Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Saturday, 11th October, 2025

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 11th October, 2025.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State is set to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) next week, in what party insiders have described as one of the most significant political realignments in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.

The development was confirmed on Friday in Abuja by the APC National Chairman, Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and the Deputy National Chairman (South-East), Chief Emma Eneukwu, during the inauguration of the party’s newly constituted Enugu State caretaker committee.

The caretaker committee, chaired by former state chairman Dr Ben Nwoye, was sworn in at the APC national secretariat amid growing speculation over Mbah’s imminent defection.

Speaking after the inauguration, Ben Nwoye confirmed that Governor Mbah would formally join the ruling party at an event scheduled to be held in Enugu next week.

“Governor Peter Mbah will be joining the All Progressives Congress with all his appointees,” Nwoye told reporters.

“His coming into the APC will further strengthen the party’s presence and structure in Enugu State and across the South-East.”

He noted that the caretaker committee had been mandated to reconcile party members, build grassroots support, and prepare for upcoming elections in the state.

The APC leadership described Mbah’s expected defection as a major political milestone that would boost the party’s standing in the South-East, traditionally seen as a stronghold of the PDP and Labour Party.

Rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, on Friday met with former President Goodluck Jonathan to seek support for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Naija News understands that Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2021, is facing terrorism-related charges.

Speaking after the meeting, Sowore disclosed in a post on 𝕏 that Jonathan agreed on the “urgent and compelling need to address this matter decisively and justly.”

He added that the former president promised to raise the issue directly with President Bola Tinubu.

Sowore also confirmed that he would lead a peaceful march to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on October 20 to demand Kanu’s unconditional release.

“With this, former President Jonathan joins a growing list of Nigerians who have called for justice in Nnamdi Kanu’s case, a list that already includes ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Femi Falana (SAN), Senator Shehu Sani, and many others across political and regional divides,” Sowore stated.

The activist insisted that Kanu, like other regional and ethnic agitators whose cases were politically motivated, deserves freedom.

Sowore urged political and opinion leaders, including Peter Obi, Governor Charles Soludo, Governor Alex Otti, Governor Francis Nwifuru, Governor Peter Mbah, Governor Hope Uzodimma, Oby Ezekwesili, and John Mbata of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, to join the growing demand for Kanu’s release.

He appealed to “Nigerians of conscience everywhere to lend their voices to the call for justice and freedom.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disclosed its ambition to take over the southeast region in the 2027 general election.

The declaration was made on Tuesday by the newly inaugurated chairman of the APC caretaker committee in Enugu State, Ben Nwoye, shortly after it was confirmed that Governor Peter Mbah is set to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC on Tuesday next week.

Naija News reports that Nwoye was inaugurated alongside other members of the state caretaker committee, including Eugene Odoh as Secretary; Fidelia Njoeze, Peter Chime, Dr Oby Ajih, Dr Chiedozie Nwafor, and Emma Ekeh, by the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.

Addressing journalists after the inauguration, Nwoye expressed their resolve not only to work for the APC’s victory in Enugu State, but also across the entire Southeast for the 2027 election.

He added that with the coming on board of Governor Mbah and his supporters, opposition parties would not have a political breathing space in the region.

A former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Agboola Ayoola, popularly known as “Alleluyah”, has formally resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, bringing an end to his long-standing association with the party.

The former lawmaker, who hails from Itesiwaju Local Government Area, announced his resignation in a letter dated Friday, October 10, 2025, addressed to the party leadership in the state.

Senator Ayoola had served as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under two former governors, Rashidi Ladoja and the late Adebayo Alao-Akala, between 2003 and 2011.

He later represented Oyo North Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015, during which he emerged as the only PDP senator elected in the entire South-West region at the time.

His exit marks the departure of one of the PDP’s longest-serving figures in Oyo State politics.

In his resignation letter made available to journalists in Ibadan on Friday, Ayoola expressed appreciation to the PDP for the platform and opportunities it provided him to serve both at the state and national levels.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has disclosed that he was forced to triple his personal security after receiving multiple death threats from individuals and companies whose mining licences were revoked for violating government regulations.

Alake, who made the revelation during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, ahead of the 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week, said the threats came through text messages and direct intimidation attempts following the government’s renewed enforcement drive in the mining sector.

The Nigeria Mining Week, themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,” is scheduled to hold from October 13 to 15, 2025, bringing together policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders to evaluate the nation’s mining reforms and prospects.

Speaking to journalists, Alake said the threats became so serious that he had to increase the number of armed personnel attached to him as a precaution.

“In fact, I have had to triple my personal security because I’ve received several threats from those whose licences were revoked for one form of infraction or the other. One even sent me a text message threatening me directly,” he revealed.

The minister explained that the ministry’s decision to enforce long-neglected mining laws and revoke dormant licences had provoked backlash from powerful interests who had operated with impunity for years.

