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Olubadan denies endorsing LP’s Obi

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The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, has described claims that he endorsed the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi for the 2023 presidency as falsehood concocted to mislead the general public.

The denial followed viral video being shared by Obi’s supporters in which one of the chiefs of Olubadan was seen praying for the success of the Labour Party candidate.

The video was shot during the visit of Obi and Labour Party leaders to the palace of the last Saturday.

The Labour Party presidential candidate was received by the Ibadan monarch and some of his high chiefs at his Alarere residence.

But in a statement issued on Tuesday, the palace of Olubadan said the prayer for Obi does not amount to endorsement of his candidacy as being insinuated by the LP’s presidential candidate supporters.

The Palace emphasized that Olubadan and his cabinet members cannot belong to any political party and would never express preference for any candidate or political party in the public.

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It added that the the palace of Olubadan belongs to all just as the occupier of the exalted stool remains father of all as well.

The full statement read: “The attention of the palace of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II has been drawn to the claim of endorsement of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi by the monarch and his members of Advisory Council, a claim described as false and self concocted one to mislead the general public.

“The palace could have ignored the report and dismissed it with a wave of hand, but with the torrents of inquiries by some of our credible media houses seeking clarification before publishing and the need to counter social media trending of the foul report without professional touch, this reaction becomes imperative.

“How could anybody would have in his or widest imagination assume that a presidential candidate of any political party would receive an open endorsement from a place like the palace of Olubadan? That must be a crude joke carried too far. It is preposterous to say the least.

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“While discountenancing the claim of endorsement by the Olubadan Advisory Council, our politicians are counseled to please leave the palace out of their game. The campaign is just starting and the visits to the palaces are part of the itinerary of the candidates and how would they feel should the gates of palaces be locked against them?

“For the umpteenth time, let it be emphasized that Olubadan and his cabinet members do not and cannot belong to any political party and they would never express preference for any candidate or political party in the public no matter the degree of temptation. The palace of Olubadan belongs to all just as the occupier of the exalted stool remains father of all as well.

“In the meantime, I commend my professional colleagues and their respective media houses who saw the oddity in such claim and sought for further clarifications following their putting the report in abeyance.

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“I also appeal to the social media handlers to always think twice before rushing out with report as the season we are in presently does not call for undue sensationalism,” the monarch added.

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Tinubu returns to Nigeria after state visit to UK

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President Bola Tinubu arrived in Lagos early on Friday following a two-day historic visit to the United Kingdom.

The president is expected to join Muslim faithful later in the day to mark the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr.

Tinubu and his wife, the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, touched down at about 1:15 a.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport.

They were received on arrival by top government officials and party members, including Lagos State Deputy Governor Femi Hamzat and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside other All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

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Tinubu departs UK for Nigeria after historic state visit

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has departed the the United Kingdom for Nigeria following a high-profile state visit.

This was disclosed on Friday morning by the President’s Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu depart London for Nigeria. President Tinubu and his wife are heading to Lagos for the Eid-el-Fitr celebration,” Onanuga wrote on his Facebook page.

The visit was marked by royal engagements, economic discussions and renewed diplomatic ties.

Tinubu was first received by King Charles III at Windsor Castle, where both leaders held talks aimed at strengthening relations between Nigeria and the UK. The visit featured ceremonial honours, including a carriage procession and a state banquet attended by senior members of the royal family.

At the banquet, Tinubu emphasised the importance of stronger cooperation between both countries. “Nigeria remains ready to deepen its partnership with the United Kingdom in trade, investment and shared prosperity,” he said. “We are committed to creating an environment that supports investors and drives sustainable growth,” Tinubu said.

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On his part, King Charles highlighted the enduring relationship between the two nations. “The United Kingdom and Nigeria share deep and enduring ties. Our countries are bound not only by history, but by a shared commitment to opportunity, enterprise and cultural exchange,” the monarch said.

Beyond the royal engagements, Tinubu also took part in meetings with UK officials, including discussions linked to the government of Keir Starmer, focusing on economic collaboration and investment opportunities.

Speaking on the outcomes of the visit, Tinubu said: “This visit has opened new pathways for cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and trade. We look forward to translating these discussions into tangible benefits for our people.”

A key development from the trip was progress on an agreement involving the rehabilitation of Nigerian ports, valued at hundreds of millions of pounds. According to officials, the project is expected to boost maritime capacity and support economic growth.

Tinubu also acknowledged the significance of the visit, noting that it comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy. “We are determined to reposition our economy through strategic partnerships such as this,” he said.

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Good morning! Nigerian Newspapers Headlines: 2027 gov poll: Succession firestorm heats up in 10 states

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1. The simmering build-up to the 2027 general elections is rapidly giving way to an expansive and high-stakes succession season in at least 10 states, as governors in their final terms prepare to exit and a new generation of political actors moves to take their place.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara) are in the final lap of their constitutionally permitted two-term, four-year tenures, and the battle for their successors has begun across the states


2. President Bola Tinubu on Thursday night departed London after a two-day historic visit at the instance of the royal family. He is expected to land in Abuja on Friday morning.


3. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on the Nigerian military to adopt a more proactive strategy against terrorist groups in the wake of deadly bombings in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Abubakar made the appeal on Wednesday evening while declaring Friday as Eid-el-Fitr, marking the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.


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4. Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State says the time of Boko Haram informants and their sympathizers is up, vowing that they would be tracked and made to face the full wrath of the law. The governor gave the warning during a state-wide broadcast on Thursday.


5. There was panic at St. Matthias Catholic Church, Agulu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, after a fully loaded lorry crashed into the church premises and caught fire. The incident, which occurred late on Wednesday along the Agulu Lake–Golden Tulip Hotel Road, caused gridlock as motorists slowed down while emergency responders battled to contain the blaze.



6. Nigeria has entered into a fresh agreement with the United Kingdom that will enable British authorities to repatriate thousands of failed asylum seekers and convicted offenders to the West African nation. The deal was formalised by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Britain.


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7. Combined security operatives have arrested three suspected bandits linked to the February 3, 2026 attack on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The arrest was disclosed on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Ibraheem Abdullateef, in a Facebook post.



8. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kano Strategic Command, has arrested a suspect and recovered 510 blocks of cannabis sativa in a major pre–Eid-el-Fitr operation. The State Commander, D.Y. Lawal, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari.


9. Nigeria has been ranked the fourth most terrorized country in the world, according to the Global Terrorism Index, 2026, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, a non-profit think tank headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The report showed that 750 Nigerians lost their lives to terrorism in 2025, representing a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous year.



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10. The Police Command in Enugu State has detained three suspects in coordinated crime prevention operations across the state, recovering a firearm, ammunition and a tricycle. The command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Enugu. Ndukwe said that on March 15, about 9 a.m., operatives on patrol along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway intercepted an unregistered tricycle.

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