🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
National Rescue Movement rules out merger with APC, other parties for 2027 elections
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
The National Rescue Movement NRM has stated it will not merge with the All Progressives Congress APC or any other political party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The party plans to focus on selecting its own candidates, including a presidential flagbearer, through its internal electoral process. Speaking in Abuja, NRM National Chairman Prince Chinedu Obi affirmed the party is not considering political alliances. Obi also noted that recent court rulings, including one by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, have resolved internal disputes, strengthening unity within the NRM. He emphasized the party's stability and its commitment to supporting qualified aspirants for elective offices, prioritizing competence. Obi stated that the NRM is prepared to address Nigeria's current challenges.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadSamaila Muhammad Mera, the emir of Argungu in Nigeria's Kebbi state, has called on residents to pool resources and purchase weapons to defend themselves against attacks by criminal gangs. In an online video, Mera urged local chiefs to procure arms, stating that the government is overwhelmed and communities should protect their homes and property. Kebbi State has experienced sporadic attacks from both jihadists, including the Lakurawa group, and non-ideological criminal gangs known as bandits. These gangs kidnap travelers, raid villages, abduct residents, and loot homes. Mera, a prominent traditional chief, emphasized that communities should stockpile arms, even if it means risking their lives. This call for self-defense echoes similar appeals from other influential figures in northern Nigeria, such as former Katsina state governor Aminu Bello Masari in August 2021 and Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, a traditional chief in Zamfara, in December 2020. While traditional rulers lack constitutional powers, they hold significant cultural influence. Many farming and herding communities in northern states have formed vigilante groups due to incessant bandit attacks, though these groups have also been accused of extrajudicial killings, leading to cycles of violence and subsequent bans by state governments.
BreakingThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC has urged robust public health interventions to control the current Ebola outbreak, citing models that indicate it could otherwise rival the 2014 West Africa outbreak. That previous outbreak resulted in over 28,000 cases and more than 11,000 deaths. Jason Asher, director of CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, stated that such a scale is possible. The US projections, part of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report documents, suggest that the worst outcomes could be avoided if a larger proportion of patients are identified, isolated, and treated. However, the CDC noted that the public health response will likely need to be of similar magnitude to the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak. Asher clarified that these models are a planning tool to support action, not to generate alarm. They are based on four intervention scenarios, from poor to extremely high levels of isolation and treatment. If isolation levels are poor with no other interventions, there is a 65 percent chance cases will exceed 20,000 within three months. Satish Pillai, the CDC manager for the Ebola response, indicated that current isolation levels are on the lower end. The World Health Organization and the African Union’s public health agency also announced that $518 million is needed over the next six months to combat the outbreak in the DR Congo and neighboring countries. The outbreak, declared on May 15 in northeastern DR Congo, involves the
Coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed frustration regarding defender Chris Richards' uncertain status for the upcoming World Cup. Richards, a Crystal Palace center-back with 36 US caps, is currently sidelined with an ankle injury sustained last month. He will miss the United States' friendly against Germany in Chicago. Although Richards was named to the tournament squad, FIFA rules allow for his replacement up to 24 hours before the co-hosts' opening game. Pochettino stated that Richards is training but not yet ready to compete, and a decision on his World Cup participation will be made after further assessment of his ankle. The US will open its World Cup campaign against Paraguay next Friday in Los Angeles, with Australia and Turkey as other group opponents. Pochettino indicated that the recovery timeline for Richards has been longer than anticipated, leading to his frustration. He suggested that waiting for Richards to recover might negatively impact the squad, as there is limited time during the World Cup for players who are not fully match-fit.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed his eagerness to obtain and read 'My Life of Duty and Allegiance,' the newly released memoir by former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon. Obasanjo described the book as an important contribution to Nigeria’s historical record. He stated that Gowon's life and service traversed some of the most critical periods in Nigeria’s history and that his account of events is very important. Obasanjo, who served as Army Chief of Staff and second-in-command to the military government that toppled Gowon’s government in 1975, explained his absence from the memoir's presentation on May 19, 2026. He cited a longstanding international commitment as Co-chair of the InterAction Council, requiring his attendance at a scheduled meeting in Hong Kong on the same date. Obasanjo conveyed his regrets to General Gowon in an apology letter dated May 4, 2026. General Gowon, who ruled Nigeria between August 1966 and July 1975, unveiled his autobiography detailing his contributions to the country's socio-economic development and reflections on key events, including the 1967-1970 civil war.