
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has stated that the 2027 presidential election will likely be his last bid for Nigeria's presidency. Speaking on Arise Television, Atiku cited his age and the high stakes involved as reasons for this decision. He has made multiple attempts to become president since 2003, including in 1993, 2007, 2011, 2019, and 2023. In 2023, he was the presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party but lost to President Bola Tinubu. Atiku has consistently advocated for restructuring, economic liberalization, and private sector-driven growth. His recent comment contributes to ongoing discussions about the upcoming presidential contest in Nigeria.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe UK government has announced new plans for a voluntary overnight social media curfew for 16 and 17-year-olds, alongside a shutdown of infinite scrolling and mandatory breaks for AI chatbot use. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated these measures are designed to help young people get sufficient sleep, focus on education, and spend more quality time with family and friends. The default settings will block access for older teenagers between midnight and 6 am, and features like never-ending video reels will be automatically switched off. However, critics question the effectiveness of these measures, as 16 and 17-year-olds can disable the default settings. This plan follows a broader social media ban for under-16s announced last month by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's government, expected to cover platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, but not messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal, from next spring. Andy Burnham, who is set to become prime minister after winning the Makerfield by-election, will be responsible for the policy's details. Kendall is also advocating for new safeguards for children using artificial intelligence, including requiring regular breaks for under-18s using chatbots and cracking down on AI services offering dangerous or misleading mental health advice. Conservative shadow education secretary Laura Trott criticized the plan, calling it "another dog鈥檚 dinner from Labour" and arguing that curfews teenagers can easil
Must ReadSpain secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final by defeating France 2-0 in Tuesday's semi-final match in Arlington, Texas. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring from a penalty in the 22nd minute after Lucas Digne fouled Lamine Yamal. Pedro Porro then doubled Spain's lead in the 58th minute following a play orchestrated by Dani Olmo. This marks Oyarzabal's fifth goal of the tournament. France, aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance, struggled against Spain's defense. A post-match report from FIFA stated that Spain "outplayed France," limiting their chances and scoring through Oyarzabal and Porro. Spain will now face the winner of the second semi-final between England and Argentina in Sunday's final. France will compete for the bronze medal on Saturday.
Must ReadThe Oyo State House of Assembly has reiterated its support for Governor Seyi Makinde's request for an independent international investigation into the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area. The House believes an international probe is essential to establish facts, strengthen Nigeria's security, and prevent future attacks on schools. This stance comes after Governor Makinde, following the rescue of the victims, called on the United Nations and International Human Rights Organizations for an investigation, citing the gravity and unusual circumstances of the incident. The Assembly also addressed the Senate's caution against such a probe, clarifying that Governor Makinde's call is a patriotic appeal for transparency, accountability, and international collaboration against terrorism and mass school abductions, not an indictment of the Federal Government or security agencies. The House emphasized that commending security efforts and seeking a transparent review are not mutually exclusive, especially as terrorism and school attacks have transnational dimensions. They concluded that Makinde's proposal aims to understand lessons from the Oriire abduction and translate them into stronger security measures, complementing efforts to improve security agencies' welfare and equipment.