Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory’s minister, has stated that he will not run against President Bola Tinubu in the presidential election in 2027.
He did, however, claim to continue to be a PDP (opposition) member.
“I won’t be in a fight once more. I am unable to challenge someone I am working with. If not him, who would prevail? He stated in an interview with BBC Pidgin.
Former governor of Rivers State Wike lost to former vice president Atiku Abubakar in a bid to win the party’s presidential election in 2023.
The party’s decision to not zone its presidential ticket to the South, which the minister found unsettling, leading to a political crisis that had a negative impact on the party’s election performance.
Read more about the Port Harcourt Town Hall Meeting’s Clash between Fubara supporters at Wike and  .
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Bola Tinubu, the president of the All Progressives Congress, the winner of the election.
Wike also addressed questions to some opposition party leaders in the interview, saying he would not abandon the PDP.
“Let me ask you,” Who is a member of the PDP? Former governor of Imo Achile Udenwa has no member for the National Assembly. He did not receive three-quarters of the votes for his party.
There is no assembly member for the former governor of Ebonyi State, just one for the governor. You are issuing threats because you did not get a governor. What threat do you have? You are useless.
“That kind of thing (defect) cannot be done by me. I don’t have any fear. Is my strength me? If you come and annoy me, how will I build a house? Who will resign? I won’t let you ruin the home I built, and you will leave. He declared, “I will continue.”
Also read: Wike: The Zoning PDP Presidential Ticket to the North Will Backfire in 2027.
Numerous well-known members of the party have defected to the PDP, including the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy, members of the House of Assembly, and the state executive council.
Ifeanyi Okowa, who was the PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, joined him.
In order to implement ward development projects, the Niger State Government has announced the distribution of 3 million dollars to each of the state’s 25 local government areas’ 274 political wards.
The Governor, Phallalu Bako, the commissioner for rural and community development and the chair of the State Ward Development Project Steering Committee, led a statewide sensitization tour to promote the initiative, which aims to accede to grassroots development.
Governor Umaru Bago’s commitment to revitalizing ward-level development as a means of delivering tangible projects that are specifically designed to serve the needs of communities was reiterated by Bako.
“Community-identified projects will be implemented with $3 million each,” according to the ward. This project gives localities the authority to decide what their development priorities are, Bako said.
The steering committee visited the Suleja, Lapai, and Agaie Emirate Councils to present traditional leaders and stakeholders with the initiative’s goals and legal framework.
In order to ensure transparency and accountability, Bako emphasized the establishment of ward and local government development committees made up of representatives from traditional, religious, political, and civil society organizations.
He stated that every dollar spent would be spent with integrity and added value.
Read more about the Niger State government’s plans for $2 billion in poultry in Bosso LGA.
“Business is not going to continue as usual,” he declared. He said, “We are committed to transparency, community involvement, and value for every dollar spent.”
Binta Mamman, the commissioner for information and strategy, praised the initiative as a first step in reducing the suffering of vulnerable groups, particularly women, during a speech addressing the group.
She said that productivity and socio-economic growth will increase when boreholes, primary health centers, and schools are operational.
The state government’s initiative was praised by traditional rulers like Emir Lapai, Alhaji Umaru Bago III, Emir of Agaie, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, and Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Awwal Ibrahim (represented by the Madakin Suleja, Shuibu Gani). They urged stakeholders to ensure accountability and effective monitoring while stressing the value of grassroots development.
Top government figures, the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, and representatives from important ministries make up the steering committee.
Yakubu Mohammed, the committee’s secretary, is the ministry’s permanent secretary.
With a 1-0 victory over Manchester City, Crystal Palace stunned Manchester City for the first time, adding to Pep Guardiola’s troubled side’s misery.
Before Eze’s late penalty saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the first half of a dramatic final at Wembley, City was rocked by Eze’s early strike.
Eze’s skillful saves marked the start of his remarkable rise as a youngster, despite being rejected by Arsenal, Fulham, and Millwall, with Henderson becoming Palace’s hero with a string of outstanding saves.
