The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, for a hearing in a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, was instituted by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, who is asking the court to declare Jonathan constitutionally ineligible to seek the presidency again. Justice Peter Lifu had, on April 28, ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants after they failed to file responses to the suit. Jonathan is listed as the first defendant in the matter, while the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation are joined as second and third defendants, respectively. The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election. He also prayed the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate for the poll. In the originating summons, the plaintiff asked the court to determine “whether in view of the combined provisions of Sections 1(1), (2) and (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the 1st defendant is eligible, under any circumstances whatsoever, to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Jideobi argued that Jonathan had already exhausted the constitutional limit of two terms, having completed the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua before serving another full term after winning the 2011 presidential election. In an affidavit deposed to by Emmanuel Agida in support of the suit, the plaintiff stated that Jonathan was sworn in as president on May 6, 2010, following Yar’Adua’s death on May 5, 2010. The affidavit added that reports suggesting Jonathan may contest the 2027 election informed the decision to approach the court. “That the plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president,” the affidavit partly read. The plaintiff further argued that if Jonathan contests and wins the 2027 election, he would be taking the presidential oath of office for the third time, contrary to the provisions of the Constitution. Agida said the suit was filed “in the public interest, in defence of the rule of law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution, and to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian constitutional order.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said contesting Nigeria’s presidency is “not a computer game” as he reacted to calls by youth groups urging him to contest the 2027 election. Jonathan spoke on Thursday while receiving some youth groups who visited him at his office in Abuja to press him to return to the presidential race. Responding to the appeal, the former president said he would consult widely before taking any decision, stressing that leadership required careful consideration. “You are asking me to come and contest the next election. Presidential race is not a computer game. But I’ve heard you and I’ll consult widely,” he said. The former president commended the youths for showing interest in the country, describing patriotism as essential to nation-building. “If you have no interest in the country, you will not bother to be here,” he added. Jonathan also urged young Nigerians to promote peace and credible elections, warning that the absence of transparent electoral processes discourages competent citizens from participating in politics. “The key thing we need in this country is peace. “You continue to advocate for that. And you continue to advocate for peaceful and credible elections in the country. Because if we don’t have peaceful and credible elections, most good citizens will not want to bother to get involved in politics,” he said. The former president lamented Nigeria’s low voter turnout, saying the country records one of the poorest participation rates during elections despite having a large voting population. “I’ve observed elections in about 14 or more African countries and even Southeast Asia. Nigeria has the lowest turnout in every election cycle. “I think INEC needs to do something about it. They need to start to get consultants to look at it. And what is the cause? As young people, you must be involved in the electoral process,” he stated. Jonathan challenged the youths to participate actively in the electoral process by obtaining voter cards and voting during elections. “If I ask how many of you have your voter’s card now, probably 50% of you don’t have your voter’s card. And you’re asking me to go and contest the election. So you must participate in the electoral process,” he said. He also lamented the perception of Nigerians abroad, attributing it partly to leadership failures over the years. “The highest level of disdain shown to Nigerian youths abroad has to stop. Even African countries that we have, African countries that even when we are students, as of our scholarship monies, we are contributing to solve problems in those countries,” he said. Jonathan, however, reiterated that he had only listened to the appeal and would continue consultations before making any political decision ahead of 2027. “I will consult. I cannot just wake up and say I want to be the president of Nigeria again. But I am telling you that I will consult. If there is a need to, I will wait,” Jonathan stated.

