The recap of top 10 key latest stories that you might have missed this Saturday evening, 7th February, 2026
2027: Rivers supporters don’t need governor to mobilise for Tinubu — Wike
The Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has declared that supporters of President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State do not require the backing of a sitting governor to mobilise for the president’s re-election bid in 2027.
Wike made the statement on Saturday in Port Harcourt during the commissioning of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors headquarters, which houses Majority FM 89.5, a situation room, office facilities and operational buses.
Speaking at the event, the minister praised the coordinator of the Rivers State Renewed Hope Ambassadors, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, for what he described as extensive grassroots mobilisation across the state.
He said Rivers State was firmly positioned to deliver support for Tinubu in the next general election.
“Desmond Akawor, you have shown enough capacity to mobilise, you have moved to all the nooks and crannies of Rivers to talk about Tinubu for President in 2027,” Wike said.
Destabilising Nigeria will empower terrorists, says US lawmaker
US lawmaker Riley Moore has warned that efforts to encourage separatist agendas in Nigeria could worsen insecurity and put Christians at greater risk across the country and the continent.
In a statement via his official X (Formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Moore revealed that he conducted a fact-finding visit to Nigeria to better understand the situation of alleged Christian persecution.
Speaking on his visit, he said he engaged with Nigerian officials, church leaders, aid groups, and internally displaced persons across the country to grasp the challenges facing Christians, particularly in the North and Middle Belt.
“I have travelled to Nigeria and engaged in multiple high-level meetings with Nigerian officials, the Church, aid groups across the country, and IDPs, to get a better understanding of the rampant persecution of Christians in Nigeria,” he said.
2027: Kwankwaso supporters propose Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket
The Kwankwaso Support Group 2027 has proposed a joint presidential ticket pairing former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, with Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso.
Speaking in Kano on Friday, the leader of the group, Abba Gwale, stated that as loyal supporters of Senator Kwankwaso, they found it necessary to appeal to Nigerians to support the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance, describing it as a chance to rescue the nation from its current challenges.
“As Kwankwaso supporters and loyalists, we have proposed and thrown our weight behind the joint presidential ticket, especially with Peter Obi, in any of the political parties.
The current political trajectory has shown where the tide is shifting.“
If the duo gets a mandate in the upcoming election, Nigeria will be a better place.
For real, we’re tired of insecurity, hunger, and starvation
Katsina gov approves automatic employment for best varsity graduates
Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, has approved automatic employment for the overall best graduating students of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, upon completion of their National Youth Service Corps.
He announced the decision on Saturday while speaking at the 14th convocation ceremony of the university, where he was also conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration.
“This is to reward excellence and encourage our students to strive for the highest standards in their academic pursuits,” the governor said.
He directed the Head of Service to immediately identify and process the employment of the beneficiaries, stressing that merit and academic excellence must be recognised and rewarded.
Education most reliable pathway to sustainable development – Kogi gov
The Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has said his administration believes education is the most potent force for sustainable development.
Ododo made the remark on Saturday at the 5th Combined Convocation Ceremony of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja.
“This gathering is a solemn reaffirmation of our collective belief in education as the most reliable pathway to personal advancement, institutional relevance and sustainable development for our dear State and nation,” he said.
The governor said it was in recognition of this fact that the polytechnic has benefited from various targeted and impactful interventions aimed at improving infrastructure, security, staff welfare and student support.
“Solar-powered streetlights have been installed across the campus to enhance visibility and safety, while the Itakpe Campus has been fully fenced, effectively curbing encroachment and protecting lives and property,” he noted.
CSR: Airline breaks ground for Ekiti community health centre, borehole
The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a community health centre and a solar-powered borehole in Aso-Ayegunle, Ado Ekiti, to serve the health and water needs of residents near Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport.
Okonkwo said the projects were chosen based on the community’s needs, noting that the medical centre and potable water initiatives directly impact the health, happiness, and productivity of the people.
The airline’s chairman, who recently concluded a weeklong staff retreat at Ikogosi Warm Spring Resorts, Ikogosi Ekiti, said construction would begin next week, aiming for swift completion and inauguration for the community’s benefit.
He said, “We don’t just do business, we are in partnership for development, we impact society.
We have a mantra that we fly to unite. We are happy to be here in Ekiti and we are ready to be in other parts of Nigeria and have something that will make people say thank you for being here.”
NNPP disowns Kwankwaso over alleged Supreme Court Judges’ visit
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has disowned a former Governor of Kano State and ex-presidential candidate of the party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over his comment that he took Governor Abba Yusuf to some Supreme Court judges in 2019.
The party insisted that Kwankwaso was not a member of the NNPP in 2019 when the alleged incident involving Supreme Court judges reportedly occurred.
The clarification was made at the weekend by the national leadership of the party, which distanced itself from the allegations linked to Kwankwaso and urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to immediately remove the name of the NNPP from any petition submitted to the Inspector-General of Police on the matter.
Snake Bite: Why we could not save Nwangene – FMC Jabi CMD
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Professor Saad Ahmed, has explained to the Senate why the hospital could not save Abuja-based singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, who died after suffering a snake bite at her residence.
Professor Ahmed said the victim arrived at the hospital more than two hours after she was bitten by a cobra, a delay he described as critical and ultimately fatal.
He spoke to journalists on Saturday on the sidelines of the 2026 budget defence session of the Senate Committee on Health, which involved various government-owned tertiary health institutions.
Nwangene died about a week ago after she was bitten by a cobra in her home.
NAFDAC war on fake drugs saving Nigerian lives – Sen. Natasha
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi) has praised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for its renewed war on fake drugs and substandard products, describing the agency’s actions as worthy of commendation.
She described NAFDAC’s action as a critical step towards safeguarding public health and saving Nigerian lives.
The Senator said this during the ongoing 2026 Budget Defence session of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) under the Senate Committee on Health, on Saturday
Speaking during the session, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan praised the NAFDAC Director-General for what she described as “exceptional diligence and courage” in confronting the menace of counterfeit drugs across the country.
Electoral Act: Senate won’t be intimidated, says Akpabio
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said the Senate will not be intimidated but will do what is right to give Nigerians an Electoral Act that will advance democracy.
Akpabio said this during his remarks during the public presentation of the book: “The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria,” written by Senator Effiong Bob, at the NAF Centre, Abuja, on Saturday.
He explained that the furore over Section 60 (3) of the Electoral Act was unnecessary because the amendment process was still unravelling and yet to be completed.
Akpabio said, “We have not passed the votes and proceedings; there is still harmonization but people are already on television sitting on panels abusing the Senate for something that is yet to be completed.
