Former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje has said that Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso presidential ticket under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) stands no chance of winning Kano State in the 2027 general election.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, the former Kano governor said the ticket lacks the political strength and leadership record needed to win support in the state.

“I don’t think Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s ticket will succeed in Kano. It will not succeed. In fact, it is dead on arrival,” Ganduje said.

He questioned Obi’s performance as Anambra governor, asking, “What did he do as a governor? What legacy did he leave as a governor?”

Ganduje also said Obi had not shown enough experience in governance to lead Nigeria.

Turning to Kwankwaso, he noted that the former Kano governor did not win two consecutive terms in office, unlike Ibrahim Shekarau and himself.

Ganduje added that Kwankwaso had not left a legacy that would convince Kano people or Nigerians that he could serve successfully as vice-president, insisting once again that the proposed ticket is dead on arrival.

A legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has faulted the Cross River State House of Assembly over its proposed legislation to prohibit same-sex marriage.

He argued that the lawmakers lacked the constitutional powers to enact such a law.

The criticism comes barely 24 hours after the Cross River House of Assembly passed the bill through second reading, with lawmakers saying it seeks to prohibit same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state.

In a legal commentary made available to journalists, Ahiakwo said the issue was not whether same-sex marriage should be prohibited, stressing that Nigeria already has the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.

According to him, the real constitutional question is whether a State House of Assembly can legislate on a matter already covered by an Act of the National Assembly.

He maintained that under Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, read together with Item 61 of the Exclusive Legislative List, the National Assembly has exclusive authority over statutory marriages and related matters, adding that it has already exercised that power through the Marriage Act, the Matrimonial Causes Act and the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2013.

The lawyer also relied on Section 4(5) of the Constitution and the Supreme Court’s decision in Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2014), contending that any state law inconsistent with a valid federal law would be unconstitutional and void to the extent of the inconsistency.

While acknowledging that state legislatures could make laws on matters within their constitutional competence, including certain aspects of customary law, Ahiakwo insisted that they could not legislate on a field already occupied by valid federal legislation.

He warned that proceeding with the bill without first resolving the constitutional issues surrounding it could amount to a waste of public resources and expose the state to avoidable legal challenges.

Ahiakwo urged the Cross River State House of Assembly to suspend further consideration of the bill pending a proper constitutional review of its legislative competence.

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has described ex-Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose as a grassroot politician and a man of the masses.

Sani said Fayose’s appointment as the Chairman of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, would help those in the rural areas have access to electricity.

On Monday, the Presidency had announced President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Fayose as the Chairman of REA.

Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this while announcing new appointments Tinubu made in various government agencies.

Reacting, Sani posted on X: “My Friend Fayose is a grassroots politician and a man of the masses. He is appointed to an Agency where the Rural masses can have access to electricity.

“Why do you want to judge him by what he said years ago? Let he who has never assured his EX that they will be together forever cast the first stone.”

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has officially transferred forfeited landed properties located in Kaba District, Abuja, to the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, in accordance with a final forfeiture order issued by the Federal High Court.

The handover happened on Tuesday at the Goodluck Jonathan Estate site in Kaba District, Abuja, and was overseen by the Chairman of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, alongside the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FMBN, Mr. Shehu Usman Osidi, and senior officials from both organizations.

Dr. Aliyu characterized the event as a crucial achievement in Nigeria’s asset recovery and restitution initiatives, highlighting the importance of returning recovered public assets to productive public use.

He elaborated that the forfeited land was part of a housing project initiated by FMBN in 2012, which was financed through a $65 million loan facility obtained by Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited in collaboration with an American company. The project aimed to provide 962 housing units on approximately 27.92 hectares of land in Kaba District.

The ICPC Chairman noted that investigations indicated the complete diversion of the loan, with no housing units constructed, and that some of the funds were allegedly funneled through Bureaux de Change and taken overseas.

As a result, the ICPC initiated both civil and criminal proceedings regarding the case, with the civil proceedings having been concluded while the criminal case is still ongoing.

Aliyu revealed that on December 11, 2025, the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, under the authority of Hon. Justice M. G. Umar, issued a final forfeiture order in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1124/2025.

The Court mandated the final forfeiture of Plot No. 5 in Cadastral Zone D12, Kaba District, which measures approximately 122,015.80 square meters, and Plot No. 4 in the same Cadastral Zone, measuring approximately 157,198.30 square meters, as properties believed to be proceeds of illegal activities.

