Category Nigeria News

A former Minister of Sports and Youth, Solomon Dalung, believes the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has people who can defeat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, saying beating the Nigerian leader in next year’s poll requires a collective effort. 

Dalung said this on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme aired on Channels Television, attributing his enthusiasm to the calibre of politicians on parade in the ADC.

“So I think we have so many people to challenge Tinubu,” the lawyer, who served as minister under the immediate past leadership of President Muhammadu Tinubu, said on the show.

“I can determine to contest the election, and I will challenge him.”

READ ALSO: Iyabo Obasanjo Confirms Membership In APC

The ADC, which was last year adopted by the opposition coalition as its platform, houses some top politicians.

Some of them include ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar; ex-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; a former governor of Rivers State and ex-minister, Rotimi Amaechi; ex-minister and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola; a former national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun; and a former Senate President, David Mark, among other bigwigs. 

Critics argue that the ADC may implode after its presidential primary, given the array of politicians on the party’s membership roster.

The APC, which enjoys the membership of 30 governors and an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly, has waved off claims that the ADC would challenge them in next year’s election.

However, Dalung said those in the opposition party are united in the pursuit of their purpose: defeat Tinubu in the next election. This is irrespective of who emerges as the ADC presidential candidate.

“We are going to conduct a transparent primary, and we have also resolved that whoever wins a transparent primary will be the person all of us support to challenge Tinubu,” he said.

“So, challenging Tinubu is not an individual issue. It’s not the issue of the candidate; it’s the issue of the party. That resolution has been issued and approved.”

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, won the 2023 presidential election, beating Atiku, Obi, and several other contenders.

With the 2027 elections about one year away, the APC rank has continued to swell with governors, National Assembly members, state lawmakers, and others joining the ruling party.

The main opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) has seen its ranks depleted, and a plethora of internal grumblings have further deepened the division within the party.

Pope Leo XIV has condemned the recent wave of violent attacks across Nigeria, expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and calling on authorities to act decisively to protect citizens.

“It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria, leading to a heavy loss of life. I express my prayerful closeness to all the victims of violence and terrorism,” the pontiff wrote in a post on his X handle, adding that he received news of the attacks with strong concern.

“I likewise hope that the competent Authorities will continue to work with determination to ensure the safety and protection of the life of every citizen. #PrayTogether.”

The Pope’s statement comes amid a series of deadly attacks in several parts of the country, with Kwara State recording the most devastating incident.

Between February 3 and 4, 2026, armed assailants attacked the villages of Woro and Nuku in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State in what has been described by residents as a massacre.

READ ALSO: US Condemn Kwara Attack, Laud Nigerian Troops Deployment As Türkiye Pledges Military Support

While reports indicate 162 people were killed, local officials and survivors believe the death toll has exceeded 200 as bodies continue to be recovered from surrounding bushland. The police and Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, however, confirmed that 75 people were dead from the attack.

In response, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of additional troops to the area and declared a nationwide security emergency. An army battalion has since been sent to Kaiama under a new military operation aimed at restoring order. Vice President Kashim Shettima also visited Ilorin on February 7 to commiserate with the state government and affected communities.

The killings have drawn international condemnation. The United Nations, the United States, and Türkiye have all denounced the violence and called for accountability.

In separate statements, they described it as heinous, with Türkiye pledging military support to Nigeria’s efforts to combat insecurity.

Amnesty International has, however, criticised the Nigerian government over what it described as serious security lapses, noting that residents had reportedly raised concerns about impending attacks weeks before the massacre.

Meanwhile, other deadly incidents were recorded across the country within the same period. In Katsina State, armed groups killed between 21 and 35 people in Doma village, Tafoki ward, during coordinated house-to-house attacks that reportedly shattered a five-month peace pact between the community and local armed gangs.

In Benue State, suspected armed herdsmen attacked the Abande settlement in Kwande Local Government Area on February 3, killing at least 16 people, including a Mobile Police officer, and looting a local market.

Similarly, in Niger State, gunmen launched an attack on communities in Agwara and Mashegu local government areas on February 1, setting a police station ablaze and abducting several residents.

The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of three children by suspected kidnappers.

The incident occurred on Saturday, at Nkwegu, opposite the Nkwegu Military Cantonment gate, in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Police authorities said the parents of the abducted children reported the incident to them. 

The spokesman of the Ebonyi Police Command, Joshua Ukandu, said the three children included: one boy (aged 2), and two girls (aged 4 and 2 years).

READ ALSO: Police Rescue Kidnap Victim In Ebonyi, Arrest Three Suspects

“Yes, we are aware of the incident. It happened in the early hours of February 7, which was Saturday,” Ukandu told Channels Television. 

As of Sunday, the police said that no ransom demand has been made and no arrests have been recorded yet.

“There has been no demand for ransom, and no arrests have been made yet,” he said.

“Our officers are investigating and working towards rescuing the abducted children.”

READ ALSO: Many Feared Killed, Abducted In Attack On Ebonyi Community

The Command has assured the public that they are actively investigating the matter and have launched a rescue operation to bring the children home safely. 

Former Minister of Sports and Youth, Solomon Dalung, has faulted the Senate over the controversy trailing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. 

The Electoral Act amendment bill passed the third reading at the Senate. But critics like Dalung have blamed the lawmakers for not voting for the real-time electronic transmission of election results.

