The All Progressives Congress (APC) North West Zone has risen from its stakeholders meeting in Kaduna in Saturday, endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its Presidential Candidate for the 2027 general elections. 

The meeting had attendance the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC Governors from the zone, including, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Nasir Idris of Kebbi and Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Speaker House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy President of the Senate, Jibrin Barau, Ministers from the Zone and other stakeholders,

Others in attendance were; Chairmen of State Chapters of APC, state and federal legislators, as well as, heads of Federal Agencies, and senior political appointees.

The foundation for the endorsement of the President was laid when the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, asked the gathering comprising the who is who in the APC North West geopolitical zone, ” Aso Rock” ?, the crowd responded by saying” no vacancy.”

After the gathering responded, Senator Barau said, “So it is clear in 2027, we are going to have a landslide victory, inshallah.So let us continue on the way we are going. Let us continue to cooperate with one another, work with the president, work with everybody, cooperate amongst ourselves so that we have the desired victory.”

He said the defection of stalwarts of the opposition political parties to the APC was as a result of the performance of President Tinubu in addressing the challenges bedeviling the country.

“This is not happening just for nothing. There are reasons for this. What are the reasons? Number one is the performance of our dear president. The president, of course, inherited a lot of challenges, bedeviling our country. But he has come up with programs and policies to surmount these challenges.

“Security challenges, economic challenges, name them. We’ve seen how he has dealt with our problem, our security problem—the security we’ve been facing in the North West. Several areas were not accessible before now. You could not go to some areas before now. But now you can go to some places, you can travel from Abuja to Kaduna.This was quite impossible before he came to power.

“Similarly, before this administration, you could not go to Birnin Gwari, but life has returned to the area. The people have returned to their farmlands

“Several areas that were not accessible are now accessible. We know we are not where we want to be. We are not there yet. We are not finally there yet. But it’s a work in progress. Mr President is working hard, day in and day out, to surmount this country’s insecurity problem, particularly in the North West. It is a work in progress. It is easy to have problems, but it’s not easy to solve the problems.

“And of course, that is not alone. That is not the only reason why we are having these influxes to our party. The performance of our governors. Our governors are doing well, working day in, day out,” he said.

He added that, “The chairman, the national chairman of our party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is leading all the party leaders in the country to bring about these improvements we are witnessing in APC. We are all here as brothers and sisters.

“So let us continue to cooperate amongst ourselves, work amongst ourselves, do all that is humanly possible to bring about the needed development to our people so that our party can grow stronger and stronger.

“So that by 2027, we will not have any problem in making sure that we have the expected victory that we are beginning to see. Because as we speak, it looks as if you don’t have any other political party in the country, or even in the northwest. So it is always said.”

National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje emphasized that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the development of the North West, the entire northern region and Nigeria by extension.

He said the commitment has been demonstrated through his several intervention projects ranging from infrastructure, agriculture and social development across the Northern region, emphasizing that, establishment of North West Development Commission was a clear indication that, the President loves the North West Region.

While assuring that, “we have started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel”, Ganduje stated categorically that, there is no vacancy in Aso Rock Villa come 2027.

Earlier, while speaking, the Speaker who moved the motion for the endorsement of the President, said the defection of stalwarts of the opposition to the APC was an indication of the growing confidence of Nigerians on the party and President Tinubu.

“To enhance our election efforts, it is crucial to strengthen grassroots mobilization at the local level.Furthermore, as we look to the future, we must continue to integrate and involve more young people and women in the party, as they comprise a significant portion of the population. Their involvement is crucial for achieving future political success

President Bola Tinubu has justified the ongoing mass defection of high-profile opposition figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying they are bailing out of a sinking ship.

Speaking on Thursday at the Presidential Villa during the APC national summit, Tinubu shrugged off opposition’s complaints about the APC plotting a one-party system. 

“You cannot blame people for their choice of association. It is only one party that is ruling.

“For those still contemplating bailing out of their ship, the country is yours; hold on to it. For those talking about a one-party system. It is one party ruling and driving the aspirations of Nigerians. You don’t blame people bailing out of a sinking ship when they have no life jackets.

