Today’s Headlines: 2027: Court Judgment Worsens Atiku’s Troubles; Lagos Adds 24 Coaches to Red Line

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suffered another setback ahead of the 2027 general elections after a Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated a resignation letter allegedly written by former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe. The court also nullified decisions taken by the David Mark-led National Working Committee, including Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate, while ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Gombe as the only elected NWC member whose tenure remained valid. The ADC has rejected the judgment and vowed to appeal, insisting that Gombe voluntarily resigned.

The ruling has deepened the party’s leadership crisis, with ADC candidates and supporters protesting in Abuja and petitioning international organisations over the delay in releasing the Certified True Copy of the judgment needed to pursue an appeal. INEC, meanwhile, said it would study the court document and obtain legal advice before taking any action. The dispute has created further uncertainty over the party’s leadership and its preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly Atiku’s presidential ambition.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced the addition of 24 coaches to the Red Line rail service, with the three new eight-coach train sets expected to begin passenger operations before the end of 2026. Each train can carry up to 2,000 passengers per trip, a development expected to increase passenger capacity and allow more frequent services along the Oyingbo-Agbado corridor. The trains were procured with support from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.

The expansion is part of the Lagos State Government’s efforts to improve mass transportation and extend its rail network. Meanwhile, three additional stations on the Blue Line at FESTAC, Alakija and Trade Fair are scheduled to open by February 2027, increasing the number of stations from five to eight. The state is also working on four Quality Bus Corridors and interchange hubs at Marina and Mile 2.

President Bola Tinubu has asked the House of Representatives to approve the implementation of the N10.79tn external borrowing component of the 2026 budget, equivalent to $7.71bn, to help finance the Federal Government’s budget deficit. The borrowing is part of the N29.22tn already approved by the National Assembly, comprising N18.28tn in domestic loans and N10.79tn in external borrowing. Tinubu said the government would explore several funding options, with greater emphasis on Eurobond issuance, to secure the funds at favourable costs.

The President explained that the proposed external loans would support projects in defence, security, transportation, agriculture, power, education and healthcare, while also strengthening foreign reserves and supporting the naira. However, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, clarified that Tinubu was not seeking approval for fresh borrowing but the statutory authorisation of the terms and conditions required to access the external loans already captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The Federal Government has cleared the 21-month backlog in accrued pension rights for enrolled federal workers and funded their benefits up to December 2029, creating a 41-month surplus. The Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, also disclosed that retirement benefits are now processed within 48 hours, while President Bola Tinubu has introduced a N52,500 minimum pension guarantee for eligible retirees and approved additional exit benefits equivalent to 100 per cent of terminal emoluments for qualifying retirees from January 1, 2026.

PenCom also launched the PenCare health insurance programme to reduce retirees’ medical expenses, while the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate introduced remote verification to make pension administration easier for beneficiaries. Meanwhile, pension industry stakeholders called for improved investment of pension funds in productive sectors and greater access to pension schemes for informal workers.

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