,” the statement, signed by the Coordinator, KCRA, Adeku Joshua; and Secretary, Maleek Sule, said.

The Kogi Central constituents insisted that they would follow the recall process through in order to redeem their image, the image of Kogi State and that of Nigeria at large.

“We, Ebiras, are not enablers of blackmail and unruly behaviour. We stand by this recall and will see it through. The world should know that we are people of integrity. Enough of embarrassing the entire country on the world stage over ridiculous allegations backed by no evidence,” they declared.

LEADERSHIP reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, had earlier this Friday, granted an interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, or agents from receiving, accepting, or acting on any petition containing what the Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan called “fictitious signatures of purported members of the Kogi Central Senatorial District.”