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2027: Atiku faces tough hurdle in choice of running mate

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With the African Democratic Congress, ADC, primary elections now over, attention has shifted to who becomes the running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku had picked the current Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019 and former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate in the 2023 polls.

A few weeks ago, Atiku emerged as the flag bearer of the ADC after polling the highest number of votes in the party’s primary election.

DAILY POST reports that he is said to be thinking towards the South-East, with names like the Director General of the World Trade Organization, WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha being mentioned.

Amid these speculations, the Director of Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo had said Okonjo-Iweala distanced herself from such a move, stressing that she was unwilling to abandon her current post as WTO DG for a Nigerian political contest.

Okonjo-Iweala assumed the position of the DG of WTO on March 1, 2021, becoming both the first woman and the first African to lead the world trade organization.

She assumed her second term as director-general in September 2023 and her tenure runs until 2029.

However, Sambo said she had communicated her position directly to Atiku’s camp.

Sambo said: “Okonjo-Iweala is not willing to actually leave a lucrative job as DG of the World Trade Organisation to actually consider that.

“She’s made it known to them, and that is understandable because she just resumed in September last year, and she has a tenure that will run for a second term till 2029.”

Emeka Ihedioha

One of the names featuring prominently is the former governor of Imo State and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ihedioha, who is also a member of the ADC, is believed to be among those the former Vice President is quietly evaluating as his potential running mate.

South South link with Amaechi 

While speculations are rife that Atiku is looking at the Southeast, there are also claims that he has extended his searchlight towards the South South region.

Atiku is said to be considering a fellow presidential aspirant and former Minister of Transportation who served as a two-term governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

The ADC presidential candidate met with Amaechi behind closed doors on Monday, but details of the meeting were never made public. 

However, some believe it has everything to do with the choice of Atiku’s running mate.

Southeast running mate won’t get Atiku votes – APC chieftain, Eli

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sogbeye Eli, has said shopping for a running mate from the Southeast won’t get Atiku many votes in 2027 due to the influence of Obi in the region.

“Atiku has no room for votes from a vice-presidential candidate from both the South-East and South-West,” he said in an interview. 

Dele Momodu portrays self as Atiku’s running mate

Amid the political uncertainty, a chieftain of the ADC and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu had posted a flyer on his social media page wherein he was portrayed as Atiku’s running mate.

Alongside the flyer, Momodu wrote: “The Attraction of Atiku Abubakar/Dele Momodu ticket”, “The right choice for a greater Nigeria.”

Spare tyre won’t be basis of Atiku picking running mate – Aide

Reacting to the speculations, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the ADC presidential candidate would pick his running mate based on competence and not on the usual basis of “spare tyre.”

Speaking with DAILY POST, Shaibu said: “On the question of the Vice Presidential slot, it is far too early to speculate on specific regions or individuals. 

“That decision will ultimately be guided by what best serves the national interest and strengthens the mission of rescuing Nigeria.

“What I can say with confidence is that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar understands the enormous responsibilities of leadership. He appreciates that the challenges facing Nigeria today require a competent, experienced, and capable team.

“Therefore, I do not expect the choice of a running mate to be based on symbolism or the outdated notion of a “spare tyre.” Nigeria needs a governing team, not a sole administrator. 

“The Vice President must be someone who can contribute meaningfully to governance, policy formulation, economic management, national cohesion, and the overall task of rebuilding the country.

“When the time comes, Nigerians can expect a decision driven by competence, capacity, and the national interest.”

Picking running mate from Southeast Atiku’s strongest option – Lawyer

Contributing to the discussion, a lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, pointed out that if Atiku wants national cohesion and political balance, picking his running mate from the Southeast is his “strongest option.”

Idam said Atiku can pose a great challenge to Obi’s presidential ambition if he picks a running mate from the Southeast.

“Atiku’s strongest option may be to choose a running mate from the South-East if the objectives are equity, national cohesion, and political balance in the event of victory. 

“The South-East would need meaningful representation in his administration to foster a greater sense of inclusion and national belonging.

“A northern presidential ticket without South-East representation is likely to attract criticism and apathy from a significant segment of the South-East electorate.

“Furthermore, if Atiku intends to pose a serious challenge to the influence of Peter Obi in the region, selecting a running mate from the South-East could be a strategic necessity. 

“Without such a move, securing the constitutionally required spread of votes, including a substantial share from the region, may prove difficult in the 2027 electio

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NCC Launches Internet Governance Working Group to Sustain Stakeholder Dialogue

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Nigeria’s telecoms regulator, has created a permanent forum meant to ensure that conversations about how the internet is run do not end when conferences do.

