The All Progressives Congress (APC) has included the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; and Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, in its expanded presidential campaign council for the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to reports, President Bola Tinubu is expected to inaugurate the campaign council at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

Under the revised arrangement, Wike has been assigned responsibility for coordinating campaign activities in Rivers State and the FCT. Soludo and Adeleke will oversee campaign activities in Anambra and Osun states, respectively.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has been appointed Deputy National Coordinator I, with responsibility for stakeholder mobilisation in the South-West.

The appointments bring politicians affiliated with other political parties into the APC’s presidential campaign structure.

Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Soludo secured a second term in November 2025 under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Adeleke, meanwhile, won re-election on August 16 under the Accord Party.

The expanded council also features changes to several leadership positions contained in the initial list released on August 22.

In the original arrangement, former Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari was appointed Director-General, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni were named deputy directors-general.

However, the revised structure assigns Akpabio, Abbas and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq the positions of Deputy Vice-Chairmen I, II and III, respectively.

Buni has been moved to the position of Deputy Director-General I for the North, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin will serve as Deputy Director-General II for the region.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu have also been appointed Deputy Directors-General I and II for the South, respectively.

The revised list further names all 32 APC governors as campaign coordinators in their respective states.

In Oyo State, the party’s governorship candidate, Sharafadeen Alli, will coordinate campaign activities. Similarly, Mohammed Abubakar, the APC’s governorship candidate in Bauchi State, and Chijioke Chukwu, the party’s flagbearer in Abia State, have been assigned coordination responsibilities in their respective states.

The campaign council also features 14 advisers, including former APC National Chairman Bisi Akande, former Ogun State Governor Segun Osoba, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, former senator Florence Ita-Giwa, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore and former Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) revised timetable, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections commenced on August 19 and are scheduled to end on January 14, 2027.

Tinubu is expected to face other presidential contenders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

The expanded campaign council is expected to coordinate the APC’s mobilisation efforts and political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The full list of campaign council members contains the complete details of the appointments and assigned responsibilities.

Nigeria international goalkeeper Maduka Okoye made a costly error as Udinese suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, falling 2-1 to Torino in a Serie A encounter on Monday, October 12.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Torino substitute Sandro Kulenovic scored the decisive goal in the 67th minute after Okoye mistimed his attempt to clear the ball and collided with his teammate, Nicolo Bertola.

The defensive misunderstanding left Kulenovic with an unguarded goal, allowing him to score and secure all three points for Torino.

Torino had taken the lead in the 36th minute through Daniel Bragança, but Udinese responded seven minutes later when Jurgen Ekkelenkamp found the net to restore parity before the half-time break.

Udinese went into the match hoping to end their losing streak, but Okoye’s costly mistake ultimately proved decisive as they suffered another disappointing result.

Following the game, Udinese head coach Kosta Runjaic likened the incident to a similar error that contributed to his side’s defeat against Cagliari before the international break. The manager also accepted responsibility for the team’s poor run of form.

“We lost because of a big mistake, like against Cagliari. As head coach, I’m responsible too. It was a lack of communication and perception, and with mistakes like these you end up losing games,” Runjaic said, according to Football Italia, citing TuttoMercatoWeb.

The German-born tactician also expressed disappointment with his team’s attacking performance, arguing that they failed to create enough scoring opportunities. He pointed out that Torino’s opening goal had come from a set-piece situation.

“We didn’t score or create many chances. The defensive error is costly, but Torino’s first goal also came from a set piece. Congratulations to Torino,” he added.

Despite the setback, Runjaic vowed to keep the squad united and maintain the players’ confidence as they attempt to recover from their difficult start to the campaign.

“I’ll try to keep the team united and morale high. In the end, the result is that we lost, and we have to get through this moment by encouraging one another,” the manager stated.

The defeat leaves Udinese with four points from six league matches, following a run of four consecutive losses that has increased pressure on the team to improve its performances.

Nevertheless, Runjaic highlighted the contributions of defender Oumar Solet and goalscorer Ekkelenkamp, praising their displays despite the disappointing outcome.

He also expressed optimism that the return of injured players would provide a boost to the squad and help Udinese end their losing streak in the coming fixtures.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged political candidates in Lagos State to prepare to protect voters against violence and intimidation during the 2027 general elections, citing incidents that occurred during the previous election, Naija News reports.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Falana called on candidates from different political parties to unite in safeguarding the votes of eligible residents, irrespective of their political affiliations or ethnic backgrounds.

He warned that politicians who fear losing elections could resort to violence and thuggery in an attempt to prevent eligible voters from exercising their civic rights.

“Let me now warn the candidates: Going by what happened during the last election, violence will be introduced. Many people will not be allowed to vote, unless you guys are ready to form, regardless of your political parties, to form a group that will defend the vote of everybody in Lagos,” he said at a public event, according to a video shared by News Central TV.

The lawyer also criticised attempts to prevent people from voting based on their appearance or perceived ethnic identity, insisting that every eligible Nigerian must be allowed to participate in the democratic process.

“We didn’t fight for this rickety democracy, that somebody will look at your face: ‘Oh, you should not vote in this country,’” Falana said.

He appealed to political candidates to set aside their differences and work collectively to ensure the safety of voters during the elections.

Falana further warned against the use of violence and thuggery to intimidate people because of their ethnic backgrounds or place of origin.

“And I want to beg you, if you are ready to defend the vote of everybody, and it’s very important, because those who cannot win elections, resort to violence, thuggery, where you come from, that you don’t look like a Yoruba man, therefore you must not vote. In Lagos, in Nigeria, that must not be allowed,” he added.

Falana Questions ₦15 Trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Project

Beyond the forthcoming elections, Falana raised concerns about the estimated ₦15 trillion cost of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, calling on the Federal Government to explain how the funds allocated to the project would be utilised.

He also expressed concern over reports that the highway, originally conceived to run along Nigeria’s southern coastline, was being redirected inland, suggesting that funding constraints could be responsible for the change.

“The road, coastal road has now become land road, I’m sure you are aware.

“What I’m saying is that, after Ogun State, they now said they are going from Edo to go by land, because they can’t fund it. Again, we must now ask questions: What are the 15 trillion naira earmarked for that road?” he said.

Falana stressed that Nigerians have a responsibility to demand accountability from public officials by asking questions about the management and expenditure of public funds.

He maintained that scrutinising government spending was essential to ensuring transparency and accountability.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the major infrastructure projects being undertaken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The road is designed to link Lagos with Calabar in Cross River State, following Nigeria’s southern coastal corridor.

The project has an estimated cost of about ₦15 trillion upon completion and has generated public debate over its overall cost, route and funding arrangements.