The faction of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, under the leadership of Bala Gombe, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to promptly remove the National Working Committee, NWC, led by David Mark from its official portal.

Gombe pointed out that a court ruling required the electoral commission to withdraw its recognition of the NWC headed by David Mark and declare all decisions, resolutions, and actions made by that committee as null and void.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Gombe stressed that INEC should only publish and recognize what he termed the legitimate National Working Committee of the party, in line with the court’s ruling.

The faction also warned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar against positioning himself as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the forthcoming 2027 general election.

In his statement, he said, “The rightful leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, formally requests the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately remove the names of Senator David Mark and his NWC members from the Commission’s portal.

“INEC is also urged to upload and recognize exclusively the authentic members of the National Working Committee of the ADC, in strict compliance with the court’s ruling. This ruling directed INEC to withdraw recognition from the David Mark-led NWC and further invalidated all decisions, resolutions, and actions taken by that Committee.

“Moreover, the leadership of the African Democratic Congress formally and unequivocally warns Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to immediately refrain from presenting himself as the ADC’s Presidential Candidate. We reiterate our earlier position that His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is neither the current nor has he ever been the Presidential Candidate of the ADC for the 2027 General Elections.

“We call upon Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to promptly cease using the Party’s name, logo, and emblem to spread falsehoods and misinformation regarding the African Democratic Congress.

“Additionally, we provide him with a 7-day ultimatum to publicly apologize to the members and stakeholders of the ADC for making unauthorized statements on behalf of the Party. Should he fail to comply with this demand within the specified timeframe, we will pursue appropriate legal action.

“Furthermore, we wish to bring to the attention of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, the actions of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.

“We urge the pertinent security agencies to ensure his immediate arrest and prosecution for the dissemination of false information that could mislead the public and incite public unrest, thereby jeopardizing the relative peace we currently enjoy.”

The decision by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to go into the 2027 presidential election with a Muslim-Muslim ticket has re-opened the debate that dominated the 2023 election.

President Tinubu, had, last week, renominated Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the 2027 presidential election, a decision that is again generating mixed feelings among Nigerians.

While for the ruling party and their supporters it is a political master-stroke that would ensure stability and continuity, other Nigerians argue that in a multi-religious country like Nigeria, the same faith ticket is akin to discarding the feelings of the adherents of other faiths.

Before now, there had been uncertainty, different views, opinions, intensive debates and controversy over Shettima’s candidacy as vice president and the possibility of the ruling APC retaining the same faith ticket against the impression of many Nigerians, who opposed it prior to the 2023 election.

Groups like the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, Northern Christian Elders’ Forum, NOSCEF, and Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, as well as individuals, have all expressed their views on the development.

Commenting on the development, the Senator representing Plateau Central, Diket Plang, applauded the decision, describing it as a demonstration of the recognition of loyalty, stability, courage and continuity in governance.

He said he was pleased that President Tinubu resisted pressures from different quarters to change his running mate, describing the decision as one that would strengthen national unity and policy continuity.

“I thank God that President Tinubu has remained steadfast and retained Shettima as his vice president.

“That is stability at the highest level of leadership. I am proud of that decision because Shettima has been loyal, active, accessible and committed to the success of this administration,” he said.

He advised Nigerians to be willing to make personal sacrifices in support of the Tinubu administration, insisting that his vision, courage, inclusiveness and commitment to infrastructure development deserved broad national backing.

Also, a retired military officer and professor of law, Major Bello M. Magaji threw his weight behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing it as a strategic and commendable decision.

“In my view, beyond political symbolism, it reinforces continuity in governance, which is critical at this stage of Nigeria’s development.

“First, retaining the same ticket preserves institutional memory and policy consistency. The administration has already initiated key reforms in the economy, security and governance architecture; changing the leadership configuration midway could disrupt momentum and dilute the ongoing efforts.

“Continuity, in this sense, provides stability and allows policies sufficient time to mature and yield measurable outcomes.

“Also, the Tinubu–Shettima partnership has, over time, developed a working synergy that is essential for effective executive coordination. Governance at the highest level benefits greatly from trust, familiarity, and a shared strategic vision; qualities that are not easily rebuilt in a new political pairing.

“Third, from a political management perspective, the decision projects confidence and internal cohesion within the ruling structure. It signals that performance, loyalty and alignment with the administration’s agenda are being rewarded, which can strengthen discipline and focus within the government,” he said in an interview.

But for a chieftain of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba, APC’s decision to run on the same faith ticket is a missed opportunity to promote national inclusion and unity.

He said the reported reaffirmation of the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket reflected political convenience over national inclusion, arguing that while the Nigerian Constitution does not prohibit such an arrangement, political leadership should demonstrate sensitivity to the country’s religious and ethnic diversity.

