There is currently a proposed alliance between Obi and Kwankwaso for a joint 2027 presidential ticket under the ADC. The loyalist added that the leaders specifically warned Kwankwaso not to defect until there was an assurance that Obi would receive the presidential ticket. As it is, it seems Kwankwaso is the bargaining strength for Peter Obi to get the presidential ticket in the ADC, and the card must be carefully played. The game ahead is that Obi will participate in the ADC presidential primary, and after losing to Atiku, he will be persuaded to take the VP slot. As it stands, Kwankwaso is Obi’s only strong bargaining chip for the ADC presidential ticket.

The Federal Government has said it is engaging the United States through diplomatic channels to ensure Nigeria is removed from the list of countries affected by Washington’s recent immigrant visa restrictions. On January 14, the US announced an immigrant visa pause affecting 75 countries, including Nigeria, a move that has raised concerns among Nigerians seeking to live and work permanently in America. He noted that Nigeria was not the only country affected by the US action and urged Nigerians to remain calm as diplomatic engagements continue. “Moreover, Nigeria is not the only country affected by the visa restrictions. The media director stressed that the Federal Government was committed to protecting the interests of Nigerians abroad and strengthening bilateral relations with the United States.

A Nigerian-based website hosting firm, HostNowNow Limited, has refunded two clients following a report by Sunday PUNCH on alleged failure to provide hosting services and refusal to refund money paid. The refund came weeks after a Sunday PUNCH special report titled ‘How local web hosting services ruin businesses, withhold refunds,’ published on December 28, 2025, which detailed complaints against the firm. Eventually, Giwa said he was forced to register with another hosting company using a different domain name, a move he said negatively affected the business. Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Odekola confirmed the refund, saying, “Yes, we have received the refund from them. The firm said it had provided domain registration and web hosting services for nearly 10 years but recently experienced an unexpected incident that affected its internal systems, including renewals, support requests, and backup operations.

Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has sent a heartfelt message to Anthony Joshua following the car crash in Nigeria that killed two of the British boxer’s close friends, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Last month, Joshua was a passenger in a crash that claimed the lives of his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami and personal trainer Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele while on holiday in Nigeria. Earlier this week, Joshua spoke out for the first time after the accident, describing the loss as devastating. We went back home, went to see our families, and everything just got flipped upside down,” Joshua said. While Joshua has not said whether he will fight again, promoter Eddie Hearn believes he will return to boxing when the time is right.

The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has expressed strong confidence that President Bola Tinubu will secure a convincing victory in the 2027 Presidential election, urging Nigerians and political stakeholders to rally behind the President’s reform agenda. Speaking at his residence in Abuja on Saturday, Dr. Matawalle said President Tinubu’s leadership and policy direction have positioned the country on the path of economic stabilisation, institutional strengthening and national cohesion. He said, “President Tinubu has taken bold steps to stabilise the economy and strengthen national institutions. The minister also appealed to Nigerians to support government policies aimed at promoting sustainable economic growth, improving security and strengthening national unity. “Rather than engaging in rancour and short-term political calculations, we should focus on solutions that deliver jobs, security and stronger institutions for Nigerians,” he said.

The Federal Government has announced that the concession of the Ikere hydropower plant in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State will generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, while boosting power supply by six megawatts to the state and neighbouring states. He said the development aligns with the policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to revitalise the energy sector and create employment opportunities for Nigerians. The PUNCH reports that Ikere Gorge Dam is a major earth-fill dam located on the Ogun River near Iseyin in Oyo State. Adelabu said the project would stimulate electricity market development and enhance economic growth in the host community. He said the success recorded at the Ikere Gorge hydropower plant was a product of collaboration between the two ministries to strengthen Nigeria’s hydropower infrastructure.

The African Democratic Congress, has called on the National Assembly to urgently pass the Electoral Bill 2025, warning that continued delays could undermine critical electoral reforms and threaten the credibility of the 2027 elections. The move followed a three-hour closed-door executive session during which lawmakers examined the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly. ADC stated, “The ADC also notes that some of the proposed amendments have introduced new compliance and eligibility requirements that need to be properly understood and met by political parties. “The ADC therefore calls on the National Assembly to promptly pass the bill. Any further delays pose a serious risk to the integrity of the 2027 general elections and undermine the integrity of the entire electoral process well in advance.

We took a huge one-time hit of N748bn to admit old bad loans instead of pretending they do not exist. Painful headline, but it is a serious long-term move,” he wrote. It made N2.96tn in interest income and N1.91tn in net interest income, which gave it the strength to take the cleanup and still stay standing,” he stated. Otedola expressed optimism about the bank’s prospects, noting that the cleanup positioned First Bank favourably for the recapitalisation exercise and future growth. Bad loans cleared + strong income engine + long-term thinking = real value creation,” he concluded.

