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The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has refuted reports claiming it advised former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the group also denied allegations that it urged northern leaders not to support Obi’s presidential ambition.

Describing the reports as false and mischievous, Ohanaeze said the claims were being circulated by individuals it referred to as “street urchins” seeking to mislead the public.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been alerted to a misleading report circulating on social media alleging that the apex Igbo body warned Mr. Peter Obi against contesting the 2027 presidential election,” the statement read. “It also claimed that Ohanaeze cautioned the North against backing his candidacy. We wish to categorically state that such a mischief-driven and misleading statement did not emanate from the dignified apex Igbo body.”

Chukwu said the statement was the handiwork of a group he described as “clandestine starving street urchins who parade a phantom, ludicrous brown-envelope Ohanaeze, with POS as their address”.

He reaffirmed that the organisation, under the leadership of Senator John Azuta Mbata (President-General), Prince Okey Nwadinobi (Deputy President-General), and Emeka Sibeudu (Secretary-General), has not made any statement regarding the 2027 presidential election or endorsed any candidate.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is committed to the wellbeing of the Igbo nation and national development through justice, fairness, and equity,” the group stated. “We remain non-partisan and have not taken any position on the 2027 presidential election.”

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expelled former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and imposed a 30-year ban on him, barring any form of affiliation with the party.

The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the decision in a statement on Sunday, stating that the expulsion was in accordance with the SDP constitution, manifesto, ideology, and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Act which empower political parties to regulate their membership.

In the statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the SDP warned members against associating with El-Rufai or individuals who do not align with the party’s values.

“El-Rufai is hereby banished and banned from applying for membership, identifying with the name, insignia, logo, symbol, mark, or any activities, organs, agencies, and institutions of the SDP or donating to, supporting, contributing to, or participating in any affairs of the SDP for a period of 30 years effective from today,” the statement read.

El-Rufai had defected to the SDP after resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC). He is also a prominent member of an opposition coalition that recently adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Program Director, Society for Women Engineers (SWE) Stella Dennis has emphasized the need for students to channel their skills into developing practical and innovative solutions that address real-world challenges using artificial intelligence (AI).

Speaking in Abuja on Friday at the an Innovative lab: AI for All practical session in collaboration with American Spaces and SWEBaze University, Dennis expressed optimism that students would move beyond theory and begin applying their knowledge to solve pressing societal problems.

Dennis explained that the world is now a global village with mirage of real world problems and activities, hence a need for real-time solutions using artificial intelligence (AI), stating that with technological advancement, nations of the world are moving at the speed of light hence Nigeria must not be left behind.

“My expectation after this is to ensure that they continue to build solutions that are real world, that will solve real world problems.

“And also be sure that we are also in the landscape and the radar where others are, the world is when it comes to AI.”. she added.

Meanwhile, Dennis noted that the program: AI for ALL targets teachers, university students, primary and secondary school students who were trained on the use of AI solutions to solve real-time challenges.

“We are teaching them how to create theirs. So that even when we have malwares, or we have people who are intruding without authorization, they are able to know how to also stop them.

“So STEM for us is not just STEM. It’s about how to use AI, how to use
robotics, and all that. Those are all the things that make up STEM education. So we’re all in all complementing what the federal government is doing.”.

The Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi represented by Mr. Abdullahi Abubakar in charge of
policy and regulatory development
and implementation noted that NITDA is not just regulating use of AI in Nigeria but developing AI tools while ensuring that there is ethical development and responsible use of AI in Nigeria.

“We developed AI strategy to provide for a framework that Nigeria can use to ensure we are taking advantage of our competitive advantage of AI in Nigeria. We know Nigeria has a very young talent pool and we have the resources it takes to make AI or Nigeria an AI hub in Africa and the world at large.

“NITDA is coordinating that initiative, ensuring that we are bringing all stakeholders to the table, having the right conversations, developing our infrastructure, and last but not the least, ensuring that any use of AI, whether in the academia, in government, in private sector, is done responsibly and for the good of Nigerians.”.

Meanwhile, Inuwa lauded SWE’s initiative delivering impacts to all Nigerians, especially women and children using technological tools to solve real-time challenges.

“You can see the amount of children, women that are here today and the kind of platform that has been provided for them by this organization to ensure that we build their capacity and we ensure
that they are progressive and also help Nigeria grow in terms of ensuring there is inclusive
access to digital infrastructures, technology, and knowledge.”. he stated.

Chairperson, Society for Women Engineers, (SWE), Okobi Ololade on her part noted that artificial intelligence is not just the future of the world, but it is an innovation that has come to stay, hence charged Nigerians to embrace the positive use of it in solving real-time challenges.

In her opinion, Ololade noted that AI will not replace human efforts due to input of human to ensure its effeciency but advise Nigerians to develop themselves in the use of AI.

“So it’s not going to take people’s job because in it itself, the technology itself needs an input. And that’s what people, we have to develop themselves to do. So it wouldn’t take people’s job, because now the old job will eventually go away, and this new one will come.

“We should embrace it, because, okay, we should embrace the AI. It’s necessary, because the world is not going to eliminate Nigeria for crying out loud. The world is moving ahead, and we have to move.”. She added.

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have killed 14 passengers in an ambush in Plateau State. The attack occurred along Chirang Road in the Mangor District of Bokkos Local Government Area as the victims were returning from the weekly market in Bokkos.

Eyewitnesses said the victims, including women and infants, were on their way home after the market activities when the assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons, blocked the road and opened fire on the vehicle. Several others sustained injuries during the attack.

One eyewitness, who asked not to be named, described the scene as horrific, stating that the attackers shot indiscriminately at the passengers.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Friday, the Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Forum (BCDF), Farmasum Fuddang, expressed shock over the killings, noting that the attack came despite ongoing peace and reconciliation efforts between farmers and herders in the area.

