The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has officially dismissed widespread social media rumours claiming the death of its Director and Chief Executive, Dr. Ali Nuhu.

In a statement released on Monday and signed by Brian Etuk, Director of Public Affairs at the NFC, the corporation confirmed that Dr. Nuhu is alive and actively performing his official duties.

“Dr. Ali Nuhu is hale and hearty, and he remains fully engaged in carrying out his responsibilities as the Chief Executive of the NFC,” the statement clarified.

The NFC condemned the circulation of the false news, describing it as malicious, harmful, and completely unfounded.

It warned those behind the misinformation, including any sponsors, of serious consequences for their actions, regardless of whether their intentions seemed harmless.

“The NFC wishes to draw the attention of perpetrators of these uncouth and dastardly acts, including their sponsors, to the dire and unmistakable consequences of their actions,” the agency warned.

The statement also noted that appropriate steps have been taken to investigate and curb the spread of such damaging misinformation.

Despite the distress caused by the fake reports, the NFC expressed gratitude to members of the public and industry stakeholders who reached out with concern, describing their support as a testament to Dr. Nuhu’s impact and reputation.

The rumours of Dr. Nuhu’s alleged passing began circulating online late Monday, accompanied by edited videos and photos falsely suggesting his death.

Dr. Ali Nuhu was appointed as Director-General of the Nigerian Film Corporation on February 12, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly denied allegations that he awarded contracts worth ₦5 billion to local contractors, calling the claims false and unsupported.

In a statement released on Monday, August 18, 2025, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the minister challenged those making the accusations to provide documentary evidence.

“No contract was awarded by Minister Nyesom Wike to any local contractor,” Olayinka stated.
“If anyone claims otherwise, they should produce the documents showing that he approved such contracts.”

Olayinka clarified that in December 2023, shortly after Wike assumed office, the Ministry received claims totaling around ₦10 billion from local contractors for work they said had already been done under the category of “Shopping” or Minor Procurement, projects allegedly carried out before Wike took office.

According to Olayinka, the Minister approved and ensured payment of over ₦5 billion in December 2023, and another ₦5 billion-plus in January 2024, effectively clearing the ₦10 billion backlog.

However, by March 2024, another bill surfaced, this time over ₦15 billion, also allegedly for “Minor Procurement” work done in the preceding months.

“The Minister then raised concerns,” Olayinka said.

“Who approved these fresh contracts? Because Minister Wike did not. It’s unrealistic that in just three months, contracts worth over ₦15 billion could be executed without his knowledge or authorization.”

He further noted inconsistencies in the figures being circulated.

“We’ve seen the claims drop from ₦15 billion to ₦8 billion, and now to ₦5 billion. The core question remains: who approved these contracts? That’s what they must explain first.”

Wike’s office insists that the Minister is committed to transparency and will not be coerced into validating undocumented expenditures or questionable claims.

As Nigeria begins the countdown to the 2027 general elections, youths of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State have thrown their weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid, while making a bold appeal to Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah to join the ruling party.

Operating under the banner of the Progressives Youth Stakeholders, the group held a strategic meeting in Enugu over the weekend.

There, they declared their commitment to mobilizing massive grassroots support across the state’s 260 wards and 17 local government areas, aiming to reverse the party’s poor showing in the 2023 elections.

Back in 2023, Tinubu garnered only 4,772 votes in Enugu State, a performance the youth group blamed on internal party crises and poor leadership by former APC state chairman, Barrister Ugochukwu Agballa, and the 2023 governorship candidate, Chief Uche Nnaji.

During the meeting, Mr. Peter Chime, leader of the youth coalition, emphasized that APC in Enugu must no longer be controlled by external forces. He also called for inclusivity and ownership of the party at the grassroots level.

“APC is not a personal business. It belongs to all of us. We must go back to our communities and become the face of APC,” Chime said.

The group extended a public invitation to Governor Mbah, urging him to consider defecting from his current party to the APC.

According to them, his leadership could catalyze development and attract greater federal benefits to Enugu State.

“We are begging our governor to join APC. If he does, not only will he receive an automatic ticket, he will also draw heavyweight politicians into the party,” Chime stated.

“Enugu needs to be connected to the center, and Governor Mbah is our bridge.”

The youths also pressed for a fairer reward system within the APC, calling on President Tinubu and the National Chairman, Prof. Mentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, to recognize loyal party members who have been sidelined since the 2023 victory.

“Those who toiled for the party deserve appointments and recognition,” Chime noted.

In addition, the group reached out to founding APC members who had distanced themselves due to past internal conflicts, urging them to return and rebuild the party.

“We ask our pioneers who left because of the actions of the former chairman and Hon. Uche Nnaji to come back. This is the house they built,” Chime appealed.

Also speaking at the event was Dr. Ben Nwoye, former APC State Chairman and a national leader of the Progressives Group, who highlighted the meeting as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen APC structures and prepare for 2027.

“This is about reenergizing the APC base in Enugu and nationwide,” Nwoye said.

“Governor Mbah would be warmly welcomed. If he joins us, he becomes the undisputed leader of APC in Enugu.”

He further underscored the need to empower youth leaders and strengthen political activity at polling units and ward levels.

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) senatorial candidate in Anambra State, Oforbuike Okoli-Egbo, has raised concerns over alleged vote buying during the recent by-elections in the state.

Speaking on Lunchtime Politics on Channels Television, Okoli-Egbo claimed voters were paid between ₦15,000 and ₦20,000 to influence their votes.

“This election was heavily influenced by financial inducements. It’s unprecedented in Anambra for voters to be paid such amounts to cast their ballots,” he said, pointing fingers at the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the alleged malpractice.

Despite the allegations, Okoli-Egbo emphasized YPP’s strong political presence in Anambra, recalling the party’s past successes including two senatorial victories, two federal house seats and three state assembly seats.

“Our past wins show the genuine support YPP enjoys in the region,” he noted.

He also highlighted the country’s challenging economic situation, suggesting that many voters may have been compelled to accept money due to financial pressures.

“Given Nigeria’s current economic realities, resisting ₦15,000 to ₦20,000 is difficult for many,” he said, adding that ultimately, voters bear responsibility for compromising their electoral rights.

Okoli-Egbo promised that YPP would issue a formal statement on the elections in due course but insisted the scale of vote buying could not be overlooked.

The by-elections, held across 12 states last Saturday, filled vacancies in the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

The APC won 12 out of 16 contested seats, while APGA, PDP, and NNPP also secured some seats.

In Anambra, INEC declared APGA’s Emmanuel Nwachukwu the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial District by-election, with 90,408 votes, defeating APC’s Azuka Okwuosa who scored 19,847 votes.

Nwachukwu replaces the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who passed away in July 2024.

Additionally, APGA’s Ifeoma Azikiwe won the by-election for Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly.