Taiwo Adebulu

SIMON KOLAWOLE: "Contrary to what was widely circulated on social media as the “deep dive” into the Supreme Court ruling, there was no pronouncement restoring the Mark-led national officers. There was also no decision on jurisdiction. And there was no declaration directing the INEC to recognise Mark or anybody. What the apex court decided, in simple English, was that the high court should first determine whether or not it has jurisdiction. It also said the Court of Appeal was wrong to grant the preservatory order of “status quo ante bellum” — that is the job of the court of first instance on this matter. That said, I am quite relieved that the INEC has retraced its steps and re-recognised Mark." thecable.ng/for-adc-a-bag-…

PHOTO STORY: Inside FCT community where cows graze on refuse, residents battle health threats On a typical weekday evening between 4 pm and 8 pm, motorists on the Nyanya-Karshi road in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) suffer through a gridlock. Long lines of vehicles moving inch by inch, tricycles squeezing through the littlest gaps, and riders lifting their motorcycles to drive on the kerb. Amid the crawl, the air is thick with the cloying smell of wet garbage. It rained the day before; now the Karu dumpsite between St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Masalachi junction stinks twice as bad, with water seeping into the road to form a reeking puddle. As tyres track the water, spreading the smell even further, local garbage collectors offload even more rubbish, and herders can be seen leading their cows to the dumpsite to graze. When the traffic is particularly bad, impatient motorists opt to use the opposite lane, thereby worsening the traffic condition and exposing road users to the risk of accidents. Directly opposite the dumpsite is a line of mechanic shops. The shop owners were quick to express their frustration with the situation and the dangers it continues to pose. thecable.ng/photo-story-in…

TIMELINE: 13 attacks, 7 foiled — mapping Nigeria's military base assaults in 2026 In January 2025, President Bola Tinubu asked the armed forces to take the war against insurgency to the camps of bandits and terrorists, especially in the north-west geopolitical zone. The president’s directive followed the January 4 attack on a military base at Sabon Gari in Damboa LGA of Borno state that claimed the lives of six soldiers. Tinubu also directed a probe of the attack. The president said the investigation will “uncover the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident and ensure that it serves as a valuable lesson to prevent similar occurrences”. That was the first attack on a military base in 2025. At least six other such attacks that resulted in the deaths of several soldiers were recorded before the year panned out. And instead of the war going to the insurgents’ camps, in 2026, insurgents appear to have flipped the battlefield, bringing the war directly to military formations through rapid, coordinated assaults tagged “burning of the camps” or “camp Holocaust” — a strategic campaign aimed at weakening the operational capacity of security forces by targeting military positions. Since January, at least 13 bases across Nigeria, particularly in Borno, have come under attack, pointing to a shift in both strategy and capability. thecable.ng/timeline-13-at…

SIMON KOLAWOLE: There you have it. In an interview with ARISE TV on Wednesday, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar confirmed the worst-kept secret in politics: that he is going to join the 2027 presidential race. The former vice-president, the driving force behind adopting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform to rally the opposition against the All Progressives Congress (APC), also promised that this would be his last attempt — most likely, since he will be 80 by 2027 and 84 by 2031. His proposal all along has been to do one term and support power shift to the south in 2031. He has promised to sponsor an amendment to the constitution to provide for rotational presidency should he be elected president. thecable.ng/atikus-last-th…

REWIND: Buhari, Tinubu, el-Rufai led 2013 protest calling for Jega’s resignation On November 29, 2013, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) marched to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja to protest the outcome of the Anambra governorship election. William Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was elected to succeed Peter Obi as governor with 180,178 votes. The APC leaders alleged rigging and called for the resignation of Attahiru Jega as INEC chairman.  Leading the protest were Muhammadu Buhari, who later became president in 2015; Bisi Akande, then national chairman of the APC; Bola Tinubu, who later became president in 2023; Ogbonnaya Onu, also late, and Nasir el-Rufai, who later served as governor of Kaduna state. thecable.ng/rewind-buhari-…

