The recap of top 10 key latest happenings that you might have missed this Thursday evening, 5th January, 2026
PDP crisis: Turaki faction slams INEC for recognising Wike’s camp
The Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission for recognising the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike-backed caretaker committee, describing the move as unconstitutional and provocative.
The Turaki-led NWC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, on Thursday, warned that it would pursue all available legal options to challenge the commission’s action.
Last Friday, a Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan nullified the PDP National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, and directed Tanimu Turaki (SAN) and several others to cease parading themselves as national officers of the party.
Prior to the judgment, PDP governors had backed the Ibadan Convention that produced Turaki and members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure.
Senate didn’t reject e-transmission of results, Abaribe clarifies
The Senate Minority Caucus clarified on Thursday that the Senate did not reject the electronic transmission of election results before passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, contrary to widespread media reports.
The clarification comes barely 24 hours after the upper chamber came under fire on Wednesday following reports that lawmakers had rejected proposals for the electronic transmission of results and a 10-year ban on vote buyers and other electoral offenders.
Shortly after the reports went viral, Senate President Godswill Akpabio dismissed the claims as misleading.
He also maintained that legislators retained electronic transfer as provided under the 2022 Electoral Act, a distinction he said was necessary to avoid legal and operational ambiguities.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, former Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the caucus was compelled to address what he described as a widespread misunderstanding of Wednesday’s plenary proceedings.
Educated citizens guarantee good governance – Adeleke
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has said an educated populace remains one of the major factors capable of guaranteeing good governance.
The governor stated this on Thursday in Ikirun, Osun State, during the inauguration of Minaret University, a faith-based institution established by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and the investiture of the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdullah Abdur-Rahman.
Adeleke, while commending the founders of the institution for choosing Osun State as its host, said an educated population would engender good governance through constant scrutiny of those in power.“
The mileage of the First Republic was expanded by the late Bola Ige administration through its free education programme.
That legacy was built upon in the new Osun State to guarantee an active citizenry that is ready and capable of resisting tyranny, impunity, and lawlessness,” the governor said.
DHQ condemns Kwara attacks, vows to apprehend perpetrators
The Defence Headquarters has condemned the recent terrorist attacks on Woro and neighbouring communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, describing the loss of innocent lives as tragic.
Several residents were reportedly buried en masse on Wednesday afternoon in the Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area, following a bandit attack on Tuesday evening.
In response, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved the immediate deployment of an Army battalion to the area under a new counter-offensive operation aimed at restoring security.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, said efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack, as well as other terrorist elements across the country, would be intensified.
Ex-boyfriend jailed for life after stabbing UK student to death
A UK court has sentenced a 40-year-old man, Adedapo Adegbola, to life imprisonment for the murder of his former girlfriend, 23-year-old university student, Steph Irons, in Nottingham, England, The Irish Sun reports on Thursday.
Adegbola, 40, stabbed Irons to death at her residence in Mapperley, Nottingham, on October 21, 2025, after their brief relationship ended, police said.
Nottingham Crown Court heard that the pair met as co-workers and were in a relationship before separating shortly before the incident.
Prosecutors told the court that Adegbola became obsessed with Irons after the breakup and planned the attack.
He reportedly travelled to her home by taxi after purchasing two knives online.
Kwara massacre: Tinubu, Gov AbdulRazaq meet in Aso Villa
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Thursday, met with Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, at the Presidential Villa ,Abuja.
The meeting came on the heels of the deadly attack on Worro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
More than 100 people were killed in the community in what authorities described as an attack by suspected jihadist fighters.
But in a decisive strike against the rampaging terror gripping Nigeria’s heartland, President Tinubu ordered the deployment of a military battalion to parts of Kwara State following the deadly attack on Kaiama Local Government Area that left scores of residents dead.
IGP orders deployment of tactical and intelligence units to Kaiama following Kwara attacks
The Nigeria Police Force has condemned the violent attack on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026, in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, which left 75 people dead.
In a statement on Thursday, Acting ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, Force Public Relations Officer, said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Kwara State.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its responsibility to protect lives and property, and will continue to do everything necessary to guarantee the safety and security of all citizens,” the statement read.
2027: Wike-aligned PDP overhauls structures in four Northern states
The Nyesom Wike-aligned faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has initiated a major reorganisation of its structures ahead of the 2027 political cycle, approving caretaker committees to run party affairs in Kano, Plateau, Yobe and Zamfara states.
In a statement signed by Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), the party leadership said the move was taken pursuant to constitutional provisions empowering the committee to manage state chapters pending the emergence of new executives.
“The National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC) of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) pursuant to Article 29(2)(b) has approved the appointment of the following as Caretaker Committee Members for Kano, Plateau, Yobe and Zamfara,” he said.
Trump recognises Remi Tinubu at national prayer breakfast
United States President Donald Trump has acknowledged the presence of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the 74th National Prayer Breakfast held in Washington, D.C.
Speaking during the event on Thursday, Trump drew attention to Mrs Tinubu in the audience, describing her as a respected figure and highlighting her role as a Christian pastor in one of the largest churches in Nigeria.
We are honoured to be joined today by the First Lady of Nigeria, who also happens to serve as a Christian pastor at one of the largest churches.
A very respected woman,” Trump said.
Addressing her directly, the US president added:
“First Lady, where are you? Thank you very much. It is a great honour to have you with us.”
2027: INEC registers two new political parties
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expanded Nigeria’s political landscape with the registration of two new political parties – the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
This was as it strongly wondered why it should continue to register parties or have existing parties retain their registration if they keep having persistent leadership infighting, stating that crises in parties are a threat to the Constitution.
Speaking on Thursday at the first regular consultative meeting with political parties, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced the registration of the DLA and NDC, bringing the number of registered political parties to 21.
