Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you might have missed this Monday evening, 15th December, 2025
El-Rufai denies comments on 2027 presidency, describes claim as fake
The former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has dismissed as false a viral claim alleging that he stated which region of the country should produce the President in 2027.
Reports making the rounds on social media claimed that the African Democratic Congress chieftain stated that it is the turn of the South to produce the president in 2027.
The reports also suggested that El-Rufai may be backing the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, instead of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement issued on Monday via his official X handle, El-Rufai described the trending report as “untrue” despite its wide circulation.
S’Court affirms President’s power to declare state of emergency, suspend elected officials
The Supreme Court, on Monday, affirmed the constitutional power of the President to declare a state of emergency in any state to prevent a breakdown of law and order or a descent into chaos and anarchy.
In a split decision of six to one, the apex court upheld the President’s authority under the Constitution to proclaim a state of emergency.
The court further held that, during such a period, the President may suspend elected officials, provided any such suspension is for a limited duration.
Delivering the lead majority judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the President to adopt extraordinary measures to restore normalcy where a state of emergency has been declared.
I smoked for 27 years, started at 13 — Tonto Dikeh
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has shared a public testimony of what she described as her deliverance from smoking, alcohol addiction, masturbation and prolonged anger issues during a Sunday service at Streams of Joy International Church.
In a video shared by DCL Imagery on YouTube on Sunday, Dikeh gave the testimony during the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations service, led by the church’s founder, Pastor Jerry Eze.
Speaking before the congregation, the actress said she began smoking at the age of 13 and struggled for years with alcohol and masturbation, attributing her transformation to divine intervention.
“I smoked since I was 13. God healed me from masturbation, too.
I have known myself to have sexual intercourse in the dream ever since I was a child,” she said
Car imports rebound, hit N1tn in nine months
Nigeria’s importation of passenger motor cars rebounded strongly in 2025 as relative stability in the foreign exchange market eased pressure on dealers and buyers, according to foreign trade statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics.
Data from the NBS showed that the value of passenger motor car imports rose to N1.01tn in the first nine months of 2025, compared with N894.09bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
This represents an increase of N113.15bn or 12.66 per cent year on year, signalling a clear turnaround after months of weak demand driven by currency volatility and rising landing costs.
A closer examination of the quarterly figures shows that the recovery gathered momentum only in the second half of the year.
In the first quarter of 2025, passenger motor car imports were valued at N224.58bn, down from N238.73bn in the same period of 2024.
This reflected a decline of N14.15bn or about 5.9 per cent, indicating that importers were still grappling with the impact of earlier exchange rate instability.
Yuletide: Police boost security for festive season in Ogun, restate fireworks ban
The Ogun State Police Command has unveiled comprehensive security operations to ensure the safety of lives and property before, during, and after the 2025 Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The command stated that the initiative forms part of the state’s police proactive measures to maintain public order during the festive period.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ogun Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, reiterated that the ban on the sale and use of fireworks, knockouts, and bangers remains strictly enforced.
“The loud sounds produced by these items can easily be mistaken for gunshots or explosions, often causing fear, panic, and unnecessary tension among residents,” the statement read.
Accord Party faction faults INEC over Osun gov primary dispute
A faction of the Accord Party has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission over its reported disownment of a factional governorship primary in Osun State.
The faction was led by its former presidential candidate, Professor Chris Imumolen, had conducted a governorship primary, which produced Bamigbola Clement as its candidate for the August 8, 2026, governorship poll.
While another faction of the party, led by Isaac Adeniyi, also conducted another primary, which threw up Governor Ademola Adeleke as its flagbearer.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission accepted the result of the primary that threw up Adeleke and disowned the primary which produced Clement.
Tinubu meets service chiefs in Aso Rock
President Bola Tinubu is holding a closed-door meeting with the Service Chiefs at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Our correspondent observed that the meeting began about 06:01pm (local time) as the security chiefs arrived at the forecourt and were ushered into the President’s office.
It is Tinubu’s first meeting with the military high command since he swore in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence on December 4.
Although the agenda of Monday’s meeting is not yet public, the engagement is coming as 115 students kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in November remain in captivity.
Soldiers kill kidnappers, rescue victims in Kaduna, Plateau
Troops of Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace have neutralised kidnappers, rescued abducted victims, and foiled planned attacks in a series of coordinated operations between 11 and 13 December 2025.
This was disclosed in a statement by JTF Operation, Media Information Officer, Samson Zhakom, on Monday.
On December 11, troops of Sector 5 (Sub-Sector 4) conducted an offensive clearance operation at known kidnappers’ hideouts in Dangoma and Godogodo villages, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The troops “made contact with the criminals and exchanged fire,” resulting in the neutralisation of three notorious kidnappers.
Police to resume nationwide tinted glass permit enforcement January 2
The Nigeria Police Force has announced that it will resume the nationwide enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy from January 2, 2026, citing growing security concerns linked to the misuse of unauthorised tinted vehicle glass.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin.
The police said the decision followed a review of emerging security threats and the need to enhance public safety, pending the final determination of a related matter currently before the court.
The Force clarified that there was no court order restraining it from enforcing the law regulating the use of tinted glass on vehicles.
NLC rallies workers, allies for protest over insecurity
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called on workers, civil society allies and others to take to the streets on Wednesday in a nationwide protest against the country’s worsening insecurity.
The NLC warned that the deepening security crisis is eroding public confidence and worsening poverty, lamenting that workers and other defenceless Nigerians are increasingly becoming victims of attacks while commuting to work, carrying out their legitimate duties or even in their homes.
Recall that the December 17 planned protest was part of the resolutions reached at the NLC National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in Lagos on December 4.