President Bola Tinubu has called for the reactivation of a regional standby force to strengthen collective security efforts in West Africa and the Sahel, urging countries in the region to leverage Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre in Abuja as an intelligence and operations hub. “Nigeria is favourably disposed to more collaborative and multilateral approaches aimed at dealing with the security crisis in the Sahel,” Tinubu said. Tinubu said the security situation in large parts of West Africa remains volatile, with rising casualties of violence, including among women and children. He further warned that drug cartels may be relocating operations to weaker jurisdictions in West Africa, amid intensified anti-narcotics campaigns in South America, raising the risk of alliances between traffickers and insurgent groups. Tinubu expressed optimism that the deliberations of intelligence chiefs and strategic stakeholders at the Accra conference would provide a sustainable framework for an inclusive regional counterterrorism strategy

Soldiers during the Operation Igbo Danu in Kwara...Photo Credit: Nigerian ArmyThe Nigerian Army has launched Operation Igbo Danu, also known as Operation Forest Flush, leading to the neutralisation of terrorists and rescue of kidnap victims across parts of Kwara State. This was disclosed in a statement published on the Nigerian Army’s X handle on Friday, which was signed by Captain Maureen Ogbuka, for the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army. The statement further revealed that troops cleared Garin Dandi, described as a major bandit enclave in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. Despite difficult terrain, the statement noted that troops maintained aggressive operations across forested areas, denying bandits freedom of movement. “The operation is ongoing to deal decisively with all terrorist networks operating within Kwara State,” the statement added.

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI have killed a top Islamic State West Africa Province commander and foiled criminal operations, the force said on Saturday. The force in a statement signed by Media Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, revealed that the top ISWAP commander was killed in Borno State. This impressive development represents a major blow to the command and control structure of ISWAP in the region,” the statement said. The troops further revealed that, working with the Civilian Joint Task Force, they neutralised three terrorists during an ambush between Ngazalgana and Lamusheri communities in Borno State. The Joint Task Force also reported successes in Adamawa State.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates victory over Italy's Jannik Sinner after their men's singles semi-final match on day thirteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 31, 2026. “I’m lost for words right now, to be honest,” said Djokovic, who dropped to his knees and was emotional when the match ended. It has proved increasingly difficult with the emergence of Sinner and Alcaraz, who have shared every Slam title since then. – Hate giving up –Against Zverev, Alcaraz only narrowly avoided crashing out after a huge fright at 4-4 in the third set when he pulled up in pain with what appeared to be cramp. In another action, wildcards John Peers and Olivia Gadecki became the first team to retain the Australian Open mixed-doubles title since 1988-89.

PUNCH Online reports that Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Monday ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week, citing continued observance of the sit-at-home declared by IPOB since July 30, 2021. The governor had said the sit-at-home was crippling the state’s economy and warned against further compliance with the order. However, traders at the market said the sit-at-home was in solidarity with the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial on charges related to separatist agitation. IPOB reiterated its demand for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu and accused the Anambra State Government of escalating tensions through what it described as economic intimidation of traders. The Anambra State Government has yet to respond to the latest declaration as of the time of filing this report.

Saturday Beats exclusively gathered that the actor was arrested in Enugu, and his family and friends initially thought he was arrested by the Department of State Services. According to findings cited by Premium Times, the actor is alleged to have been involved in the media and messaging side of the coup plot. Details of the alleged coup attempt first emerged months ago following quiet arrests within the military. Around the same period, intelligence gathered by the State Security Service reportedly confirmed that some officers were exploring ways to destabilise the country’s democratic order. As the legal process unfolds, the case has drawn public attention not only because of its political weight but also because of the rare involvement of a figure from the entertainment industry in an alleged plot of such magnitude.

An Osun State High Court, sitting in Osogbo on Friday, issued leave to the United Bank for Africa in Suit HOS/M4/2026 to quash the criminal proceedings being held at a Magistrate Court in the state capital. The leave was granted in a motion ex-parte by Justice M. O. Agboola of the court, according to a statement shared with Saturday PUNCH. The statement said a Chief Magistrate, A. Adeyeba, who is a party in the suit, still issued a bench warrant against some officials of UBA, notwithstanding being aware of the leave granted earlier on the same day. Reacting to the development, Samuel Abiodun, identified as the Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, lauded the High Court decision, describing it as an affirmation of the supremacy of the rule of law. He advised members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding while the illegality is being lawfully contested in the court of law.