The Presidency has refuted claims circulating in a viral video alleging that a chef attached to the Presidential Villa was arrested over a purported plan to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The video, which spread widely across social media platforms over the weekend, alleged that security operatives apprehended a member of the presidential kitchen staff following intelligence reports of suspicious activities related to food prepared within restricted areas of the Villa.

It further claimed that a special police squad was deployed and that security within the presidential complex was subsequently heightened.

According to the unverified report, the alleged arrest followed what it described as credible threats to the President’s life, triggering a coordinated investigation by security agencies responsible for safeguarding the nation’s leadership.

The content also insinuated that the unnamed staff member was taken into custody for interrogation while authorities examined supposed evidence tied to the alleged poisoning attempt.

However, in a swift response, the Presidency dismissed the claims as entirely false.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the video as fabricated and misleading, stressing that no such incident occurred at the Presidential Villa.

He urged Nigerians to disregard the report and cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of inciting fear or confusion.

Onanuga further advised members of the public to rely solely on official government communication channels for accurate and credible updates regarding matters concerning the President and national security.

The member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, has resigned from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Ikwechegh, popularly known as Onyeocha N’Aba, formally conveyed his decision in a letter addressed to his ward chairman, stating that his resignation takes immediate effect.

“I respectfully submit my resignation from my membership of the party APGA effective immediately,” the lawmaker wrote in the brief letter issued on his official House of Representatives letterhead.

In the letter, he appreciated the party for the platform and opportunity it provided him to serve, acknowledging the support he enjoyed during his time as a member.

Ikwechegh also wished the party well in its future engagements, expressing hope for its growth and continued relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape.

“I respectfully submit my resignation from my membership of the party APGA effective immediately,” he reiterated, adding his gratitude and best wishes for the party’s “continued progress and success in its future endeavours.”

Some leaders of the African Democratic Congress in the South-South have endorsed former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, a move seen as heightening internal competition and mounting fresh pressure on other southern aspirants such as Peter Obi.

The endorsement was disclosed on Friday by party chieftain and former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, John Odigie-Oyegun, during a consultative meeting of ADC leaders from the South-South held in Benin City, Edo State.

Odigie-Oyegun said Amaechi formally informed leaders of the zone of his intention to run for president and received unanimous backing from stakeholders at the meeting.

He commended the former minister for consulting leaders in his region before formally launching his ambition.

Amaechi had earlier, in July 2025, declared his readiness to serve a single term if he secures the ADC ticket and wins the 2027 presidential election.

He has consistently advocated for the party to zone its ticket to the South, citing the principle of power rotation.

According to him, the South should be allowed to complete an eight-year tenure before power shifts back to the North.

He warned that presenting a northern candidate at a time when many Southerners believe power should remain in the South could undermine the party’s support base in the region.

Amaechi previously contested the presidential ticket of the APC in 2022 but lost to President Bola Tinubu.

While several aspirants stepped down in support of Tinubu, Amaechi remained in the race and finished second.

The South-South endorsement is expected to trigger further alignments and strategic consultations within the ADC as it prepares for its presidential primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has directed political parties to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

However, the ADC has rejected the timetable, alleging that it confers undue advantage on the ruling party.

Party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the schedule as creating an “almost impossible hurdle” for opposition parties.

He cited Section 77(7) of the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that any political party that fails to submit its membership register within the prescribed timeframe would be ineligible to field candidates, arguing that the provision is exclusionary rather than merely administrative.

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, and 24 other lawmakers have defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party, further reshaping the political landscape in the state.

The development was announced on Friday in a statement signed by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, in Osogbo.

The mass defection follows the earlier exit of Governor Ademola Adeleke from the PDP in December 2025.

The governor subsequently emerged as the Accord Party’s governorship candidate for the August 15 election.

According to the statement, the lawmakers reached their decision during a parliamentary meeting and later proceeded to the Banquet Hall, where they met with the governor and key leaders of the Accord Party.

The formal declaration of their defection was made by the Speaker on behalf of the group.

Tiamiyu said the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty to Governor Adeleke and pledged commitment to quality representation, transparency, and responsive leadership.

