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Primate Ayodele Predicts APC Risks Defeat in Kano, Eight Other States in 2027

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The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that it could lose control of nine states in the 2027 governorship elections if the party and its governors fail to strengthen their political structures ahead of the polls.

Ayodele gave the warning in a statement released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin.

The minister said the APC should not assume that its current dominance in many states would automatically translate into victory in the next general election.

According to the cleric, the political landscape ahead of 2027 will be more challenging than previous elections, with technology expected to play a major role in shaping the outcome.

“APC cannot sweep the whole states in the coming election; it’s not possible, there will be some things that will happen in the process of the election. The election will be complicated in some ways, and technology will be one of the ways,” Ayodele said.

APC; Nentawe Yilwatda
APC; Nentawe Yilwatda

He identified Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger and Nasarawa as the states where the ruling party must work harder to retain power.

“Any governor who doesn’t stand well will lose, and APC must work very hard in the following states if they want to win: Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Kano, Kaduna, Yobe, Adamawa, Niger, Nasarawa. APC must watch these states well,” he added.

Ayodele further cautioned that the APC should not take any of the states for granted, warning that the opposition was positioning itself to make significant gains.

“These states are not certain for APC governorship candidates to win and retain; they must work extraordinarily hard if they want to get it otherwise, it will be swept away from them,” he said.

The APC emerged from the 2023 governorship elections as the party with the highest number of governors, winning states including Lagos, Kogi, Imo, Ogun, Sokoto, Cross River, Niger, Jigawa and Yobe. However, the political atmosphere has changed considerably since then, with defections, internal party disputes and the emergence of new alliances expected to reshape the battle for many states in 2027.

Some of the states listed by Ayodele are already regarded as highly competitive. Kano, for instance, remains one of Nigeria’s biggest political prizes because of its large voting population. The APC lost the 2023 governorship election in the state, and although the state’s governor is a now a member of the APC, it is believed that Kano will remain one of the toughest battlegrounds in the next election.

Plateau and Benue have also witnessed political competition recently, while Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa, Nasarawa and Niger have all experienced closely fought elections that suggest no party can safely assume victory in 2027.

Political observers have also noted that even states traditionally considered APC strongholds may no longer be guaranteed victories. During the 2023 general elections, the party retained the governorship in Lagos, but lost the presidential vote in the state to Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.

Analysts say the outcome of the 2027 elections will depend not only on incumbency but also on candidate selection, party unity, campaign organisation, voter turnout and the strength of opposition parties.

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Health

WHO recommends clinical trial of Ebola vaccine against Bundibugyo virus

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that a vaccine called Ervebo be prioritised for a randomised clinical trial against Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The recommendation followed preliminary animal study data suggesting that the vaccine may provide some cross-protection against the disease, particularly in reducing deaths.

WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Candidate Vaccine Prioritisation made the recommendation at its third meeting on 31 July, after reviewing available evidence on the vaccine’s safety, efficacy, availability and feasibility.

The development comes as the DRC continues to respond to an outbreak of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which was declared on 15 May 2026.

As of 30 July, WHO had recorded 3,605 confirmed cases and 1,587 deaths from the outbreak in the DRC.

Why Ervebo is being considered

The advisory group’s recommendation is significant because Ervebo was developed specifically against Ebola virus disease caused by the Ebola Zaire virus, rather than the Bundibugyo virus.

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According to WHO, the group initially advised against using Ervebo outside carefully designed research settings because its effectiveness against Bundibugyo virus disease remained uncertain.

However, preliminary animal study data indicate that Ervebo may confer some cross-protection against Bundibugyo virus disease, particularly by reducing mortality.

The latest evidence prompted the advisory group to recommend that Ervebo be prioritised for a randomised clinical trial to determine its effectiveness against the disease.

What is the Bundibugyo virus?

The Bundibugyo virus causes Ebola disease. It is distinct from the Ebola virus that Ervebo was specifically developed to protect against.

The Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak in the DRC is the first of its kind in the country. WHO says there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease.

The disease is a severe infection, and previous Bundibugyo virus disease outbreaks have recorded case fatality rates ranging from 30 to 50 per cent, according to WHO.

Safety concerns

According to WHO, the advisory group found no identified safety concerns with the use of Ervebo among contacts of confirmed cases during a Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

READ ALSO: WHO raises alarm as DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak surpasses 3,600 cases

However, the experts stressed that the vaccine’s effectiveness against Bundibugyo virus disease and its ability to prevent transmission have not been established.