The Court has further instructed the Federal Republic of Nigeria, via the ICPC, to facilitate the transfer of the forfeited properties to the FMBN, which is recognized as the victim of the alleged unlawful activities.

Moreover, the Court has mandated the ICPC, in partnership with the FMBN, to oversee and supervise the construction of the planned 962 housing units until their completion, ensuring that they are allocated to the designated end users.

Aliyu highlighted that the court also ordered the formation of a joint committee consisting of representatives from both the ICPC and the FMBN to manage the supervision process effectively.

He mentioned that the Commission would swiftly appoint its representatives, with the Constituency and Executive Project Tracking Division representing the ICPC on this committee.

The ICPC Chairman emphasized that asset recovery must be accompanied by proper management, asserting that the true measure of success for the Kaba District project will be the completion of the housing units and their equitable distribution to Nigerian families.

He assured the public of the ICPC’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the efficient management of recovered assets in accordance with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy.

In his comments, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Shehu Usman Osidi, expressed gratitude to the ICPC for its diligence and professionalism in securing the recovery of the property and its transfer for the intended purpose.

“This land, designated for the development of this estate, has been neglected and left unused for an extended period. We sincerely appreciate the ICPC for ensuring that all necessary due diligence and legal considerations were carefully undertaken.

“This action is particularly commendable because it demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting public assets and ensuring that properties recovered or forfeited in the public interest are put to productive use for the benefit of Nigerians,“ he said.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has vowed never to persecute opposition if he emerges as Nigeria’s president in 2027.

Obi said he would ensure a viable opposition in Nigeria where he would sit with them to discuss issues that affect the country if elected as Nigeria’s president.

In an interview with DW, the former Anambra State governor said his intending administration would ensure that the system works in Nigeria.

He said: “The system must work the way it should function, I would never prosecute anybody politically, I would never do anything wrong while in office.

“I would not go after opponent, I would make sure that we have strong opposition parties that can stand and say no. In times of problems I would invite them.

“If I was president with what is happening in the North, I would invite all opposition parties and I would sit with stakeholders in the North to discuss and come up with a solutions.”

The Imole Campaign Council, the platform coordinating the re-election bid of Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to address alleged shortcomings recorded during recent off-cycle and by-elections ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The Director-General of the campaign council, Lere Oyewumi, made the call while speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Monday, where he raised concerns over the credibility of previous elections and urged the electoral umpire to strengthen its processes.

Oyewumi alleged that during some recent off-cycle and by-elections held in Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa and Ekiti states, persons suspected to be “mercenary voters” were issued Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, shortly before election day.

He also expressed concerns over the alleged shortage of ballot papers and other sensitive election materials, claiming that some irregularities were recorded during the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, including the circulation of pre-thumbprinted ballot papers.

According to him, technical difficulties linked to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, affected the conduct of elections in Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Area Council polls.

The lawmaker further alleged that during recent elections in Anambra, Ekiti and the FCT, some political parties that did not participate in the contests were listed on ballot papers and result sheets.

Speaking on specific concerns ahead of the Osun governorship election, Oyewumi claimed that the campaign council had received reports of alleged statements by some All Progressives Congress, APC, leaders regarding the possible preloading of BVAS machines ahead of the poll.

“We have been inundated with boastful statements reportedly made by some Osun APC leaders about preloading BVAS machines ahead of the governorship election in the state,” he said.

Oyewumi described the allegation, if proven true, as a serious threat to the integrity of electronic accreditation and a possible indication of an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.

He also raised concerns over INEC’s ongoing distribution of new PVCs, urging the commission to ensure the process remains open, transparent and free from any form of manipulation.

“We have been notified about the commencement of the distribution of new PVCs by INEC. However, we have serious concerns about the transparency of the process, and we hereby warn that any move to disenfranchise Osun voters by withholding their PVCs will not be tolerated,” he stated.

The campaign council insisted that PVC collection must be conducted transparently, warning against any form of proxy collection.

Oyewumi stressed that the concerns raised were not intended to discredit INEC but were aimed at encouraging improvements and ensuring a more credible electoral process through constructive engagement.

He said the Osun governorship election would provide another opportunity for Nigeria’s democratic institutions to demonstrate their commitment to free, fair and transparent elections.

