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January 2027 Confirmed for Oyo Local Government Elections

Metro

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January 16, 2026

January 2027 Confirmed for Oyo Local Government Elections

The next local government elections will be held throughout the state, according to proposals made by the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission.

According to reports, the commission scheduled the polls for Saturday, January 16, 2027. The votes would be held in all of Oyo State’s 33 local government areas.

On election day, voting is scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m.

At the conclusion of the commission’s first meeting with its management team, which took place at the OYSIEC headquarters in Agodi, Ibadan, a decision was made.

Dr. Babatunde Afees Adeniyi, the commission chairman, presided over the meeting, which was centered on organizing and exchanging ideas for a successful council election.

Political campaigns will formally conclude by midnight on Friday, January 15, 2027, according to OYSIEC.

Additionally, it said that a supplemental or rerun election would take place on Saturday, January 23, 2027, if necessary.

The commission also stated that, in accordance with the state’s present local government statute, the current chairman and council members of the 33 local government councils will serve out their terms on May 23, 2027.

According to OYSIEC, the statement was made in accordance with the authority afforded to it by pertinent portions of the Electoral Act and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission Law, which permit the commission to announce elections far in advance.

In order to guarantee the smooth running of the local government elections set for January 2027, the commission urged political parties, candidates, security services, and other interested parties to collaborate with it.

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APC Fires Back at Opposition: Lobbying Engagement with U.S. Firm Legal

Politics

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January 16, 2026

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APC Fires Back at Opposition: Lobbying Engagement with U.S. Firm Legal

The opposition’s responses to the engagement of a US-based lobbying firm have been criticized by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which asserts that lobbying is not illegal.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by Mogaji (Hon.) Seye Oladejo, the spokesperson for the party’s Lagos State chapter, the party stated that governments in both developed and developing nations frequently work with lobbying and public affairs firms, especially in strategic capitals like Washington, to advance national interests, draw in investment, dispel false information, and bolster diplomatic and security cooperation.

“The Lagos State Chapter of the APC has observed the orchestrated outrage and selective indignation of the opposition over Nigeria’s engagement of a U.S.-based lobbying firm,” the statement said. Despite being loud, this agitation reveals either a serious lack of knowledge about contemporary governance or a purposeful attempt to deceive the people.

It is important to reiterate that lobbying is a common, legal, and extensively used tool of statecraft. In order to advance national interests, draw in investment, dispel false information, and bolster diplomatic and security cooperation, governments from developed democracies to developing nations frequently work with lobbying and public relations firms, especially in crucial capitals like Washington. These companies are used by nations in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa to influence politics, increase commerce, obtain development aid, and safeguard key assets. Therefore, Nigeria’s action is neither new nor inappropriate; rather, it is a common practice throughout the world.

This interaction unmistakably marks the end of the opposition’s unchecked demarketing of Nigeria in front of the international community. The Federal Government is aware of the vast resources the opposition has historically used to denigrate the nation abroad, but ironically, they are still frustrated that their constant Armageddon and doom prophecies have not come to pass.

“The government has made sure that the true Nigerian story will now be told in truth and in deed—from a positive, factual, and forward-looking perspective, not by those driven by cynicism, misinformation, and a destructive political agenda—by proactively projecting Nigeria’s reforms, priorities, and progress through legitimate global channels.

“The opposition’s unease stems from the understanding that Nigeria has chosen confidence over apologies, engagement over silence, and leadership over provincial thinking, not from concerns about probity. In a competitive global order, strategic foreign advocacy is essential and not illegal.

“We implore Nigerians to look past the manufactured hysteria and stay focused on the greater picture: a Nigeria that is reclaiming its voice, defending its interests, and asserting its rightful place on the global stage.”

Alleged N1.35 Billion Fraud: Lamido’s Trial Set to Proceed, Supreme Court Rules

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January 16, 2026

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Alleged N1.35 Billion Fraud: Lamido’s Trial Set to Proceed, Supreme Court Rules

The trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his two sons, and other defendants in connection with an alleged ₦1.35 billion fraud will continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In two unanimous rulings rendered on Friday in the appeals submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Government, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court issued the direction.

On the grounds that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, the appeals contested the July 25, 2023, rulings of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which had supported Lamido and the other defendants’ no-case submissions and dismissed the 37-count indictment.

In the lead rulings, Justice Abubakar Umar upheld the earlier decision of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and overturned the Appeal Court’s decision.

According to Justice Umar, the trial court was correct to force the defendants to present their defense and to reject the no-case arguments.

The EFCC claims that between 2007 and 2015, Lamido misused his position as governor by allegedly laundering money obtained as kickbacks from businesses that the Jigawa State Government had given contracts to.

In the 37-count accusation, the anti-graft agency accused the former governor and his co-defendants of several crimes that bordered on money laundering.

Lamido’s two sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and two businesses, Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited, are also charged alongside Lamido.

