Today’s Headlines: Stop attacking Peter Obi-Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, Sultan of Sokoto Calls on Muslims to Prepare for Jumadal Ula Crescent Sighting

The Anglican Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Bishop Geoffrey Ibeabuchi, has asked political leaders from the South East region to stop attacking the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

Bishop Ibeabuchi, who was speaking on Saturday during the Diocesan Men’s Conference in Ude Ofeme, Umuahia, warned that attacks on Obi and division among South East leaders could undermine the region’s political interests.

The cleric questioned what he described as a consistent pattern of hostility among some Igbo leaders towards Obi, asking what they hoped to achieve by publicly attacking him and allegedly seeking information to implicate him.

Drawing a comparison with political developments in other parts of the country, Ibeabuchi said he had not observed what he considered similar levels of public attacks on prominent political figures by Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani leaders.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims throughout Nigeria to participate in the search for the new crescent moon marking the beginning of Jumadal Ula 1448 AH.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, Chairman of the Sultanate Council’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, through the Wazirin Sokoto. The directive highlights the role of moon sighting in determining the start of months and important dates in the Islamic calendar.

According to the statement, Sunday, October 11, 2026, falls on the 29th day of Rabi’us Thani 1448 AH and has been set aside for the nationwide exercise. The outcome of the crescent observation will help establish when Jumadal Ula, the fifth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, begins.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has urged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to seek legal redress over the omission of its Kano State governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabi’u Kwankwaso, from the list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The movement also called on the party to submit the necessary documents to the commission and explore available legal options to correct the omission within the time allowed by law.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dr Habibu Saleh Mohammed, the movement urged its members and supporters to remain calm while the matter was addressed through the appropriate channels.

United States President Donald Trump has called on Ukraine to elect a new leader, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of rejecting opportunities to negotiate an end to the war with Russia.

Trump made the remarks at the White House on Saturday, criticising Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries and demanding that Zelensky stop targeting the facilities.

“I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president,” Trump told reporters, arguing that the strikes threatened global diesel supplies and could increase fuel costs for American farmers and ranchers.

“He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel because Russia supplies a large portion of the diesel fuel throughout the world,” Trump said.

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