Former Sokoto State governor and senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said he is open to the involvement of the international community in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections if it would help guarantee credibility and fairness.

Tambuwal made the remark on Monday during an interview on Arise Television, where he recalled the role international engagement played in the 2015 general election that led to the defeat of then President Goodluck Jonathan by the opposition All Progressives Congress.

A prominent figure in the opposition coalition aligned with the African Democratic Congress, Tambuwal noted that diplomatic attention and global scrutiny helped shape the 2015 polls.

At the time, he was a member of the APC but has since returned to the Peoples Democratic Party while supporting the coalition-backed ADC.

“From our recent history, the intervention of the international community shaped the 2015 election, which the APC benefited from. I therefore expect similar engagement ahead of 2027,” he said when asked if he would support diplomatic pressure to ensure credible elections.

He, however, stressed that foreign involvement was not the sole solution to Nigeria’s electoral challenges but remained one of several mechanisms that could help strengthen the process.

“It’s not the only way, but it is one of the ways,” Tambuwal said.

Clarifying his position, the senator said he was not referring to any specific country but to collective action by democratic nations and global institutions.

“I’m not particular about the United States. I’m talking about democratic countries and the international community ensuring, without direct interference, that elections are free, fair and credible,” he explained.

Tambuwal also spoke on security cooperation between Nigeria and foreign partners, referencing reports of a US military intervention in Nigeria in December.

He expressed hope that such incidents would not be repeated, calling instead for a clear and transparent framework to guide bilateral security engagements.

According to him, statements by the US government and the reported missile strike appeared to have influenced the posture of the current administration, prompting a more decisive approach to governance and security.

“I think those developments had some effect on the government. They were forced to reassess the situation, and you could see some positive impact in how the administration is now thinking,” he said.

Asked whether he would support similar actions in the future, Tambuwal said he would not welcome further military attacks, preferring diplomatic and political engagement based on mutual understanding.

“I would not want to see more attacks. What we need is a clearer and well-defined framework between the Nigerian government and the US government,” he said.

He also criticised the absence of legislative oversight in such security arrangements, noting that lawmakers were not briefed on the reported interventions.

“As a senator, these issues were not tabled before us. We don’t know how some of these decisions were reached, and at this level, we should be informed,” he said.

Tambuwal added that any security cooperation involving Nigeria and foreign partners should be explicit, transparent and properly outlined, stressing that assistance should not be limited to the United States alone.

“Any country willing to help Nigeria tackle its security challenges should be welcomed,” he said.

Former Imo State governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has formally joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), marking a new phase in his political journey.

Ihedioha completed his registration on Monday, January 12, 2026, at Mbutu Ward in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, where he was issued ADC membership card number 001.

The registration exercise was carried out by the Ward Secretary, Prince Obinna Opara, while the Ward Chairman, Chief Alex Ahamuefula, formally presented the membership card to the former governor.

Party officials, stakeholders and community leaders witnessed the event, including Evangelist Dr. Obi Nwaigwe, Mayor of Mbutu; Hon. Jonathan Egbule, chairman of Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area; and other party faithful.

Speaking shortly after his registration, Ihedioha said his decision to join the ADC was intentional and driven by his confidence in the party’s emphasis on accountability, clear values and people-centred governance.

He said both Nigeria and Imo State needed leadership that prioritises the public good, listens to the people and responds effectively to their needs.

“Our people desire leadership that serves, listens and places the common interest above personal ambition. I believe the ADC offers a credible platform to advance these ideals,” Ihedioha said.

He added that choosing to register at the ward level underscored his commitment to grassroots politics and inclusive political participation.

National officials of the party present at the event included the ADC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, Sir Bon Unachukwu; the party’s Deputy Diaspora Coordinator, Maigari Bello Kasimu; and Uko Nkole, Coordinator of the Nigerian Former Legislators Forum.

Sir Bon Unachukwu described Ihedioha’s entry into the ADC as a major boost to the party’s standing in the South-East and across the country, noting that his experience as a former governor and legislator would add value to the party.

The Imo State Chairman of the ADC, Prof. James Okoroma, led members of the State Executive Committee to receive Ihedioha at the ward.

Welcoming him, Prof. Okoroma said the former governor’s defection had strengthened the party in Imo State and reinforced its commitment to internal democracy, grassroots mobilisation and credible leadership.

