Politics

Bauchi mosque imam removed for campaigning in support of Tinubu

Imam Dahiru Abubakar was suspended from his post in a Bauchi mosque after preaching for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while local residents question whether he was the mosque’s main imam.

LAS News Desk · 22 Oct 2026, 13:14 WAT · 6 sources

Australian MP Helen Haines undergoes double amputation after deliberate car attack

Independent federal lawmaker Helen Haines, 65, had both legs amputated following a targeted vehicle assault in Wangaratta; the alleged driver appeared in court and faces multiple serious charges.

LAS News Desk · 22 Oct 2026, 02:15 WAT · 7 sources

Australian independent MP Helen Haines critically injured after deliberate car attack in Victoria

Independent federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a white Toyota that performed a U‑turn outside her Wangaratta office, resulting in the loss of a leg and ongoing critical care, while police treat the incident as a deliberate act under anti‑terror investigation.

Photo: Alison Newman / Wikimedia Commons · CC0

LAS News Desk · 20 Oct 2026, 07:15 WAT · 11 sources

Rivers State Assembly reinstates three pro‑Fubara legislators after appeal

The Rivers State House of Assembly voted to reverse its earlier vacancy ruling, allowing three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to resume their seats following letters of apology.

LAS News Desk · 20 Oct 2026, 04:15 WAT · 7 sources

Bauchi NDC governorship hopeful Ibrahim Kashim quits party ahead of elections

Ibrahim Muhammad Kashim, the National Democratic Congress candidate for Bauchi State governor, resigned from the party on 16 October 2026, saying he will still work for the state’s development. Party officials said the move was unexpected but will not halt their campaign.

LAS News Desk · 20 Oct 2026, 03:15 WAT · 3 sources

Tinubu vows no return to fuel subsidy amid opposition criticism

President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed that Nigeria will not reinstate the fuel subsidy, comparing the decision to the biblical Exodus, while opposition parties accuse the administration of covertly subsidising fuel and warn of economic hardship.

Photo: Chatham House / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

LAS News Desk · 20 Oct 2026, 00:45 WAT · 3 sources

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John denies misconduct allegations amid internal probe

Australian Greens senator Jordon Steele‑Joh­n has denied a series of allegations of misconduct toward women that span 2017‑2025, claiming the timing is a political manoeuvre. The party has launched an internal investigation while police have closed a related sexual‑assault case.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 21:45 WAT · 2 sources

ADC and Kwankwasiyya challenge Tinubu’s re‑election amid economic concerns

The African Democratic Congress and the Kwankwasiyya Movement have criticised President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term, pointing to unemployment and rising living costs, while also alleging that Tinubu has shown greater support for Atiku Abubakar than for other opposition figures.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 16:46 WAT · 4 sources

Delta State mourns death of former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, aged 71

Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former governor of Delta State and a trained medical doctor, died on 19 October 2026 at the age of 71. His family announced the loss, recalling his eight‑year tenure marked by health and infrastructure initiatives.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 14:45 WAT · 10 sources

Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Minister and Rivers Governor Hold Reconciliation Talks Ahead of 2027 Elections

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike met Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Rivers State lawmakers at the governor’s residence in Port Harcourt as part of ongoing efforts to ease political tensions before the 2027 polls, according to Punch.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 08:46 WAT · 1 source

Vandalism of Pantami campaign office sparks blame‑game between Gombe APC and PDP

A campaign office in Kumo, Gombe State was damaged in the early hours of Saturday, prompting mutual accusations from the ruling APC and opposition PDP as the 2027 governorship race intensifies.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 06:40 WAT · 2 sources

NDC vice‑president Kwankwaso rejects calls to abandon 2027 presidential race

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice‑presidential candidate, has affirmed that his ticket with Peter Obi will stay in the 2027 election, dismissing rumours of a merger with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 05:45 WAT · 9 sources