“I am glad of what we have, and I am expecting more. That is the game. We are in a constitutional democracy,” Tinubu said.

Continuing, the president said nobody can force anyone to stay where they don’t want, stressing further that the APC is ready to receive more opposition figures who are willing to join the ruling party.

Addressing the gathering of APC leaders, Tinubu said, “They think this political party is a failure, but with your perseverance, we never gave up. We are the progressives. We will soldier on. Continue to work hard. I listen to you, not them.

“We have an opportunity to make Africa great, but I urge you to stay the course. To those I cannot offer political positions, be patient. You will be happy to belong to this party.”

Governors elected on the platform of the party and APC members in the two chambers of the National Assembly endorsed President Tinubu as the sole presidential candidate in the 2027 election

Odunayo Alade, father of Kehinde, the teenager killed by a police officer’s stray bullet, says one of his sons was running late for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on the day tragedy struck.

He added that the route he was driving on when his son was shot serves as a short-cut to the main lane.

Kehinde was killed on Tuesday in the Gbagi area of Ibadan after a police officer shot at his father’s car.

The Oyo police command had said Alade tried to evade arrest after he was caught driving against traffic.

In a video, Alade was seen manoeuvring his car in an attempt to resist being stopped by a joint team of police officers and officials of the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA).

A police corporal then fired live rounds to immobilise the vehicle. However, Kehinde, who was seated behind the car with his twin brother, was hit in the abdomen.

‘I DIDN’T BREAK THE LAW’

Explaining what transpired in an interview with News Central TV, Alade said he was not violating the one-way traffic rule because the route he was plying was a stone’s throw from his intended lane.

“I was taking the children to school yesterday morning and at the entrance of my junction, there is maybe a stone’s throw, not up to one pole or two poles, to where we just follow and then branch to normal way,” Alade said.

“To my surprise, I saw OYTMA. They came and blocked me, even hit my vehicle and I had to reverse to bypass them.

“I don’t know. I won’t say one-way because the place is a very short distance. To them, they said I followed one-way and I let them know that this is the road all the neighbourhood use. It’s a very short distance to the main junction.”

Asked why he did not stop when he was cornered by the security officials, Alade said he did not want his son to be late for the WASSCE test.

“You know how Nigerian government works. If you’re on your own, once you fall into their traps… and moreover, the elder brother of the deceased was supposed to be writing WASSCE yesterday,” he added.

“He was having 8:30am WAEC paper yesterday and if I should stop, they would have delayed the boy. That was why I had to maneuvere my way.”

Alade added that he heard the gunshot but did not stop until his deceased son began screaming in pains.

Afterwards, the deceased’s twin brother relayed that Kehinde had been hit.

“I can’t really say, it’s only God that knows the situation of things,” Alade said when asked if he thought the situation could have been averted.

He said his late son wanted to become a lawyer and had quit the science class at the beginning of the second term.

Governors elected under the banner of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have officially adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the sole candidate for the party in the 2027 presidential election.

At the APC National Summit held at the Presidential Villa on Thursday, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who is also the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, announced the decision.

He emphasised that the governors had collectively agreed that President Tinubu should be the APC’s candidate for the 2027 elections.

The motion for Tinubu’s endorsement was moved by Governor Uzodimma and seconded by Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani. After the motion was proposed, the question was put to the gathering and was met with an overwhelming “yes” vote.

Although President Tinubu is currently in the middle of his first term, discussions regarding his potential reelection have been dominating the political landscape.

The governors’ endorsement signals early support for his bid to continue leading the country beyond 2027.

In a related development, governors and key political figures from the North Central region of Nigeria have also voiced their support for President Tinubu’s reelection.

A meeting was held on Wednesday evening in Abuja, where five APC governors from the region, along with other prominent party leaders, gathered to express their commitment to ensuring Tinubu’s return for a second term.

The political heavyweights in the region stressed the importance of re-electing Tinubu to ensure the continuity of the successful policies and initiatives he has put in place.

The motion for the endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term in 2027 was formally moved by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume.

Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group, says the Nigerian government gets 52 kobo revenue from every N1 generated from the production and sale of Dangote Cement.

