Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you need to know this Sunday afternoon, 25th January, 2026
2027: Dropping Northern Muslim from presidential ticket could hurt APC — Minister
The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has warned that the All Progressives Congress risks undermining its chances in the 2027 general election if it drops a Northern Muslim from President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ticket.
Musawa made the remarks during a recent episode of Mic On Show with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, amid growing speculation that the ruling party may consider altering the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted in the 2023 presidential election.
According to the minister, removing Shettima or replacing him with a non-Northern Muslim running mate would pose a serious political challenge for the APC, particularly in the core northern states.
“If there is no Hausa, Fulani or Kanuri Muslim on that ticket, it creates a hurdle.
That is the reality of the way people think,” Musawa said
2027: ADC cracks as ‘Obidients’ demand presidential ticket
Cracks are appearing in the African Democratic Congress over the presidential ambition of former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.
Findings by Sunday PUNCH showed that the problem stemmed from the insistence of Obi’s followers, aka Obidients, that he must be considered for the presidential ticket or they walk away.
Our correspondents gathered that some ADC leaders, especially northerners displeased with what they described as the overbearing attitude of Obi’s promoters, had begun to withdraw from him.
Obi, who is one of the leaders of the opposition coalition that transformed into ADC, joined the party on December 31, 2025, in Enugu.
Kudirat Abiola: Lagos under fire over botched murder case
Family, senior advocates and civil society organisations have lashed out at the Lagos State Government over the closure of the murder case of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola by the Supreme Court, after it was established that the state abandoned its appeal against the acquittal of Maj Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd.) for nine years.
The apex court, in a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-man panel on Thursday, ruled that the state government failed to take any legal steps to prosecute its appeal within the period granted to it, thereby effectively abandoning the case.
The ruling sparked national outrage over the unresolved assassination of the wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola.
Kudirat was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, at the height of nationwide protests against the annulment of the June 12 election by the regime of the late Gen Sani Abacha.
Monday sit-at-home peaceful civil protest, not a crime, IPOB tells Soludo
The Indigenous People of Biafra has insisted that the Monday sit-at-home is not a crime but a legal, peaceful civil protest, describing it as a symbolic act of solidarity with its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The pro-Biafran group stated this in a press statement released by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Sunday.
Powerful was reacting to a call by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who threatened to sanction any teaching and non-teaching staff who fail to report for work on Mondays.
Recall that the Anambra State Government also said it would begin implementing pro-rata salary payments for workers across the state as part of efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home, adding that effective February 2026, salaries of civil servants in the state would be paid on a pro-rata basis.
Emir seeks new military base in Kebbi community
The Emir of Zuru, Alhaji Muhammad Sami Gomo III, has renewed calls on the Federal Government to establish additional military formations in Zuru Emirate, warning that persistent bandit attacks are crippling agriculture, mining and rural commerce in one of Kebbi State’s most resource-rich corridors.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), in Abuja on Saturday, the Emir said the situation had reached a point where “additional military formations and modern firepower” were required to stem attacks that have displaced farming communities, disrupted logistics and deterred private investment.
“The security situation demands urgent action.
Our emirate has vast agricultural and solid mineral potential, but banditry has denied our people the benefits of these God-given resources,” he said.
He applauded Governor Nasir Idris for “showing seriousness” in addressing insecurity, insisting that federal reinforcement remained critical.
Police kill three bandits, recover AK-47 rifles in Gombe border communities
The Gombe State Police Command on Sunday confirmed the neutralisation of three suspected bandits, recovery of arms and ammunition, and the rescue of kidnapped victims following coordinated security operations across border communities in the state.
Speaking in a telephone interview with PUNCH online, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed that security forces had earlier thwarted an attempted attack by bandits on Friday due to heavy deployment across vulnerable areas.
“On Friday, they (bandits) tried to attack.
Unfortunately for them, we have made serious deployment around that axis of Pindiga, Billiri, and Shongom, which are the state’s border communities the bandits couldn’t make it,” he said.
According to him, the attackers later struck in the early hours of Saturday at Garin Galadima in Lambo community
Police foil kidnap attempt in Oyo, rescue victim
The Oyo State Police Command has foiled a kidnap attempt at Olorunda Village, Ojongbodu, in Oyo West Local Government Area of the state, rescuing the victim, Haruna Lawal, who sustained a head injury during the ordeal.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Ibadan, the state capital.
According to the statement, the command received a distress call at about 2:10 a.m. on January 24, 2026, from Alimot, a resident of the Ojongbodu area, reporting that suspected kidnappers armed with weapons had invaded her brother’s residence.
During the invasion, the assailants abducted Lawal, a resident of Olorunda Village, and escaped with his motorcycle to an unknown location.
I trust people easily — Tiwa Savage
Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has spoken candidly about her personal struggles with trust, boundaries, and friendships, revealing a more vulnerable side of her life during an interview with content creator Korty
The award-winning singer admitted that being naturally open has often worked against her.
“I trust people easily
I am very trusting in my home; I am very open. I am an open book,” she said.
Tiwa explained that her openness extends even to her private spaces, noting that she rarely hesitates to accommodate people she considers friends.
“I could be in my hotel, and if you are my friend and you want to stay over, you are welcome.
That is how open I am,” she added.
Troops storm Sububu Forest in Zamfara, neutralize bandits, rescue kidnap victims
Troops of the 8 Division Garrison Strike Force operating under Operation Fansan Yamma Sector 2 have stormed the notorious Sububu Forest in Maradu LGA of Zamfara state, neutralizing bandits in firefights and rescuing kidnapped victims.
A statement by Captain David Adewusi, the Media Information Officer, said the offensive operation was a resounding victory against terrorism.
“The operation, aimed at dismantling terrorist enclaves and restoring peace to the State, has resulted in the neutralization of 6 terrorists, the recovery of arms and ammunition, the destruction of terrorist infrastructure, and the successful rescue of a kidnapped underage victim.“
The offensive commenced with a targeted engagement at Indulumu village, where gallant troops confronted and neutralized 2 terrorists.
Power Supply: Our businesses collapsing – Small business owners lament
Small business owners in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), say their businesses are folding up due to the epileptic power supply being presently experienced.
According to them, in spite of the huge investment by the government and stakeholders, power supply has not improved
The consumers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said that huge funds had been pumped to the sector with no corresponding results.
Mr Emeka Uba, a Welder residing in Lugbe, said that huge funds had gone into the sector to improve electricity, but it had not yielded the desired results.
According to him, every day we keep hearing of billions of naira that has been invested in the power sector, but it does not translate to commensurate power supply as businesses are folding up every day
