For the Records: Peter Obi’s acceptance speech

*ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY MR. PETER OBI FOLLOWING HIS NOMINATION AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE NIGERIA DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (NDC) – MAY 30, 2026*

Protocols,

Esteemed citizens of Nigeria,

It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate for our party.

I express my profound gratitude to the leaders of our party. His Excellency Seriake Dickson, the National Chairman, National Secretary and the National Working Committee, NWC members and members of our relentless supporters, and the Nigerian populace who have steadfastly kept the spirit of hope alive. I commend those who have made the journey from every region of our nation to convene here in Abuja.

I wish to assert unequivocally: a New Nigeria is Possible. This conviction has united us; it must serve as our compass on the challenging road ahead and sustain us through all trials we may face. This pivotal moment transcends the individual ambitions of Peter Obi; it concerns the essence of our nation and the future of our children. It is about rekindling hope for millions who have faced adversity yet remain committed to Nigeria.

Today, our nation finds itself at a crucial juncture, enveloped in uncertainty. Families are anxious about their safety; parents are concerned for their children’s futures; and talented youth increasingly question their prospects in their homeland.

Businesses are struggling, communities are suffering, and an alarming number of citizens have lost faith in the very concept of governance. Yet, I stand before you filled with optimism and strong faith in the resilience of our people, for I firmly believe that a New Nigeria is possible.

*UNITY*

To realise this New Nigeria, we must first mend the foundational elements essential for the success of any nation.

Nigeria cannot advance while fragmented by ethnic, religious, regional, or narrow political divides. We may communicate in different languages and practise diverse faiths, but we share a singular destiny under one flag. Our diversity should not be a source of division; rather, it is among our greatest strengths.

We should build bridges where others erect barriers, replace mistrust with confidence, division with understanding, and resentment with a collective purpose. A united Nigeria is indispensable. As Will Durant wisely pointed out, “A great civilisation is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.” We must never self-destruct. We must heal, unify, and progress together.

*INSECURITY*

In terms of security, the situation in Nigeria has considerably worsened. The global terrorism impact assessments ranked Nigeria as the 8th most affected nation in 2022, 6th in 2024, and 4th in 2026.

Yet, for many years, Nigeria garnered global recognition as a reliable contributor to peacekeeping, regional stabilisation, and conflict resolution. Our troops have not only displayed bravery but have also shown professionalism, discipline, resilience, and empathy in the most challenging operational contexts. Our officers and personnel have successfully commanded multiple international forthe ces, safeguarded vulnerable civilian populations, monitored ceasefires, reinstated constitutional order, and contributed to rebuilding efforts.

Nigeria became one of the leading contributors of troops from Africa to UN peacekeeping missions and earned widespread admiration for operational effectiveness and leadership in various countries, including Rwanda, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Western Sahara, Congo, Lebanon, Cambodia, Haiti, and Kuwait. At one pointin a Nigeria, Lt. General Isaac Obiakor (rtd) even led global peacekeeping initiatives.

We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation. The primary responsibility of the government is to ensure the safeguarding of lives and property. Farmers must be able to return to their fields securely; students must be able to learn without fear; communities must be able to rest peacefully; and investors must regain their confidence in Nigeria.

Our strategy will be intelligence-driven, technology-enhanced, proactive, and community-focused. We will fortify our security institutions, enhance operational coordination, support our courageous personnel, and tackle the underlying causes of insecurity—name, ly poverty, unemployment, and marginalisation.

*HEALTHCARE*

Regarding health, Nigeria is currently ranked 157th globally, placing it in the lower echelon of healthcare worldwide. Primary healthcare, the cornerstone of our medical system, remains severely underfunctioning, al with only 10% to 20% of approximately 30,000 primary healthcare centres operational.

As a result, Nigeria suffers from one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world. Furthermore, health insurance coverage in Nigeria hovers around a mere 10%, in stark contrast to countries like Indonesia, which boast over 90% coverage. This situation is regrettable.

I pledge that within four years, our health insurance coverage will more than double to over 20%.

Within these four years, we will increase our healthcare budget to a minimum of 10% of our GDP, up from the current level of below 5%. We will invest heavily in and support our healthcare institutions to ensure the massive training of our healthcare workers, including nurses and other professionals. We shall also adequately staff our medical facilities.

In four years, there will be a fully functional and properly managed primary healthcare centre in all 8,809 wards across the nation. By the conclusion of our term, Nigeria will ensure that at least 50% of its 30,000 primary healthcare centres are fully functional, properly manned, and dedicated to serving the populace.

