Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the OsunDaily roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 21st June, 2025.

The Nigeria National Coalition Group (NNCG) has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking to register a new political party ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria.

The request was contained in an application letter dated June 19, 2025, and was received by INEC on June 20, 2025.

OsunDaily reports that the name of the proposed political party is All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

According to Vanguard, the letter was signed by the association’s Protem National Chairman, Chief Akin A. Rickets.

The request contained the acronym, slogan, logo, manifesto, constitution and ideology of the proposed party.

The National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has declared that the issue of who would be the presidential running mate for 2027 is not ripe for discussion yet.

This is as he affirmed the party’s overwhelming decision and endorsement of President Bola Tinubu to be the APC flagbearer for the 2027 presidential election.

Speaking on Friday during an interview appearance on Channels Television, the APC scribe stated that discussions on who will be Tinubu’s running mate are not yet on the table.

He added that the issue of Tinubu’s running mate would be decided after the party’s convention, which is usually held about one year before the general election.

Speaking further, Basiru submitted that the chaos that erupted on Sunday, June 15, during an APC Northeast stakeholders meeting in Gombe State, following the endorsement of Tinubu for a second term without any mention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, is a non-issue.

The APC National Secretary said he was physically present at the event, and it is normal for people to have different views at such a gathering.

He added that the issue of a running mate can’t come up until the party’s candidate emerges.

According to him, the national APC would not get itself involved in the politics of the North-East.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed the immediate repair of the Lafia-Makurdi road following the flooding on the road, which prevented President Bola Tinubu from visiting Yelwata during his visit to Benue State on Wednesday.

Umahi, in a statement on Friday, said the development caused embarrassment to President Tinubu and apologised for the state of the road.

The Minister explained that the flooding was caused by the poor management of the road by the private concessionaire managing the tolled highway.

He therefore ordered ministry officials and engineers from China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company to be immediately dispatched to address and resolve the ongoing flooding issues along the Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi route.

Umahi, in the statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser, Orji Uchenna, blamed the China Harbour Operations and Maintenance Company for not maintaining the road properly while still collecting toll fees.

The opposition coalition movement has reportedly assigned its top leaders to lead operations in its various geopolitical zones as part of measures to strengthen its bases.

OsunDaily learnt that the party platform for the coalition may be unveiled next week.

Recall that the coalition movement has deliberated whether to adopt an existing political party or register a new one.

While the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are likely platforms to adopt, other interests within the coalition have argued for registering a new party to avoid the pitfalls of competing for structure within existing parties.

Some coalition members have also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of refusing to recognise applications from political associations seeking to become parties ahead of the 2027 election.

According to Leadership, a source close to the operation, revealed that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, will be in charge of the North East zone, former Senate President, David Mark, will head the North Central zone, and former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, will head the North West zone.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has again lamented the level of monumental corruption in the public governance of Nigeria.

He described Nigeria as a nation held hostage by monumental corruption.

Speaking via a statement released on Friday in reaction to the alarm raised by the Nigerian Senate over huge discrepancies involving trillions of naira in the audited financial statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Obi said it is sadly true that Nigeria has become a crime scene.

OsunDaily recalls that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Aliyu Wadada, during the investigative session on Wednesday, said the Chief Financial Officer of the NNPC, Adedapo Segun, failed to provide detailed records justifying massive legal and auditing fees, as well as contradictions in receivables reportedly worth over ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.

In his reaction to the discovery, the former Anambra State Governor said the allegation is not just a scandal, but a criminalised and institutionalised betrayal of Nigerians by those in authority through corruption without consequences.

He lamented that the figure in question is more than the country’s national budget within the same period.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that there is hope for Rivers State.

According to him, nobody can look at him and say there is no hope for Rivers State.

Speaking on Friday in Abuja at the commissioning of the newly constructed Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III (RR3), which was performed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator George Akume on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Wike appreciated the people of Rivers State for their suppourt.

OsunDaily reports he also assured residents of the FCT that they will witness more developmental projects under the administration of President Tinubu.

Wike described himself as lucky to have the support of the President, the people of Rivers State and friends from all over Nigeria, noting that a man is as strong as the support he receives from others, and he is lucky to have massive support from people around him.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of masterminding the arrest of 15 former lawmakers, including ex-Speaker, Moses Thomas Sule, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

OsunDaily reports that the anti-graft agency, on June 17, 2025, apprehended the former legislators who are currently serving as liaison officers to Governor Caleb Mutfwang in their various constituencies, over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office.

The suspects are accused of violating the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and procurement irregularities.

Other arrested former lawmakers are Gwottson Fom, Sani Abubakar, Philip Gwom, Timothy Dantong, Happiness Mathew Akawu, Cornelius Dotyok, Agbalak Ibrahim, Danjuma Azi, Fwangje Bala Ndat, Salome Tanimu Wanglet, Namba Rimuyat, Nimchak Rims, Ishaku Maren and Paul Datugun.

Reacting to the arrest in a statement on Thursday, by its State Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Amande, the PDP described the action as a “political witch hunt” aimed at suppressing opposition voices ahead of the 2027 election and undermining the current PDP administration in the state.

One of the administrators appointed by the Rivers state Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state has resigned.

OsunDaily reports that Goodluck Ihemnacho, administrator of the Ahoada East LGA of Rivers State, announced his resignation in a letter dated June 20, 2025, addressed to the state’s sole administrator.

Ihemnacho, in the letter, said his resignation was informed by his desire to return to the private sector.

The resignation letter partly read, “I humbly write to your noble office to convey to you my resignation as the administrator, Ahoada East LGA.

“My sincere gratitude goes to the government of Rivers State and the good people of Ahoada East for finding me worthy to serve as Ahoada East LGA from the 11th day of April 2025 to the 20th day of July 2025.”

According to Punch, Ihemnacho resigned to pave the way for him to contest the forthcoming LG elections in the state.

Nigerian singer cum actor, Yemi Ayebo, better known as ‘Yemi My Lover’, has accused popular rapper, Olamide, of failing to compensate him after using his name in his music.

OsunDaily reports that the film star made this known in a viral video on social media.

The actor dismissed claims that Nigerian singers and content creators compensated him for using his name, ‘Yemi My Lover’, in their content and music.

He stated that Olamide refused to pick up his calls for six months despite reaching out to him through Fuji legend, Pasuma.

Argentina and Inter Miami superstar, Lionel Messi, has revealed that while he is not friends with his career rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, he holds the Portuguese forward in the highest regard.

Speaking in comments shared by renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano on Friday, Messi praised Ronaldo’s remarkable longevity and continued competitiveness at age 40.

“I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, and for the career he’s had and continues to have. He is still competing at the highest level,” Messi said.

Messi reflected on their years of fierce competition, particularly during their time in Spain with Barcelona and Real Madrid, but emphasised that their rivalry was always respectful and professional.

“The competition with him was on the pitch… Each of us wanted to do the best for our team. Everything stayed on the pitch,” he noted.

“Off the pitch, we are two normal guys. We’re not friends because we don’t spend time together, but we’ve always treated each other with a lot of respect.”

The comments came shortly after Messi produced another moment of brilliance at the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup.

The 37-year-old curled a trademark free-kick past Porto goalkeeper Claudio Ramos, sealing a 2-1 comeback win for Inter Miami.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on OsunDaily. See you again tomorrow.