The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said Igbos never agreed to produce Nigeria's President for just four years with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Umahi made the remark in an interview with Arise Television aired on Friday, where he said Obi should have consulted him and other political stakeholders in the South-East before making such a comment.

Umahi noted that Obi should have consulted because his future, that of Ebonyi State, and the entire South-East is involved.

He said: "Igbos should be president and it's four years while others are doing eight years. Who in South-East reached that agreement with our brother Peter Obi to say that you will go for us?

"There are three presidential candidates from the Igbo extraction, you can't play politics in the South-East without consulting people like us. He should have come because my future is also involved, the future of my state and brothers are also involved.

"So we will sit down and discuss, is it the best time for us to look for this, do we support another region so that when it's our turn, the region will support us? If I was contesting that would have been done.

"Again, if presidential slot is to be given to the South-East, the President starts his job from the top to the bottom, it will be the turn of Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, or Abia because we have had President Azikiwe from Anambra, so can't we also allow other states if we are saying that the Igbos never waited?"

Presidency: Igbos never agreed single four-year term with Peter Obi - Umahi

A lawyer, Christopher Chidera, has condemned the 20-year prison sentence handed down to a man accused of belonging to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, by an Abuja Federal High Court.

The convict, Paul Okechukwu, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Abuja Federal High Court after he was found guilty of belonging to IPOB, a proscribed organisation.

Reacting to the development on Friday, Chidera said Nigerian courts want to crush the Biafran identity, using the proscription of IPOB as an excuse.

He faulted the judgment, insisting that the offence the convict was accused of was not valid.

The lawyer, a member of the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium, said, "The sentencing of 48-year-old Paul Okechukwu to 20 years’ imprisonment by Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged IPOB membership exposes a grotesque abuse of judicial power. It is a desperate, state-engineered campaign to criminalise political identity, bypass statutory rules of proof, and weaponise administrative labels to silence the Biafran self-determination movement.

"The Abuja bench must answer one unassailable question: When did an unappealed, procedurally defective, ex parte administrative order replace the constitutional requirement to prove a specific crime under a valid written law?"

Stressing that a court had declared IPOB's proscription illegal, Chidera pointed out that, on March 2, 2017, Justice Binta Nyako struck out six counts against Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that IPOB was not an unlawful society.

He added, "Months later, the state engaged in blatant forum shopping—running to Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati in a closed-door ex parte session to procure an administrative proscription order without putting IPOB on notice."

He described the proscription order as a one-sided administrative decree, as well as a political subjugation.

Chidera, while insisting that an ex parte order is not a judicial blank cheque, added, "Under Order 26, Rule 12 of the Federal High Court Rules, an ex parte order is a temporary emergency measure with a strict 14-day lifespan. Transforming a two-week interim procedural order into a permanent, 20-year penal trap violates basic civil procedure and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

"Status is not conduct: Proscription regulates an organisation's administrative status; it is not proof of individual guilt. An executive label does not relieve the state of proving an overt criminal act against a living defendant."

According to him, the 22-ground appellant brief filed by Nnamdi Kanu against his conviction challenged the basis of the proscription.

Stating that the declaration lacks presidential authority, he said, "The proscription order failed to satisfy basic statutory prerequisites — a principle reinforced by Justice James Omotosho himself in MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd v. FCCPC, where he held that statutory powers vested in a specific authority cannot be bypassed or assumed without explicit compliance with condition precedents.

"Ex Parte cannot defeat inter partes. A closed-door administrative order cannot override an existing, binding judgment. Rushing lower courts to hand down maximum sentences while the Supreme Court is actively seized of the proscription’s legality proves the regime is in a frantic race to silence dissent before its legal house of cards collapses.

"Justice James Omotosho’s November 20, 2025 judgment against Nnamdi Kanu set a lawless precedent by convicting him under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013—a statute expressly repealed by the 2022 Act.

"Now, Justice Hauwa Yilwa has recycled that exact constitutional illegality to sentence Paul Okechukwu to 20 years in prison under Section 16 of the same dead 2013 Act."

Insisting that association is not terrorism, Chidera noted that when prosecutors dropped the violent attack count against Paul Okechukwu and proceeded solely on "membership," they admitted they had zero evidence of violence.

"Jailing a human being for two decades for mere association—detached from any proven act of violence—is judicial violence," he added.

The lawyer therefore warned Igbo youths who are currently in detention over alleged IPOB membership against pleading guilty under coercion.

