The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed regret over his failure to form an alliance with the party’s presidential flagbearer, Peter Obi, ahead of the 2023 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Before the 2023 presidential election, Kwankwaso had rejected proposals to run alongside Obi, arguing that he possessed greater political experience and higher academic qualifications, including a PhD.

However, the former Kano State governor admitted on Saturday that he had not fully understood Obi at the time.

Kwankwaso made the revelation while addressing party supporters at the 360 Event Centre in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital.

He suggested that a joint presidential ticket with Obi in 2023 could have defeated the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said, “I did not truly understand Peter Obi until now. Had I understood him better in 2023, we would have collaborated and ousted the All Progressives Congress from the presidency.”

Kwankwaso described his current alliance with Obi ahead of the 2027 general election as a major turning point for the country’s development.

The former governor also disclosed that the NDC leadership had agreed to appoint him as Minister of Education if the party wins the 2027 presidential election.

Meanwhile, the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Kwankwaso to provide evidence linking the party and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to alleged attempts to disqualify the NDC governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the 2027 election.

The ruling party dismissed the allegation as false and baseless, accusing the former governor of attempting to blackmail the APC and its governorship candidate.

Kwankwaso had reportedly accused the APC and Governor Yusuf of being involved in the legal proceedings concerning Gwarzo’s candidacy.

However, the APC maintained that neither the party, the governor nor the Kano State Government had any involvement in the case.

In a statement, the party explained that the legal dispute originated from an internal crisis within the NDC, insisting that members of the party, rather than the APC, instituted the case.

It accused Kwankwaso of attempting to divert attention from the internal challenges facing his party by dragging the APC and its candidate into the controversy.

The ruling party also denied sponsoring, influencing or facilitating the court action against Gwarzo.

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has revealed how a social media influencer ignored and turned down her offer to pay for promotional content for her 2024 movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akindele made the revelation during a panel discussion at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND).

The actress explained that she was initially hesitant to contact the unnamed influencer but eventually decided to reach out to explore a possible promotional partnership for the movie.

According to her, she waited for several days before receiving a response that the influencer’s management was not interested in the proposed collaboration.

Akindele said she even offered to pay for the promotional content, but the influencer allegedly ignored her message.

Despite the experience, the filmmaker maintained that the rejection did not discourage her from seeking promotional partnerships, adding that she had learnt not to allow such situations to affect her emotionally.

She also disclosed that she later came across claims that she had blocked someone over the disagreement but did not reveal the identity of the influencer.

Recounting the experience, she said:

“There was this influencer I reached out to, I sent a message to them that I would like to create content. One, two, three… for almost a week. And I did not want to send this message, this was during ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ but I tried and I was like let me send it, so I sent it.

“The person was like ‘I am sorry, my management does not want me to do this’. And I was like ‘I would pay’ but the person ignored me. Then months after, I read that I blocked somebody because of this.

“I didn’t let it affect me. I embraced it. I didn’t go and reply. I just said, God, take control. I got back to it.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has congratulated Nigeria’s Flamingos following their historic victory at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Nigerian team defeated Japan 2-1 in Saturday’s final at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat, becoming the first African country to win the tournament.

Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Oluebube Umejiaku put Nigeria two goals ahead before Fuki Ito scored for Japan. Despite the late pressure from their opponents, the Flamingos held on to secure the historic victory.

Reacting to the achievement, Infantino praised the Nigerian players for their outstanding performances throughout the competition, describing their triumph as well deserved.

“Congratulations to Nigeria, world champion U-17 Women’s World Cup of FIFA here in Rabat. First African team to ever win a (FIFA) Women’s U-17 World Cup, so many congratulations to Nigeria. Well deserved in the final,” he said.

The FIFA president also congratulated Japan for finishing as runners-up and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) for claiming the bronze medal.

“Congratulations to Japan as well, great tournament, silver medal. And DPR Korea, bronze medalists at this beautiful (FIFA) U-17 Women’s World Cup,” he added.

The victory marks a historic milestone for Nigerian football, as the Flamingos become the first African team to lift the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup trophy since the competition was introduced in 2008.