APC aspirants, including President Tinubu, submit nomination forms for 2027 elections
via Punch Nigeria8 min read
Aspirants from the All Progressives Congress APC, including President Bola Tinubu, formally submitted their nomination and expression of interest forms to the party's national secretariat on Thursday. Vice President Kashim Shettima submitted President Tinubu's forms, officially launching his bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election. This submission, witnessed by governors, National Assembly members, and APC National Working Committee members, marked the start of Tinubu's re-election campaign, which Shettima stated is anchored on economic reform. Shettima rallied party members behind Tinubu's candidacy, highlighting his leadership in navigating difficult economic conditions. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, also expressed confidence in Tinubu's performance and capacity for a second term. The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, affirmed the party's unanimous support. Other aspirants who submitted forms include Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges Nicholas Ossai, Deputy President of the Senate Jibrin Barau, and Lagos State consensus governorship aspirant Obafemi Hamzat. Aspirants expressed differing views on the adoption of direct primaries versus consen
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Must ReadTroops of Operation Hadin Kai rescued 47 individuals, primarily women and children, from an Islamic State West Africa Province ISWAP enclave in Kangarwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State on June 20. Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force North-East Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Mohammed Goni, stated that the rescue followed sustained military offensives against terrorist hideouts in the Lake Chad region. He explained that intensified ground and air assaults forced insurgents to abandon their positions, allowing the captives to escape. The rescued persons are currently receiving medical attention and humanitarian support at a secure location, with plans for their reintegration. Goni emphasized the military's commitment to protecting civilians and weakening terrorist networks, vowing to continue operations to dismantle remaining cells and restore peace to the North-East. Borno State has been a focal point of insurgency for over a decade, with the military recently intensifying operations across the Lake Chad basin and Sambisa axis.
Erling Haaland scored two goals, leading Norway to a 3-2 victory over Senegal and securing their spot in the World Cup last 32. Substitute Marcus Holmgren Pedersen opened the scoring for Norway in the first half, with Haaland extending their lead after the break. Although Ismaila Sarr reduced the deficit for Senegal, Haaland capitalized on defensive errors to score again. Sarr scored a late consolation goal, but Norway held on for the win. Haaland now has four goals in two tournament games. Norway, with only one loss in their last 18 matches, will face France for the top spot in their group. Senegal must defeat Iraq in their final game to have a chance of avoiding an early exit. Norway's dominant performance, featuring Haaland's 59th and 60th international goals in 52 games, marked their first back-to-back World Cup wins. Key moments included Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making several saves, but a mistake from captain Kalidou Koulibaly led to Pedersen's goal. Haaland scored his first goal after a counter-attack, set up by Martin Odegaard. Sarr responded for Senegal, but Koulibaly's failure to clear allowed Haaland to score his second. Despite a late goal from Sarr, Norway secured their progression, joining France in the knockout rounds.
Nigerians residing in the United Kingdom have lauded the Federal Government's recent passport reforms, particularly the contactless renewal system, for significantly reducing delays and streamlining the passport delivery process. Introduced in November 2024, the new system enables eligible individuals to renew expired or exhausted passports from home, eliminating the need for physical visits to the Nigerian High Commission. Testimonies from various Nigerian community members across the UK, as reported by the Ministry of Interior, highlight a stark contrast to previous experiences marked by frustrating delays, extensive travel, and bureaucratic hurdles. Timileyin Gbenga, a Nigerian community figure in Birmingham, noted that while the traditional process took over six months and required travel for biometrics, the contactless method for a family member resulted in passport delivery in less than two weeks. He credited the transformation to the leadership of Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Gbenga Ogunderu, based in Coventry, described the initiative as a significant digital shift, allowing applications and doorstep delivery without stress, often within two weeks. Dr. Adekunle Shonola, a senior lecturer at Coventry University and president of Nigerians in Coventry, recalled the previous necessity of traveling from Coventry to London for biometrics, a process that often took over six months. He observed that community members no