A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, was on Friday approached for a fresh bail application by Fred Ajudua, after losing his bid at the Supreme Court on May 9.

Ajudua is standing trial for allegedly defrauding a Palestinian national, Mr Zad Abu Zalaf, of $1,043,000 under false pretences.

The defendant, who appeared in court dressed in a white native attire and leaning on a walking stick, informed the court through his counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), that he had filed a notice of withdrawal of his application at the Supreme Court to pave the way for the high court to rule on his bail application.

Ojo told the court, “We decided to withdraw the motion we filed at the Supreme Court to allow this Honourable Court to deliver its ruling on the bail application.”

The defence counsel tendered an affidavit and a copy of the notice of withdrawal as evidence before the court.

He explained that although Ajudua was battling chronic kidney disease and severe hypertension, he insisted on appearing in court to comply with his legal obligations.

Ojo urged the court to proceed with the ruling on the bail request.

Naija News reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), however, opposed the fresh bail bid.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, October 9, described himself as a “golden minister”, declaring that his tenure coincides with a historic milestone in the life of the nation’s capital.

Naija News reports that Wike, who served as Governor of Rivers State when the state celebrated its 50th anniversary, noted that he is now privileged to oversee the FCT as it prepares to clock 50 next February 2026.

The minister made the remarks in Abuja during the flag-off of the Collector Road CN2 (Emmanuel I. Ogala Street) project, linking Arterial N16 (Yemi Osinbajo Way) to N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), including Road ILS 5, within Katampe District.

Speaking further, Wike said the coincidence of his leadership during the two golden jubilees was proof of divine favour, urging others not to envy his fortune.

Gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey has revealed how his wife, Sarah, suffered several miscarriages, and he had to lead several praise sessions during Hallelujah Challenge while his wife was hospitalised.

Speaking on Friday during the ongoing Hallelujah Challenge, Bassey revealed that his wife has had five miscarriages.

The ‘Imela’ crooner disclosed that while his wife was in the hospital due to an ectopic pregnancy, he would still leave to attend the Hallelujah Challenge.

According to him, “My wife will have to forgive me. Do you know that there are times on Hallelujah Challenge when we had a miscarriage, nobody knew. I will still come to praise and dance. Some few years ago, she was on the hospital bed, ectopic pregnancy. I will leave and come online, lead praise and worship and I will go back to the hospital and the nurses will tell me it was powerful tonight. The nurses attending to her. Not one, not two, not three, not four, five.”

Reflecting on their experience, he added, “So when people say, where is God? I say, I understand. God is faithful. One of the words that he gave us, the one is ‘don’t give up on God.’”

He also shared a lighter testimony, saying, “Somebody sent me a testimony yesterday. He went to a Chinese restaurant to eat. I know every now and then they have these cookie things where they put some rice puffs and then you choose. In a Chinese restaurant, he opened it and you know what the word was? don’t give up.”

Popular Yoruba Nollywood actor, Tunde Usman, better known as Okele, has proposed the ‘signing’ of foreign Presidents to fix Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the movie star suggested this while reacting to the increase in cooking gas prices across the country.

In a post on his Instagram page, Okele proposed a football method for removing underperforming coaches to address Nigeria’s challenges.

According to the thespian, adopting the football method might solve constant disappointment with elected leaders.

He said, “Greetings to all Nigerians at home and abroad. May God help us soften this hardship. I just thought of something about gas, fuel and the way things are expensive in Nigeria.

“If you are a lover of football you would know that every club has a coach, assistant coach, and those that train the keepers. So, instead of campaigning for different political parties with some looting our money, why can’t Nigeria look around the world and sign any ex-president that has proven himself in another country to fix Nigeria.

“Even many football nations signed coaches from different countries. Maybe we should adopt the signing of the President method to end different political parties campaigns. Let’s come together and sign our President the same way we signed the coach and we can sack the non performing President and sign a new one.”

Nigeria’s Super Eagles survived a nervy finish in Maseru on Friday night as they edged Lesotho 2-1 to keep their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification hopes alive.

William Troost-Ekong opened the scoring for the Super Eagles in the 55th minute from the penalty spot, after a Lesotho defender handled the ball in the box. Substitute Ademola Adams doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 80th minute, after dribbling his way into the penalty box following a pass from Victor Osimhen.

Lesotho, however, refused to go quietly. In the 83rd minute, Hlompho Kalake pulled one back for the hosts after a costly mistake from Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, whose poor handling of a corner gifted Lesotho a late lifeline.

Nwabali’s night nearly went from bad to worse when another lapse in concentration during added time almost led to an equaliser, but Lesotho failed to convert the chance as the ball rolled narrowly wide.

The win keeps Nigeria in third place in Group C with 14 points, just one behind second-placed South Africa, who were held to a goalless draw by Zimbabwe earlier today. Benin remain top of the group with 17 points following their 1-0 victory over Rwanda.