The Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, Sunday Dare, has declared that the 2027 general elections must transcend mere political contestation and serve as a national referendum on consolidating President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. In a statement released on Wednesday, Dare argued that Nigeria cannot afford to disrupt its current economic trajectory, stressing that the administration`s sweeping tax overhauls are critical masterstrokes designed to secure long-term national growth. THENEWSCREDIT reports that Dare emphasized that true leadership requires choosing long-term national survival over short-term public applause. Since assuming office, President Tinubu has initiated aggressive policy shifts aimed at fixing public finances, broadening the revenue base, and stabilizing the macroeconomic environment. Dare emphasized that true leadership requires choosing long-term national survival over short-term public applause. Since assuming office, President Tinubu has initiated aggressive policy shifts aimed at fixing public finances, broadening the revenue base, and stabilizing the macroeconomic environment. According to Dare, these measures are not meant to burden citizens but to correct structural defects that have hindered Nigeria`s growth for decades. The ongoing tax sector overhaul is a strategic blueprint designed to generate sustainable internal revenue for critical infrastructure, including durable road networks and expanded transport systems. This approach aims to secure funding for energy stabilization and vital social services. Furthermore, the initiative focuses on strengthening national security and driving economic growth through enhanced education and job creation. By improving the fiscal framework, the government intends to foster a stable environment for investment and development Dare stated that the reforms aim to build a simpler, fairer, and more efficient tax system that encourages private investment while giving the government the financial capacity to drive development. Addressing the upcoming 2027 political cycle, Dare warned against the dangers of policy summersaults, stating that Nigeria loses valuable progress by constantly starting over. He called on citizens to prioritize stability, consistency, and patience to allow the current foundations to yield full results. "The work has started," Dare stated, linking the tax reforms directly to the administration`s Renewed Hope Agenda. He concluded that the next phase of governance must focus entirely on the consolidation and expansion of these economic policies to deliver maximum value to all Nigerians.

Apostle Joshua Aghasedo of Powerline Church has stated that the use of sex toys by married couples is not a sin, describing the devices as technological tools that can enhance marital intimacy. Speaking to his congregation in a video published on the church’s YouTube channel on Tuesday, the clergyman likened sex toys to everyday utilities like cars and phones. He argued that when used within the framework of marriage, they serve as helpful equipment. “Is using a sex toy a sin? Is driving a car a sin? A car to drive you from here to Dallas, is it a sin? Using the phone, is it a sin? So, the phone is an equipment right, and a car is an equipment," Aghasedo said. While clarifying that he has never personally used one, the cleric noted that modern technology offers tools that can assist couples. "It’s an equipment. It can help you do the job to 90%, and you finish the remaining 10%. I’m just being real. It can help you," he added. Aghasedo emphasized that his endorsement applies strictly to married couples. He revealed that he had previously recommended a sex toy to a couple to protect their union from external infidelity. "I have suggested a sex toy to a couple before when I look at all the surrounding circumstances, so that somebody won’t go out and other things would follow," he explained. "It’s an equipment to help the process... We are talking within the framework of marriage, right? Not outside". The pastor drew a sharp line between shared marital use and individual use. He warned that using such devices alone constitutes masturbation, which he classified as a sin equivalent to fornication. "Now, if you engage it on your own, it’s called masturbation and another word for masturbation is fornication," the clergyman stated. "It’s within the marital context. Alright?" The use of intimacy-enhancing tools remains a highly debated topic across cultural and religious landscapes in Nigeria. While some faith leaders condemn the practice entirely, others are shifting focus toward the context of legal marriage rather than the tools themselves.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has strongly admonished Nigerian Christians and Muslims to halt mutual insults and religious rivalry, emphasizing that peace is impossible without mutual respect. Speaking at a public function in Abuja on Tuesday, the revered traditional and Islamic leader cautioned Nigerians against religious superiority complexes, stating that only God can determine who is better. "We must be honest with ourselves that Christians can stop insulting Muslims. Muslims can stop insulting Christians. And that’s how we will live in peace," the Sultan stated. "We are not here to say we are better than anybody. We are not better than anybody. He [God] is the creator of us all. He will determine who is better." The Sultan`s remarks follow a controversial statement by Islamic cleric Yahaya Jingir, who claimed Christians would have claimed superiority over Muslims if not for the country`s current Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket. Although the Sultan did not name the cleric, his address directly tackled the underlying friction, reinforcing that no religious group should consider itself superior to another. He challenged citizens to revive the culture of neighborly love, regardless of faith or tribal background. "Allah created your neighbour for you. Whoever is your neighbour, you know what is required of you to do for your neighbour," he added. Shifting his focus to civic responsibility, the apex Islamic leader condemned the rampant spread of misinformation and targeted vitriol on digital platforms. He warned that individuals who deliberately manufacture falsehoods against presidents, governors, lawmakers, and other public officers will ultimately account for their actions before God. Instead of advocating for the disintegration of Nigeria, the Sultan charged citizens to channel their energy into fixing the nation`s foundational challenges. To illustrate his message of interfaith harmony, he cited the heroic legacy of the late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who famously saved over 200 Christians by shielding them inside his mosque during a violent crisis in Plateau State. He described the late Imam`s actions as the ultimate standard of humanity that all Nigerians must emulate to preserve national peace.

The Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu over his administration`s silence regarding inflammatory comments made by Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir. In a viral social media video, Sheikh Jingir declared that Nigeria belongs exclusively to Muslims, stating that anyone opposed to a Muslim-Muslim political ticket should leave the country. He further caused public outrage by referring to Nigerian Christians as "infidels." Reacting to the broadcast, Primate Ayodele warned that the safety and future of Christianity in Nigeria are under severe threat if the federal government refuses to clamp down on such divisive rhetoric. He accused the government of practicing selective justice and double standards. "If a Christian religious leader had made a fraction of these statements, security agencies would have arrested him immediately," Ayodele stated. "This inflammatory utterance must not go unpunished. The government needs to act now; this cleric should be in jail to preserve whatever is left of our fragile peace." The prominent Christian leader cautioned that failing to hold religious extremists accountable will severely undermine national unity, disrupt peaceful coexistence, and plunge the country into avoidable sectarian crisis. He urged the Presidency to move beyond silence and issue a stern, decisive warning against hate speech to safeguard the nation.

The Northern Christian Association (NCA) has strongly rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were voted into office solely by Muslims during the 2023 general elections. NCA Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab, stated that election data clearly shows the joint ticket received critical winning votes from Christian-majority states and communities across Nigeria. The Christian leader made the declaration while reacting to a viral video featuring Islamic cleric Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir. In the video, Jingir defended the controversial Muslim-Muslim ticket ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that Muslims should not apologize for political dominance due to their population. The cleric went further to describe Christians as "infidels" and urged Muslims to use their numerical strength to drive political interests. Speaking on Channels Television, Hayab condemned the cleric`s remarks as unacceptable and highly inflammatory. He noted that while the initial same-faith ticket raised deep concerns among Christians who desired constitutional balance, millions of Christian voters still supported the administration. He challenged the narrative of a single-faith victory, noting that he could list multiple Christian-majority states where Tinubu triumphed. Hayab expressed deep worry over the context of the speech, noting that the derogatory comments were made publicly in the presence of three state governors. He criticized the political leaders for smiling and cheering rather than instantly rebuking or rejecting the divisive rhetoric. According to the NCA leader, this collective silence from authorities validates long-held fears of religious marginalization. The NCA chairman declared that the incident has effectively ended "Nigeria`s pretence" regarding the persecution and discrimination faced by northern Christians. He noted that observations of bias are often dismissed by critics as false alarms or exaggeration. He stated that the public broadcast proved what has been happening in secret for decades, ending any deniability regarding religious tensions. Directly addressing the political class, Hayab challenged the federal government and the governors present at the gathering to publicly state their positions on the cleric`s speech. He warned that the silence of the candidates being campaigned for would be interpreted as an endorsement of the insulting rhetoric. He emphasized that the core issue was no longer about political strategies, but the demeaning language used against citizens. Despite the escalating tension, the NCA affirmed that Christian leaders will not abandon peace talks or structural engagement with the Muslim community. Hayab clarified that the church would continue to collaborate with honest Islamic clerics who understand nation-building. However, he insisted that divisive figures must be called out publicly so the government can act responsibly to prevent a breakdown of law and order. To resolve ongoing disputes over demographic dominance, the NCA chairman renewed his advocacy for the inclusion of religious data in Nigeria’s national census. He argued that accurate, verified population statistics would eliminate manipulative claims of numerical strength used by politicians to cause division. He lamented that leaders are focusing on polarizing rhetoric while citizens grapple with severe hunger and national insecurity. Hayab concluded by warning against a rising pattern of religious extremism, citing another recent video where a speaker threatened to purge Christians from the civil service in Katsina State. He called on security agencies to clamp down on hate speech, urging Nigerians to reject divisive politics and focus heavily on unity, security, and economic progress.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria’s growing culture of post-election litigation. He warned that the increasing role of courts in determining political outcomes is actively weakening the country’s democratic foundations. Speaking on Tuesday at the 2026 Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Jonathan stated that the nation`s judicial dependency has created a highly unpredictable political environment. THENEWSCREDIT reports that the former president described Nigeria’s electoral dispute system as a global anomaly. He noted that unlike other African democracies where elections are decisively resolved at the ballot box, Nigeria has institutionalised prolonged legal battles. "The Nigerian situation is extremely different from most other African countries," Jonathan remarked, adding that this trend heavily undermines the power of the ordinary voter. To illustrate his point, Jonathan recalled a historical conversation with a former Deputy President of South Africa during his tenure as vice president. The foreign leader expressed deep shock that Nigerian politicians routinely head to court immediately after losing an election. Jonathan noted that while international peers view court battles as a last resort, Nigeria has normalized it as an official phase of the electoral cycle. While advocating for judicial independence and impartiality, Jonathan lamented the sharp decline in public confidence regarding political judgments. He argued that while criminal offences committed during elections must be prosecuted, civil electoral disputes have become overly politicised. He suggested that for highly controversial cases, the judiciary should order a rerun rather than handpicking winners in a courtroom. Jonathan also targeted the judiciary`s deep interference in the internal affairs of political parties, particularly disputes from party primaries. He expressed worry that judges now frequently determine valid party candidates and legal party leadership. This overreach, he argued, strips political parties of their primary constitutional responsibilities and creates systemic chaos. THENEWSCREDIT further gathered that the dialogue concluded with Jonathan reminding stakeholders that democracy functions as an interconnected ecosystem. This delicate balance requires synchronised transparency from political parties, electoral bodies, security agencies, civil society, the media, and voters. He maintained that true democratic consolidation will only occur when Nigerians restore total confidence in the ballot box rather than legal technicalities.