He said, "To every Igbo youth and Biafran activist languishing in the notorious Wawa Barracks or other secret detention facilities across the country: Do not succumb to psychological torture, starvation, or isolation by pleading guilty to crimes you did not commit.

"The state's strategy is simple: break your spirit through indefinite, inhumane detention until a 20-year prison sentence feels like a relief compared to their dungeons. A coerced plea is not freedom—it is a trap that legalises your torment and cements your imprisonment.

"Hold the line: Desperation does not validate a false confession, and psychological coercion voids any guilty plea under Section 36 of the Constitution. Demand legal access: Refuse to sign pre-drafted admissions or accept plea bargains without independent, uncoerced legal counsel.

"Force the state to prove its case: An executive designation is not proof of individual guilt. Make the prosecution discharge its heavy constitutional burden under a valid written law."

He raised five questions for the courts, stating, "How can the state rely on an ex parte order while ignoring Justice Nyako’s binding inter partes ruling that IPOB is lawful? By what constitutional logic does a 14-day interim order become a permanent presumption of criminal guilt? How can a conviction delivered under a repealed statute satisfy Section 36(12) of the Constitution? Where is the written law converting peaceful advocacy or Biafran identity into a 20-year terrorist offence? What specific, overt act of violence did Paul Okechukwu commit to justify stealing 20 years of his life?"

The lawyer noted that a judge's gown does not elevate him above the Constitution, adding that labelling a movement "terrorist" does not suspend human rights.

According to him, the Constitution remains supreme and the law must prevail over political intimidation.

'Nigeria wants to crush Biafran identity' - Lawyer condemns 20-year jail for IPOB membership

The Presidency says the proposed constitutional amendment to establish state police in Nigeria has scaled a major hurdle after 24 State Houses of Assembly approved it.

Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known in a statement on Friday.

Gbajabiamila, who is also the Chief of Staff of President Bola Tinubu, revealed that the Constitution Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, which provides for a dual policing system, has now met the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of the 36 states.

According to him, 24 state assemblies have endorsed the bill, meaning it has met the threshold needed for constitutional amendment.

"The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill notes with satisfaction that the Constitution Sixth Alteration Bill, 2026, providing for a dual policing system, has been approved by 24 State Houses of Assembly, meeting the constitutional threshold of two-thirds of the 36 states," the statement said.

The Working Group, therefore, applauded the state assemblies for what it described as decisive action on a reform of national importance, thanking the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.

Gbajabiamila further noted that with the approval, the amendment can now be returned to the National Assembly for onward transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent, in line with Section 9 of the Constitution.

According to him, the approval gives constitutional backing to the policing framework contained in the draft National Policing Bill, 2026.

He added that the draft bills are currently undergoing review and validation at the Federal Ministry of Justice and are expected to be returned on or before October 30, 2026, for final consideration before presentation to the President.

The President’s Chief of Staff called on all stakeholders to support a smooth transition to a dual policing system that will make Nigerians safer.

State Police Bill scales major hurdle as 24 states approve amendment

President Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday said the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar needs to draw up what he termed "another seductive" campaign promise to Nigeria.

Onanuga said Atiku's campaign promises to restore the fuel subsidy are unrealistic.

He was reacting to comments by the former President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo.

Osifo had said: "If you decide to be giving the refineries crude at the cost of production, the question is that how are you going to fund workers' salaries? How are you going to build roads? How are you going to build hospitals? How are you going to fund the military?

"So it's high time we start asking politicians the difficult questions, it's okay you could tell me that every morning you will supply bread to the entire Nigerian household, you tell me that you will build bakery in each and every street where they will give us bread every morning.

"But beyond that we should ask them, how would these be funded? Naturally, as an advocate of the Nigerian workers, we will be glad to see any presidential or gubernatorial candidate telling us that they will be paying Nigerian workers N500,000, we will dive into it.

"But the question is that how does this numbers add up, is it just campaign promises? Are these just rhetoric or they are backed up by the revenue or by solid and concrete plan."

Reacting, Onanuga posted on X: "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will need to go back to the drawing board to draw up another seductive campaign promise after listening to this interrogation by Osifo, ex-PENGASSAN chief, of his unrealistic subsidy-return plan."

'Atiku’s subsidy-return plan unrealistic' - Presidency

The Dredgers Association of Nigeria, DAN, has appealed to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in allegations of harassment, intimidation and extortion involving sand dredgers and tipper truck operators across the state.

