
Several political factions, including segments of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, African Democratic Congress ADC, Accord Party, and Labour Party, have disavowed the recent Ibadan opposition summit, stating it does not reflect their official positions. These groups reiterated their intentions to independently field candidates against President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. The PDP National Working Committee, supported by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, claimed that prominent opposition figures were misled by "impostors" who organized the summit. Both factions of the ADC, led by Kingsley Ogga and Nafiu Gombe, denied involvement, while the Accord Party threatened legal action for unauthorized use of its name. The Labour Party's Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, also distanced her party from the summit's agreement to present a single presidential candidate. In response, the All Progressives Congress APC criticized the opposition's actions and condemned Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde's remarks about "Operation Wetie" during the summit, calling them inciting. The Wike-backed PDP also criticized Governor Makinde's "Operation Wetie" comments. Conversely, the Turaki-led PDP defended Makinde's statements as a caution to the Federal Government regarding potential crises.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadAs the 2026 FIFA World Cup commences in North America, many Nigerians are experiencing disappointment due to the Super Eagles' absence from the tournament for the second consecutive time. Despite the World Cup's expansion to 48 teams and increased qualification slots for Africa, Nigeria failed to secure a spot. This has led to frustration among fans like Soyemi Tosin, a Nigerian living in the UK, who had saved money to watch the Super Eagles play in person, and Precious Ogbolu, a Nigerian resident in Canada, who had hoped to see the team play in his host city. The absence also impacts content creators and influencers, who face significant financial losses from missed sponsorship and engagement opportunities. Nigeria's failure to qualify stems from an inconsistent campaign in a group many considered favorable, marked by multiple coaching changes and a heartbreaking elimination in the continental play-offs. Critics, including former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel and midfielder Sunday Oliseh, attribute these issues to structural problems and mismanagement within the Nigerian Football Federation. Social media reflects a mix of grief, frustration, and anger, with many questioning how a country with such talent could miss out while 10 other African nations qualified. The economic impact is also felt by businesses like viewing centers, bars, and hotels that typically benefit from increased patronage during major tournaments. Despite the widespread disappointment, some hope rem
Must ReadThe Dangote Petroleum Refinery has decreased operations at its gasoline-producing unit by approximately 34 percent since May 21, according to a Reuters report citing industry monitor IIR Energy. This reduction is attributed to a combination of feedstock constraints and technical problems. The refinery's Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit, crucial for gasoline production, has been operating below its maximum capacity but is expected to return to full production by mid-June. Initially, the refinery faced difficulties due to the type of crude being processed, leading to insufficient feed for the RFCCU. Subsequently, a technical issue emerged with the unit's flue gas slide gate valve, with repair work nearing completion. Despite the reduced output, fuel availability and pricing in the domestic market have not been impacted. However, gasoline exports from the Dangote refinery have significantly declined, dropping to 17,000 barrels per day in May and averaging about 10,000 barrels per day in June, a sharp decrease from April's 81,000 barrels per day. The Dangote refinery, with a 650,000 barrels per day capacity, aims to end Nigeria's reliance on imported refined petroleum products and position the country as a major exporter.
Must ReadDr. Mohammed Shehu, Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC, emphasized that ongoing tax and revenue reforms in Nigeria must safeguard taxpayers' interests while ensuring fair revenue distribution across all government tiers. He made these remarks during a courtesy visit from a Joint Revenue Board JRB delegation, led by Executive Secretary Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, in Abuja. Shehu reiterated the RMAFC's dedication to transparency, fairness, accountability, and collaboration within Nigeria's revenue administration system. He highlighted the importance of cooperation among revenue generation and administration institutions for the reforms' success, stressing that continuous dialogue and technical engagement are crucial for addressing concerns regarding the new tax regime, including tax refunds and electronic transfer taxation. Mr. Adesokan stated that the JRB's visit aimed to strengthen collaboration with the RMAFC for successful reform implementation. He noted that the reforms are designed to promote fairness, equity, and transparency in tax administration and to clarify revenue allocation mechanisms between federal and subnational governments. Both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration, protecting taxpayers, enhancing revenue administration, and implementing reforms to strengthen Nigeria's fiscal framework and support national development. Additionally, Dr. John Nwabueze, Nigeria's first Tax Ombud, encouraged ind