He noted that they called on their supporters across the state to remain steadfast and align with them as they begin what they described as a new political phase aimed at sustaining development and governance continuity in Osun.

He further disclosed that the lawmakers had resigned from the PDP weeks before the public announcement.

After extensive consultations with constituents, political allies, and other stakeholders, they resolved that the Accord Party offers what they termed a more stable and inclusive platform to better serve the people of the state.

With 25 former PDP members now in Accord, the 26-member Assembly is left with only one opposition lawmaker, Femi Popoola of the All Progressives Congress.

Former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Enugu State under the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Engr. Greg Nnaji, has officially assumed office as the new State Project Coordinator (SPC) for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).

Nnaji succeeded the Acting SPC, Mr. Boniface Madu, a key member of the foundation team that facilitated the project’s initial rollout in the state.

Speaking after the official handover ceremony at the RAAMP State Project Implementation Unit office on Friday, Nnaji thanked the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, for the appointment and pledged to build on the ongoing efforts to ensure that rural infrastructure projects across the state are executed on schedule and in line with approved standards.

He highlighted the significance of RAAMP in driving rural economic growth, improving agricultural value chains, and unlocking economic opportunities for Enugu State communities.

Nnaji also commended the foundation team for their work in establishing the state’s successful participation in the programme.

The new SPC promised to run an open, inclusive, and accountable system aimed at delivering measurable impact and economic development.

“I am personally committed to transparency, accountability, and delivering measurable results. We will adhere to the standards of the donor agencies from start to finish. Timely execution is central to the World Bank’s expectations,” he said.

Emphasising his execution philosophy, Nnaji added: “Start and finish is the mantra of every project. If we begin, we must complete it on time and according to specification.”

He stressed that strict compliance with funding partners’ standards, including those of the World Bank, would be enforced.

Robust quality assurance and control measures will be deployed to ensure the durability and sustainability of rural road infrastructure.

With nearly four decades of professional experience, Nnaji brings extensive technical expertise, public sector leadership, and hands-on project delivery experience to the role.

A civil engineering graduate of the former Anambra State University of Technology, he is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (FNICE), as well as a COREN-registered professional.

Nnaji previously served as Commissioner for Science and Technology (2015–2017) and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure (2017–2023), overseeing major urban and rural road projects across the state.

His portfolio also includes consultancy on airport and defence infrastructure nationwide. With this wealth of experience, Nnaji is widely regarded as well-positioned to drive the World Bank-supported RAAMP initiative, accelerate rural connectivity, and foster economic inclusion across Enugu State.

President Tinubu,

Nigeria has officially declared its intention to contest for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2027–2029 term, reaffirming its commitment to global human rights advocacy.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, announced the country’s candidature in a video shared on his verified X handle, describing the council as a critical platform for dialogue, cooperation and conflict prevention in the promotion of human rights worldwide.

Tuggar stated that Nigeria stands ready to engage constructively with the council’s mechanisms, noting that they play a vital role in strengthening accountability and advancing international human rights standards.

Highlighting domestic efforts, the minister said the Federal Government has intensified measures to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children affected by insecurity.

He referenced ongoing investments in safe schools and secure learning environments to safeguard the right to education.

According to him, Nigeria’s internal reforms are also focused on integrating international human rights and humanitarian standards into security operations, with an emphasis on civilian protection.

He reiterated the country’s commitment to religious freedom, stressing that peaceful coexistence among diverse faith communities remains central to national unity.

Tuggar further linked human rights to broader development goals, pointing to economic reforms, social investment programmes and growth in the digital economy as strategies to promote stability and inclusion.

He added that Nigeria recognises the intersection between environmental protection and human rights, pledging continued action on climate adaptation anchored on sustainable development.

He assured the international community that Nigeria understands the responsibilities that come with council membership and is prepared to work with partners across Africa and beyond to promote peace, justice and sustainable development.

Nigeria previously served on the UN Human Rights Council for the 2018–2020 term. Membership elections are conducted annually, with successful countries serving three-year terms on a rotational basis.