News

2027: ‘We must fight like wounded lion to deliver Tinubu’ – Imo APC chairman

Published

3 weeks ago

July 2, 2026

Preport

Imo State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Austin Onyedebelu, has said that the party leadership in the State will fight like a wounded lion to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is reelected come 2027 presidential election.

Onyedebelu made the assertion during a stakeholders’ meeting between the State Working Committee of the party and officials of the APC drawn from the 9 LGAs and 105 wards of Owerri Zone.

The meeting was attended by the LGA party Executives, Ward Executives, elected LGA Chairmen, Councillors, and other party officials.

Addressing the gathering, the State Chairman stressed that unity remained the greatest weapon for electoral success.

He maintained that party members and the leadership must work together in ensuring overwhelming victories for Mr president and other candidates of the party in the State.

The APC Chairman warned party officials that they would be held accountable for the party’s performance in their respective areas.

“If you lose our votes we are going to hold you responsible. Don’t tell us why you failed after the election.

“Tell us now what will make you fail so we can address it. If there is anything or any leader that will sabotage our efforts, you must tell us now for us to address it,” he said.

Onyedebelu urged party faithful to rely solely on genuine grassroots mobilization rather than shortcuts, insisting that only real votes would guarantee victory.

He added that there is no other way to win elections than to count on real votes, and that the only way to achieve it is to remain united.

The State party boss cautioned against anti-party activities, reminding members that those who work against their own party would ultimately have nothing to gain.

“If you support the opposition to win against your party, when they begin to share the proceeds of victory, they will first reward their own party members before remembering you,” he added.

The State Chairman also described the 2027 general elections as a defining moment for Owerri Zone in its aspiration to produce the next Governor of Imo State.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the State Secretary of the party, Onyekachi Ibezim, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to enable the State Working Committee to interact directly with party executives at the LGA and Ward levels ahead of the 2027 electoral contest.

He noted that the officers constitute the engine room of the party at the grassroots and would be held responsible for the success of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

Responding on behalf of Owerri Zone, the State Vice Chairman for Owerri Zone, Justus Ogu, assured the State Working Committee that the zone would not disappoint the party.

He assured that the Zone will deliver APC from President down to the State House of Assembly members.

News

NPFL Transfer: Kano Pillars Complete Signing of Midfielder Abdulraheem Shola from Kwara United

Published

5 minutes ago

July 24, 2026

Preport

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Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Kano Pillars FC have strengthened their squad ahead of the 2026/27 season with the signing of attacking midfielder Abdulraheem Shola from Kwara United on a two-year contract.

Sports247 reports that the Sai Masu Gida officially unveiled the talented playmaker, adding another creative option to their midfield as the club intensifies preparations for the new campaign under Technical Adviser Daniel Ogunmodede.

Expressing his excitement after completing the move, Shola took to his social media platforms to share an emotional message, describing the transfer as the beginning of a new chapter in his career.

“A new chapter begins today. I leave the past behind and step forward with faith, courage, and determination. I will keep working, keep believing, and keep growing. This dream is worth fighting for, and I know my best is yet to come.

“This is my new beginning. Let’s see at the top. SAI MASU GIDA.”

Shola arrives in Kano with valuable NPFL experience, having previously featured for Wikki Tourists, Niger Tornadoes, and Kwara United. His consistent performances across the domestic league have established him as one of the country’s dependable attacking midfielders.

One of the highlights of his career came during the 2025/26 season, when he played a pivotal role in helping Kwara United secure a historic President Federation Cup triumph. His creativity, work rate, and influence in midfield were instrumental in the club’s memorable cup-winning campaign, further enhancing his reputation in Nigerian football.

Kano Pillars will be hoping Shola’s experience, technical quality, and attacking instincts add a new dimension to their squad as they target a successful league campaign and challenge for major honours.

For the midfielder, the move represents an opportunity to embrace a fresh challenge at one of Nigeria’s most successful clubs while continuing his development and contributing to Pillars’ ambitions.

With preparations for the new season gathering momentum, Kano Pillars supporters will be eager to see their latest signing make an immediate impact in the famous Sai Masu Gida colours.

Business

Nigeria Steps Up Smart Meter Deployment with Installer Training Programme

Published

1 hour ago

July 24, 2026

Preport

‎Nigeria’s efforts to scale up delivery of seven million smart electricity meters and close its metering gap received a boost on Thursday, with the flag-off in Abuja of POWER FORCE, a training programme that will produce 5,000-meter installers across the country.
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‎The Power Force programme is being implemented under the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2023. The flag-off ceremony, held at the headquarters of the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN), also featured the unveiling of the first batch of selected applicants, who will undergo a three-week intensive practical and classroom training in Abuja.
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‎Close to 220,000 submissions were received from interested young Nigerians across the country during the application period.
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‎Dignitaries in attendance at the event included the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe; the Minister of Youth Development, Ayo Olawande; the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Metering Initiative and Special Adviser to the President on Oil and Gas, Olu Arowolo Verheijen; and the Project Director of the PMI, Obafemi Solebo. The Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), who also chairs the PMI Board, His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, was represented at the event by Mr Edmund Obiora Nnaji, Executive Director, Finance and Administration at the NGF.
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‎Other attendees included the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr Ayo Gbeleyi; the Managing Director of NAPTIN, Mr Ahmed Bolaji Nagode; and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Mr Adesayo Olusegun Michael.
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‎In his address, Governor Abdulrazaq said, “PMI is not just about fixing the finances of the power sector through metering. It is also about impacting the lives of young Nigerians, through training and skills development.” He called on fellow governors to explore “supporting this Power Force initiative with a view to expanding the pool beyond the initial five thousand trainees being targeted.”
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‎Power Minister Tegbe said, “Behind every successful metering programme must stand thousands of competent, certified and dedicated technicians. The 5,000 young Nigerians being trained under this initiative will become the backbone of Nigeria’s smart metering workforce.”
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‎The Power Force initiative, he added, “demonstrates that our electricity reforms are not merely about equipment and technology; they are equally about creating opportunities, building human capital and securing livelihoods.”
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‎He commended the Association of Meter Manufacturers of Nigeria (AMMON) for withdrawing a court action it had instituted against the meter deployment programme, noting that “that singular decision has removed a significant obstacle to the accelerated deployment of electricity meters across the country.”
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‎Youth Minister Olawande said Power Force is directly supporting his Ministry’s “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative. “This is not just the launch of a training programme; it is about creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerian youths to contribute to national development,” he said.
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‎He added, “President Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated that Nigeria’s federal ministries, departments and agencies can have the force of collaboration in making sure the dividends of democracy get to everybody in the country.”
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‎Special Adviser Verheijen described the PMI as the largest metering programme in the history of Nigeria, established under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “to solve one of the biggest barriers to a reliable electricity sector: ensuring that every Nigerian pays only for the electricity they actually use.”
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‎She added, “One young installer cannot transform Nigeria. But five thousand can inspire fifty thousand. And fifty thousand can inspire millions more. That is how movements begin. One opportunity. One person. One act of service at a time.”
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‎Following the Abuja launch, the Power Force training will expand to various centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Upon completion, trainees will receive formal certification by NEMSA as qualified meter installers who have met national and international competence and safety standards.