*EDUCATION*

Education will remain at the forefront of our national revival, as no country can grow beyond its educational system. Nations that have transformed successfully have done so through sustained investment in human capital. Our children are not burdens; they represent our most valuable assets. We will invest heavily in schools, teachers, technology, and vocational training, ensuring that education equips our youth not only to seek employment but also to generate it. We must pivot Nigeria from a cycle of shared poverty to one of collective prosperity through knowledge, innovation, and productivity.

*HUNGER AND AGRICULTURE*

In 2023, when the present government took office, Nigeria ranked 109 out of 150 nations on the Global Hunger Index.

And by 2025, our ranking further plunged to 115th, placing us among the hungriest nations globally. Currently, the World Food Programme estimates that over 35 million Nigerians will face acute hunger and food insecurity this year. This is unconscionable, given our vast expanses of uncultivated land.

Rice remains the most consumed food in Nigeria. To illustrate our level of unproductivity, let us compare our capabilities with those of leading rice-producing nations. India is the largest producer of rice, yielding approximately 200 million tonnes of unmilled rice.

Bangladesh is the third largest producer, producing around 60 million tonnes of unskilled Rice, while Vietnam is the 5thproducinges about 42 million tonnes. Let us consider the land-to-population ratios:

India has a landmass of 3,287,263 square kilometres. Distributed across its population of 1.4 billion people, this equals roughly 2. 34 Square meter per person.

Bangladesh, with a landmass of around 148,460 square kilometres and a population of 170 million, has less than 1 square metres per person.

Vietnam’s landmass covers 331,000 square kilometres. Divided by a population of 102 million, it yields about 3.25 square metres per person.

Nigeria has a massive landmass of 923,768 square kilometres. Divided by our population of approximately 230 million, this results in about 4.00 square metres per person. The foregoing clearly illustrates that we have absolutely no justification for being among the world’s hungriest nations.

Transitioning our nation from a state of consumption to one of production, through significant investments in agriculture, is the sole dependable strategy to escape the current depths of hunger and poverty. As I often emphasise, the uncultivated lands in our northern region represent our most substantial tangible assets. Transforming this sector is our direct pathway to prosperity.

ENERGY SECTOR

Nigeria today is the nation with the highest number of citizens lacking access to electricity globally. We currently generate and distribute a mere 4,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity for a population exceeding 200 million. In contrast, comparable nations worldwide – including several African peers such as South Africa and Egypt – each generate and distribute over 40,000 MW, despite both countries having less than half of our population. This considerable power shortfall continues to cripple businesses, choke industries, and stall overall economic growth.

Over the next four years, I commit to ensuring a minimum of 10,000 Mof W power

increase generation and distribution.

*UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT*

Our large pool of talented youth remains largely unemployed. The current official unemployment rate of 4% grossly misrepresents the true situation; actual underemployment and unemployment in Nigeria exceeds 30%, with youth unemployment sitting at over 40% – among the highest globally, necessitating urgent intervention. We will address this by aggressively supporting the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through targeted tax incentives, special interest rates, and accessible funding in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, entertainment, sports, and distribution. These improvements will be both measurable and verifiable.

C *ORRUPTION AND GOVERNANCE COSTS*

Nigerians will witness a tangible and verifiable reduction in corruption and the baseline costs associated with governance. Public resources will be managed with absolute transparency, prudence, and accountability to ensure that every naira spent yields demonstrable value for the citizenry.

RULE OF LAW*

The rule of law will be fiercely upheld, and adherence to it will be sacrosanct for both government officials and citizens alike, strictly in accordance with our constitutional frameworks.

DEMOCRACY

Our democracy will exemplify true governance of the people, by the people, and for the people, completely free from interference by the ruling party. Instead, we will institutionalise deep respect for opposition parties and foster constructive engagement in governance.

Under my leadership, democracy will be pursued with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

Following this I will make democracy work and the Vice president will be partner not a spare tyre. I hereby accept my affirmation and nominate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as my Vice President.

May God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

PSG retain champions league title after penalty shootout victory over Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended their UEFA Champions League title on Saturday night, defeating Arsenal on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw in the final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

The French giants held their nerve from the spot after 120 minutes failed to separate both sides, securing back-to-back Champions League triumphs and further cementing their status among Europe’s elite clubs.

The highly anticipated final lived up to expectations as both teams battled fiercely throughout regulation time and extra time, with neither side able to find a decisive winner after the match ended 1-1.

With the contest heading into a penalty shootout, PSG displayed greater composure, converting their spot-kicks to deny Arsenal a first Champions League title and retain the prestigious trophy.