They therefore recommended that these questions be evaluated through clinical research.

WHO said a vaccine specifically developed against the Bundibugyo virus would remain the preferred option, although preliminary data on such candidates are currently unavailable.

The advisory group also emphasised the need to facilitate large-scale vaccine production and access if future evidence demonstrates sufficient efficacy to protect affected populations.


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Business

Leadway Assurance Sets Bold Post-Recapitalisation Agenda Beyond Compliance

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BY NAECHE-NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Leadway Assurance Limited said its recapitalised era will be defined not only by regulatory compliance, but by audacious strategic ambition.

The insurer in a statement released recently disclosed this known following the successful completion of its recapitalisation exercise under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA)

According to statement released by the insurer, that is accelerating a transformation built for the next decade, one that places digital-first service delivery, expanded capacity, and long-term policyholder commitment at the centre of its next growth trajectory.

For Leadway, meeting the National Insurance Commission’s (NAICOM) revised minimum capital requirements affirms that its business is structurally strong, its strategy is resilient, and its obligation to customers extends well beyond any regulatory cycle.

The strengthened capital base now positions Leadway to underwrite larger and more complex risks, champion financial inclusion at scale, and play an active role in Nigeria’s ambition to build a US$1 trillion economy.

According to the insurer its post-recapitalisation roadmap is anchored on three distinct but interconnected growth opportunities.

The first is the high net worth individual and premium segment, where growing personal wealth, asset complexity, and lifestyle sophistication are driving demand for tailored, relationship led insurance solutions. Leadway’s deepened capital position enables it to underwrite larger individual exposures and deliver the bespoke service this segment demands.

The second is critical sector and infrastructure coverage, encompassing major public and private sector projects, energy, manufacturing, and large-scale enterprise risk. With greater underwriting capacity, Leadway is now equipped to anchor complex risk programmes across Nigeria’s most strategically significant industries, serving as the risk backbone for the country’s most consequential investments.

The third is Nigeria’s next generation and a growing population of digitally native, entrepreneurially minded young Nigerians and small business owners who are redefining what they expect from financial services. Leadway is meeting that expectation head on.

For Nigeria’s next generation, it means accessible, mobile-led entry points into insurance for a demographic that expects digital as a baseline.

For HNIs and corporate clients, it means seamless, data-driven service with the depth and sophistication their portfolios require. For SMEs and agricultural businesses, it opens a path to affordable, appropriately structured coverage. Leadway’s digital focus is also directly aligned with the NAICOM Implementation Working Group’s vision of accelerating digitalisation and deepening financial inclusion across the Nigerian insurance sector, a vision Leadway is not merely endorsing but actively building.

Speaking on the above its managing Director/ CEO of Leadway Assurance, Gboyega Lesi, said, “We have spent the last several years building a business that is technically stronger, digitally tuned, and strategically positioned to serve Nigeria at a level this industry has not seen before. What recapitalisation gives us is the impetus to pursue that ambition at full scale, underwriting the risks that matter to Nigeria’s biggest enterprises, to design products that speak to a generation that will drive this economy for the next generation, and to honour every commitment we have made to our policyholders with the full weight of a well-capitalised institution behind us. Leadway is not entering a new chapter because a regulator asked us to; we are entering it because we are ready.”

“We commend NAICOM for providing a clear, forward-looking regulatory framework, welcome the discipline it demands and the confidence it instils across the market.”

Leadway’s expanded capacity also positions it as a natural partner for national development. With the ability to anchor major risk programmes, support infrastructure projects, and deepen enterprise coverage across finance, energy, agriculture, and technology, Leadway is building the institutional strength required to serve as Nigeria’s insurance backbone as the economy grows. Across every segment it serves, individual, commercial, and institutional, the message is consistent: the company is here for the long term, and the long term starts now.

About Leadway Assurance

Leadway Assurance is one of Nigeria’s leading insurance companies, with over 55 years of experience delivering a comprehensive range of financial protection services, including life insurance, general insurance, and diversified financial solutions.

A member of the Leadway Group, the company is committed to innovation, superior service, and long-term value creation for customers, partners, and stakeholders across Nigeria and beyond.

The post Leadway Assurance Sets Bold Post-Recapitalisation Agenda Beyond Compliance appeared first on Business Today NG.

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