He noted in a statement that Nigeria’s current socio-economic and security challenges require leadership that fosters national cohesion and one that reassures all segments of the population that they are adequately represented in the government.

He argued that the APC could have sent a stronger message of unity by adopting a more religiously and regionally inclusive ticket for the 2027 general election.

“Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity. Our federation is built on mutual respect among people of different faiths, ethnicities, and regions. A leadership that consciously reflects this diversity strengthens national confidence and reinforces the principle that no group should feel excluded from the highest levels of governance,” he said.

He, however, urged Nigerians not to focus solely on political symbolism or personalities as the country approaches the 2027 elections but to evaluate candidates based on their competence, track records, policy proposals and capacity to address the country’s pressing challenges.

He said issues such as economic recovery, insecurity, unemployment, accountability and good governance should dominate the political discourse as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.

The NRM chieftain added that Nigeria deserves leadership that is capable of inspiring confidence across religious, regional and ethnic lines, while governing fairly and promoting national development. In the same vein, the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has expressed disappointment over the development, describing it as a continuation of a strategy that has failed to reflect Nigeria’s religious and regional diversity.

In a statement by its national spokesperson, Luka Binniyat, the forum said the decision represented another missed opportunity to acknowledge the strategic importance of the Middle Belt in Nigeria’s political landscape.

It noted that the reaffirmation of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket means the continuation of the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket that excludes even Muslims from the Middle Belt.

The forum, which said it was established in 1954 to protect the socio-political interests of more than 300 ethnic nationalities across 14 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, argued that the region had continued to demonstrate goodwill and support for the Tinubu administration despite its predominantly Christian population.

“We believe this is another missed opportunity to recognise the strategic importance of the Middle Belt, a region that today gives Tinubu’s administration tremendous goodwill and support despite having a majority Christian population,” the statement said.

It contended that the President’s decision could be interpreted as a lack of appreciation for the region’s political significance, saying,

“By overlooking the Middle Belt once again, it would appear that the President does not place much value on the region and its 60 per cent voting population of Northern Nigeria, especially in our move to produce the 2031 President,” he stated.

The forum maintained that Nigeria’s highest political offices should reflect the country’s religious and cultural diversity.

“The MBF has always maintained that the Nigerian presidency should reflect the country’s religious and cultural diversity where Muslims and Christians do not have a clear majority.

“In a multi-religious nation like Nigeria, with Muslims, Christians and people of other faiths, the highest offices of government should promote inclusion, fairness and national unity,” Binniyat said.

Despite its criticism of the composition of the presidential ticket, the forum said it had not taken a definitive political position for the 2027 election.

“However, the Middle Belt Forum will not rush into taking a political position on the 2027 presidential election.

“Our position will be guided by the decisions of our Board of Trustees, BoT, and the National Working Committee (NWC), which will carefully consider which political party and candidate will best protect and promote the interests of the Middle Belt and the unity of Nigeria,” the group submitted.

The Northern Christian Elders Forum, NOSCEF, has also kicked against the APC’s decision.

Chairman of the christian group, Elder Sunday Oibe, argued that the proponents of Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket should tell Nigerians how far the current same faith ticket had gone to grow and develop Nigeria and her citizens since 2023.

He said: “I don’t have much of a comment for now rather than to wish them well. Nigerians should judge how well they had fared with the Muslim Muslim ticket of Tinubu/Shetima ticket.

“The question to the proponents of Muslim Muslim tickets should be ‘how market?’ Nigerians will speak at the appropriate time.”

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), on its part, has not taken any official position on the development.

The ACF’s national publicity secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said the forum has only received reports of the development and has not met to deliberate on the matter.

He said the choice of a running mate remains the prerogative of President Tinubu and the APC, but added that the Forum would observe how the implications of the decision unfold before making any formal pronouncement.

“The ACF has only received the news about President Bola Tinubu’s reappointment of Vice President Kashim Shettima as his running mate and is yet to debate and take a concrete position on the matter.

“For now, the Forum only wants to note that the decision remains that of the President and the APC. The ACF will watch as the implications of the decision unfold,” Muhammad-Baba said.

On concerns surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, he said the more important issue should be whether any candidate combination delivers good governance and addresses the country’s challenges.

He noted that, ultimately, it is the electorate that will determine which ticket to support at the polls.

However, ACF’s former scribe, Mr. Anthony Sani is of the opinion that Tinubu cannot be faulted if he sees Muslim-Muslim ticket as his winning game plan for the ruling party.

He also said: “If the move, to some people, is not a winning game plan, they are at liberty to counteract it with their superior game plan.

“After all, we are in a multiparty democracy which allows political parties to devise their own strategies. Democracy in action, one might say,” he responded during an interview.

Some analysts argue that while the Muslim–Muslim ticket remains a subject of debate, it is equally important to assess leadership based on competence, delivery and national impact.