The victory marks another historic achievement for the Paris-based club, who became one of the few teams in recent years to successfully defend the European crown.

For Arsenal, the defeat ends an impressive Champions League campaign in heartbreak, with Mikel Arteta’s side coming within touching distance of European glory before falling at the final hurdle. Franktalknow.

ADC NEC approves primaries, extends NWC tenure, demands El-Rufai’s release

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African Democratic Congress has approved the results of its recently conducted primaries for governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and presidential elections ahead of the 2027 general elections, while extending the tenure of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) by 12 months.

The decisions were taken at the party’s 101st NEC meeting held in Abuja on Saturday, where National Chairman David Mark urged members to remain united and focused on building a credible political alternative for Nigerians.

Addressing party leaders and stakeholders, Mark said the meeting was taking place at a critical period in Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that the country was grappling with worsening insecurity, economic hardship, unemployment, and declining purchasing power.

“Nigeria today faces profound challenges. Insecurity continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across many parts of our country. Communities are displaced, farmers are unable to cultivate their lands freely, businesses struggle under difficult economic conditions, and millions of families face hardship and uncertainty,” he said.

The ADC chairman stressed that the opposition party would not seek political advantage from the suffering of Nigerians but would continue to support genuine efforts aimed at restoring security, economic stability, and national unity.

“As a responsible opposition party, the ADC does not celebrate the difficulties confronting our nation, nor do we seek political advantage from the pain of our people. Rather, we stand firmly in support of every sincere effort aimed at restoring peace, security, economic stability and national cohesion,” Mark stated.

He called on governments at all levels to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and implement policies that would improve the living conditions of citizens.

Turning to internal party matters, Mark emphasized the need for unity and discipline as the ADC prepares for future electoral contests, particularly the 2027 general elections.

“Our strength lies not in division but in unity. We must resist every tendency capable of weakening our collective resolve. Personal ambition must never supersede party interest,” he said.

The former Senate President also assured party members that complaints and petitions arising from the party’s primaries would be handled fairly and transparently.

“I wish to assure all members that the National Working Committee will critically review the recommendations submitted by the various appeal committees and take informed, fair and responsible decisions in the overall interest of justice, equity and party unity,” he added.

At the conclusion of the meeting, NEC approved the results of all recently conducted primaries for State Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, governorship, and presidential elections, except those with pending appeals as of May 29, 2026, and contests yet to be concluded.

The committee also approved the extension of the tenure of the current National Working Committee for a period of 12 months upon the expiration of its current mandate.

In addition, NEC approved the constitution of caretaker committees at the zonal, state, local government, and ward levels, also for a period of 12 months.

The party further passed a resolution describing former Nasir El-Rufai governor as a “prisoner of conscience” and called for his immediate release.

The resolutions were announced in a communiqué issued after the meeting by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.

Mark concluded his address by urging party leaders and members across the country to close ranks, strengthen grassroots structures, expand membership, and offer practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.

“Many citizens are increasingly searching for a credible political platform. The ADC must not fail them,” he said.

Authority.

Nigeria enveloped in uncertainty -Peter Obi in his acceptance speech, outlines his action plan

By Okey Muogbo

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in the forthcoming general election, Mr Peter Obi has accepted his election as the flag bearer of the NDC, lamenting that Nigeria has been enveloped in negative uncertainties.

In his acceptance speech, the Presidential Candidate outlined clear and comprehensive details of how he would solved major governance challenges confronting Nigeria.

Said he: “Today, our nation finds itself at a crucial juncture, enveloped in uncertainty.

“Families are anxious about their safety; parents are concerned for their children’s futures; and talented youth increasingly question their prospects in their homeland.

“Businesses are struggling, communities are suffering, and an alarming number of citizens have lost faith in the very concept of governance.

“Yet, I stand before you filled with optimism and strong faith in the resilience of our people, for I firmly believe that a New Nigeria is possible,” he assured.

Below is the full text of his speech:

*ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY MR. PETER OBI FOLLOWING HIS NOMINATION AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE NIGERIAN DEMOCRATIC COALITION (NDC) – MAY 30, 2026*

Protocols,

Esteemed citizens of Nigeria,

It is with deep humility that I accept the role of presidential candidate for our party.

*UNITY*

To realise this New Nigeria, we must first mend the foundational elements essential for the success of any nation.

*INSECURITY*

In terms of security, the situation in Nigeria has considerably worsened. The global terrorism impact assessments ranked Nigeria as the 8th most affected nation in 2022, 6th in 2024, and 4th in 2026.