Leaders and residents across eight communities in the Ogbomoso South Local Government Area of Oyo State have issued a strict two-day ultimatum to a group of unidentified herdsmen to vacate their lands over escalating security threats. The emergency eviction notice follows a surge in criminal activities within the Ogbomoso geopolitical zone. This includes recent cases of kidnapping at Oloka village, alongside the mass abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in the neighbouring Oriire Local Government Area. The decision was finalised during a joint security meeting on Monday, August 10, 2026. The resolution was backed by local traditional rulers, community chairmen, and the resident Fulani leadership. The affected areas, clustered around the Samaday area, include: Ibapon Are Oluwamodupe; Ayedire; Mercy Land; Estate; Irewolede; Ona Igbala; Ifesowapo; Grace Land. Speaking to THENEWSCREDIT on behalf of the communities on Tuesday, the Baale of Ibapon, Ashifat Akanji, emphasised that the order targets transient herders whose identities and origins remain unknown. "We are declaring that they must leave within 48 hours," Akanji stated. "We have Fulanis who have lived peacefully with us for years under their local leader, Seriki Fulani Idowu, and we even issued them identification cards. But we do not know these newcomers. The Commissioner of Police sternly warned us to be wary of strangers. We will not wait for disaster to strike before taking action." THENEWSCREDIT reports that the Chairman of the eight joint communities, Mr. Alagbe Oyebamiji, lamented that the nomadic group had become a severe public nuisance and environmental hazard. "Their livestock destroys our farms, damages residential septic tanks, and defecates all over the roads, posing accident and disease risks," Oyebamiji said. He noted that law enforcement agents had previously driven the herders away, but they returned shortly after, prompting the community to scale up its response. The Chairman of Ogbomoso Parapo (Home Headquarters), Prince Faruq Aderemi Olude, revealed that the herders initially attempted to justify their stay by falsely claiming they had permission from local leadership. "The herders claimed Baale Ibapon permitted them, but the royal father denied it. They then claimed the Seriki Fulani, Alhaji Idowu, authorised them, which was also denied," Olude explained. "We convened a broad-based meeting and gave them 48 hours to vacate. If they refuse, we will take legal steps. This aligns with what security agencies preach: see something, say something, and act before it turns into a full security crisis."

