The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) for the 2027 general election, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has named Ibrahim Adamu Bala as his vice-presidential candidate, completing the party’s presidential ticket.

Information available on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal confirms Bala’s nomination.

The 51-year-old politician, who hails from Bauchi State, gives the APM a North-South ticket as the party seeks to expand its political reach ahead of the 2027 polls.

Sources close to the nomination process disclosed that Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed was instrumental in Bala’s emergence, recommending him during consultations aimed at strengthening the party’s support base, particularly across the North-East.

Although Bala’s name has been uploaded to the INEC portal, neither Governor Makinde nor the APM leadership has officially announced his selection.

Makinde declared his presidential ambition on May 14 at a joint rally of his PDP faction and the APM held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

The declaration came shortly after both groups signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the PDP South-West Zonal Secretariat, signalling the formation of a political alliance ahead of the 2027 elections.

Addressing supporters at the rally, the Oyo State governor said the alliance would field candidates for all elective offices, from the presidency to the State Houses of Assembly, while urging opposition parties to close ranks in a bid to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

On May 30, Makinde formally accepted the APM presidential ticket in Ibadan, where he unveiled his vision for the country.

He pledged to implement sweeping reforms to address insecurity, unemployment, hunger and the rising cost of living.

The governor also promised to restructure Nigeria’s security architecture by devolving greater security responsibilities to state governments, arguing that such reforms would improve the nation’s capacity to tackle emerging security threats if elected president.

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced plans to institute legal action against individuals and groups spreading what he described as false and defamatory reports over the death of a nurse allegedly linked to his residence in Ebonyi State.

Speaking during an inspection of the Ebonyi section of the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway, Umahi dismissed allegations circulating on social media that the death of Nurse Mary Habila was shrouded in secrecy or deliberately covered up.

According to the minister, the deceased’s family became concerned after she failed to respond to repeated calls.

He said they forced open her room, discovered her unconscious and immediately contacted doctors from the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), who rushed her to the hospital in an effort to save her life.

Umahi stated that despite the medical team’s efforts, the nurse could not be revived.

He further explained that the incident was promptly reported to the police, insisting that claims of a cover-up were entirely false.

“The family reported the matter to the police. So where is the secrecy?” he queried.

The former Ebonyi State governor disclosed that the deceased’s parents, who are currently in the state, would address journalists and also pursue legal action against those circulating what they consider false narratives about their daughter’s death.

He added that he had directed that an autopsy be carried out, subject to the consent of the deceased’s family, to establish the actual cause of death.

Condemning what he described as the exploitation of a tragic incident for social media attention, Umahi urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.

The minister described the late Mary Habila as a committed nurse at the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital who had attended to him professionally for about three years.

Umahi also dismissed reports linking him to an alleged kidnap suspect reportedly recruited into the Ebubeagu security outfit during his tenure as governor, maintaining that he had no relationship with the individual.

Reaffirming his opposition to kidnapping and all forms of criminality, the minister described the allegations against him as politically motivated and vowed to defend his reputation through every lawful means available.

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on alleged certificate forgery, false declaration and money laundering before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Nnaji was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik over allegations that he submitted forged academic credentials, including a University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate during his ministerial screening in 2023.

The anti-graft agency also accused the former minister of fraudulently receiving about ₦29.5 million in salaries and emoluments, in addition to money laundering-related offences.

After taking his plea, Nnaji’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ogwu Onoja, applied for his client’s bail. The prosecution did not oppose the application, leaving the decision to the discretion of the court.

Justice Abdulmalik subsequently admitted the former minister to bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum.

The court ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15, with a verifiable residence of at least four years.

The surety is also required to provide evidence of employment, including an appointment letter and salary slips covering the last three months, while the relevant authority will verify the information submitted.

The judge further directed Nnaji to surrender his international passport and all other travel documents to the court pending the determination of the case.

The matter was adjourned until September 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Nnaji’s prosecution follows his arrest by the ICPC on July 1 after the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court.

The commission had alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations issued during its investigation into the alleged forgery of his academic credentials.

The former minister resigned from office in October 2025 after the allegations became public but has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that his resignation was not an admission of guilt but a decision taken to allow due process to take its course.

Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, on Monday appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja to answer charges of alleged certificate forgery and false declaration brought against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Nnaji arrived at the court ahead of proceedings before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, where he was scheduled to be arraigned on allegations bordering on forgery and the submission of false information during his ministerial appointment process.

The ICPC accused the former minister of presenting allegedly forged academic credentials and making false declarations in documents submitted to relevant public authorities while seeking nomination and screening for ministerial office in 2023.

The charges followed the conclusion of an investigation launched after a petition questioned the authenticity of the certificates reportedly presented by Nnaji during his nomination and confirmation.

Before filing the charges, the anti-graft agency had obtained a 14-day remand order against the former minister in June, alleging that he repeatedly failed to honour several invitations for questioning despite multiple notices.

Nnaji subsequently challenged the remand order, seeking to have it set aside, but the commission proceeded with criminal prosecution after completing its investigation.

The allegations attracted national attention following an investigative report published in October 2025, which claimed that the former minister forged the academic certificates allegedly used to secure his appointment.

Despite the accusations, Nnaji has consistently denied any wrongdoing and is expected to enter his plea as the case begins before the Federal High Court.