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INEC Announces New Dates For 2027 General Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a new schedule for the 2027 general elections, moving the presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027.

According to the commission, elections for governorship positions and State Houses of Assembly will now take place on February 6, 2027.

Previously, INEC had slated the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly contests were to be conducted on March 6, 2027.

However, the commission reviewed the dates following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the signing into law of the new Electoral Act, 2026.

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Reactions Trail Nigerian Monarch’s Call For Nnamdi Kanu’s Freedom

Last week, at a health summit for traditional and religious leaders held inside the Presidential Villa, a traditional ruler from Enugu State, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, confronted Bola Ahmed Tinubu, demanding that he either release the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally or deport him to Kenya.

Igwe Agubuzu made the demand when he was given the opportunity to address the gathering.

The demand was widely viewed as courageous, especially when many political leaders, who were supposed to have led such campaigns, have all remained silent out of fear.

While Agubuzu was speaking about Kanu’s ordeal and the similarity of his case with that of the Yoruba self determination agitator, Sunday Igboho, President Tinubu, who never envisaged such demand coming at that point was seen laughing hysterically.

However, Igwe Agubuzu’s demand has continued to elicit commendation and applause from Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora.

Three Igbo advocacy groups based in the United States, including the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self-Determination (ASD) and Rising Sun Foundation (RSF), in a statement, have thrown their weight behind the call and praised the Enugu monarch for telling President Tinubu what many have failed to tell him.

A statement jointly signed by Dr. Sylvester Onyia, AVID, Chief Evans Nwankwo, ASD and Dr. Maxwell Dede, said: “We unequivocally commend His Royal Majesty, Eze Agubuzu of Enugu for his unflinching courage in telling President Bola Tinubu what other Igbo traditional rulers have been too weak, too compromised or too cowardly to say: Release Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately or return him to Kenya.

“Let it be known that Eze Agubuzu and Eze Chukwuemeka Eri are currently the only monarchs who have publicly understood the depth of the pain, injustice and anguish inflicted upon our people by Kanu’s illegal detention.

“While Fulani herder murderers are pampered, Yoruba agitators walk free and the Nigerian state continues to show contempt for Igbo humanity, the majority of Igbo kings and chiefs, including the Obi of Onitsha and Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, remain silent. Their silence is complicity; their inaction is betrayal.

“We ask plainly: What are the titles and crowns of these so-called leaders worth if they cannot stand for the lives, liberty and dignity of their own people? AlaIgbo cannot survive leaders who place personal comfort above collective justice.”

The groups called on all the Igbo traditional rulers to abandon cowardice and complicity, and speak with one voice, stressing that the time for half-measures, whispers and veiled statements was over.

“Step up boldly for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu or step aside and make room for leaders who will. History will not forgive those who chose silence while our people suffered injustice,”the statement added.

The groups commended Agubuzu’s courage, saying he demonstrated that moral authority, not fear of Abuja, is what preserves a people’s dignity.

Similarly, a lecturer at the Michael OKpara University, Umudike, Imo State, Prof. Leo Obinna, has described Igwe Agubuzor as a bold and courageous monarch, whose thought aligns with the majority of the Igbo.

“We want President Bola Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally. Igwe Agubuzor is a bold and courageous monarch. All he told the president is our thought.

“Not many leaders will speak the way he did. I have my kudos for him, he has my respect.

“Sunday Igboho committed the same acclaimed offence as Kanu. Igboho has been pardoned and we hear that the Ooni of Ife is trying to confer on him one of the highest honour in Yoruba land but our own Kanu is languishing in prison,” he said. He said if it were to be in other climes where justice and fairness rule supreme, Kanu would have been released.

Welcoming the call by Igwe Agubuzor for Kanu’s, a lawyer, Godwin Chinonye, emphasised that the IPOB leader did not do anything.

“The traditional ruler was very correct in what he said. In other regions, people like Kanu were released. Indeed, I am commending the traditional for what he said,” he noted.

An Umuahia-based lawyer, Okezie Ohajuruka, expressed his love with Agubuzu’s statement, describing the monarch as “the type of leader the Igbo need at this point in time; people who will speak truth to power.”

Former President General of Kanu’s community, Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Ikechukwu Ndubueze, also commended Igwe Agubuzu for telling the President the truth to his face.

He said the IPOB leader should have long been released if he were from another tribe and called on other Igbo leaders to speak out to get their son released.

“I don’t think if Kanu were to be a Yoruba or Fulani man, he would still be in prison. But because he is an Igbo man, they would want him to die in prison,” he said.