In a statement, the association alleged that some enforcement officers had been impounding tipper trucks and demanding payments of up to N500,000 before releasing the vehicles.

DAN called on the state government to investigate the allegations and ensure that enforcement activities involving dredging and sand transportation operators comply with the law.

The association also raised concerns about what it described as interference in sand mining operations, citing a Supreme Court judgment it said affirmed federal regulatory authority over mineral resources, including sand mining.

According to DAN, it had previously issued Form 48 notices concerning alleged disobedience of a court order, following which the reported enforcement activities temporarily stopped.

However, the association claimed that the activities resumed after a recent Supreme Court judgment concerning regulatory authority within 100 metres of the shoreline.

DAN maintained that the shoreline provision should not be used to interfere with legitimate sand-dumping operations and operators who pay the required royalties to the Federal Government.

The association further alleged that concerns had been raised by the Federal Mines Officer in Lagos over the enforcement activities, but efforts to resolve the matter had yet to produce the desired outcome.

The Secretary-General of DAN, Richard Ntan, appealed to the governor to investigate the claims and facilitate a resolution.

The association said its members were engaged in legitimate businesses that provide employment and contribute to economic activities, adding that they should be protected from arbitrary enforcement and unlawful demands.

DAN urged the Lagos State Government to ensure that enforcement officers operate within their lawful powers and promote dialogue among the state government, federal mining authorities and dredging operators.

The association stressed that its appeal was not intended to undermine the state government but to protect legitimate businesses, preserve jobs and promote respect for the rule of law.

Lagos: Dredgers decry alleged extortion, beg Sanwo-Olu for intervention

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says its operatives have raided a criminal hideout at Iwuachang village, Ibeno Local Government Area, arrested five suspects and recovered illicit drugs including Indian Hemp, Captain Black, Kolos and Ice.

The arrested suspects include Enoch Monila, 28, Joseph Dani, 42, Imoh Okon, 21, Joy Linus, 25, and Thadeus Damian, 32.

The command's Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday.

The statement said, "The operation, conducted at about 8:00 p.m. on October 22, 2026, followed credible intelligence received by the Command and in line with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, on the ongoing campaign against black spots and illicit drug activities across the State."

While encouraging the public to provide credible and timely information to police, the spokesperson reiterated the commissioner's stance against illicit drug trafficking and other activities capable of undermining public safety.

Police bust criminal hideout, arrest five suspects in Akwa Ibom

Former Liverpool man, Jamie Carragher, has predicted the outcome of the Premier League game between Bournemouth and Manchester United.

He predicted that Bournemouth would defeat Manchester United while Chelsea would overcome Tottenham in Premier League gameweek eight.

The former Liverpool and England defender said that United's challenging campaign will continue on Sunday, resulting in a 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

He also feels that Chelsea would triumph over Spurs by 2-0 on Saturday.

The Red Devils' 4-1 Champions League loss in an away fixture against Como has extended their streak without a victory to seven consecutive matches across all competitions.

Manager, Michael Carrick offered an apology to the travelling supporters following the match and characterized the performance as 'unacceptable'.

Manchester United have just one victory in seven Premier League matches this season and currently occupy 13th position in the standings.

Carragher is convinced that their poor sequence of performances will persist this Sunday.

Beyond predicting Chelsea to secure a 2-0 victory against Spurs, Carragher also made predictions regarding other Premier League encounters including Arsenal vs Everton and Liverpool versus Brighton & Hove Albion.

He said, "What an excellent selection of fixtures we have in the Premier League this weekend. I believe Arsenal will encounter no difficulties in defeating Everton, particularly considering their exceptional performance throughout this season.

"However, Brighton may encounter greater challenges at Anfield as I anticipate Liverpool will end their winning run. In other matches, I foresee Chelsea prevailing against Spurs in a home fixture on Saturday."

Manchester City maintain a three-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League table. They are scheduled to play against Aston Villa in Saturday's early fixture.

EPL: Carragher predicts winners of Chelsea vs Tottenham, Man United vs Bournemouth, Arsenal, Liverpool, others

The Ogun State Police Command has foiled a suspected cult initiation in Owode-Yewa, arresting three secondary school students, including a 12-year-old boy.

The suspects, aged 12, 18 and 18, were arrested following credible intelligence that students from different secondary schools in the area were planning a cult-related activity tagged “Kito Day”.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the Divisional Police Officer, Owode-Yewa, received the information on Thursday and swiftly deployed detectives in collaboration with the Vigilante Group of Nigeria to the scene.

