The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Author: Editor

  • 2027: Enugu APC Campaign Council Urges Guard Against Political Disinformation

    2027: Enugu APC Campaign Council Urges Guard Against Political Disinformation

    As political activities heighten, the Enugu State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council has urged residents to remain vigilant against political disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The campaign council issued the caution following what it described as the misleading allegations levelled by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) against the Dr. Peter Mbah led state government over the controversy surrounding the use of the Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu for the NDC presidential candidate’s town hall.

    Recall that there was a viral video concerning the event centre and allegations linking the Enugu State Government to an alleged attempt to prevent a political gathering at the facility.

    In a statement issued by its Spokesperson and Director of Public Communications, Steve Oruruo, titled ‘Unmasking the Alarmism of NDC: A Clarion Call for Enugu’s Extra Vigilance’, the council described the allegations as misleading and politically motivated, insisting that the controversy arose from a private commercial agreement between the event centre’s management and a prospective client.

    According to the council, the controversy originated from an agreement between the management of Amadeo Event Centre and one Dr Sabastine Chuks Eze, who allegedly presented himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners.

    The statement alleged that Eze breached Clause 17 of the agreement, which reportedly empowered the management to discontinue any activity, meeting or event that failed to comply with the stipulated terms and conditions.

    Continuing, the APC Campaign Council accused the NDC, particularly its Enugu East Senatorial candidate, Ada Ogbu, of attempting to link the state government to the controversy without providing verifiable evidence.

    It described the allegations as part of what it called a pattern of political attacks intended to undermine the image of the Enugu State Government and create public distrust ahead of the 2027 elections.

    Defending the administration of Governor Peter Mbah, the campaign council urged the people of Enugu that it described as “highly elitist and intellectually persuaded”, to prepare to rise above such disinformation, arguing that the 2027 elections should be determined by issues, policy ideas and the capacity of political parties and candidates to deliver on their promises.

    The full statement is reproduced below:

    UNMASKING THE ALARMISM OF NDC: A CLARION CALL FOR ENUGU’S EXTRA VIGILANCE

    The attention of the Enugu APC Campaign Council has been drawn to contrived layers of spurious allegations blatantly spewed against the credibility of the management of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu and, by extension, the integrity of the APC-led Enugu State Government through a viral video.

    Silence could have been golden, save for the brazen frivolity that characterised the chronicled and dramatized falsehood intentionally deployed to embarrass and impugn the image of the entire state, and invariably validate their next lie in the sequence of street-level mendacities, while an unsuspecting section of the populace may remain confused. Ndi-Enugu must therefore prepare to rise above such barefaced antics, gimmicks and shenanigans from the pit of hell.

    We admit that the Social media is a platform that has unwittingly provided countless opportunities for the audience to be mesmerised with scintillating and breathtaking performances while advertising cognitive brilliance and prolific imagination. Yet, it paradoxically affords some of its users the unmistakable luxury of exciting mediocrity and licensed idiocy.

    What we understand as a breach or violation of Clause 17 of the terms and conditions of a personal agreement reached with the management of Amadeo Event Centre by one Dr Sabastine Chuks Eze, a disguised client who paraded himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, in which he assented to the right of the aforesaid management to halt any activity, meeting, or event not conducted strictly in accordance with the stipulated rules of engagement, eventually metamorphosed into an NDC contract to host a town hall meeting at the behest of former Governor Peter Obi.

    Instructively, the Amadeo management had since divested and deconstructed the dubious, speedy and strange garb with which the latest in this series of lies were cloaked, lest the public be deceived with the baseless, misleading and ill-motivated circus of freshly conjured lies, or outrageous spectacle of fabricated stories, blatant falsehoods, and disinformation.

    However, in a fruitless bid to deceive a highly elitist and intellectually persuaded Enugu electorate, Mrs Ada Ogbu and her dramatis personae threw caution, her pedigree and the pious proclivities of their members to the wind in what perhaps turned out to be muddying the waters of unforced errors. It is therefore not only ridiculously stunning, but defies all imagination, mangles all logics, and belies all credulity that the Senatorial candidate of NDC and her co-travellers would condescend to the despicable level of openly linking Enugu Government to an ill-fated and self-defeatist attempt at surreptitiously hosting a presidential candidate through the cesspit of deceit, manipulation and immorality.
    Where is the ecclesiastical rectitude, untainted probity, and self-acclaimed morality that Governor Peter Obi preaches? Have they not been cascaded to Enugu NDC members?

    The APC family in Enugu and the teeming supporters of our performing Governor, already armed by the opponent’s innate sophistry in contriving evil, and the frightening frequency of these concocted absurdities by the Enugu NDC, could not have been deceived or appalled by the imputation repressive state influence in a simple case of default in private commercial agreement. Rather, we are condemned to view this latest slant from the precincts of a smokescreen, an unholy prelude and a failed alibi to validate future theatricals and nuisance targeting unsuspecting Enugu voters.

    Enugu NDC has failed on arrival. It is almost non-existent in Enugu and perhaps gains its only infinitesimal traction whenever the state government or the name of our erudite Governor is mentioned in its tales of woes.