Yet, for many years, Nigeria garnered global recognition as a reliable contributor to peacekeeping, regional stabilisation, and conflict resolution. Our troops have not only displayed bravery but have also shown professionalism, discipline, resilience, and empathy in the most challenging operational contexts. Our officers and personnel have successfully commanded multiple international forces, safeguarded vulnerable civilian populations, monitored ceasefires, reinstated constitutional order, and contributed to rebuilding efforts.

Nigeria became one of the leading contributors of troops from Africa to UN peacekeeping missions and earned widespread admiration for operational effectiveness and leadership in various countries, including Rwanda, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Western Sahara, Congo, Lebanon, Cambodia, Haiti, and Kuwait. At one point, a Nigeria, Lt. General Isaac Obiakor (rtd) even led global peacekeeping initiatives.

We must address insecurity with resolve and urgency, for no nation can thrive while its citizens live in trepidation. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure the safeguarding of lives and property. Farmers must be able to return to their fields securely; students must be able to learn without fear; communities must be able to rest peacefully; and investors must regain their confidence in Nigeria.

*HEALTHCARE*

Regarding health, Nigeria is currently ranked 157th globally, placing it in the lower echelon of healthcare worldwide. Primary healthcare, the cornerstone of our medical system, remains severely not functional with only 10% to 20% of approximately 30,000 primary healthcare centres operational.

I pledge that within four years, our health insurance coverage will more than double to over 20%.

*EDUCATION*

*HUNGER AND AGRICULTURE*

In 2023, when the present government took office, Nigeria ranked 109 out of 150 nations on the Global Hunger Index.

Bangladesh is the third largest producer, produces around 60 million tonnes of unskilled Rice, while Vietnam is the 5th, produces about 42 million tonnes. Let us consider the land-to-population ratios:

India has a landmass of 3,287,263 square kilometres. Distributed across its population of 1.4 billion people, this equals roughly 2. 34 Square meter per person.

Bangladesh, with a landmass of around 148,460 square kilometres and a population of 170 million, has less than 1 square metres per person.

Vietnam’s landmass covers 331,000 square kilometres. Divided by a population of 102 million, it yields about 3.25 square metres per person.

ENERGY SECTOR

Over the next four years, I commit to ensuring a minimum of 10,000 MW power

increase generation and distribution.

*UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT*

CORRUPTION AND GOVERNANCE COSTS*

RULE OF LAW*

The rule of law will be fiercely upheld, and adherence to it will be sacrosanct for both government officials and citizens alike, strictly in accordance with our constitutional frameworks.

DEMOCRACY

Under my leadership, democracy will be pursued with integrity, fairness, and transparency.

May God bless you all, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Turaki-Led PDP affirms Jonathan its presidential candidate despite thugs’ attack, security barricade

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), on Saturday defied security restrictions and the barricading of its planned convention venue in Abuja to affirm former President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Despite the disruption, the group relocated its activities to its operational office in Area 10, Garki, where it concluded the convention proceedings and presented a Certificate of Return to Jonathan. The certificate was received on the former president’s behalf by former lawmaker, Hon. Fred Agbedi.

The faction also witnessed a heavy invasion and attacks by thugs while they were expressing displeasure and rounding off the events at the frontage of venue of the party’s Special National Convention at the A-Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, Abuja.

The convention came amid an escalating leadership crisis within the PDP, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s structure and authority.

Addressing delegates at the barricaded convention venue, Turaki accused unnamed political actors of attempting to undermine democracy through intimidation and abuse of power.

“No matter how highly opinionated they may be about themselves, or no matter how they think that they can use their positions to thwart democracy, we want to tell them that Nigeria is bigger than anybody and any group of persons,” he declared.

Turaki urged supporters to remain peaceful despite the provocation, insisting that political battles should be settled through elections rather than violence.

“We will not fight. The time of fighting will come when we meet at the polls. We will meet you there, we’ll fight you there, we’ll defeat you there, and then we will pin you down on the ground,” he said.

Turaki went further to defend the actions of the faction even as they were not recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He argued that they were acting in accordance with judicial pronouncements and the PDP constitution.

“What we are doing today is in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court, which affirmed the judgment of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division,” he said.

According to him, the party’s Board of Trustees stepped in to fill leadership gaps created by the court decisions, while members of the National Executive Committee convened a meeting that produced an Interim National Working Committee.

“As far as we are concerned, it’s a process. INEC has been duly informed. INEC is aware of the convocation of the NEC meeting by members of the party,” Turaki stated.

He expressed confidence that the electoral commission would eventually recognize the process, noting that the INEC Chairman, being a legal scholar, understood the implications of the various court judgments affecting the party.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Special National Convention and PDP founding member, Prof. Jerry Gana, described the events surrounding the convention as a sad commentary on the state of Nigeria’s democracy.

