Nigerian Newspapers
Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 26th July, 2025
Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 26th July, 2025.
1. ‘You Are Wrong’ – Presidency Fires Kwankwaso, Names Tinubu’s Northern Projects
The Presidency on Friday knocked former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for claiming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has neglected the north.
Naija News reports that Kwankwaso had on Thursday criticised the Tinubu administration for what he described as the neglect of the northern region of Nigeria and the concentration of the nation’s resources on developing the southern part of the country where the president comes from.
“Let me advise the Federal Government on the distribution of federal resources,” the former Kano governor said on Thursday at the Kano State Stakeholders’ Dialogue on the 2025 Constitutional Amendment.
“From the information available to us, it’s like most of the national budget is now tilting in one direction in this country.”
Reacting in a statement, Tinubu’s Media Aide, Sunday Dare, said the President has the north covered, adding that northern Nigeria is not left behind.
He went on to release evidence by naming some of the Federal Government projects across the north.
2. Nigerians Are Complaining, Wet The Grass More – Tinubu Urges APC Govs
President Bola Tinubu has urged governors elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform to ensure they work hard to deliver development at the grassroots.
He warned that Nigerians were dissatisfied with the pace of governance and the tangible benefits of democracy.
Speaking at the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the APC at the State House Centre, he called on the governors to “wet the grass more” for greater impact in communities across Nigeria.
The President, whose speech focused on party unity, economic stability, and development, said, “Nigerians are still complaining at the grassroots. To you, the governors, you have to wet the grass more and lead the way in delivering progressive change to Nigerians. May God bless our democracy and give us more fertile lands.”
Emphasising collective responsibility, Tinubu said, “We should leave a legacy of development, and the governors are here, 23 of them, to help identify with the Minister of FCT. We should put a committee of progressive governors together to find an appropriate land for a befitting secretariat. I believe without hesitation, the motion and the suggestion is carried.”
President Tinubu assured party members and the nation that economic reforms were steadying Nigeria’s trajectory.
3. Peter Obi Visits El-Rufai Amidst Reports Of Dumping Coalition
The former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, visited former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Elrufai, in Abuja on Friday.
The two former Governors who are part of the opposition coalition working to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections were seen smiling in a picture shared on the social media pages.
While no official details of their meeting have been released so far, Naija News reports that rumours have it that Obi and El-Rufai may leave the opposition coalition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), over the plans of ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, to contest for the presidency in the 2027 election.
Naija News learnt that many of the initial promoters of the ADC coalition, including Nasir El-Rufai, are beginning to develop cold feet, due to disagreements over Atiku’s insistence on securing the party’s presidential ticket, which may affect the party’s ability to make an impact in 2027.
El-Rufai, who championed a southern presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is reportedly insisting that the presidency must remain in the South until 2031.
4. No Official Record, Only Social Media Posts And Photographs – SDP Disowns El-Rufai
The State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have disowned former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as a member of the party.
The chairmen, in a statement on Friday by the Chairman of the Forum of State Chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Femi Olaniyi Ferrari, accused El-Rufai of planning to destabilize the party.
Specifically, Naija News reports that Ferrari accused the former Kaduna State Governor of summoning a ‘fake meeting’ of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
He accused El-Rufai of misleading and luring those who attended the reckless and unconstitutional meeting, which took place in Abuja on Friday.
According to Ferrari, El-Rufai lacks the authority and legality to convene such a meeting because he is no longer a member of the SDP after he was suspended by the Kaduna State chapter of the party over false membership claims.
He alleged that El-Rufai has no official record, apart from social media posts and photographs with SDP figures.
5. Please Stay In Your Lane, Don’t Use Your INEC Experience To Manipulate The System For Your Party – ADC Tells New APC National Chairman
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), has urged the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to use his office to deepen democratic experience in Nigeria.
The ADC expressed optimism that Yilwatda would utilise his experience as a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes, rather than exploit his insider knowledge to manipulate the system in favour of his party.
This position was made known in a press statement made available to Naija News on Friday, by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, in which the party congratulated Prof Yilwatda on his emergence as the APC National Chairman.
Abdullahi charged Yilwatda to embrace the opportunity his emergence presents for the APC to embrace the core values of participatory democracy.
The statement expressed cautious optimism that the latest change in APC leadership might come with a shift in both substance and style, especially regarding how the ruling party conducts its affairs and engages with the opposition.
The ADC, however, questioned the use of the State House to host the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that brought Professor Yilwatda into office, noting that using a public institution for party activities is an aberration which further blurs the line between party and state functions in Nigeria.
