A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Dele Momodu has disowned a presidential campaign poster of him as running mate to Atiku Abubakar.

Momodu described the presidential campaign poster as a joke designed to distract the ADC.

The poster tagged AtiDele 2027 showed Atiku as president while Momodu as running mate.

Reacting, Momodu assured his followers that he’s not running for the presidency.

Posting on X, the former presidential candidate said he would support ADC leaders because they are competent.

He wrote: “Bob Dee, Is this real? When I first received this poster from a friend, I dismissed it as a joke designed to distract us.

“But I’m now being bombarded with a deluge of this unsolicited message.

“As such, I will be most grateful if my friends and party members can do me the honor of ignoring this joke.

“I’m not running for any race again. I’m interested in humbly supporting the coalition of political parties, to work together and oust the incompetent APC government that has viciously thrown our Democracy into apparent chaos.

“There are more than enough leaders in my party, ADC, more competent than me. I will humbly support any of them, when our candidates emerge.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed Saturday, June 20, 2026, for the conduct of bye-elections in six states of the Federation.

This is also as it formally welcomed a newly sworn-in National Commissioner, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd.).

Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Thursday at a brief ceremony held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja to receive the new National Commissioner.

He said the bye-elections will be conducted alongside the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for the same date.

According to him, the elections will cover senatorial vacancies in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo States, as well as a State House of Assembly seat in Kebbi State and a House of Representatives seat in Kano State.

“We are going into some off-cycle elections very soon. The Ekiti State Governorship Election is scheduled for June 20, 2026. On the same date, the Commission will conduct bye-elections to fill vacant seats,” the INEC Chairman said.

“The senatorial seats declared vacant in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers and Ondo States will be filled, alongside the Kebbi State House of Assembly seat and the House of Representatives seat in Kano State,” he added.

Speaking on the appointment of the new National Commissioner, Prof. Amupitan described Rear Admiral Malafa (rtd.) as a seasoned professional with extensive experience spanning military service and electoral operations.

He noted that she had previously worked with the Commission in the area of logistics and served as Director of Legal Services in the Nigerian Navy, bringing a wealth of administrative and legal expertise to her new role.

The Chairman reiterated the Commission’s commitment to its constitutional mandate.

“Our responsibility is clear. We are committed to conducting elections into the offices of the President, National Assembly, Governors, State Houses of Assembly and Area Councils in a credible and transparent manner,” he said.

In her remarks, the newly sworn-in National Commissioner expressed appreciation for the reception accorded her and pledged to contribute meaningfully to the Commission’s work.

“I’m glad to be here and I thank you for the warm reception. I look forward to working with everyone for the development and stability of our country, and for the success of forthcoming elections,” she said.

The event was attended by National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, the Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), senior officials of the Commission, and family members of the new National Commissioner.

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has cautioned financial technology companies across Nigeria to stay alert and protect their platforms from fraudsters.

He gave the warning in Abuja on Thursday, April 30, 2026, while addressing chief executive officers of fintech firms at an industry engagement meeting held at the commission’s corporate headquarters.

Olukoyede, while commending the executives for expanding financial access and driving innovation across the country, warned that the same opportunities have also been exploited by criminals to carry out fraudulent activities.

“The opportunities you have created have also given criminals the opportunity to perpetrate crimes, and over the years, we have discovered that there is a need for us to meet from time to time, even in the interest of your business. We will also tell you the things that we are privy to in respect of your operations and services that we think criminals are actually exploiting and how to block those spaces and strengthen the regulatory regime around the business you do,” he said.

The EFCC boss stressed the need for closer cooperation between the Commission and fintech operators, urging them to build a strong working relationship through information sharing.

He also advised the companies to protect their reputation, noting that trust remains their most valuable asset.

“It has taken some of you years to get to where you are, and I tell you, one mishandled transaction can destroy what you have built over ten years. You must be conscious of your reputation; that is the most valuable thing you need to grow in a business, not even the money. Once a reputation is damaged, you can hardly get it back. We want to collaborate with you, work with you, and that is one of the ways to fulfil our own mandate,” he said.

Olukoyede further urged stakeholders in the sector to work together to strengthen regulations and protect the economy from threats such as insecurity.

He specifically warned fintech firms to tighten their systems against terrorism financing by complying with existing rules on reporting suspicious transactions.

“We have been complaining about insecurity in Nigeria. Of course, we are also vested with the power to investigate terrorism financing, and one of the areas we have seen that these people exploit is your space. We think it is high time we did something about that. People pay ransom, and we discover that most times they collect the ransom through POS, so what can we do to tidy up this loose end, whether by virtue of doing your KYC or coming up with other ideas?” he said.

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has advised Nigerians to study Kaduna State’s example of peaceful coexistence across faith lines and ethnicity.

Senator Tinubu gave the commendation during the flagging off ceremony for the distribution of 100 trucks of rice and N1.2 billion palliative support to vulnerable Muslim communities in the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday.