Shanties and drug peddling... inside filthy settlements springing up along Lagos-Calabar coastal highway The newly constructed phase one section of the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700‑kilometre corridor hailed as a transformative artery that would cut travel times, boost trade, and unlock economic potential along Nigeria’s south‑south coast, now bears, behind its partitions, the stark imprint of shanties and heaps of refuse. At first glance, the shanties appear as scattered, makeshift structures along Maruwa on the Lekki–Epe axis, almost blending into the roadside. But a closer look reveals a dense cluster of shelters. Built from splintered wood, salvaged planks, and rusting nails, the fragile shelters are draped in faded tarpaulins — blues, greys, blacks, and burnt orange — pulled into crude V-shapes that barely shield occupants from Lagos’ harsh sun and rain, held down only by stones to keep the wind from ripping them apart. thecable.ng/shanties-and-d…

Happy Easter! May this special day bring you joy, renewal, and hope. #HappyEaster

SIMON KOLAWOLE: "Let me quickly say this: a narrow reading of laws is commonplace in our public discourse. Anywhere in the world, the provisions of a law are not interpreted singly or in isolation. They are interpreted through joint reading with other laws and judicial pronouncements, known as “case laws”. In the same EA 2026, section 85 says: “A political party shall not impose nomination, qualification or disqualification criteria, measures, or conditions on any aspirant or candidate for any election in its constitution, guidelines, or rules for nomination of candidates for elections, except as prescribed under sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 177 and 187 of the Constitution.” Please come with me." thecable.ng/the-electoral-…

SIMON KOLAWOLE: "As a fan of competitive democracy, I believe the opposition should be allowed to “breathe”. I still do not believe the battle in the Nigerian political space is between good guys and bad guys, heroes and villains, or saints and sinners. I got my deliverance from that nonsense 20 years ago. But I strongly believe that no matter what, people should be allowed to play their politics as they like. Freedom of choice. Freedom of association. Imagine Sunday Igboho, the Yoruba nationalist, threatening that only Tinubu would be allowed to campaign in the south-west. What if other parts of the country react in kind? All these threats can set the country ablaze — as if the inferno from banditry, terrorism and separatism is not enough. We must nip these dangers in the bud to avoid the consequences. Caution." thecable.ng/slow-down-dang…

AND FOUR OTHER THINGS… BOMBING BORNO The recent massive suicide-bombing attack on Maiduguri, Borno state, claimed by Boko Haram terrorists, brought back terrifying memories of the past and sparked off trepidation about the immediate future. For a long time, the terrorists had not been able to attack the city, even though we know they are active in other towns and rural areas. Although the federal government and the military authorities keep assuring us that we are winning this war, this will not be music to the ears of Ba Musa, who lost four sons to the attacks, or millions of Nigerians gripped by fear. We cannot cave in to fear, but suicide-bombing is a different animal. Taming it requires a different strategy. Rethink. thecable.ng/slow-down-dang…