“The victims were returning from the weekly market in Bokkos town when their vehicle was ambushed. Victims included women and little babies,” Fuddang said.

He further alleged that Fulani militias were responsible for the attack, accusing them of attempting to seize control of Bokkos, which is known as Nigeria’s potato headquarters.

“This violence occurs despite various so-called peace and reconciliation efforts,” he added.

The Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, has died at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness. He passed away on Friday in Abuja.

The death of the traditional ruler was confirmed by Sulaiman Idris, spokesperson to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.

In a statement mourning the monarch, Governor Lawal described the late Emir as a committed leader who contributed immensely to the peace and development of Zamfara State.

“I received with deep sadness the news of the passing of our father, His Royal Highness, Dr. Ibrahim Bello, the Emir of Gusau… I have lost a confidant and a father whose wisdom guides me and other state leaders. May the Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannah,” the governor stated.

Bello was appointed the 16th Emir of Gusau in March 2015 following the death of his father. He ruled for over a decade, during which he played a pivotal role in the socio-cultural affairs of the state.

The Senate on Wednesday formally received four lawmakers who defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), further consolidating the party’s majority in the upper legislative chamber.

The defecting senators are Ekong Samson (Akwa Ibom South), Etim Bassey (Akwa Ibom North East), Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East), and Olubiyi Fadeyi (Osun Central).

Following the announcement of their defections, the Senate suspended its rules to allow the presence of top APC officials, including the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru; Osun State APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal; members of the House of Representatives; and former Minister, Chris Ngige, who were in the chamber to witness the development.

With the new additions, the APC now holds 72 seats in the 10th Senate, a significant increase from the 50 it had at the start of the current legislative session in June 2023. Meanwhile, the PDP’s presence in the Senate has declined to 26 seats, following a string of defections, including from the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, hailed the defections as a reflection of democratic freedom and party growth.

“This is not just about numbers,” Bamidele said. “We have a duty to remain committed to our party’s ideals and to work towards moving Nigeria forward. We value this momentum and will continue to build on it.”

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s external borrowing plan of over $21 billion for the 2025–2026 fiscal cycle, clearing the path for the full implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act.

The approved borrowing package includes $21.19 billion in direct foreign loans, €4 billion, ¥15 billion, a $65 million grant, and additional domestic borrowing through government bonds, bringing the total to approximately ₦757 billion.

The plan also makes provisions for raising up to $2 billion through a foreign-currency-denominated instrument in the domestic market.

The approval followed the presentation of a report by Senator Aliyu Wamako, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt. He explained that the proposal was initially submitted to the National Assembly on May 27 but experienced delays due to the legislative recess and documentation issues from the Debt Management Office.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, noted that most of the loan requests had already been incorporated into the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and the 2025 national budget.

“The borrowing is already embedded in the 2025 Appropriation Act. With this approval, we now have all revenue sources, including loans, in place to fully fund the budget,” Adeola said.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27.5 percent, following the conclusion of its 301st Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, announced the decision while addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, stating that all committee members voted unanimously to hold the rate steady in light of the sustained moderation in inflation, which declined to 22.22 percent in July.

In addition to maintaining the MPR, the MPC also retained the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) at 50 percent for Deposit Money Banks and 16 percent for Merchant Banks.

The committee further kept the Liquidity Ratio at 30 percent and the asymmetric corridor around the MPR at +500/-100 basis points.

Cardoso emphasized that the decision reflects the committee’s commitment to consolidating recent gains in price stability while supporting ongoing economic recovery efforts.

The Senate holds a special session on Wednesday to honour Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on July 13 in London after a prolonged illness.

The session is dedicated to paying tribute to Buhari’s legacy and his contributions to national development. It follows a similar event held last week by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in Abuja.

During the FEC session, President Bola Tinubu praised Buhari’s leadership style, describing him as a leader who governed with dignity, showed restraint, and bore the burdens of office without complaint.

Buhari was laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries from within and outside the country.

The late president, born in Katsina State, served as Nigeria’s elected leader from 2015 to 2023. He had earlier ruled as a military head of state from 1983 to 1985, making him the country’s second-longest-serving leader.

There was a dramatic scene at the entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday as security operatives barred the suspended senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from accessing the premises.

Akpoti-Uduaghan arrived at the gate accompanied by activist Aisha Yesufu, rights advocate Mama P, activist Randy, and a crowd of supporters. However, security personnel stationed at the entrance refused to grant them entry.

Aisha Yesufu confronted the officers in an attempt to intervene, questioning the directive reportedly issued to prevent the senator’s access.

“National Assembly is meant to be for everyone. Why are you stopping us? We are not abiding doesn’t mean we are cowards,” Yesufu said.

Tensions escalated as some supporters began chanting “Push!” while attempting to force their way through the security blockade. The group was later seen marching toward the complex in protest.

Addressing journalists after being denied entry, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed frustration over the Senate’s refusal to allow her resume legislative duties, despite a recent court ruling in her favour.

“It’s about me, a duly elected senator walking into the chambers to resume my constitutional duties,” she said. “I had duly notified the Senate through two letters that I would be resuming functions today, July 22nd, 2025.”

She raised concerns about the Senate’s alleged disregard for the court ruling and the overwhelming police presence at the gate.

“The number of armed policemen we met outside, all well-kitted with guns, charging at an unarmed female senator, was shocking. We have people here—credible Nigerians—who witnessed this,” she stated.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also criticised attempts to misrepresent the court’s ruling in the media.

“There’s been some conversations in the media by their own team trying to twist a narrative that the judge did not order my reinstatement, and I’d like to clarify that,” she said.