WHY ADEWOLE ADEBAYO'S INCLUSION COULD CHANGE THE OBEDIENT MOVEMENT'S 2027 ENDORSEMENT RACE

The inclusion of Adewole Adebayo in the Obedient Movement Worldwide's 10-man presidential shortlist has introduced another serious contender into an already politically charged 2027 endorsement process.

Adebayo's name appears alongside those of Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Omoyele Sowore.

The Movement also shortlisted Esther Okereke, Peter Agada, Donald Duke, Seyi Makinde and Dan Nwanyawu.

The organisation said the selection followed internal consultations involving its NEC and NWC.

But the significance of the shortlist goes beyond the names themselves.

The Movement intends to subject the candidates to direct presidential interviews before allowing registered PVC holders to participate in a public opinion poll.

That arrangement places the candidates' ability to communicate their programmes and defend their records at the centre of the exercise.

Adebayo will therefore have to compete not merely for organisational recognition but for the attention and confidence of voters.

The Movement said the interviews would focus on the country's major challenges.

Economic transformation and employment will be central.

Security, national unity and democratic governance will also be examined.

Candidates will be expected to discuss youth empowerment and political inclusion.

Education, healthcare and social welfare will provide further areas of questioning.

Technology and Artificial Intelligence are also on the agenda, alongside Nigeria's digital economy.

The organisation said candidates would be required to explain their positions on corruption, institutional reform and federalism.

Nigeria's position in Africa and the wider international community will also form part of the discussion.

After the interviews, the Movement plans to ask registered PVC holders to participate in the endorsement poll.

The candidate with the highest number of votes will emerge as the Movement's preferred presidential candidate, subject to its established procedures.

The process places Adebayo in direct competition with politicians with considerably different political profiles.

His ability to differentiate himself through policy, ideas and leadership vision could therefore become central to his campaign within the Movement's endorsement exercise.

The organisation said Nigerians should be allowed to listen, compare and decide.

ABIA 2027: “BETTER REPLACEMENT” CAMPAIGN GATHERS MOMENTUM AROUND CEEKAY IGARA Supporters Say Voters Are Searching for a New Direction

ABIA 2027: 

“BETTER REPLACEMENT” CAMPAIGN GATHERS MOMENTUM AROUND CEEKAY IGARA
Supporters Say Voters Are Searching for a New Direction

A new phrase is beginning to feature prominently in the political conversation surrounding Chief Ceekay Igara's 2027 governorship campaign:

“The Better Replacement.”

The phrase is being used by Igara's supporters to describe what they believe should be a new political direction for Abia State.

The campaign argues that voters should not simply choose between political personalities but should examine competing ideas about how the state should be governed.

At the centre of that argument is Igara, whose supporters describe him as a fresh alternative with a technical and professional approach to governance.

According to members of his political network, the candidate's meetings across different communities have attracted market women, youths, artisans, traders, professionals and community stakeholders.

While the scale of that support remains a matter for the political process and ultimately the ballot, the campaign believes the response demonstrates growing curiosity about Igara's candidacy.

The “Better Replacement” message is built around the idea that Abia should seek leadership that combines political experience with professional competence.

Igara's supporters say the state's problems are too important to be addressed through political improvisation.

They point to roads, electricity, industrial development, youth employment and financial accountability as areas requiring systematic intervention.

A forensic audit of government finances is therefore one of the central proposals associated with his campaign.

Supporters say such an audit would establish a clearer picture of state finances and potentially expose areas where resources can be saved or redirected towards development.

Aba is another major component of the political message.

The campaign sees the city's manufacturing and commercial base as an economic foundation upon which a new Abia economy could be built.

The proposed industrial power clusters are intended to provide more reliable electricity for manufacturers and small businesses.

The campaign also talks about technical and digital centres for young people.

The philosophy is that economic development should not be measured only by government buildings or road projects but by how many people can obtain sustainable employment and build businesses.

The campaign's infrastructure proposal follows the same philosophy.

Igara's supporters say roads should be engineered for longevity and supported by adequate drainage and maintenance systems.

They argue that government should stop treating road rehabilitation as an endless cycle of emergency repairs.

The Labour Party's internal crisis remains an unavoidable part of Igara's political story.

His camp identifies with the Julius Abure-led faction and maintains that its candidate emerged through a legitimate party process.

The competing factions continue to pursue their respective positions through political and legal channels.

Consequently, the question of which Labour Party structure will ultimately control the party's electoral machinery remains significant.

But Igara's supporters say the political conversation should eventually move beyond internal party disputes and focus on the needs of Abia voters.

For them, the central question is simple:

What kind of leadership should Abia have in 2027?

Their answer is Ceekay Igara.

Whether voters ultimately agree will be decided by the electorate.

NIGERIA'S YOUTH POPULATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS NACCIMA SUMMIT SEEKS INNOVATION-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY

 
NIGERIA'S YOUTH POPULATION TAKES CENTRE STAGE AS NACCIMA SUMMIT SEEKS INNOVATION-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS FOR A STRONGER ECONOMY

As Nigeria continues to search for sustainable pathways to economic growth, the role of its young population will come under the spotlight at the NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs International Youth Day Summit 2026.

