The recap of the top 10 key latest happenings you might have missed this Friday evening, 30th January, 2026
Wike challenges Rivers govt over stadium approval for rally
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dared the Rivers State Government to again deny approval for the use of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, for a Renewed Hope Family rally, vowing to forcefully gain access to the facility if that happens.
Wike said the organisers had applied to use the stadium for Friday’s event but were denied approval by the state government.
He warned that if the governor repeats such action, the organisers would break into the facility and use it.
The minister issued the warning on Friday while speaking at the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt, during the inauguration of the Renewed Hope Agenda coordinators in the three senatorial districts and the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Court declares factional PDP national convention invalid
The Federal High Court in Ibadan on Friday nullified the Peoples Democratic Party National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The court also barred Kabiru Turaki and others from presenting themselves as national officers of the party, dealing a significant blow to the faction that emerged from the convention.
Despite internal disputes within the party, the PDP went ahead with its highly anticipated two-day 2025 Elective National Convention at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Tagged #Ibadan2025, the convention attracted thousands of party delegates, leaders, and supporters.
The court’s decision follows ongoing leadership disputes within the PDP, which have led to competing factions and legal battles over the party’s national leadership and internal processes.
Awujale stool: Ruling house defends ₦10m application fee, confirms refunds after Ogun’s directive
The Fusengbuwa Ruling House has explained that its decision to initially peg the application form for the Awujale of Ijebuland stool at ₦10 million was reached through internal consultations and aimed at ensuring fairness among eligible family members.
The Olori Ebi of the ruling house, Otunba Lateef Owoyemi, gave the clarification on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, as controversies continue to trail the stalled Awujale succession process.
Owoyemi said the decision followed a general meeting of the family, where members agreed that prospective candidates should contribute towards the logistics of the nomination process, a practice he described as common in Yoruba traditional institutions.
He explained that while higher figures were initially suggested, the family eventually settled for ₦10 million after extensive deliberations.
Aisha Yesufu apologises to activist Adamolekun over ADC committee ‘mix-up’
Prominent activist and African Democratic Congress member, Aisha Yesufu, has issued a public apology to the former Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Yemi Adamolekun, following a “mix-up” regarding her inclusion in the party’s Wise Men and Women Policy and Manifesto Committee.
The controversy began on Wednesday, when Adamolekun took to social media to express her shock at seeing her name included in a published list of the committee members for the political party.
Tagging both Yesufu and the ADC spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, Adamolekun questioned the party’s methods in a blunt post on X.
“ADC! ADC! ADC!
How many times did I call you?
This is not how to build credibility o! Please show me evidence of when I joined your party! Na wa….” she wrote.
Osun Imam, three others in police net over worshipper’s death
Osun State Police Command on Friday said it has arrested four people including an Imam over the death of a worshipper, Najeem Hammed.
Sources said Hammed was mobbed during the early morning prayers, after a failed attack on the Imam of Ummu Hanni Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, Ogo-Oluwa area, during the morning prayers.
A resident, who was close to the scene, but spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said Hammed had attempted to hit the Imam with a microphone stand but missed the target.
He further said the deceased was immediately seized by other worshippers and dragged outside the mosque, where they beat him up.
He also said the matter was later reported at Ataoja Police Division.
A member of the congregation, who pleaded for anonymity to avoid arrest, told The PUNCH during a visit to the mosque on Friday evening, that Hammed was displeased with the sermon of the Imam, which he felt was targeted at him and made attempt to hit the cleric with a microphone stand
Ogun pledges action against gender-based violence in 2026
Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy for Gender-Based Violence, child abuse, and all forms of exploitation, announcing that there will be stricter enforcement, coordinated prosecution, and uncompromising accountability for offenders in the year 2026.
This was just as it reaffirmed its commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in public service as a strategic pillar for effective social development, institutional integrity, and sustainable governance.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, stated this on Friday while unveiling the ministry’s policy direction for the year during the ministry’s new year get-together and award ceremony held at the Valley View hall, Government’s House, Abeokuta.
Adeleye described the event as a deliberate convergence of policy reflection, capacity building, and celebration, designed to align stakeholders, sharpen institutional focus, and set a firm policy tone for the year, with women’s empowerment, child protection, and inclusive social development as central priorities.
Niger gov lifts ban on motorcycles, tricycles in state capital
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has lifted the ban on the movement of tricycles and motorcycles in Minna, the state capital.
The ban, which was earlier imposed from 6pm to 6am, had been reviewed after two months to run from 8pm to 6am following complaints from traders about the hardship caused by closing their shops early and having to walk long distances due to the curfew.
Bago lifted the restriction, which had been imposed in response to rising insecurity involving motorcycles and tricycles, after 10 months, following a review of the security situation in the state capital.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, made this known on Friday in a statement signed by his Coordinator, Press Affairs, Lawal Tanko.
The statement said the lifting of the ban reflects the “significant and sustained improvement in the security landscape of Minna.”
Nollywood actor Stanley Amandi arrested over alleged role in coup plot
Nollywood actor and director Stanley Amandi has been taken into custody alongside several military officers accused of planning a forceful overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
According to a source in the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Amandi, who is also the former chairman of the AGN, Enugu State chapter, was arrested in September 2025.
The filmmaker was allegedly engaged as a media propagandist by the suspected coup planners, who were said to be working towards the assassination of senior government figures
Offa Bank Robbery: Appeal court upholds death sentence on five convicts
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, today, Friday, upheld the death sentences imposed on five men convicted over the 2018 Offa bank robbery, dismissing their appeals as lacking merit.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state, Mohammed Akande, told journalists who witnessed the proceedings that the three Appeal Court judges unanimously agreed on the judgement and affirmed the verdict of the High Court condemning the five persons to death by hanging.
The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, comprising Hon. Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi JCA, Hon. Justice Gabriel Kolawole JCA and Hon. Justice Abdul Dogo, today, Friday, affirmed the judgement of Hon. Justice H. A. Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court that sentenced the Appellants.
Niyi Ogundiran, Salawu Azeez, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Ayoade Akinnibosun and Adeola Adeola Abraham, to death by hanging for their involvement in the Offa Bank Robbery.”
North firmly behind Tinubu for 2027, says Ganduje
The immediate-past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has dismissed claims that northern Nigeria will withdraw its support for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, describing such projections as a “big mistake.”
The former Kano State governor asserted that there is currently no southern candidate more suited to lead Nigeria beyond 2027 than the incumbent President.
Ganduje spoke on Friday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the Northern Nigeria Youth Leaders Forum which decorated him as their Grand Patron and also pledged their early loyalty to the President’s re-election bid.
He emphasized that Nigeria is fortunate to be led by a “pure politician” whose career has been defined by a struggle for democracy.
