2027 Presidency: Don’t fall into enemy’s trap, Lamido warns Jonathan

 

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has cautioned former President, Goodluck Jonathan, against yielding to calls from political elites and Nigerians to contest in the 2027 general elections.

Lamido, in a post via his Facebook page, described the current political atmosphere in the country as murky and dominated by unserious, self-seeking and self-serving characters.

Lamido, one of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urged Jonathan not to succumb to the ego-caress calls, insisting that he should remain partisan.

 

According to him, while the appeals for Jonathan’s return may be appreciated, they amount to a “desperation call” lacking depth and long-term vision.

 

Lamido added that the growing calls urging Jonathan to return to active politics were largely driven by frustration over the country’s current challenges, rather than by any well-structured political ideology. Newspot.

2027: NDC clears Peter Obi for presidential primaries

 

 

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has cleared Peter Obi to take part in the party’s presidential primary election.

The NDC screening committee, led by former Ebonyi governor Sam Egwu, cleared Obi in Abuja on Tuesday.

 

Obi announced the development in a post on X on Wednesday.

 

He wrote: “Yesterday, May 19th, I went to Abuja for the Presidential screening arranged by our party, and it lasted more than two and a half hours.

 

“They took the time to look over all my papers, such as my degree certificates, NYSC documents, and age declarations. While I was talking, I also answered questions about what I imagine for a new Nigeria and the kind of leadership our country really needs at this moment.

“After that, I was approved and got the presidential nomination form that I had paid for earlier.

 

“I want to praise the screening committee, headed by former governor Sam Egwu, for their careful and professional work. I also want to thank our party’s leaders for supporting the democratic process. A New Nigeria is POssible.”

Newspot.

2027: Peter Obi reacts to Goodluck Jonathan joining presidential race

 

 

Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, chieftain, Peter Obi, has reacted to reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan has joined the 2027 presidential race.

 

Speaking to journalists immediately after his screening in Abuja, Obi said he was not in any way looking at who is contesting.

 

The ex-Anambra State governor added that he was only focused on building a better Nigeria, where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.

 

“Democracy is about people offering themselves for service and being voted for. I’m not in any way going around looking at who is contesting. I’m concentrating on how to build a better Nigeria.

“My priority ahead of the 2027 presidential election is to build a united, secure and prosperous Nigeria through inclusive governance anchored on the constitutional principle of federal character. Newspot.

We are not united as a nation; my goal is to bring Nigeria together – Obi

 

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has said that uniting the country will be his foremost priority if he is elected President.

He also said that he believes that good governance should ensure that mothers no longer live in fear regarding the safety of their children.

 

Obi stated these after completing his party’s screening process by the Party to contest the next presidential election.

According to him, the path to achieving his vision begins with fostering unity across the nation, emphasising the importance of adhering to the Nigerian Constitution, which promotes federal character and inclusivity.

A secure and united country, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party said, is essential.

 

“We want mothers to feel safe when their children head to school or work. We envision a Nigeria where travel throughout the country can be done without fear. Many Nigerians currently go to sleep uncertain about their next meal, and this situation must be transformed.”

 

“Politicians are too focused on upcoming elections while the citizens are suffering. This has to change,” he added.

 

He highlighted the need for a nation where public resources are not turned into private wealth, insisting that a strong fight against corruption is crucial for the benefit of all citizens.

 

The former Governor of Anambra State also discussed the length of the screening process, clarifying that it reflects true democratic practices.

“The NDC is committed to doing things right. The purpose of the screening was to ensure candidates meet constitutional qualifications and can provide necessary documentation,” Obi explained.

 

Regarding his status as the sole candidate, Obi commented, “I don’t know if anyone else has submitted an application. Until the party officially names me as the only candidate, that remains to be seen.”

After the screening, Obi commended the screening committee headed by the former Governor of Ebonyi state Dr Sam Egwu for doing a thorough job and being very professional.

He also commended the party’s leadership for upholding democratic principles.