The operation led to the arrest of the three suspects and recovery of one English axe, two knives, one short cutlass, one rubber toy gun and a school bag.

Babaseyi said the case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

DAILY POST reports that the foiled initiation comes amid growing concerns over cultism infiltration into secondary schools in Ogun State.

Earlier this week, police operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics, SWAT, Unit also arrested a 30-year-old suspected cultist, Idris Obarayi, in Abeokuta and recovered a locally made pistol following a distress report of gunfire in Oke Ago-Owu area.

To curb the trend, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices, POCACOV, has intensified sensitization in schools, partnering with stakeholders during the 2026 All Youth/Secondary Schools Leadership Summit in Ifo, where nearly 180 students participated.

Police authorities have urged parents, guardians and school heads to closely monitor activities of their children and report suspicious gatherings promptly.

12-year-old, two others arrested as Ogun police foil secondary school cult initiation

Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi, has named the two best goals of his career.

The former Argentina captain named the goal he scored for his country against France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, and also a goal in a Champions League final or one in El Clasico during his time at Barcelona, adding that they hold a special place in his life.

Messi, who has scored 936 goals for both club and country in his career so far, spoke to the Spanish news agency EFE in Oviedo on Thursday.

“It’s extremely hard to choose. If I had to choose two goals that hold a special place in my life, I would probably pick a goal from the 2022 World Cup final, because of what it meant.

"As for Barcelona, I might choose a goal from a Champions League final, an El Clasico, or another particularly important match," he said.

Messi recently retired from Argentina national team following the 2026 World Cup tournament which Spain won.

Messi names two best goals of his career

Ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s expected visit on Saturday for the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress, APC, 2027 presidential campaign, security has beefed up across Kaduna metropolis.

Heads of various security agencies in the state have deployed their personnel across the state. This is in view of the fact that campaign posters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani were placed in strategic locations as some bear inscriptions, "welcome to Kaduna state."

Personnel of the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Authority, KASTLEA, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, are among those assigned to protect the campaign materials, especially at night, when they are considered vulnerable to vandalism.

Also, deployed were police officers and plain-clothes operatives who were stationed at major roads and roundabouts across the metropolis, while patrol vehicles were seen around the stadium.

Tinubu is expected to be joined by governors from the seven North-West states for the rally, which is anticipated to attract party supporters and political stakeholders from across the country.

Preparations were ongoing at the Kaduna Township Stadium on Friday, with the 8,000-capacity facility repainted and decorated with APC flags ahead of the president’s arrival.

The roads leading to the venue have also been adorned with campaign posters and billboards, while the stadium’s pavilions, conveniences and other facilities have been prepared for guests. Access to the premises has been restricted ahead of the event.

Meanwhile, the chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, for the campaign flag-off and Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has expressed satisfaction with preparations for the rally.

Balarabe added that the committee expected a large turnout of party members and supporters from across the country, noting that the North-West remained an APC stronghold.

Security tightened in Kaduna ahead of Tinubu’s APC campaign flag-off

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has commenced the deployment of 600 Nigerian Army personnel to India for specialised jungle and mountain warfare training aimed at enhancing troops' combat proficiency in difficult terrains and strengthening the Army's capacity to safeguard Nigeria's territorial integrity.

Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations, in a statement, said the first batch of 300 personnel departed Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Thursday, 22 October 2026, aboard two Indian Air Force aircraft, a C-17 and an Airbus A321.

The Coordinator, Nigerian Military Training Support and Advisory Team, Army Headquarters Department of Army Training, Major General UG Yusuf, who represented the COAS, witnessed the departure alongside the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria.

The training underscores the COAS's commitment to building a professional, adaptable and combat-ready force capable of confronting terrorists, insurgents and other criminal elements operating in forests, mountainous areas and other challenging environments.

It also aligned with his command philosophy, which prioritises operational effectiveness, realistic training, personnel development and enhanced combat readiness.

The specialised programme is expected to equip personnel with advanced jungle and mountain warfare skills, improve operational manoeuvrability and strengthen their capacity to deny criminal elements safe havens in difficult terrains. It will further reinforce Nigeria–India defence cooperation and the COAS's determination to sustain a resilient, mission-ready Army capable of defending the nation's sovereignty and protecting lives and property.

