1. Organised labour will decide its next course of action after a crucial meeting with the Federal Government on Tuesday (today), with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress demanding concrete proposals on petrol prices, wage negotiations and other unresolved workers’ welfare issues amid the threat of nationwide industrial action.

The talks, which follow an earlier meeting that ended without an agreement, are expected to determine whether the government can address labour’s demands before the unions’ ultimatum expires.

2. Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday urged Nigerians, especially business leaders and other influential people, to take the country’s economic future seriously. 
According to him, discerning Nigerians should be bold to support economic policies capable of bringing the nation back from the precipice. Quoting a famous  political thinker, Frantz Fanon, he said: “Every onlooker is either a coward or a traitor.”

3. A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 25 for former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai to open his defence in the ongoing trial over alleged unlawful interception of telephone conversations. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik fixed the date on Monday after dismissing a no-case submission filed by El-Rufai, ruling that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require him to defend himself against the charges.

4. Nigeria’s index case of the imported Ebola virus disease has been evacuated to Switzerland for further care, Minister of Health, Ali Pate, has said. Pate disclosed that the patient departed Abuja earlier on Monday with his approval, adding that her spouse, who has remained asymptomatic, accompanied her. In a statement, the minister said the patient’s clinical condition had improved significantly before the evacuation.

5. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, for saying the prevailing hardship in the country was caused by the opposition. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, on Monday, said the opposition, especially the PDP, is not responsible for the hardship in the country.
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6. England captain Harry Kane has been crowned the winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, claiming football’s most prestigious individual award. The Bayern Munich striker emerged as the standout player at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, held on Monday, October 26, after an outstanding year for club and country.

7. The Senate has assured Nigerians that legislation to establish state police will be enacted before the end of the year, following the approval of the constitutional amendment by the required 24 state Houses of Assembly.
The assurance came as the Ondo State House of Assembly, on Monday, passed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, to establish the State Police Services in Nigeria.

8. The Independent National Electoral Commission has decided to publish the preliminary register of voters for the 2027 general elections online following concerns from Nigerians and other stakeholders over its accessibility. The commission announced the decision on Monday, saying the register, which was displayed physically at registration areas nationwide from October 9 to 15.

9. Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested 14 Chinese nationals and one Nigerian at four illegal lithium processing plants in the Ogere area of Ogun State. The anti-graft agency stated on Monday via its X handle that the operation was carried out when its operatives busted the illegal lithium plants.

10. Troops of the Joint Task Force, North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have neutralised eight suspected terrorists and rescued three kidnapped victims during coordinated operations in Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara states. The operations, conducted between Saturday and Sunday, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, three locally fabricated guns, three motorcycles, cutlasses and assorted charms.

A major trouble may be brewing in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the condemnation of the party’s presidential campaign council list by the Obi-Kwankwaso movement.

 
John Ughulu, director-general of the OK movement, in a statement issued  on Monday, said announcing the list less than three months before the general election raises questions about the party’s readiness for the poll.

Ughulu said most of the big names on listed as members of the council lack the grassroots support needed to win a national election.

The NDC had unveiled a 155-member campaign council on Sunday, naming Seriake Dickson, national leader of the party, as chairman, while Peter Obi, its presidential candidate, serves as co-chairman.

The party also appointed Cleopas Zuwoghe, the NDC national chairman, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, its vice-presidential candidate, as vice-chairman and co-vice-chairman, respectively.

Ikenna Enekweizu, the party’s national secretary, is to serve as council secretary, while Ibrahim Abdulkarim, an ICT strategist, was appointed director-general.

Ughulu questioned the timing of the announcement and the movement’s assessment of the party’s organisational preparedness. 

“With less than three months to the general elections, they are only just announcing their Presidential Campaign Council. What exactly have they been doing all this time? Where is the structure? Where is the strategy? Where is the machinery required to prosecute a serious national election?” Ughulu asked.

“Elections are not won by titles, press releases, political noise, or the number of big names on a campaign council.

“Elections are won through grassroots mobilisation, effective coordination, strategic planning, committed people, and a well-established structure that reaches every polling unit.”

The OK movement DG claimed that many members of the NDC campaign council may eventually seek the group’s support and organisational network.

He said unlike the party, the movement had prioritised grassroots organisation ahead of the election, describing a presidential ambition without a functional grassroots structure as “nothing more than a political wish”.

“The OK Movement is not a political decoration, a temporary support group, or an organisation that exists merely to applaud political leaders,” Ughulu said.

“We are a movement built on principles, driven by purpose, and determined to demonstrate what serious political organisation should look like.

“Let those who are only just waking up to the realities of election preparation learn from the difference between having political ambition and possessing the capacity to execute it. The OK Movement is ready. The question is: are they?”

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday dismissed a no-case submission by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and ordered him to enter his defence, if he so desires, in his ongoing trial over the alleged unlawful interception of the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order while ruling on the no-case submission filed by El-Rufai.

The judge held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to warrant calling on the former governor to enter his defence.

For El-Rufai, the ruling is opportunity to respond to the allegations against him as the trial progresses.

It would be recalled that an FCT High Court presided over by Justice Sylvanus Oriji had, last  week dismissed El-Rufai’s ₦120 million fundamental rights suit against the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The court held that the agencies’ actions, including invitations, an attempted arrest at the airport and the seizure of his passport, did not violate his fundamental rights. It also awarded costs of ₦200,000 against each respondent.

El-Rufai is also facing other ongoing cases, including corruption and money laundering matters linked to the ICPC in Kaduna.