Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed Bashir Machina as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Yobe north senatorial district. Machina, at a primary organised by the party in May, had won unopposed. However, there were speculations that he was being asked to step down for Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who currently represents the district. But Machina had insisted that he would not withdraw for Lawan — the senate president had contested the APC presidential ticket but lost. Amid the controversy, the APC submitted Lawan’s name to INEC as its senatorial candidate for Yobe north, and Abdullahi…

The fight against corruption has been a top campaign issue in Nigeria’s last two presidential elections, but the history of graft allegations surrounding the two main candidates means neither is likely to raise it in the run-up to February’s vote. Front-runner Bola Tinubu, who secured the ruling party’s nomination earlier this month, was being investigated by the country’s anti-corruption agency as recently as last June. Three decades ago he fought a lawsuit in which the US government accused him of laundering the proceeds of heroin trafficking and eventually reached a settlement. Atiku Abubakar, his chief rival, brought tens of millions…

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, visited Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt on Wednesday. The closed-door meeting lasted for a few hours at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt. Though the outcome of the meeting was not known, the two politicians were seen shaking hands in front of Governor Wike’s residence in pictures online. Wike was spotted in white, while his guest, Obi wore a blue senator material. Obi’s visit is coming amidst speculations that Wike may dump the Peoples Democratic Party, due to the fallout overthe presidential primary of the party and the…

William Kumuyi, founder and general superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, has advised politicians to conduct research on what Nigerians desire regarding the next set of leaders. Kumuyi gave the advice on Wednesday, while addressing journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara capital, shortly after he paid a courtesy visit to Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, governor of the state. According to him, political leaders need to make consultations, especially on speculations around Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket for the 2023 presidential election. “The Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket is a difficult and slippery area,” he said. “So, what I will say is that the political office holders…