Chief Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transport, has said that President Bola Tinubu will be defeated in 2027 presidential election if the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is allowed to participate fully in the election.

Amaechi noted that the presence of the ADC on the ballot would seriously alter the political equation, adding that the outcome of the election would not favour the incumbent, regardless of whether the process is free and fair or otherwise.

“Whether free, fair or unfair and not free, if we [the ADC] are on the ballot, President Bola Tinubu will lose the election, “Amaechi said.

He also criticised what he described as attempts to weaken opposition parties, alleging that government institutions are being used to interfere in their internal affairs ahead of the election.

He said the recent interpretations of a Court of Appeal verdict suggesting that the ADC lacks leadership are flawed, insisting that such positions are being pushed by individuals who do not want strong contenders in the race.

“Amupitan interpreted the Court of Appeal’s judgment as saying that we are leaderless,” he said.

“The problem is, he does not want a strong candidate on the ballot, so what they are doing is that they are interfering with all the parties using the judiciary as an institution.”

“And let them allow all the parties on the ballot and see if they can win,” he added.

The former governor of Rivers State further claimed that the strategy being used is to manipulate institutions, particularly the judiciary, to disrupt opposition parties and limit their chances at the polls.

“The strategy they are using is to use government institutions to disrupt other parties.”

However, Amaechi challenged the ruling party to allow all political parties to contest without interference, maintaining that a level playing field would ultimately determine the true strength of each party in the 2027 election.

By Agency Report

United Nigeria Airlines, UNA, says three aircraft in its fleet have been grounded in the last 48 hours on account of bird strike.

Chibuike Uloka, the Public Relations Officer of UNA who disclosed this in a statement on Friday said the company suffered another bird strike on an Embraer 190 aircraft at Benin City Airport on Thursday.

Mr Uloka said the affected aircraft, which had been withdrawn as a result of damage on its Nose Landing Gear, was Flight UN0561 on its way from Benin Airport to Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that bird strike is a collision between a bird and a moving aircraft, occurring most frequently during takeoff or landing at low altitudes.

The impact of bird strike can cause significant damage to engines, windshields, and airframes.

United Nigeria said the Benin Airport incident was the third in the last 48 hours and seventh since Jan. 7 l.

It said that the frequency of bird strikes on its operations had assumed an extremely concerning and unacceptable pattern, given its impact on safety.

“While our operating aircraft have experienced multiple bird strike incidents, we report only those that have resulted in aircraft being grounded due to damaged part(s).

“We urge the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria to strengthen wildlife hazard management measures across major airports to minimise the risk of such occurrences.

“We sincerely apologise to our passengers for any inconvenience to their travel plans resulting from service disruptions caused by multiple bird strikes,” it said.

NAN

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a sharp rebuttal against President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of hypocrisy, distortion of history, and political desperation while declaring that “it is not my fault that you can’t read.”

The terse response was contained in a statement issued on Friday, by Atiku’s spokesman, Phrank Shaibu.

He described Tinubu’s recent comments about Atiku as a “reckless tirade” that reflects “a troubling pattern of hypocrisy and historical amnesia.”

According to the statement, Atiku was taken aback that a sitting president who himself has faced longstanding scrutiny over aspects of his personal and academic history would attempt to discredit an opponent with what the former vice president called a “well-documented record of public service.”

“Atiku Abubakar’s attention has been drawn to the latest reckless tirade by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a performance that exposes not just desperation, but a troubling pattern of hypocrisy and historical amnesia,” the statement said.

A major point of contention in the face-off is Nigeria’s privatisation policy.

Atiku argued that Tinubu’s criticism of past reforms collapses under scrutiny, recalling that the President had previously opposed privatisation efforts now being implemented by his administration.

The statement maintained that Atiku consistently advocated for the privatisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and the sale of refineries to credible investors, positions it claimed Tinubu resisted in the past.

However, it alleged that the current administration is overseeing what it described as a “commercialisation in opacity,” lacking transparency, clear valuation, and accountability.

“This is not reform; it is privatisation without accountability,” the statement asserted.

While making a case for Atiku’s legacy, the statement cited several companies as outcomes of the privatisation programme he helped supervise.

These include Oando Plc (formerly Unipetrol), Conoil Plc, Ardova Plc (formerly African Petroleum), Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals, Benue Cement Company, and Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

These enterprises, the statement noted, stand as enduring examples of policies that revitalised moribund state-owned assets and promoted private sector-led growth.

