Former Minister of Transportation and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Amaechi, has urged Nigerians to reject President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, declaring that anyone who votes for the president would be acting irrationally.

Amaechi made the remarks on Thursday during a town hall meeting in Edo State, where he called on residents to support the ADC and oppose Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The former Rivers State governor, who criticised the president’s administration, used strong language to challenge supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the next presidential election.

“They are going about saying, ‘Vote Tinubu! Vote Tinubu!’ Only thieves can vote for Tinubu,” Amaechi said.

He added that the 2027 election would reveal the number of Nigerians willing to support the president, insisting that Edo State should not vote for Tinubu if its residents wanted a change in government.

Amaechi also accused the Tinubu administration of prioritising projects allegedly driven by financial interests over initiatives that would directly address the country’s economic needs.

He particularly questioned the plan to develop another seaport in Ogun State, asking whether the volume of goods produced in the state justified the proposed investment in additional port infrastructure.

According to him, the project raised questions about the government’s priorities and whether the decision was motivated by the potential financial benefits associated with its construction.

“So, Tinubu just hates you. No, I’m not joking. If Tinubu does not hate you, why is he building another seaport? In Ogun, what are the goods we are producing?” he asked.

The ADC chieftain argued that Nigerians should examine the economic justification for major infrastructure projects rather than accept government decisions without scrutiny.

He also urged opposition supporters living outside the country or staying away from the electoral process to return home and participate in efforts to change the government through the ballot.

“If you want Tinubu to go, please go home. Go home. Go home,” he said.

On fuel pricing, Amaechi advocated a production-based subsidy model that would link government policy to crude oil supplied to domestic refineries.

He argued that the proposed arrangement would reduce petrol prices without requiring direct government expenditure on conventional fuel subsidies.

Under his proposal, crude oil would be sold to domestic refiners at a lower price than the prevailing international market rate, with the difference forming the basis of support for locally refined petroleum products.

Amaechi illustrated the proposal with an example in which crude oil sold internationally for N15,000 would be supplied to the Dangote Refinery at N10,000, leaving a N5,000 difference.

He said the arrangement would involve discussions between the government and domestic refiners, including modular refinery operators, to ensure that the benefit translated into lower fuel prices.

According to him, restricting the arrangement to refineries operating in Nigeria would encourage local refining and ensure that the benefits were tied to domestic production.

Amaechi maintained that a reduction in petrol prices would also ease transportation costs and trigger a decline in the prices of goods and services across the country.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the Federal Government’s planned 30-day petrol discount at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets, describing the initiative as a political manoeuvre that offers Nigerians only temporary relief from rising living costs.

Atiku, through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of attempting to use a short-term fuel price reduction to win public approval ahead of the next election.

The former vice-president argued that the intervention was inadequate to address the economic hardship Nigerians had endured since the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Atiku said the government had allowed households and businesses to grapple with soaring fuel prices and their effects on transportation, food prices and other essential goods before introducing the temporary relief measure.

He described the initiative as an election-driven gesture, questioning why the administration had waited until now to introduce the intervention.

Atiku said Nigerians should not be expected to overlook years of economic hardship because of a discount that would last only 30 days.

He also questioned what would happen after the expiration of the initiative, arguing that motorists and businesses could return to facing the same high fuel prices and rising operating costs.

According to him, the government’s proposal does not constitute a comprehensive economic recovery plan but merely provides temporary relief without addressing the underlying causes of the cost-of-living crisis.

The former vice-president further faulted the limited scope of the initiative, noting that the proposed discount would be available at NNPCL retail stations.

He also questioned the absence of clear information on the amount motorists would save per litre and whether transport operators would pass any savings on to passengers through reduced fares.

Atiku argued that the government’s decision to introduce the intervention demonstrated that alternative measures could be adopted to ease the burden on consumers, despite previous arguments against such policies.

He maintained that his proposal for production support linked to locally refined petroleum products offered a more sustainable approach to reducing fuel costs.

The ADC chieftain advocated a capped and budgeted production-support framework with safeguards to ensure that the benefits reached consumers while strengthening domestic refining capacity.

He said the government should prioritise lasting economic relief rather than measures that would expire after a short period.

Atiku also insisted that Nigerians needed practical solutions capable of making transportation, food and other basic necessities more affordable.

He reiterated his commitment to reducing the cost of living, declaring: “Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again.”

The Labour Party candidate for Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, Dr Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso, has intensified his campaign to unseat the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Anyaso, who is challenging Kalu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate seeking a third term in the National Assembly, made the move by signing what he described as the “Bende Prosperity Contract” with his constituents.

The contract, signed on Wednesday at the Community Town Hall in Uzuakoli, attracted representatives of more than 33 groups from across the constituency.

