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Abuja, News, Politics

INEC Declares Commencement of Campaigns for FCT Area Council Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the commencement of campaigns by political parties ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026. According to the Commission, the decision is in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the elections. In a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC disclosed that political parties are now permitted to begin campaigns in public from Wednesday, September 24, 2025, and must conclude by midnight on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Read Also: FCT Minister of State Bunkure Pushes Women’s Economic Inclusion at UNGA80 Olumekun reminded political parties, candidates, and their supporters of the legal provisions guiding campaigns, stressing that the use of abusive language, violent attacks on opponents, or destruction of campaign materials remain unlawful under Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act. He further noted that all parties and candidates must have equal and unhindered access to public facilities for rallies, outdoor advertising, and media campaigns. “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate,” the statement added.

Abuja, Kano, News, Politics

Ganduje Hosts Former Kano LG Chairmen Ahead of 2027 Elections

Immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, on Monday received the 44 local government chairmen who served during his tenure as governor. The meeting, held at his residence in Asokoro, rekindled old ties between the former governor and the local government leadership structure that played a central role in his administration. The chairmen, who served under the then Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, described the visit as both a reunion and a show of solidarity. Political observers see the gathering as part of Ganduje’s strategic moves to consolidate his base as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify. Coming at a time of heightened political activity across the country, the meeting signals efforts by the former governor to strengthen his grassroots network and reposition his political camp. Related: Ganduje’s Dual Commitment to Education and Faith in Kano While details of the closed-door discussions were not made public, sources at the event hinted that issues of unity, strategy, and political direction ahead of the elections topped the agenda. The chairmen reportedly pledged their loyalty and readiness to support Ganduje’s leadership as the state and national political dynamics unfold. Dr. Ganduje, who has remained a key figure in the ruling party after leaving Government House in 2023, is believed to be working quietly to rally his allies and build broader consensus around his political vision. His ability to reconnect with grassroots leaders, many of whom maintain strong influence in their local domains, could prove pivotal in shaping the political outcome in Kano State and beyond. The meeting also highlighted the role of local government structures as the foundation of political mobilization in Nigeria. As one political analyst noted, “No serious political player heading into 2027 can ignore the influence of local government leaders. Ganduje’s meeting with them shows he understands the importance of building from the grassroots up.” With Kano remaining one of the nation’s most politically strategic states, developments around Ganduje’s camp will continue to draw attention as the race towards 2027 gathers momentum.

Business, National, News

CBN Slashes Interest Rate to 27% in First Adjustment of 2025

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the benchmark interest rate to 27.00 per cent, marking its first monetary policy adjustment of 2025. The decision was announced on Tuesday by CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, at the end of the 302nd MPC meeting in Abuja. Read Also: Nigeria Pushes Blue Economy Agenda with Seabed Mapping, Hydrography Initiatives “The Committee decided to reduce the Monetary Policy Rate by 50 basis points to 27 per cent,” Cardoso said. The adjustment comes after three consecutive pauses in rate changes and follows six straight hikes recorded in 2024. Cardoso explained that the cut was influenced by consistent signs of disinflation in recent months.

Abuja, Kano, News

FCT Minister of State Bunkure Pushes Women’s Economic Inclusion at UNGA80

Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, has reiterated that empowering women economically remains one of the most effective pathways to reducing poverty, achieving equity, and fostering sustainable peace. She made the declaration in New York while attending an economic empowerment forum for women political leaders and economic experts, held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Read Also: Ganduje’s Dual Commitment to Education and Faith in Kano Dr. Mahmoud expressed delight that under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Renewed Hope Agenda has prioritized gender inclusion, youth development, and the creation of opportunities that enable women to thrive as innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. She reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration to building an enabling environment where women can access finance, acquire relevant skills, and participate in markets, thereby contributing fully to national development. Commending the organizers of the forum, the Minister described the platform as a vital space where ideas, policies, and strategies could converge to accelerate global progress on women’s empowerment. According to her, strengthening women’s economic independence is not only critical to national growth but also central to creating a more equitable and peaceful society.