“The people of Osun are peaceful, politically conscious and deeply committed to democracy. They expect nothing short of a free, fair, transparent and credible election that faithfully reflects the wishes of the electorate,” he added.

The campaign council consequently urged INEC to carefully consider the issues raised and take necessary corrective measures before the August 15 governorship election.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday held that Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has no authority to issues licences but can only oversee airtime and data credit services.

The court clarified that the Commission’s powers function alongside those of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, rather than replacing them.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, who delivered the judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/760/2026, determined that the DEON Consumer Lending Regulations 2025 fall within the statutory and constitutional powers of the FCCPC.

Furthermore, the judge emphasized that the relationship between the FCCPC and sector-specific regulators is one of complementarity, stating that “concurrency means coexistence, not displacement.”

The court confirmed the precedence of the FCCPC in matters of competition and consumer protection as outlined in Sections 104 and 105 of the FCCPA 2018, while also safeguarding the NCC’s technical, licensing, and prudential duties as defined by the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

The court ruled that the FCCPC does not possess the authority to issue licenses, and that the DEON Regulations do not establish a telecommunications licensing framework. The NCC continues to be the exclusive authority responsible for licensing entities within the telecommunications sector.

In April 2026, the FCCPC authorized five companies to function as airtime and data credit providers under the DEON framework.

The court’s decision raises pertinent questions regarding the regulatory foundation upon which those approvals were granted.

This ruling marks the first judicial clarification on the oversight of airtime and data credit services between the two regulatory bodies, in a market valued at between N300 billion and N400 billion annually, utilized by approximately 40 million Nigerians on a daily basis.

Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, expressed his approval of the clarity provided by the judgment.

Adebayo said, “The court has done something important. It has confirmed the FCCPC’s authority and, in the same breath, affirmed that the NCC’s role is preserved.

Concurrency means coexistence. The industry now expects both regulators to establish the coordination framework that the court’s reasoning requires.”

Adebayo called on the FCCPC and the NCC to engage the industry in formal consultation before enforcement action is taken, noting that airtime credit services were suspended for three months earlier this year following an enforcement directive and were restored only recently.

“Forty million Nigerians depend on these services.

“The court has made clear that both regulators have a role. The industry is asking them to define how that works before any action that could disrupt access again,” he said.

Adebayo also noted that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council directive of 6 April 2026, which requires all federal agencies to conduct a Regulatory Impact Assessment before significant regulatory changes, remains in effect.

The judgment is expected to set a precedent for how sector-specific regulators and the FCCPC share oversight as digital products increasingly cross traditional regulatory boundaries.

Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ahmed Sanusi, has charged Abuja residents not to allow any police officer search their phone upon arrest.

Sanusi gave this charge on Monday while addressing newsmen in Abuja, stressing that no police officer has the right to search people’s phones.

He asked FCT residents to quickly raise an alarm when faced with such a situation, assuring that the FCT police operatives would immediately rise to salvage the situation.

“Don’t allow any police officers to search your phone and we’re saying this due to the abuse and extortive tendencies of some of our officers.

“It has been instructed that nobody should search any phone, especially when you just arrest somebody on the road and you start searching the person’s phone, suspecting that he is an internet fraudster.

“This does not negate the fact that phones are also being used to commit crime. But of course, before such a thing can happen, the person must have committed the crime, must have been properly arrested and brought to the station, then when trying to uncover some evidence, you can search to see whether the phone or other items are being used to perpetuate the crime.

“But for you to just stop anybody on the road and say bring your phone, let me search, is not legal.

“If any policeman stops you on the road, according to the instructions of the Inspector-General of Police, which we are bound to obey to the last of it, don’t open your phone, resist and ask other people to help you call the police. You will see our men there,” he said.

Esther Okoronkwo, Michelle Alozie, and Uchenna Kanu have joined the Super Falcons camp in Casablanca, DAILY POST reports.

The arrival of the trio  increased the number of  players in camp to 22 as the Super Falcons intensify preparations ahead of the competition.

Three more players including Gift Monday, Deborah Abiodun,  and Folashade Ijamilusi are expected to arrive  the team’s Hotel Marriott base later today.

The Super Falcons started their final preparations for the competition last week Monday.

Justine Madugu’s side will hit Rabat, where they will play all their group games this weekend.

The Super Falcons will begin their title defence against the Scorchers of Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium, Rabat on Tuesday, 28 July.