The race for Agodi Government House is in its early stages and, while Adekanmbi is a leading figure, the final, official "anointing" by the Governor or Elders Council has not been officially confirmed, with other contenders also in the mix. Based on recent reports as of May 2026, Hon. Abimbola "Bimbo" Adekanmbi is a prominent contender for the 2027 Oyo State governorship race, having declared his ambition and joined the People`s Democratic Party (PDP). However, the assertion that he has been officially anointed as Governor Seyi Makinde`s sole successor is not yet a finalized fact, but rather part of ongoing political maneuvering and intense speculation surrounding the 2027 election. Adekanmbi, a former Commissioner for Finance and Deputy Chief of Staff, officially declared his intention to run for governor under the PDP on April 21, 2026, following his resignation from the APC. Governor Makinde has tasked an advisory council with screening various aspirants to identify a qualified successor for 2027. Adekanmbi is among the top contenders in the PDP, alongside figures like Dr. Nureni Adeniran, Dr. Debo Akande, and Hon. Debo Ogundoyin. Adekanmbi has been handling high-profile assignments for the Makinde administration, including chairing the committee for the upgrade of the Ibadan Airport to international standard. While some political groups highlight him as the "candidate to beat", others have expressed concern regarding past financial allegations.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Wednesday warned that the scale of insecurity across different parts of Nigeria poses a major threat to the conduct of free and fair elections. Amupitan made the remark during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections. He said the prevailing security challenges, including violence and threats to electoral processes, could undermine credible polls if not properly addressed. Amupitan said, “In Nigeria, our electoral system has placed numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermine the confidence of the electorates. “These challenges not only affect the outcome of our elections, but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve. In this regard, I would like to emphasise the importance of the proactive security measures. “The scale of insecurity across the various parts of Nigeria presents a threat to the conduct of the fair election. It is essential that we carry out total security risk analysis ahead of the election and this will enable us to identify potential flashpoints and deploy appropriate strategies to mitigate risks, thereby safeguarding voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the electoral process.” According to him, such measures would help identify flashpoints and enable the deployment of strategies to safeguard voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the process. Amupitan noted that elections scheduled for January 16, 2027 (presidential) and February 6, 2027 (governorship and state assemblies) require strong collaboration between INEC and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police, which leads electoral security operations. He added that ongoing electoral activities, including party congresses and forthcoming primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, further heighten the need for proactive security planning. The INEC chairman also highlighted upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as several by-elections across the country, describing them as critical tests for Nigeria’s democracy. On humanitarian concerns, Amupitan drew attention to Internally Displaced Persons camps across the country, insisting that displaced citizens must not be disenfranchised. “I also want to draw attention to several IDP camps that are scattered all over Nigeria. Let me say that it is their right to also vote, and they must not be disenfranchised. “As the electoral body, we are doing everything to ensure that all those in IDP camps are given the conducive environment to exercise their franchise, and also the people with disabilities. So therefore, we commend all these people, categories of persons, persons in IDP camps, as well as persons with disabilities to the IG for special attention and care,” he said. Responding, the Inspector-General of Police assured that the Force would adopt intelligence-led deployment and preventive policing strategies to address emerging threats such as political violence, arms proliferation, cyber manipulation, and attacks on electoral infrastructure. Disu said the police had commenced nationwide threat assessments and intelligence mapping, and would work closely with other security agencies to ensure adequate protection of electoral personnel, materials and facilities. He also pledged strict enforcement of electoral laws, warning that offenders involved in vote-buying, ballot snatching, voter intimidation and destruction of electoral materials would be arrested and prosecuted. The police chief further emphasised the importance of inter-agency collaboration, real-time intelligence sharing, and training of personnel to ensure professionalism and public confidence in the electoral process. He said, “I assure you that the police will enforce electoral laws firmly and professionally. I want to repeat that again. We will ensure that we enforce electoral laws firmly and we do it professionally. “I want to emphasise that individuals involved in ballot matching, vote buying, voter intimidation, destruction of electoral materials, violent destruction of polls or attack on electoral officials will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws.” On the IDP, the IG said, “You mentioned the issue of people in the IDP camp. We have noted that they are in our plans. People with disability have been taken into cognisance and special plans have been put in place for them.”

The Senate was thrown into disorder on Wednesday for over 15 minutes following a heated exchange between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over the interpretation of amended Standing Rules. The disruption began after Akpabio commenced the reading of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday’s sitting when Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, raised a point of order. The Senate President ruled him out of order, citing the 2023 Standing Rules, which prohibit points of order during that stage of proceedings. Oshiomhole persisted, prompting Akpabio to call on former Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to clarify the rules. Kalu supported the Senate President’s position, stating that points of order were not permitted at that time. Despite repeated warnings, Oshiomhole continued, leading Chief Whip Senator Tahir Monguno to caution that disciplinary powers could be invoked if the disruption persisted. Akpabio said, “We should not just go home, buy forms and come here without knowing the rules.” While continuing the session, the Senate President issued a stern warning to Oshiomhole, stating, “If you become unruly, we will use the rules to take you out of the Senate.” Order was eventually restored, and the chamber proceeded with its business. Senator Adamu Aliero moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings, which was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro. The clash is believed to be linked to the Senate’s recent amendment of its Standing Rules ahead of the 2027 general elections. On Tuesday, the Senate amended Orders 4 and 5, restricting eligibility for presiding and principal offices to senators who have served at least two consecutive terms, including the immediate past term. The amendment effectively limits contest for positions such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President to returning members of the current 10th Assembly.

