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Nigerian News: Morning Headlines – 05 September 2026
INEC To Release Final List Of Presidential, National Assembly Candidates September 12
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to release the final list of candidates contesting the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, September 12, 2026. It was gathered on Friday that officials of the commission are currently fine-tuning the list.
Police Repel Attack On APC Governorship Candidate Gubio’s Convoy In Borno
The Police on Friday confirmed that its tactical team repelled an attack on the convoy of the Borno State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mustapha Gubio, on Thursday. Gubio was travelling alongside other political stakeholders when the attack occurred on the Kareto-Damasak road in Borno State.
NSCDC Rescues 15 Minors Trafficked, Sold For N2m Each By Fake NGO Official
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the rescue of 15 minors who were allegedly trafficked and sold for N2 million each by a fake official of a civil society organisation, the National Council of Child Rights Advocate. The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja. He said the rescue was carried out during a major crackdown on criminal syndicates involved in vandalism and child trafficking.
FG Unable To Prove N33.75bn Cash Transfer Reached Genuine Beneficiaries – Auditor-General
The Federal Government could not provide sufficient evidence to auditors that N33.75 billion in cash transfers meant for more than 3.29 million vulnerable households reached genuine beneficiaries, the Auditor-General for the Federation has said. This was contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2024 Annual Report on Non-Compliance/Internal Control Weaknesses in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
Three Women Killed As Vehicle Plunges From Long Bridge On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
Three women were killed while 10 others sustained varying degrees of injuries after a vehicle plunged from the Long Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and fell into a ditch. The spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the crash occurred around 5:24pm near Mikano on the Long Bridge, inward Lagos.
Katsina Police Arrest 247 Suspects, Rescue 17 Kidnap Victims In August
The Katsina State Police Command arrested 247 suspects and rescued 17 kidnapped victims during operations conducted across the state in August 2026. The command also recovered an AK-47 rifle, 145 suspected rustled livestock, six motorcycles, a motor vehicle and 1,500 pieces of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, popularly known as “Yar Kwamaso,” among other exhibits.
CAN, Muslim Youth Groups Sign Peace Accord Ahead Of 2027 Elections
The Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations have signed a peace accord ahead of the 2027 general elections. The signing took place at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Friday during the 2026 National Christian Youth Security Summit and Thanksgiving Service, held under the theme: “Empowered for Leadership, Service and Nation Building.”
Atiku Raises Alarm Over Nigerians Selling Kidneys Amid Cost-Of-Living Crisis
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Friday expressed concern over reports that some young Nigerians are selling their kidneys to raise money amid the country’s worsening cost-of-living crisis. Atiku raised the concern in a post on X, saying young Nigerians were being pushed to desperate measures simply to survive.
Amaechi Says Atiku Will Restore Electricity Subsidy If Elected In 2027
Former Rivers State governor and vice-presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rotimi Amaechi, has said the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, will restore electricity subsidy if elected president in 2027. Amaechi made the declaration on Thursday during ward visits across Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State, where he delivered Atiku’s campaign message to residents.
Six Killed As Sand-Laden Truck Crushes Tricycle In Adamawa
A truck loaded with sand has crushed six persons to death in an accident involving a tricycle along the Yola-Girei federal highway in Adamawa. The spokesman for the Adamawa Police Command, SP Sulaiman Nguroje, confirmed the incident to NAN in Yola on Friday, saying the accident involved the truck and a tricycle, popularly known as Keke NAPEP.
2027: I’m Ready To Die – Peter Obi
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has declared that he is ready to die in defence of democracy and the citizens’ votes in the 2027 elections. He also charged Nigerians not to be intimidated going into the general elections next year.
Obi made the declaration on Thursday while addressing supporters at a town hall meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. “Don’t be intimidated. Somebody said, ‘We are ready to die.’ Let me tell you, I’m equally ready to die. So you’re not alone,” he said.