6. We Pass A Vote Of No Confidence On El-Rufai – SDP Declares
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has declared that the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, is not a party member.
The SDP Zonal Secretary, North-West Zone, Inuwa Idris, made the declaration at a press briefing in Kaduna on Friday.
He asserted that El-Rufai does not have the authority to speak on behalf of the party and that his actions are carried out without the party’s knowledge.
He emphasised that El-Rufai was not listed in any of the party’s membership records, has never participated in its programmes, nor has he been issued any appointment or mandate to act on behalf of the party at any level.
Idris reaffirmed the leadership of Umar, National Secretary, Olu Agunloye and the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo.
He warned stakeholders and the public to disregard any statements issued by El-Rufai under the SDP banner.
7. Ebira Youth Leader ‘Disappears’ Months After DSS Raid
The family of the 39-year-old President of the Ebira Youth Congress (EYC), Ajaokuta Chapter, Luqman Oricha Abbas, has been plunged into despair following his disappearance in February after a raid by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to FIJ, in the early hours of February 7, Abbas was asleep at home when persistent and heavy knocking on his door roused the household.
Fearing a robbery, Abbas calmed his anxious family and cautiously opened the door, only to discover the visitors were heavily armed DSS officers from the Ajaokuta unit, who arrived in four Toyota Hilux vehicles.
The officers questioned Abbas about the presence of any firearm in his possession. He reportedly admitted to owning a locally made hunting gun, which he inherited from his father.
What followed was a sudden escalation, marked by a series of arguments, resistance, and physical manhandling. Abbas was eventually forcibly taken away by the operatives.
Initially, family members, including one of his two wives and children, believed the matter would be resolved quickly, assuming it was a misunderstanding.
However, days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Abbas has not been seen or heard from since that morning, Naija News understands.
8. Lagos Residents To Experience 25-day Blackout
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) has announced that some parts of Lagos State will experience a 25-day blackout.
Naija News reports that Eko DisCo made this known in a notice to customers on Friday via its 𝕏 handle.
According to EKEDC, the blackout is scheduled to commence on July 28th and last until August 21st, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily.
The Disco explained that the outage is to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria to carry out work on the Omotosho-Ikeja West 330 kV line.
The statement read, “EKEDC has announced a daily planned power outage from Monday, July 28th, to Thursday, August 21st 2025, due to essential maintenance work by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the Omotosho-Ikeja West 330 kV line.
“The outage will occur between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day, affecting several parts of Lagos and other serviced areas. During this period, residents should expect intermittent electricity supply and load shedding across the Eko Disco network.”
9. Enyimba FC Fires Back At Brown Ideye Over Unpaid Bonus Allegations
Enyimba Football Club has issued a rebuttal to allegations made by former Nigerian international, Brown Ideye, who accused the club of owing players unpaid match bonuses and failing to prioritize their welfare.
Brown Ideye, 36, who made a high-profile return to the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) in December 2024, took to social media and a podcast to vent his frustrations, saying players were being treated “like jobless men.”
Before the aforementioned, in an appearance on the Bet9ja Home Turf podcast, the former West Bromwich Albion striker painted a sad picture of life at Enyimba. He alleged players received ₦7,000 to ₦8,000 daily allowances for away games, and none at all on match day.
But in a press statement, Enyimba FC dismissed his allegations as “baseless,” insisting Ideye enjoyed exceptional privileges during his stint, privileges that most local players can only dream of.
According to the club, Brown Ideye received a monthly salary of ₦1 million, was lodged in a ₦65,000-per-night hotel, and was flown to away matches.
The statement described him as “one of the club’s highest earners” and noted his five-goal tally in 13 matches fell short of expectations.
“Despite the coach’s reservations, management welcomed Brown Ideye back with open arms. But rather than lead with professionalism, he sowed division in the dressing room,” the club stated.
10. Annie Idibia Begs For Prayers As Daughter Undergoes Second Leg Surgery
Nollywood actress, Annie Idibia, has revealed that her second daughter, Olivia Idibia, is about to undergo another leg surgery.
In a post on her Instagram story, the mother of two described it as a very big day for her “superstar A,” calling Olivia the “bravest of them all.”
Naija News reports that she also offered a short prayer, pleading with God to come through for her daughter.
She wrote: “Bravest of them all. It’s a very BIG day for my Superstar. Dear lord come through for my baby, please lord”.
Alongside her message, Annie posted a video from the hospital showing herself dressed in Olivia’s surgery gown while having a discussion with the doctor.
This marks Olivia’s second leg operation.
The first surgery was done some time ago to correct a medical issue with her leg, which Annie also shared publicly at the time.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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