The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, expressing its full support for his candidacy in the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Monday after a meeting held in Abuja on Sunday, the Forum, led by Chairman Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, affirmed that the region would stand by Tinubu in the upcoming election.

The endorsement comes in recognition of the various opportunities and benefits the North-Central has received under Tinubu’s administration since he took office in 2023.

The endorsement contrasts with the stance taken by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), both of which have voiced opposition to Tinubu’s potential reelection.

The ACF recently announced that it would support northern candidates in the 2027 race, while the AYCF expressed regret over supporting Tinubu in 2023, warning that the North might oppose his second term unless there are significant improvements in the country’s socio-economic situation.

Despite this, the North-Central APC Forum emphasized the positive impact of Tinubu’s leadership on the region, particularly in terms of infrastructure development, appointments, and security.

The Forum stated that the North-Central has experienced unprecedented benefits under this administration, making it the most favorable period since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports and Youth Development, has officially announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a statement released on Monday, Abdullahi expressed that he has not yet made a decision regarding his next political step.

“The decision on what to do and where to go will be made in due course, and it’s in God’s hands,” he said, leaving the future uncertain.

While he refrained from revealing his next move, there have been speculations that he might join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Supreme Court in Abuja has imposed a N5 million fine on Ambrose Albert Owuru, a former presidential candidate, for filing a frivolous and vexatious suit aimed at removing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office.

Owuru, who ran for president in 2019 under the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) against former President Muhammadu Buhari, was ordered to pay the fine to Tinubu.

The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, who dismissed Owuru’s suit.

Additionally, the Supreme Court directed its Registry to refuse any future frivolous originating summons from Owuru.

During the proceedings, Owuru, a lawyer who claimed to have been called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984, attempted to represent himself in court while wearing his wig and gown.

However, he was ordered to remove the wig and gown before being allowed to proceed with his case.

When questioned about why he had brought the suit despite having had similar suits dismissed three times, Owuru’s explanations were deemed unconvincing by the court.

Justice Aba-Aji criticized Owuru’s conduct, calling it unbecoming of a lawyer with over 40 years of experience.

This is not the first time Owuru is facing legal consequences for his actions.

In a previous case, the Court of Appeal had imposed a N40 million fine on him, to be paid to Tinubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and others, for filing a suit against them.

The fresh suit with the number SC/CV/667/2023, sought to remove Tinubu from office on two grounds: that he was allegedly unqualified to be president and that he had unlawfully usurped the presidency.

The defendants in the case included former President Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, INEC, and Tinubu.

Owuru, a British-trained lawyer, insisted that he had won the 2019 election but was denied his mandate when Buhari occupied the presidency for eight years.

He also claimed that the Supreme Court had dismissed his earlier suit against Buhari due to a mix-up in hearing dates.

Owuru accused Tinubu of being disqualified from holding the office of president due to the forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States over an alleged drug trafficking offense.

He also alleged that Tinubu was an agent of the CIA, which he claimed made him ineligible to hold the position of Nigeria’s president.

Owuru sought to have the Supreme Court invoke Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution to remove Tinubu from office on the grounds that he was under foreign influence and control.

Owuru had also requested the Supreme Court to declare him the rightful president of Nigeria and order his immediate inauguration to reclaim his alleged mandate.

However, the court dismissed the suit.

Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has issued a legal warning to the online media platform, Daily Excessive, over a fabricated report that allegedly seeks to create tension between him and President Bola Tinubu.

The former governor’s media office announced his intention to sue those responsible for the publication in a statement signed by Michael Ohiare, Director of Yahaya Bello Media Office, which was shared with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday evening.

The online platform reportedly published a story claiming that Bello, during a court appearance, stated he would reveal how President Tinubu ascended to the presidency.

However, Bello’s camp has vehemently denied these claims, describing the report as false and an attempt to tarnish the former governor’s relationship with President Tinubu.

Ohiare called the article a “mischievous” and “senseless” fabrication, accusing the authors of being “unrelenting detractors” of Bello.

“Our attention has been drawn to a malicious and completely unfounded report by a website called Daily Excessive, which wrongly attributed fake quotes to our principal, Alhaji Yahaya Bello,” Ohiare said.

He emphasized that the story was clearly designed to mislead the public and cause unnecessary friction between the former governor and the president, describing it as part of a broader effort by “irresponsible politicians” to undermine their relationship.

Ohiare further stated that the report was implausible, noting that court records are public documents and easily accessible.

He stressed that any Nigerian familiar with the court proceedings involving Bello would know that no such statement had been made, as Bello has only been involved in plea hearings, not full trial sessions.

“The court is an open space, and all proceedings are closely monitored by journalists and other stakeholders,” he added.

“This is why no informed Nigerian would give any credence to such a ridiculous report from a source like Daily Excessive.”

The media office also reaffirmed that Yahaya Bello continues to hold the President in high regard and would never make disparaging comments about him.

“Alhaji Yahaya Bello has immense respect for President Tinubu and would never utter such baseless remarks,” Ohiare clarified, emphasizing Bello’s ongoing support for both the president and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In conclusion, Ohiare stated that the former governor’s legal team has already alerted the relevant security agencies and is determined to identify and take action against those behind the publication.