The statement also referenced the book The Accidental Public Servant by former minister Nasir El-Rufai, which it said documented the privatisation programme as a structured and deliberate reform effort.

Also, Atiku criticised Tinubu’s remarks as reflective of a failure to engage with documented history, adding controversial comments about the President’s educational background.

“It is not our fault that the President does not and cannot read,” the statement said, while also referencing past controversies surrounding Tinubu’s academic credentials, including his association with Chicago State University.

The statement argued that a proper understanding of Nigeria’s reform history would have prevented what it described as “ignorant remarks.”

“You cannot oppose reform when it demands courage and then execute a shadow version of it in power,” it added.

The statement further shifted focus to the state of the nation, painting a bleak picture of Nigeria’s current economic realities.

It highlighted rising inflation, declining purchasing power, and worsening living conditions, claiming that government policies marketed as reforms have translated into hardship for ordinary citizens.

“Families are skipping meals, businesses are shutting down, and hardworking Nigerians are watching their incomes evaporate,” the statement said, adding that insecurity and economic strain continue to erode public confidence.

The statement concluded by asserting that Atiku’s record remains “clear, documented, and defensible,” while urging the President to exercise restraint in public commentary.

“A leader who has not fully resolved questions about his own background should exercise restraint before casting aspersions on others,” it said.

LAGOS — Airtel Nigeria has temporarily halted its airtime and data borrowing services, affecting millions of prepaid subscribers who rely on the credit facility for communication and internet access.

The suspension has sparked reactions among customers, many of whom depend on the service to stay connected during periods of low balance.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) understands that the borrowing feature, which allows users to access airtime or data on credit and repay later, was paused as part of internal service adjustments.

The telecom provider has not officially disclosed full details behind the suspension, but industry observers suggest it may be linked to system upgrades, regulatory compliance, or efforts to improve service efficiency.

The airtime and data borrowing service has become a widely used feature among prepaid users in Nigeria, offering short-term relief for subscribers who run out of credit unexpectedly.

For many Nigerians, especially students, small business owners, and low-income earners, the service plays a critical role in maintaining daily communication and online activities.

Customers have taken to social media platforms to express concern and frustration over the sudden unavailability of the service, with some calling for clearer communication from the company.

Telecommunications analysts note that such services are typically backed by credit risk management systems, which may require periodic review or recalibration to ensure sustainability.

Airtel Nigeria operates one of the largest subscriber bases in the country and competes with other major providers in offering value-added services to retain customers.

The temporary suspension could also be part of a broader strategy to restructure digital service offerings or enhance backend infrastructure.

Regulatory oversight from bodies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission often influences how telecom operators manage customer credit services, particularly in relation to transparency and consumer protection.

Despite the disruption, experts believe the service is likely to return once necessary adjustments are completed, given its popularity and importance in the market.

For now, affected subscribers may need to rely on direct recharge options or alternative platforms to maintain connectivity.

As the situation develops, customers are expected to monitor updates from Airtel Nigeria regarding the restoration of the borrowing service and any changes to its terms of use.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not emerge victorious in the 2027 presidential election.

Wike, who spoke to newsmen during an inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in Kuje and other parts of the FCT on Thursday, said Atiku’s repeated electoral bids were the only way he remained politically relevant.

“I encourage him to run. It seems that is the only way he stays relevant. But 2027 is not available for him,” Wike said.

Wike described Atiku as a consistent opposition figure who has repeatedly lost elections, insisting that the next presidential contest is out of Atiku’s reach.

He further challenged the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain to account for his performance during his tenure as vice president under former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007, declaring that “2027 is not available for Atiku.”

Atiku has made six attempts at the presidency, appearing on the ballot three times—in 2007, 2019, and 2023.

Meanwhile, Wike’s statement is coming after Atiku during an interview on Arise Television Prime Time programme on Wednesday, criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it had not performed well.

Wike said: “Atiku is a serial failure, there is a certain age you will reach in life, you will be able to say, look, at my level, this government has done well in this area, this government has not done well in this area. But it will be very wrong, and Nigerians would be laughing at such a person making that kind of statement that nothing has been done.

“I am sure he lives in FCT, let him compare FCT now and when he was the Vice President for eight years and now, that we are just in government for almost three years. Can he compare what is FCT today and what it was when he was VP?

“So, I don’t know who is the one that told him that this government has not achieved anything. I would be surprised if he said this government has achieved a lot. He is a serial opposition person, there’s nothing we can do about it.

