Jimmo

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU: WISHING THAT ALL YOUR D€AD BLESSINGS, POTENTIALS AND DREAMS BE RESURRECTED BY THE POWER OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION WHICH THE CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE CELEBRATION TODAY. . . .

SUMMARY FROM NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS, TODAY EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2026. 1. President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to make progress, strengthen security infrastructure and eventually overcome terrorism. The President spoke on Saturday during the commissioning of 80 security vehicles, the Gateway International Airport, Iperu, two newly acquired aircraft under Gateway Air, tractors and 1,000 electric bikes under the Ogun state EV mobility initiative, among others. 2. A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to back anybody that emerges as the party’s presidential candidate. Speaking in an interview with DW Hausa, Atiku also dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, could undermine the ADC, noting that the party has continued to attract members nationwide. 3. The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged both the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to ease the hardship faced by citizens and decisively address the persistent insecurity in the state. In an Easter message titled ‘Be Hopeful, Be Resilient, Be Compassionate’, the state Chairman of CAN, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, called on Christians to reflect the spirit of the season by extending love and support to the less privileged, including widows, orphans and the vulnerable. 4. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, has halted its industrial action against Seplat Energy. The suspension of the industrial action was announced in a notice addressed to members across the union’s branches nationwide. 5. Unidentified gunmen again launched a fresh attack on Nyamgo Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, increasing fears over the deteriorating security situation in the region. The victims, identified as Luka Sandu Pam (36), Samuel Davou (38), and Deme Saidu (35), were reportedly ambushed while returning home from Gero on a motorbike. 6. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has clarified comments he made about Channels Television’s anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, the he would have “broken his TV screen and shot” the journalist, over his comments that a one-party system would destroy democracy in Nigeria. In a statement signed by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, Wike explained that he did not mean it literally. 7. Troops of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Enduring Peace, have initiated a comprehensive stop-and-search exercise across the Jos metropolis. Captain Chinonso Polycarp Oteh, Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, in a statement on Saturday, said the exercise commenced on Friday. 8. Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu and the APC-led federal government, accusing them of attempting to use state institutions, including the courts and the EFCC, to persecute Nigerians who are not aligned with their party. Speaking at a press conference, Governor Mohammed stated, “The APC-led federal government thinks they can use the court and the EFCC to prosecute Nigerians who are not in their party”. 9. National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that the era of routine condemnation of killings in Plateau State must end, vowing decisive action to halt the violence. Yilwatda made the statement on Saturday during a visit to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where victims of the recent attack on the Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North Local Government Area are receiving treatment. 10. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, has urged personnel of the Armed Forces to remain united, vigilant and steadfast in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities. Oluyede said this in a statement on the occasion of Easter celebration.

NIGERIAN RESIDENTS DOCTORS BEGIN NATION-WIDE STRIKE ON APRIL 7: The decision was disclosed in a communiqué issued at the end of a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Saturday, 4 April. In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Shuaibu Ibrahim, NARD described the government’s decision on the PAT as “unfortunate” and a significant setback to efforts to improve the welfare of resident doctors. NARD said its members would embark on a “total and comprehensive industrial action” beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 7 April 2026. Demands The association outlined some demands it expects the federal government to address as a condition for suspending the strike. These include the immediate reversal of the decision to discontinue the PAT from April 2026, payment of promotion and salary arrears owed to doctors in affected centres, and the prompt conclusion of the process for disbursing the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF). It also demanded the immediate payment of outstanding arrears of the professional allowance, which it said had accumulated over a period of 19 months. The association urged its members to stand together in opposing the injustice and to ensure the matter is pursued to a proper conclusion.

Amnesty International has criticised the Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capitol Territory (FCT) - Nyesom Wike over what it described as a reckless and violent comment allegedly made against a journalist during a live television interview. The rights group made its position known in a post on its official X account on Saturday, stating that Wike’s statement was dangerous and could encourage attacks on journalists. According to Amnesty, Wike reportedly said, “If there’s any way to broke (sic) the screen, I would have shot him…” — a remark the organisation said raises serious concerns about safety and press freedom in Nigeria.

