In normal times, the imminent return of a suspended governor after six months in political exile has raised tension among political stakeholders in the state.

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara is due back in office on September 18 at the end of emergency rule, the mood, according to feelers from the state, is anything but… Click link to continue reading.

Former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, conducted separate closed-door meetings on Sunday with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

While the specifics of the discussions remain undisclosed, these meetings are largely perceived as a component of Obi’s ongoing consultations in anticipation of the impending 2027 general elections.

Obi announced the meetings through a post on Facebook, stating that he was accompanied by prominent members of the Labour Party, including Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson for the party’s presidential campaign council; Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the candidate for the Lagos governorship in 2023; and Segun Adebanjo.

He characterized these engagements as valuable opportunities to discuss the current state of the nation, underscoring the necessity for unity, fairness, and justice among the Nigerian populace.

It is noteworthy that Obasanjo expressed his support for Obi during the 2023 elections.

As murmurs of a resurgence by former President Goodluck Jonathan grow louder, various governors and key political figures have begun laying the groundwork to rally support for him in what promises to be a fiercely contested election.

Certain states have emerged as critical battlegrounds, where Jonathan could significantly increase his chances of victory. Click link to continue reading.

His established popularity, combined with endorsements from influential political stakeholders, positions him advantageously to capture the hearts of voters.

Nigeria’s southern states are grouped into the South East, South South, and South West geopolitical zones. The South West includes Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, and Oyo states. The South East comprises Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. The South South zone consists of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers states.

Analysts predict that Jonathan could triumph in at least 10 out of the 17 Southern states, where he enjoys a robust following. The following states have been identified as potential strongholds for his campaign:

– Abia
– Anambra
– Enugu
– Delta
– Oyo
– Ebonyi
– Edo
– Cross River
– Bayelsa
– Akwa Ibom

With such a compelling narrative unfolding, the political landscape leading up to 2027 is bound to be riveting.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed that a growing number of aspirants are quietly positioning themselves for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket, expanding the list beyond well-known figures like former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha, told journalists in Abuja on Sunday that the party is currently deep in internal negotiations and consultations aimed at identifying its most viable flagbearer for the upcoming election. …click link for full details 

A report by Sahara Reporters widely shared by social media users claimed that FCT minister Nyesom Wike has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure

A post circulating on social media has made fresh speculations regarding the health status of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

The post, which has been viewed by more than 12,000 people, claimed: “Breaking News. Wike Suffers Heart Failure in UK. Presently Battling With His Life.” 

Wike, serving as the minister of the FCT since 2023, is a key ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Legit reports that while Nigerian hospitals battle with inadequate equipment and funding, most of the country’s politicians routinely travel for medical treatment in the United Kingdom (UK).

However, checks by Legit.ng indicate that no other reputable platforms have the report while Wike’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, is also yet to react to the claim

The same claim about Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), appear here.

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Wike, governor of Rivers state from 2015 to 2023, is widely considered a strong ally of President Bola Tinubu.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member supported Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2023 poll. Tinubu eventually won the 2023 presidential election.

Wike was the leader of the G5, a group of then-PDP governors who were aggrieved with the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP national leadership at the time.

After his inauguration on May 29, 2023, Tinubu appointed Wike as the minister of the FCT, Abuja, apparently as a reward for his support to the president during the election.

Lately, users put up posts on social media claiming that Wike suffered a heart failure and is in grave danger of dying. But how true is this? We probed..

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Wike ‘away from duty’

We discovered that the story about Wike’s alleged severe illness was published by Nigerian blog, Sahara Reporters. The media outlet said sources privy to the minister’s health status informed it that Wike has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is currently under medical management in the UK. Apart from that, no such articles from any credible news outlet.

Also, we found that it has been a while since Wike appeared at public events. Wike was last seen at the flag off of the emergency rehabilitation and dualisation of the Karu Interchange, Customs Clinic Junction road, Abuja, on Wednesday, September 3.

