1. Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will consult widely before making a decision on calls urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election, stressing that the race for Nigeria’s highest office “is not a computer game.”
Jonathan spoke on Thursday while receiving youth groups who visited his office in Abuja to press him to join the race, saying he had taken note of their appeal but would not rush into a political decision without wide consultations.
2. The All Progressives Congress is facing growing internal tensions across several states as its consensus arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections continues to generate resistance, competing interests, and political realignments within the party structure. Findings by The PUNCH show that in some states, including Katsina, Borno, and Jigawa, party stakeholders have adopted the consensus option as a strategy to reduce intra-party conflict and promote unity ahead of the elections.
3. The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council will commence computer-based examinations this year as part of efforts to curb examination malpractice and modernise Nigeria’s assessment system. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during NECO’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Abuja.
4. A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman on a 12-count money-laundering charge, in which he is accused of diverting about N33.8 billion in public funds. Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment on Thursday, held that the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, proved its case against Mamman beyond a reasonable doubt, as required by law.
5. Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has announced his appointment as Nigeria’s Ambassador-Designate to South Africa, following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said the appointment came after he formally requested a redeployment from an earlier posting to Germany, citing personal and professional considerations.
6. Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has been relieved of his position as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, just hours after he represented All Progressives Congress governors at the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination and expression of interest forms in Abuja on Thursday. The decision was announced at an extraordinary meeting of about 20 progressive governors held in Abuja on Thursday night.
7. Twelve Governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on Thursday escorted the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, to formally submit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nomination and expression of interest forms to the national officers of the party in Abuja. Governors present at the event were that of Plateau, Ogun, Niger, Kaduna, Ondo, Katsina, Borno, Cross River, Taraba, Yobe, Nasarawa and Bayelsa.
8.The Senate on Thursday rescinded controversial amendments to its Standing Orders 2026 following concerns by lawmakers that some of the provisions were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution. The reversal came barely days after the upper chamber amended portions of its rules, a move that had triggered controversy and sharp exchanges among senators.
9. Troops of the 12 Brigade, Nigerian Army, have rescued the remaining nine victims abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Zariagi, Lokoja, Kogi State, while also foiling an alleged terrorist logistics operation in separate coordinated operations. The Army disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 12 Brigade, Hassan Abdullahi.
10. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has formally picked up the nomination form of the Allied Peoples Movement to contest the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections. The governor, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, received the form during the APM National Executive Committee meeting on Thursday.