Anyaso said the document was designed to establish a clear understanding between him and the people, stressing that it was not another political manifesto filled with lofty promises.

According to him, the agreement was written in simple language to enable constituents to understand its provisions and hold him accountable if elected.

He said the initiative reflected his commitment to responsible leadership, transparency and effective representation.

Speaking on the qualities expected of elected public officials, Anyaso argued that character and integrity should form the foundation of leadership, insisting that public office holders must remain accountable to the people they represent.

“Anyone who devalues his own people does not deserve to carry their name, much less carry their voice to Abuja,” he said.

The LP candidate added that the values required for good leadership were cultivated at home and within communities, rather than acquired after assuming public office.

He also criticised the practice of politicians taking personal credit for projects executed with public funds, describing it as a form of deception that undermines the dignity of constituents.

According to him, elected representatives should not portray publicly funded projects as personal favours to the people.

“Bende people are not beggars,” he declared, arguing that constituents deserve quality infrastructure and effective representation rather than political patronage.

Outlining his priorities if elected, Anyaso said he would focus on attracting development projects, including roads, hospitals and schools, as well as skills acquisition opportunities for young people.

He maintained that such projects should be regarded as the people’s entitlements rather than personal gifts from politicians.

On the conduct of the 2027 elections, the LP candidate urged residents, particularly youths, to reject political violence and avoid being used to advance the ambitions of politicians.

He warned that no election was worth the loss of human lives or the destruction of the future of young people.

Anyaso also appealed to his supporters not to be intimidated or discouraged by claims that the outcome of the election had already been determined.

He insisted that the people had the power to determine who represented them and called for credible elections in which their votes would count.

The candidate, however, cautioned against electoral malpractice and intimidation, saying his peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for weakness.

He pledged to defend the rights of Bende residents to freely choose their representative and ensure that their mandate was respected.

Addressing the longstanding political rotation arrangement between the Umunna and Ikwuishi blocs in the constituency, Anyaso promised to uphold the understanding.

He said that, if elected, he would support an Ikwuishi candidate to represent the constituency at the appropriate time, stressing that political power should not become the permanent possession of any individual or group.

According to him, leadership should create opportunities for future generations rather than shut them out of public service.

Anyaso subsequently urged constituents to study the prosperity contract, scrutinise its provisions and hold him accountable for his commitments.

He said he was prepared to build relationships, negotiate for development projects, report back to the people, collaborate with relevant stakeholders and pursue legitimate opportunities for the constituency.

Some constituents who spoke at the event expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of representation in the National Assembly and described Anyaso as a promising alternative.

They praised his accessibility and philanthropic activities, expressing confidence that his contributions outside public office could translate into improved representation if he secured the mandate.

They specifically cited the nursery school established by his Chima Anyaso Foundation in Igbere in 2006, which they said had grown into a modern primary school.

According to them, the institution had graduated more than 600 pupils, with Anyaso bearing the costs of teachers’ salaries and other operational expenses.

The supporters said his record of philanthropy had strengthened their belief that he could make a greater contribution to the development of Bende if elected into the House of Representatives.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has admitted that the Federal Government’s economic reforms increased the number of Nigerians living in poverty, insisting, however, that the country has recorded significant progress since the policies were introduced.

Bwala made the admission on Wednesday while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he defended the economic policies implemented by the Tinubu administration since assuming office in May 2023.

The reforms, which include the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market, have been accompanied by rising living costs, placing considerable financial pressure on households and businesses.

The government has repeatedly defended the measures as necessary to correct longstanding economic imbalances, improve public finances and establish a more sustainable economic foundation.

Acknowledging the hardship associated with the policies, Bwala argued that the increase in poverty was a consequence of the reforms, adding that such difficulties were not unusual when countries undertake major economic adjustments.

“Please let it be clear even to the opposition, the reason why you have this number of poor people and some of these doomsday analytics that people are giving is because we undertook a reform,” he said.

He added that economic reforms often come with temporary discomfort, maintaining that the administration had made considerable progress despite the challenges confronting many Nigerians.

“There is no part of the world where you start a reform like that there will not be discomfort. More people went down to poverty, acknowledged, but since when the reform started to today, we have made marked progress,” Bwala stated.

He insisted that the existence of widespread poverty should not overshadow what he described as the gains recorded since the government embarked on its reform agenda.

“So, you cannot discount that even though there are quite a number of our population that are poor which we admit, but we have made progress so far,” he added.

President Tinubu has also defended his administration’s economic policies, citing improvements in key economic indicators, including inflation, foreign reserves and foreign exchange market stability, in his October 1 Independence Day address.

Beyond defending the administration’s economic record, Bwala expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure a stronger electoral mandate in the 2027 presidential election.

