
The Governance Advisory Council, the highest advisory body of the All Progressive Congress, has unanimously endorsed Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, as its consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election. This development was announced by the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on New Media, Jubril Gawat, on Tuesday. GAC leader Tajudeen Olusi made the announcement during a meeting at Lagos House, Marina, and confirmed that GAC members also paid for Hamzat's nomination form. This endorsement follows Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's public support for Hamzat as his preferred successor, citing Hamzat's integrity, loyalty, and commitment. The GAC's decision further strengthens Hamzat's standing within the ruling party as preparations for the 2027 general elections progress.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC arrested Aviation Security officer Inspector Ali Baffa and two suspected accomplices at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle unprocessed gold bars valued at over N4.4 billion out of Nigeria. Baffa was apprehended during surveillance with 22.2 kilograms of gold bars concealed in his trousers, intended for passengers traveling overseas. Further investigations led to the arrest of Aushabu Nasidi, linked to the gold bar supply, from whom assorted foreign currencies were recovered. Investigators also arrested Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, who allegedly delivered the gold bars to Nasidi and confessed to smuggling about 40.2 kilograms of gold between June 1 and June 11, 2026, using the same method. The three suspects remain in custody and will be charged after investigations conclude. Nigeria has increased efforts to curb illegal solid mineral exports, including gold, due to revenue losses and smuggling.
Must ReadEnugu State Governor Peter Mbah praised the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force for their security efforts in the state and the South-East region. The commendation followed his inspection of weapons and ammunition recovered during a raid on the proscribed Eastern Security Network's armory in Enugu State. The recovered items included a rocket launcher, two RPG warheads, three RPG chargers, 11 AK-47 rifles, over 610 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition, National Youth Service Corps uniforms, and lanyards. Governor Mbah, accompanied by security chiefs and senior government officials, highlighted the effective cooperation among security agencies, stating that their intelligence-driven operation prevented coordinated attacks intended to destabilize Enugu and other South-East states. He added that the seized arms would have been used by ESN terrorists to cause widespread damage and create a false impression of insecurity in Nigeria. The governor also called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu's ongoing efforts to address insecurity nationwide.

The African Democratic Congress ADC has criticized President Bola Tinubu's Democracy Day address, describing it as an admission of the All Progressives Congress's APC failure to deliver on promises after more than a decade in power. The opposition party stated that Tinubu's speech was "another campaign speech masquerading as a presidential address," arguing that Nigerians require tangible results instead of new assurances on economic recovery, security, and job creation. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC questioned the performance of both Tinubu's administration and the APC government since 2015. The party noted that the speech was "long on promises and short on answers," resembling a candidate's address rather than that of a government in its fourth year. The ADC accused the President of failing to account for his administration's performance on a day commemorating the June 12, 1993 presidential election. The party highlighted that issues like insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and economic decline, which the APC promised to address in 2015, remain significant challenges. The ADC also criticized the administration's focus on future prospects while many Nigerians face severe economic hardship, including high food prices and soaring transportation costs. The party argued that Democracy Day should have been an opportunity for the President to explain the APC's stewardship over the last decade, rather than presenting a "catalogue of fu