Today’s Headline:We’ll Mobilise 19m Votes From Northern States For Tinubu-Network, Sultan, Can Bamidele Seek Unity, Prosperity

Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Atiku Bagudu Grassroots Network for Tinubu 2027, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, declaring its intention to mobilise 19 million votes from the 19 northern states for his re-election.

The group also named the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, as its patron.

The endorsement was made after a meeting in Abuja attended by delegates representing the 19 northern states, where members reviewed the administration’s policies and programmes and discussed strategies for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The convener of the group, Hon. Ali Oriri, said the network would build a strong grassroots structure across the North to mobilise support for Tinubu and secure the group’s target of 19 million votes.

Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele issued separate messages marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary. They urged Nigerians not to lose hope and to work together to strengthen national unity, peace and development amid ongoing challenges.

The Sultan, also President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, acknowledged difficulties but described them as surmountable, expressing optimism that the country would improve and calling for patriotism, justice, good governance and mutual respect. CAN, through its president Daniel Okoh, pressed the federal government to prioritise cutting food, transport and energy costs so that economic reforms deliver tangible improvements in living standards, stronger social protection, better security and job opportunities, while warning politicians against politicising religion.

Bamidele, chairman of the Southwest Caucus in the National Assembly, called on political parties and candidates to run orderly, peaceful campaigns in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution. He stressed that political rights must not extend to hate speech or statements that could spark unrest or ethno-religious violence, insisting that no ambition is worth endangering the nation’s collective heritage ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Jigawa State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Muhammad Baba, has warned corps members against indulging in cultism and other anti-social acts capable of disrupting peace at the orientation camp.

Baba gave the warning while speaking during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream 1 corps members held on Friday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Fanisau, Dutse, the state capital.

Earlier, 2,000 corps members of the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream 1 deployed to Jigawa State were administered the oath of allegiance by Justice Amina Dahiru, who represented the Jigawa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

Speaking at the event, the Jigawa NYSC coordinator, Baba, welcomed the corps members on behalf of the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. O.O. Nafiu, to the scheme.

A faction of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Osun State has called on Nigerians to continue praying for their leaders and the country, expressing optimism that the current challenges will give way to prosperity.

This was contained in a statement signed by the factional Osun IPAC Chairman and Secretary, Tosin Odeyemi and Kazeem Araoye, respectively, and made available to journalists on Thursday in Osogbo to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.

The council said the October 1 Independence anniversary offered Nigerians an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of the nation’s founding fathers and the resilience of the people, which had kept the country going despite various challenges affecting its stability.

The statement read, “Despite economic and security challenges confronting the country, the Nigerian spirit remains unbroken. People should keep praying for the country and its leaders.

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