“It is with great pain that I see this situation, that so many years after democracy we are still being reduced to this,” Gana lamented.

The elder statesman recalled the role played by PDP leaders during Nigeria’s transition from military rule in 1998, stressing that one of their key demands was the establishment of an independent electoral commission.

“We insisted that we must have an Independent National Electoral Commission. Unfortunately, after so many years of development, is INEC now independent? No,” he said.

Gana further criticized the security presence that prevented delegates from accessing the convention venue, describing it as a threat to democratic freedoms.

“We’re supposed to be having a special convention in a very well-organized place. Now the police have taken over the whole place. Are we back into military rule?

“This is a disgrace. Let the whole world know that Nigerian democracy is challenged because people cannot meet freely” he said.

The convention subsequently moved to the business of ratifying Jonathan’s candidature.

Chairman of the PDP State Chairmen Forum and Edo State PDP Chairman, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, moved a motion for the adoption of Jonathan as the party’s sole presidential candidate.

“Having adopted President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as our sole presidential candidate, I hereby move that this special convention do ratify the motion,” Aziegbemi said.

The motion was seconded by Senator Mohammed Sanusi Dagash, former Minister of Aviation who said party members across the country remained committed to the PDP despite the challenges confronting it.

“We stand confidently here, representing the PDP network nationwide,” Dagash said. “I second the motion in adopting Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as our presidential candidate.”

The motion was subsequently adopted by voice vote amid cheers from delegates who came out in their numbers and from different states to witness the event.

Bandits abduct Major General Rabe Abubakar, wife in Katsina

Suspected armed bandits have abducted a former Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd), and his wife in Katsina State, in what security sources described as a daring attack along a major route in the State.

PRNigeria gathered that the retired senior military officer and his wife were travelling through Matazu Local Government Area (LGA) on Saturday morning when their vehicle was ambushed by heavily armed gunmen.

A security source familiar with the incident disclosed that the attackers intercepted the couple’s vehicle and whisked them away to an unknown destination.

According to the source, the driver of the vehicle managed to escape despite sustaining a gunshot wound during the attack.

“The former Director of Defence Information and his wife were travelling in a red Peugeot 504 saloon car when they were waylaid by armed men along the route. The driver escaped with gunshot injuries and is currently receiving medical attention,” the source said.

The source added that relevant security agencies had been alerted and that coordinated efforts were underway to secure the safe rescue of the victims.

“Security forces have already activated search-and-rescue operations, while intelligence assets have been deployed to track the abductors and ensure the victims’ safe return,” the source added.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation from military authorities and security agencies were ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

The abduction adds to growing concerns over persistent insecurity in parts of Katsina State, despite sustained military operations targeting criminal groups across the North-West region.

The incident also recalls previous attacks involving military and security personnel in the state. In recent years, several serving and retired security officers have either been targeted by bandits or fallen victim to kidnappings and ambushes along major highways linking Katsina to neighbouring states.

PRNigeria reports that criminal groups operating in the region increasingly view high-profile individuals, including military officers, as lucrative targets.

Major General Rabe Abubakar, who served as Director of Defence Information, was one of the military’s most prominent Spokespersons and played a key role in communicating the Armed Forces’ counterinsurgency and national security operations during his years in service.

The latest abduction is expected to intensify calls for enhanced security measures on major highways and rural communities in Katsina State, where residents continue to grapple with the threats of banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.

By PRNigeria

Nigerian Catholic priest convicted of sexual assault in US

A Nigerian-born Roman Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a jury in Texas, United States, for sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care, The Guardian reports.

Odiong, 57, was found guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault after a trial in Waco, Texas.

The jury, made up of eight women and four men, delivered its verdict after about two hours of deliberation on Friday.

The court heard testimony from two women who said Odiong used his role as a priest to manipulate and pressure them into sexual relationships.

He was accused of exploiting his position as a Catholic priest to pursue sexual relationships with women he was providing spiritual direction.

Odiong, who pleaded not guilty, could face life imprisonment on the first-degree charge when sentencing begins on Monday.

Prosecutors said the offences involved two women who testified in court that the priest abused his clerical authority during periods of emotional vulnerability.

One of the women, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, told the jury that Odiong began a sexual relationship with her while providing spiritual counselling during a difficult divorce. She also testified that her son once walked in on her and Odiong during intercourse at her home.

Another woman, Jane Doe, testified that he pressured her into sexual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance.

