President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to inaugurate members of his 2027 presidential campaign council on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) steps up preparations for the forthcoming general election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, announced the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.

The announcement followed the party’s release of a revised campaign council list on Monday night, featuring prominent political figures, including Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; and former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola.

Tinubu will serve as chairman of the council, with Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, occupying the positions of first and second vice chairmen, respectively.

Former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was appointed Director-General of the campaign council, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary.

In his statement on Tuesday evening, Morka said the inauguration would take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He added that attendance would be restricted to the leadership of the council’s various directorates.

The updated list, obtained by journalists on Tuesday, also named Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq among the council’s vice chairmen.

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu were appointed deputy directors-general. Senator Adams Oshiomhole was named Deputy Director-General in charge of mobilisation.

President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, will oversee administration, while Ibrahim Masari will be responsible for logistics and operations.

Former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Masari was appointed Deputy Director-General for Parliament Mobilisation. Meanwhile, Works Minister David Umahi will coordinate infrastructure mobilisation and sensitisation.

James Faleke, who represents Agege Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, was assigned responsibility for election planning, coordination and monitoring.

The APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, were named assistant secretaries.

The campaign structure also includes zonal coordinators and co-coordinators representing the country’s six geopolitical zones.

At the state level, several governors and prominent political figures were appointed campaign coordinators. They include Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Babagana Zulum of Borno, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Abba Yusuf of Kano, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, and Ademola Adeleke of Osun.

Wike was assigned to coordinate campaign activities in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, while Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal will lead the campaign effort in his state.

The council also features several former governors, party leaders and senior government officials as advisers.

Those listed include former APC national chairmen Adebisi Akande and Abdullahi Adamu; former Ogun State governors Ibikunle Amosun and Segun Osoba; former Osun State Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore; former Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo; Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume; and former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.

Within the Directorate of Election Planning, Coordination, Monitoring and Mobilisation, established ahead of the 2027 general elections, Faleke will serve as Deputy Director-General. Stella Okotete and Abdullahi Garba Ramat were named Secretary I and Secretary II, respectively.

Aminu Masari will head the Directorate of General Logistics and Operations as Deputy Director-General, with Adeniyi Tinubu and Yakub Bashir Bello serving as deputies. Professor Kabiru Isa was appointed secretary of the directorate.

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Betta Edu will lead the Women Mobilisation Directorate as the APC prepares its campaign machinery for the 2027 presidential election.

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has been taken to hospital for an MRI scan after sustaining an injury during Nigeria’s 5-0 victory over Comoros in the second leg of their second-round qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games on Tuesday.The injury occurred during a first-half collision at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, raising concerns about the availability of the Nigerian skipper for the team’s upcoming matches. Folashade Ijamilusi was brought on to replace Ajibade.
Despite losing their captain early in the encounter, Nigeria delivered a commanding performance to secure a 7-0 aggregate victory and progress to the third round of the qualifiers, having won the first leg 2-0.
Toni Payne opened the scoring before Uchenna Kanu struck twice in the second half. Payne later completed her brace, while Christy Ucheibe converted a penalty to seal the emphatic win.
Second-half substitute Blessing Okpe also made a significant contribution, providing the assist for Payne’s second goal and winning the penalty that Ucheibe converted.
Interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen expressed hope that Ajibade had not suffered a serious injury while commending the team for its performance.
“Unfortunately, we lost Ajibade early in the game, but I think and I hope and I pray that the injury is very minor,” Eguavoen said.
The coach added that the team had moved on from its disappointment at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and had shifted its attention to qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“At the first meeting we had, we collectively agreed that we put the WAFCON disappointment behind us and set our eyes on the gold medal in the Olympics,” he stated.
Eguavoen acknowledged that Nigeria would encounter tougher opposition in the subsequent rounds but expressed confidence in the squad’s talent, depth and support.
“Going forward, we expect to meet tougher oppositions, no doubt about that. Super Falcons are number one in Africa. We have the quality, we have the personnel, we have the support,” he added.
The Super Falcons will face Morocco in the third round of the Olympic qualifiers as they continue their quest to secure a place at the 2028 Games.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has identified artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency as emerging challenges making it increasingly difficult for security agencies to apprehend terrorists.Ribadu said terrorist groups were exploiting social media platforms, cryptocurrencies and other modern technologies to recruit members, move funds secretly and coordinate attacks across West Africa and the Sahel region.
The NSA made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a three-day regional training conference.
Represented at the event by the National Coordinator of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, Ribadu explained that terrorist organisations were increasingly relying on digital platforms to spread propaganda, finance their activities and coordinate cross-border operations.
He warned that the growing adoption of artificial intelligence, drones and virtual assets had introduced additional security challenges for Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
“Emerging technologies add further complexity: Artificial Intelligence can rapidly produce personalised content; drones and autonomous systems can expand operational capabilities; and virtual assets can create new financing channels. We must, therefore, strengthen our ability to anticipate, detect, analyse and disrupt threats before they materialise,” he said.
Ribadu emphasised the importance of strengthening technical capacity, building institutional expertise and improving collaboration among security agencies to tackle the evolving threats.
He also called for enhanced intelligence sharing across borders and the prompt exchange of information on cyber threats among countries in West Africa and the Sahel.
According to the NSA, the fight against terrorism requires a coordinated approach involving governments, security institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
“Nigeria recognises that no institution, country or sector can defeat terrorism alone,” he stated.
The three-day conference attracted participants from West African and Sahelian countries, as well as representatives of the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Multinational Joint Task Force, regional intelligence organisations and international bodies.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