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Withdraw from 2027 election, you have been proved wrong – Presidency tells Peter Obi

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The Presidency has challenged the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if claims that his administration left Anambra State with outstanding debts are proven.

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the challenge in a post on X on Wednesday.

Onanuga referred to fresh claims by the Anambra State Government that Obi’s administration left behind unpaid loans, salaries, pensions and gratuities.

“Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt,” Onanuga wrote. He added that the state government had “confronted him with facts and figures” concerning workers of the Water Corporation, teachers, pensioners and others owed money.

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Onanuga also alleged that Obi borrowed money for “frivolous things” while he was governor and questioned whether he would keep his earlier promise to quit the presidential race if evidence showed that his administration left debts behind.

The controversy followed a statement by Anambra Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, who disputed Obi’s claim that he left the state without unpaid liabilities.

Mefor said Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration had cleared about N22 billion in gratuity arrears inherited from previous governments. The money, he said, was owed to retired state and local government workers as well as teachers.

He also said Obi’s administration left outstanding loans and arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities that were later inherited by subsequent governments.

According to the state government, eight external loans connected to projects implemented or inherited during Obi’s tenure are still outstanding. The loans have a combined balance of $92.35m, valued at N127.37bn as of June 30, 2026.

The loans were obtained for projects covering malaria control, erosion management, healthcare, education, community development and agricultural value-chain development.

Mefor said the government was not interested in arguing over which administration paid specific arrears. However, he maintained that some liabilities dating back to previous administrations were still unpaid.

He specifically mentioned salary arrears owed to workers of the defunct Water Corporation, saying the issue remained unresolved throughout Obi’s tenure.

Obi has previously said his administration cleared more than N35bn in historical gratuities and arrears. He also maintained that he left office without unpaid salary, pension or gratuity obligations.

The former governor further disputed the state government’s position on the ecological fund. He said more than N2.13bn meant for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis remained untouched in a First Bank account.

Obi also said his administration left more than N75bn in savings when it handed over power.

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Kano guber: Kwankwassiyya reveals next line of action over disqualification of NDC candidate

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The Kwankwassiyya Movement has revealed its next line of action following the omission of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, deputy governorship candidate in Kano State, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the final list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Kwankwaso and his principal, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, were omitted from the list published by INEC.

The NDC has since described the omission as an error, saying it is seeking a correction.

Speaking on Arise Television, Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwassiyya Movement, said there was no apparent reason for the omission, adding that the movement would engage INEC to resolve the issue.

“It came as a shock because there had been no issue with INEC. Kwankwas, a former deputy governor, is registered with the NDC and met the stipulated deadline.

“Electoral provisions give candidates 14 days to seek redress if their names are omitted from the list. We will explore that opportunity and engage with INEC,” he said.

He added: “Actually, we believe there is no particular reason for the omission. INEC itself has not advanced any reason. We believe it may be an administrative error or something else because we do not have any pending judgment or court order.

“This is a man who has already served as a deputy governor, so we cannot even question his qualification. We also believe he was duly registered with the NDC within the stipulated period.

“Therefore, the omission came as a shock. However, in politics, we have seen many things, and we believe there are always ways to resolve issues. There is also a provision in the Electoral Act.

“If he is not on INEC’s list, I believe the Kwankwassiyya Movement, being law-abiding and committed to doing things the right way, will explore that opportunity and engage INEC. We are confident that the matter will be resolved because we see no reason why it should be otherwise.”

Kano guber: Kwankwassiyya reveals next line of action over disqualification of NDC candidate

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Suspected bandits kill vigilante member in plateau

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Suspected bandits have killed a 28-year-old vigilante member, Goyok Jamok, in Magi Mbar village, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 7:30 a.m. on October 10, prompting troops of Sector 5, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), deployed in Mbar, to respond to the attack.

According to the sources, the troops arrived at the scene and found Jamok dead from gunshot wounds.

“The troops discovered that Jamok had been shot dead by the suspected kidnappers,” the sources said.

The assailants reportedly fled the scene after sighting the approaching troops, abandoning their mission.

The victim’s relatives later evacuated his remains for burial.

The sources said security personnel had launched efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects.

“The troops are making efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects,” they added.

No further details were provided about the circumstances surrounding the killing or the identities of the suspected assailants.

Suspected bandits kill vigilante member in plateau

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