The case followed a 2024 report by The Guardian, which first documented allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion against the priest during his ministry in Texas and Louisiana.

Prosecutors said that report prompted one of the victims to come forward to police with further allegations.

Investigators later gathered additional evidence, including DNA linked to a child fathered by Odiong during his time in Louisiana.

Odiong, a naturalised US citizen, was ordained in Nigeria in 1993 and later served in Catholic parishes in Texas and Louisiana.

Authorities said he was suspended from the ministry in 2019 following earlier allegations of misconduct.

His lawyers argued during the trial that the relationships were consensual, but prosecutors maintained that he abused his position of authority as a clergy member. Punch

2027: NRM picks Nollywood actress as presidential candidate

The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has announced Esther Okereke, the Nigerian actress and producer, as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

Okereke was elected on Friday through consensus at the party’s primary poll in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Chinedu Obi, NRM national chairman, said only Okereke scaled the party’s screening process and met the prescribed requirements.

“While some aspirants were unable to satisfy the requirements established by our screening process, their participation enriched our democratic culture and strengthened our internal processes,” he said.

“I congratulate each of them for their courage, commitment, and belief in the mission of national rescue. Their contributions remain valuable to our collective journey.

“We appreciate the diaspora’s interest in rebuilding Nigeria, and we believe that our partnership and resolve will rebuild and restore the dignity of the once-giant of Africa.”

Okereke said if elected president, she would implement her framework for national rebirth, anchored in education, energy, economic renaissance, security, social welfare, sustainable development, technology, transparency, and transformation, housing, healthcare, human capital development, entrepreneurship, enterprise development, and employment

creation, restitution, reorientation, and recovery.

“The NRM positions itself as a generational vanguard. By mobilising the youths, championing ethical leadership, and advocating for structural re-engineering, the movement seeks to transition Nigeria from a state of survival to one of sustainable development,” she said.

Okereke said the party believes that “true national rescue” cannot occur without a generational and gender-balanced shift in power, and the establishment of a governance model built on equity, accountability, and sustainable development. Thecable

Yesufu rejects NDC FCT Senatorial Primary, alleges “predetermined” process and closed-door result

Activist Aisha Yesufu has rejected the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, senatorial primary for the FCT, alleging the process was rigged, manipulated, and lacked transparency.

In a statement Friday after the exercise, Yesufu said she did not withdraw or abandon the race but stayed till the end despite what she called a “flawed” process.

—“A predetermined outcome”—

Yesufu accused the party of abandoning its initial plan for direct primaries at LGA level. Instead, she said, NDC switched to a delegate system at a central venue with short-notice changes that caused confusion.

She claimed the result was never decided by delegates:

“What was billed as a primary was, in truth, a predetermined outcome dressed in procedural formalities. When the moment came, the contest was not decided by delegates in the open; it was affirmed in a closed room.”

She argued this undermined fairness, adding that official claims of a “free and fair” process did not match what happened on ground.

—No legal challenge, but new project—

Despite the allegations, Yesufu said she would not pursue legal action. “I ran to win, but when the process was subverted, I chose not to exhaust myself in a grievance process designed to wear people down,” she stated.

She said the experience gave her deeper insight into Nigeria’s political system: “That knowledge is worth more than any petition I could have filed.”

Yesufu, who joined NDC ahead of 2027, said her campaign was a “people-powered movement” built on grassroots mobilization in Abuja.

She admitted the party has internal flaws but insisted NDC remains a credible presidential alternative. She also announced a new initiative, “A Better Abuja 2031,” to stay active in FCT politics.

CONCLAVENG

The Shettima danger for Tinubu

By Farooq A. Kperogi

Sometime in January this year, a senior Lagos-Ibadan journalist called my attention to a news story in which Hannatu Musawa, President Tinubu’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, said with earnest certainty that dropping Vice President Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate would gravely imperil Tinubu’s reelection chances. He wanted to know what I thought about it.

I promised I would share my thoughts in a column the following week, but more urgent matters that needed my discursive interventions came up, and I didn’t get round to doing it. In the intervening months, several other people have echoed Musawa’s sentiments. As maneuvers for the 2027 election intensify, the question of Shettima’s place in Tinubu’s 2027 calculus keeps taking center stage.

To my knowledge, no one has sufficiently articulated the socio-historical, political, strategic, ethnographic and even emotive reasons for the choice of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate, or why his replacement, especially with a northern Christian as is being rumored, would convulse the foundations of the Tinubu presidency.

I have pointed out in many past columns that in Nigeria’s emotional cartography, there are five broad ethnographic cocoons, which I like to sometimes call emotional maps, that have evolved independently and have broadly shaped voting and other kinds of national behavior.

