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Those Remaining In PDP Are Undertakers Waiting To Bury Dying Party – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing its remaining members as “undertakers preparing to bury a dying party.”

Publicity Secretary of the APC in Lagos, Mr Seye Oladejo, made the remark in a statement issued on Saturday in reaction to a fresh wave of defections from the PDP to the ruling party.

Oladejo urged the PDP to stop dismissing what he described as “a mass exodus” from its ranks, warning that the opposition party was only deceiving itself by downplaying the scale of its internal collapse.

“The PDP’s claim that defections cannot weaken it is laughable and exposes the party’s chronic state of denial, delusion, and self-deception,”
Oladejo said.

“What we are witnessing is not ordinary political migration but the inevitable outcome of years of deceit, lack of ideology, and betrayal among its own leaders. When a house is built on quicksand, it only takes a tremor to bring it down.”

The APC spokesman described the ongoing defections as proof that even loyal PDP members had lost faith in a party that had “refused to reform or present a credible alternative to Nigerians”.

“Those still clinging to the PDP are merely undertakers, staying behind to perform the final rites and dispose of what remains of a once-dominant but now lifeless political entity,”
he added.

Oladejo said the APC was not surprised by the defections, noting that the opposition party had relied for years on propaganda and empty promises.

He accused the PDP of mismanaging the country during its 16-year rule, saying it could not suddenly reinvent itself as a credible opposition “when it remains mired in confusion and leadership crises.”

“The recent defection of key PDP figures to the APC reflects growing confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,”
Oladejo stated.

“It’s time for the PDP to learn to walk alone on its long, dark road to 2027. The party’s glory days are gone, and the sooner it accepts that reality, the less humiliating its final exit will be.”

He advised the opposition to conduct an honest post-mortem of its failures and accept that its influence in Nigeria’s political landscape had drastically faded.

“The defections are not just political victories for the APC; they are clear endorsements of our commitment to progress, stability, and people-centred leadership.

Nigerians are speaking loudly, the era of deceitful opposition politics is over,” Oladejo added.

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I Had The Worst Kind Of Friends Who Pushed Me To Release Album – Nigerian Actress, Tonto Dikeh

Nollywood actress and politician, Tonto Dikeh, has revealed that the negative influence of her closest friends was the main reason her music career failed.

Tonto made this known on Friday while singing ‘God is Good’ by Don Moen on her Instagram page.

The 40-year-old film star reflected on her brief journey in the music industry, which began in 2013 with the release of songs like ‘Hi’, ‘Crazically Fit’, and ‘Jeje’, including collaborations with popular artistes such as Solid Star and Terry G.

Tonto stated that her failure in music serves as a reminder of a time when negative influences surrounded her, urging her fans to choose their friends wisely.

She lamented that her singing ability did not match the ambition her friends instilled in her, humorously claiming that with the right talent, she would have surpassed the fame of stars like Tiwa Savage, Cece Winans, or Whitney Houston.

She said, “If I could sing ehn, una for don Dey sick of me….

“Like you don’t even understand, Likkeeeeeeeeeeee who is Tiwa? Who is Whitney, who is cece winas? Taaaaahhhhhhh.

“Watching this video reminds me of the time I had the worst kind of friends who pushed me to release album.

“Look sneeze/sniper and co your bedroom is been reserved in hell. Moral of this lesson choose your friends wisely more importantly be wise.”

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Democracy Is Now Gradually Becoming Dictatorship – Shehu Sani Blows Hot

Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central lawmaker, has lamented that advanced democracy is gradually becoming dictatorship.

In a post on his verified X handle on Saturday, the human rights activist said people are being threatened and sacked from their jobs for exercising their freedom of speech on the social media.

The ex-senator, who accused the system of intimidating and silencing members of the legislature, decried that freedom was in reverse gear, adding that the world may be tired of democracy.

“Everything happening in dictatorships is now gradually happening in the most advanced democracy; punishing universities for permitting protests, disobeying and disrespecting judges as well as witch-hunting political opponents and arraigning them in court on concocted charges.

“Thinking of constitutional amendments for presidential tenure extension, deploying troops without following due process and harassment of the media,” he wrote.

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WhatsApp to Replace Numbers With Usernames

WhatsApp has announced it is planning to replace phone numbers with usernames.
According to reports, WhatsApp is already testing a groundbreaking feature that could allow users to connect without revealing their phone numbers
The Meta-owned platform is working on a username system — similar to what exists on Instagram, Telegram, and X — in what could become one of the app’s biggest privacy upgrades yet.
The feature, currently in beta testing, will let users create unique usernames to chat and join groups without exposing their numbers. This move aims to enhance privacy, particularly in large community groups and business interactions where sharing personal contacts can feel intrusive.
Leaked screenshots reveal a new “Username” option within user profiles, giving people the ability to pick custom handles and decide whether to hide their phone numbers.
However, experts warn that the update could lead to challenges like username hijacking and impersonation. To tackle this, WhatsApp reportedly plans to roll out verification and security measures alongside the new system.
Though still in development, the username feature could redefine how over two billion users communicate on WhatsApp — shifting the focus from numbers to names.
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I’m A Golden Minister – Wike Boasts

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, referred to himself as a “golden minister.”