The Federal Government on Wednesday banned recipients of honorary degrees from prefixing “Dr” to their names in official, academic, or professional usage. It declared that the use of the title by such recipients constitutes a misrepresentation of academic credentials, which will henceforth be treated as academic fraud, with attendant legal and reputational consequences. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while briefing State House correspondents on two Federal Executive Council approvals that had not been announced at the last cabinet meeting, which held on April 30. Alausa, who appeared alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, said the FEC approved a uniform policy for the award and use of honorary degrees by Nigerian universities. The policy, he explained, is designed to end what he described as decades of indiscriminate conferral of degrees for political patronage and financial gain, and to restore public confidence in the integrity of academic titles. He said, “The recent trend we’ve seen with the award of honorary degrees has revealed a growing abuse and politicisation of this academic privilege. “We’ve seen awards being used for political patronage, for financial gain, as well as the conferral of awards on serving public officials, which, as part of the ethics of honorary degree awards, should not happen.” Under the new policy, recipients of honorary degrees may no longer put “Dr” before their names. Instead, they must cite the full honorary designation after their name. Giving examples, Alausa explained, “For instance, you can use Chief Louis Clark, D.Lit. (Doctor of Literature, Honoris Causa)” or “Mrs Miriam Adamu, LL.D. Hons.” Alausa said this format clearly reflects the honorary rather than earned academic nature of the award. “Recipients shall not prefix doctor to their names in official, academic or professional usage,” the minister said, adding, “Misrepresentation of honorary degrees as earned academic credentials shall be considered academic fraud and subject to legal and reputational consequences.” The policy also restricts the types of honorary degrees Nigerian universities can confer to four: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Doctor of Humanities It further bars universities without active PhD-awarding programmes from conferring honorary degrees at all. Alausa said the restriction was aimed at addressing the proliferation of newer institutions that have been awarding honorary doctorates despite being less than five years old and lacking postgraduate research programmes. The minister noted that all honorary degrees must carry the words “honorary” or “Honoris Causa” on the award certificate and in all references. For over a decade, concerns over the commercialisation and politicisation of honorary degrees have been raised in Nigeria’s academic community, with universities often accused of awarding the degrees to wealthy donors and public officials in exchange for financial patronage rather than merit. In 2012, the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities attempted to address the challenge in what became known as the Keffi Declaration. The declaration outlined guiding principles for the award of honorary degrees. However, it had no legal or executive backing and was therefore largely ignored, Alausa said on Wednesday. He explained, “The association doesn’t have any legal backing to enforce anything. “That is why we brought this to the Federal Executive Council, which now gives it legal and executive backing.” The minister said the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) will issue a circular to all vice-chancellors, registrars, and governing councils in this regard. He also noted that convocation programmes will be monitored for compliance with the policy, and the government will collaborate with the media to discourage improper attribution of academic titles to honorary recipients. The ministry will also publish annually a list of legitimate honorary degree recipients to protect the integrity of earned academic qualifications, Alausa said. He noted that the NUC has the statutory power to enforce the policy.

Petroleum product marketers and retailers have hinted at a possible fresh petrol price drop as Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, partners with Chinese firms to restart Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. THENEWSCREDIT reports that after a long wait, NNPCL on April 30, 2026, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sanjiang Chemical Company and Xinganchen (Fuzhou) Industrial Park Operation and Management Co., Limited, to support the completion of Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. Recall that in May last year, the Port Harcourt refinery was shut down for scheduled maintenance. Since then, the state-owned refinery, together with Warri and Kaduna, has remained closed despite gulping around $18 billion and $25 billion on rehabilitation for the last two decades. Dangote Refinery, a private-owned plant in Lagos, became the lifeline. While debate on the sustainability of the Nigerian refineries has remained critical, the Bayo Ojulari-led NNPCL’s recent move with Chinese firms leaves more expectations in the minds of stakeholders and Nigerians. This becomes more important as the over two months old Middle East crisis leaves Nigeria and global economies in a precarious state. The ripple effect of the Iran-United States-Israel war has made crude oil and domestic petrol prices double. Checks by THENEWSCREDIT showed that Brent AND West Texas Intermediate stood at $112 and $104 per barrel, respectively, as domestic fuel rose to between N1,364 and N1,380 per liter from around N800 per liter in Abuja. Increased petrol prices have pushed transportation costs up in Nigeria in the last two months, further worsening the economic hardship for many Nigerians. Speaking on the development, the national president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said the restart of Nigerian refineries with NNPCL and Chinese firms’ MoU implementation would boost in-country refined product refining, adding that higher competition of local refined petroleum products will shoot down the prices. “What we know is that the more refined products we get from any country, the higher the competition, driving down the price of any refined product, whether it’s PMS, AGO, aviation petrol, or any other. So it’s a good project. “It’s been a long time coming, but now it’s there, so we are happy that this has happened,” he told THENEWSCREDIT. Give incentive to Nigerians, marketers — IPMAN tells FG On his part, spokesperson of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, while noting that the restart of Nigerian refineries is most important at this time, urged the Nigerian government to roll out incentives for Nigerians and marketers to cushion the impact of petrol price volatility. “Provide incentives for motorists and also marketers in terms of funding. At that level marketers will reduce their prices at the pumps. “Again, the Nigerian government refineries should be restarted to be able to boost in-country refining,” he told THENEWSCREDIT.