International, News, Religious

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, Dies at 82

Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and Head of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh, passed away in Riyadh on Tuesday morning at the age of 82, the Royal Court has announced. Funeral prayers for the late scholar will be held at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh after the Asr prayer on Tuesday. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, has also ordered funeral prayers in absentia at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, and across all mosques in the Kingdom. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended condolences to the family of Sheikh Al-Sheikh, the Saudi people, and the wider Islamic world. “With the passing of Al-Sheikh, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world have lost a distinguished scholar who made significant contributions to the service of Islam and Muslims,” the Royal Court said in a statement. Read Also: Saudi Authorities Approve Burial of Aminu Dantata in Madinah Sheikh Al-Sheikh, who served as head of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, and the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League, was widely respected across the Muslim world. He was appointed Grand Mufti in June 1999 by King Fahd, succeeding Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Baz. Life and Career Born on November 30, 1943, in Makkah, Sheikh Al-Sheikh memorized the Qur’an at an early age but lost his sight at 17. He studied at Imam Mohammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, graduating in 1965 with a specialization in Arabic and Islamic Shariah. His teaching career began at the Imam al-Dawa Scholarly Institute in Riyadh before he later taught at the College of Shariah and the Higher Institute of Judiciary. Over the years, he served as imam at several prominent mosques, including Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh, and from 1982, he delivered the annual Arafat sermon at Namirah Mosque for 34 consecutive years. In 1987, he was appointed to the Council of Senior Scholars and became a full-time member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta in 1991. He later rose to the position of Deputy Grand Mufti in 1995. Following the death of Sheikh Abdulaziz Ibn Baz in 1999, he was appointed Grand Mufti, a role he held for over two decades. Sheikh Al-Sheikh’s passing marks the end of an era in Saudi Arabia’s religious establishment, where his influence shaped Islamic scholarship and guidance for millions of Muslims worldwide.

National, News

CAC Turns to AI to Address Service Delays

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced plans to deploy an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent to address a backlog of more than 7,000 company registration applications and ease service delays. Registrar-General and CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Kano during a stakeholders’ forum. He explained that the AI agent will be deployed to handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service functions with speed and accuracy, thereby tackling challenges that have slowed down service delivery. “In a bid to tackle the backlog of 7,000 registration applications, an AI agent was in the pipeline to handle requests across compliance, registry, and customer service with speed and accuracy,” the Commission said in a statement quoting the Registrar-General. Bumpy Transition to AI Portal Magaji admitted that the transition to the Commission’s AI-driven portal has been less than smooth, with many customers experiencing delays in approvals, particularly for services not covered in the first phase of deployment. He attributed most of the delays to the overwhelming number of applications that the new system has had to process. Read Also: CAC Defers Implementation of Revised Service Fees to October 1st The CAC boss added that AI will also be deployed to manage the high volume of daily inquiries received by the Commission. According to him, the system receives no fewer than 3,000 emails per day, and the AI tool being developed is capable of reading and comprehending those emails within a minute, detecting duplicate requests, and rerouting messages to the appropriate departments for faster resolution. Magaji reassured stakeholders that the Commission is working to stabilize its newly introduced AI portal and improve customer satisfaction. “Problems have been identified, and solutions are already in motion,” he said. Backstory The CAC had earlier in June launched its AI-driven registration portal, aimed at transforming Nigeria’s business environment by simplifying company registration processes and accelerating approvals. The new platform, described by the Commission as a complete overhaul of its Company Registration Portal (CRP), was programmed to provide instant name approvals and suggest alternatives when preferred names are unavailable. Magaji had explained that name reservations under the new system would be as seamless as opening an email account, with AI ensuring real-time approvals. However, users of the portal have faced significant challenges, ranging from failed payment reflections to difficulties submitting documents. These glitches contributed to the backlog the Commission is now seeking to clear. Despite the challenges, the CAC announced in July that the portal was processing over 11,000 transactions daily, describing the development as a major leap in automation, albeit one that still requires adjustments to function smoothly.

National, News

10th Senate Shifts Plenary Resumption by Two Weeks

The leadership of the 10th Senate has once again adjusted its legislative calendar, shifting the official resumption of plenary sittings from September 23 to October 7, 2025. The latest postponement was contained in an internal memo signed by Chinedu Akubueze, Chief of Staff to the Senate President, and circulated to journalists on Monday. The extension, which prolongs the chamber’s annual recess by an additional two weeks, has generated mixed reactions within the National Assembly. No official reason was given, but sources told our correspondent that the delay was intended to allow lawmakers fully observe the October 1 Independence Day celebrations. Read Also: Ganduje Leads Prayer Session as 280 Converts Join Islam in Kano In the memo titled “Notice of Shift in Plenary Resumption Date,” Akubueze apologised to senators for the late communication. “This is to respectfully inform Distinguished Senators that the resumption of plenary sitting of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025, has been shifted to Tuesday, 7th October, 2025. Any inconvenience this short notice may cause is deeply regretted. Distinguished Senators are kindly invited to note the postponement and adjust their schedules accordingly,” the memo read in part. The Senate had adjourned plenary on July 24 for its annual recess. At the time, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the decision as an act of “chamber reciprocity,” noting that members of the House of Representatives had also embarked on a break in line with the legislative calendar. With the latest adjustment, critical debates and pending motions — including oversight inquiries into government spending and executive appointments — will remain on hold.