There is the Northern Muslim Bloc that largely transcends northern ethnic boundaries, the Yoruba Bloc that mostly papers over religious differences, the Northern Christian Bloc that collapses ethnic and subregional borders, the Igbo Bloc that is self-explanatorily ethnically and religiously homogenous and the Southern Minority Bloc that encompasses a multiplicity of ethnicities that are neither Yoruba nor Igbo.

This emotional cartography isn’t intended to be a simplistic, self-sufficient and unnuanced mapping of diverse people into unproblematized boxes where there are no internal differences. It is intended only to show that, generically speaking, these broad collectivities tend to coalesce around the same affectional bonds in relation to national issues.

In the politics of emotional affiliation to, or connection with, the center of power, feelings of group representation draw on these maps. For example, the appointment of General Christopher Gwabin Musa first as Chief of Defense Staff and later as Minister of Defense has been a source of recognizable representational nourishment for most northern Christians across ethnic and subregional divides, even though Musa is from Kaduna, which is supposed to be in the Northwest.

So, based on my mapping of the emotional contours of Nigeria’s ethnographic landscape, the Tinubu-Shettima ticket actually is not, strictly speaking, the Muslim-Muslim ticket people say or think it is. It is, in reality, a Yoruba-Muslim ticket. Here’s why.

Tinubu, like most Yoruba people, defines himself first and foremost as a Yoruba person before he is anything else. That was why, in his 2022 Abeokuta speech, he prefaced “Emi lo kan” with “Yoruba lo kan.” In other words, he derived the social, political and emotional basis for the legitimacy of his presidential aspiration from his Yoruba identity.

Islam is incidental, even expendable, to Tinubu’s identity. This was dramatized this week when the presidency had a need to debunk a bizarre rumor that Tinubu had converted to Christianity.

Shettima, on the other hand, can’t afford to define himself as Kanuri in the context of national politics. On the national stage, he is the symbolic representation of collective northern Muslims, although this does not erase his Kanuri and cosmopolitical credentials. In other words, Shettima is primarily a northern Muslim who provides the symbolic conduit through which Muslims in the North identify with the administration he is a part of.

Some, maybe even most, northern Muslims may disagree with the administration and even with Shettima himself. But that’s in the region of the head. In their hearts, however, it’s a different matter. It’s like having a mother you disagree with but whose presence you cherish nonetheless because her absence would create a crushing emptiness in you.

In fact, no northerner, whether Christian or Muslim, can stake his or her national political aspiration on an ethnic platform. They would usually choose a pan-northern platform or a religious justification for their aspirations, depending on the context.

It needs to be pointed out that I am not making any moral judgments here. Tinubu’s appeal to Yoruba nationalism is not inferior to northern politicians’ appeals to regional or religious solidarity. The differences merely reflect how differently we have evolved politically and emotionally.

Now, replacing Shettima with a northern Christian running mate is fair in view of what appears to be the systematic exclusion of northern Christians at the top since the return of democracy in 1999. However, even at the risk of being misunderstood, it needs to be pointed out that such a move would signal two things.

First, contrary to what many people are inclined to assume, it won’t be a Muslim-Christian ticket. It would be a Yoruba-Christian ticket. As I pointed out earlier, Tinubu’s self- and collective identity-definition is primarily Yoruba, and it’s the basis for his claim to the presidency. Until fairly recently, he didn’t even publicly identify with Islam and still stumbles when he tries to perform his secondary Muslim identity.

Second, Tinubu has to contend with the altered demographic calculations for the 2027 election that the choice of a northern Christian running mate would present. In the 2023 election, most northern Christians voted for Peter Obi, with Benue State being the notable exception. In Benue, Tinubu rode on the coattails of the then wildly popular APC governorship candidate Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia to victory.

Since 63.6 percent of Tinubu’s 8,805,420 votes in 2023 came from the North, it is safe to assume that most of those votes came from the Northern Muslim Bloc. To get rid of the ethnographic, emotional symbol of such a bloc in your quest for a second term, you have to be able to compensate for the electoral loss such a move would most certainly provoke. That seems like a tall order.

True, northern Christians seem to have warmed up to the Tinubu administration, perhaps because the anxieties that activated their hostility haven’t materialized. In fact, in May 2025, as Tinubu prepared to travel to Rome for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the presidency reportedly supplied THISDAY with data that showed 62 percent of Tinubu’s appointees were Christians.

Bayo Onanuga later echoed the same claim at the Vatican when he said he had read that 62 percent of the president’s cabinet members were Christians.

