Research Professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Femi Otubanjo, has stated that President Bola Tinubu is not required to take his re-election campaign to all 36 states of the federation ahead of the 2027 general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

reports that Otubanjo made the remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, arguing that there is no legal requirement or established convention compelling the President to organise campaign rallies in every state.

The political scientist explained that Tinubu would participate in campaign activities as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than in his capacity as Nigeria’s President.

According to him, this distinction means the President is not obligated to address every Nigerian during campaign rallies.

Otubanjo said, “The reality, of course, it is not compulsory for the president to campaign in 36 states.

“When the president goes to campaign, he is a candidate of the APC, not the president of Nigeria. So he has no obligation to speak to everybody.”

The NIIA scholar also questioned the effectiveness of political rallies, arguing that many gatherings described as campaign events are primarily designed to energise existing supporters rather than persuade undecided voters.

He maintained that most attendees at such rallies have already made up their minds about the candidates they intend to support, making the events less effective as platforms for winning over new voters.

Drawing a comparison with rallies organised by United States President Donald Trump, Otubanjo argued that Nigerian political gatherings often focus more on noise, self-praise and promises than on convincing voters through substantive arguments.

He said, “If you can take your time and watch a video of a typical Nigerian rally, it’s all noise.

“It’s all about bragging about what they have achieved, or bragging about what they can achieve. It is not about convincing anybody.”

Otubanjo further argued that campaign rallies were neither compulsory for Tinubu nor appropriate platforms for the President to communicate with the entire nation.

He stressed that political campaigns should be understood as activities undertaken by candidates seeking electoral support, rather than official presidential engagements.

“And so, it’s not really compulsory. It’s not a venue. It’s not a platform for the president to address the nation,” he said.

The professor’s comments came days after Tinubu announced plans to limit his physical participation in campaign activities to allow him to concentrate on governance.

The decision has attracted criticism from opposition figures, who have questioned the President’s approach to campaigning ahead of the 2027 general election.

The daughters of late Nollywood actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, have announced plans to venture into the Nigerian movie industry as they seek to sustain their father’s legacy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The sisters, Lima Olamide Taiwo and Shakira Taiwo, also known as Kira Ogogo, disclosed their decision in a statement released on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

According to reports, the daughters expressed gratitude to Nigerians, friends, family members and prominent figures in the entertainment industry who supported them following their father’s death.

Lima, who spoke on behalf of the family, appreciated everyone who reached out to them and offered support during their period of mourning.

She also acknowledged the contributions of several notable personalities, including Honourable Tayo Ayinde, Nigeria’s First Lady, the Ogun State governor, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, and the Olu of Ilaro.

Lima said the family remained thankful to everyone who showed them love, provided assistance and stood by them during the difficult period.

She further revealed that fans of their late father would continue to experience aspects of his legacy through her sister, Kira Ogogo, who is preparing to begin her career in the entertainment industry.

The family expressed confidence that their entry into Nollywood would help keep their father’s name and contributions to the Nigerian film industry alive.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Lima said, “On behalf of my family and I, we want to say thank you very much to everybody who stood by us. We are going to start seeing Ogogo through my sister Kira Ogogo. We are coming to the industry and we are here to stay.”

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has described Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), as a skit maker and comedian.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Basiru made the remarks while reacting to the AAC’s request to use the Presidential Villa in Abuja for the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant it access to the presidential facility for the event. It also requested that the Presidency provide food, drinks and other logistical support for participants at the programme scheduled for November 11, 2026.

The requests were contained in a letter dated October 21, 2026, and signed by the party’s National Secretary, Oshiokhai Ikpeminioghena.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Basiru argued that Nigerians would take Sowore more seriously as a politician if he could secure a seat in a State House of Assembly.

He said, “Sowore is a skit maker. Let him struggle to even get a seat in the House of Assembly as a politician, and then people will begin to take him seriously.”

The APC national secretary also questioned the electoral strength of Sowore’s party, citing its performance in the 2023 general elections.

Taking a swipe at the AAC, Basiru said rejected ballot papers recorded more votes than the party during the election, using the claim to argue that the party lacked significant electoral support.

He stated, “Even rejected ballot papers had more votes than his party in the 2023 election. This shows that rejected ballot papers are more popular than his political party. So he is just making skit.”

When the television host challenged his assessment by suggesting that Sowore was a strong contender, Basiru dismissed the suggestion and maintained that the AAC leader lacked the political strength to pose a serious challenge.

“Which strong contender? He also knows that he cannot contend anything, if I see him, I will tell him, Sowore you are just a comedian,” he added.