Carter Efe, popular Nigerian streamer and champion of the recent celebrity boxing match, has lamented delayed payment of his N50 million prize. THENEWSCREDIT reports that Carter Efe defeated singer Portable in a celebrity boxing fight on Friday to win the N50 million prize. Reacting to his defeat, Portable alleged that the match judges crowned Carter Efe was scripted by the organizers to avoid paying the N23 billion stakes by fans who placed bets on his winning. However, speaking in a new video on social media, Carter called out the organizers over delay in payment of the N50 million prize money. “Dem never give me my money oo. I never see N50 million ooo. I nearly die for that fight, I never see the N50 million. Make dem pay me the N50 oo,” he lamented.

The Federal Government has urged closer cooperation between the media, public institutions and other stakeholders to confront the rising spread of disinformation and misinformation. It described the challenge as a growing threat to public trust and national cohesion. The call was made on Monday in Abuja by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during the 2026 World Press Freedom Day event held at Radio House. This was disclosed in a statement by Idris’s media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Monday. The minister said, “This administration has prioritised collaboration with media stakeholders and international partners to promote responsible journalism, counter disinformation and misinformation.” Idris reaffirmed the government’s support for press freedom, stressing that it remains a constitutionally guaranteed right that must be protected while being exercised responsibly. “The Federal Government fully recognises press freedom as a fundamental right and remains committed to fostering an environment where the media can operate freely, safely, and responsibly, in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law,” he stated. He explained that under President Bola Tinubu, the government has taken steps aimed at improving openness in governance and expanding public access to information. According to him, these efforts include greater engagement with the media, enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act, and the strengthening of public communication channels. The minister also referenced Nigeria’s collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation in setting up the International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja, which he described as an important initiative for strengthening critical thinking and responsible information use. “This pioneering initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening media and information literacy, empowering citizens to engage with information critically, and promoting responsible communication in the digital age,” the minister added. He further called on journalists to remain committed to ethical reporting, professionalism and fairness, noting that press freedom must be balanced with accountability. “The true test of press freedom lies not in our declarations, but in our actions, how safely journalists can do their work, how truthfully information is shared, and how responsibly it is consumed,” he said. In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Binyerem Ukaire, said the occasion provided an opportunity to deepen cooperation among stakeholders in the media and information space. “This gathering reflects our shared commitment to strengthening press freedom and fostering a more informed and inclusive society. “It provides an opportunity for constructive engagement on how best to advance a media environment that is both free and responsible,” she said. She noted that the rapid growth of digital platforms has intensified the spread of false information, making coordinated institutional responses more urgent. “The expansion of digital platforms has introduced new complexities that require coordinated institutional responses, especially in addressing misinformation and strengthening public trust,” she noted. Ukaire added that the ministry would continue to support dialogue, partnerships and professional standards within the media sector. The Federal Government restated its commitment to working with local and international partners, the media and civil society to strengthen an information ecosystem that supports democracy, unity and sustainable development. The event was attended by the Inspector General of Police, represented by FPRO, DCP Anthony Placid; the Director-General of the Department of State Services, represented by Director of Protocol M. O. Chukwuka; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Press Council, Dilli Ezughah; Head of UNESCO Abuja Office, represented by the Head of Communication and Information Sector, Yachat Nuhu.

Nigerian businessman, Isaac Fayose, has expressed his loyalty to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, despite his political affiliation. Isaac made the remark in a video clip posted on his official Facebook page on Monday while reacting to criticism surrounding Obi’s move to the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). THENEWSCREDIT reports that Obi and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Sunday dumped the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the NDC. The development did not sit well with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who accused Obi and Kwankwaso of “jumping from party to party.” Reacting, Isaac Fayose said he and others believe in Obi and are ready to move with him wherever he goes. He said, “Your current president moved from SDP to AD, ACN and APC. Anywhere Peter Obi decides to go, we will follow him because we believe in him. “If the APC is sure of victory, why are the members putting their hands in all other parties? I thought they had over 32 governors; why are they still putting their fingers in other parties? “If we like, we can move to NNN; that’s our own. Obi is our party.”