Wike said he was a governor when Rivers clocked 50 years and now he is a minister when the FCT will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year February.

The Minister disclosed this during the flagging off ceremony of the construction of Collector Road CN2 (Emmanuel I. Ogala Street) from Arterial N16 (Yemi Osinbajo way) to N20 (Wole Soyinka way) including road ILS 5 within Katampe District.

He noted that such a feat is an indication that God loves him, adding that nobody should be envious.

Wike said: “So please do all you can when Abuja would attain the golden age of 50 years, it’s done.

“Some of us have been very lucky. We are golden governors and now golden ministers, it’s not everybody that will be that lucky.

“Some of you were governors when your state was not up to 50 years, some were council chairmen when it did get up to that age but we became a governor when our state attained that golden jubilee and now we are minister when FCT will attain that golden jubilee. So you ask yourself, are we not so loved by God?

“Well you may sit on my seat but that does not mean you are loved specially like you are loved by God.”

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Igbos In Nigeria Cannot Get Away With A Lot Of Things – Omoyele Sowore

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore has lamented the plight of the Igbos in Nigeria.
According to him, the Igbos have suffered great marginalisation in the country.
Sowore, during an appearance on Arise TV on Thursday night condemned what he described as double standards in the treatment of citizens from different ethnic backgrounds, particularly targeting the Igbos of the South-East.
He argued that most Nigerians often get away with things that Igbo people would be held accountable for.
He said, “If you are a Nigerian, you can get away with a lot of things, but if you are Igbo in Nigeria, you cannot.
 
“It was in this country that a Yoruba Nation movement was done, they even went and attacked a radio station in 2024. Did you hear of any arrest? Did you hear of any trial?”
The activist clarified that he was not calling for the persecution of any group, but insisted that justice must be applied equally.
“I am not saying that should be the case, but we must tell ourselves the truth,” he continued. “It just doesn’t look good that things are marginalised in every sector, including the justice sector.”
Sowore made the remarks while discussing the continued detention of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
He argued that Kanu’s ordeal reflects deeper issues of inequality and selective justice in Nigeria’s political system.
The former presidential candidate intensified his calls for Kanu’s release, accusing some South-East political leaders of sabotaging efforts to secure his freedom for fear of losing political influence in the region.
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Court Gives Update In Yahaya Bello’s N110 Billion Fraud Trial

The trial of former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello on money laundering has been shifted to November 12.
The adjournment was ordered by Justice Maryann Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory after taking six witnesses.
The witnesses mainly officials of banks were called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to give evidence in the trial.
At Thursday’s proceedings, the Prosecution first called its fifth witness, Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank.
The witness told the court the total credit to the account in question, which came from different senders, adding that the transfers from the account were in multiples of N10 million.
She said the total credit in November, 2021 was N450 million.
While being cross-examined by the Counsel to Yahaya Bello (1st Defendant), Joseph Daudu, SAN, the witness admitted that she was not the accounts officer for the two accounts with her bank.

She admitted also that, because she was not the accounts officer or relationship manager, she did not know how the transactions on the accounts were carried out.

Counsel to the 3rd Defendant, AM Aliyu, while cross-examining the witness, said, “Look at the portion my learned brother showed you in Exhibit M, the name Abdulsalam Hudu did not feature there?”
 
“That is correct. Abdulsalam Hudu’s name did not feature,” she responded.
The Sixth Prosecution Witness (PW6), Mshelia Arhyel B, was then called for evidence in Chief
Daudu, SAN told the court that he had not concluded the cross-examination of the same witness in another court on a similar subject matter.
The court, however, held that the matter before it was independent and that the Defence Counsel held the discretion to cross-examine or not.
During the proceedings, the prosecution sought to tender certain documents through the subpoenaed witness.
Counsel to the 1st and 2nd Defendants Joseph Daudu SAN objected to the admissibility of the documents, arguing that they did not comply with the provisions of Sections 83 and 84 of the Evidence Act.
He further indicated his intention to address the Court more extensively on the points of objection at a later stage.
Counsel to the 3rd Defendant, Aliyu, also objected, relying on the same statutory grounds.
The prosecution counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, urged the court to discountenance the objections raised by the defence team and admit the documents in evidence.

The court admitted the document, a 218-page statement of account of Alusha Services, signed by the witness, Mshelia Arhyel, and marked P1 en bloc.

The prosecution asked similar questions posed to the same witness at the June 26, 2025 examination before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court.
He reiterated that, prior to 2023, there was no strict withdrawal limit as long as the amount written on the cheque did not exceed ₦10 million.
The EFCC counsel told the witness to examine the transactions of the 22nd, 23rd, and 25th of February, as well as the 3rd of March, 2016, up to 6th May, 2022.
He confirmed multiple transactions of N10 million each but admitted they were within the approval threshold, putting the total transactions as at January 31, 2018 at N707,267,000.
“Please confirm that, notwithstanding the multiple withdrawals made on the same day, they were all within the approved withdrawal threshold,” prosecution counsel said.
 