Lagos added N228bn, while Rivers shed N24bn: Here is what the states contributed to the VAT pool in Jan 2025 vs Jan 2026 1. Lagos: N227.88bn Jan 2025: N305.52bn Jan 2026: N533.40bn 2. Oyo: N39.47bn Jan 2025: N27.71bn Jan 2026: N67.18bn 3. Bayelsa: N21.82bn Jan 2025: N12.80bn Jan 2026: N34.62bn 4. FCT: N16.23bn Jan 2025: N23.50bn Jan 2026: N37.73bn 5. Ondo: N8.17bn Jan 2025: N985.78m Jan 2026: N9.16bn 6. Jigawa: N7.69bn Jan 2025: N3.57bn Jan 2026: N11.26bn 7. Adamawa: N7.65bn Jan 2025: N3.39bn Jan 2026: N11.04bn 8. Katsina: N6.04bn Jan 2025: N3.86bn Jan 2026: N9.90bn 9. Borno: N5.90bn Jan 2025: N3.91bn Jan 2026: N9.81bn 10. Delta: N5.60bn Jan 2025: N6.57bn Jan 2026: N12.17bn 11. Zamfara: N5.18bn Jan 2025: N1.45bn Jan 2026: N6.63bn 12. Kano: N4.28bn Jan 2025: N9.59bn Jan 2026: N13.87bn 13. Enugu: N3.89bn Jan 2025: N1.75bn Jan 2026: N5.64bn 14. Edo: N3.58bn Jan 2025: N5.09bn Jan 2026: N8.67bn 15. Gombe: N3.36bn Jan 2025: N2.16bn Jan 2026: N5.52bn 16. Akwa Ibom: N2.12bn Jan 2025: N5.62bn Jan 2026: N7.74bn 17. Kebbi: N1.84bn Jan 2025: N1.93bn Jan 2026: N3.77bn 18. Osun: N1.71bn Jan 2025: N589.41m Jan 2026: N2.30bn 19. Ogun: N1.59bn Jan 2025: N2.31bn Jan 2026: N3.90bn 20. Nasarawa: N1.54bn Jan 2025: N3.13bn Jan 2026: N4.67bn 21. Sokoto: N1.10bn Jan 2025: N4.41bn Jan 2026: N5.51bn 22. Bauchi: N1.09bn Jan 2025: N2.44bn Jan 2026: N3.54bn 23. Abia: N1.08bn Jan 2025: N733.82m Jan 2026: N1.81bn 24. Plateau: N1.04bn Jan 2025: N1.75bn Jan 2026: N2.79bn 25. Kwara: N963.99m Jan 2025: N9.53bn Jan 2026: N10.49bn 26. Anambra: N885.19m Jan 2025: N3.56bn Jan 2026: N4.44bn 27. Yobe: N457.38m Jan 2025: N2.16bn Jan 2026: N2.61bn 28. Cross River: -N214.64m Jan 2025: N1.55bn Jan 2026: N1.34bn 29. Taraba: -N394.25m Jan 2025: N939.66m Jan 2026: N545.42m 30. Kaduna: -N808.17m Jan 2025: N3.50bn Jan 2026: N2.69bn 31. Benue: -N846.29m Jan 2025: N2.05bn Jan 2026: N1.20bn 32. Kogi: -N937.19m Jan 2025: N2.67bn Jan 2026: N1.73bn 33. Imo: -N1.03bn Jan 2025: N1.59bn Jan 2026: N559.20m 34. Niger: -N1.21bn Jan 2025: N3.80bn Jan 2026: N2.59bn 35. Ebonyi: -N1.74bn Jan 2025: N3.30bn Jan 2026: N1.57bn 36. Ekiti: -N2.25bn Jan 2025: N4.98bn Jan 2026: N2.73bn 37. Rivers: -N23.87bn Jan 2025: N90.21bn Jan 2026: N66.35bn #TheCableIndex

Without Lagos and Rivers, here is what the geo-political zones contributed to the VAT pool and received in January 2026 1. South-west Contributed: N85.26bn Received: N67.37bn (79.02%) 2. South-south Contributed: N64.54bn Received: N61.46bn (95.23%) 3. North-central Contributed: N63.21bn Received: N79.63bn (125.98%) 4. North-west Contributed: N53.64bn Received: N90.13bn (164.04%) 5. North-east Contributed: N33.07bn Received: N65.66bn (198.57%) 6. South-east Contributed: N14.02bn Received: N52.74bn (376.22%) #TheCableIndex

Electronic transmission of election results is back in the national conversation. But beyond the policy debates, what does this mean for the credibility of the 2027 elections and Nigeria's democracy overall? Is Nigeria ready for transparent, tech-driven polls in 2027? Join us at 4:30pm as @kunlelawal and @samuelakpan_ share insights with us. x.com/i/spaces/1gqgv…