“It is unfortunate for him. But let him leave this 2027, it is not available for him. I believe by 2031, he should be 82 years old. I don’t know. We would encourage him to run. Even if he doesn’t want to run, I would encourage him to run. That is my position”.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has granted bail to entrepreneur Linus Williams, popularly known as Blord, on self-recognition.

Blord has spent weeks in Kuje prison over alleged impersonation of social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan

Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He said the court ordered Blord to deposit his international passport as part of his bail conditions.

“Bail has been granted to Linus Williams, popularly known as @mrblordofficial BLORD, on self-recognizance. The court, however, ordered that he deposit his international passport as part of the bail conditions,” the statement reads.

MTN Nigeria has suspended its airtime and data credit advance service, known as Xtratime, to comply with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) regulatory requirements.

The telecommunications company disclosed the temporary suspension of the credit service in a statement signed by its secretary, Uto Ukpanah, and posted on the Nigerian Exchange Group on Thursday.

Xtratime enables prepaid users to access airtime or data on credit, with repayment made upon their next recharge.

The statement reads: “MTN Nigeria Communications PLC hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public that the company has temporarily suspended its airtime and data credit advance service (‘Xtratime’)”.

MTN further explained that the suspension is linked to “the implementation of processes under the Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulations, 2025, which introduced a new compliance and licensing framework for entities providing digital or non-traditional consumer credit services”.

The company reassured subscribers that alternative channels for purchasing airtime and data remain available, adding that the pause in service is unlikely to significantly impact its financial performance.

“Given the scale within the revenue mix, we do not expect the temporary suspension to have a material impact,” the company said, adding that it was monitoring customer behaviour and usage patterns and would provide updates in its first quarter 2026 results.

The FCCPC’s 2025 rules broaden regulatory oversight of digital lending to cover telecom operators and other short-term credit providers.

Under the revised guidelines, firms offering airtime and data credit must complete registration and obtain approval before continuing such services.

Although the commission had earlier introduced a digital lending framework in 2022, the 2025 update expands its scope with stricter compliance requirements.

Deadlines have been outlined for transitional compliance, with full registration expected to be completed by April 2026.

The stricter regulatory stance follows increasing concerns about consumer indebtedness, data protection, and lending practices within Nigeria’s fast-growing digital credit market.

The former speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, has urged the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Honourable Obi Aguocha, to focus on his poor delusional representation at the green chamber of the National Assembly than throwing unprovoked tantrums at him.

The ex-speaker, known for not replying his critics and opposition voices in the media, fumed that Hon. Aguocha’s consistent penchant for carelessly denigrating him everywhere is a gross sign of his low self-esteem, cluelessness, delusional persecution and abysmal failure of a federal lawmaker on legislative matters with lack of direct human capital development and poor empowerment of his constituents.

In a statement made available to Diaspora Digital Media, he stated that: “Can someone advise the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Obi Aguocha, to kindly focus on his poor delusional representation at the green – chamber of the national assembly than throwing unprovoked tantrums at me?

“Can someone tell Hon.Obi Aguocha to stop deceiving himself with the mantra of Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for cheap socio-political emotions, clout-chasing, hypnosis, theatrics and sentiments?

“Hon. Aguocha’s consistent penchant for carelessly denigrating me everywhere is a gross sign of his low self-esteem, cluelessness, delusional persecution and abysmal failure as a federal law – maker who is deeply ineffective in the legislative matters of law-making, direct- human capital development, essential bill sponsorships and credible empowerment of his federal constituency.

“Why is Hon. Obi Aguocha afraid of a particular person? I guess he is afraid because 2027 is not 2023. It is widely believed that 2023 was “iko onu” and incitement of the people. 2027 is operation show your scorecard.

“It is a well known fact that Aguocha’s political history is full of “iko onu” as he demonstrated by breaking a practiced legislative decorum outside the legislative chambers where he abuses his direct boss and deputy speaker at the National Assembly who opened the workings of the National Assembly to him for the benefits of ndi Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency which he failed to utilize.

“I challenge him to a public debate moderated by any person of his chosen, to account for stewardship of public offices held.

“For the past three years, I have never uttered a word against Obi Aguocha’s stewardship as i feel it is his fundamental right to represent the people of Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal constituency having been affirmed by the court of law which as a law abiding citizen, I have to obey.