You cannot govern by hiding corpses, Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has condemned in the strongest possible terms the abduction of schoolchildren and educators in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, and the brutal killing of innocent Nigerians in Katsina State, including a pregnant woman, describing the tragedies as further proof that Nigeria is bleeding under a government that has reduced leadership to post-tragedy press statements.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said he was particularly heartbroken by the news of the gruesome murder of one of the teachers abducted in the Ogbomoso kidnapping incident, describing the continued bloodshed across the country as not merely a breakdown of security, but a frightening collapse of leadership at the highest level.
“At a time when armed criminals are abducting schoolchildren, slaughtering innocent citizens, and turning communities into graveyards, President Tinubu’s response remains the same tired ritual: condemn the killings, threaten that the perpetrators will face the ‘full wrath of the law,’ and then wait for the next massacre.
“Nigerians have heard this script too many times. It has become painfully predictable and utterly meaningless.
“President Tinubu must stop governing by obituary statements.
“Enough of the recycled outrage. Enough of the empty threats. Nigerians are dying, and this government keeps responding with press releases.
“A President who only finds his voice after blood has been spilled is not leading but presiding over failure.
“The horrifying abduction in Ogbomoso and the gruesome killings in Katsina are not isolated incidents. They are part of a grim national pattern in which criminals operate with terrifying confidence because they no longer fear the Nigerian state.
“When terrorists can invade schools, abduct children and teachers, butcher pregnant women, sack entire communities, and disappear without consequence, it is because the authority of the state has collapsed.
“What comfort is ‘the full wrath of the law’ to families already burying their loved ones? What solace is another presidential statement to parents now terrified that sending their children to school may be a death sentence?
“Even more disturbing are reports suggesting deliberate attempts to suppress images and documentation of these atrocities from reaching the Nigerian public.
“If this government is indeed more interested in censoring evidence of mass killings than in preventing the killings themselves, then that is not merely incompetence — it is cruelty of the highest order.
“No serious government hides the blood of its citizens to protect political optics.
“A government that cannot protect the living but seeks to censor evidence of their deaths has lost every moral right to govern.
“This is no longer just a security failure. It is a moral failure. A leadership failure. A national disgrace.
“Nigerians deserve more than performative outrage and ceremonial condolences. They deserve a government that can protect lives, defend communities, and act before tragedy strikes — not one that merely reacts after the damage is done.”
Atiku called for the immediate rescue of all abducted victims in Oyo State, urgent and decisive security action across vulnerable communities, and a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s increasingly ineffective security architecture. Sunrisereporters.

Kwankwaso eyes NDC VP ticket, says move could help Kano to produce president in the future

 

A chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed confidence that he will secure the party’s vice-presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

Kwankwaso said clinching the slot could eventually pave the way for Kano State to produce a future president of Nigeria.

 

Speaking on political developments ahead of the next election cycle, the former Kano State governor declared that the 2027 elections would be different from previous polls if his name appears on the ballot.

 

“By God’s grace, the next election will be unlike anything that has ever happened in our state and country, especially if I secure the ticket and my name is on the ballot,” he said.

 

His remarks come amid growing political realignments within the opposition, particularly following reports that Peter Obi may emerge as the sole presidential aspirant of the NDC after the party reportedly closed the sale of presidential nomination forms.

 

Kwankwaso’s comments have already sparked reactions on social media, with supporters describing him as one of the strongest political figures in Northern Nigeria, while critics questioned the ongoing negotiations and power tussles ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

The former governor remains one of the most influential politicians in Kano State and continues to command a loyal grassroots support base across several parts of northern Nigeria. Starnews.

APC lawmaker distributes N26m cash to party executives after winning primaries 

 

A member of the House of Representatives representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Federal Constituency, Abdulkadir Rahis, has distributed N26 million in cash to 442 executives of the All Progressives Congress in his constituency as part of Sallah celebrations.

 

The cash distribution comes just days after Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan reportedly shared N135.6 million among APC executives within the same constituency, sparking widespread reactions across social media.

 

Rahis, who recently secured victory in the APC primary election with 20,509 votes, said the financial support was in line with his tradition of assisting party loyalists and stakeholders during festive periods.

 

If re-elected in 2027, the lawmaker would be returning to the National Assembly for a fifth consecutive term. Before his election to the House of Representatives, Rahis also served five terms as chairman of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council.

 

The distribution event reportedly drew APC ward executives, supporters and party stakeholders from various parts of the constituency.

 

In a statement shared through his Facebook page, the lawmaker described the gesture as a show of appreciation for the loyalty, commitment and support of party members ahead of the Sallah celebration.

 

The development, however, has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians.

 

While supporters of the ruling party praised the lawmakers for supporting grassroots members during the festive season, critics questioned the open distribution and movement of large sums of cash, with many expressing concerns about the increasing culture of political cash handouts in the country.

 

Others also raised questions about transparency and accountability surrounding such public displays of monetary gifts by political office holders. Starnews.

Obi condemns horrific beheading, raping of elderly woman, says the nation is losing its humanity

 

The leading presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has described the brutal killing of a teacher and the horrific rape and murder of an elderly woman as shattering.
Writing on his X platform Obi said: “Some events shatter a society so deeply that words are no longer enough to express the shock; the brutal killing of a teacher and the horrific rape and murder of an elderly woman are among such tragedies.

“These are not isolated incidents but signs of deeper moral and social decay.

“How did we get here? How did we reach a point where teachers are hunted and killed, and the elderly—custodians of memory and wisdom—suffer such dehumanising violence? Obi querid.

Speaking on the wider dimension of the security crisis in the country, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate said:”This is more than a security crisis; it is a failure of collective humanity. We have become desensitised, consuming tragedy briefly and moving on, allowing indifference to normalise the unacceptable.

” To the families affected, I share in your grief. But grief alone is not enough.

” We must demand accountability and urgent systemic change. If such atrocities no longer move us to action, then we risk losing our shared humanity,” he concluded.