    Enugu State under the enigmatic and talismanic Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has been judicially noticed as an epicentre of enduring peace, modern security, exponential growth, sustainable development, serene ambience, and the alluring harmony of a united people. Mischievously linking uncharitable words or deeds, without verifiable facts, to a revered state even the NDC purportedly intends to govern, is antithetical to the minimum acceptable trust values and the widely acknowledged enviable security profile of Enugu State.

    A cursory look at the rejoinder from the management of Amadeo Event Centre would easily suggest that Mrs Ada Ogbu (NDC Enugu East Senatorial Candidate) should apologise to Ndi Enugu. Only in her lucid and unagitated moments will she realise how much she has offended the sensibilities and temperament of Ndi-Enugu, famous for their uncanny savvy, intellectual nobility, sublime virility, exquisite power of imagination, and peerless sense of history.

    Ndi-Enugu, the 2027 Elections are about issues, ideas and the definitive capacity to deliver. Therefore, no amount of smear politics, incendiary comments, political calumny, or media frenzy can rewrite Dr Peter Mbah’s glowing credentials, deeply entrenched in the hearts of our electorate, who are watching in pleasant shock as the dividends of democracy are being positively re-imagined and re-engineered in their favour.

    STEVE ORURUO
    Spokesperson and Director
    Public Communications
    ENUGU STATE APC CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

  • Amadeo Event Centre Controversy: Enugu APC Campaign Council Accuses NDC Of Disinformation

    Amadeo Event Centre Controversy: Enugu APC Campaign Council Accuses NDC Of Disinformation

    …Defends Mbah’s Government

    The Enugu State All Progressives Congress Campaign Council has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) of deliberately spreading false information over the controversy surrounding the use of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu for a town hall meeting involving NDC’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi , alleging that the party was attempting to discredit the APC-led state government through a viral video.

    In a statement titled ‘Unmasking the Alarmism of NDC: A Clarion Call for Enugu’s Extra Vigilance’, issued by its Spokesperson and Director of Public Communications, Steve Oruruo, the campaign council said the dispute arose from an alleged breach of a private agreement between the event centre’s management and one Dr. Sabastine Chuks Eze, who, according to the event center, reportedly presented himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners.

    The campaign council wondered why NDC decided to present the disagreement to the unsuspecting public as an attempt to prevent the NDC from holding a town hall meeting at the venue and in the state. The APC council also dismissed allegations linking the state government to the incident and challenged the NDC Enugu East Senatorial District candidate, Ada Ogbu, to apologise to residents.

    Oruruo who signed the statement maintained that the controversy was being politicised ahead of the 2027 elections and defended Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, describing Enugu as a peaceful and developing state.

    The statement urged voters to focus on issues, ideas and candidates’ capacity to deliver rather than what it characterised as political attacks and misinformation.

    The full statement is reproduced below:

    UNMASKING THE ALARMISM OF NDC: A CLARION CALL FOR ENUGU’S EXTRA VIGILANCE

    The attention of the Enugu APC Campaign Council has been drawn to contrived layers of spurious allegations blatantly spewed against the credibility of the management of Amadeo Event Centre in Enugu and, by extension, the integrity of the APC-led Enugu State Government through a viral video.

    Silence could have been golden, save for the brazen frivolity that characterised the chronicled and dramatized falsehood intentionally deployed to embarrass and impugn the image of the entire state, and invariably validate their next lie in the sequence of street-level mendacities, while an unsuspecting section of the populace may remain confused. Ndi-Enugu must therefore prepare to rise above such barefaced antics, gimmicks and shenanigans from the pit of hell.

    We admit that the Social media is a platform that has unwittingly provided countless opportunities for the audience to be mesmerised with scintillating and breathtaking performances while advertising cognitive brilliance and prolific imagination. Yet, it paradoxically affords some of its users the unmistakable luxury of exciting mediocrity and licensed idiocy.

    What we understand as a breach or violation of Clause 17 of the terms and conditions of a personal agreement reached with the management of Amadeo Event Centre by one Dr Sabastine Chuks Eze, a disguised client who paraded himself as the Registrar of the Nigeria Institute of Healthcare Givers and Medical Social Work Practitioners, in which he assented to the right of the aforesaid management to halt any activity, meeting, or event not conducted strictly in accordance with the stipulated rules of engagement, eventually metamorphosed into an NDC contract to host a town hall meeting at the behest of former Governor Peter Obi.

    Instructively, the Amadeo management had since divested and deconstructed the dubious, speedy and strange garb with which the latest in this series of lies were cloaked, lest the public be deceived with the baseless, misleading and ill-motivated circus of freshly conjured lies, or outrageous spectacle of fabricated stories, blatant falsehoods, and disinformation.

    However, in a fruitless bid to deceive a highly elitist and intellectually persuaded Enugu electorate, Mrs Ada Ogbu and her dramatis personae threw caution, her pedigree and the pious proclivities of their members to the wind in what perhaps turned out to be muddying the waters of unforced errors. It is therefore not only ridiculously stunning, but defies all imagination, mangles all logics, and belies all credulity that the Senatorial candidate of NDC and her co-travellers would condescend to the despicable level of openly linking Enugu Government to an ill-fated and self-defeatist attempt at surreptitiously hosting a presidential candidate through the cesspit of deceit, manipulation and immorality.
    Where is the ecclesiastical rectitude, untainted probity, and self-acclaimed morality that Governor Peter Obi preaches? Have they not been cascaded to Enugu NDC members?