“Well, there is no [integrity]—you don’t give what you do not [have]. The Senate has no reputation, and so it cannot give Nigerians a credible or fair election with integrity,” Dalung said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics. 

“So the behavior of the people and the reaction to what the Senate President considered is based on the integrity of the Senate.”

The controversy trailing the bill is coming about one year before Nigerians head to the polls to elect their leaders.

READ ALSO: Iyabo Obasanjo Confirms Membership In APC

Dalung is a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), one of the leading opposition parties in Nigeria seeking to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Many critics and observers claim the ADC does not have the wherewithal to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s APC in next year’s election.

However, Dalung said his party has all it takes to challenge and defeat Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, referencing the calibre of persons within the ADC ranks.

“So I think we have so many people to challenge Tinubu,” the lawyer, who served as minister under the immediate past leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, said on the show. “I can determine to contest the election, and I will challenge him.”

He described Tinubu as “a dwarf in Nigerian political history, and should not be compared with great leaders because great political leaders make legacies. They serve the people. They work for the people.”

Erling Haaland’s stoppage-time penalty earned Manchester City a dramatic 2-1 win at Liverpool on Sunday to reduce Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League back to six points.

City were heading for defeat at Anfield with six minutes to go before Bernardo Silva cancelled out Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick to spark an incredible finale.

Haaland put City in front from the spot before the visitors had another goal ruled out, and Szoboszlai was sent off in the same incident after a VAR review.

Victory was City’s first away to Liverpool in front of a crowd since 2003 and reapplies some pressure to Arsenal’s quest for a first title in 22 years.

Defeat delivered another blow to Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League football next season.

The defending champions remain down in sixth and four points adrift of the top five.

These two clubs have combined to win the last eight Premier League titles, but both showed the flaws which have opened the door for Arsenal to potentially end their long wait to be crowned champions of England once again.

Haaland has scored just once from open play in his last 13 games and an uncharacteristic lack of confidence from the Norwegian showed with the best chance of the first half inside the opening two minutes.

Silva’s clever pass split the Liverpool defence, but Haaland’s shot lacked conviction under pressure from Milos Kerkez, and Alisson Becker was able to save low to his left.

Haaland hooked another effort straight at Alisson among 10 first-half City attempts without a breakthrough.

READ ALSO: UK-Based Nigerian Footballer Dies After Brain Injury

Guehi booed 

Second-half slumps have been a consistent feature of City’s season, and the visitors again faded in the second period until a late flurry saved their title challenge.

Hugo Ekitike should have opened the scoring when he completely miscued his header just before the hour mark after a lightning-fast Liverpool break.

Marc Guehi was relentlessly booed after his proposed move to Liverpool from Crystal Palace broke down on transfer deadline day in September.

City took advantage to swoop in last month when they lost two key centre-backs to injury.

Guehi was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card when he dragged down Mo Salah just outside the box.

But it was City who were left fuming at the award of the free-kick, which led to the opener when Ryan Gravenberch went down under minimal contact.

Szoboszlai scored the only goal with an outrageous free-kick when Arsenal visited Anfield in August and produced another stunning strike which clipped the inside of the post before finding the net.

However, the Hungarian went from hero to villain when City levelled six minutes from time.

Szoboszlai played Silva onside as he slid in to volley home Haaland’s header for City’s first second-half goal in the Premier League this year.

Alisson then wiped out Matheus Nunes to concede a penalty, and Haaland kept his cool from the spot to put City in front.

Pep Guardiola’s men still needed a stunning save from Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip behind Alexis Mac Allister’s deflected shot.

With Alisson remaining forward from the resulting corner, the Liverpool goal was open when Rayan Cherki took aim from the halfway line to roll the ball into an empty net.

However, Haaland and Szoboszlai’s grappling as the ball trickled towards the goal saw the strike ruled out, with a free-kick awarded to City instead, and the Liverpool player given his marching orders.

One person has died following an attack by gunmen in the Koro community of the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
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The attack from suspected terrorists on Sunday afternoon threw the residents of the community into panic.

They stormed the community, heavily armed, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee their homes in fear. The shooting led to the death of one person.
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‎The community shares a boundary with ‎Egbe in the Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State, all in the North-Central region of the country. ‎
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READ ALSO: UN, US Condemn Kwara Attack As Türkiye Vows Military Support

This attack came the day after some terrorists assaulted the Woro community of Kaiama Local Government Area of the state, killing at least 75 persons.

Some houses and other properties were equally destroyed during the incident.

“The present toll of casualties that we have from that dastardly act that happened on the 3rd of February at about 17:30 hours is 75,” the Police Public Relations Officer, Kwara Command, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday.

“Investigations are still ongoing,” she said.

Today, I met with the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq @RealAARahman, to be debriefed on the incident in Kaiama LGA.

I condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and beastly attack. The gunmen are heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed… pic.twitter.com/YmNFubb5fx

In the wake of the incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of troops, condemning the attack, which added to the growing number of assaults on communities in several parts of Nigeria.

“I condemn in the strongest terms this cowardly and beastly attack. The gunmen are heartless for choosing soft targets in their doomed campaign of terror. Their actions offend our humanity, our faith, and our shared values as a nation,” Tinubu said when he received Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara.

“Yesterday, I directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State following the horrific attack on innocent villagers in Worro.