News
Magaji’s Faltering Guber Bid Drags APC into Chaos in Nasarawa
Rumours are swirling thick and fast in Nasarawa State political circles that Hon. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, the Secretary to the State Government, is gearing up for a governorship run under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner, even as he grapples with how to make the ambition public, with whispers that he has confided in close allies about an alleged promise from Governor Alhaji Abdullahi Sule to hand over the party ticket to him.
Magaji, who rose through the APC ranks from Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General to his current influential position as SSG, now stands accused by authentic party leaders of meddling deeply in internal party affairs, sowing confusion in areas where harmony once prevailed, a development that has cast a long shadow over his yet-to-be-declared 2027 guber aspirations and exposed fissures within the Toto Local Government chapter of the APC.
During a recent visit to his country home in Toto to partake in the ongoing ward and local government congresses, Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose legal stature demands exemplary conduct, brazenly flouted directives from both the national and state APC secretariats, which explicitly mandated the retention of executives who had served less than five years, a stance firmly backed by Governor Sule himself.
In Toto ward, positions held by loyalists who had not even clocked five years in office were secretly axed by Magaji, who handed them over to his alleged PDP loyalists with no track record of service or faith in the current administration, while at the LG level, he orchestrated the ouster of the party chairman, secretary, and other officials still within their four-year tenures, prompting sharp rebukes from serving council officials who warned that such moves blatantly violated party guidelines and risked derailing the congress process.
Today, Magaji finds himself mired in confusion, as the list of executives he unilaterally altered stands no chance of flying under the party’s strict rules, explaining why the much-vaunted Toto LG APC congress, described by his camp as a resounding success, remains shrouded in secrecy without any official unveiling of winners.
As the storm over Hon. Labaran Shuaibu Magaji’s meddlesome role in the Toto LG APC congress rages on, fresh details emerge painting the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government as a close ally of former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, whose enduring influence as a leader in the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kebbi State underscores Magaji’s chequered political pedigree, long whispered to harbour anti-APC sentiments that now threaten to boomerang disastrously on the ruling party nationwide.
Having defected to the APC only as recently as 2015 from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Magaji’s insubordinate governorship ambition, fuelled by alleged backchannel assurances from Governor Abdullahi Sule, has escalated into a reckless power grab, with his recent congress manipulations poised to hand the APC a crushing defeat in upcoming general elections, all because he continues to parcel out party positions to his loyalists who remain firmly ensconced in the PDP fold, betraying the very progressives he claims to serve.
Magaji’s high-handed actions during the ward and LG congresses bypassed consultation with key APC stakeholders such as Governorship aspirants and other heavyweights whose buy-in could have lent legitimacy to the process, instead opting for shadowy deals that flout party guidelines and alienate the grassroots base that propelled the APC to power in Toto LG.
This blatant disregard for established protocols not only exposes Magaji’s PDP hangover, evident in his preference for allocating APC executive slots to non-committed PDP boys over tenured loyalists, but also risks fracturing the party at its most vulnerable local level, where unity is paramount ahead of primaries that could make or break his yet-unannounced guber bid.
With Malami’s ADC shadow looming large and Magaji’s 2015 switcheroo now haunting the APC, stakeholders are asking if this is the beginning of a broader anti-party sabotage that could spell doom for the progressives in 2027, or merely the desperate gambit of a man whose ambition outpaces his loyalty.
“If the exercise was truly successful, why has Magaji failed to announce the emergent executives, a nagging question that demands urgent answers from the SSG amid growing murmurs that these machinations are all in service of his shadowy governorship bid, where he reportedly claims the governor has anointed him as the next APC flagbearer.
Who exactly is Magaji afraid of, that he dares not declare his guber ambition openly while shortchanging loyal party executives in broad daylight, a misstep that now debases the APC’s standing in Toto LG and threatens broader party unity ahead of 2027 elections?
A traveller who arrived in Abuja aboard an Enugu Air flight has praised the airline for its service, describing the flight as smooth, calm and comfortable despite unfavourable weather conditions.
The traveller, Wordshot Amaechi Ugwele, in a viral social media post said Enugu Air had become a source of pride for the South-East and had significantly improved connectivity between Enugu and other parts of Nigeria.
Ugwele said the airline’s expansion to destinations including Benin and Kano had made air travel more accessible to residents of the region.
He said, “Today, our people can also fly directly from Enugu to Kano, a travel convenience that would have seemed unimaginable not too long ago, until Enugu Air made it a reality.”
Ugwele also commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for what he described as his vision, meticulous planning and disciplined execution in driving development across the state.
According to him, the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, connectivity and economic transformation had contributed to Enugu’s emergence as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states.
He said the establishment and expansion of Enugu Air demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving transportation and connecting Enugu with other parts of the country and beyond.
Prophetess Ezinne Nwanorue, a Nigerian preacher based in Canada, has sparked controversy online after appearing to celebrate the death of her mother-in-law in a social media post that has drawn widespread criticism.
The cleric shared the funeral poster of the deceased, Comfort Nwanorue, on Facebook on Monday, accompanying it with remarks in which she accused her late mother-in-law of being responsible for some of the challenges she had faced in the past.
Ezinne claimed she had endured years of spiritual attacks and persecution, saying she believed God had exposed those she held responsible for her struggles.
