1. The decision by the Nigeria Democratic Congress to commence registration of support groups ahead of the election has caused fresh row between the party and some support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket.
The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the Kwankwassiya groups registered their disagreements in separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH.
The NDC had earlier, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and warned state chapters against collecting fees from groups seeking registration.
2. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has delayed his return to Nigeria from his working vacation in Europe, with his arrival now expected on Tuesday, September 29, according to reports. The President had been expected to return to Nigeria this weekend following an earlier extension of his stay abroad, but his itinerary has since been revised, with Tuesday now the likely return date.
3. Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Nigeria after leading the country’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States, where the Federal Government renewed its push for reforms of the global governance and financial systems. Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the annual gathering of world leaders, used the engagements to advance Nigeria’s demand for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, fairer development financing, stronger climate support and greater economic opportunities for developing countries.
4. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, has given the Federal Government two weeks to resolve outstanding welfare and professional issues affecting its members or risk industrial action. The ultimatum was part of the resolutions reached at the association’s 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on Sunday in Calabar, Cross River State.
5. Amid rising concerns over restrictions imposed by some banks on customers’ Financial Vanguard learnt that the apex bank would intervene on the side of customers by compelling banks to honour all legitimate withdrawal requests from domiciliary accounts and dispense foreign currencies as requested by account holders. Several bank customers have told Financial Vanguard that various banks have adopted different tactics to impose total or partial restrictions on cash withdrawals from their foreign currency accounts.
6. The Federal Government has approved the comprehensive modernisation and upgrade of four major ports in the eastern and southern corridors as part of measures to expand Nigeria’s cargo-handling capacity and reduce the concentration of maritime traffic around Lagos. The affected ports are Onne Port in Rivers State, Rivers Port, Delta Port and Calabar Port in Cross River State.
7. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general election, saying INEC has no candidate or political party to favour. In a post obtained from INEC’s X handle on Sunday, Amupitan stated that elections were fundamentally about the social contract between citizens and those entrusted with public office.
8. Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, OPFY, have killed a suspected terrorist and rescued six kidnap victims in separate operations in Sokoto and Zamfara states. The operations, conducted on Saturday, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, a foreign military uniform and other items, according to the task force.
9. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga says President Bola Tinubu is “hale and hearty” and currently on a working vacation, dismissing concerns over the President’s absence from Nigeria. Onanuga said Tinubu was entitled to his annual vacation and did not need to be physically present in Abuja to discharge his responsibilities in an era of digital communication
10. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has intercepted 2.55 million opioid pills weighing 1,640.55kg in three consignments at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos. The agency disclosed this in a statement issued by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