Tinubu’s handlers can point not only to presidency-supplied claims about Christian appointments but also to a trail of public statements by some northern Christian bodies and clerics who said, in varying degrees of intensity, that his appointments had softened, answered or “allayed” fears over the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

For example, Rev. Kelvin Pwajok of the Northern Christian Forum thanked Tinubu in September 2023 for appointing northern Christians such as George Akume and Christopher Musa to strategic positions. Dominic Alancha of All Christian Youths in Northern Nigeria said the group’s earlier reservations had been eased by Tinubu’s appointments. Rev. Yakubu Pam of Northern CAN said in January 2025 that Tinubu had shown reasonable inclusiveness.

Archbishop John Praise Daniel of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders’ Assembly said in October 2025 that Christians did not feel sidelined and that Tinubu’s appointments had allayed many fears. Rev. Amos Mohzo of COCIN also thanked Tinubu for supporting northern Christians through appointments such as Akume as SGF and Nentawe Yilwatda as APC national chairman. In May 2026, the Christian Northern Nigeria Progressive Forum backed Tinubu’s re-election and framed its support around inclusion, fairness and national stability.

By contrast, Muslim groups and clerics have complained that the Muslim-Muslim ticket has not translated into commensurate representation for Muslims in Tinubu’s appointments.

For example, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria said Muslims remained politically marginalized despite their support for the ticket, while Professor Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto argued that Tinubu won Muslim votes but had since sidelined Muslims and the North.

Yoruba Muslim bodies have made a more specific regional case. MURIC has repeatedly alleged that South-West Muslims have been shortchanged. It even described some appointments as “Christian-Christian” under a Muslim-Muslim presidency. The Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria said Yoruba Muslims had expected Tinubu’s presidency to redress their long-standing marginalization but have instead faced deeper exclusion. MUSWEN also said South-West Muslims are underrepresented in federal appointments relative to their demographic strength and intellectual weight.

In other words, dropping Shettima in favor of a Christian running mate would effectively create a perceptual “Christian-Christian” ticket in the North. Northern politicians like Musawa who have an intimate familiarity with the sociology of northern politics know that this would sound the death knell of Tinubu’s second term bid, especially in light of Peter Obi’s dominance in the Southeast, which will deprive Tinubu of bloc votes from the South.

This choice comes with an even more poignant existential implication. Historically, in moments of political trauma, northern elites tend to instrumentalize religion to rouse the masses to popular action. Should Tinubu somehow manage to “win” without a northern Muslim running mate, he could have an unprecedentedly convulsive Nigeria to preside over.

Farooq Kperogi, author and Professor of Journalism @KennesawState University, is also a columnist with Nigerian Tribune

NUT threatens nationwide school shutdown over insecurity

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has warned it may shut down schools across the country if further attacks occur, following a surge in kidnappings and killings involving teachers and pupils.

Recent incidents in Oyo, Borno, and Kebbi states have heightened concerns over safety in schools.

In Oyo, gunmen reportedly attacked three schools—Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School, and LA Primary School—abducting about 39 pupils and seven teachers. Similarly, more than 50 pupils of Mussa Central Primary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno were recently kidnapped.

NUT President, Titus Amba, said the union could no longer tolerate the growing insecurity, stressing that teachers may be directed to stay away from classrooms if their safety is not guaranteed.

Speaking on the situation, Amba lamented that banditry, kidnappings, and killings have persisted despite the introduction of the Safe School Initiative, which was designed to protect educational institutions.

“As far as we are concerned, the situation is getting worse, especially at the basic education level where attacks and abductions have become frequent,” he said.

He noted that while the Safe School Initiative was a commendable step, it has not effectively secured schools, citing recent attacks in Borno, Kebbi, and Oyo as evidence.

Amba warned that any further attack could trigger a nationwide shutdown of basic education schools, insisting that teachers would not continue to work under life-threatening conditions.

“If this happens again in any state, we will have no option but to shut down the entire basic education system. If teachers are not safe, then the system has failed,” he said.

He also recounted incidents where teachers were killed or abducted, including reports from Kebbi and Oyo where victims were attacked in violent circumstances.

According to him, some abducted teachers and pupils remain in captivity, prompting the union to direct teachers in high-risk areas, particularly in Oyo State, to stay away from school for their safety.

Amba called on government, communities, and stakeholders to take urgent action to protect schools, emphasizing that safeguarding lives must be a collective responsibility.

“Teachers, students, and pupils must be protected. No parent should send a child to school and fear they won’t return,” he added, urging Nigerians to demand stronger security measures nationwide.

Conclaveng.