“We will ensure that those responsible for this fake news face the legal consequences of their actions,” he added.

Both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties have shown support for the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) proposal to phase out Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and introduce diaspora voting.

While the APC has expressed full backing for the reforms, opposition parties are calling for genuine implementation and transparency from INEC.

Last Thursday, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu outlined how these proposed reforms, which stem from lessons learned during the 2023 general elections and subsequent off-cycle elections, are intended to enhance the country’s electoral process.

He revealed that the commission would soon present the proposals to relevant committees in both the Senate and House of Representatives.

In an interview on Sunday, APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, emphasized that the ruling party has no objection to the reforms, as it has long been a proponent of electoral reforms in the country.

Ibrahim remarked, “If INEC, after consulting and observing global best practices, believes changes are necessary to improve the credibility of the electoral process, we fully support it. The APC has initiated similar reforms in the past, including those currently being discussed.”

Addressing concerns that some Nigerians may view the proposals with skepticism, Ibrahim acknowledged the country’s complex nature but stressed that the majority’s acceptance should be the focus.

“Some people will always question changes, no matter how positive they are, but that shouldn’t stop us from moving forward,” he stated.

“What matters is that the majority feels the changes will improve the process.”

Kehinde Edun, the National Legal Adviser of the Labour Party, expressed his support for the introduction of diaspora voting, which he believes would engage Nigerians living abroad in the electoral process.

However, Edun raised concerns over the possibility of misuse.

“While diaspora voting is a positive step, we must be cautious of potential abuse,” he said.

“A lot of young Nigerians are leaving the country due to dissatisfaction with the current situation, and they should have a chance to participate in elections. But we need to ensure the system is foolproof.”

Edun also discussed the phase-out of PVCs, stressing that the success of this reform hinges on the technology INEC chooses to implement.

“Even with PVCs, we’ve seen issues with party agents stockpiling cards, so the technology must be reliable and secure. If INEC can restore public confidence, voter turnout will improve,” he added.

Timothy Osadolor, Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also supported the electoral innovations but called for proper implementation.

He emphasized that INEC must ensure that the reforms are not manipulated by corrupt officials.

“Innovation is good, but it’s the people managing the technology who matter most,” he said.

“There are concerns about manipulation, as seen in Edo, where INEC edited its IREV results to match vote allocations.”

Osadolor further urged INEC to purge itself of corrupt individuals to ensure the credibility of the process.

“INEC must ensure its staff are trained and competent to uphold the integrity of the elections,” he said.

“Otherwise, the reforms will not have the desired effect.”

Valentine Ozigbo, the former CEO of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria (Transcorp), has expressed concerns over the growing insecurity in Anambra State and criticized Governor Charles Soludo’s response to the crisis.

Speaking at a Townhall Meeting in Lagos, Ozigbo, who was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2021 Anambra State governorship election, voiced his dissatisfaction with Soludo’s silence on critical security issues, particularly the recent kidnapping of retired Archbishop, Most Rev. Prof. Godwin Okpala of the Niger Province.

Ozigbo noted that the governor’s failure to address the rising wave of kidnapping and other security challenges was alarming.

He emphasized that Soludo’s lack of concern for the plight of citizens reflected a deeper leadership deficit.

According to Ozigbo, the governor’s style of leadership lacks the emotional intelligence, compassion, and openness to listen to others, all of which are essential qualities in addressing the state’s growing insecurity.

“As a leader, one of the most important skills is emotional intelligence, and that is what I bring to the table,” Ozigbo stated.

“Leadership is not just about knowing what to do; it’s about being humble enough to listen to others, respecting your people, and showing love and compassion. These traits are severely lacking in the leadership of Anambra State today.”

He also criticized Soludo for not speaking out publicly after the kidnapping of Archbishop Okpala, which he described as indicative of the governor’s indifference to the suffering of the people.

“You hear of an archbishop being kidnapped, and there is no comment from the governor. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Ozigbo also highlighted the governor’s high-handed approach to leadership, which he termed the “Akaodo syndrome,” and lamented the lack of law and order in the state.

He questioned the general satisfaction of the people of Anambra, asserting that there was a widespread sense of unhappiness and concern among residents.

“The truth is, Anambra people are not happy. The level of insecurity is horrendous, and there is no hope. There is no sign that anything will improve under this administration,” Ozigbo said, urging a change in leadership style. “Anambra people are deeply concerned about their safety and well-being, and they are not excited about going home for Christmas. The situation is worrying.”

The former Transcorp boss also emphasized the need for leadership that is inclusive, responsive, and compassionate.

“Leadership is not just about what you can do; it’s about who you are,” Ozigbo said, stressing that the state needs a leader who is capable of understanding and addressing the people’s challenges with empathy and humility.

Ozigbo, who is now positioning himself as a gubernatorial candidate for Anambra on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in the upcoming election, reiterated his commitment to providing a different kind of leadership—one that is rooted in emotional intelligence, humility, and a genuine desire to improve the lives of the people.