Senate President Godswill Akpabio has alleged that individuals criticising President Bola Tinubu and his supporters on social media are being paid to attack them.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Akpabio also urged youths in the northern region to intensify grassroots mobilisation ahead of Tinubu’s anticipated re-election bid in 2027.

He made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving members of the Arewa Revival Project, a northern youth organisation led by its coordinator, Mustafa Ibrahim, during a visit to his office.

The group, which comprises members from 19 northern states, presented Akpabio with an award in recognition of his contributions to nation-building.

In his response, the Senate President thanked the delegation and encouraged its members to take the administration’s message to communities across the country, stressing the importance of continuity in governance.

Akpabio said the policies being implemented by the Tinubu administration were intended to stabilise the country and secure a better future for younger generations.

He, however, warned the youths that their efforts to promote the President’s achievements could face challenges, alleging that some social media users attacking Tinubu and his supporters were financially motivated.

“It is not going to be easy for you because most of those who are attacking the President and attacking these young men on social media are being paid. You are not being paid,” he said.

The former Akwa Ibom State governor advised the group to organise periodic engagements with young people to counter what he described as misinformation and help them understand the administration’s policies.

He urged the youths to encourage their peers to assess the government’s performance rather than allow online narratives to create uncertainty.

Defending Tinubu’s economic policies, Akpabio highlighted the administration’s tax reforms and efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil revenue.

He argued that the President was introducing changes aimed at diversifying the economy and reforming outdated laws.

“I expect the Nigerian youth to rise above social media propaganda because this President has managed to take us out of a mono-economy, an economy that was dependent only on crude oil,” Akpabio stated.

The Senate President also praised Tinubu’s performance, claiming that no Nigerian president since independence had matched his achievements.

According to him, members of the National Assembly were satisfied with the administration’s performance and had endorsed the President for a second term.

On insecurity, Akpabio expressed optimism that the establishment of state police would soon become a reality, noting that the constitutional amendment process was nearing completion.

He said about 30 states had endorsed the proposed constitutional amendment to introduce decentralised policing in Nigeria, which he believes would strengthen national security.

Akpabio further assured the youths that the country would overcome its security challenges, urging them to remain confident as they mobilised support for the President ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has said there is no reason to fear that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will postpone the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, stated this during an interview with Vanguard on Wednesday, in response to reports suggesting that the electoral body might shift the presidential election scheduled for January 16.

Aiyenigba said the SDP had not seen any credible indication that INEC was considering postponing the polls.

“For the SDP, there is no justifiable reason to entertain fears that the Commission could be tempted to postpone the scheduled 2027 general elections,” he said.

The party spokesman also addressed concerns surrounding reports of Ebola, noting that health authorities had dismissed the public health fears associated with the outbreak.

According to him, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) had also strongly rejected claims that Ebola was being weaponised.

Aiyenigba maintained that the SDP had no credible reason to question INEC’s preparedness for the forthcoming elections.

“We are yet to have a credible reason to doubt the readiness of INEC for the general polls. The Commission has not given us any reason to be so concerned because there is no sign that surfaced,” he stated.

He further argued that the prevailing security situation had not reached a point that would justify postponing the elections.

Addressing concerns about the implementation of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the delay in displaying the voters’ register, Aiyenigba said the issue had been addressed by the commission.

He explained that INEC had uploaded the preliminary voters’ register to its online portal, a move he said had helped resolve concerns over the delay.

“It is also necessary to note that the worries that have been variously expressed about the lack of implementation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the delay in the display of the voters’ register, have been addressed by the Commission with the online upload of the preliminary voters register on its portal,” he said.

The SDP spokesman added that although the party would continue to monitor developments, it remained optimistic that the 2027 general elections would take place as scheduled.

“While the SDP remains vigilant and will keep its eyes on the ball, the party remains optimistic and positive-minded that nothing will impede the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections,” he said.

Aiyenigba stressed that conducting the elections successfully, fairly and credibly was in the best interest of the country.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2008 Ballon d’Or-winning campaign has been voted the greatest season in the history of the prestigious award in a fan poll organised by French magazine France Football to celebrate its 70th anniversary.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Portuguese superstar emerged at the top of the Ballon d’Or of All Time (BOAT) ranking, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign, while Ronaldo’s 2017 triumph secured third place.

Football transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano announced the results on social media on Wednesday, October 28, following the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Messi’s 2023 campaign ranked fourth, while Ronaldo’s 2016 season came fifth. Other campaigns by the two football icons also featured prominently in the top 10, with Ronaldo’s 2014 and 2013 victories making the list alongside Messi’s 2015, 2011 and 2009 seasons.

The ranking featured 32 Ballon d’Or-winning campaigns involving 10 football legends, with fans voting for the individual seasons they considered the greatest in the award’s history.

Ronaldo won his first Ballon d’Or in 2008 following an exceptional season with Manchester United, scoring 42 goals across all competitions and helping the English club secure both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles.

The Portuguese forward also finished as the Premier League’s leading scorer with 31 goals and claimed the European Golden Shoe during the 2007/08 campaign.

His remarkable performances earned him 446 points in the original Ballon d’Or voting, placing him ahead of Messi, who finished second.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star went on to win the award four more times, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, taking his overall tally to five.

Messi, meanwhile, remains the competition’s most successful player, having won the Ballon d’Or a record eight times. His 2023 victory followed Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Elsewhere in the ranking, Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Nazário’s 2002 campaign finished 13th, while Johan Cruyff’s 1974 season placed 17th. Michel Platini’s 1984 triumph came 18th, ahead of Franz Beckenbauer’s 1976 campaign.

The poll focused on individual Ballon d’Or-winning seasons rather than players’ overall careers. It was independent of the official annual award, which is determined by a jury of specialist journalists.