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Nigerian Students With Valid Visas Are Not Affected By Restrictions – US Govt

The United States Mission in Nigeria has assured Nigerian students and exchange participants with valid F1 and J1 visas that the proposed visa restrictions will not impact their status.

In a statement shared on X, the Mission clarified that individuals with valid F1 and J1 visas can continue their studies and exchange programmes in the United States without disruption.

It added that these students remain free to contribute to academic research, innovation, and learning at U.S. institutions.

The clarification follows the implementation of Presidential Proclamation 10998, which restricts and limits the entry of certain foreign nationals into the United States as part of broader security measures.

Under the proclamation, the U.S. government partially suspended the issuance of some visas to Nigerian nationals. The suspension covers nonimmigrant B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F, M and J student and exchange visitor visas, as well as immigrant visas, with limited exceptions.

However, U.S. authorities emphasized that the measure applies only to foreign nationals who were outside the United States on the effective date and did not already possess a valid U.S. visa. Visas issued before the policy took effect will not be revoked, and holders of valid visas remain exempt from the new restrictions.

Nigeria is among 19 countries affected by the partial suspension, which forms part of wider immigration adjustments introduced in recent months. Earlier measures had reduced the validity of most non-immigrant visas issued to Nigerians to single-entry permits lasting three months.

The latest clarification is expected to ease concerns among Nigerian students and exchange participants, as those with valid F1 and J1 visas can proceed with their academic and exchange programmes without interruption.

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President Tinubu Hosts Governors For Ramadan Iftar In Aso Rock (Photos)

President Bola Tinubu hosted state governors to a Ramadan Iftar dinner at the State House in Abuja on Monday evening.

The event, held at the Presidential Villa, is now in its third consecutive year. Governors, deputy governors and senior government officials gathered to break their fast with the President.

 

 

Among the governors present were Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba).

The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State also attended.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila and several ministers were also in attendance.

The Iftar forms part of Tinubu’s annual Ramadan tradition of hosting political leaders and senior officials during the holy month.

 

 

At previous gatherings, the President used the occasion to call for unity and improved leadership.

At the 2025 Iftar, he told governors and ministers to focus on the welfare of citizens, saying, “do more for your people.”

He also said Nigeria should be regarded as one large family living under the same roof, irrespective of religious or ethnic differences.

Tinubu is expected to host additional Iftar meetings with senior government officials, traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic community before the end of Ramadan.

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Nigerians Will Soon Be Able To Buy Dangote Refinery Shares Soon – Dangote Announces

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, announced on Saturday that Nigerians will, within the next four to five months, have the opportunity to buy shares in the Dangote Refinery.

Dangote disclosed this while speaking with journalists during a tour of the refinery by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari.

‎“Individually, Nigerians too will have an opportunity… in the next maximum four or five months, they will actually be able to buy their shares,” Dangote said.

He added that investors would have flexibility in receiving returns on their investments.

‎“People will have a choice either to get their dividends in naira or to get their dividends in dollars because we earn dollars,” he stated.

‎Highlighting what he described as the national ownership dimension of the project, Dangote revealed that NNPC currently holds a minority stake in the refinery on behalf of Nigerians.

‎“They are holding 7.25 per cent of the shares that we have here… and they are holding that on behalf of Nigerians,” he said.

‎Beyond public participation, Dangote said his company would deepen cooperation with NNPC to strengthen operations at the refinery and expand Nigeria’s energy and industrial capacity.

‎“I think the sky is the limit and we [NNPC and Dangote Refinery] will cooperate and also make sure that we work together to make sure that we make Nigerians proud,” he said.

‎He noted that discussions were ongoing on additional areas of collaboration, including possible joint ventures across the oil and gas value chain.

‎“Most likely, depending on our own discussions with them, we will partner with them, maybe in some of the upstream. They, too, will partner with us here because here is not a refinery. It’s an industrial hub,” Dangote explained.

‎The billionaire businessman also spoke about new industrial projects within the refinery complex, including the production of linear alkylbenzene, a key raw material used in detergents.

‎According to him, the facility is being positioned as a major supplier across the continent.

‎“That raw material for detergent will be sufficient for the entire African continent… and we will deliver all this in the next 30 months,”he added.

Dangote emphasised that both organisations share a common objective of advancing Nigeria’s energy security and boosting industrial development.

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FCT Polls: INEC Declares Winner Of AMAC Chairmanship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced Christopher Maikalangu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The Collation Officer for AMAC, Prof. Andrew Abue, announced the result at the collation centre, stating that Maikalangu, the incumbent chairman, scored the highest number of votes cast in the election.

According to Abue, Maikalangu polled 40,295 votes out of a total of 62,861 valid votes cast to emerge winner.

