Today’s Headlines:why Obi can never be Southeast’s best candidate–Umahi;Tinubu mourns Francis Duru

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said Peter Obi cannot be regarded as the South-East’s best presidential candidate, insisting that the region has other qualified political figures who can aspire to lead Nigeria.

Umahi made the statement during an interview with ARISE News on Friday, while defending South-East political leaders supporting President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The former Ebonyi State governor criticised Obi for allegedly failing to consult political leaders and stakeholders in the region before pursuing his presidential ambition in 2023.

“Peter Obi is not the best of our finest in South East. He’s not the best, he can never be the best,” Umahi said.

President Bola Tinubu has expressed condolences to the family, colleagues and fans of veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru, who has died at the age of 57.

Tinubu described Duru’s death as a painful loss to the Nigerian film industry and the country’s creative community.

Recall that Duru died at the age of 57 following a brief illness.

His family announced his death on his official Instagram page in the early hours of Friday.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has debunked a report indicating his support for the Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Ishaku Abbo.

This was made known in a statement issued by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka on Friday.

It stated, “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has described as fake, report on the social media indicating his support for the Labour Party, LP, Governorship candidate in Adamawa State, Senator Ishaku Abbo.

“The social media post had quoted Wike as saying that people of Adamawa State should make informed and thoughtful decisions at the ballot, stating that in his opinion, Ishaku Abbo is best fit for the leadership of the State.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged other states to emulate the Rainbow Coalition model adopted in the FCT and Rivers State, saying it has fostered political cooperation, peace and stability among politicians across party lines.

Wike stated this on Friday during an interactive engagement with political leaders, traditional rulers, women and youths in Kuje Area Council, according to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to the FCT minister, Lere Olayinka.

The statement added that the initiative had demonstrated that politicians from different parties could work together in the interest of the people instead of allowing partisan differences to fuel hostility, violence and division.

Wike said the experience in the FCT showed that political competition did not have to result in conflict.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has said Nigerians no longer collect N1000 or N2000 to attend political rallies across the country.

Uzodimma said such days when Nigerians are given peanuts to attend political rallies are gone.

The governor spoke during the Association of All Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, General Assembly in the state.

He also said President Bola Tinubu’s vision is making Nigerians to take ownership of their destinies and the country, adding that the state is behind the president.