    The APC family in Enugu and the teeming supporters of our performing Governor, already armed by the opponent’s innate sophistry in contriving evil, and the frightening frequency of these concocted absurdities by the Enugu NDC, could not have been deceived or appalled by the imputation repressive state influence in a simple case of default in private commercial agreement. Rather, we are condemned to view this latest slant from the precincts of a smokescreen, an unholy prelude and a failed alibi to validate future theatricals and nuisance targeting unsuspecting Enugu voters.

    Enugu NDC has failed on arrival. It is almost non-existent in Enugu and perhaps gains its only infinitesimal traction whenever the state government or the name of our erudite Governor is mentioned in its tales of woes.

    Enugu State under the enigmatic and talismanic Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah has been judicially noticed as an epicentre of enduring peace, modern security, exponential growth, sustainable development, serene ambience, and the alluring harmony of a united people. Mischievously linking uncharitable words or deeds, without verifiable facts, to a revered state even the NDC purportedly intends to govern, is antithetical to the minimum acceptable trust values and the widely acknowledged enviable security profile of Enugu State.

    A cursory look at the rejoinder from the management of Amadeo Event Centre would easily suggest that Mrs Ada Ogbu (NDC Enugu East Senatorial Candidate) should apologise to Ndi Enugu. Only in her lucid and unagitated moments will she realise how much she has offended the sensibilities and temperament of Ndi-Enugu, famous for their uncanny savvy, intellectual nobility, sublime virility, exquisite power of imagination, and peerless sense of history.

    Ndi-Enugu, the 2027 Elections are about issues, ideas and the definitive capacity to deliver. Therefore, no amount of smear politics, incendiary comments, political calumny, or media frenzy can rewrite Dr Peter Mbah’s glowing credentials, deeply entrenched in the hearts of our electorate, who are watching in pleasant shock as the dividends of democracy are being positively re-imagined and re-engineered in their favour.

    STEVE ORURUO
    Spokesperson and Director
    Public Communications
    ENUGU STATE APC CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

  • INEC Rules Out Postponement Of 2027 General Elections

    INEC Rules Out Postponement Of 2027 General Elections

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out any possibility of postponing the 2027 general elections, declaring that the polls will take place according to the timetable already released by the commission.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Saturday during an interactive meeting with commission officials and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six South-South states in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    He also announced that the commission would publish the final voters’ register on December 15, 2026, after completing the ongoing verification and correction process.

    Amupitan said INEC would not alter its statutory schedule despite suggestions by some political parties that the elections could be shifted.

    “Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” he said.

    The INEC chairman disclosed that Rivers State would receive particular attention during the preparations because of its large voting population and strategic importance.

    According to him, Rivers has 3,736,434 registered voters, the highest number in the South-South region. Delta follows with 3,525,988, while Edo has 2,865,263.

    Akwa Ibom has 2,566,198 registered voters, Cross River 1,928,978 and Bayelsa 1,200,691.

    He urged electoral officials to ensure that logistical and operational challenges did not prevent eligible voters from exercising their rights, particularly in states with large voter populations.

    On the ongoing voters’ register review, Amupitan said the preliminary register had been made available online and at designated centres to enable voters to confirm their details and submit objections where necessary.

    He disclosed that INEC had received more than 5,000 requests for corrections, including changes to names and dates of birth, as well as over 600 objections. The requests are being processed before the final register is released.

    The chairman also revealed that INEC had considered a fresh voter revalidation exercise after he assumed office but dropped the plan because of concerns that the exercise would be too close to the general elections.

    Speaking on the commission’s preparedness, Amupitan expressed confidence that INEC would deliver peaceful, transparent and credible elections, drawing lessons from recent off-cycle governorship polls, particularly the Osun State election.

    He described the Osun poll as the most participatory off-cycle governorship election in the country’s history, saying it was considered credible by local and international observers despite earlier security concerns.

    According to him, the experience from recent elections would help the commission address challenges and strengthen its preparations for 2027.

    “We will conduct elections that will move the nation forward and not an election that will bring it down,” he said.

    On security, Amupitan said INEC was working with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to protect voters, electoral workers, ad hoc personnel and election materials.

    He stressed that voters must be able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and exercise their franchise in a safe environment.

    The chairman also dismissed suggestions that artificial intelligence or computer algorithms could determine the outcome of the elections, insisting that the choice of winners would remain with Nigerian voters.

    “It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms,” he said.

    However, he acknowledged the cybersecurity risks associated with emerging technologies and said the commission would explore ways to use technology to protect its digital systems from possible attacks.

    Amupitan warned INEC employees and ad hoc staff, including members of the National Youth Service Corps, against actions capable of undermining the electoral process.

    He said officials found compromising the integrity of the elections would face legal consequences, urging personnel in the South-South to discharge their duties responsibly.

  • NCDC Confirms Two Suspected Ebola Cases In Adamawa Tested Negative

    NCDC Confirms Two Suspected Ebola Cases In Adamawa Tested Negative

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that two suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) reported in Adamawa State tested negative after two rounds of laboratory examinations.

    The agency’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, adding that there was no laboratory-confirmed Ebola case in the state.

