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2027: My re-election unstoppable- Otti tells Orji Kalu, Others

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Abia State Governor Alex Otti has declared that his re-election in 2027 is inevitable, insisting that no individual or group can stop it.

Otti made the assertion on Saturday while speaking at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Umuikaa District Headquarters, in the Isialangwa South Local Government Area of the state.

 

Despite his confidence about 2027, the governor warned that his administration would not be distracted by early election politics, stressing that his focus remains on delivering development to the people of Abia State.

“I am not bothered about 2027. The same God who settled 2023 will also settle 2027,” Otti said.

He further pledged that his government would continue to do the right thing, regardless of attacks from the opposition.

“No one, or group of people, whoever they are, is entitled to distract us. When they make noise, we should not be bothered. We should just remain focused and do what we have to do,” the governor added.

Otti’s comments come amid ongoing verbal exchanges between him and former Abia State governors—Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu. In recent weeks, Senator Kalu had vowed to stop Otti’s re-election bid in 2027.

AFCON Final: Why I called my teammates nack to pitch—Sadio Mané explains

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Senegal star forward Sadio Mané has explained why he urged his teammates to return to the pitch during the tense closing moments of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco on Sunday night.

Senegal edged the host nation 1-0 after 120 minutes to clinch their second AFCON title, with Pape Gueye scoring the decisive goal in the first half of extra time.

The dramatic final was briefly halted late in the second half when the referee awarded Morocco a penalty for a foul on Brahim Díaz. The decision angered the Senegalese players, who momentarily walked off the pitch in protest.

However, cameras later showed Mané appealing to his teammates to resume the match.

Speaking after the game, the former Liverpool forward said he believed walking off would have sent the wrong message to football fans around the world.

“When my teammates decided to leave the pitch, I stayed and asked some people if it was a good idea or not,” Mané said in his post-match interview.

“I then decided to go and bring everyone back. I felt it was the best thing to do. This is football—referees can make mistakes, and that’s part of the game.

“People around the world can judge whether it was a penalty or not, but that wasn’t the most important thing. What matters is that millions were watching, and it wouldn’t have been fair to stop a match like this.”

Mané’s intervention ensured the final was completed, allowing Senegal to secure a historic AFCON triumph.

Senegal beat Morocco in dramatic Final to lift AFCON 2025 title

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Senegal clinched the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title after a tense 1–0 victory over hosts Morocco in a dramatic final played on Sunday night in Rabat.

The clash between Africa’s two highest-ranked teams was fiercely contested, with both sides cancelling each other out in a goalless first half.

The second half appeared headed for a stalemate until Senegal thought they had taken the lead, only for Ismaila Sarr’s header to be ruled out for a foul on Achraf Hakimi.

Late drama followed in the 97th minute when Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty. The decision sparked protests from Senegalese players, who briefly walked off the pitch. When play resumed, Brahim Díaz’s attempted panenka was brilliantly saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy.

The decisive moment came in the first half of extra time as Pape Gueye produced a sublime left-footed strike to stun the Atlas Lions and seal the trophy for Senegal, crowning them champions of Africa once again.

BREAKING: Senegal walks out of finals against Morocco 

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Africa’s Nations Cup final against Morocco on Sunday at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco.

This comes after the officiating referee awarded a penalty against Senegal at injury time.

Senegal has been denied a goal at one end by referee Jean-Jacques Ndala, but Morocco was given a soft penalty.

However, after the intervention of Sergio Mane, Senegal returned to the pitch, and Ibrahim Diaz missed the penalty.

At the 94th minute, Pape Gueye gave the Senegalese a lead as of filing the report.

Details later (this is a developing story).

Igbos angry over Nnamdi Kanu’s life sentence will react in 2027 elections—Ejimakor to Tinubu

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Aloy Ejimakor, legal adviser to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said that many Igbo people are deeply dissatisfied with Kanu’s conviction and life imprisonment.

Ejimakor warned that unless the judgment is urgently reviewed, the discontent among Ndigbo could influence their political choices in the 2027 general elections.

In a post shared on X, Ejimakor stated that his recent travels across the South-East during the Christmas and New Year period revealed widespread anger over Kanu’s conviction. He noted that the issue remains a major concern for many residents of the region.

“I travelled around the entire South-East during this Xmas/New Year period and noticed that Ndigbo are very unhappy about the conviction of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. If it is not rectified urgently, they will surely make their feelings known in the 2027 elections. Even Google confirms it,” he wrote.

In 2025, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offenses. The ruling was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who remarked that the offenses attracted a possible death sentence but said he exercised leniency in imposing life imprisonment instead.

Kanu has been facing various charges, including treason and terrorism, for nearly a decade, stemming from his agitation for the actualisation of Biafra.