“Yes, my Lord,” the witness responded.
On the account statement of Aleshua Solutions Services and transactions from May 6, 2022, the witness said the first entry was a transfer in favour of Aleshua Solutions Services by B.O. Rosemary Chukwuma, in the sum of $2,500.
“The second is a transfer in favour of Yau for $5,000. The third is also a cash transfer of $5,000 to Yau,” he stated.
The witness also confirmed certain transactions in December 2016 from the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, totalling N202 million.
The judge indicated that the session must end at 3pm and adjourned the case to November 12 and 13, 2025, for continuation of examination of the sixth witness.
The third prosecution witness had, at the preceding hearing, said no banking regulation was breached by the defendants.
The witness, Williams Abimbola, a Compliance Officer with UBA, had also admitted not being the relationship or account manager of the Kogi Government House account, noting that the transactions were in line with stipulated guidelines.
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FCT: Fayose Is My Younger Brother – Wike Claims

On Thursday, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, described former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose as his elder brother.

Wike disclosed this at the flagging off ceremony of the construction of Collector Road CN2 (Emmanuel I. Ogala Street) from Arterial N16 (Yemi Osinbajo way) to N20 (Wole Soyinka way) including road ILS 5 within Katampe District.

According to Wike: “Fayose is my younger brother and I’m always happy anytime he comes to witness what his elder brother is doing.”

Fayose and Wike are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and were members of the G-5 Integrity Group.

They group worked against the victory of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election.

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Tinubu Nominates New INEC Chairman

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) from the North-Central as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Amupitan’s nomination has now been confirmed by the National Council of State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented Amupitan as the nominee to fill the vacant position, following Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s exit.
Recall that Yakubu served from 2015 till October 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is the first person from Kogi, North-Central state, nominated to occupy the position and is apolitical.
Council members unanimously supported the nomination, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo describing Amupitan as a man of integrity.

In compliance with the constitution, President Tinubu will now send Amupitan’s name to the Senate for screening.

Amupitan, 58, from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA  in Kogi State, is a  Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Plateau. He is also an alumnus of the university.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
Amupitan was born on April 25, 1967.
After completing primary and secondary education, he attended Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, from 1982 to 1984, and the University of Jos from 1984 to 1987. He was called to the bar in 1988.
He earned an LLM at UNIJOS in 1993 and a PhD in 2007, amid an academic career that began in 1989, following his National Youth Service at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation in Bauchi from 1988 to 1989.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013)  and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
He is married and has four children.
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University of Ibadan Emerges Nigeria’s Best University for 2026

The University of Ibadan (UI) has been declared the best university in Nigeria.
This is according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026.
UI claimed the position ahead of 50 other Nigerian institutions.
According to the ranking, published on Thursday, October 9, UI now sits within the 801–1000 global band, a major improvement from its fourth-place position in 2025. The prestigious Ibadan-based federal university last held the top spot in 2023.
The assessed 2,191 institutions from 115 countries, using 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
UI’s resurgence dethroned Covenant University (CU), which had been ranked Nigeria’s best in 2024 and 2025. Following UI in the 2026 rankings are the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and Covenant University, ranked second, third, and fourth respectively.

The report revealed a global reshuffle in higher education performance, drawing from 174.9 million citations across 18.7 million research publications and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars worldwide.

Among Nigerian universities, UNILAG ranked highest for research quality, scoring 66.7, while BUK led in international outlook. Covenant University achieved the top industry score, reflecting strong links with the private sector.
Out of the 51 Nigerian institutions featured, only UI and UNILAG fall within the 801–1000range globally. BUK, Covenant University, and Landmark University placed between 1001–1200, while five others — Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Jos (UNIJOS), and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) — ranked between 1201–1500.
A further 14 Nigerian universities were placed above 1501, while 27 institutions were listed but not ranked.
Full list of ranked Nigerian universities (THE 2026):
University of Ibadan (801–1000)
University of Lagos (801–1000)
Bayero University (1001–1200)
Covenant University (1001–1200)
Landmark University (1001–1200)
Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500)
Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)
University of Ilorin (1201–1500)
University of Jos (1201–1500)
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500)
Babcock University (1501+)
Delta State University, Abraka (1501+)
Ekiti State University (1501+)
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+)
Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+)
Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+)
Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+)
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+)
Lagos State University (1501+)
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+)
Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+)
University of Benin (1501+)
University of Calabar (1501+)
University of Port Harcourt (1501+)
Other participating institutions include Admiralty University of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State University, Baze University, Bowen University, Redeemer’s University, Nasarawa State University, and Rivers State University, among others.
The noted that for a university to qualify, it must teach undergraduates, conduct multidisciplinary research, and have published at least 1,000 research papers between 2020 and 2024 (a minimum of 100 annually).