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2027: Ex-Speakers Endorse Tinubu, Launch National Mobilisation
Former Speakers and Deputy Speakers of State Houses of Assembly on Thursday unanimously endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term and resolved to launch a nationwide grassroots mobilisation for his re-election in 2027.
Under the plan, members of the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of State Houses of Assembly of Nigeria (FOPSHAN) will mobilise across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), explain the administration’s policies and programmes, and canvass support for the President.
The former legislative leaders also endorsed the administration’s economic reforms, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy, arguing that the immediate difficulties associated with the measures should be weighed against their anticipated long-term benefits.
The resolutions were adopted at FOPSHAN’s National Summit in Abuja, themed: “Bold Leadership, Bold Reforms: From Subsidy to Renewed Hope – Affecting the Economic Trajectory and Digital Leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration”.
Former Senate President Pius Anyim chaired the summit, while First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu attended as Special Guest of Honour.
The forum’s National Chairman, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sani, hosted the gathering.
Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, a former Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, chairs the forum’s Board of Trustees.
In its resolutions, the forum declared its support for what it described as the administration’s “bold economic reforms”, particularly petrol subsidy removal, saying the policy should be viewed within the broader objective of securing long-term economic prosperity.
It subsequently announced a unanimous endorsement of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
“In recognition of the President’s colourful, visionary leadership and commitment to national development, FOPSHAN unanimously endorses President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a second term in office in the 2027 general elections”, the resolution stated.
The forum resolved to move beyond the endorsement by deploying its membership across the country to build grassroots support for the administration.
Former legislators at the national, state, and local government levels are expected to engage citizens, explain government policies and programmes, and take the summit’s message to communities across the 36 states and the FCT.
FOPSHAN also appealed to the First Lady to enlist its members as ambassadors for the administration’s social intervention programmes, particularly initiatives targeting women, children and vulnerable Nigerians.
The former presiding officers further urged the President and state governors to make greater use of their legislative and governance experience in appointments and policy formulation.
“The conference calls on the President and governors to continue to tap into the wealth of legislative experience of former presiding officers in appointments and policy formulation for the good governance of the country”, the resolution stated.
On party affairs, the forum reaffirmed its commitment to the unity and progress of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging members to close ranks and support the administration at the federal and sub-national levels.
Earlier, Nwifuru said former legislative leaders could not afford to become spectators in national affairs after leaving office, arguing that their experience should continue to strengthen governance and democratic institutions.
Drawing from his years as Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly before becoming governor, Nwifuru stressed the importance of cooperation between the executive and legislature.
“Those years taught me an enduring lesson. Governance is not the responsibility of the executive alone; it is a partnership between institutions”, he said.
Nwifuru said the ultimate objective of the ongoing economic reforms should be to expand Nigeria’s productive capacity and create opportunities for citizens, particularly young people.
“We must invest in agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, education, energy and technology. We must create an environment where Nigerians can produce more, businesses can grow, and young people can find meaningful opportunities,” he said.
The governor also called for stronger legislative oversight, greater fiscal responsibility, stronger democratic institutions and further devolution of powers.
He said the experience former Speakers and Deputy Speakers accumulated placed them in a position to continue contributing to governance beyond their years in legislative office.
“We have occupied the chambers where laws are made, scrutinised and voices of our constituents were amplified. We therefore cannot afford to be spectators in the journey of national development”, Nwifuru said.
He urged the former lawmakers to deploy their legislative experience, networks, and understanding of governance to strengthen democratic development and promote accountability in public administration.
News
Court Arraigns Journalist In Benue
A Benue State High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Abounu, has arraigned the Benue State correspondent of Aljazirah Newspaper, Henry Ibya, in Makurdi over alleged cyberstang.
The trial judge had sought the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s argument that the journalist was reliable and should be granted bail.
The absence of the prosecution counsel in court did not stop the proceedings, as the defendant’s counsel, Tom Uja, Esq., notified the court of his bail application for his client.
He stated that the prosecution had taken the journalist to two other courts in the state on the same charge and that his client had never failed to appear in court whenever required.
Although the prosecutor’s absence did not affect the judge’s decision to proceed and grant bail, which was also believed to be in the interest of justice, the matter was adjourned until November 5, 2026.
