Atiku Abubakar enters the 2027 presidential contest carrying the weight of a long political journey and several previous unsuccessful attempts at the presidency. His 2019 and 2023 defeats remain a major parts of his electoral record, while his decision to describe 2027 as his final presidential bid adds another dimension to the contest. At the same time, Nigeria’s opposition landscape has changed considerably, with new alliances, competing political interests and other prominent opposition figures making it difficult to assume that anti-APC votes will automatically consolidate behind him. Beyond his personal political history, Atiku faces the broader challenge of building a…
Author: Micheal Akanji
President Tinubu will return to Nigeria at the weekend, following the extension of his working vacation by a few days. President Tinubu departed Nigeria on August 30 for London to begin the working vacation. After spending a week in London, he moved to Paris, France, where he met with French President Emmanuel Macron and businessman Mr Vincent Bollore, whose media group includes Canal+, Multichoice, and Universal Music Group. Since he began the vacation, President Tinubu has continued to keep in touch with home, directing the affairs of the nation, like ordering an independent panel to investigate the death of 37…
In presidential governance, the most visible figures are often those who stand before television cameras, address the nation, receive foreign dignitaries or make major policy announcements. Yet behind every functioning presidential office is an extensive network of officials whose responsibilities are rarely performed in the public glare. Among these roles is that of the Principal Private Secretary to the President, an office that sits close to the centre of presidential administration and involves the coordination of information, schedules, correspondence, briefings, meetings and other official business around the President. In the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that responsibility is held…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has celebrated his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, on her 66th birthday, describing her as his “truest friend and confidante” and praising her for standing by him through the difficult and defining moments of their journey together. In a heartfelt birthday message issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, the President said the First Lady had supported him with patience, grace, courage and steadfast faith throughout their years together. Quoting a Yoruba proverb, “Ìyàwó rere ni adé ọkọ rẹ̀,” which means “a good wife is her husband’s crown,” President Tinubu said Oluremi had given the words practical…
French President Emmanuel Macron received Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a private dinner on Thursday night at the Élysée Palace in Paris, underscoring the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and France. The meeting showcased the shared commitment of both countries to deepening bilateral cooperation and strengthening ties across areas of mutual interest. The private dinner provided an opportunity for the two leaders to engage on issues of importance to Nigeria-France relations, as both countries continue to explore ways to expand their partnership. President Tinubu’s engagement with Macron forms part of his diplomatic activities in France, as Nigeria seeks to strengthen…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for increased investment in Nigeria’s creative and digital economy, saying the country must convert its growing global cultural influence into lasting economic opportunities for Nigerians. PBAT made the call in Paris during a meeting with Vincent Bolloré of Bolloré Group and senior executives of the company, where discussions focused on expanding investments in Nigeria across film, entertainment, fibre optics and the digital economy. The President said Nigeria was experiencing a significant cultural moment globally, with Nigerian music, films, fashion and creative content attracting audiences and attention across continents. “Our music fills stadiums across continents.…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following enforcement operations around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, Niger State. The President, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed deep concern over the reported deaths and described the incident as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability. Tinubu said the government would continue its fight against illegal mining and other criminal activities but stressed…
Nigeria has secured a major victory in an international arbitration involving Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited over disputes connected to the development of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State. An arbitration tribunal under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris on Thursday, September 17, 2026, issued an award rejecting claims brought by Sunrise against the Federal Government of Nigeria. According to a statement issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sunrise had sought $680 million in settlement and interest in connection with a separate arbitration in which the company is claiming more than $2.7…
Titilope Gbadamosi, the Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring and Delivery), has charged the 360 young Nigerians selected to represent youths across the country at the 2026 National Youth Conference to see themselves as “solution makers” and active participants in shaping Nigeria’s future. Gbadamosi gave the charge at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a briefing with the press, where the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande Wisdom; the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Otega Ogra, were present. Addressing the delegates, Gbadamosi…
Presidential aide on Social Media, Honourable Dada Olusegun, has called on Nigerian youths to move beyond online criticism and participate actively in shaping the country’s future as preparations intensify for the National Youth Conference scheduled for October 2026. Olusegun spoke at a briefing with the Minister of Youth Development, Honourable Ayodele Olawande Wisdom, alongside other presidential aides at the State House, where he explained the rationale behind the planned representation of young Nigerians across the country. He said the decision to select one representative from each of the 360 federal constituencies was designed to ensure broad and grassroots representation, similar…