Arrangements are also underway to airlift the remaining 300 personnel to India for the training.

Nigerian Army deploys 600 personnel to India for jungle, mountain warfare training

Beşiktaş midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi has explained the reason for his celebration after he scored his first goal of the season in their 2-2 draw in the UEFA Europa League against Crystal Palace on Thursday evening.

The Nigerian international found the net with a composed left-footed strike after receiving a pass from Salih Özcan, directing the ball beyond the grasp of Crystal Palace goalkeeper Walter Benítez.

His celebration after the goal drew the attention of supporters as he gestured toward the number on his jersey.

After the match, Ndidi described the game as favorable for his team despite their sluggish start, noting that the team progressed as the game went on.

"I can describe it as a favorable match today," Ndidi stated via Ajansspor.

"Our opening half was tentative, however we developed momentum and converted our opportunity. An analogous pattern emerged in the second half. In totality, it represented a favorable match.

"Beşiktaş are a great club. We are showing ourselves against teams coming from big leagues. We are on the right track; everyone is working hard. Everyone is fighting. Everything is going great."

Ndidi explained his goal celebration, disclosing that the gesture represented a method of acknowledging himself for the quality of his finish.

"In actuality, I was acknowledging myself, saying 'bravo' to myself," he elaborated.

The Nigerian midfielder played the entire 90 minutes of the game.

UEL: Ndidi explains goal celebration after scoring for Beşiktaş against Crystal Palace

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has declared that the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi does not know what it means to fight corruption in Nigeria.

Umahi disclosed this in an interview on Arise Television while reacting to Obi's remark that he would restore the subsidy on fuel after he removed the corruption surrounding the policy if elected as Nigeria's president in 2027.

He noted that President Bola Tinubu's decision to remove the subsidy on fuel has made it possible for states to have money, stressing that the federal government is not "dashing" states' money.

According to Umahi: "When they talk about fuel subsidy gains, I laugh because people do not understand what is fuel subsidy gains as if we have a basket where we put all the money and say we are taking from here to fund fuel subsidy. What happened is that in all my eight years of being a governor, the NNPCL that is supposed to bring money into the federation account brought nothing, so that money was being used to buy subsidized fuel and now the reform has stopped that.

"Do you know that there was even a differential of one thousand naira to a dollar at the time of the differential and people were made so rich, it was such a fraud. Even for state government to fund their foreign purchases we had to go to the black market because people were taking the money from the official market and were selling it at the black market.

"NNPC is bringing the money that they were using to purportedly fund the subsidy to the federation account, it's a federation account money and its shared 48 percent to the subnational and the local government while 52 percent, so by law nobody is dashing money to the state government.

"I disagree with him, we all know that there is corruption in fuel subsidy, everybody knew that there is corruption in the dollar exchange rate, and what the president has done by removing it and getting the states to have money to pay salaries, employ people, and raise infrastructure, and so the president has done what he said that he will do.

"Does Peter Obi know what it means to fight corruption in Nigeria? There is a certain way you package yourself and it's not tenable. When Peter Obi was governor in Anambra State, go and check the statistics in Anambra State, how many hospitals were built? What is the size of roads built? Those roads can you point out one now? So the job is very easy when you are not the one doing it, when you condemn people you bring judgment upon yourself and that is the matter."

Subsidy: Peter Obi doesn't understand what it means to fight corruption - Umahi

England captain, Harry Kane, has said that it was becoming stressful waiting too long for the announcement of the winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony would be held on Monday in London and Kane said the wait is 'very stressful' for him and his family.

Kane, who ranks among the leading contenders for this year's award, stated this following Bayern Munich's 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena.

He provided an exceptional assist for Alphonso Davies' goal and later converted a penalty kick, earning recognition as the match's outstanding performer.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or recipient will be unveiled at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October.

Regarding the prestigious award, Kane disclosed how the prolonged wait is creating considerable tension within his household. He elaborated:

“I think my wife would prefer to know and my family, it’s very stressful for everyone. I can see why they don’t tell people. They want everyone to go, all the big names there and there will be more people watching it if they don’t know so I can understand why.

"From my perspective, naturally I would welcome knowing the result to avoid the tension throughout the entire evening.

"However, this determination rests with them, and I cannot influence that outcome. We shall simply endeavor to appreciate the occasion and attempt to minimize unnecessary worry."

Kane, 33, has scored 10 goals and made seven assists across 11 matches for Bayern this season.