He also called on his supporters and all Nigerians to ensure they vote and defend their votes in the 2027 elections. The former governor of Anambra State further warned that attempts to manipulate the electoral process will be resisted, urging Nigerians to participate actively in political campaigns, as he said the country could only be rescued through collective action.
El-Rufai Has Spent 200 Days In Custody, Atiku Camp Cries Out
The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the continued detention of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who has now spent 200 days in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, in a statement on Friday, said El-Rufai was not asking to be protected from investigation but deserved due process and equal treatment under the law. Ibe described the former governor as a political prisoner, alleging that his detention was connected to his decision to pursue a political path different from that of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibe questioned what he described as differential treatment of opposition politicians and members of the ruling APC, pointing to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but remains politically active and has secured the APC senatorial ticket. According to him, nobody should be above the law, but the law should also be applied fairly.
2027: Tinubu Will Eat Obi Like Biscuits – Okonkwo Reveals Only Way To Defeat President
The spokesperson for the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Kenneth Okonkwo, has said opposition parties will need to work together if they hope to defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
Okonkwo made the statement during an interview with Ibeju Upgrade Media. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain also questioned the ability of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to defeat Tinubu if he decides to contest the election without forming a wider alliance with other opposition forces.
According to Okonkwo, the division among opposition politicians could give Tinubu an advantage in the 2027 election, making it difficult for any single opposition candidate to unseat the president. He maintained that the opposition would have a better chance if major political figures and parties agreed to work under one platform capable of presenting a strong challenge to the ruling APC.
APC Leaders Sought Tinubu’s US Records Before 2023 Election – Retired General
A retired Nigerian Army Major General, Danjuma Hamisu Ali-Keffi, has alleged that two influential members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s presidential ambition attempted to obtain confidential information about him from United States government agencies ahead of the 2023 election.
Ali-Keffi, a former General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, said he learnt about the alleged attempt from the then Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Modibbo Hamman-Tukur, in the build-up to the APC presidential primary. Speaking in an interview with SaharaReporters, the retired officer did not identify the two APC figures or provide documentary evidence supporting the allegations, and stressed that he neither knew the contents of the records allegedly requested nor suggested they established wrongdoing by Tinubu.
Ali-Keffi said the incident occurred during the period he served as Commander of Operation Service Wide, an operation dealing with terrorism financing and the leadership structures of terrorist organisations. He claimed Hamman-Tukur informed him that two APC figures allegedly gained unauthorised access to the NFIU director’s office and contacted US agencies, and that Hamman-Tukur, after becoming uncomfortable with the development, went to his office at about 2am, prompting those allegedly involved to leave after discovering his presence. The retired general further claimed a response was subsequently received from the United States, though he said he was unaware of its contents.
ADC Names Rhodes-Vivour, Malami, 26 Others As 2027 Governorship Candidates
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has unveiled its governorship candidates for 28 states ahead of the 2027 election. This was disclosed in a statement on Friday signed by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
According to the ADC, the candidates, drawn from political and professional backgrounds, will represent the party in their respective states as it seeks to expand its influence across the country. “These men and women will carry the ADC banner and our commitment to offer Nigerians credible leadership and a real alternative,” the party stated.
Among the names on the list are Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, paired with Gbadamosi Babatunde Olalere as his running mate in Lagos; Halliru Jika alongside Sama’ila Kabi in Bauchi; Senator Ahmad Kaita with Aminu Ahmed in Katsina; and John Sura paired with Pwajok-Kele Bitrus in Plateau. Others include Abubakar Malami in Kebbi; Shinkafi Bilyaminu Yusuf in Zamfara; Biodun Ogundipe in Ogun; Taofeek Adegoke in Oyo; Great Ogboru in Delta; and Ibrahim Ali Amin in Kano.
The entire list covers Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Makinde To Present New Petrol Pricing Formula Amid Fuel Subsidy Debates
The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has called for a fresh look at how petrol prices are fixed in Nigeria, saying the ongoing argument over fuel subsidy is missing the bigger issue. The 2027 presidential candidate of the African People’s Movement (APM) made the call in the September edition of his newsletter, The Business of Governance, uploaded on Friday.
