Today’s major stories focus on political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections, growing concerns over WAEC results, the worsening insecurity crisis and ransom payments, efforts to reduce transport costs through CNG buses, political tensions in Ondo, and a fresh clash over the Federal Government’s household palliative programme.
Read below:
Tinubu, APC govs move to fix campaign list crisis
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with APC governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, as the ruling party intensified efforts to resolve the controversy surrounding its Presidential Campaign Council list for the 2027 election.
The meeting followed a series of consultations aimed at reviewing and reworking the list, which has faced criticism over the inclusion of some controversial party members and allegations that key sections of the party were not consulted.
Party sources said the initial list had been deleted from the APC’s X handle, with a new version expected after President Tinubu approves proposed changes.
The controversy reportedly prompted meetings that stretched for several hours on Wednesday before continuing on Thursday.
PUNCH Online also reports that the APC is planning to intensify social intervention programmes ahead of the January 2027 elections as part of efforts to reach Nigerians and cushion the effects of economic hardship.
Read here: https://punchng.com/tinubu-apc-govs-move-to-fix-campaign-list-crisis/
WAEC result crisis worsens as official alleges irregularities, glitches
The controversy surrounding the 2026 West African Examinations Council results for school candidates has deepened following allegations of glitches and irregularities by an official of the examination body.
The Head of Examinations at the WAEC office covering Anambra, Olanrewaju Fadehan, made the allegations in a viral video, saying candidates who sat the computer-based examination were particularly affected.
Fadehan said the problems became noticeable around the release of the results, which were initially expected between August 3 and 5.
He alleged that last-minute adjustments were made after something went wrong, with candidates who took the computer-based examination in subjects including Mathematics, English and Igbo reportedly affected.
The development has added to concerns over the recently released results, with the allegations likely to heighten calls for clarification from WAEC on the circumstances surrounding the affected candidates and results.
Read here: https://punchng.com/waec-result-crisis-worsens-as-official-alleges-irregularities-glitches/
7,825 abducted, N7.8bn ransom paid in one year — Report
No fewer than 7,825 people were abducted in 1,713 kidnapping and related incidents across Nigeria between July 2025 and June 2026, while at least 1,142 people were reported killed, according to a report by SBM Intelligence.
The report, titled The Capture of the Kidnap Economy, also revealed that N7.8bn was paid in ransom during the period.
The report said ransom demands fell from N48bn to N22.9bn, but actual payments rose from N2.56bn to N7.78bn, pushing the collection rate from 5.35 per cent to 34 per cent.
It attributed 90 per cent of the ransom paid to a Boko Haram faction, which reportedly collected N7bn from only eight incidents.
Two major mass abductions accounted for almost the entire N7bn, including the reported N5bn ransom paid for 416 captives abducted from Ngoshe, Borno State, and N2bn for 315 pupils and staff of St Mary’s School, Papiri, Niger State.
Security experts have warned that ransom payments are strengthening the capacity of criminal groups to acquire arms and sustain violent operations.
Read here: https://punchng.com/7825-abducted-n7-8bn-ransom-paid-in-one-year-report/
FG, states target cheaper transport fares with CNG bus rollout
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said state governors had resolved to take immediate steps to reduce transportation costs nationwide by leveraging cheaper Compressed Natural Gas and electric vehicles.
He said a joint Federal Government and state committee would be established to ensure that the lower cost of CNG translates into reduced transport fares from October 1, 2026.
Tinubu said the commitment followed his meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, with the governors expected to implement measures that would reduce transportation costs in their respective states.
The move forms part of the Federal Government’s broader investment in the energy transition through the Presidential CNG Initiative.
The administration says the rollout of CNG buses and refuelling infrastructure is intended to reduce the impact of high fuel costs on commuters and make public transportation more affordable across the country.
Read here: https://punchng.com/fg-states-target-cheaper-transport-fares-with-cng-bus-rollout/
Suspected thugs disrupt Ondo Speaker’s impeachment bid
Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday moved to impeach the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, but the attempt to conduct the process on the floor of the House was disrupted by the appearance of three unidentified men alleged to be political thugs.
Policemen reportedly intervened and drove the men out of the Assembly complex.
The lawmakers subsequently held a parliamentary meeting on the premises. One of the legislators, who spoke anonymously, said the meeting centred on the removal of the Speaker and insisted that the impeachment process would continue despite the disruption.
The Assembly has been embroiled in a crisis for several weeks, with 21 of its 26 members reportedly signing a notice seeking the Speaker’s removal over allegations of financial misconduct.
Oladiji was accused of diverting N44m meant for the reordering of the budget of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission.
Read here: https://punchng.com/suspected-thugs-disrupt-ondo-speakers-impeachment-bid/
2027: APC, opposition clash over FG’s $`1bn household palliative
The APC and opposition parties have clashed over the Federal Government’s `$1bn Household Prosperity and Empowerment Social Protection Project, with opposition parties alleging that the initiative is aimed at influencing voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
The programme, launched in Abuja on Wednesday, targets about 7.6 million vulnerable households, with eligible beneficiaries expected to receive a one-off digital payment of N40,000.
The African Democratic Congress and Nigeria Democratic Congress questioned the timing of the programme, coming less than a year before the 2027 elections.
The ADC also questioned the funding and administrative structure of the intervention, while the NDC said the proximity of the elections made the initiative open to political interpretation.
The APC rejected the allegations, arguing that the government should not suspend its responsibilities because an election is approaching.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the intervention was part of the government’s responsibility to citizens and that its timing did not automatically make it an electoral inducement.
Read here: https://punchng.com/2027-apc-opposition-clash-over-fgs-1bn-household-palliative/