One Terna Abuul, said to be the Director of ICT at Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, reported Henry Ibya to the Nigeria Police Force, Benue State Command.
The director had accused the journalist of allegedly reporting mismanagement in the institution’s ICT department.
According to Abuul, Ibya’s report accused him of wrongdoing.
On the strength of the said report, the journalist was arraigned before the High Court in Makurdi.
News
64 Dead, 80 Injured As Two High-Speed Trains Collide
At least 64 people have been killed and dozens seriously injured after two high-speed trains collided near Urda, south of Madrid, in one of Spain’s deadliest rail disasters in more than a decade.
The Castilla-La Mancha regional government confirmed the death toll as emergency crews continued rescue operations at the crash site. More than 500 passengers were travelling on the two trains involved, according to a regional government spokesperson.
The BBC reports that the collision of the two trains involved a Renfe high-speed train and an Iryo service operating on the Madrid-to-Seville route. Aerial images analysed by the broadcaster showed parts of the Renfe train leaving the tracks, while carriages of the Iryo train also derailed.
The cause of the collision had not been officially confirmed. However, Spanish media cited preliminary accounts suggesting that the Renfe train struck the Iryo service, which may have been stationary following a problem on the tracks.
The scale of the disaster prompted a major emergency response involving ambulances, helicopters, rescue teams and police officers. At least 80 people were reported injured, with about 50 believed to be in serious condition and 15 in critical condition, according to regional officials.
Several victims were transported to hospitals in nearby areas, while others were taken to Madrid for treatment. Hospitals in Toledo, Ciudad Real and Alcázar de San Juan reportedly suspended planned surgeries to accommodate casualties from the crash.
Blood transfusion centres in Madrid and Toledo also appealed for urgent donations to meet a possible surge in demand.
Survivors described scenes of panic and severe destruction. One passenger, Sebastián Herrero, told Spanish newspaper El Mundo that he felt a powerful impact that threw him into the seats ahead. He said injured passengers had broken noses and arms, while smoke spread through the carriages.
Another passenger, Iñaki, told El País that the impact sent him rolling across the floor. After escaping, he saw injured people and bodies around the wreckage.
BBC Verify also examined images and videos appearing to show a section of railway track piercing through a Renfe carriage, with approximately 10 metres of rail protruding through its roof.
The disaster has revived concerns about railway safety in Spain, which suffered another deadly high-speed rail accident near Córdoba in which 46 people died. The country’s previous worst rail disaster occurred in July 2013, when 80 people were killed in a derailment near Santiago de Compostela.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was shocked by the crash and remained in contact with the transport minister. The Spanish royal family also expressed condolences to victims’ relatives and praised emergency workers.
Meanwhile, the Royal Spanish Football Federation postponed 24 Copa del Rey matches in solidarity with the victims, while most political parties suspended campaign activities.
Rescue and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.
News
Police Arrest Suspected Eiye Cultist, Recover Two Pistols, Cartridges In Ogun
Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Squad of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a 26-year-old suspected cultist and recovered two locally made pistols, three live cartridges and a battle axe in the Atan area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council of the state.
The suspect, identified as Okiki Muhammed Adewusi, popularly known as “Baba Obo”, was arrested in the Ore area of Atan on October 26, 2026, following intelligence received by operatives of SWAT Base 7, Abule Iroko, Sango-Ota.
The Police Spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrest in a statement in Abeokuta yesterday.
According to Babaseyi, a search of the suspect’s residence after his arrest led to the recovery of a locally made pistol and three live cartridges.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.
Babaseyi said information obtained from the suspect led to a follow-up operation at about 6.30 a.m. on October 27, 2026 during which operatives recovered a second locally made pistol and a battle axe from a separate location.
The recovered items have been secured as exhibits, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other suspects believed to be involved in the activities and recover additional weapons.
The police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the case.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the SWAT operatives for their vigilance, professionalism and effective use of intelligence.
Ojajuni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks, curbing cult-related activities and tackling the illegal possession of firearms across the state.
He urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspected criminal activities, assuring them that the Command would act on actionable intelligence to protect lives and property and maintain public safety.
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