Several All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants in Ondo State, who are loyal to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have initiated legal action against the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the National Assembly primary elections. These aspirants, who were unsuccessful in their bids, are challenging the candidate list submitted to INEC, citing irregularities in the nomination process. Represented by the law firm of Remi Olatubora (SAN), the plaintiffs are seeking a judicial review to determine if the list provided to INEC accurately reflects the results of the primaries.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Involved Aspirants: The group includes several politicians, such as Gbenga Elegbeleye, Taiwo Fasoranti, Leke Akingboye, Rasaq Obe, Kayode Ijalana, Oyerinmade Matthew, and Olumuyiwa Daramola.

• Stakeholder Concerns: Some party stakeholders worry that this litigation could hinder the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and are encouraging the use of internal resolution mechanisms to maintain party unity.

• Similar Dispute in Benue State: A comparable situation has developed in Benue State, where aspirants loyal to Governor Hyacinth Alia filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026 to prevent the alteration of their state’s candidate list.

• Status Quo Order: In the Benue case, Justice I.E. Ekwo has ordered all parties to maintain the status quo while the court reviews the matter.

In a significant departure from tradition, the winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain will be presented with specially crafted championship rings, a practice typically associated with American sports like the NFL’s Super Bowl. The victorious squad will receive 30 of these rings, which feature a miniature World Cup trophy and an engraved inner band, while 1,996 replicas will be produced for fans.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Presidential Attendance and Tournament Controversies

• United States President Donald Trump is set to present the World Cup trophy following Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

• His attendance at the final has been officially confirmed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, despite the President not attending any of the previous 102 tournament matches.

• Trump’s involvement follows a major controversy earlier in the tournament, where he requested a review of a red card issued to US forward Folarin Balogun.

• FIFA’s subsequent decision to suspend Balogun’s automatic ban drew widespread criticism and sparked concerns regarding the integrity of the competition, especially as no other similar suspensions were overturned despite appeals from teams like France and England.

Tournament Status and Logistics

• Despite air quality warnings in New York due to wildfire smoke from Canada, there is currently no indication that the final match will be impacted.

• The 2026 tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

• Before the final on Sunday, England and France are scheduled to face off in the third-place play-off on Saturday.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan recently shared that his son, Ariwera, has successfully graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. Expressing pride in his son’s academic achievement, the former president congratulated Ariwera on his hard work and wished him success in his future endeavors.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