Eberechi Eze (R) celebrates with teammates after winning the English FA Cup final football game between Manchester City and Crystal Palace on May 17, 2025 at Wembley Stadium in London. With a score of 1-0, Palestine won. Adrian Dennis/AFP photo
Henderson should have been given a penalty after a first-half handball outside of his penalty area, according to City.
However, Henderson capitalized on that contentious incident to ensure Palace won their first significant trophy in their 120-year history and a spot in the Europa League for the following year.
READ MORE: Real Madrid Signs Huijsen For £50 Million,  .
In their previous FA Cup final appearances in 1990 and 2016, Manchester United had already defeated Palace, but that victory was undeserved as City again fell behind in a mediocre season that will mark their first without significant silverware since 2016-17.
City have endured a turbulent campaign that is among Guardiola’s worst managerial career, having won the Premier League four times in a row.
On May 17, 2025, Crystal Palace’s English midfielder #10 Eberechi Eze (R) celebrates with teammates after winning the English FA Cup final football game between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London. With a score of 1-0, Palestine won. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP)
City play Bournemouth on Tuesday and travel to Fulham on May 25 as they try to salvage their miserable year by at least qualifying for the Champions League. City is currently sixth in the Premier League.
As they struggled to maintain their lead over Liverpool in the title race and were eliminated from the Champions League, Guardiola had questioned their appetite for food.
Although Palace may not have had a desire, Guardiola’s defeat in their second FA Cup final defeat was a worrying sign for the club as he was beaten by Eagles manager Oliver Glasner.
On May 17, 2025, Crystal Palace’s French defender #05 Maxence Lacroix (C) and their Japanese midfielder #18 Daichi Kamada (C) celebrate with their teammates at the English FA Cup final football game between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London. With a score of 1-0, Palestine won. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/AFP)
Guardiola’s selection for a final came unexpected, not the first time, when he chose an ultra-attacking line-up without a holding midfielder.
Guardiola’s gamble has a negative impact.
However, Guardiola’s practice of changing his finals strategies has historically had negative effects.
Guardiola stated he was putting his faith in “talent,” but Glasner saw an opening in the City lineup, saying: “When you have so many attacking players it could give you an opportunity in transitions.”
On May 17, 2025, Manchester City’s Spanish manager Pep Guardiola applauds the crowd at Wembley Stadium in London following the English FA Cup final football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City. The FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday saw Crystal Palace win the first significant trophy in the history of the club, beating Manchester City 1-0. (Photo by Glyn KIRK/AFP)
When Erling Haaland stretched to meet Kevin De Bruyne’s cross with a volley that forced Henderson to make a scrambled save, it almost seemed like City was off to the right start.
Henderson was able to deflect Josko Gvardiol’s towering header from Savinho’s corner cunningly.
City was pounced by Glasner’s deft choice to set up Palace deep within their own half.
In the 16th minute, Glasner’s men broke brilliantly from their penalty area, giving Palace the decisive blow from their first attack.
Daniel Munoz surged down the right flank before heading in the opposite direction, where Jean-Philippe Mateta guided a superb volley past Stefan Ortega from 12 yards, after receiving Chris Richards’ long pass.
On May 17, 2025, Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder #17 Kevin De Bruyne (L) reacts to their defeat following Crystal Palace’s defeat in the English FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London. The FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday saw Crystal Palace win the first significant trophy in the history of the club, beating Manchester City 1-0. (Photo by Glyn KIRK/AFP) /
When Henderson escaped a red card after the ‘keeper rushed out to challenge Haaland, the city were furious when VAR examined his handball, which appeared to have taken place outside the area.
It was “not an obvious goal-scoring opportunity,” according to VAR, but Henderson’s 35th minute save saved Palace.
Bernardo Silva ran away from the goal as Tyrick Mitchell fumbled a needless foul on the City midfielder.
When Henderson plunged to his right to prevent the Egyptians’ strike, Marmoush took the spot-kick in a disastrous move, preventing Haaland from taking the spot-kick.
A Jeremy Doku strike that appeared to be headed for the top corner was defended by Henderson, who was in excellent form, and denied City once more.