The video and photographs can be seen below:

He has been represented at two public events since that time, fuelling rumours that he might be out of the country for medical reasons. On Thursday, September 4, chief of staff Chidi Amadi stood in for Wike at the flag off the distribution of fertilisers at 50 percent subsidised rates to farmers across the six area councils of the FCT.

Similarly, on Thursday, September 11, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure, the minister of state for the FCT, represented Wike at the Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (APSON’s) 24th annual general meeting (AGM) and scientific conference in Abuja. Vanguard noted Mariya filling in for Wike at the event.

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Wike’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, who is vocal on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), and is often swift to quash certain reports related to his principal, has yet to issue a statement to debunk or confirm the development.

Some fuel importers and depot owners have raised alarm over what they describe as a double standard by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing the company of selling petrol to international traders at ₦65 cheaper per litre than the price offered to local marketers.

The Depot and Petroleum Product Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) and the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) claimed the practice was undermining competition and putting local businesses at risk.

The Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, Olufemi Adewole, revealed that many of their members had bought petrol from Lomé, Togo, where international traders supplied at prices lower than those quoted by Dangote to Nigerian marketers.

“Dangote is selling to international traders at ₦65 cheaper than what he is selling to us. In some instances, we were able to buy from those people and still bring it to Nigeria. They will take the product to Lomé, claiming they are buying large quantities,” Adewole said in an interview with The PUNCH.

He added that repeated requests for supply allocations had either been ignored or tied to conditions that make business unprofitable, forcing importers to look elsewhere.

Marketers Demand Discounts
Adewole further argued that Dangote’s pricing model placed domestic players at a disadvantage.

“Dangote has to give us a discount for freight cost and other expenses between his jetty and our depots. Without this, we can’t sell competitively. People will continue to import if it’s cheaper abroad,” he insisted.

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On his part, the President of PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, backed DAPPMAN’s position, confirming that the refinery’s products were indeed cheaper in Togo than in Nigeria.

“Exactly, DAPPMAN said the correct thing. It is true. We don’t want to be saying everything. But the way things are going, one day we will say everything,” Gillis-Harry said.

Dangote Refinery Reacts, Denies Claims
However, in a swift response, the Dangote Refinery dismissed the allegations, suggesting that DAPPMAN was behind the recent labour tension with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which accused the company of anti-union practices.

“We now know who is behind NUPENG. Our free delivery starts Monday,” A spokesman for the refinery told journalists on Sunday.

The official also questioned why marketers now sourced fuel from Lomé, asking, “When did they stop buying from Russia and Malta?”

Adewole accused the refinery of using strategically timed price cuts to destabilise the market. He recalled that Alhaji Aliko Dangote once vowed to slash prices whenever importers brought in cargoes, forcing competitors into financial distress.

He described Dangote’s repeated reductions as “calculated moves to stifle competition” rather than patriotic interventions, noting that international buyers were given better deals than Nigerians.

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Naija News reports that DAPPMAN insisted that Nigeria’s downstream sector cannot rely on a single refinery.

“While we welcome the Dangote refinery as a major infrastructure project, its contribution has peaked at only 30 to 35 per cent of national demand. The balance continues to be supplied by responsible petroleum product marketers who import and distribute under strict regulation,” Adewole stressed.

He further criticised the refinery’s “free delivery” scheme, claiming marketers were forced to lift 25% of allocations using only Dangote-owned trucks at commercial rates, which added hidden costs.

Refinery to Roll Out CNG Trucks, Slash Prices
Meanwhile, Dangote Refinery confirmed that it would begin deploying compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trucks on Monday as part of its logistics-free distribution initiative.

The company said the rollout would reduce the gantry price to ₦820 per litre, with the expectation of lower pump prices across key states.

Naija News reports that the pricing row comes amid a brewing face-off between Dangote and NUPENG, which recently threatened to embark on strike, accusing the refinery of blocking drivers from joining unions.

DAPPMAN said while the matter did not directly involve them, they were “alarmed by the tone and escalation of the crisis,” warning that the dispute could worsen fuel supply stability in a fragile downstream market.

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