    According to Idris, the Adamawa State Public Health Emergency Operations Centre received a report in the early hours of October 30, 2026, about two individuals showing symptoms that required investigation for possible Ebola infection.

    The individuals were subsequently isolated, while health authorities initiated appropriate public health measures and collected samples for laboratory analysis.

    However, the results of the two rounds of testing returned negative for the Ebola virus.

    Idris said the NCDC had been working with the Adamawa State Government, particularly the Ministry of Health and Human Services, to investigate the cases and coordinate the response.

    He commended the state Commissioner for Health and his team for their prompt response, assuring residents that the national disease control agency would continue providing technical support to strengthen surveillance and response activities.

    The NCDC chief clarified that the only laboratory-confirmed Ebola case reported in Nigeria remained the index case previously identified in the Federal Capital Territory.

    He urged Nigerians to remain calm and avoid circulating unverified reports or speculation about the suspected cases, advising the public to rely on official government and public health communication channels for accurate updates.

    Idris also reminded Nigerians that Ebola is a serious infectious disease requiring early detection and proper medical attention.

    He listed symptoms that may include fever, severe weakness, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and unexplained bleeding.

    He advised anyone experiencing such symptoms, particularly after possible exposure to the virus, to seek immediate medical care and inform health workers about relevant travel or contact history.

    The NCDC also cautioned against self-medication, urging people to follow medical advice as health authorities continue to monitor the situation.

  • Vote for Tinubu in 2027, South-East Govs Tell Ndigbo

    Vote for Tinubu in 2027, South-East Govs Tell Ndigbo

    Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Charles Soludo of Anambra State, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, and Hope Uzodimma of Imo State have called on the people of South-East region to vote massively for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election and ignore every form of deceipt and political distractions.

    The governors made the call during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Mega Rally and Empowerment Programme for the South-East flagged off by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu at Okpara Square, Enugu, on Saturday.

    Speaking, the host governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, urged the people of the region to support Tinubu’s re-election bid to enable him to consolidate the gains of his administration’s economic reforms.

    He attributed ongoing development projects, including the construction of primary healthcare centres, to the federal government’s economic reforms.

    “If I ask what future you want for your children, I’m sure you are seeing that future unfold gradually through the bold and courageous reforms of Mr. President.

    “It is through those reforms that enough money has been made available to all the states. Which is why in Enugu, when you look around you, you will see the Smart Green Schools, Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres, and numerous other projects and initiatives we have undertaken in just three years.

    This is happening because of the bold and courageous reforms of Mr. President and we know the job is not finished yet. A good sailor does not abandon his ship mid-sea because of challenges.

    “So, we must finish the journey we all started together. We must come out on January 16 with our PVC and ensure that the good work Mr. President is doing will continue.

    “Don’t listen to any voice. Those voices telling us a different thing. We, the Igbos have gone to communities outside our zone to build businesses. And we also know how to build relationships. And that is being put to test. We are not a people that are ethnic bigots. We are a people that are strategic.

    “And that is why we must all come out in our numbers and support Mr. President to continue the good work. Support all our APC candidates to ensure that they are returned come January and February,” he emphasised.

    Speaking on the empowerment programme targeting 5,000 women across the South-east, Mbah said the initiative followed the empowerment of more than 2,000 women, including payment of hospital bills, in Enugu by the First Lady, within 48 hours.

    “When you empower a woman, you strengthen the family. When you empower a woman, you build a strong community,” he said.

    Also speaking, Governor Uzodimma reiterated the commitment of the region to supporting Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

    He explained that Igbos had experienced marginalisation for over 60 years, but were beginning to witness a new era of political inclusion and development under Tinubu.

    He commended the president for expanding the scope of infrastructure and economic development in the South-East.

    “We are now seeing good roads, electricity, health reforms as well as educational reforms in the country. A winning team must not be changed,” he said.

    The governor urged the electorate to sustain the current development trajectory, saying the federal government’s economic reforms had increased resources available to states for development.

    “We have more money to build Okigwe to Owerri, Umuahia to Owerri, Orlu to Owerri and Owerri to Port Harcourt roads,” he said.

    Like Mbah, Uzodimma added that the improved financial position of the state had enabled his administration to pay salaries and pensions consistently, including 13th-month salaries for workers.

    In his remarks, Governor Nwifuru said that the number one mission for Ndigbo in 2027 elections was to re-elect President Tinubu, describing the APC as the only political party with a clear and identifiable manifesto capable of sustaining the country’s development and truly advancing the course of Ndigbo.

    He dismissed suggestions of his involvement in any political coalition, stressing that his loyalty remained with the APC, urging urged supporters to vote for APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections.

    Similarly, Soludo, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Gilbert Ibezim, said the South-East had a responsibility to support Tinubu’s re-election in appreciation of his administration’s achievements, adding that the region stood to benefit more from continued collaboration with the federal government.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, urged Igbos to embrace political inclusion by supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

    Kalu said the Igbo had not produced a president of Nigeria in the past 60 years, and was therefore not party to any one-term arrangement for the Presidency of Igbo extraction by anybody.

    He, however, stressed that the Igbo needed to to strengthen its political alliances across the nation to actualise a full two-term Igbo presidency in the near future.