Ballon d'Or 2026: 'Very stressful' - Harry Kane laments long wait for announcement of winner

Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called for an investigation into allegations that some ministers paid billions of naira to secure appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Ibe via his X handle on Friday said the allegations made by an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Alwan Hassan, raised concerns that some ministers were more interested in recovering money allegedly spent to secure their positions than in serving Nigerians.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the claims and prosecute anyone found culpable.

He said “Nigerians did not hear this allegation from the opposition. It came from Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council, who alleged that some ministers paid billions of naira to secure appointments and subsequently sought to recover their money.

“This is a grave allegation from within the President’s own political camp. It demands answers, not another round of insults directed at the opposition.

“Which ministers paid? Who collected the money? What evidence does Hassan possess? And what does President Tinubu know?

“Long before these remarks, allegations linking Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, to payments for ministerial consideration had surfaced. Hassan’s claims reinforce the need for an independent investigation into the appointment process.

“The danger is obvious: when public office becomes a purchased investment, public service risks becoming an exercise in capital recovery. Citizens seeking better healthcare, education, electricity and jobs become secondary to officeholders seeking returns.

“If Hassan’s allegation is true, Nigerians deserve to know whether their ministries are serving the public or servicing private investments. It raises disturbing questions about the priorities behind this administration’s uninspiring performance.

“Hassan reportedly made these remarks while defending restrictions on funding to ministries. But withholding funds cannot substitute for investigating alleged corruption. Nigerians must not be denied essential services because officials allegedly bought their appointments.

“The EFCC and ICPC should obtain Hassan’s evidence and investigate everyone implicated, irrespective of office or political connection. Were opposition leaders the subjects of these allegations, would the agencies be waiting this patiently? Nigerians deserve the same urgency when allegations concern those in power.

“President @officialABAT must address this matter directly. His campaign cannot ask Nigerians to renew his mandate while its own spokesperson raises questions about whether access to his cabinet carries a price tag.

“Nigeria’s ministries are a public trust. Nigerians deserve ministers committed to public service, not the recovery of an alleged purchase price.”

Atiku’s aide calls for probe of alleged payments for ministerial appointments

Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has blasted the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over his request to use the Presidential Villa for his campaign inauguration.

Speaking during an interview on TVC, Olayinka said Sowore could have also asked for President Bola Tinubu's bedroom.

He stated this while reacting to the letter that the AAC wrote to President Tinubu.

DAILY POST reports that the AAC had on October 21 written to Tinubu requesting approval to inaugurate its Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa on November 11.

The party also requested food, drinks and logistics for 5,000 participants expected at the event.

The party said its request was in the spirit of multiparty democracy and equal treatment of political parties, arguing that the All Progressives Congress had used the Villa for its own campaign council inauguration.

But reacting to the request, Olayinka dismissed Sowore as a content creator seeking attention, noting that the request was not serious and was only meant to generate publicity ahead of 2027.

“One of the candidates who have been making so much noise is Omoyele Sowore. In 2023, in 774 Local Government Areas, he had 14,600 votes. Even though I contested the House of Representative in three local governments, I had over 11,000 votes.

“He even wrote that he wants to use the Aso Rock Villa; he should have written that he wants to use the President's bedroom,” Wike’s aide said.

According to him, Sowore and other opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi lack the structure to defeat Tinubu, stressing that the presence of 19 presidential candidates does not make the 2027 race competitive.

Sowore on his part has defended the request, saying Aso Rock belongs to all Nigerians and since the APC uses it for political events, other parties should also be allowed to use it.

‘You could have asked for Tinubu's bedroom’ - Wike's aide blasts Sowore

Nollywood actors have expressed grief over the death of their colleague, Francis Duru, describing him as a talented performer whose contributions to the film industry would be remembered.

DAILY POST reports that Duru died on Friday at the age of 57 after a brief illness.

His death comes two years after he lost his 15-year-old son, Ifeanyi, leaving fans and colleagues in the film industry in mourning.

Actor Kanayo O. Kanayo, in a tribute on his Instagram page, described Duru as a complete actor and one of Nigeria's most versatile and prolific performers.

"A consummate actor has left the stage. One of the most flexible, prolific performers Nigeria ever produced. Rest in peace, my brother," Kanayo wrote.

Actress Kate Henshaw also mourned Duru, reflecting on the brevity of life and praying for the repose of his soul.