Dangote spoke on Wednesday at the 2025 Taraba International Investment Summit on May 21.

“I’m sure it might be shocking to you to know that the federal government of Nigeria, not even the state, makes more money from, for example, our cement business. For every N1 we turn around, 52 kobo goes to the federal government of Nigeria,” the entrepreneur said.

He said governments benefit from investments, whether private or public, when they create conducive environments for businesses to operate and pay taxes.

“We always say that the government has no business in business. If it’s true, they don’t have business in business. Though, how are they going to make money, educate people, you know, do the hospital, road, infrastructure? It’s through what? Taxes,” Dangote said.

“Have you ever heard of the American government owning an oil block? No, the American government doesn’t own an oil block. And they are the biggest producers of oil today in the world. But they make their money through taxes.”

He added that foreign investors are unlikely to invest in a country unless local investors thrive.

Dangote said the group would continue to invest in Nigeria to create jobs and support local communities.

Deyemi Okanlawon, the Nollywood actor, has shared his thoughts on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s recent clampdown on naira abuse.

In a recent interview on the Nollywood On Radio show, Deyemi criticised the EFCC for “disproportionately focusing on entertainers” while larger issues of corruption and crime persist.

The actor also acknowledged that some cultural norms, like the disregard for maintenance, need reevaluation.

He suggested that promoting respect for national symbols, such as the naira, could help reshape public attitudes.

“Two things, I think that because something is cultural does not make it right. We have a culture that does not really emphasise on maintenance of things,” he said.

“We have seen how things are built and we do not maintain it so we continue in that light…

“They are saying have respect for the naira, have respect for your country, maybe that is the way to do it. But the second thing is that I also think there are so many issues with corruption and crime going on in the country across different segments of people.

“So this move by the agency to come against entertainers is a bit too much in the light of everything else that we are trying to deal with.

“If every day we hear about corrupt officials, politicians, or organisations being brought down by the agency, we’d be more likely to trust that they’re acting in our best interest. Then, if they ask us to stop something like spraying money, we’d likely obey without question because we’d trust that the agency has the moral right to make such requests.”

TikTokers TobiNation and TDollar were recently sentenced to six months’ imprisonment over the abuse of naira notes.

On April 29, businessman E-Money was also arrested for reportedly abusing the dollar. He was, however, released a day later.

The socialite’s case with the anti-graft agency comes a few days after Terry Apala, the singer, was remanded at the Ikoyi correctional centre over alleged abuse of naira notes.

Iyabo Ojo and AY Makun also revealed that they were recently invited by the commission over money spraying.

In March, Murja Ibrahim Kunya, a TikToker, was rearrested in Kano for allegedly abusing the naira.

In 2024, the EFCC intensified its crackdown on naira abuse, citing section 21 of the CBN Act.

Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says he considered resigning after the technical error that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The results from JAMB’s 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) were released on May 9.

A breakdown showed that more than 78 per cent of candidates scored less than 200 points out of the 400 maximum points obtainable.

JAMB undertook a review in response to public protests and uncovered a major “technical error” that compromised results.

Oloyede said, on May 14, that the results of 379,997 candidates across 157 centres in its Lagos and south-east zones were affected.

He cited faulty server updates that led to the failure to upload candidate responses during the first three days of the exam.

Oloyede said the problem, which was caused by one of its technical service providers, went undetected before the results were released.

JAMB conducted a resit examination, starting from May 16 and extending beyond May 19.

Oloyede met with chief external examiners, civil society organisations, and tertiary school stakeholders on Wednesday in Abuja.

He addressed calls for his resignation from critics who purported an ethnic conspiracy and sabotage in the UTME crisis.

The registrar said the media pressure from the 2025 UTME crisis caused him to momentarily consider resigning as the head of JAMB.

“When it happened, my first reaction is to resign. But people advised me that the students will never forgive me because it will look like you abandoned them at such a time,” Oloyede said.

The senate caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the party should lead any coalition formed ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking at a meeting in Abuja, Abba Moro, minority leader of the senate and chairman of the caucus, said the PDP is well positioned to steer a coalition capable of strengthening democratic governance.

