Nigerian Newspapers: 10 Things to Know This Saturday Morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers.

1. Yakubu Danladi‑Salihu, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, has been selected as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 election. He received 94,990 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Abdulfatai Yahaya Seriki, who garnered over 41,000 votes.

2. On Friday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has exclusive ownership of the eNaira digital currency platform. Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment, issuing a perpetual injunction that bars eNaira Payment Solutions Limited from presenting itself as the registered owner of the “eNaira” trademark.

3. Former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi said the ruling APC has drifted from the principles on which it was founded. In a podcast interview, he criticized the party’s increasing reliance on consensus arrangements, warning that this could trigger an internal crisis. Fayemi also expressed concerns about the lack of internal democracy in the APC and the conduct of party primaries nationwide.

4. The Oyo State Government has suspended all school excursions, field trips, sports competitions and other activities outside school premises following last week’s coordinated abduction attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The suspension comes as burial rites begin for slain teacher Adesiyan Adegboye.

5. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) accused the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) of blocking access to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai after senior party leaders were denied access to him at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The opposition party said the restrictions surrounding El‑Rufai’s detention raise concerns about political persecution.

6. The Naira appreciated to N1,376 per dollar in the parallel market on Friday, matching the official market rate, up from N1,387 per dollar on Thursday. However, the naira depreciated to N1,375 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).

7. In Lagos State, the APC has declared Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, following his victory in the party’s primary held on Thursday. According to the electoral officer, Hamzat secured 657,917 votes out of 657,974 accredited votes cast, while his challenger, Lanre Jim‑Kamal, polled one vote.

8. The Nigeria Democratic Congress has established a 20‑member National Selection Committee to oversee the screening and selection of aspirants for the party’s governorship and National Assembly tickets ahead of the 2026 elections. The development was announced in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the party’s National Secretary, Ikenna Enekweizu.

9. United States President Donald Trump has directed that Nigerians and other nationals applying for green cards must return to their home countries to apply for the process, except in extraordinary circumstances. The new immigration policy was disclosed on Friday. According to a press statement issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency said the policy aims to restore the “original intent” of US immigration law.

10. A major crisis erupted within the African Democratic Congress in Benue State on Friday following violent scenes, protests and growing allegations surrounding the party’s primary election process. Protesters, who carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, warned against any move that could sideline the Idoma nation in the party’s governorship arrangement, insisting that Benue South deserves a fair opportunity to produce the party’s candidate.