Peter Obi Media Office Criticises Vice‑President Shettima Over ‘Diminished’ Comment

The Peter Obi Media Office condemned Vice‑President Kashim Shettima for describing NDC candidate Peter Obi as ‘diminished’ while urging respect for opposition leader Atiku Abubakar, urging leaders to focus on policy records instead of personal attacks.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 04:46 WAT · 5 sources

Presidency dismisses governor's N250bn NLNG dividend claim as unfounded

The federal government has rejected Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde's allegation that N250 billion in Nigeria LNG dividends is being withheld for each state until after the 2027 elections, calling the assertion false and economically implausible.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 04:15 WAT · 8 sources

Trump publicly backs Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s October 27 election

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a full endorsement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arriving just weeks before Israel’s parliamentary vote. The move comes amid a tight race and a backdrop of recent conflict with Iran and the Hamas attack.

Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 03:15 WAT · 6 sources

PRP chief alleges Buhari opposed Tinubu’s succession, calling his presidency harmful to Nigeria

Hakeem Baba‑Ahmed, national chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, told a Northern Elders Forum summit that former President Muhammadu Buhari resisted pressure to endorse Bola Tinubu, warning that Tinubu’s tenure has driven the country to unprecedented lows.

Photo: U.S. Department of State from United States / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 00:45 WAT · 2 sources

Former El‑Rufai Ally Leads Mass Defection of ADC Members to APC in Kaduna

Muhammad Sa’idu, a former finance commissioner and ex‑chief of staff to Nasir El‑Rufai, announced that more than 200,000 African Democratic Congress members have joined the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna, prompting the state governor to raise the APC’s 2027 vote target.

LAS News Desk · 18 Oct 2026, 23:45 WAT · 3 sources

Kebbi state government disputes UNDP poverty ranking, accuses ADC candidate of politicisation

The Kebbi administration has challenged a United Nations Development Programme report that listed the state among Nigeria’s poorest, claiming the data is outdated and was used by opposition candidate Abubakar Malami to attack Governor Nasir Idris. The government says it has made progress on poverty and security and urges opponents to present solutions rather than statistics.

LAS News Desk · 18 Oct 2026, 21:45 WAT · 3 sources

Accord Lagos Chair Calls for Clarification on Adeleke’s Role in Tinubu Campaign

Accord’s Lagos chairman, Oladele Oladeji, has written to the party’s national leadership to seek clarity on Gov. Ademola Adeleke’s reported appointment as coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign in Osun, raising concerns about the impact on Accord’s political identity and electoral prospects.

LAS News Desk · 18 Oct 2026, 09:15 WAT · 2 sources

Nigeria mourns death of veteran diplomat and journalist Patrick Dele Cole

President Bola Tinubu and national leaders expressed sorrow after the passing of former ambassador and Daily Times chief Patrick Dele Cole, who died in London at 86 following a period of ill health.

LAS News Desk · 18 Oct 2026, 06:15 WAT · 5 sources

Makinde campaign claims victory in 12 states ahead of 2027 presidential election

The Allied Peoples Movement, led by Governor Seyi Makinde, has announced that it expects to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 12 key states in the 2027 election, citing economic hardship and alleged political arrogance by Tinubu's camp.

LAS News Desk · 18 Oct 2026, 04:45 WAT · 2 sources

Sokoto Court Rejects Former ADC Chairman’s Bid to Reclaim Party Leadership

A Federal High Court in Sokoto dismissed a lawsuit by former African Democratic Congress chairman Umar Faruk, ruling that the court had no jurisdiction over the party’s internal affairs and that the plaintiffs had not exhausted the party’s dispute‑resolution process.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 21:45 WAT · 2 sources

DLA summons Taraba candidate after Tinubu endorsement

The Democratic Leadership Alliance has disowned its Taraba governorship candidate, Aboki Bayonga, following his public support for President Bola Tinubu’s second‑term bid, and has called him before its disciplinary committee.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 20:45 WAT · 2 sources