    He recalled that Tinubu, while serving as governor of Lagos State, maintained cordial relationships with Igbos and included them in his cabinet.

    He commended the Tinubu administration for establishing the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

    He described it as a major step towards addressing the region’s developmental challenges.

    Meanwhile, addressing the rally, the First Lady conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill message and urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the economic challenges associated with the President’s reforms, insisting that the country was moving towards prosperity.

    She likened the process to childbirth, noting that although the period of labour could be painful, it ultimately led to delivery.

    “Mr. President said I should greet everyone. We have done reforms and we are now in prosperity. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you. The worst is over. We are stepping into prosperity,” she said.

    The First Lady described the empowerment initiative as an indication of the APC government’s commitment to translating its promises into practical interventions, noting that the party was combining political mobilisation with economic support.

    The First Lady urged the women to mobilise support for President Tinubu and APC candidates in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, asking them to hold political aspirants accountable for their records of empowerment and development interventions.

    Other dignitaries at the massive rally were Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima; wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Uloma Akpabio; wives of the South East governors; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

    Also present were the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye; National Women Leader of the APC and Director-General of the Women Wing of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele; South-East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih; members of the National and State Assemblies, local government chairmen and other party stakeholders.

    The rally by the Remi Tinubu-led Women Mobilisation Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, which kicked off in the South East, will also be held across the remaining five geopolitical zones of the country.

  • Remi Tinubu Flags Off South-East Women’s Mega Empowerment, Says Nigeria’s Stepping into Prosperity

    Remi Tinubu Flags Off South-East Women’s Mega Empowerment, Says Nigeria’s Stepping into Prosperity

    …Distributes empowerment materials, promises ₦200,000 business grants to 750 persons

    …As S’East governors throw their weight behind Tinubu’s re-election

    … Benjamin Kalu: Ndigbo not part of anybody’s one-term presidency arrangement, we deserve more

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Saturday flagged off the South-East Women Mega Empowerment and the All Progressives Congress’ Women Mobilisation Directorate’s campaign across the six geopolitical zones, saying the worst was over, as Nigeria was now stepping into prosperity flowing from President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.

    The rally, which climaxed with the distribution of empowerment materials such as sewing machines, food processors, electricity generating sets and popcorn machines to women drawn from the five states of the region to support their economic activities and small-scale businesses, also attracted the presence of women leaders and members of the party from Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Imo and Anambra states.

    Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Hope Uzodimma of Imo State and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, as well as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, were also in attendance at the rally, which took place at Okpara Square, Enugu.

    Addressing the women, the First Lady, Senator Tinubu, conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill message and urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the economic challenges associated with the President’s reforms, insisting that the country was moving towards prosperity.

    She likened the process to childbirth, noting that although the period of labour could be painful, it ultimately led to delivery.

    “Mr. President said I should greet everyone. We have done reforms and we are now in prosperity. Don’t allow anyone to deceive you. The worst is over. We are stepping into prosperity,” she said.

    The First Lady described the empowerment initiative as an indication of the APC government’s commitment to translating its promises into practical interventions, noting that the party was combining political mobilisation with economic support.

    She expressed appreciation to the people of the South-East for their reception and support, recalling that she had visited the region several times since her husband’s assumption of office.

    Senator Tinubu also announced additional empowerment programmes for women and elderly persons in Enugu State, promising that on December 3, APC senatorial candidates would be provided with funds to empower 250 women each with ₦200,000 to establish businesses.

    She further announced an empowerment programme for 250 elderly persons scheduled for December 17, explaining that the beneficiaries must be aged 65 and above.

    According to her, each of the two interventions would cover 750 beneficiaries across the three senatorial districts of Enugu State.

    The First Lady urged the women to mobilise support for President Tinubu and APC candidates in the forthcoming 2027 general elections, asking them to hold political aspirants accountable for their records of empowerment and development interventions.

    In his remarks, Governor Mbah, while welcoming the First Lady, acknowledged the contributions of women to families, communities and national development.

    He said the rally was designed to empower more than 5,000 women across the South-East, adding that her office had, within the preceding 48 hours, supported more than 2,000 Enugu women through cash assistance, payment of hospital bills and the provision of tools to enable them to establish and expand businesses.

    Mbah said the initiative went beyond political mobilisation, stressing that its central objective was to transform women into wealth creators rather than keeping them dependent on periodic handouts.

    The governor also linked his administration’s development milestones to the economic reforms of the Federal Government, particularly the increased resources available to states through federation allocations.

    He cited the construction of Smart Green Schools and primary healthcare centres across the state as examples of projects being implemented with the increased resources.

    Mbah urged the women to support Tinubu’s continuation in office, arguing that the country would not abandon an ongoing journey because of temporary challenges.

    “A good sailor does not abandon his ship mid-sea because of challenges. So, we must finish the journey we all started together,” he said.

    He further urged the South-East electorate to participate in the forthcoming elections, describing the Igbo as a people whose economic and social engagements extend beyond their geographical region.

    “We are not a people that are ethnic by nature. We are a people that are strategic,” Mbah said, calling for support for President Tinubu and APC candidates.

    Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, said the South-East would not accept a proposed four-year presidential tenure arrangement for a President of Igbo extraction.

