Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 5th May, 2026

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 5th May, 2026.

Former presidential candidate and Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi has stated that the condition of Nigeria and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria, informed his decision to leave African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Naija News reports that the NDC chieftain made this known in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday.

He stated that he left the ADC for the same reason he left the Labour Party: ‘the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises.’

Peter Obi also appealed to the Nigerian Government against the encouragement of unresolved litigations and the infusion of crises within political parties.

The former governor said he and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso decided to join the NDC not in abandonment of their values, but a continuation of the same mission they have always stood for.

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), chaired by Senator Adolphus Wabara, has appointed a 13-member interim National Working Committee (NWC) to be led by Tanimu Turaki as the interim National Chairman.

This was disclosed on Monday by Wabara after the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held by the Tanimu Turaki bloc of the PDP at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

He explained that the decision was taken based on the Supreme Court ruling, which nullified the 2025 Ibadan National Convention of the PDP and created a leadership vacuum in the party.

Other members of the committee include Taofeek Arapaja, who was appointed National Secretary, as well as Daniel Ambrose, Hamza Abuya, Ihediwa, Isah Abubakar, Theophilus Dakashan, Ini Ememobong, Aribisala Adewale Idowu, Baru Shaffi, and Okechukwu Obiechina.

The faction also insisted that the Abuja convention, which produced the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee of the PDP, is null and void.

The senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, Muhammad Danjuma Goje, has rejected the consensus arrangement adopted by the Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News reports that stakeholders of the party, at a meeting on Sunday presided over by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, adopted retired DCP Mohammed Ahmadu Deba as the APC consensus candidate for Goje’s seat.

Goje, who is seeking a fifth term in the Senate, faulted the arrangement in a statement issued by his aide, Barr. Saidu Muazu Kumo.

The senator said the purported consensus meeting involved only the governor and a limited number of aspirants.

He said the meeting “did not include all duly recognised aspirants within the party.”

The convener of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), Umar Ardo, has expressed belief that the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party will be nullified.

According to him, they are already in court over the matter, and he believes the court will rule in their favour.

Naija News reorts that Ardo, who is a key promoter of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), alleged irregularities in the processes leading to the registration of NDC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He claimed that the NDC was registered without fulfilling the registration requirement, but by a Court order.

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyal to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, has released its schedule of activities and timetable for the 2027 general elections.

The party also fixed ₦100,000,000 as the price to be paid for expression of interest and nomination forms by aspirants interested in contesting the 2027 presidency on its platform.

Naija News reports that the details were contained in a statement on Monday signed by the PDP Organizing Secretary, Theophilus Dakas Shan.

According to the schedule, the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms for all elective offices will commence on Tuesday, May 5 and run till Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

The party announced that primaries for all elective positions will hold on Thursday, May 28, 2026 while a special national convention to ratify all candidates will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in a statement on Monday, also confirmed that the party has considered and approved the timetable for pre-election activities.

Former Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has decried President Bola Tinubu‘s order to withdraw his ambition for the Cross River North Senate seat in the 2027 general elections.

Naija News reports that Ayade, in a statement issued on Monday, recalled being invited to Abuja for a high-level national consultation with the Presidency.

According to Ayade, President Tinubu, during the meeting, directed him to shelve the senatorial bid, and he yielded to the request with so much pain and agony.

Speaking further, Ayade highlighted his role as the first Governor on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform to build the South-South region and delivered nearly 40,000 votes more than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

Ayade emphasised that despite these efforts, he has been sidelined for over three years without any federal appointment.

Controversial Nollywood actress, Lizzy Anjorin has accepted a boxing challenge involving fellow actress Iyabo Ojo.

Naija News reports that in 2024 Paulo had floated the idea of a celebrity boxing match between both actresses, with a proposed ₦10 million prize for the winner.

Speaking in a post shared on Instagram on Sunday, Anjorin said she was ready to step into the ring.

She, however, introduced fresh conditions, proposing that Paulo should first fight her husband before she faces Ojo.

She wrote “As at today, 3rd May 2026, I accept your challenge.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday fixed May 28 for the hearing of a suit seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to reopen an investigation into the death of popular musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad, his stage name.

‎The court, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, also ordered that hearing notices be served on the Inspector General of Police, the NPF, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, to ensure their appearance.

‎The suit was instituted by a non-governmental organisation, the Registered Trustees of Break the Silence Foundation.

‎The group had, on April 15, secured the court’s leave to apply for an order of mandamus compelling the police to conduct what it described as a thorough, diligent, impartial and professional reinvestigation into the circumstances surrounding the singer’s death in Lagos in September 2023.

‎Following an ex parte motion, the court granted permission for the applicant to seek “an order of mandamus compelling the respondents to perform their statutory duties as provided under Section 4 of the Police Act 2020.”

Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Taiwo Awoniyi scored twice as Nottingham Forest stunned Chelsea 3-1 in the 2025-2026 Premier League on a frantic afternoon at Stamford Bridge.

Nottingham Forest were out of the blocks ruthlessly and had the game under control inside the opening quarter of an hour. Awoniyi needed just two minutes to set the tone, powering home a header from a Bakar cross to silence the home crowd.

Chelsea tried to respond quickly. Cole Palmer went close after a sweeping move and Enzo Fernández struck the post, but the visitors doubled their lead in the 15th minute. Igor Jesus calmly converted from the spot after a foul by Malo Gusto.

The hosts were handed a lifeline deep into first-half stoppage time when they won a penalty. Palmer stepped up but saw his effort saved, leaving Chelsea trailing by two goals at the break.

Forest tightened their grip seven minutes after the restart. Morgan Gibbs-White slipped a neat pass through for Awoniyi, who finished confidently to make it 3-0 and complete his brace.

Jose Mourinho could finish his first league campaign with Benfica unbeaten, yet still miss out on the Portuguese title after Porto wrapped up the crown with two matches to spare.

Porto secured the league title after moving nine points clear of Benfica, who sit second in the Primeira Liga. Under president Andre Villas-Boas, the champions have lost just once in 32 league games. Benfica, by contrast, remain unbeaten but have drawn 10 times, six more than Porto.

Mourinho’s side will complete an invincible campaign if they avoid defeat against Braga and Estoril Praia in their final two fixtures. It would not be the first time Benfica have gone unbeaten and finished without the title. In 1977-1978, Porto edged them on goal difference despite drawing fewer matches.

If it happens, Benfica would join FC Sheriff in 2024-2025 and Red Star Belgrade in 2007-2008 as the only European sides this century to go an entire league season without losing and still miss out on the trophy.