🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Babachir Lawal resigns from ADC, alleges Atiku Abubakar rigged presidential primary
via Punch Nigeria8 min read
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has resigned from the African Democratic Congress, citing alleged manipulation of the party's recent presidential primary. Lawal announced his resignation on Monday, stating he could not remain in a party with a flawed primary process. He claimed that results were altered to favor former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his associates, with declared winners allegedly replaced even in areas where voting occurred. Lawal's decision to leave was also influenced by his unwillingness to be associated with a political structure that could influence future elections. The ADC primary, held on May 25, 2026, declared Atiku the winner with 1,846,370 votes. Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and businessman Mohammed Hayatu-Deen placed second and third, respectively. Hayatu-Deen had previously raised concerns about vote manipulation but later ruled out challenging the outcome after a visit from Atiku, prioritizing party unity. Lawal plans to consult with political associates on his next steps and continues to oppose Atiku's presidential ambition.
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Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has arrived in Warsaw to join the squad for Wednesday's international friendly against Poland. Ndidi, along with Moses Simon and Akor Adams, was named in the squad for the June international window. The team, led by coach Eric Chelle, arrived in the Polish capital on Monday and held their first training session. According to media officer Promise Efoghe, 18 players are in camp, with 16 participating in the session. Other players include goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, and Arthur Okonkwo, as well as Paul Onuachu, Terem Moffi, Tochukwu Nnadi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Semi Ajayi, Rafiu Durosinmi, Zaidu Sanusi, Igho Ogbu, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Abdullahi Ibrahim. After the Poland match, the Super Eagles will travel to Portugal to face the Selecao in their final World Cup tune-up game. Coach Chelle expressed optimism for the upcoming game, emphasizing the team's winning culture, despite the players being in a holiday mood. He also noted the absence of Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alhassan Yusuf, and Samuel Chukwueze for the friendlies.
Must ReadThe Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience OSPRE and CONCORD, a non-profit organization, have called for enhanced interfaith collaboration and collective action to combat insecurity and social division in Nigeria. This appeal was made during a strategic interfaith roundtable in Abuja, themed "Safeguarding Nigeria’s Religious Pluralism: Faith, Dialogue and National Cohesion." The event gathered faith leaders, peacebuilding experts, community organizers, policymakers, and civil society actors to discuss narratives surrounding religion and violence in Nigeria and explore ways to strengthen social cohesion. Participants emphasized the need for constructive engagement and coordinated responses to the drivers of insecurity and social fragmentation. Mr. Chris Ngwodo, Director-General of OSPRE, urged a nationwide commitment to protecting vulnerable rural communities and stressed that sustainable peace requires inclusive strategies addressing root causes like governance failures, injustice, and underdevelopment. Ms. Fatima Madaki, Director of Integrative Missions and Dialogue at CONCORD, highlighted the importance of balanced, locally driven engagement amidst international scrutiny of religious freedom issues, referencing Nigeria's designation as a "Country of Particular Concern" by the United States Government. She warned that misinformation and external narratives could exacerbate mistrust, emphasizing that Nigeria's strength lies in its diversity and ability to coexist. O
Must ReadThe Nigerian capital market has successfully transitioned to a T+1 settlement cycle, becoming the first market in Africa to implement this shortened framework. This move is designed to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and improve global competitiveness. Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, described it as a defining moment, noting Nigeria's rapid progress from T+2 to T+1 in six months. He stated that this reform aligns Nigeria's capital market with global best practices, improving post-trade efficiency, reducing counterparty risk, and strengthening investor confidence. Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, Group Chairman of NGX Group, called the transition a key step in the market's transformation, reinforcing confidence in institutions and demonstrating a commitment to a more efficient market. Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, emphasized that this is part of a broader journey to build a deeper, more liquid, and globally competitive market. Shehu Shantali, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of CSCS Plc, highlighted that the new cycle enhances transaction speed, improves liquidity, and reduces settlement exposure, representing a strategic upgrade to market infrastructure. The transition followed six months of coordinated preparations involving various market participants.
Must ReadWorkers of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC have begun an indefinite nationwide strike, closing the commission's offices on Monday due to unresolved welfare and administrative grievances. Operational staff are exempt from the industrial action while discussions are ongoing. Negotiations between staff representatives and management regarding institutional governance, staff welfare, promotions, and training opportunities failed to reach an agreement, leading to the strike. The workers are demanding a review of the current cost-of-collection structure, specifically the one percent allocation to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which they claim has weakened the upstream regulator's operational and financial capacity. They also accuse the commission of an operator-style regulatory approach, causing overlapping responsibilities. Other demands include wages reflecting the oil and gas industry's remuneration structures and addressing concerns about staff development, career progression, and capacity building, particularly the commission's preference for local over overseas training programs. The NUPRC confirmed the strike but stated it has not impacted oil and gas facilities or production, with top management meeting unions to resolve the issue.