    He insisted that the region must seek an eight-year tenure when it eventually produces the nation’s president and called on the people of the South-East to support Tinubu’s re-election bid come 2027.

    Kalu said President Tinubu had demonstrated commitment to addressing longstanding concerns of the South-East, particularly through the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), adding that the post-civil war promise of the three Rs — Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation — had yet to receive the full implementation of the commitments until the establishment of the commission under the Tinubu administration.

    He also cited the President’s appointments of people from the South-East into his cabinet and other federal initiatives as indications of his administration’s engagement with the region.

    According to Uzodimma, increased allocations from the Federation Account had also provided state governments with greater resources to execute development projects, and he urged the people of the region to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.

    Similarly, Governor Nwifuru said the APC’s central political objective was to secure a second term for President Tinubu, urging party members and supporters to work towards achieving that goal.

    “We have a project and that project is our party, the APC. Our project is how to deliver the President for a second term,” he said.

    The rally was marked by the presentation of empowerment equipment to women from across the five South-East states, alongside calls by party leaders for increased political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Other dignitaries included the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu; wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Uloma Akpabio; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

    Also present were the APC Deputy National Chairman (South), Dr. Ben Nwoye; National Women Leader of the APC and Director-General of the Women Wing of the Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Mary Alile-Idele; South-East Zonal Woman Leader of the APC, Dr. Oby Ajih; members of the National and State Assemblies, local government chairmen and other party stakeholders.

  • Tinubu Applauds EFCC Post-FBI Commendation On Global Sextortion Fight

    President Bola Tinubu has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a letter from the Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, praising the Commission’s role in apprehending and extraditing suspects involved in international sextortion crimes against minors.

    In the letter to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, the FBI Director acknowledged the Commission’s contribution to Operation Artemis, a joint investigation targeting criminal networks involved in the sexual exploitation and extortion of children, according to a statement by Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday.

    The operation led to the arrest and extradition of two Nigerian suspects, Adebola Festus Adekunle and Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, in August 2026. Both are facing federal charges in the United States.

    “The successful outcome of these cases would not have been possible without your assistance and dedication to international law enforcement collaboration,” Patel wrote.

    President Tinubu described the commendation as further recognition of Nigeria’s progress in combating financial crimes and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation.

    “This is the kind of institutional performance we are determined to build across our country. I commend the EFCC Chairman and his team for their professionalism and dedication.

    “Nigeria must never become a haven for criminals who exploit innocent people, whether at home or abroad. Our law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions have my full support to pursue offenders and bring them to justice in accordance with the law,” the President said.

    The commendation comes amid growing international recognition of Nigeria’s anti-corruption and financial crime reforms, including the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October 2025 and the European Union’s high-risk financial jurisdictions list in January 2026.

    President Tinubu said these developments reflect his administration’s commitment to strengthening financial integrity, restoring international confidence and creating a more secure environment for legitimate businesses and investment.

    “Our fight against corruption is not measured by publicity but by results. Stronger institutions, effective law enforcement and international cooperation are essential to building a Nigeria where honest enterprise can thrive, and criminals are held accountable,” the President stated.

    He urged the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies to sustain their efforts, assuring them of his administration’s continued support in protecting Nigerians, combating financial crimes and strengthening the country’s standing among its international partners. Channels

  • Two Suspected Ebola Cases Identified In North-East

    NCDC ebola
    This combo photo shows NCDC officials on duty in Nigeria, and response team members helping to wear protective suits before burying a person suspected of having died from Ebola in Bunia, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 25, 2026. (Channels TV/GLODY MURHABAZI / AFP)

    Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in the North-East region of the country.

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in a post via its official X handle on Saturday, adding that both individuals had been isolated.

    It also said contact identification and listing are ongoing, and laboratory testing is underway.

    According to the agency, confirmation is subject to laboratory results.

    Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East region. Both individuals have been isolated, contact identification and listing is ongoing, and laboratory testing is being conducted,” the NCDC said.

    “Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is subject to laboratory results.

    “The public is advised to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities. Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.”

    BREAKING: UPDATE ON EBOLA DISEASE IN NIGERIA

    Two suspected cases of Ebola disease have been identified in Nigeria’s North-East region. Both individuals have been isolated, contact identification and listing is ongoing, and laboratory testing is being conducted.

    Being classified as suspected cases does not mean they are confirmed Ebola cases; confirmation is subject to laboratory results.

    The public is advised to maintain good hand hygiene, practise enhanced sanitation and follow guidance from public health authorities.

    Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available.

    — NCDC (@NCDCgov) October 31, 2026

    The latest update by the NCDC came days after it said it identified another contact, an e-hailing driver, linked to the confirmed case of the recent Ebola outbreak in Nigeria, increasing the number of primary contacts to 54.

    The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, told Channels Television on October 26 that efforts were ongoing to identify the secondary contacts.

    “So we are not out of the woods yet until we are sure that we have all the contacts, and they have been followed up. So we are still not out of the woods; because the index case is out doesn’t mean that we don’t have that,” he said.

    The Federal Government had announced Nigeria’s first confirmed case of the Bundibugyo strain in Abuja on October 20, 2026, identifying the patient as a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda, who returned to Nigeria with symptoms on October 7, but the Ugandan authorities denied reports of an Ebola outbreak in the East African country.

