Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has asserted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacks the strength to capture the presidency in 2027, maintaining that anyone running on the party’s ticket would be a “paperweight” politician. Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Fayose bluntly stated that any presidential hopeful emerging from the PDP holds no real political weight.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Meanwhile, political alignments ahead of 2027 continue to shift. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike recently addressed comments made by Imo State Governor and Progressive Governors Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodimma. Following an APC governors’ meeting in Abuja, Uzodimma announced that the ruling party’s governors had resolved to shun parallel structures or political alliances that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, focusing exclusively on APC-sponsored candidates.

In response, Wike—through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka—reaffirmed his unwavering support for President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election. Wike clarified that his involvement in a “rainbow coalition” is designed for political parties that back the President’s achievements, distancing it entirely from the APC. He emphasized that just as he and the G5 governors supported Tinubu in 2023 without an official merger with the APC, a similar independent principle will guide their stance for 2027.

• High-Risk Zones Identified: Ahead of the upcoming Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pointed out security vulnerabilities in specific council areas.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Threats of Thuggery: According to Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Umar-Mukhtar Gajiram, Gombe and Funakaye LGAs have been marked as high-risk zones primarily due to the potential threat posed by political thugs known as ‘Kalare boys’, who might intimidate voters or disrupt the process.

  • Kwami Under Close Watch: Meanwhile, Kwami LGA is being closely monitored due to recent herder-related attacks and its shared border with Borno State, raising the need to watch out for cross-border security spillover.

  • Proactive Measures: The electoral commission clarified that mapping these areas as high-risk is not meant to stigmatize local communities, but rather to enable security agencies to deploy targeted preventative strategies.

• Court Admission: Former England international footballer Raheem Sterling, 31, appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving following a crash in May.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Additional Charges: Alongside dangerous driving, Sterling also admitted to possessing nitrous oxide for wrongful inhalation and failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

  • The Incident: According to Hampshire Police and Naija News, the single-vehicle accident occurred on the morning of May 28 when his Lamborghini collided with motorway barriers on the M3 southbound near the Minley interchange. Fortunately, no other vehicles were involved and no injuries were reported.

  • Career Background: Sterling, who has earned 82 caps for England and last played internationally at the 2022 World Cup, has experienced a challenging recent club trajectory. After leaving Chelsea in January, he made eight appearances for Dutch club Feyenoord. Previously, he won four Premier League titles with Manchester City, played for Liverpool, and had stints at Arsenal (on loan) and Chelsea.