She also issued stern warnings to individuals she described as agents of evil, urging them to repent.
Her comments triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with many users criticising her for publicly expressing what they perceived as joy over the death of a family member.
The incident has also renewed public interest in Ezinne’s marriage to Franklin Nwanorue, which previously made headlines over a controversial fidelity oath he took before relocating to Canada.
Before leaving Nigeria, Franklin reportedly recorded a video in which he pledged to remain faithful to his wife, declaring that he should die if he ever cheated on her after relocating abroad.
However, Ezinne later accused her husband of violating the oath, alleging in a separate Facebook post that he had become involved with another woman despite his public declaration.
As of the time of filing this report, Franklin Nwanorue and other members of his family had yet to publicly respond to Ezinne’s latest social media post.
The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally terminated the services of his longtime personal lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, directing him to stop representing him, his family or IPOB in any capacity.
In a letter dated July 22, 2026, and written from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, Kanu said Ejiofor’s engagement as his personal legal representative had previously been terminated verbally, adding that the latest letter served as formal written confirmation of the decision.
Kanu also withdrew any authority previously granted to Ejiofor to act for or represent IPOB, insisting that the lawyer no longer had any express, implied or ostensible authority to speak or act on behalf of the group.
Citing Section II, Subsection A of the IPOB Code of Conduct, Kanu said the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss principal officers rests exclusively with the IPOB leader unless expressly delegated.
He argued that no individual, committee or former office holder acting outside the provisions of the IPOB Code of Conduct could validly appoint or retain legal representatives for the organisation.
Kanu directed Ejiofor to immediately stop making public statements, granting interviews, issuing press releases or publishing social media posts on behalf of him, his family or IPOB.
He also instructed the lawyer to stop presenting himself as his legal representative or that of IPOB in any court, forum or public space, and to take the necessary legal steps to withdraw from any pending matters in which he remains counsel of record.
See also: Nnamdi Kanu engages new legal team as terrorism trial begins today
In the letter, Kanu warned Ejiofor against disclosing or misusing confidential information obtained during their lawyer-client relationship.
“Accordingly, I hereby place you on formal notice that you are not authorised to disclose, publish, communicate, exploit, or otherwise use any confidential or privileged information acquired in the course of your retainer, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose whatsoever, except as required by law or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, without my express written authorisation.
“Any unauthorised disclosure or misuse of privileged information may constitute professional misconduct and may give rise to disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, as well as any other remedies available under the law.”
Kanu further cautioned that any breach of client confidentiality or unauthorised disclosure of privileged information could amount to professional misconduct and attract disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), in addition to other legal remedies available under Nigerian law.
I tightened the language, removed repetition and improved the flow while retaining the substance of the original report.
Rescue operations are ongoing following the late-night collapse of a three-storey building known as Elite Five Star Lodge, located beside Tonimas Filling Station in Amokpala, Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building collapsed on Sunday night, July 26, 2026, trapping some occupants beneath the rubble.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, a police-led joint security team was immediately deployed to the scene following a distress report.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday.
Ikenga said, “On receipt of the distress report, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, immediately mobilised to the scene, secured the area to prevent further danger, and coordinated rescue efforts.
“The Anambra State Fire Service and the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) also responded promptly and joined in the rescue operation.
“The Command notes that rescue operations are ongoing to reach other persons who may still be trapped, as the number of casualties or affected persons cannot yet be confirmed.
“Also, some injured victims have been rescued from the debris and evacuated to a hospital in Oko, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
“To this end, members of the public, especially residents in the area, are urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and stay away from the scene to allow emergency responders unrestricted access.
“Further updates will be communicated as more verified information becomes available.”
The Federal Cooperative College, Oji River, Enugu State, has been allocated 393 empowerment projects valued at N127.1bn in the 2026 Appropriation Act, according to civic technology organisation, Tracka.
The allocation is part of N947.70bn earmarked for 2,579 empowerment projects across the country, with Tracka raising concerns over transparency and accountability.
The organisation said the projects were spread across 184 implementing agencies, including institutions whose statutory mandates do not ordinarily cover empowerment programmes.
The Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, Gombe, received 216 projects worth N88.1bn, while the Federal Cooperative College, Ibadan, was allocated 94 projects valued at N36.9bn.
The National Agricultural Development Fund received six projects worth N89.5bn, including N89.09bn for the Renewed Hope Fertiliser Support Programme.
Tracka said only 70 of the 2,579 empowerment projects had clearly identified locations, making it difficult for citizens and oversight bodies to track implementation.
The projects include buses, tricycles, motorcycles, electric vehicles, sewing machines, fertilisers, vocational equipment and grants.
Overall, N962.83bn was earmarked for SUVs and empowerment projects, comprising N15.13bn for 39 SUVs and N947.70bn for the empowerment programmes. Tracka said the amount exceeds the combined N960.27bn allocated to seven federal ministries.
The organisation warned that poorly designed empowerment schemes could become channels for political patronage, while calling for greater transparency and accountability.
Its concerns come amid rising government borrowing. The Federal Government has increased its 2026 borrowing plan to N29.20tn, while total spending is projected at N68.32tn against revenue of N36.87tn, leaving a deficit of N31.46tn.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, warned that rising deficits and debt could threaten Nigeria’s fragile economic stability and create a risk of a debt trap.
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