The Recap of top 10 key happenings that you might have missed this Monday evening, 12th January, 2026
Lagos monarch, Akran of Badagry, dies at 89, Sanwo-Olu mourns
The revered monarch and a leading voice within the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, who reigned for over 48 years on the throne of the ancient town, died after a brief illness on Monday.
Mourning the demise of the monarch, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, a copy made available to our correspondent.
The governor described the departure of Oba Akran as a great loss not only to the people of Badagry but also to Lagos and Nigeria at large because of his remarkable impact as a respected monarch in Nigeria.
He said the revered king, who was on the throne for nearly 49 years, is a traditional ruler known for his wisdom, cultural preservation, and advocacy for Badagry’s development, adding that he rendered selfless service to the people and left behind a legacy of unity, tradition, uplifting and modern development.
Peter Obi gives ADC new relevance, says Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party is no longer Nigeria’s leading opposition party, pointing to internal divisions as the party’s undoing.
He also singled out former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as a key political figure to watch ahead of the 2027 elections, noting that his defection to the African Democratic Congress has given the party more relevance.
Fayose made the comments in an interview with Arise News while discussing the state of opposition politics, the PDP’s internal struggles, and the rising influence of other political platforms.
On why the PDP has lost its dominant position, Fayose placed the blame on internal weaknesses rather than the ruling All Progressives Congress, Arise News reported on Monday.
Soludo’s wife urges regular medical checks to tackle heart diseases
The wife of the Anambra State governor, Nonye Soludo, has called for conscious and more intentional medical checks and habitual discipline to tackle the rising figures of cardiovascular-based diseases and deaths associated with heart-related issues.
The Anambra first lady, who is also the founder of the non-governmental organisation, ‘Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative’.
She noted that most cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by addressing habitual risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets and obesity, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol.
She stated this on Monday shortly after her weekly statewide ‘Healthy living walks’ and workout sessions in all 21 local government areas aimed at promoting awareness on cardiovascular risks and prevention.
According to her, the seeming neglect by many people to go for routine heart checks has helped the increase in most cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, cardiac arrest and stroke, which are the commonest among them.
Adeleke accuses Osun CP of illegally detaining aide
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gothan, of ordering the illegal detention of his aide, Abiodun Adegoke, and refusing to grant him bail.
The governor subsequently called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to call Gothan to order and ensure respect for Adegoke’s rights.
In a swift reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer for Osun State Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adegoke has been admitted to bail.
Ojelabi, who absolved the CP of blame regarding the handling of the matter, said the command had carried out an investigation into the allegations against Adegoke and would file charges against him before the Federal High Court.
Where’s our President? — Obi questions Tinubu’s whereabouts
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has questioned the whereabouts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu amid what he described as deepening economic hardship, insecurity and leadership silence in Nigeria.
In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi said his concern was driven by the scale of challenges confronting the country and the perceived absence of direct presidential engagement at a critical time.
He framed the question as “a critical demand for accountability in a national emergency.”
2027: No free elections in climate of repression — Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned that Nigeria risks sliding into the 2027 general election under a climate of repression, arguing that persistent crackdowns on dissent threaten the prospects of free and fair polls.
Atiku made the warning while reacting to the arrest of Abubakar Salim Musa, a young Nigerian whose detention was disclosed on Sunday evening by Amnesty International Nigeria via its official X handle, @AmnestyNigeria.
The concerns were contained in a statement by the former Vice President, on Monday, in which he accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of increasingly resorting to intimidation and arrests to silence criticism rather than addressing governance failures
Fubara: Crack in Rivers Assembly as members seek withdrawal of impeachment order
There appears to be a sharp division in the Rivers State House of Assembly as two lawmakers called on other colleagues to stay action in the impeachment threat to governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu
I what turned out to be a huge shock to many, Hon Sylvanus Nwankwo, the house minority leader who also represents Omuma state constituency in a press conference on Monday in Port Harcourt begged his fellow lawmakers to “temper justice with mercy” and explore alternatives to Fubara’s removal from office
Increased military deployment for Internal security weakening Police, Buratai warns
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd), has cautioned that the growing use of the Armed Forces of Nigeria for internal security operations across the country is undermining the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force and other civilian security agencies, even as it provides short-term stability.
Speaking at the 2026 Armed Forces Celebrations and Remembrance Day lecture in Abuja on Monday.
Buratai said the military’s widespread presence across Nigeria’s 36 states is gradually eroding the growth and effectiveness of the police and internal intelligence institutions that should ordinarily lead internal security operations.
“The extensive deployment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in internal security provides immediate stability, but it also perpetuates a cycle of dependency that weakens civil police capacity and strains defence resources,” Buratai said
APC chairman to State Coordinators: ‘Register every member or be removed’
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has directed all Coordinators of the ongoing nationwide electronic membership registration exercise across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that no member of the party is left unregistered, warning that any Coordinator who fails in this responsibility will be replaced.
Professor Yilwatda gave this directive when he met with all the State Registration Coordinators at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja.
All the State Organising Secretaries of the party at the state level are the coordinators of the exercise except where any of them them was not trained for the exercise.
The ongoing registration exercise is scheduled to end on January 30, 2026.
For a mass-membership political party like the All Progressives Congress (APC), electronic registration is not just a technical upgrade; it is a strategic political reform.
Its benefits cut across credibility, mobilisation, discipline and electoral strength.
Ondo Amotekun intercepts coal laden truck, arrest 38 suspected northern passengers
A coal-laden truck conveying 38 suspected northern extraction passengers have been intercepted by the personnel of the Ondo state security outfit codenamed Amotekun in Akure, the state capital.
Sources said that they were arrested during a routine security operation at Akure metropolis while travelling in a brand-new Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number GML 335 XR, Jigawa.