Henderson made two more admirable saves from Claudio Echeverri to cap a frustrating afternoon for Guardiola, who Palace were indebted to for enduring.
Pope Leo XIV’s installation is being attended by President Bola Tinubu in Rome, Italy, on Sunday.
President Tinubu was met by Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the minister of state for foreign affairs, Vatican City, and Nigerian Embassy officials at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport at 6 p.m., according to a statement from the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Pope Leo XIV, who was accompanied by his successor, Pope Francis, to an invitation to Tinubu, who was elected by the College of Cardinals on April 21 during a conclave 17 days after his death.
Onanuga had previously disclosed that senior Catholic leaders from the nation will be gathered for the event in a statement he issued on Thursday.
Also read: The Vatican holds the Pope Leo XIV inauguration mass on May 18;
The President’s delegation will include Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Alfred Martins of Lagos, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, and Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja.
Pope Leo XIV received the invitation from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who said the event was “a moment of particular significance for the Catholic Church and the world afflicted by many tensions and conflicts.”
He added that the Pope also mentioned personal ties to Nigeria, saying that, while working at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lagos in the 1980s, “Your great nation is particularly dear to me.”
On May 18th, Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be formally ordained at St. Peter’s Square.
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported that work has begun to re-erect three towers along the 330kV Kainji-Birnin Kebbi transmission line.
The TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, claimed a strong wind that had felled the towers at around 5:35 pm that was the cause of the collapse in a statement on Saturday.
She claimed that TCN has dispatched three different contractors to the site to handle the reconstruction of a single tower.
Read more about the 33-year-old Kankia Groundnut Oil Mill:  .
The strategic deployment, in her opinion, aims to shorten the restoration process and reduce downtime.
Meanwhile, the TCN stated that efforts have been made to mitigate the effects of the Kaduna DisCo’s customer-related power supply disruption.
According to the statement, Sokoto and Birnin Kebi are currently receiving bulk electricity from the Mando Transmission substation via the 132kV Mando-Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Talata Mafara-Sokoto-Birnin Kebi line, which is between 6MW and 7MW.
The TCN acknowledged the residents’ patience and understanding of the affected communities, and that contractors are diligently collaborating with its supervision engineers to repair the towers and restore the 330kV transmission line.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has signed two executive orders to address these pressing issues in an effort to protect the environment, improve public health, and reduce public annoyance across Borno State.
The second executive order mandates a monthly statewide sanitation exercise, while the first prohibits the indiscriminate felling of trees.
Governor Zulum made the comments at a briefing event on Friday at the Government House that the measures were taken in response to the alarming levels of environmental abuse, particularly the unchecked felling of trees.
He emphasized the need to preserve the ecosystem and safeguard future generations.
I, Babagana Umara Zulum, the Executive Governor of Borno State, hereby declare the felling of trees to be prohibited immediately in accordance with Sections 14 (2) and 20 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), as well as the Felling of Tree Law, Cap 53, and all other powers that are mys,” Zulum said.
Read more about Zulum’s ban on the sale of alcohol in Borno and accusations that security personnel promote criminal activity.
Any person found illegally cutting down trees may be subject to a fine of N250, 000 or three years of imprisonment as a result of this declaration. The penalty for subsequent offenses is “a maximum of five years’ imprisonment or a fine of N500, 000, or both,” he added.
The governor also signed an executive order mandating the Sanitation Court’s monthly meetings and enforcing the requirement for them to do so.
He stated that first-time offenders who violate the sanitation order will face sentences not exceeding two years in prison and a fine of N100,000.
This initiative aims to promote people’s overall well-being, strengthen the country’s healthcare system, and stop disease spread within communities.
He immediately stated, “I, Babagana Umara Zulum, do hereby declare the first Saturday of every month as Sanitation Day.”
“Those found to have violated this order shall be punished in advance with sentences not exceeding two years’ imprisonment and a fine of N100,000 for first-time offenders. He further stated that subsequent offenders will be subject to a maximum five-year prison sentence.
Additionally, the governor made it known that he would sign a second executive order imposing severe penalties for those who break the law regarding scrap metal trading and scavenging.
