Nigerian News: Morning Headlines – 30 October 2026

INEC Clears Pantami, Gwarzo For 2027 Elections, Rejects Adebutu’s Petition

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, and Kano NDC governorship candidate, Abdulsalam Gwarzo, to contest the 2027 elections, subject to pending court cases. The commission rejected Ogun PDP governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu’s request for inclusion. An INEC source said about 36 of 69 petitions from political parties succeeded.

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Court Sacks Uzodimma As APC Imo West Senatorial Candidate, Declares Okorocha Winner

A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, on Thursday ordered Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma to stop presenting himself as the APC candidate for the January 16, 2027 Imo West Senatorial election. The judge ruled that Uzodimma did not win the May 18 primary and that former governor Rochas Okorocha polled the majority of votes. The APC must submit Okorocha’s name.

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It’s Not About How Much We Borrow – Tinubu Defends Fresh Loans

President Bola Tinubu has defended the Federal Government’s request for fresh loans from international institutions and banks. “The real question is not how much we borrow, but what we build, what value we create and what future we leave behind,” he said, according to spokesman Bayo Onanuga. He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, Trans-Sahara Superhighway, grid upgrades and Lagos port modernisation as key projects.

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NAFDAC Destroys N8bn Banned, Fake Products In Nasarawa

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has destroyed banned, fake and adulterated products worth about N8 billion seized during enforcement operations in the North-Central zone. The exercise took place on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the agency’s North-Central zonal destruction of regulated products.

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Obi: Tinubu Spent 260 Days Abroad, Can’t Spare 36 To Campaign

NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday alleged that President Bola Tinubu spent over 260 days out of the country but cannot spend 36 days touring the states to campaign for next year’s election. Obi, who declared himself the leading 2027 presidential candidate, said the President lacks the energy to run the country and should leave Aso Rock.

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Troops Neutralise 44 Boko Haram, ISWAP Terrorists In Borno

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, have neutralised 44 suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists in several offensive operations across Borno State. The operations also left scores of terrorists injured, while their vehicles, motorcycles and improvised explosive device materials were destroyed.

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Police Arrest 14 Over Attack On APC Convoy In Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command on Thursday arrested 14 suspects over an attack on a convoy of APC supporters along the Yashi–Funtua Road in Malumfashi Local Government Area. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as the convoy travelled through Malumfashi to Funtua for a campaign flag-off.

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Tinubu Arrives Saudi Arabia For Umrah

President Bola Tinubu arrived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday evening to perform the Umrah, also known as the lesser hajj. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Nigeria’s ambassador, Yakubu Gambo, BUA CEO Abdulsamad Rabiu, Senator A.A Yari and Saudi head of royal protocol Ahmad bin Thafir. The presidential aircraft left Abuja at about 2.20 pm.

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154 Katsina Students Hospitalised After Suspected Reaction To Bilharzia Drug

One hundred and fifty-four students of Government Science Secondary School, Batagarawa, Katsina State, were hospitalised after a suspected adverse reaction to praziquantel tablets given to treat bilharzia. The incident occurred on Monday, according to a Thursday statement by the state police spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu.

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Troops Arrest Bandit Logistics Suppliers, Armed Robbers In Benue

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke, have arrested two suspected bandit logistics suppliers and two suspected armed robbers in Benue State. A statement by Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, Acting Media Information Officer, made available in Makurdi on Wednesday, said the arrests were made on October 28.

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Ajaero Tackles TUC Over ₦70,000 Transport Allowance

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, has criticised the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for rejecting the Federal Government’s ₦70,000 six-month transport allowance. Speaking on Channels Television, he said the TUC pulled out of the negotiation and cannot reject an agreement it did not help reach. He added that the NLC did not agree to August 2027 for the next minimum wage talks.

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APC Reacts To Claim Ministers Pay Billions For Appointments

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to its chieftain Alwan Hassan’s claim that ministers pay billions of naira to be appointed. Speaking on Arise Television, Morka said Hassan was referring to the past, not the Tinubu administration, and was taken out of context. He insisted appointments are based on merit, competence and capacity to deliver.

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‘You Can’t Put Me In A Box’ – Uzor Arukwe On Movie Roles

Nollywood actor Uzor Arukwe has said producers cannot limit him to one type of role. Speaking on The Creativitea Podcast, he accused producers of repeatedly offering him “Odogwu” roles because they believe it guarantees returns on investment. He urged them to take chances on other characters, as someone once did on the role that made him popular.

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D’banj Pays Emotional Tribute To Late Son

Nigerian singer D’banj has paid an emotional tribute to his late son, Daniel Oyebanjo III, years after his death. In an Instagram post, he said he misses the boy, acknowledged the pain his wife may have felt, and described Daniel as the family’s star boy who would be proud of how they have moved on.

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Flamingos Beat Mexico To Reach U-17 Women’s World Cup Quarter-Finals

Nigeria’s Flamingos beat Mexico 2-1 in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup round of 16 in Sale, Morocco, on October 29. Oluebube Umejiaku scored in the 40th minute and Mary Dustan in the 71st. Emily Delgado pulled one back for Mexico in the 100th minute, but the Flamingos held on to reach the last eight.

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Ampem Darkoa Beat Edo Queens To Qualify For CAF Women’s Champions League

Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies beat Nigeria’s Edo Queens 3-2 after extra time in Cairo on October 29 to claim the WAFU Zone B ticket for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League. Mohammed Afishata scored the winner two minutes into extra time from a corner. The replay followed CAF’s annulment of the original final’s penalty shoot-out, which Edo Queens had won 4-1.