Opposition G‑100 coalition eyes consensus presidential candidate shortly before 2027 vote

Salihu Lukman, convener of the G‑100 pressure group, says Nigeria's opposition parties are working toward a single presidential nominee and may announce it only days or weeks before the 2027 election, despite lingering trust issues.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 20:45 WAT · 5 sources

Gombe aspirant Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh switches from PDP to APC ahead of 2027 polls

Former PDP governorship aspirant Abdulkadir Hamma Saleh has resigned from the party and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress, urging supporters to back APC candidates as Gombe State realigns ahead of the 2027 elections.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 20:15 WAT · 2 sources

Wike links Nigeria’s economic recovery to Tinubu reforms amid political tensions

Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike argued that sustaining President Tinubu’s reform agenda is essential for Nigeria’s recovery, while former presidential aide Laolu Akande suggested his political survival is tied to the APC’s 2027 election strategy.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 19:15 WAT · 2 sources

ADC Campaign Council Labels Atiku Abubakar a Pan‑Nigerian Candidate Ahead of 2027 Election

The African Democratic Congress presidential campaign council has portrayed its candidate, former vice‑president Atiku Abubakar, as a unifying, detribalised figure and warned that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is fostering sectionalism and economic hardship as the 2027 vote approaches.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 18:15 WAT · 2 sources

Dispute emerges over alleged presidential scrutiny of vice‑president’s staff appointments

Former Secretary to the Government Babachir Lawand claims President Buhari delayed and questioned a list of Yemi Osinbajo’s proposed aides, while Osinbajo’s former spokesperson Laolu Akande denies the memo existed and says Buhari supported the vice‑president’s choices.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 17:15 WAT · 4 sources

Davido aide Israel DMW backs Atiku, calls for free vote ahead of 2027 Nigerian election

Logistics manager Israel DMW, a close aide to singer Davido, announced his support for former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar and urged the electoral commission to guarantee a free choice for voters as Nigeria approaches the 2027 presidential poll.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 16:16 WAT · 2 sources

Governor Makinde says poverty, not religion, is Nigeria’s chief challenge and calls on Christians to engage in politics

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde told reporters in Abuja that grinding poverty, rather than religious division, is Nigeria’s most pressing issue and urged Christians to overcome political reticence and contribute to national development.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 16:15 WAT · 2 sources

Prime Minister Carney urges Albertans to reject separation vote amid sovereignty concerns

Prime Minister Mark Carney appealed to voters in Alberta ahead of a Monday ballot on starting a legal process toward a future separation referendum, warning of heightened risks to Canada’s sovereignty and economic stability.

Photo: White House / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 13:15 WAT · 2 sources

Katie Zacharia’s five‑day stint ends, setting record for briefest White House press secretary tenure

Katie Zacharia was removed from the role of White House press secretary after only five days, following a controversial briefing and revelations about her legal credentials, according to multiple news outlets.

Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 00:45 WAT · 10 sources

APC launches nationwide rally tour, President Tinubu to attend 12 of 32 states

The All Progressives Congress has unveiled a nationwide campaign rally schedule beginning in Kaduna on 24 October. President Bola Tinubu will personally attend rallies in 12 states, including Lagos, Kano and Rivers, while delegating other events to party leaders.

LAS News Desk · 16 Oct 2026, 15:16 WAT · 8 sources

Diri and Duke clash over feasibility of Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway

Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri has rebuffed former Cross River Governor Donald Duke’s criticism of the 750‑km Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway, arguing the project is feasible and vital for regional development, while Duke cites engineering challenges and cost concerns.

LAS News Desk · 16 Oct 2026, 08:45 WAT · 2 sources

Somalia Sets 2027 Parliamentary and Presidential Election Dates Amid Opposition Dispute

Somalia's electoral commission has fixed parliamentary voting for 15 April 2027 and presidential voting for 15 May 2027, a timetable that has been rejected by opposition groups.

