Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The interim national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, announced that the party's newly formed opposition coalition has no preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 election, asserting that prominent figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi are all equal stakeholders despite internal bias complaints from Dumebi Kachikwu. This announcement comes amid a massive wave of defections to the African Democratic Congress across states like Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, and Ondo, involving notable politicians such as Mohammed Kumalia, Sule Lamido, Eyitayo Jegede, and Agboola Ajayi. In response to this growing political momentum, President Bola Tinubu’s aides, including Bayo Onanuga, and the All Progressives Congress National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, dismissed the coalition as a desperate gathering of failed, ambitious politicians, while Information Minister Mohammed Idris insisted the administration remains fully focused on its economic reforms. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, represented by figures like Kamorudeen Ajisafe, Abdulkadir Dukku, and Umar Damagum, downplayed the political threat, stating their party structures remain secure and that many high-profile defections lack formal resignation letters. Adding to the friction, the African Democratic Congress has mobilized a team of ninety-seven lawyers under the leadership of Mohammed Sheriff to fight a federal lawsuit filed by Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila to oust interim leaders like Senator Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and Bolaji Abdullahi. The African Democratic Congress claims this legal challenge was deceptively sponsored by the ruling party using fraudulent plaintiffs who are not even registered members.

Prof. Anthony Akinwale, Vice Chancellor of Augustine University, Lagos, emphasized at the institution's seventh convocation and 10th anniversary that graduates lacking moral character, despite their academic skills, are unfit for nation-building. He argued that ethical competence is essential alongside technical knowledge, warning against the separation of education from moral integrity. Akinwale urged graduates to embrace values that contribute to societal progress. The event also celebrated the induction of two home-grown professors and highlighted the university's growth over the past decade, with Archbishop Dr. Alfred Martins stressing the importance of nurturing graduates who are not only knowledgeable but also morally upright.

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has officially launched a World Bank-funded Conditional Cash Transfer initiative, distributing seventy-five thousand Naira each to over four hundred thousand vulnerable residents. Speaking at a ceremony at the Tsafe Local Government Secretariat, Governor Lawal announced that the total financial empowerment package amounts to thirty-three point six billion Naira, distributed via debit cards. According to a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, over two hundred and seventy-nine thousand verified individuals will receive immediate payments, while the remaining beneficiaries will be paid after verification. The governor urged recipients to invest the funds into small-scale enterprises rather than domestic needs to foster economic self-reliance. Governor Lawal also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, development partners, and the National Cash Transfer Office for their collaboration in supporting the development of Zamfara State.