“That Maikalangu of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,”he said.

ADC, PDP Trail Behind

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came second with 12,109 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 3,398 votes.

Other results announced by the collation officer include:

Accord (A) – 403 votes

Action Alliance (AA) – 108 votes

Action Democratic Party (ADP) – 588 votes

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1,111 votes

Allied Peoples Movement (APM) – 122 votes

Action Peoples Party (APP) – 32 votes

Boot Party (BP) – 43 votes

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) – 1,694 votes

National Rescue Movement (NRM) – 73 votes

Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) – 90 votes

Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 2,185 votes

Young Progressives Party (YPP) – 421 votes

Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) – 189 votes

Breakdown of Votes

Abue disclosed that 2,336 votes were rejected, while total votes cast stood at 65,197.

He added that AMAC has 837,338 registered voters, while 65,676 voters were accredited for the election.

Party Agents Hail Process

Reacting to the outcome, the APC Collation Agent, Gambo Babale, described the election and collation process as credible and transparent.

“INEC have done so well. We’ve seen the processes across all the polling units, the ward collation centres and here at AMAC area council collation centre. Everything was done perfectly well,” he said.

“They’ve tried. They’ve done everything humanly possible. I believe this high level of transparency occurred in all the collation exercises that took place in AMAC.”

Babale noted that the PDP won about two ward councillorship seats in Karu and Karishi, which he said reflected the credibility of the exercise.

“That is to tell you the level of transparency that happens in this election,” he added.

He congratulated Maikalangu and expressed confidence that the victory would translate into improved dividends of democracy for residents of AMAC.

The YPP Ward Collation Agent, Abdullahi Ibrahim, also commended the transparency of the process and congratulated the winner.

The result sheets were subsequently signed by party agents of the ADC, APC, APGA, YPP and NNPP present at the collation centre.

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FCT Polls Holiday Stalls Malami, Son’s Re-Arraignment For Terrorism, Illegal Arms Possession

The work-free day declared by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, ahead of Saturday’s area council elections has disrupted the Department of State Services’ (DSS) plan to re-arraign former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his son, Abdulaziz, on a five-count charge related to terrorism and illegal firearms possession.

The arraignment, slated for the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, February 20, was abruptly put off when it became clear that workers including those of the court would not be at work.

Operatives of the DSS had taken over security at the court as early as 7: 00 am ahead of the arraignment.

However, by 9:00 am when Malami and his son were to be brought before Justice Peter Lifu, information filtered round that the workers would not be on duty.

The development prompted the DSS to shelve bringing the two defendants to the court.

It will be recalled that Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and his son were earlier arraigned before a vacation judge on the same charge.

The vacation judge eventually returned the case file to the Chief Judge, Hon Justice John Tsoho for re-assignment to a regular judge.

Although the matter was re-assigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu for fresh arraignment, the judge declined to proceed with the matter for personal reasons.

Meanwhile, sources confirmed that the former AGF and his son would now be arraigned on Monday, February 23, 2026.

In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami is accused of refusing to prosecute suspected terrorism financiers whose case files were handed to him while he served as the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Malami and Abdulaziz are equally accused of warehousing firearms in their residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birain Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State without lawful authority.

Malami and Abdulaziz had during their earlier arraignment pleaded not guilty when the counts in the charge sheet were read to them.

Counts in the charge read:

Count 1

That you, Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, Adult, male, sometime in November, 2022 at Federal Ministry of Justice, Maitama, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly abet terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose casefiles were brought to your office as the Attorney-General of the Federation, for prosecution, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 (2) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count 2

Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami of Gesse Phase II, Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your res:dence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in a conduct in preparation to commit act of terrorism by having in your possession and without licence, a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5°20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 Cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 .

Count 3

That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession a Sturm Magnum 17-0101 firearm, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

Count 4

That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

Count 5

That you, Abubakar Malami and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, of Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, adults, males, sometime in December, 2025, in your residence at Gesse Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, without licence, did have in your possession twenty-seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 cartridges, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(1) of Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) of the same Act.

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Gunmen Storm Palace, K!ll Ondo Monarch In Failed Abduction Attempt

Suspected armed bandits have k!lled Oba Kehinde Falodun, the Alagamo of Agamo community, in a violent attack on his palace in Akure North Local Government Area, Ondo State.

The attackers, reportedly about 10 in number, were said to have stormed the monarch’s residence on Wednesday evening in what residents described as an attempted abduction of the royal father and members of his household.

According to the Olori, who narrowly escaped, the gunmen initially attempted to whisk the monarch away but encountered resistance before the situation escalated.

“The bandits just came and started shooting. They were about 10. Three stayed at the entrance while others came inside. I ran into the bush. They shot at me, but it did not affect me,” she said.