For APC supporters, Shettima’s reappointment as a vice presidential candidate is more about sustaining direction, consolidating gains and ensuring that the administration’s long-term objectives are not derailed.

Lagos State Police Command has uncovered a vehicle fraud syndicate allegedly responsible for defrauding car dealers of more than N1 billion through a series of coordinated scams involving exotic vehicles.

Police said investigations into three related cases led to the recovery of several vehicles that had been transported from Lagos to Abuja and other parts of the country and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Speaking at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, disclosed that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, launched an investigation following complaints from multiple vehicle dealers.

According to him, the investigations traced the operations to a syndicate allegedly headed by a suspect identified as Otunba, who remains at large.

The police identified Fatai Balogun, popularly known as “Eleku,” as a principal suspect, while Muritala, Bashiru, Segun and Otunba were also linked to the criminal network.

CP Fatai explained that the first case involved Muritala, who allegedly obtained vehicles from dealers under the pretext of paying after resale. During interrogation, Muritala reportedly implicated Balogun, who admitted participating in the transactions and handing the vehicles over to Otunba.

Further investigations reportedly linked Balogun to 12 exotic vehicles fraudulently obtained from various dealers.

Intelligence-led operations, aided by the AUTOREG vehicle tracking platform, led to the recovery of a 2010 Toyota RAV4 and 2007 and 2017 Toyota Highlander SUVs.

The police commissioner said the second case stemmed from complaints by three victims who accused Balogun, Otunba and other suspects of fraudulently acquiring seven vehicles valued at approximately N700 million.

Investigators alleged that the suspects deceived dealers by claiming the vehicles were meant for prominent politicians in Abuja and issued post-dated cheques that were later dishonoured.

“Balogun confessed to the offences and admitted selling the vehicles to different buyers. Detectives subsequently recovered a 2020 Toyota Hiace bus and a 2018 Ford Edge SUV,” Fatai said.

In the third case, Balogun, Bashiru and other suspects allegedly acquired 10 Toyota Hiace buses worth N320 million after claiming they were acting on Otunba’s instructions. Police said a post-dated cheque issued for the transaction was returned due to insufficient funds.

Eight of the buses were later recovered in damaged condition, while two buses valued at N56.5 million remain unaccounted for.

According to investigators, the suspects claimed the vehicles were procured on behalf of Otunba for political campaign activities.

CP Fatai stated that a comparative analysis of the three cases revealed a common operational pattern, indicating that they were carried out by the same criminal syndicate.

He alleged that the group targeted reputable car dealers, used dud or post-dated cheques to obtain vehicles, transferred them rapidly to third parties and concealed the identities of the principal beneficiaries through intermediaries.

The command said it has so far recovered a 2010 Toyota RAV4, 2007 and 2017 Toyota Highlander SUVs, two 2016 Toyota Hiace buses, a 2020 Toyota Hiace bus and a 2018 Ford Edge SUV.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared Thursday, July 16, 2026, as the first day of Safar 1448AH after the non-sighting of the new crescent moon across Nigeria.

Chairman of the Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Professor Sambnoon Wali Junaidu, made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the National Moonsighting Committee, in collaboration with various moonsighting committees across the country, did not receive any authenticated report confirming the sighting of the Safar crescent on Tuesday, July 14, corresponding to the 29th of Muharram 1448AH.

“The Sultanate Council Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, in conjunction with the National Moonsighting Committee, did not receive any report from various moonsighting committees across the country confirming the sighting of the crescent of Safar 1448AH on Tuesday, 14th July, 2026, equivalent to 29th Muharram 1448AH.

“Therefore, Wednesday, 15th July, 2026, will be the 30th of Muharram 1448AH,” the statement said.

According to the statement, the Sultan approved the completion of the current Islamic month and declared the commencement of the new month on Thursday.

The declaration marks the beginning of the second month of the Islamic calendar and serves as the official guide for Muslims across Nigeria in observing religious activities tied to the Hijri calendar.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Wednesday, announced successful candidates for enlistment into Air Force BMTC 46/2025.

Announcing the successful candidates in a statement on Wednesday, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the names of successful candidates have been published on the official Nigerian Air Force recruitment portal.

“The candidates whose names appear on the published list were successful at the selection interview and are to report to the NAF Military Training Centre (MTC), NAF Base, Kaduna, on Sunday, 19 July 2026, to commence training,” the statement said.

It said all successful candidates are required to report with the originals and photocopies of their credentials, as well as other items specified in the instructions.

Candidates are advised to carefully review all instructions provided on the recruitment portal before reporting.

The statement further added that the Nigerian Air Force recruitment exercise is entirely free of charge.

Successful candidates and members of the public were advised to beware of fraudsters and refrain from making any payment to individuals or groups claiming to facilitate recruitment or enlistment into the force.