Today’s newspaper headlines focus on INEC’s exclusion of some governorship candidates from its final list, concerns over the slow pace of campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, and warnings by the IMF and World Bank about artificial intelligence and jobs in developing economies. Other major stories include Vice President…...
Today’s newspaper headlines focus on INEC’s exclusion of some governorship candidates from its final list, concerns over the slow pace of campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections, and warnings by the IMF and World Bank about artificial intelligence and jobs in developing economies. Other major stories include Vice President Kashim Shettima’s appeal to the North to support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid and the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure commuters benefit from reduced transport fares under its CNG initiative.
The Nation: Why INEC omitted Adebutu, Pantami, others from final list
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly excluded some governorship candidates from its final list after reviewing the Supreme Court’s September 24 judgment on the Electoral Act 2026.
Among those omitted are Isa Ali Pantami, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Gombe State, and Oladipupo Adebutu, the party’s candidate in Ogun State. Also affected are Abdulsalam Gwarzo and Danjuma La’ah of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), who were listed as candidates in Kano and Kaduna states, respectively.
An INEC source attributed the omissions to the candidates’ names being absent from their parties’ electronic registers submitted 21 days before their primaries, as required by the law.
The PDP has given INEC 48 hours to explain the omissions, warning that it would determine its next course of action if the commission failed to respond. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) also said four of its candidates were excluded from the list.
Read More in The Nation.
Guardian: 94 days to elections: Tinubu, Atiku, others campaign-shy as proxies mobilise support
With 94 days to the January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, major political parties and presidential candidates are yet to commence vigorous nationwide campaigns, raising concerns about the pace of electioneering.
The Guardian reports that factors including the age and health concerns of some candidates, the high cost of rallies, insecurity and fears of possible electoral manipulation may be contributing to the subdued campaign atmosphere.
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Although parties have continued to hold meetings, secure endorsements and conduct consultations, President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have yet to match the extensive rallies and nationwide mobilisation that characterised the 2023 election cycle.
The report notes that 47 of the 150 days allocated for campaigns have elapsed, with no clear nationwide campaign strategy or messaging emerging from the major contenders.
Read More in The Guardian.
Vanguard: AI: World Bank, IMF warn of jobs crisis in Nigeria, others
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have warned that artificial intelligence could worsen unemployment in Nigeria and other developing economies unless governments and businesses prepare workers for the technology and deploy it to support job creation.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described AI as a “slow-moving tsunami” at an event during the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, warning that about 40 per cent of jobs globally could be augmented, downgraded or eliminated by the technology.
World Bank Group President Ajay Banga said the institution’s priority was to ensure that economic development translated into employment opportunities.
“The bank’s entire focus has to be on jobs,” Banga said, stressing that AI should improve productivity and create opportunities rather than simply replace workers.
Banga advocated affordable, practical AI applications that could support agriculture, education and healthcare, including helping farmers identify crop diseases and connecting them to relevant agricultural services.
The World Bank’s October 2026 Africa Economic Update identifies Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa as leading centres of AI activity on the continent, while noting that adoption remains at an early stage.
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Read More in Vanguard.
ThisDay: Shettima to North: You Have Nothing to Fear over Tinubu’s Second Term
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged northern political leaders and citizens to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, assuring them that the region stands to benefit further if the president secures a second term in 2027.
Shettima spoke at the State House, Abuja, while receiving a delegation of Arewa for Asiwaju, a northern political group campaigning for Tinubu’s re-election.
He urged the region to unite behind the administration, citing its appointments, agricultural interventions and infrastructure projects as evidence of its commitment to northern development.
“Let’s unite as a people and work for the development of our region and the progress of our people through the re-election of this administration. We are benefiting and we stand to benefit more from this government in many ways,” the vice president said.
Shettima also cited the Bank of Agriculture’s reported disbursement of N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers nationwide, saying about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries were from the North.
“The Bank of Agriculture has disbursed N450 billion to 700,000 smallholder farmers in Nigeria and about 70 per cent of the beneficiaries are from the North,” he said.
Meanwhile, Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris said the administration’s economic reforms were beginning to yield measurable results, citing inflation, foreign exchange reserves, oil production and infrastructure investment. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Kingsley Udeh also defended Tinubu’s second-term ambition, saying the president should be allowed to complete his economic reforms.
Read More in ThisDay.
Punch: CNG deployment: Commuters await fare cut as FG invests $2.5bn
The Federal Government has begun engaging state governors, transport unions and commercial fleet operators to ensure that commuters benefit from lower fares under its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which has attracted more than $2.5 billion in private-sector investment.
The Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles says it plans to introduce stickers on programme-supported buses showing designated routes and approved fares to improve transparency and prevent overcharging.
Onyekachi Eke, Head of Brand and Communications at the initiative, said the government had started meeting state governors to map transport routes and establish arrangements for enforcing fare reductions.
“So as we said, we are working with state governors, fleet operators and different transport unions to enforce the reduction in fare. In line with the presidential directive, we have started meeting with governors,” Eke said.
She added that the stickers would display routes and fares so passengers could know the approved charges before boarding.
“Henceforth, for every bus we give, there will be a sticker to map out the intended routes. The routes will be placed on the buses as stickers, and the fare will be there. So everyone can see it, and customers will know what they should pay,” she said.
Eke said some designated routes in Abuja had recorded a 40 per cent fare reduction through CNG-converted commercial vehicles operating under a partnership with the National Union of Road Transport Workers. Similar reductions were reported in Borno, Enugu, Niger and Abia states.
However, findings by The PUNCH indicate that implementation remains uneven, with some commuters yet to benefit from lower fares. Eke acknowledged that the reductions had not reached every route or passenger, adding that the programme was being expanded in collaboration with state governments and transport operators.
Read More in The Punch.