Kano, News, Religious

Ganduje Leads Prayer Session as 280 Converts Join Islam in Kano

The Ganduje Foundation, chaired by the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has facilitated the conversion of 280 people to Islam during a prayer session held at Muhammad Gauyama Hall in his residence in Kano. The event, which brought together Islamic scholars from different sects, was organized as part of a regular prayer session aimed at seeking divine intervention for Nigeria’s peace, stability, and guidance for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies. Addressing participants, Dr. Ganduje explained that such sessions had been ongoing since his time as Deputy Governor and were sustained to promote unity and spiritual growth. He noted that the Foundation discovered through outreach programmes that many rural farmers in parts of Kano had shown interest in embracing Islam, which encouraged its Da’awah (preaching) team to intensify efforts. Related: Ganduje Attends BUK Send-Off for Outgoing VC, Welcomes Successor “You can see many of them are women — 202 women and 78 men. Most of these women are married, and we hope they will carry their children along into the Islamic religion. May Allah accept this intention and keep them steadfast in the faith,” Ganduje stated. He further announced that each of the new converts would receive a bag of fertilizer to support their farming, atamfa fabric for women, shadda for men, a financial token, and Islamic books for guidance. He added that members of the Da’awah team would continue follow-up visits to provide mentorship and teaching on Islamic practices. The Director at the North West Development Commission (NWDC), Dr. Asiya Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who also contributed to the exercise, commended the initiative, describing it as a legacy the family grew up observing from their father. She urged others to embrace similar efforts, citing the spiritual rewards of expanding the faith. Similarly, Dr. Amina Abdullahi Umar Ganduje offered prayers for her father, highlighting his wider philanthropic activities, including mosque construction, medical outreach, and the provision of boreholes, which she said would count as his lasting legacy. The ceremony was attended by Islamic clerics, political associates, community leaders, and members of the Ganduje family. According to records, the Ganduje Foundation has overseen the conversion of 45,280 people to Islam since its establishment.

Education, Kano, News

Ganduje Attends BUK Send-Off for Outgoing VC, Welcomes Successor

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, has attended a send-off ceremony in honour of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, while also welcoming the institution’s new and 12th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa. The event, held this week at the Amani Event Centre in Kano, drew dignitaries from within and outside the state. It was tagged “Grand Academic Salute: Celebrating Academic Excellence, Transformative Leadership and Legacies of Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, FMAN, FSAN, and Ushering in the 12th Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa.” The ceremony was organized by Prof. Hafsat Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. In his remarks, Dr. Ganduje underscored the importance of continuity and consolidation in governance, stressing that cancelling or abandoning existing projects and programmes undermines progress and weakens governance. Read Also: Abba Ganduje: Reshaping Kano’s Political Landscape Through Empowerment On the occasion, Dr. Ganduje and his wife, Prof. Hafsat Ganduje, received special honours in recognition of their contributions to education and support for Bayero University. Among the dignitaries in attendance was the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, alongside academics, government officials, and community leaders. Photo News:

Kaduna, News

Explosion Rocks Defence Industries Facility in Kaduna, One Dead, Several Injured

A massive explosion on Saturday ripped through the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) facility in Kaduna’s Kakuri Industrial Layout, leaving one person dead and several others injured. The blast, whose cause remains unclear, was powerful enough to be heard across parts of the city, particularly in Chikun and Kaduna South local government areas. Read Also: Yari’s Son Marries in Kaduna as Tinubu, Ganduje, Governors Grace Occasion Sources confirmed that one individual lost their life in the incident, while multiple others sustained injuries. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, including the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. Although details are still emerging, eyewitnesses described the explosion as severe, noting that the impact caused panic in surrounding neighbourhoods. Authorities have yet to identify what triggered the blast. Investigations are underway to determine the cause and assess the scale of the damage.

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