Some disgruntled governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are reportedly initiating contact with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as tensions rise over the political maneuvering of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The friction stems from Wike’s leadership of the emerging Rainbow Coalition backing President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. Wike has maintained that the coalition’s support for the President does not extend to backing APC candidates in upcoming governorship and legislative races.

Key Factors Driving the Political Shift

• Threat to State Structures: Multiple sources revealed that Wike’s stance has deeply unsettled APC governors, who fear the coalition could destabilize their local political structures during the 2027 elections.

• Concerns Over Concessions: Insiders from northern political groups noted that the governors’ primary anxiety is Wike’s claim that President Tinubu has supposedly ceded specific states to the coalition for governorship contests.

• Alternative Alliances: With the political dynamics shifting, some dissatisfied governors are viewing Atiku and the ADC as a strategic network to protect their political survival and counter the influence of Wike’s coalition.

• The Staggered Timetable: Politicians are also recalculating their strategies based on the election schedule, which sets the presidential and National Assembly votes weeks ahead of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, has declared his strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stating that he has not encountered any Nigerian leader with a better vision for the country.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Masari made this statement in a video published by the Hausa-language media platform HM Arewa while addressing a gathering of women in Kaduna. Drawing from his nearly 40 years of political experience across various administrations, Masari asserted that Tinubu’s roadmap for Nigeria stands out above the rest.

Key Highlights from Masari’s Address

• Unmatched Vision: Masari stated that he can confidently vouch, based on his decades in politics, that no past president has had a better plan to make Nigeria great than President Tinubu.

• Dismissing Critics: He dismissed critics claiming Tinubu has achieved nothing, characterizing them as individuals who refuse to recognize genuine progress.

• Rejecting Divisive Narratives: Addressing public discussions, he questioned whether religion belongs exclusively to any single ethnic group, such as the Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo.

• Call for Family Influence: He encouraged the women present to use their voices at home to counsel their husbands and children, warning that divisive rhetoric is driven entirely by selfish interests.

KINSHASA — Elite Nigerian referee Joseph Odey Ogabor has been selected by CAF to officiate the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The high-stakes Group E fixture is set for Thursday at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte in Kinshasa, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM local time.

Key Match Officials and Assignments

• All-Nigerian Refereeing Crew: Referee Joseph Ogabor will be joined on the pitch by fellow compatriots Tejiri Besmart Digbori and Emmanuel Omada, who will serve as Assistant Referees One and Two.

• Fourth Official: Another Nigerian official, Grema Mohamed, has been appointed to oversee duties as the fourth official.

• Continental & Domestic Experience: Ogabor is a seasoned official in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and boasts substantial continental experience across the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, recently handling a preliminary clash between Medeama and TP Mazembe.

Super Eagles Qualifier Update

Meanwhile, Chadian referee Alhadji Allaou Mahamat has been designated to handle Nigeria’s opening AFCON 2027 qualifier against Madagascar on Friday, September 25.

The 40-year-old Chadian official brings extensive tournament experience, having officiated across the CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup, U-20 AFCON, and African Nations Championship. Notably, Mahamat previously took charge of two key matches during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign—overseeing a 1-0 home victory against Rwanda and a 2-1 away triumph over Lesotho in South Africa.