The Internet Governance Working Group was unveiled on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the first Internet Governance Symposium organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Lagos. It is intended to give interested parties an ongoing space to exchange views, agree on practical priorities and act in a coordinated way on matters shaping the country’s digital environment.

Abraham Oshadami, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, opened the event on behalf of the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Dr Aminu Maida.

He argued that choices about the internet go beyond technical and connectivity questions, telling the audience that they touch on opportunity, trust, security and the rights of users. For that reason, he said, Nigeria must take an active part in shaping the discussion.

Oshadami observed that the fast pace of artificial intelligence is altering the way people study, work, communicate and obtain services. At the same time, it is raising worries about harmful content, fraud, privacy, accountability and the safety of children. No single body, he said, can tackle such problems alone, so the communications sector and others must work together.

He pointed to two NCC instruments as part of the response. The Internet Code of Practice (ICOP) 2026 is meant to foster a safer and more responsible online space, though he noted that its impact depends on clear expectations, genuine engagement with stakeholders and steady implementation. The Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigeria Communication Sector (CRF-NCS) is aimed at making the infrastructure behind digital services more secure and resilient. Together, he said, they reflect a basic duty to let Nigerians use the internet with more confidence.

The Executive Commissioner asked attendees to speak frankly and constructively and to depart with a better grasp of what is expected of each of them, along with a common resolve to act.

He thanked participants and appealed for lasting cooperation toward a safer, more secure and responsible digital future for Nigeria.

The post NCC Launches Internet Governance Working Group to Sustain Stakeholder Dialogue appeared first on Business Today NG.

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Ember’s new temperature-controlled mug makes my nightly tea ritual even better

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With the nights getting chillier, I’ve been reaching for a cup of tea more often. And if there’s one thing that can make a cozy fall night even better, it’s a warm drink that actually stays warm. Enter Ember’s new Mug 3, the latest version of the company’s temperature-controlled smart mug, which is designed to keep your drink at just the right temperature for as long as you sip.

Ember first introduced its smart mug in 2016 to solve a problem most coffee and tea drinkers know all too well: getting distracted for a few minutes, only to return to a lukewarm drink. Now, the company is back with its third-generation mug, which brings a handful of practical upgrades.

The biggest change is that you no longer have to open the app to adjust your drink’s temperature. Instead, you can use the button on the bottom of the mug to cycle through five preset temperatures, starting at 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Each press raises the temperature by five degrees, up to a maximum of 145 degrees, so you can easily make your drink a little hotter with each click.

Honestly, this is the feature I ended up using the most during my time testing out the mug. At night, when I’m curled up in bed with a book and a cup of tea, my phone is usually somewhere across the room. Being able to adjust my drink without getting up to find it is a small convenience, but one I genuinely appreciate.

It’s also a welcome change for users who have reported running into connectivity or pairing issues with the Ember app. 

That said, I do have one complaint: the button is located on the bottom of the mug. It’s a peculiar design choice when you’re dealing with a cup full of hot liquid, and it isn’t particularly easy to press, either. I often found myself tilting the mug and pressing down firmly to get it to respond. So, while I appreciate the addition of on-mug controls, I wish Ember had made the button easier to reach.

If you prefer using your phone, the Ember app still offers plenty of customization. After pairing the mug with your phone over Bluetooth, you can choose presets based on what you’re drinking. Ember recommends 136 degrees Fahrenheit for black coffee, 132 degrees for green tea, and 142 degrees for lemon water. You can also create your own temperature presets, which is handy if you like your drinks a little hotter or cooler than the recommended settings.

Image Credits:Ember

The Mug 3 also comes with a few other upgrades, including a sliding lid designed to help prevent spills. The mug can also keep your drink at its desired temperature for up to three hours on a single charge. And it’s the first mug in Ember’s lineup to be top-rack dishwasher-safe, making cleanup easier. (Just keep in mind that it isn’t microwave-safe.)

The Ember Mug 3 comes in two sizes: a 10-ounce model for $129 and a 14-ounce version for $149.

The smaller mug is available in black, white, and stainless steel, while the larger size comes in eight colors, including sage green, lavender, powder blue, salt blue, sandstone, white, black, and matcha green.

Alongside the new mug, Ember also introduced the Tumbler 2, which replaces both the Travel Mug 2 and the original Tumbler in its lineup. The 16-ounce tumbler features a slimmer, taller design intended to fit standard car cup holders. It’s available in black for $179, while the Travel Mug 2 will remain available until supplies run out.

The products are available to purchase on Ember’s website, Target, and Amazon.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

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