News

Planned power outage to plunge northeastern cities into two days of darkness

Published

3 months ago

July 18, 2026

Residents and businesses across major parts of Northeast Nigeria are expected to experience a temporary disruption in electricity supply next weekend following a planned maintenance exercise by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

The outage, which will affect electricity consumers in Bauchi, Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Jalingo and surrounding communities, is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, and end at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

According to TCN, the interruption is necessary to facilitate the installation of Optic Fibre and Ground Wire (OPGW) on the 330kV Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Single Circuit Transmission Line at the Bauchi 330/132/33kV Transmission Substation.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, said the maintenance work would temporarily prevent the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC, and the Jos Electricity Distribution Company ,JEDC, from receiving bulk power for onward distribution to customers in the affected states.

The company explained that the OPGW installation forms part of efforts to strengthen the country’s transmission infrastructure by improving communication, system monitoring and overall grid reliability.

Although the planned outage will result in about 32 hours of interrupted electricity supply, TCN assured customers that bulk power would be restored immediately after the maintenance exercise is completed.

The temporary blackout is expected to affect households, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and businesses that depend on public power supply, with many likely to rely on alternative energy sources during the period.

Power interruptions remain a major challenge in several parts of the Northeast, making planned maintenance exercises particularly significant for consumers and businesses that depend on stable electricity for daily operations.

TCN, however, maintained that the exercise is essential for enhancing the efficiency, reliability and long-term stability of the national transmission network.

The company was observed to have also apologised to customers in the affected areas for the inconvenience, urging their understanding as the upgrade is carried out.

News

Bagos Emerges APC Candidate for Jos East/South Federal Constituency Ahead of 2027 Elections

Published

26 minutes ago

October 29, 2026

PlateauReports

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has recognised Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos as its candidate for the Jos East/South Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election following the conclusion of a court-ordered rerun of the party’s primary election.

The Chairman of the Rerun Electoral Committee, Hon. Karu Simon Elisha, announced the outcome on Thursday, October 29, 2026, after the collation of votes from 11 wards across Jos East and Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

Bagos secured 5,523 votes in the rerun, while Esther Beatrice Damboyi came second with 1,332 votes. Ajiji Arum, Abok Ayuba and Ajang Alfred recorded one vote each, while Rebecca Hadar Sambu and Florence D. Young scored zero votes.

Following the collation of the rerun results alongside those of the earlier primary election, Bagos emerged with a total of 12,181 votes, maintaining a commanding lead over the other aspirants.

Damboyi finished second with 2,495 votes, followed by Abok Ayuba with 1,121 votes. Ajiji Arum polled 169 votes, while Ajang Alfred secured 95 votes. Rebecca Hadar Sambu recorded 56 votes, while Florence D. Young scored zero votes.

Announcing the outcome, Elisha stated that the committee, acting under the authority of the APC National Chairman, recognised Bagos as the party’s candidate for the constituency in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

The rerun exercise followed a High Court order directing the APC to repeat its primary election in 11 wards within the Jos East/South Federal Constituency.

The party had explained that the exercise was necessary to comply with the court’s directive and ensure a transparent process for eligible aspirants.

With the final collation completed and the result announced, Bagos has emerged as the APC’s candidate for the Jos East/South Federal Constituency, setting the stage for the party’s participation in the 2027 House of Representatives election.

News

2027: We were discouraged entering Peter Obi’s stronghold – Makinde

Published

30 minutes ago

October 29, 2026

PlateauReports

The presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Seyi Makinde, has said his team was almost discouraged from taking its campaign to the South-East because of the perception that the region belongs entirely to Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Makinde, however, said the warning would not stop him from taking his party’s message to the South-East ahead of the 2027 general election.

He made the remarks on Thursday at the APM Town Hall Meeting in Enugu, where he urged Nigerians to reject what he described as visions that divide the country along tribal lines.

“We were almost discouraged we were coming to Peter Obi's region that the South-East belongs to him totally, but we will still bring our message anyways. Reject all visions across tribal lines,” Makinde said.

The APM presidential candidate’s remarks come amid political realignments and growing efforts by presidential hopefuls to consolidate support across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 elections.

Obi, who secured substantial support in the South-East during the 2023 presidential election, remains a major political figure in the region.

2027: We were discouraged entering Peter Obi’s stronghold – Makinde