A civil servant and farmer in the Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State has been forced to flee his ancestral home and abandon his ready-to-harvest crops after suspected local bandits demanded a N500,000 "levy" before allowing him access to his farmland. The victim, a resident of Mbagena Council Ward, was forced into hiding despite already paying N200,000 out of the demanded sum to the criminals. The harrowing incident was brought to light over the weekend by the farmer’s son, John James, a 300-level student at Benue State University (BSU). James spoke out during a capacity-building workshop in Makurdi titled “Promoting Safety and Security Rights, Accountability, and Access to Justice,” organised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). According to James, the ordeal began two weeks ago when heavily armed men invaded his parents` residence at night, demanding an immediate payment of N500,000. "My father pleaded with them because he did not have such money at the time," James narrated. "He begged for our lives because we knew that contacting security agencies would only aggravate the situation." The gunmen initially granted a brief extension to allow the farmer to harvest and sell his cash crops—including groundnut, beniseed, and soybeans—to raise the cash. However, the situation turned violent when the gunmen returned while the farmer was away attending a burial ceremony and abducted his wife, accusing the family of deliberately delaying the payment. Although she was eventually released after one of the captors reportedly pitied her distress, James revealed she suffered severe physical and psychological trauma. "She was freed but not without being tortured. As I speak, my mother is suffering emotionally and physically from the pain inflicted on her," he said. Desperate to secure his family`s safety, the farmer raised N200,000 through loans from friends and relatives, delivering the cash to the bandits at midnight last Thursday. Instead of granting him access to his fields, the terrorists rejected the partial payment. "When my father handed them the money, they said it was not enough. They insisted he must complete the N500,000 before he would be allowed to harvest anything from his farm," James said. Facing continuous death threats, the farmer fled the community, leaving his entire season`s livelihood to rot in the fields. James further raised an alarm over the identity of the perpetrators, stating they are local criminals known to the villagers. "These people move freely in our vicinity. They are local bandits, and some are well-known to the villagers because they are from the same community." He lamented that the community has been trapped in a cycle of silence and fear. While local farmers routinely suffer from extortion and asset theft, they are terrified of seeking state protection. "The villagers hardly report to the police anymore because those who attempted to involve law enforcement in the past were hunted down and killed by the bandits," James alleged.

A tragic domestic dispute has claimed the life of Mr. Innocent Nwaorji, who was reportedly stabbed to death by his wife, Sarah Nwaorji, in Aba, Abia State. The incident occurred at their residence near the Seven-Up Company area in Aba North Local Government Area. The couple, originally from the Amaise Umuokereke-Ngwa community in Obingwa Local Government Area, had only tied the knot in December 2025. Local sources revealed that the couple had a heated argument in their apartment on Friday. The dispute took a fatal turn on Sunday night. A neighbour, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that he was alerted to the scene at approximately 10:00 pm on Sunday, only to discover that Sarah had allegedly stabbed her husband to death. Friends and associates of the deceased have expressed profound shock over the incident, describing Innocent as a peaceful, easy-going man. Residents noted that the young marriage, which was yet to produce any children, ended abruptly and violently over a disagreement. The body of the deceased has been recovered and deposited at an undisclosed mortuary in Aba. Meanwhile, the suspect, Sarah Nwaorji, has been arrested and is currently in police custody. Efforts to get an official statement from the Abia State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chinaka, did not respond to phone calls or text messages at the time of filing this report.

The 18 local government councils in Ondo State have officially commenced a massive social welfare intervention scheme designed to alleviate economic hardship. under which about 5,400 vulnerable elderly residents will receive a monthly stipend of ₦20,000. The initiative marks a coordinated effort by local administrations to directly support aging populations across the state`s grassroots. The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, disclosed the development during a media briefing on Monday in Akure, the state capital. Takuro stated that the welfare programme was introduced as a direct response to the socio-economic challenges facing vulnerable residents, with a specific focus on senior citizens who lack stable incomes. According to the framework of the scheme, each of the 18 local government areas in Ondo State successfully identified at least 300 residents aged 70 years and above to benefit from the initial rollout. The commissioner noted that rigorous selection processes were implemented at the grassroots level to ensure that the cash transfers reach those who need them most. The state government has also hinted at a potential expansion of the scheme in the coming months as financial resources improve. "They are providing a stipend to at least a minimum of 300 aged people between 70 years and above in their respective local governments. They are paying them a minimum of ₦20,000 monthly and they are planning to even increase that number," Takuro explained. Beyond the elderly support programme, the commissioner revealed that the local councils have concurrently launched youth and women empowerment initiatives. These parallel schemes aim to reduce poverty, stimulate local commerce, and improve economic opportunities across all communities. The youth intervention is structured as a monthly program targeting young entrepreneurs capable of utilizing financial aid effectively. Women are also being heavily prioritized under the new welfare drive due to their critical contributions to household stability and community development. The ministry emphasizes that empowering women financially creates a multiplier effect that improves child nutrition, healthcare access, and overall standard of living within the local government areas. Furthermore, the 18 local councils are strengthening grassroot agricultural productivity by scaling up the distribution of vital inputs to farmers. To maximize impact, the state is currently establishing a coordinated system to harmonise the supply of cocoa seedlings, palm seedlings, and high-grade fertilisers across all council areas. The Commissioner concluded by stating that individual councils will still retain the flexibility to determine the specific, unique needs of farmers in their respective domains. He maintained that the various interconnected interventions are part of a holistic agenda by local governments to improve livelihoods, protect vulnerable groups, and promote sustainable economic productivity throughout Ondo State.