LAS News Desk · 16 Oct 2026, 08:15 WAT · 6 sources

APC campaign council visits Ibadan and Oyo traditional rulers for 2027 re‑election push

On 16 October 2026, the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council led by Director‑General Abdulaziz Yari met the Olubadan of Ibadan and the Alaafin of Oyo to request their blessings ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election bid, according to local reports.

LAS News Desk · 16 Oct 2026, 07:45 WAT · 4 sources

NDC signals readiness to restore fuel subsidy if elected in 2027

Vice‑presidential hopeful Rabiu Kwankwaso said the Nigeria Democratic Congress will consider re‑introducing a fuel subsidy, among other measures, to lower petrol prices if it wins the 2027 elections, after aligning with presidential candidate Peter Obi and party leader Seriake Dickson.

LAS News Desk · 15 Oct 2026, 23:15 WAT · 2 sources

Tinubu launches APC campaign council, pledges governance over rallies

President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council in Abuja, vowing to prioritise governance while urging party leaders to mobilise grassroots support, with a particular focus on women, ahead of the 2027 election.

Photo: Chatham House / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

LAS News Desk · 15 Oct 2026, 09:15 WAT · 7 sources

ADC leader Dele Momodu accuses President Tinubu of emulating Abacha’s coercive tactics

ADC chief Dele Momodu has compared President Bola Tinubu to former military ruler Sani Abacha, claiming the current leader is coercing Nigerians and consolidating power across all branches of government, according to a Daily Post report.

LAS News Desk · 15 Oct 2026, 06:45 WAT · 1 source

Akpabio urges APC governors to stay in office, not chase unavailable posts

Senate President Godswill Akpabio warned governors at the APC Presidential Campaign Council inauguration not to abandon their constituents while seeking political positions that are not open, urging them to complete their constitutionally allowed eight‑year term.

LAS News Desk · 15 Oct 2026, 04:45 WAT · 2 sources

Atiku condemns Tinubu’s expanded APC campaign council as political overreach

Former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, criticised President Bola Tinubu’s enlarged campaign council for the 2027 election, saying it reflects fear and diverts attention from Nigeria’s economic and security crises.

LAS News Desk · 15 Oct 2026, 01:15 WAT · 7 sources

Wike urges APC governors to secure states for Tinubu ahead of 2027 election

Minister Nyesom Wike warned APC governors not to claim victory unless they deliver their states for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election, pledging to mobilise support in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 21:46 WAT · 9 sources

Osun Governor Adeleke backs Tinubu’s 2027 bid, vows to ‘dance back to Aso Rock’

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election campaign at the APC Presidential Campaign Council inauguration, saying the nation needs more than one term to complete reforms and promising to rally support across the country.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 21:16 WAT · 8 sources

Aviation minister accuses former vice‑president of hypocrisy over Nigeria Airways liquidation

Minister Festus Keyamo rebuked Atiku Abubakar for the 2004 shutdown of Nigeria Airways and the alleged failure to pay workers’ benefits, while noting President Bola Tinubu’s recent allocation of funds to settle the outstanding liabilities.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 15:16 WAT · 6 sources

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s unlisted hospitality dinners with Manchester City chairman under scrutiny

Records obtained by the BBC show that Andy Burnham, now prime minister, attended two hospitality dinners with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak while serving as mayor of Greater Manchester, prompting calls for full disclosure of the engagements.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 14:46 WAT · 3 sources

Former DRC President Kabila Leads New Politico‑Military Front with M23 Rebels

Joseph Kabila announced the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, a coalition that unites his supporters with the AFC‑M23 rebel movement, pledging to overthrow the government by any means, including force, amid ongoing conflict in eastern Congo.

Photo: Office of the White House (Amanda Lucidon) / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 10:16 WAT · 6 sources