She added that when the kidnappers failed to subdue the monarch, they resorted to violence.

“They kept dragging my husband, and I kept shouting for help. Later, they hit something on his head and stomach. He has been k!lled,”she said.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force in Ondo State, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command received distress information around 7:50 p.m. from a community leader.

He said about six armed men invaded the palace, forcefully took the monarch from his compound, and fled.

“The victim was later found a few metres away with gunshot wounds. He was confirmed de@d at the scene,” Jimoh stated.

He disclosed that the Divisional Police Officer, alongside tactical teams, immediately mobilised officers and local security groups, including Amotekun Corps, hunters, and Atuluse vigilantes, to comb nearby bushes in search of the attackers.

According to him, surveillance has been intensified across the area while efforts continue to track and apprehend the suspects.

“The Command assures residents that no stone will be left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice,” he added.

Meanwhile, elders and traditional chiefs in Agamo have condemned the k!lling, describing the late monarch as a peace-loving leader who played a major role in resolving disputes and promoting development in the community.

A community leader, who asked not to be named, said the attack has created fear and a leadership vacuum.

“This is a painful loss to us. Kabiyesi was very close to the people. We appeal to government and security agencies to act fast and ensure those behind this are arrested,” he said.

The incident adds to growing security concerns in the state, where kidnappings, attacks on farmers, and assaults on rural communities have increased in recent months.

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There Will Be No Extension For 2026 UTME Registration – JAMB Declares

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has confirmed that there will be no extension to the registration deadline for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Candidates have been urged to complete their registration by February 26 to avoid missing the examination.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, the examination body announced that the sale of e-PINs, a mandatory requirement for registration, will close at midnight on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

According to the board, registration at accredited Computer-Based Test centres for candidates who have already purchased their e-PINs will end two days later, on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

As of February 17, JAMB disclosed that more than 1.5 million candidates had successfully registered nationwide.

Despite the figure, the board expressed concern that many eligible applicants had yet to take advantage of the exercise, noting that registration centres across the country were operating at barely 30 per cent of their daily capacity.

JAMB stated that it has the capacity to register about 100,000 candidates daily, far above the current turnout at centres.

“The Board wishes to clearly state that there will be no extension of the registration deadline,” the statement emphasised.

The examination body explained that its timetable forms part of a nationally coordinated calendar agreed upon by all examination agencies in the country.

It added that the UTME registration window was carefully structured to ensure a seamless transition to other public examinations scheduled to follow.

“Consequently, there is no available window for any extension, even if the Board were inclined to consider one,” it said.

JAMB cautioned that candidates who delay registration until the final days may encounter avoidable challenges, stressing that appeals would not be entertained once the deadline expires.

The board described the early warning as a proactive step to ensure that no serious candidate is shut out of the process due to procrastination.

With only days left before the vending deadline, prospective candidates were urged to obtain their e-PINs and proceed to accredited centres to complete their registration.

“All prospective candidates are urged to act now,” the statement concluded.

The 2026 UTME is expected to attract millions of applicants seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, making strict adherence to the registration timeline crucial for aspirants nationwide.

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2026 Ramadan Fast Begins On Wednesday(Today) As Moon Is Sighted In Nigeria

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has announced the sighting of the moon, marking the beginning of the 2026 Ramadan fast in Nigeria on Wednesday, 18 February.

The confirmation was issued on Tuesday by the Shehu of Borno, Shehu Abubakar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi, who represented the Sultan.

He disclosed that verified reports of moon sightings were received from various parts of the country and were carefully authenticated and accepted by the Sultanate Council, thereby confirming the commencement of the holy month.

“After due verification and authentication of the reports received from across the country, the Sultanate Council has accepted the sighting of the new moon. Consequently, Wednesday, 18th February 2026, marks the first day of Ramadan 1447AH,” the statement said.

The statement from the sultanate explained that the Shehu of Borno, in line with established tradition, acted on behalf of the Sultanate Council, in announcing the date for the commencement of the Ramadan fast due to the temporary absence of the Sultan.

The Sultan urged Muslims nationwide to dedicate the holy month to fervent prayers, spiritual reflection, and acts of charity, while seeking divine guidance and peace for Nigeria.

“Ramadan is a period of sacrifice, self-discipline and compassion. I call on all Muslims to use this sacred month to pray for the unity, stability and progress of our dear country, and for wisdom and guidance for our leaders at all levels,” he said.

Ramadan is a month-long fast observed daily from dawn to sunset by millions of Muslims across Nigeria and the world, during which there are increased religious activities including prayers, charity works and deep reflection.

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