Tinubu’s Welfare Fund and the Unfinished Duty to Nigeria’s Soldiers President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose his 74th birthday to announce the donation of his salaries to wounded soldiers and families of fallen troops, it was more than a ceremonial flourish. The President directed the immediate creation of a special account to draw from his earnings since assuming office in May 2023. He said: ‘those who stand in harm’s way, and those who bear the consequences of their sacrifice, deserve more than routine acknowledgment.’ In a sense, the announcement touched a national nerve. For years, Nigeria’s war effort has been measured in operational updates, the Defence headquarters consistently provides update on the numbers of  terrorists neutralised, hostages rescued, and weapons recovered. These metrics are important; they demonstrate a military that is active and, in many respects, adaptive. But they often obscure a quieter reality: the human cost borne by the soldier and his family. Tinubu’s intervention brings that reality back into focus. The proposed fund, estimated to run into over N100 million when allowances are considered, is intended as targeted support—distinct from existing welfare and insurance frameworks. It is designed for the wounded soldier who must rebuild his life with a missing limb, for the widow navigating sudden loss, and for children whose futures are abruptly reshaped by conflict. Yet, as compelling as the gesture is, it also raises an inconvenient question: why should such a gap exist in the first place? Nigeria has been at war, formally and informally for over a decade. From the insurgency in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and the fluid violence across the North-Central, troops have remained in near-constant deployment. Thousands have been killed. Many more have been injured. Entire families have been drawn into the consequences of a conflict that shows little sign of disappearing. Over time, successive military leaderships have acknowledged that welfare is central to operational effectiveness. Under the current Chief of Army Staff,  Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, the “Soldier First” doctrine has become a recurring theme in official communication. The idea is straightforward: a motivated, well-supported soldier fights better, endures longer, and maintains discipline under pressure.

According to a report by Leadership, on Saturday April 4, 2026, an old video of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has resurfaced, showing that leaders in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had long anticipated internal problems in the party. The video comes as the ADC faces a serious leadership crisis, the video is from a 2025 interview on Arise News’ PrimeTime show, in it, El-Rufai said opposition leaders had discussed backup plans to protect their political goals. He explained that the leaders considered both joining an existing party and creating a new party, they saw a new party as a safer option, El-Rufai said forming a new political platform could avoid internal conflicts and outside interference. He noted that the ruling party had influenced other opposition parties, including the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), to create divisions, many ADC leaders feared a similar strategy could affect them. At the time, El-Rufai doubted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, would approve a new party, he compared it to past INEC leadership, when new parties were successfully registered, still, the leaders tried both strategies to test the independence of the electoral body. The video comes amid INEC’s recent actions that have worsened the ADC crisis, INEC derecognized certain party leaders, including former Senate President David Mark as national chairman, citing court orders. The decision deepened conflicts within the party, which started in July 2025 over the party’s National Working Committee and the role of former chairman Ralph Nwosu. The ADC under Mark has rejected INEC’s position and vowed to continue its activities, the party has also called for the resignation of the commission’s chairman, claiming a lack of confidence in the electoral body.

A former gubernatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Jigawa states - Senator Sabo Mohammed Nakudu has resigned his membership of the ruling party. Nakudu who contested the APC governorship ticket ahead of the 2023 general election, announced his exit from the party in a resignation letter addressed to party officials in Sundimina Ward, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area. In the letter, the senator said his decision followed careful consideration, noting that he was grateful to the party for the opportunities it afforded him during his time as a member.

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has stressed the need for continued marital relationship between the Southeast and Southwest in order to foster and strengthen ties of both cultures and politics. According to Umahi, marital relationships between Igbos and Yorubas would always produce a formidable knot in their cultures, commerce and politics. Speaking at the traditional marriage ceremony of Governor Alex Otti’s younger sister, Dr Ngozi Otti at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, the Minister maintained that such marriages would not only be a bridge between Igbos and Yorubas, but would stand as a symbol of unity, even as he prayed God to remove any challenge the couple might encounter in their marriage. Ngozi, the younger child of Otti’s family, married her heartthrob, Mr Ileri Adeniji from Abeokuta, Ogun State, in a colourful ceremony described by analysts as a symbolic “handshake across the Niger”. In an emotion-laden speech, Governor Otti recalled the difficulty the family faced following the death of their mother, revealing how the family struggled to keep Ngozi, the youngest child going during that time. He paid glowing tribute to those who stood by the family, acknowledging the role played by his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, whom he described as Ngozi’s “second mother”. The Abia governor commended her for rising to the occasion by taking responsibility for the bride’s upbringing; including relocating Ngozi to Lagos and ensuring she received proper care and education. According to Otti, the ceremony was one of celebration rather than mourning. He declared, “The story will be told another time, but by the time my mother left, the young lady by my right (the bride) was like the handbag of my mother, being the last one. We struggled to keep her alive because she wanted to go with her mother. I’m sure she remembers that.

Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, the Chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states including FCT, Abuja - Joseph Hayab has called on the Christians in the northern part of the country to take proactive steps to defend themselves against persistent att@cks. The call followed the Palm Sunday att@ck on Angwan Rukuba community in Jos, Plateau State, which left more than 20 people de@d and many others injured. Speaking during the end-of-the-month briefing in Abuja, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, also assured Nigerians that security forces had heightened surveillance and vigilance. . . .

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments warning the party against proceeding with its planned congresses and national convention. The party described the position of the electoral body as a misinterpretation of a Court of Appeal directive, insisting that the commission was acting beyond its constitutional mandate. The party said the commission’s interpretation of the status quo ante bellum doctrine was legally flawed and could not be used to suspend the internal functioning of a political party. . . . .

The Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to meet victims of the Plateau State killings at a hall adjoining the Yakubu Gowon Airport rather than driving into Jos township, citing flight restrictions and logistical constraints as the reasons for the arrangement . . . .

During his monthly media chat in Abuja on Friday, the Federal Capitol Territory (FCT) Minister - Nyesom Wike disclosed that Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State visited him in his house, urging him to put the recent PDP national convention on hold while all aggrieved members of the party engage in discussions. . . .

Barr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment has announced her resignation from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s admininistration. Onyejeocha announced her resignation in a statement published on her social media handles on Friday. “It is with a heart full of gratitude that I announce my resignation as Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment. This decision comes with profound gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the opportunity to serve Nigeria in his administration,” Onyejeocha a former member of House of Representatives who represented Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency said. However, she did not indicate if she is resigning to contest for an elective position in the 2027 general election as two of her colleagues in President Tinubu’s cabinet have done. . . . .

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against moving forward with plans to hold its congresses and convention. The INEC Chairman warned that the electoral commission would not monitor such congresses and conventions based on the prevailing court order. Speaking on Friday during an interview with Arise News, Amupitan submitted that any action taken by the ADC before the court delivers a ruling on the leadership crisis affecting the party amounts to an illegality. He warned that if the ADC conducts primary elections, and its candidates win elections, the court can declare such elections invalid, and the implication is that the person with the second-highest number of votes will be declared the winner, just as it previously happened in Zamfara and Plateau states. . . .

Despite the derecognition of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the party has insisted on going ahead with its planned Congresses and National Convention. This notice was released on Friday by the party's spokesperson - Bolaji Abdullahi, as he announced the congress is expected to commence on April 7th and end on April 14th, with a national convention. . . .

While speaking at a media briefing on Friday, the Nigerian FCT Minister - Nyesom Wike has insisted that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should have recognized Nafiu Bala Gombe as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the removal of the former party chairman - Senator David Mark from the portal. . . .

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has on Thursday April 2 welcome the President of the Republic of Chad - Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno at the State House Abuja. However, sources within the Presidency indicated that the discussions between the two leaders were focused on regional security as the region shared by Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon has remained a hotspot for insurgent activities. . . .

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has said that the derecognition of the National Chairman and the National Secretary of African Democratic Congress (ADC) - Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Oregbesola respectively by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was "self-inflicted". This was disclosed on "News Central" on Thursday by the APC National Publicity Secretary - Felix Marka who insists that the ruling party APC had no hand in the developing probl€ms in the opposition party ADC. . . .

🇳🇬 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS: The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has insisted it will proceed with its planned Congresses and National Convention despite uncertainties surrounding recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This was disclosed by the party's National Publicity Secretary - Bolaji Abdullahi on Thursday while speaking on "ARISE" Television's Morning Show. . . .

🇳🇬 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS: The aspirations of leading Presidential aspirants on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) suffered a setback on Wednesday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) removed names of Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Oregbesola from its portal as the ADC's National Chairman and National Secretary respectively. However, INEC further said it would also not recognize Nafiu Bala Gombe, even after he went to court seeking to be made the ADC's National Chairman. . .