INSIDE STORY: 7 months later, Tinubu’s tractors meant to make farming ‘sexy’ for youths sit idle in Abuja On the outskirts of Gwagwalada, Abuja, within the vicinity of the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), rows of red-and-black machines sit in silence. Tractors, bulldozers and mobile workshops—lined up neatly—are gathering dust. They are fully mechanised farm equipment shipped more than 7,800 kilometres from Belarus to Nigeria, intended to transform smallholder farming, reduce back-breaking labour and boost agricultural yields. In June 2025, these machines were unveiled to national fanfare. President Bola Tinubu launched the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, also known as the Belarus Project, promising a turning point for Nigeria’s food system. Implemented in collaboration with AfTrade DMCC and supported by the Republic of Belarus, the programme was framed as a bold intervention to modernise agriculture and attract young Nigerians back to cultivating the land. thecable.ng/inside-story-7…

@LOSEYIE @annabbutter @d_prayers @DePaytez @CrazyVibes_1 @EmilySm43 @Eazzy_Ayo622121 @Flaffu3_30 @harshoorey @In0wei @Just1bigmachi Kise Island yen ti lala to?

A mysterious events that happened to us in December 2025,our boat ground on dry land in between the deep Ocean in Bayelsa. At first, it was like joke to us, but overtime we realized this was more than we thought. To cut the long story short, we spent over 10 hours on this dry island. Whenever I remember this event, I just imagine how diverse the world is, the mystery behind creation. God is the greatest abegggg. It's marvelous tho.

TheCable sports desk launches Red Card Views podcast TheCable sports desk has unveiled the Red Card Views podcast, an audio-visual platform for no-holds-barred conversation about high-voltage sports topics.  As the title might have hinted, the podcast promises unpopular views, peculiar analyses, and personal banter that would either earn our guests love or red cards from viewers on social media.  The topics of discussion range across all sports and their niches. From international football to local table tennis or para-sports. Everything and everyone will get airtime and a frank opinion here.

Chibundu, Akpan named TheCable journalists of 2025 | Oriloye is best employee for 3rd straight year TheCable on Thursday announced the winners of its journalist of the year awards, recognising outstanding performance, innovation, growth, and dedication across the newsroom in 2025. The annual awards celebrate journalists and staff members whose work has significantly advanced TheCable’s editorial standards, impact, and institutional culture over the past year. For the second time in the history of the awards, multiple journalists were voted joint winners in the flagship journalist of the year (JOTY) category. Janefrances Chibundu was recognised for her consistent, high-impact reporting on the climate desk, editorial depth, drive and consistency during the year. She shares the honour with Samuel Akpan, who previously won the innovation award in 2024. Akpan’s work over the past year stood out for its originality, storytelling range, and ability to deliver excellent political reporting.

Merry Christmas! As the year draws to a close, we thank you for trusting us to inform, engage, and tell the stories that matter. May this festive season bring you peace, joy, and reflection and may the New Year ahead be filled with hope and progress. from all of us at TheCable. #MerryChristmas

Who bought what? The biggest Nigerian oil, gas sector acquisitions of 2025 In 2025, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector experienced a wave of significant acquisitions, with each executed under unique terms. From outright purchases to the acquisition of controlling stakes in companies and assets, industry players pursued expansion, strengthened their market positions, and entered new operational territories. These acquisitions reflected broader efforts to scale operations, diversify portfolios, and adapt to evolving market dynamics. In this report, TheCable captures the major acquisitions in the oil and gas industry in 2025. thecable.ng/who-bought-wha…

Tracking impact: Inside Oyo PHCs where BHCPF is making difference in maternal healthcare It was a little past midday at the Ojoo Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Akinyele LGA in Oyo state. Periodically, the loud cry of a woman in labour rose above the hum of voices in the crowded waiting area, where patients sat patiently for their turns to be attended to. Catherine Adebola, the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the facility, excused herself from the reporter. “We’re managing a woman in labour. She is having a primie, and I need to step in,” she said. About ten minutes later, the woman’s cry waned and was replaced by that of a baby. Adebola returned to her office after washing up. “We have a baby boy. Mother and child are doing fine,” she announced.