The presidential adviser predicted that the President would defeat his opponents by a wider margin than he achieved in the 2023 election.

“Let me tell you and let me say it categorically and I will be happy to come back. The margin of gap that President Bola Tinubu will give each and everyone of these candidates will be so much that you won’t believe it,” he said.

In the 2023 presidential election, Tinubu defeated Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to emerge as Nigeria’s president.

Bwala attributed his optimism about the next election partly to the growing number of governors who have defected from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) since the last general election.

He expressed confidence that more governors would support Tinubu in 2027 than backed him during the 2023 presidential contest.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has declared an indefinite strike across the territory over the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) handling of teachers’ promotion and other labour-related demands.

The industrial action commenced on Wednesday, October 7, following the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum issued to the FCTA to address the union’s grievances.

The council directed workers in both the public and private sectors to shut down schools, hospitals, government offices and other establishments across the FCT.

At the centre of the dispute is the FCTA’s requirement that vacancies must exist before teachers can be promoted, a policy the NLC says has hindered career progression and left many teachers stagnating in their positions for years.

In resolutions signed by its chairman, Comrade Knabayi Adalo, the labour council argued that teachers employed by the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and the FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) should not be subjected to a vacancy-based promotion system.

According to the union, teachers are recruited specifically to teach and should be promoted when due, irrespective of whether vacancies exist.

The council also demanded that teachers who became eligible for promotion in 2025 be allowed to take their promotion examinations before or alongside candidates eligible in 2026.

Other demands include the withdrawal of redeployment and demotion letters issued to directors who benefited from the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Act, 2022.

The NLC further called for the immediate reinstatement of the dissolved management teams of the FCT UBEB and SEB.

The decision to embark on the strike was reached at the council’s State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday, October 6, at the NLC FCT Secretariat.

At the meeting, the union rejected the FCTA’s response to its ultimatum, describing it as inadequate and lacking a genuine commitment to resolving the dispute.

The council maintained that the administration’s response failed to address the vacancy requirement, which it identified as the primary cause of teachers’ career stagnation.
It also faulted the FCTA for failing to adequately address the alleged illegal redeployment of directors.

“The response of the FCTA is ambiguous and totally unacceptable,” the council stated.

The labour body warned that it would no longer tolerate policies it considers detrimental to the welfare and professional advancement of teachers in the territory.

The strike is expected to disrupt activities in affected public institutions across the FCT until the union’s demands are addressed.

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has appointed the Chairman of the Board of Enugu Air, Barr. Richard Agu, as Commissioner-designate for the state’s Ministry of Transport.

The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia.

According to the statement, Agu’s name has been forwarded to the Enugu State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation in accordance with the provisions of the law.

His appointment is, therefore, subject to the completion of the legislative screening and confirmation process.

Agu currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Enugu Air, the state-owned airline established as part of the Mbah administration’s efforts to expand air connectivity and boost economic activities in Enugu State.

The member representing Ezeagu Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Barr. Chima Obieze, has withdrawn his proposed Crowd Control and Public Safety Bill following widespread reactions and concerns over its provisions, DAILY GAZETTE reports.

Obieze, who announced the withdrawal in a statement to the people of Enugu State, said the decision was taken to allow for wider consultations and greater public enlightenment on the purpose of the proposed legislation.

The lawmaker maintained that the bill was conceived primarily out of concern for the safety of residents, particularly children, women and persons living with disabilities, in view of the recurring loss of lives during crowded public events.

According to him, Nigeria has witnessed several fatal stampedes in recent years, including the deaths recorded during palliative distributions and public events in Anambra, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory.

He also recalled previous crowd-related tragedies in Enugu, including incidents associated with large religious gatherings and night shows at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Okpara Square.

Obieze said such tragedies were often linked to inadequate crowd management, poor emergency medical preparedness, insufficient entry and exit routes and inadequate security arrangements.

He explained that the proposed bill was intended to establish preventive measures and make it a legal responsibility for organisers of large gatherings to provide basic safety measures, including first aid, fire extinguishers, barricades, clearly defined exit routes and adequate security.

The lawmaker cited the Lagos State Safety Commission as an example of an institutional framework for regulating event and crowd safety, while also referencing measures adopted by Ondo, Anambra and Oyo states following stampede incidents.

However, Obieze acknowledged the concerns generated by the bill and said he had decided to withdraw it rather than proceed without sufficient consultation.

“Lawmaking is for the people,” he said, adding that lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure that citizens understand the purpose and intended impact of new legislation.

He said he would formally write the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly to withdraw the bill, while pledging to continue consultations and public enlightenment on the issue.

Obieze thanked those who contributed to the debate, including critics, saying their views were important to the legislative process.

He added that the safety of the people of Enugu would remain his priority.