Impeachment Update: Rivers Assembly Sends Directive to Chief Judge

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January 16, 2026

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Impeachment Update: Rivers Assembly Sends Directive to Chief Judge

The impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, will proceed as scheduled, the Rivers State House of Assembly announced on Friday.

At the resumed plenary on Friday, the parliamentarians unanimously decided to look into the claims of egregious misbehavior against Fubara and his deputy.

They concurred that the accusations made against them need to move on to the following stage of inquiry.

According to reports, Speaker Martins Amaewhule presided over the meeting.

In accordance with the resolution, the legislators demanded that the state’s chief judge form a commission to look into the claims of egregious misconduct made against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

Amaewhule said, “This voting clearly shows the decision of the House,” and he urged the state’s chief judge to form an investigative panel.

At a press conference earlier on Friday, four lawmakers who had previously withdrawn from the impeachment process accused the governor of violating the 1999 Constitution and claimed that the parliament had no choice but to exercise its legislative authority by removing him from office.

They also said that Fubara lacked the trust necessary to deal with the state’s crisis and accused him of extortion.

They claim that by their actions thus far, the Governor and his Deputy have indicated that they are not interested in a peace process but rather wish to scare the Assembly into abandoning the impeachment procedure while they carry out their acts of impunity.

As a result, they ruled that the impeachment procedure had to proceed as scheduled.

Supreme Court Rules Against Lamido’s Son in $40,000 Undeclared Funds Case

Metro

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January 16, 2026

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Supreme Court Rules Against Lamido’s Son in $40,000 Undeclared Funds Case

The appeal filed by Aminu Sule Lamido, the son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, contesting his conviction for failing to disclose $40,000 at the airport, was rejected by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In a five-member panel’s unanimous ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court decided all three of the arguments put out for decision against the appellant and declared the appeal to be without merit.

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal and sustained the previous ruling of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, which had maintained Aminu Lamido’s conviction by the Federal High Court, Kano, in the lead judgment written by Justice Adamu Jauro and read by Justice Abubakar Umar.

The prosecution had adequately proven the accusations made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the supreme court concurred with the lower courts.

The EFCC charged Aminu Lamido with violating applicable financial regulations by failing to report foreign currency and making fraudulent disclosures at the airport.

The Federal High Court, Kano, found him guilty and mandated that 25% of the unreported foreign currency be forfeited to the Federal Government in its ruling on July 12, 2015.

Aminu Lamido went to the Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal had previously supported the trial court’s ruling. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court decided that there was no reason to overturn the two lower courts’ concurrent rulings.

Rivers Politics: Orji Says Fubara’s Impeachment Attempt Will Not Succeed

Politics

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January 16, 2026

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Rivers Politics: Orji Says Fubara’s Impeachment Attempt Will Not Succeed

Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State’s assistant, Darlington Orji, has stated that his principal will not be impeached.

Orji clarified that the State House of Assembly’s accusations against Fubara are false, hence the impeachment will not succeed.

Orji stated that only the Assembly can provide an explanation for Fubara’s wrongdoing and the purported cash embezzlement during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

“I can tell you for free that this process will not scale through because there is no truth in it,” he declared. Additionally, as you mentioned, only they are able to determine when there has been egregious wrongdoing or misappropriation.

“Yes, since you will concur with me that numerous courts across the nation have disregarded numerous impeachment procedures due to procedural irregularities.

Therefore, even though I’m not a member of the House, I can tell you about us because I’m on the ground and we reached out to a lot of people. We have always collaborated in the past, and many of them are my pals.

They are unhappy with what they are doing in this process. And I have no doubt that this process will be finished by the end of the day and during the upper week.

Dangote Rewards Cement Distributors with N15 Billion in Gifts

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January 16, 2026

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Dangote Rewards Cement Distributors with N15 Billion in Gifts

The top distributors and clients of Dangote Cement Plc have been rewarded with ₦15 billion by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote for their unwavering devotion, tenacity, and exceptional performance.

At the company’s 2026 Distributors’ Awards Night in Lagos, the announcement was made.

A total of ₦15 billion worth of gifts, including cash awards, cement containers, luxury SUVs, and CNG-powered trucks, were given to the beneficiaries.

Speaking at the award event, Dangote complimented the distributors’ commitment to making sure Dangote products reach communities across the country and referred to them as the organization’s lifeblood.

“What transforms our vision and objectives into real outcomes is your relentless labor in the field, your enticing dedication to our products, and your direct interaction with our clients. Our growth path for 2026 has already started, as evidenced by today’s celebration with the theme “Partner for Growth,” he said.

During the event, Dangote reaffirmed its Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to make the Dangote Group a $100 billion business by 2030. He clarified that the strategy is centered on industrial growth, international investments, and increasing Africa’s self-sufficiency in industries like infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy.