According to Makinde, the key question should not be whether petrol subsidy should return or remain removed, but whether Nigeria is using the right pricing system for an oil-producing country. He said Nigerians deserve to know exactly how the price of petrol is arrived at and what they are paying for, adding that such a framework should clearly show the benchmark used for crude oil prices, refining costs and margins, exchange rate, transportation and distribution expenses, taxes and levies, among other factors.
The governor said making these details clear would allow Nigerians to properly understand why petrol costs what it does at filling stations. Makinde also kicked against the argument that petrol prices should be kept high to discourage the smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries, saying Nigerians should not be forced to pay more because the government has failed to properly secure the nation’s borders.
Peller Reveals What He Wants To Happen When Jarvis Dies
Popular Nigerian TikTok creator Habeeb Hamzat, also known as Peller, has spoken on the deep bond he shares with his wife, Elizabeth Aminata Amadu, popularly called Jarvis. Peller made the revelation during a livestream with singer Ice King Ochacho in London on Thursday.
The content creator said his love for Jarvis is so strong that he had previously prayed for them to leave the world at the same time, saying he finds it difficult to imagine living without the woman he considers the person he loves most. Peller also explained that his decision to cut his hair was connected to his wife’s appearance, saying he wanted his hairstyle to be similar to Jarvis’ after she faced criticism from some people online for shaving her hair ahead of their wedding.
‘Pack Up Celebrity Status, Come Out And Hustle’ – Tochi Tells Struggling BBNaija Ex-Housemates
Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) former housemate, Tochi, has urged his colleagues struggling after the reality show to forget their celebrity status and go out to hustle. Tochi offered the advice in a post on his Instagram page on Friday, speaking to former housemates who are finding life difficult to keep up with their celebrity status.
The reality TV star asserted that not everyone is destined to become successful through the show. According to Tochi, he had forgotten that he went to the reality TV show and now sees himself as a businessman. He further urged former housemates to surround themselves with people who support and encourage them, rather than those who constantly remind them they are celebrities.
D’Tigress Fall To South Korea In 2026 FIBA World Cup Opener
The D’Tigress of Nigeria began their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign with a 99-81 defeat to South Korea in Berlin, Germany, on September 4.
The African champions made a bright start at the Berlin Arena, but South Korea won the first quarter 26-22. Nigeria stayed within touching distance in the second quarter, but the Koreans maintained their advantage to take a 48-45 lead into half-time. Rena Wakama’s side continued to compete after the break, but South Korea remained in control, stretching their lead to 68-62 by the end of the third quarter before pulling away in the final period to secure an 18-point win.
South Korea’s Jihyun Park led all scorers with 27 points, while D’Tigress captain Amy Okonkwo finished with 22 points for Nigeria. However, Nigeria struggled with turnovers and could not produce the response needed to overturn the deficit. The defeat leaves D’Tigress needing a quick response when they face Hungary in their second Group B game on Saturday. Nigeria qualified for the World Cup after winning the 2025 Women’s Afrobasket and were drawn in Group B alongside France, South Korea and Hungary. The top team in the group will qualify automatically for the quarter-finals, while the second- and third-placed teams will enter the qualification round for the remaining places in the last eight.
Amokachi Bags CAF A Licence In Morocco
Former Super Eagles striker Daniel Amokachi has added another feather to his coaching career after completing the CAF A coaching licence course in Morocco.
The former striker announced the achievement in a Facebook post, saying he was grateful to the Moroccan Football Federation for giving him the opportunity to take part in the programme. “Finally CAF A In The Bag. Thank U Moroccan Football Federation, For The Opportunity,” Amokachi wrote.
The football legend, popularly known as “The Bull,” has previously worked as a coach both in Nigeria and outside the country, and also served as an assistant coach of the Super Eagles as part of his coaching career. The latest qualification adds to Amokachi’s coaching credentials as he continues to build his career away from his playing days. The CAF A Licence is one of the advanced coaching qualifications under the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) coaching education programme.