The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has advised northern politicians seeking the presidency in 2027 to wait until 2031, after the completion of President Bola Tinubu’s second term.

Akume made this statement during an appearance on the Politics on Sunday program on Television Continental, hosted by Femi Akande.

He also urged Nigerians to allow ongoing legislative processes to take their course, emphasizing that the reform bills currently being debated are designed for the benefit of the country.

Defending the tax reform bills, Akume assured the public that the measures were carefully crafted to improve the nation’s economic situation.

He stated that President Tinubu’s economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market, were steps towards rebuilding a country that had been negatively impacted by past administrations.

“Reforms are challenging but necessary. President Tinubu’s efforts are aimed at putting Nigeria back on the path of prosperity,” Akume said, adding that the results of these reforms would soon become evident to Nigerians.

Regarding the presidential ambitions of northern politicians, Akume argued that it would be unfair to disrupt the political balance by seeking the presidency in 2027.

He emphasized that Tinubu, as a Southerner, deserves the opportunity for a second term.

Therefore, Akume suggested that those from the north, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, should focus on the 2031 election cycle instead.

He concluded by stating that if it is God’s will for Atiku or any northern aspirant to become president, they could do so even at an advanced age, but that the 2027 presidential race should not be their focus.

Etanabene Benedict, a member of the House of Representatives from the Labour Party (LP), has revealed that several of his colleagues are considering defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Benedict, who represents the Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie federal constituency in Delta State, made this statement during an appearance on the Politics Today program on Channels Television on Friday.

His comments follow the defection of four LP lawmakers to the APC on Thursday. The defectors cited ongoing crises within the Labour Party as their primary reason for the move.

In response, LP officials condemned the defections and threatened legal action, including a request to Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas to declare their seats vacant.

Benedict explained that the defections were part of a broader strategy as lawmakers aimed to strengthen their political position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, many LP members are concerned about their chances of reelection under the party’s current trajectory.

He emphasized that the defections were motivated by the belief that they would not be well-positioned to secure re-election within the LP framework.

Benedict further dismissed claims of an internal crisis within the party, calling them mere excuses used by the defectors to justify their actions.

He noted that while some lawmakers have already made the decision, many others in the LP are also contemplating similar moves.

“If it happens tomorrow, I won’t be surprised,” Benedict said, referring to the potential for more defections in the near future.

Ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, who were involved in the November 16 governorship election, have expressed frustration over the non-payment of their allowances, threatening to stage a protest if the issue is not resolved soon.

The affected staff, numbering over 17,000, had undergone technical training before the election and were deployed to various roles throughout the election process.

Despite the passage of more than two weeks since the election, many of these staff members have yet to receive their promised allowances.

Speaking from Akure, the state capital, several staff members voiced their grievances, revealing that INEC had initially assured them of payment on the election day itself.

Some of the staff, preferring to remain anonymous, claimed they were told they would receive less than N20,000 each, but payments have still not been made.

One Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) expressed frustration, saying, “We never expected to be left unpaid for this long. INEC is not responding to us, and we are left in the dark. It’s very disappointing, especially since we were promised payment on the day of the election.”

Another staff member, accusing INEC of “using and dumping” them, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure the payment is made.

The worker also confirmed that there is growing anger among the ad hoc staff, with plans for a peaceful protest at the INEC office if the allowances are not paid by Tuesday.

“I’m ready to join the protest if we don’t get paid soon. It’s been over two weeks, and we feel like we’ve been forgotten. There’s no reason for INEC not to pay us,” the staff member said.

However, Dr. Temitope Akanmu, the INEC spokesperson in Ondo State, denied the claims, stating that payments had already begun.

He explained that some delays were due to issues with the financial institutions involved. Akanmu assured the staff that any remaining payment issues would be addressed promptly.

“We’ve already paid most of the staff, but there are a few who are still facing banking issues. We’re working closely with them to resolve these problems, and the payments will be completed shortly,” he said.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, is aware of the issue and is closely monitoring the situation to ensure a swift resolution.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned the public to ignore a fake list of ambassadorial nominees circulating on social media.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry clarified that no such appointments have been made.

It emphasized that the power to appoint ambassadors lies solely with the President of Nigeria.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises the public to disregard the fake list of ambassadorial nominees currently circulating on social media,” the statement said.

“It is important to note that the appointment of ambassadors is the exclusive responsibility of the President, and no appointments have been made at this time. The circulated list should therefore be ignored.”

Nigeria maintains a network of 109 diplomatic missions, including 76 embassies, 22 high commissions, and 11 consulates worldwide.

On September 2, 2023, President Bola Tinubu ordered the recall of all Nigerian ambassadors—both career and non-career—operating in the country’s global missions, embassies, and consulates.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the recall, which was communicated through a statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.

The envoys were instructed to return to Nigeria by October 31, 2023.

These ambassadors included 41 non-career and 42 career ambassadors initially appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2020.

However, despite the recall, over a year later, the appointments of new ambassadors have yet to be made and the diplomats have not been redeployed to their respective missions.

Dr. George Moghalu, a former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, has pledged to address insecurity and rebuild public trust if elected governor of Anambra State in 2025.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja, Moghalu, who is also a former director-general and National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress, expressed his concerns over the rising insecurity, including cult-related violence and kidnappings, in the state.

He attributed the situation to the failure of the current administration and a loss of confidence among the people.

Moghalu emphasized that the primary duty of any government is to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens, and when it fails in this regard, it signals a breakdown of trust between the government and the people.

“I am not seeking this office for personal gain but to serve the people and to allow God to use me to bring about meaningful change,” he said. “My first priority will be to restore the people’s confidence in their government. Right now, there is a serious lack of trust. The average person no longer believes in the political class, or that the government can provide solutions to their problems.”

He further stated that it was crucial to change the current narrative, and he was ready, prepared, and experienced to lead the state and bring about positive change.

Moghalu expressed his deep concern over the state of insecurity in Anambra, calling it a grave issue that needed immediate attention.

He highlighted the negative impact of insecurity on the state’s economy, stressing that without peace, attracting investment or creating jobs would be impossible.

“The government must address the issue of insecurity urgently. If the government fails in this duty, it has failed in its primary responsibility,” he said.

“Insecurity is hampering the state’s economy. No one would want to invest in an environment where their safety is at risk.”

Moghalu vowed that, if elected, he would take swift action to restore security and build a more stable and prosperous Anambra.