The Dangote Cement Group is aiming to increase its cement manufacturing capacity to almost 90 million tons by 2030, according to the African industrial giant. He emphasized that the company’s goals extend well beyond constructing plants. Building Africa’s ability to feed itself, fuel its economy, develop its people, and promote sustainable industrialization is the main goal, he clarified.

“Under this vision, we have announced the expansion of our petroleum refinery from 650,000 bpd to 1.4 million bpd, the fertilizer plant to 12 million metric tonnes per year, and an increase in production at the polypropylene plant,” he stated. By 2030, our cement company hopes to have a production capacity of about 90 million tonnes. By 2030, we will have produced 90 million tons, which is 50% more than Saudi Arabia’s total output.

“I firmly believe that Africans who refuse to accept limitations, who dream big, work hard, and never stop believing in what is possible, will build Africa’s future.” Vision 2030 is a key component of our Africa First mission.

Nigerians Still Await Proof — Abati Challenges Official 15% Inflation Figure

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January 16, 2026

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Nigerians Still Await Proof — Abati Challenges Official 15% Inflation Figure

Dr. Reuben Abati, a seasoned journalist and former presidential assistant, has voiced doubts about Nigeria’s reported inflation decline, arguing that it hasn’t yet resulted in a significant reduction in the cost of living for Nigerians.

Speaking on Friday’s Morning Show on Arise Television, Abati questioned the validity of the National Bureau of Statistics’ (NBS) December inflation rate of 15.15 percent, speculating that it was impacted by modifications to the rebasing technique.

He claims that although authorities and foreign partners like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have claimed that the new inflation measurement would provide Nigerians with real benefits, such results have not yet been observed.

Even though the NBS has reported successive drops in inflation, Abati pointed out that everyday costs, especially food prices, have not been affected.

The delay has been too long, he said, adding that a meaningful indication of change would be a discernible decrease in food prices. He noted that economists frequently contend that inflation data takes time to alter living conditions.

“This inflation thing, which they say is now 15.15% as of December, is based on some sort of, you know, creativity,” Abati stated. The rebasing mechanism has allegedly been modified.

“Now, this rebasing, this new methodology, will translate into tangible benefits in terms of the cost of living for Nigerians,” the IMF resident representative said.

The Bureau of Statistics reports that inflation has been declining steadily. The evidence’s impact on living expenses has not yet been observed.

The experts in the field, the economists, say, “Okay, it takes time. It’s taking much too long for us to notice the impact. We think this CPI is having an impact when food inflation decreases. I believe the Manufacturers Association is also rather worried about this.

Atiku’s Son Joins APC: Party Calls Move a Generational Statement

Politics

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January 16, 2026

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Atiku’s Son Joins APC: Party Calls Move a Generational Statement

The choice of Abubakar Atiku Abubakar, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been described as a “generational statement” by the APC’s Lagos State Chapter.

The party said that the decision to reject the African Democratic Congress (ADC) speaks louder than any political retort or news conference in a statement released by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo.

The APC claims that Atiku’s son’s decision highlights more serious issues with leadership, conviction, and trust.

According to the Lagos APC, Atiku Abubakar’s lengthy history of switching parties—from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Congress (AC), back to the PDP, and now the ADC—has increased popular skepticism regarding his political orientation and ideological coherence.

The APC went on to characterize the defection as an endorsement of its governance record and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the action shows increased trust in the leadership and policy direction of the ruling party.

The Lagos APC welcomed Abubakar Atiku Abubakar into its ranks and declared that the period of “political tourism and ambition without ideology” is gradually coming to an end, urging Nigerians to interpret the move as a sign of shifting political trends.

The party came to the conclusion that in order for leadership to be credible on a national level, it must first inspire confidence at home. It maintains that Nigerians are increasingly using this test wisely.

Alaafin Breaks Silence: Refutes Makinde’s Statement on Obas’ Council Leadership

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January 16, 2026

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Alaafin Breaks Silence: Refutes Makinde’s Statement on Obas’ Council Leadership

The allegations made by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that he conferred with the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso over the rotation of the chairperson of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs have been refuted by the Alaafin of Oyo’s Palace.

The palace insisted that no such meeting ever took place in a statement dated January 15, 2026, calling the governor’s assertion false.

Bode Durojaiye, the Director of Media and Publicity of the Alaafin, signed the statement.

The palace claims that the Alaafin, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, never discussed the issue with the governor or the other traditional leaders.

Additionally, it denied rumors that the Alaafin was in favor of a rotating chairmanship.

“The Alaafin did not meet with the governor and did not support the council’s rotational leadership,” the statement stated.

The palace went on to say that the Oyo Council of Elders’ document, which represents the viewpoint of all Oyo stakeholders, had previously formally informed the state government of the Alaafin’s position.

It stressed that the document continues to represent the Alaafin and Oyo community’s official stance on the State Council of Obas and Chiefs’ leadership structure.