Sunrisereporters

FG makes tax ID mandatory for all taxpayers

 

The Nigeria Revenue Service, in collaboration with the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), has announced the implementation of a new Taxpayer Identification (Tax ID) system for all taxable persons in the country.

The agency made the announcement in a public notice issued on its X handle on Monday, stating that the reform is backed by Sections 6, 7, and 8 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, which requires every taxable person to obtain a Tax ID.

 

According to the NRS, the new system is designed to strengthen tax administration, improve transparency, and streamline service delivery across federal and sub-national tax structures.

The agency explained that the Tax ID would serve as a unified identity for all taxpayers nationwide.

“The Tax ID will serve as a single, unified identity for all taxpayers, enabling seamless interaction with tax authorities at both federal and sub-national levels,” the NRS said.

“It is designed to consolidate taxpayer records, eliminate duplication, and ensure more efficient management of tax-related information,” it added.

 

The revenue authority noted that the new system would simplify tax processes such as registration, filing, and payment.

It said, “The initiative will simplify tax compliance processes, including registration, tax filing, and payment procedures.”

 

The NRS further stated that the reform would improve transparency and accountability in tax collection by enhancing visibility of taxpayer data and reducing revenue leakages.

 

It added that the Tax ID framework would harmonise taxpayer information across all levels of government.

 

“The system will improve transparency by enabling better visibility and tracking of taxpayer records while reducing leakages and improving accountability in tax collection,” the agency said.

 

“The framework will also harmonise taxpayer information across all levels of government.”

 

The agency also disclosed that the new Tax ID system will replace the existing Tax Identification Number (TIN) Validation API currently used by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), financial institutions, and other organisations.

 

It directed all organisations requiring integration or validation services for individuals, enterprises, and business names to contact the Standardisation and Modernisation Department of the JRB for access to the new API and integration guidelines.

 

Similarly, organisations handling corporate entity validation have been advised to contact the Tax Automation Department of the NRS.

 

The reform is part of broader efforts by the revenue authorities to modernise Nigeria’s tax ecosystem and enhance compliance through digital systems. Newspot.

$11.6b Debt Servicing: Obi critiques Tinubu’s borrowing as a long-term burden on Nigeria

 

 

Peter Obi, a leading presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, has expressed strong criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his borrowing practices, which he believes are not being used for production or development purposes. Obi’s remarks come in response to the President’s announcement that Nigeria will allocate approximately $11.6 billion for debt servicing. He argues that this trend under Tinubu is evolving from a temporary fiscal responsibility into a long-lasting structural burden that hampers development and increases economic vulnerability.

In a post on his X platform, Obi pointed out, “During a recent foreign visit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu revealed that Nigeria would spend around $11.6 billion on debt servicing—a figure that should alarm anyone invested in the nation’s economic future and long-term growth.”

Obi emphasised that borrowing is not inherently negative if managed wisely and directed toward productive investments. He cited examples of countries like Japan, the UK, the US, the UAE, Singapore, and Indonesia, which, despite being heavily indebted, allocate their borrowed funds toward education, healthcare, infrastructure, and innovation—areas that yield long-term economic benefits and enhance repayment capabilities. Consequently, these countries manage their debt levels more effectively, as the obligations are connected to tangible productivity.

In contrast, Nigeria’s borrowing history has largely been geared toward consumption, with few sustainable developmental results that would validate the existing levels of debt.

It is also crucial to note that a significant portion of the debt currently being serviced was accrued during the Tinubu administration itself, which continues to engage in substantial borrowing. The administration’s recent external borrowing includes roughly $6 billion—$5 billion from First Abu Dhabi Bank in the UAE and $1 billion from UK Export Finance via Citibank London—along with an additional $1.25 billion being considered from the World Bank and $516 million arranged through Deutsche Bank. This raises the total known external loan commitments to about $7.8 billion. Additionally, domestic borrowing through monthly bond issuances continues to increase the overall debt.

In light of this, Nigeria’s 2026 budget allocates ₦2.46 trillion for health, ₦2.56 trillion for education, and ₦865 billion for poverty alleviation, totalling approximately ₦5.885 trillion for these essential sectors. In comparison, debt servicing—estimated at $11.6 billion (roughly ₦17–₦18 trillion based on exchange rate assumptions)—is nearly three times greater than the combined allocations for health, education, and social protection. This discrepancy underscores a concerning fiscal reality where debt obligations increasingly limit funding for human capital development and poverty alleviation.

Furthermore, even within the limited funding for these sectors, full release of the funds is not guaranteed, and a substantial portion may be subject to misallocation.

The primary concern, ultimately, lies not in the act of borrowing itself, but in whether the borrowed funds are being transformed into measurable productivity, inclusive growth, and enhanced living standards. Without such a conversion, debt servicing shifts from being a temporary fiscal obligation to a long-term structural burden that stifles development and exacerbates economic vulnerability.