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has denied reports suggesting that it plans to pass a bill aimed at criminalising sexual relationships with married men in the state.

The clarification followed the circulation of a social media post by one Obiavel Albert Abigo, which alleged that a proposed bill sponsored by the Deputy Governor, Senator Akon Eyakenyi, seeks to impose a 10-year jail term on women found guilty of engaging in sexual relationships with married men, while prescribing a fine of ₦2 million for the men involved.

Reacting to the report, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Jerry Otu, described the claim as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated to damage the image of the legislature.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Otu stated that the Assembly has neither received nor considered any such bill, adding that the Deputy Governor did not sponsor any legislation of that nature.

“The attention of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has been drawn to a fabricated report circulating on social media alleging that the House is set to pass a bill criminalising sexual relationships with married men,” the statement said.

“The Assembly wishes to categorically state that this report is entirely false and has no basis in fact. No such bill is before the House, and the Deputy Governor is not the sponsor of any such legislation.”

The Assembly condemned what it described as a malicious attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Deputy Governor and the legislature, urging members of the public to disregard the report and related commentaries.

It reaffirmed its commitment to its constitutional responsibilities and assured residents that it remains focused on credible law-making, free from distractions and misinformation.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced its electronic membership registration exercise in Enugu East Senatorial Zone, with the official flag-off held at Akpugo Ward 2, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The choice of venue was significant, as the exercise was launched in the hometown of the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon. Ogbodo, underscoring the party’s renewed focus on grassroots expansion and data-driven political mobilisation ahead of future electoral contests.

Speaking at the event, the Zonal Coordinator of the APC E-Registration for Enugu East Senatorial Zone and Enugu State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RHWDP), Uche Kelvin Edeh, described the initiative as a major step toward building a strong, credible, and digitally verifiable party structure.

According to Edeh, the e-registration exercise goes beyond increasing membership figures, stressing that it is designed to create a transparent and people-oriented database that would enhance the party’s organisational strength from the ward level upward.

“This exercise is about laying a solid foundation for the party. A reliable digital register is essential for effective mobilisation and electoral success,” he said.

Edeh noted that the success of the registration process would significantly enhance the APC’s capacity to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and improve the party’s performance in forthcoming general elections.

He further emphasised that consistent grassroots engagement remains critical to expanding the APC’s presence across Enugu State and deepening democratic participation at the local level.

As part of his activities in Nkanu West, Edeh paid a courtesy visit to the council secretariat, where he held a strategic meeting with the council chairman, deputy chairman, leader of the legislative arm, secretary to the local government, supervisors coordinating the e-registration exercise, and ward agents.

He highlighted the importance of collaboration between party structures and local government officials, noting that such synergy was necessary for the smooth, transparent, and efficient conduct of the exercise.

“The local government is the engine room of political mobilisation. When ward agents and council officials work together, the process becomes more effective and credible,” he stated.

To further support the exercise, Edeh donated a laptop computer to the local government, explaining that the gesture was aimed at addressing technical challenges and ensuring seamless, real-time data capture throughout the registration process.

He added that a successful e-registration drive would strengthen the party’s grassroots base and enhance its ability to support progressive leadership at both the state and national levels.

“When party structures are solid at the ward level, governance is strengthened. This exercise will help build the momentum needed to support progressive leadership, including the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,” Edeh said.

Opinion of Wordshot Amaechi Ugwele,

The loudest critics of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah in Enugu are not neutral observers seeking truth or balance. They are entrenched opposition elements whose political survival depends on denial.

No matter what Mbah does, they cannot acknowledge it, because to do so would be to concede ground and weaken their strategic interests. And so, they have adopted the oldest trick in the book, feigning sleep in the midst of daylight.

Everyone knows that the hardest person to wake is not the one who is asleep, but the one pretending to be. These critics were never asleep in the first place; they simply shut their eyes tightly, hoping reality would pass them by.

But reality has refused to tiptoe around them. They are frightened by the scale and speed of the transformation taking place across Enugu State. Governor Mbah is steadily stripping them of campaign ammunition.

His vision-driven leadership, work ethic, and disciplined delivery have left an unmistakable trail of performance across sectors, one that can only be ignored by those acting blind.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the infrastructure rebirth of Enugu city. What was promised is being delivered.

Apart from the grandest, the New Enugu City, district after district, neighbourhood after neighbourhood, street after street, Enugu bears the unmistakable imprint of the Mbah administration.