“It is not a sin to lose an election but it is a “bigger sin” to be an embodiment of failure at the assignment the law-maker presently has. Defeating me in the last election should not and cannot be an achievement which should grant Aguocha personal satisfaction as it has no direct benefit to the people he is representing”.

Engr. Chinedum also reminded Obi Aguocha that he is a guru in the art of “iko onu” but will not step to that level with him.

“Let me say this without any contradiction. I am also a guru in the art of “iko onu” but I will not step to that level with him. I am a free citizen of Abia State and Nigeria. It is therefore my fundamental right to seek for elective position even if he does not like my face which means nothing to me”.

Recall that Hon. Obi Aguocha had stated that he is not afraid to contest against Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Orji, stressing that he defeated him at the polls in the previous election and that he will defeat him again.

While addressing newsmen at his country home on Tuesday, Aguocha who sounded too confident of securing the Labour Party ticket for a second term at the Federal House of Representatives, dared Chinedum Orji to be ready to engage people of Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency with records.

Gunmen have kidnapped 14 passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), along the Makurdi–Otukpo road in Benue State.

The victims were reportedly travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night.

Sources said that only the driver and one passenger escaped.

While confirming the incident in Makurdi, the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, said the victims were on their way to write their examinations when the attackers struck.

“The victims are young people coming to Otukpo to write JAMB. Security agents have been deployed and efforts are ongoing to rescue them,” Ogiri said.

However, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, CP Ifeanyi Enemari, confirmed the development, noting that he was personally leading a rescue operation in Otukpo.

“I’m in Otukpo now. My team and all DPOs are in the bush, and I am heading the operation,” Enemari said.

He explained that the attack occurred after the bus was intercepted by armed men, leading to the abduction of most of the passengers.

“What happened was that a Benue Links bus carrying passengers to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums. Fourteen passengers were kidnapped, but one managed to escape,” he said.

The police commissioner added that the bus might have been operating outside its approved hours.

“Benue Links, as a policy, does not usually operate at night. From what we gathered, official operations had closed, but the driver, for reasons we are still investigating, picked up passengers along the road. When he got here, the incident occurred,” he added.

Enemari assured that security operatives are working to secure the release of the abducted passengers.

“We are on the ground to make sure the victims are rescued,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu has said he is not intimidated by individuals or groups seeking to unseat him in the 2027 elections.

He said this on Thursday while receiving members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The delegation was led by governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.

Tinubu said he remains committed on what he described as a historic responsibility to lift Nigeria out of poverty and ignorance while strengthening democratic values.

He urged members of the group to promote unity and national development, stating, “ There’s no other path that we embrace to national greatness. Other than build one nation, one common vision for progress and the prosperity, of our people. That’s what we must do. That’s what Renew Hope is all about.”

He also lambasted opposition elements, stressing that his administration would respect the rule of law and judicial authority.

“We would not submit to disobedience of a lawful order of the court. We must embrace the judiciary. Whether it favors us or it doesn’t. We submit to this principle of democracy. Separation of power and understanding of the dynamics of it,” he said.

While referring to the convention of the African Democratic Congress, Tinubu reiterated his commitment to democratic stability, dismissing opposing activities as distractions.

“Not the noise making. Not the rascality of a street convention.

“You want to scare me off? It’s a lie. I went through this path before. And if I have to come back over and over and over again, I’ll do the same thing.”

He further criticised some of his opponents, pointing to what he described as their past failures in governance and policy implementation.

“None of them is without history, the head was the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization NCP, in this country, one time, they privatized the steel industry in Delta State, is it working today? No. They privatized the Ajaokuta Steel, is it working today? No.

“Go on with the list. They privatized another man’s political party. That one said no.”

The President emphasised the need for integrity and patriotism among Nigerians, insisting that national development depends on collective effort.

“There is no better place than your own country, and no one can build it, except you. We saw great things, we’ve seen skyscrapers, we wondered how the plane takes off and fly out from one destination to the other.”

“These are no magic of yesterday. It is the thinker of tomorrow and the future that can elevate life, that can reform us all. And being a transformative leader that you are, you are in good company.

Tinubu also urged his supporters not to be afraid, reflecting on the state of the economy and his succession from former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Don’t be afraid. I have listened to you. This economy, I didn’t have to look back because the truth is, I took over from myself. The late Buhari is me, he was a partner and if I took over from him, is that not from myself? So, if something is wrong, fine. Live with it, correct it, move on.”

He described both the party primaries and the general election that brought him to power as challenging but said he overcame the hurdles.