1. The presidential ambition of former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, is facing serious resistance from some northern political stakeholders and sections of the electorate, findings by Sunday PUNCH have revealed.
Some of the stakeholders, who spoke with our correspondents, disclosed that “majority of northerners” had yet to embrace his party, the Nigeria Democratic Congress. It was also gathered that some northern leaders had started warning their followers against the party, while portraying Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as anti-northern interests
2. The Gombe State Police Command has debunked a viral social media video suggesting that youths in the state were mobilising to confront insurgents. The video, which circulated widely on Facebook, showed gunshots in the background and was wrongly interpreted by some users as a warning to insurgents.
3. The Police Command in Osun State has arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly spreading false information about a bandits’ invasion of the state.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Osogbo by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi.
4. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced that it will release the list of successful candidates eligible to purchase nomination forms today, in preparation for its upcoming internal processes ahead of future elections. According to the party, the approved aspirants will be officially unveiled after the release, marking a key step in the party’s candidate selection process.
5. The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) has commended the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals over its achievement in raising crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), describing the development as a major milestone for Nigeria’s energy sector and a reflection of the country’s industrial potential. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon..Ikenga Ugochinyere, the Committee said the refinery’s performance, which exceeded its 650,000 bpd nameplate capacity during a test conducted by its process licensors, demonstrates world-class engineering, operational efficiency, and strong strategic investment in Nigeria’s economic future.
6. Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the reconstruction and dualisation of the Gombe-Biu highway. The federal government on Thursday flagged off the reconstruction and dualisation of the 125-kilometre Gombe-Biu section of the corridor at a cost of N1.245 trillion
7. The Federal Government has said the screening of Nigerians in South Africa who registered for voluntary evacuation following renewed xenophobic attacks will end today.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this to journalists on Saturday.
8. Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have neutralised bandits and dismantled their hideouts in the highlands bordering Zamfara, around Dangulbi and Kurawa villages in Tureta Local Government Area of Sokoto State. A reliable security source disclosed the major operational successes to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Sokoto
9. The abductors of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, former Director of Defence Information, and his wife released a video on Saturday showing the couple in captivity. Abubakar, a retired major general, served as Director of Defence Information, the media arm of the Defence Headquarters, between 2015 and 2017
10. The Nigeria Police Force on Saturday provided fresh details of the operation that led to the rescue of relatives of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, three days after they were abducted in Ibadan, Oyo State. In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon Placid, the police said Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons, Peter and Paul, were rescued unharmed during a coordinated operation carried out by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT).