Roads as old as the Coal City itself, some untouched since their commissioning decades ago, have been reborn as smooth ribbons of asphalt, complete with modern markings and drainage. These are not cosmetic fixes but deep structural corrections.

Take Abakpa, long abandoned to decay in one of the sorriest cases of urban neglect in Nigeria. Driving through it today evokes genuine amazement.

A resident who this writer encountered, visibly excited, pointed to a newly asphalted road gleaming under the sun and declared that Abakpa was no longer on its knees.

He said it was back on its feet and moving fast. That spontaneous declaration captured what data and press statements sometimes cannot. If this is not hope restored, what is it? An opposition loyalist, of course, would pretend not to see it, or dismiss it as nothing worth applauding.

The same story repeats itself across Awkunanaw, Emene, Idaw River, Thinkers Corner, Agbani Road, Uwani, Independence Layout, New Artisan, New Haven, GRA, Gulf Estate, Trans Ekulu, Cornerstone/Timber/Ugbene axis, and many other parts of the Coal City. And more are coming.

What prompted this reflection was witnessing a Ministry of Works scoping team today at Thinkers Corner, deploying modern equipment, including drones, to assess road conditions. To a sincere observer, this inspires confidence. To a sleep-feigning critic, it demands another turn to the pillow.

The critics have also tried to downplay the significant progress made in water provision.

This is both dishonest and intellectually lazy. Enugu is one of Nigeria’s most geologically disadvantaged cities when it comes to potable water, largely due to coal deposits that contaminate underground sources. Despite this, the Mbah administration quickly doubled water production capacity upon assumption of office.

The real challenge soon revealed itself: colonial-era rusted pipes, broken asbestos lines, massive leakages, and years of unchecked encroachment on supply routes.

Fixing such deep-rooted problems requires methodical, round-the-clock work, not magic. But this nuance does not interest critics who thrive on noise rather than facts.

Beyond infrastructure and water, the Mbah administration continues to push Enugu forward in education, healthcare, transport, tourism, and e-governance. Going into details would be overstretching.

They are measurable reforms and not campaign slogans. Yet the professional sleepers refuse to open their eyes, because waking up would mean admitting progress, and admitting progress would collapse their entire narrative. Still, one truth remains immutable. Closing one’s eyes does not stop the sun from rising.

Pretending not to see what Governor Peter Mbah is doing in Enugu does not erase what is plainly visible to the citizens and other Nigerians who widely acclaim him.

The daylight of performance shines on regardless. And the majority of well-meaning, appreciative citizens of Enugu are wide awake. Today, the sun of purposeful governance rises boldly over the Coal City.

It lights up newly paved roads, revitalised communities, flowing reforms, and even the skies, where Enugu Air now roars, carrying Enugu to the world and bringing the world to Enugu. Whether the critics wake up or not, the dawn has already broken.

Malami,

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has said the corruption investigation involving former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, did not originate under his leadership.

Olukoyede made the clarification during an interview on Channels Television, where he responded to allegations that the probe was politically motivated.

According to him, the investigation into Malami commenced more than two years before he assumed office as EFCC chairman and had been handled in line with due process, without personal or political bias.

He disclosed that Malami was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja in December 2025 on charges bordering on alleged money laundering.

The former justice minister was charged alongside his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and his wife, Bashir Asabe, on a 16-count charge. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Malami had earlier alleged that his investigation and detention were politically motivated following his defection to the African Democratic Congress.

He also called on Olukoyede to recuse himself from the case, citing claims that the EFCC chairman was indicted by the Justice Ayo Salami judicial commission of inquiry.

Dismissing the allegations, Olukoyede insisted that the probe had no political undertone, stressing that the investigation file was opened under a previous EFCC administration.

He said his responsibility was to ensure that the investigation was conducted thoroughly and professionally, adding that the anti-corruption fight must be devoid of partisanship if the country is to make progress.

“There is nothing personal in this matter,” Olukoyede said, noting that Malami had been under investigation for about two and a half years.

He explained that since assuming office, he had carefully reviewed and pursued the case to establish the alleged offences, emphasising that the process was guided strictly by law.

Responding to claims that he was indicted by the Justice Ayo Salami panel, Olukoyede challenged those making the allegation to make the report public for Nigerians to judge, reiterating that there was no persecution or personal vendetta involved in the case.