US embassy announces shutdown in Nigeria

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The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The US Mission in Nigeria announced the closure on Sunday via its official X handle, noting that routine diplomatic services will be unavailable for the day.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal public holiday in the United States, marked annually on the third Monday of January to honor the late civil rights leader’s legacy in promoting racial equality and nonviolent resistance.

The holiday was established on November 2, 1983, after then-President Ronald Reagan signed it into law, and was first observed on January 20, 1986, close to Dr. King’s birthday on January 15.

As a result of the closure, visa and other routine services will be temporarily suspended for one day. However, emergency assistance for US citizens will remain available through designated channels.

Normal operations at both the Abuja Embassy and the Lagos Consulate are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

Wike vs Fubara rift in Rivers driving investors away—ex-Obio-Akpor chairman

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A former Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo, has cautioned that the lingering political crisis in Rivers State is eroding investor confidence and weakening the state’s economy.

 

Ihunwo said the prolonged instability has made the business environment unattractive, prompting many investors to move their operations to other states.

 

The crisis, he explained, stems from a fierce political battle for control between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara. The conflict later led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.

 

Despite intervention efforts by President Bola Tinubu, the political tension has continued, with the State Assembly recently taking new steps toward the impeachment of the governor.

 

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Saturday, Ihunwo noted that the uncertainty created by the crisis has unsettled both existing and potential investors.

 

He said many business owners now prefer to invest in neighboring communities and other states rather than risk operating in Rivers State, where the political situation remains unpredictable.

 

According to Ihunwo, the decline in investment is directly affecting residents, as it limits job creation, slows economic growth, and threatens the overall livelihood of the people.

 

He stressed that restoring political stability is crucial if Rivers State is to regain investor trust and revive its economy.

I’m unbothered about 2027, God will settle me- Abia Governor, Otti 

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Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restated that his administration is not concerned with early discussions about the 2027 elections, insisting that his attention remains firmly on delivering development to the state.

The governor made this known on Saturday while addressing worshippers at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Umuikaa District Headquarters, in Isialangwa South Local Government Area. He assured the people that his government is committed to staying on course and doing what is right.

Otti said he is untroubled by political distractions ahead of 2027, expressing confidence that the same divine guidance that saw him through the 2023 election would prevail again. According to him, no person or group can divert his administration from its set goals.

He emphasized the need to remain focused despite criticism or distractions, urging that governance should not be slowed by unnecessary noise.

 

The governor also apologized to residents for the inconvenience caused by dust from ongoing road rehabilitation along the Umuikaa Junction–Owerrinta Road, noting that such challenges are inevitable in the process of development.

He disclosed that work on the dualization of the road is nearing completion, adding that construction is also ongoing on the Onuimo–Tower Road as part of the government’s wider infrastructure development drive.

“I am not bothered about 2027, as the God that settled 2023 would equally settle 2027,” he said, adding that no individual or group can derail his administration’s agenda.

This comes as former governors from the state led by Orji Uzor Kalu vowed to frustrate Otti’s re-election in 2027.

Trump slams Tariffs on Eight European Allies over opposition to US takeover of Greenland

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United States President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on eight European countries that have openly opposed America’s bid to take control of Greenland.

The affected nations are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom—most of which are long-standing allies of the United States.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump argued that the U.S. has spent decades subsidising Denmark, Europe and other countries by failing to demand adequate compensation.

“It’s time for Denmark to give back after centuries… World Peace is at stake!” he wrote.

The president again claimed that China and Russia are interested in Greenland, insisting that Denmark is powerless to stop the situation. He stressed that the territory is a “sacred piece of land” and said its control is vital to U.S. national security and global stability.

Trump also criticised recent visits to Greenland by leaders and officials from the eight European countries, describing the trips as suspicious and “for purposes unknown.”

Under the new policy, a 10 per cent tariff will be imposed on all goods shipped to the U.S. from the affected countries starting February 1, 2026. The rate will rise to 25 per cent from June 1, 2026.

According to Trump, the tariffs will remain in place “until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”

He accused the governments backing Greenland of playing a “very dangerous game,” warning that their actions have created an unsustainable level of risk.

Trump concluded that decisive steps are necessary to safeguard global peace and security, adding that the U.S. has pursued the idea of acquiring Greenland for more than 150 years, but Denmark has consistently refused past attempts.

AFCON 2025: Nigeria defeat Egypt on penalties to win third place

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Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Saturday defeated Egypt on penalties to emerge as the third-place winner of the 2025 African Cup of Nations.

The penalties ended 2-4 as Ademola Lookman secured the victory for Nigeria with his last kick.

Recall that Morocco defeated Nigeria on penalties in the semi-finals to proceed to the finals with Senegal.

The final is scheduled for Sunday, 18th January 2026.