    The index patient was later flown to Switzerland along with her husband. Channels

  • NDLEA: Drug Integrity Test is Free for Ministry of Interior Recruits

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned applicants undergoing recruitment into four agencies under the Ministry of Interior against making payments for the mandatory Drug Integrity Test (DIT).

    NDLEA, in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, stressed that no candidate or personnel would be required to pay for the exercise.

    The agency said the Ministry of Interior had already made a bulk payment to cover the testing of new intakes into the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Federal Fire Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    It consequently advised all participating agencies and their personnel not to make payments to NDLEA officials, testing centres or through any other payment channel in connection with the exercise.

    According to the agency, arrangements have been concluded for the conduct of the mandatory test as part of the recruitment process.

    It explained that candidates would be required to access the NDLEA Drug Integrity Test portal through designated links or access points to be provided on the respective institutional portals.

    The candidates would then complete the necessary registration and documentation on the NDLEA platform before proceeding for the test.

    The agency said the arrangement was designed to ensure a seamless and orderly testing process without additional financial obligations for applicants.

    NDLEA appreciated the cooperation of the Ministry of Interior and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a transparent and efficient implementation of the exercise. Channels

  • FBI Places ₦6.7 Million Bounty on Wanted Nigerian Woman

    The Federal Bureau of Investigation has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of a Nigerian woman, Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, who failed to report to a United States federal prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence for her role in a romance scam.

    Hall, 46, was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment in January 2026 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

    The FBI listed her on its wanted persons website on Friday, stating that she was wanted for violating her bond conditions by failing to surrender for the service of her sentence.

    “The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Emuobosan Emanuella Hall,” the FBI said.

    The statement added, “Emuobosan Emanuella Hall is wanted for failing to surrender for service of a sentence in Louisiana. In April of 2024, Hall was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with her role in a romance scam in which she laundered funds from numerous victims.

    “She was arrested in Georgia and released on bond. She later pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced in January of 2026 to 96 months in federal prison. In March of 2026, Hall failed to appear at the facility where she was to serve her time as ordered.

    “A federal arrest warrant was issued for Hall in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 31, 2026, after she was charged with Bond Violation – Failure to Surrender for Service of a Sentence. She was then charged by criminal complaint on April 14, 2026, with failure to appear for service of a sentence and indicted on October 23, 2026, for the same charges.”

    The FBI said Hall was born in Nigeria and has links to Warri, Oleh and Abuja. It also listed London, Gloucester and Croydon in England, as well as Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States, among places with which she has ties.

    She is also known by the aliases Emuobosan E. Hall, Emuobosan Emanuella Erih and “Mobo”.

    According to the US Department of Justice in a Wednesday statement, members of the scheme met victims on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, and posed as generals, philanthropists or entrepreneurs living outside the United States.

    They reportedly built romantic relationships with the victims before persuading them to send money under false pretences, including claims that the funds were needed for charitable activities or sick relatives.

    Hall and her co-defendant, Kenneth G. Akpieyi, used a company, Le Beau Monde LLC, to facilitate the scheme. Hall deposited victims’ money into accounts held in the company’s name before transferring the funds to other financial institutions, including foreign banks.

    She admitted responsibility for $851,207 in losses suffered by victims, while Akpieyi was found responsible for losses exceeding $3.5m. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2025.

    The FBI said Hall’s last known location, according to data from her electronic monitoring device, was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24, 2026, where the device stopped transmitting.

    She had informed her probation officer that she planned to travel to Minnesota, where she was expected to serve her sentence, but airline records showed she did not board the scheduled flight.

    If convicted of the failure-to-report charge, Hall faces up to 10 additional years in prison, which would be served consecutively to her existing sentence. She could also be fined up to $250,000.

    The FBI urged anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact the agency on 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit information through its tips website.

    PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Hall was wanted in the United States after failing to report to prison in April 2026. Punch

  • Mbah, Tinubu Get 2027 Re-election Endorsement from Non-Indigenes, Support Group

    Mbah, Tinubu Get 2027 Re-election Endorsement from Non-Indigenes, Support Group

    _…Arthur Eze, non-indigenes back APC candidates from top to bottom_

    _…Group donates N50m towards reelection bid_

    A political support group, Nwanne Di Na Mba Grand Assembly, on Friday endorsed Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027, pledging to mobilise support for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections.

    The group, which has Anambra-born billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, as its Grand Patron, made the declaration during a rally held at Okpara Square, Enugu, attended by supporters drawn from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Mbah described the massive turnout as an expression of democracy in action, thanking the group for what he called an open demonstration of love, solidarity and confidence in his administration and the Federal Government.

    He said the gathering reflected the willingness of people from different parts of the country to unite in support of President Tinubu’s re-election and the continuation of his administration’s development programmes in Enugu State.

    Mbah, who attributed some of the state’s development strides to the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, said increased financial resources available to subnational governments had enabled his administration to implement projects across critical sectors.

    “Because you believe in what you can see, what you can touch and what you can feel. Can you see the Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres? Can you see the good roads? Do you drive on them? Now you can drive on smooth roads, send your children to high-quality schools and access affordable healthcare,” he said.

    The governor listed the 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres and 268 Smart Green Schools among the projects through which his administration was translating the opportunities created by the Federal Government’s reforms into tangible development outcomes.

