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By Gloria Ikibah

The path towards a second term for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has effectively been set in motion after nomination paperwork for the 2027 presidential race was obtained within the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The forms were collected in Abuja by Hon. James Faleke, the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, who acted on the President’s behalf. The move followed the official opening of the party’s nomination process by its National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu.

A payment of ₦100 million accompanied the collection, marking a significant early step in what is expected to be a closely watched re-election effort.

The development comes against the backdrop of an already published electoral timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, which has mapped out key dates for the next general elections.

Voting for the presidency and National Assembly is fixed for 16 January 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are to follow on 6 February.

The electoral body has also scheduled party primaries between late April and the end of May 2026, with campaigns for federal-level contests expected to begin in August, and those for state offices in September.

With the nomination process now underway, political activity is expected to gather pace in the months ahead as parties begin to organise internally and position themselves for the contest.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially taken a major step toward seeking a second term in office after the purchase of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the 2027 presidential election.

The development, which effectively signals the start of his re-election campaign within the ruling party, saw the nomination forms, valued at N100 million, obtained on Tuesday in Abuja by Hon. James Faleke, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency and leader of the Tinubu Support Groups. Faleke acted on behalf of the president during the process.

The APC National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu, formally presented the forms at a ceremony marking the official opening of the party’s nomination activities ahead of the next general election cycle.

The move is widely seen as the beginning of Tinubu’s structured push for another term, coming months ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission) has already released a detailed timetable for the polls. According to the commission, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The electoral body also announced that political parties will conduct their primaries and resolve related disputes between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaign activities are expected to commence later in the year, with presidential and National Assembly campaigns beginning on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will kick off on September 9, 2026.Politics

President Tinubu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (All Progressives Congress), is expected to face internal party processes before formally emerging as the party’s candidate, even as preparations for the 2027 general elections gradually gather momentum nationwide.

Key political figures involved in the nomination process include Hon. James Faleke (James Faleke), who facilitated the purchase of the forms on the president’s behalf, and APC’s National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Argungu (Suleiman Argungu), who supervised the formal presentation in Abuja.

With the electoral timetable now in place, political activities are expected to intensify in the coming months as parties begin strategizing for what is shaping up to be a highly competitive 2027 election season.

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No fewer than 29 people were killed in Adamawa State, Governor Umar Fintiri confirmed on Monday.

Residents said the attackers targeted young people who had assembled at a football pitch, marking yet another episode of violence in Nigeria.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Guyaku community, Gombi Local Government Area of the North-East state, near the Cameroon border—an area frequently affected by insurgent and criminal activities.

The attack comes at a time when Nigeria’s security challenges are drawing increasing attention both domestically and internationally, especially with general elections less than a year away.

Governor Fintiri, who visited the community on Monday, confirmed the death toll, according to a statement by his spokesperson on social media.
Residents corroborated the figures.

A local resident, Philip Agabus, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that villagers had gathered at the football pitch when insurgents stormed the area and began shooting indiscriminately.
Another resident, Joshua Usman, said the victims were mostly youths, including some women watching the match. He added that the attackers also burned places of worship, homes, and motorcycles.

The governor’s office, citing a community leader, Aggrey Ali, said the assailants operated for hours, killing residents and destroying property.
Footage aired on local television showed a burnt church and several charred motorcycles.

While Governor Fintiri blamed Boko Haram militants, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) later claimed responsibility, stating that it killed at least 25 Christians and set fire to a church and nearly 100 motorcycles, according to the SITE monitoring group.
Fintiri condemned the attack, vowing that it would not go unpunished and promising intensified security operations to restore peace.

Since 2009, insurgency led by Boko Haram and ISWAP has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions in Nigeria’s North-East, according to the United Nations. The conflict has also spread to neighbouring Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Nigeria is now seeking technical and training support from the United States to strengthen its military operations against insurgents amid a resurgence of violence.

Another Attack On Lamurde
In a separate incident on Sunday, over 100 kilometres away in Lamurde area, another attack occurred, reportedly linked to farmland disputes in several villages.

Bulus Daniel, Chairman of the Lamurde Local Government Council, confirmed that lives and properties were lost.

15 Pupils, Proprietor’s Wife Rescued In Kogi
Meanwhile, in Kogi State, security forces rescued 15 pupils abducted alongside 23 children and the wife of a school proprietor during an attack on an unregistered orphanage and school.

The State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, confirmed the rescue and said efforts were ongoing to secure the release of the remaining victims.
School abductions remain a persistent problem in Nigeria due to weak security and ransom demands by perpetrators.
Despite repeated government assurances, mass kidnappings continue to disrupt education, commerce, and travel, raising concerns among citizens about the effectiveness of security measures.