“We are not averse to the idea and ideals of coalition. The synthesisation of ideas and creating a harmony of ideals will further the beauty of democracy. However, any such coalition should be driven by political parties and not individuals,” Moro said.

“As the biggest of all the opposition parties, the PDP’s umbrella is big enough to accommodate all persons desirous of coalition.

“The Peoples Democratic Party, therefore, should drive the coalition if and when it becomes necessary.”

The caucus dismissed suggestions that the PDP is collapsing, saying internal disagreements are not exclusive to any one party.

“The current conflicts in the PDP are not different from what other parties like the APC, Labour Party and NNPP are facing,” More said.

The senators urged party members to remain resolute, expressing confidence that the PDP would emerge stronger and more competitive.

They also warned against weakening the opposition, arguing that democracy thrives when there is a strong counterbalance to the ruling party.

“The beauty of democracy is in the existence of robust opposition to keep the ruling party in check to ensure good governance,” Moro said.

“Celebrating the emasculation of other parties and tilting towards a one-party state will not advance the cause of democracy.”

Moro called on members nationwide to recommit to the PDP’s ideals, saying the party is capable of offering Nigerians a credible alternative.

“Out of the throes of the current conflicts in the party will arise a renewed, vibrant party that will give Nigeria an alternative to the current ruling party,” he said.

On May 15, Moro said politicians defecting from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) are “sinners” looking for “political forgiveness”.

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in the board and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, seven weeks after their appointment on April 2, 2025.

The board’s Non-Executive Chairman, Ahmadu Kida, and NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Ojulari, were sworn in at a brief ceremony held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Thursday afternoon.

The President, thereafter, proceeded to the All Progressives Congress National Summit at the State House Banquet Hall.

The 11-member board includes Adedapo Segun and Bello Rabiu, representing the North West; Yusuf Usman, representing the North East; and Babs Omotowa, a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, representing the North Central.

Also on the board are Austin Avuru, Non-Executive Director for the South-South; David Ige, representing the South-West; and Henry Obih, representing the South-East.

Lydia Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, will serve on the board as the ministry’s representative, while Aminu Ahmed will represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Top government officials present at the swearing-in were the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a fresh reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) across the country, with new rates now ranging from N875 to N905 per litre, depending on location.

The new price regime, which marks a N15 reduction per litre across all regions and partner retail outlets, was posted on the official social media handle of Dangote Refinery on Thursday.

It applies to all major fuel marketers in partnership with the refinery, including MRS, Ardova, Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde Energy.

In the earlier pricing template, Lagos residents paid N890 per litre, while prices rose to N920 in the North East and South-South regions.

With the new adjustment, Lagos residents will now pay N875, while those in the North East and South South will pay N905 per litre.

A breakdown of the revised prices shows, Lagos: N875, South-West: N885, North-East: N905, North-West & Central: N895, and South-South & South-East: N905

The Dangote Refinery urged consumers to purchase fuel only from its partner outlets and encouraged Nigerians to report non-compliance via its hotline: +234 707 470 2099 or +234 707 470 2100.

 

“Our quality petrol and diesel are refined for better engine performance and are environmentally friendly,” the company stated in the notice.

Our correspondent gathered the new reduction follows the return of a refund benefit policy offered to its customers earlier this week.

The development comes hours after The PUNCH reported that independent oil marketers resumed large-scale importation of petrol, as fresh data shows that over 496.17 million litres of petrol were brought into the country within nine days.

Findings using the Tanker Position Report, a document that tracks oil tankers’ movement and was obtained from Blue Sea Maritime by our correspondent on Monday, revealed that 370,000 metric tonnes of petrol were discharged at various depots. These products berthed at seaports between May 11 and 20, 2025.

On Monday, the 650,000 Lekki-based facility said the naira-for-crude deal allowed it to reduce the price of petrol, which translates to reduced costs at the pumps.

This is even as the company affirmed that the prices of petrol will remain affordable and stable.

They said that despite the fluctuations in global crude oil prices, it has consistently reduced the price of petrol.

The company, in a release signed by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said the decision to maintain price stability reflects its unwavering commitment to supporting the Nigerian economy and alleviating the burden on consumers from the increase in fuel prices by maintaining price stability.