    He maintained that Enugu’s progress was linked to the policies of the Tinubu administration, urging residents to support the President’s re-election to enable both governments to consolidate their achievements.

    According to him, the state was also benefiting from improved connectivity and emerging regional economic opportunities, including the establishment of the South East Development Commission, the proposed gas pipeline network across the South-East and the concessioning of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

    He said the proposed developments would facilitate industrialisation, trade, cargo operations and international connectivity, adding that the ongoing transformation of the state and region should be sustained.

    “Enugu means home to all of us. We all have a stake in Enugu, and that is why you have come out in your numbers to say that the good work and hard work must continue,” he said.

    Mbah urged eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2027 elections, calling for support for Tinubu and all APC candidates contesting for elective positions.

    He also assured the people that his administration would build on the progress recorded so far, saying, “With the strength I see here today, with the energy and resolve you have demonstrated, we are committing to do more. What you should expect is more.”

    In his remarks, Grand Patron of the group, Prince Arthur Eze, described Mbah as a leader who related positively with people and maintained good relationships across political and social divides.

    He said the governor’s support for President Tinubu and the confidence the President had in him were reasons the group was backing both leaders.

    “Peter Mbah is supporting Tinubu very well, and we will support him because he will bring a lot to Ndi Igbo through Tinubu, because Tinubu trusts him very well. We cannot abandon him because he never abandoned anyone,” Eze said.

    He urged the people of Enugu to support both leaders in the forthcoming elections, expressing confidence that their administrations would create more opportunities for the people.

    Also speaking, the Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf Sambo, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, said the rally was organised to appreciate Mbah’s administration for its inclusive governance and the opportunities extended to non-indigenes living in the state.

    Sambo, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba, Tiv and other ethnic communities, said members of the different communities had benefited from the administration’s programmes, particularly in education, healthcare, infrastructure and political appointments.

    He said children from non-indigene communities had access to Smart Green Schools, while their mothers benefited from the Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres. He also commended the administration’s road infrastructure projects.

    “We are happy with your governance and the way you have been carrying us along in Enugu State. We are part of all the programmes going on in the state,” he said.

    Sambo pledged the group’s support for Mbah and Tinubu, declaring that its members would vote for APC candidates across all elective positions, from the presidency to the State House of Assembly.

    He added that the rally was a preliminary demonstration of the group’s mobilisation capacity ahead of the planned visit of President Tinubu to the state.

    Earlier, the Convener of the group and Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Barr. Uche Anya, said the rally was only the beginning of a broader mobilisation effort by non-indigenes and residents of the state’s urban centres in support of the governor’s second-term ambition.

    Anya said the people appreciated Mbah’s development initiatives and would resist any attempt to undermine or reverse the administration’s achievements.

    He disclosed that non-indigenes in the municipality had mandated him to communicate their resolve to support the governor and President Tinubu in 2027.

    According to him, the communities were also committed to voting for all APC candidates, citing the Federal Government’s support for Enugu State and Tinubu’s role in integrating the state into the mainstream of national politics.

    “The non-indigenes in the municipality promise that the mistakes of 2023 will never happen again. They will vote President Tinubu for his good works, for integrating Enugu into the mainstream of Nigerian politics and for believing in you,” Anya said.

    He added that the group’s message was one of appreciation for both the state and Federal Government, reaffirming its commitment to the APC’s candidates in the 2027 general elections.

    The highpoint of the event was the endorsement and the presentation of a cheque for N50M million to Governor Mbah.

    The rally attracted several dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu; Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye; Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); members of the National and State Assemblies; members of the State Executive Council; other government appointees and party faithful.

  • FG Roll Out ₦50,000 Monthly Cash Relief for Vulnerable Households

    The Federal Government has commenced a monthly cash relief programme offering N50,000 to vulnerable households to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

    As reported by Channels TV, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.

    Doro said the National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) was a presidential initiative designed to provide immediate financial assistance to millions of vulnerable Nigerians.

    He said the intervention was introduced in response to global food inflation and rising costs of essential goods, which continued to place pressure on households.

    So This Happened : TUC rejects FG’s ₦70,000 monthly transport support, demands ₦300,000 minimum wage

    0:00 / 0:00

    “Under this intervention, eligible beneficiaries will receive N50,000 monthly, providing direct assistance to help meet essential needs and ease the burden of living costs,” he said.

    The minister explained that the programme would be reviewed regularly in response to changes in the cost of living, with beneficiaries notified directly before any adjustment.

    He said the ministry was working with licensed digital financial service providers to ensure secure, prompt and transparent delivery of the funds.

    According to him, beneficiaries will receive text messages from the providers requesting their consent before payments are made directly into their bank accounts or mobile wallets.

    Doro stressed that beneficiaries were not required to apply, pay any fee or register through agents to access the intervention.

    He warned Nigerians against fraudsters, advising beneficiaries not to disclose their personal identification numbers (PINs) or Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) to anyone.

    “If you are unsure about any message, or anyone asks you for money, call the official NERSI helpline on 0700-022-2222,” he said.

    The minister said NERSI complemented existing Federal Government social protection and economic support programmes, while supporting household resilience and economic stability.

    He added that the intervention aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to delivering the programme with dignity, transparency and accountability. Punch