"Like a flame gone out, so are our lives when it all ends," she wrote, praying for God to grant him eternal rest and comfort his family.

Actress Mercy Johnson-Okojie said she was too overwhelmed by the loss to find words.

"Too tired and speechless about this loss," she wrote.

Actress Stephanie Linus described Duru's death as tragic and heartbreaking, praying for strength for his family.

"Such a tragic and heartbreaking loss. May God grant his family the strength and fortitude to bear this loss. May his soul rest in peace. RIP Francis Duru," she wrote.

Duru became popular for his role as Ahanna in Amaka Igwe's classic film Rattlesnake and built a career that spanned over three decades in Nollywood.

His family announced his death in a statement on his official Instagram page in the early hours of October 23, 2026.

‘Versatile actor has left the stage’ - Kanayo, others mourn Francis Duru

The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, in the 2027 general election, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are expected to arrive in Jos, Plateau State today, Friday, October 23, 2026, for a scheduled Middle Belt town hall meeting.

According to the organizers, the event will see Obi and Kwankwaso engaging with youths and party faithful across the state and other parts of the Middle Belt as well as highlighting their plans for the zone if elected next year.

Organised by The Middle Belt Youth Council, The Big-Tent, The Obidient Movement and The Kwankwasiyya Movement, the town hall meeting is scheduled to be held at the Gowon Hall, Crispan Hotel, Rayfield, Jos, at 11:00 am.

In a statement made available to journalists, the organisers said the meeting is aimed at providing a platform for engagement with Obi and Kwankwaso, as well as discussions around political participation and the role of voters in Nigeria’s democratic process.

The statement said that the organisers have adopted the slogan, “Be There. Talk Your Mind. Our Vote Must Count Now,” which signals a focus on civic engagement and the importance of voters’ voices ahead of future elections.

"The meeting is expected to bring together supporters, youth groups and other stakeholders from Plateau State and the wider Middle Belt region," the statement said.

Obi, Kwankwaso to hold Middle Belt town hall meeting in Jos

Some Nigerians have criticised President Bola Tinubu over reports alleging that security operatives are guarding his campaign billboards in Kaduna State.

Daily Trust had reported that heavily armed security personnel were protecting the President's campaign posters and billboards ahead of the launch of his campaign in the state on Saturday.

According to the report, security operatives have been stationed at strategic locations across Kaduna to prevent possible vandalism of the campaign materials.

The development has generated online debate with netizens questioning whether the government has prioritized the campaign materials over Nigerians facing attacks from bandits and other criminal elements.

Here are some of the reactions from X as compiled by DAILY POST.

@AndrewOkere: "This is laughable. Imagine security operatives guarding Tinubu's billboard instead of citizens? Nigeria MUST be OK".

@McFobiz: "See fear of the people. Tinubu is completely rejected in Kaduna, the entire north and nationwide. APC now mount security to guard their billboard".

@HAHayatu: "No president had his Billboards guarded in Kaduna before. This obviously shows that the dislike Kaduna have for Tinubu is unprecedented.

"And honestly, the fact that they deployed security men to these billboards shows that they know they are not loved".

@BliingNews: "As it stands you can't place the Tinubu billboard almost anywhere in the North and come back tomorrow to see it. These are Nigerian security men guarding Tinubu Billboard in Kaduna last night".

@Baash_Kano: "It shows clearly that APC has lost ground in the state and across Nigeria".

Tinubu rejected in North - Reactions as police, others guard President's campaign billboard

More than 40 armed bandits, including the younger brother of notorious bandit kingpin Ado Allero, identified as “Senator”, have reportedly been killed in an internal clash among rival factions in Zamfara State.

The deadly confrontation occurred in the eastern Mada axis of the state amid escalating tensions among armed groups operating in the area.

Security sources and local accounts disclosed the incident, although the exact circumstances that triggered the clash remain unclear.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Senator was among those killed in the confrontation.

Zagazola disclosed the development in a post on X on Friday.

The reported death of Senator could have implications for the network associated with Ado Allero, a notorious bandit leader operating in Nigeria's North-West region, particularly if the clash further deepens divisions among armed groups.

Zagazola noted that disputes over territorial control, leadership disagreements and competition for resources had contributed to tensions among criminal groups operating in parts of the North-West.

However, the reported death toll and the identity of those killed could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report.

Further details about the incident are expected as more information emerges.

Notorious bandit kingpin Ado Allero’s brother killed in Zamfara clash