Speaking at the event which took place at the Abba Kyari banquet hall, the First Lady noted that the gesture ‘’of solidarity to appreciate the Muslim Ummah of northern Nigeria. ‘’

‘’As we approach Eid el-Kabir, a season of sacrifice, compassion, and gratitude, through this intervention, we are translating the message of the season into palliatives for vulnerable Muslim communities across all 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory,’’ she added.

Senator Tinubu recalled that ‘’on the 23rd December, 2025, we distributed palliatives to Christian communities across northern Nigeria. Today, we fulfil the same commitment to our Muslim brothers and sisters.’’

The First Lady appealed to all communities across the North to continue to live together in love and with mutual respect.

‘’I urge all our religious and community leaders to continue to shoulder the responsibility of preaching the message of peace. A united Nigeria is one that can overcome any challenge,’’ she added.

Senator Tinubu thanked all the Ulamas, traditional and community leaders for their prayers and support for this administration, adding that ‘’I applaud the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Kabir Masari for his passion and dedication, and his entire team for coordinating this programme. ‘’

In his goodwill message, Governor Uba Sani paid tributes to the First Lady for her unwavering dedication to the welfare of the vulnerable which continues to inspire hope.

‘’Through your actions, you have demonstrated that true leadership is not merely about occupying high office, but about translating compassion into tangible impact,’’ he added.

The Governor recalled Senator Tinubu’s similar intervention late last year, when she reached out to Christian families across Northern Nigeria, by distributing Christmas packages.

‘’That noble gesture, much like the initiative we are witnessing Today, was far more than seasonal charity; it was a powerful expression of unity, inclusiveness, and shared humanity,’’ he noted

According to the Governor, the gesture ‘’conveyed a reassuring message that every Nigerian matters, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or social circumstance.’’

He argued that through the First Lady’s sustained philanthropy, she has elevated the standard of humanitarian service, adding that ‘’your interventions are thoughtful, inclusive, and deeply impactful, consistently reaching those at the margins of society.’’

‘’What makes your efforts particularly remarkable is their inclusiveness. Though Today’s programme is facilitated in
collaboration with the Muslim Intellectuals Forum, your compassion transcends all boundaries.

‘’Across Nigeria, both Muslims and Christians, as well as citizens from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds, have benefited from your generosity. In doing so, you embody the finest ideals of our nation: unity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to the common good,’’ he added.

Governor Uba Sani also reiterated that ‘’in Kaduna State, we remain resolute in our commitment to alleviating hardship and improving the wellbeing of our people.’’

‘’Through targeted social intervention, support for small and medium enterprises, youth empowerment initiatives, agricultural development, and sustained investment in security, we are working diligently to cushion the effects of economic reforms and enhance the quality of life for our citizens,’’ he added.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that low access to Early Childhood Education (ECE) across Northwest Nigeria is posing a serious threat to education outcomes in the region.

Dr. Karanveer Singh, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, disclosed this while speaking at a media dialogue on strengthening early childhood education in Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina, held in Dutse.

He revealed that only about 24 per cent of children in Jigawa State have access to ECE, while Kano has 29 per cent and Katsina 32 per cent.

Dr. Singh described the situation as alarming, saying that the majority of children in the region are missing the critical early learning phase that shapes cognitive, social, and emotional development.

According to him, children who lack access to quality early education are more likely to start primary school behind their peers and struggle to catch up, a factor contributing to the region’s growing out-of-school children crisis.

He further disclosed that foundational literacy levels in some parts of the region remain below 15 per cent, indicating that many children are unable to read at even the most basic level.

He linked this to limited parental awareness, a shortage of trained teachers, poor infrastructure, and inadequate learning materials, which continue to hinder the expansion of early childhood education.

The UNICEF official, however, stressed that the challenges are surmountable with stronger commitment and investment from state governments.

He called on the authorities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to prioritise early childhood education through increased funding, recruitment of qualified caregivers, and the expansion of child-friendly learning spaces.

UNICEF Education Specialist, Mustapha Shehu, said available data from MICS 2022 shows that, in Nigeria, only 37.8 per cent of children between the ages of three and four have access to early childhood education.

“Large inequalities persist, with 75 per cent of children aged 36 to 59 months in the richest wealth quintile attending early childhood education, while only 11 per cent of those in the lowest wealth quintile do,” he said.

Dr. Sunday Jacob, an education consultant, said Nigeria has 18.3 million out-of-school children, with Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina accounting for 30 per cent of the figure.

He said investing in early childhood education is fundamental to reducing the number of out-of-school children, as it contributes to 90 per cent of brain development.

He advised the states to create dedicated budget lines for early childhood education.

Responding, the Commissioners for Basic Education in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa pledged to ensure adequate budgetary provisions for early childhood education and the timely release of funds for the development of their respective states and the country at large.