The summit, themed “Youth Innovation for a Stronger, Inclusive and Prosperous Nigeria,” will focus on the capacity of young Nigerians to contribute to national development through entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.

The two-day programme brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs and youth stakeholders for conversations designed to identify opportunities and confront barriers.

Organisers hope the summit will strengthen the relationship between youth innovation and Nigeria's broader economic development agenda.

 “OSUN DESERVES RESULTS, NOT JUST PROMISES” — OKEREKE CHARGES ADELEKE AFTER RE-ELECTION

NRM presidential candidate Dr Esther Nkem Okereke has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election while challenging his administration to deliver measurable results for the people of Osun State.

Okereke said the renewed mandate represents a fresh opportunity for the governor to respond to the expectations of the electorate.

She prayed for wisdom, strength and a listening heart for Adeleke as he continues his service to the state.

According to her, the people deserve more than political promises. They deserve practical improvements that affect their daily lives.

She specifically identified jobs, security, education and prosperity as areas where citizens expect meaningful progress.

Okereke also urged the governor to ensure that every community and household feels the impact of governance.

Beyond Osun State, she said the election should encourage Nigerian political leaders to understand that electoral victory is not the end of political responsibility.

Instead, she argued, victory marks the beginning of a greater obligation to serve.

She called on all stakeholders to put partisan differences aside and work toward a peaceful and prosperous future.

 NACCIMA Youths Seek to Turn International Youth Day Into Economic Opportunity

The NACCIMA Youth Entrepreneurs are redefining the traditional concept of International Youth Day by placing economic opportunity, entrepreneurship and wealth creation at the centre of their 2026 celebration.

Tagged NEXUS 2026, the two-day summit will hold on August 26 and 27 at the ECOWAS Building in Abuja.

Rather than limiting the event to speeches and ceremonial activities, NYE said it wants young Nigerians to leave with practical connections, business ideas, knowledge and opportunities.

The programme is expected to feature exhibitions, panel discussions, networking and business and investment connections.

The organisers believe that the true measure of youth empowerment should ultimately include the ability of young people to earn sustainable incomes, establish enterprises and create jobs.

The summit is therefore being positioned as part of the wider economic conversation surrounding the Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s efforts to develop a more productive and inclusive economy.

 

Nigerian Youths Are Africa’s Greatest Promise, Says NRM'S Esther Okereke

The 2027 presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Dr. Esther Nkem Okereke, has described Nigerian youths as a major force capable of transforming Africa’s economic and social future.

Speaking in her International Youth Day 2026 message, Okereke said the creativity, intelligence, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Nigerian youths have positioned them among Africa’s most valuable human resources.

She said young Nigerians are already contributing meaningfully to national development as entrepreneurs, professionals, innovators, scientists, farmers, creatives, athletes and community leaders.

According to her, the time has come to move beyond describing youths as “leaders of tomorrow” and begin recognising them as leaders and partners in nation-building today.

Okereke called for increased investment in education, digital skills, vocational training, healthcare, affordable housing, entrepreneurship and access to capital.

She said government policies must be designed to convert youthful potential into sustainable jobs, businesses and opportunities.

The NRM candidate also urged young Nigerians to remain actively involved in democracy, stressing that their votes, ideas and participation can influence the direction of the country.

She said Nigeria must build an economy in which a young person's future is determined by talent, hard work and innovation rather than birthplace or background.

Okereke concluded by urging Nigerians to see investment in youth development as an investment in the future of the country and the African continent.

“Today, we celebrate you. Tomorrow, we must empower you. And together, we will build a Nigeria that gives every young person a reason to believe again,” she said.

DR. ESTHER NKEM OKEREKE
2027 NRM Presidential Candidate

COURT VICTORY FOR REBECCA: JUDGMENT PUTS EFCC’S INVESTIGATIVE POWERS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT

Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac and Homadil Realty Limited have won a significant legal battle that could renew debate over the limits of financial-crime investigations in Nigeria.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, presided over by Justice M. A. Hassan, delivered judgment on April 23, 2026, in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/830/2025.

The case followed the restriction of Homadil Realty's Zenith Bank account following directives attributed to the EFCC.

The Commission told the court that its action followed a petition concerning alleged financial fraud and property-related offences.

Homadil Realty challenged the restriction as an infringement of its fundamental right to property, arguing that the prolonged denial of access to its funds damaged its business.

The case became particularly significant because the company maintained that the restriction continued beyond the period permissible without judicial intervention.

Justice Hassan examined the constitutional and legal questions surrounding the restriction.

The ruling has now become a major point of reference for the parties, with the supplied judgment account stating that the EFCC was ordered to pay ₦2 million and Zenith Bank ₦2 million to Homadil Realty.

The wider dispute involving property transactions and allegations made by opposing parties remains distinct from the court's finding concerning the legality of the account restriction.

For Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac and Homadil Realty, however, the judgment represents a major courtroom victory and a reaffirmation of their decision to seek judicial redress.