Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Sunday, 24th May, 2026

Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 24th May, 2026.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will on Sunday receive the certificate of return and flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Naija News reports that the presentation is scheduled to take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja following the nationwide collation of results from the APC presidential primary election.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the ceremony will be attended by APC governors, members of the National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee, lawmakers and other party leaders.

The APC had earlier conducted its presidential primary election as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The presentation of the certificate and party flag formally confirms Tinubu as the APC’s presidential candidate for the next election cycle.

President Tinubu had emerged winner of the APC direct primary held across the nation. Tinubu defeated his lone challenger, Osifo Osayamen Stanley.

Former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has dismissed claims of a rift within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking to party members and supporters on Saturday during the APC presidential primaries in Ward 6, Itoko Abeokuta South local government area of the state, Amosun asserted that the party is speaking with one voice to secure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

He stated that the ongoing primary election held across the country is a demonstration of solidarity for the President.

Also speaking, the House of Representatives member for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Afolabi Moruf Afuape, described the turnout of party faithful as a clear indication of the growing acceptance and popularity of President Tinubu across the country.

He noted that the enthusiasm displayed by APC members and supporters reflects the confidence in the leadership and vision of the President.

The APC stalwart also praised former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun, for participating in the exercise, describing his involvement as a positive development and a sign of unity within the party.

President Bola Tinubu on Saturday recorded a sweeping victory in the All Progressives Congress presidential primary election in Gombe State, polling 450,517 votes.

Tinubu’s only challenger in the exercise, Stanley Osifo, failed to secure a vote in any of the state’s 11 local government areas.

The results were announced at APC Square by the exercise coordinator and Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya.

Yahaya said the figures were submitted by primary election collation officers from the 11 local government areas.

Addressing party officials, stakeholders and supporters during the collation exercise, the governor said the primary was conducted peacefully and in line with the party’s guidelines.

He added that the results from Gombe State would be forwarded to Abuja for final collation and official declaration by the APC national leadership.

A breakdown of the results showed that Tinubu polled 5,873 votes in Akko, 23,307 in Balanga and 23,675 in Billiri.

He secured 24,964 votes in Dukku and 22,761 votes in Funakaye. Gombe Local Government Area recorded the highest number of votes for Tinubu, with 112,414 votes.

Other results showed that Tinubu garnered 22,998 votes in Kaltungo, 25,305 in Kwami and 21,388 in Nafada.

He also scored 12,765 votes in Shongom, while Yamaltu/Deba delivered 75,067 votes. Yahaya disclosed that the state had 550,516 registered APC members.

He commended party officials, delegates and members for their peaceful conduct and commitment to the democratic process.

Abdulaziz Umar Ganduje, the eldest son of the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has obtained the nomination form to contest for a House of Representatives seat on the platform of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Naija News reports that Abdulaziz is seeking to represent Dawakin Tofa/Tofa/Rimin Gado Federal Constituency of Kano State.

He obtained the form on Saturday amid his long-standing association with the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

A viral video showed Abdulaziz in a discussion with former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, shortly after he obtained the nomination form.

He was said to have briefed Kwankwaso about his political ambition and readiness for the contest ahead of the next general election.

Abdulaziz has remained a loyal member of the Kwankwasiyya movement despite his father’s influential role in the APC over the years.

The development adds another twist to the long-running political rivalry between Ganduje and Kwankwaso. Both men were once close political allies in Kano before their relationship broke down.

Abdulaziz has, however, remained politically distant from his father’s camp for years and has consistently identified with the Kwankwasiyya movement.

His political alignment became more public after his involvement in a controversial dispute with his mother, Prof. Hafsat Umar Ganduje.

He had once petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged failed agreement involving his mother.

Abdulaziz is seeking the same federal constituency seat contested in 2023 by his brother, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, under the APC.

Umar lost the election to the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) despite their father’s influence as governor at the time.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced Engineer Kale Kawu as its consensus gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 election.

This was announced on Saturday by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

He explained that Kawu emerged after extensive consultations with stakeholders of the Kwara PDP and other gubernatorial aspirants.

The former Governor of Kwara State added that other aspirants stepped down and supported the consensus candidate.

“I am pleased to announce that, after extensive consultations with stakeholders of the Kwara PDP and our leading gubernatorial aspirants, we have arrived at a consensus candidate to fly the flag of our great party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“That candidate is Engr. Kale Kawu.

“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the other aspirants who, in the supreme interest of our party and state, have graciously stepped down to support this consensus. It is this spirit of unity and selflessness that will carry us to victory.

“I wish all our members, delegates, and teeming supporters a successful, peaceful, and orderly outing at tomorrow’s gubernatorial primaries,” he wrote.

Aichatou El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has taken legal action against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over claims of defamation.

Naija News reports that through her lawyers, Mrs El-Rufai sent a pre-action notice to the chairman of the anti-corruption agency, demanding ₦2 billion in damages over statements made in a press release issued by the commission on May 18, 2026.

The statement, titled “Clarification on the Access Control Protocol at ICPC Headquarters, Abuja,” was presented by the commission’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey. According to her legal team, parts of the publication damaged her reputation and exposed her to public embarrassment.

Her lawyers objected to the section where the commission described her as a woman who identified herself as the wife of a defendant. They argued that the wording created doubt about her status as the lawful wife of the former governor.

The legal team also said the commission wrongly described her earlier statements as false and misleading, a move they believe painted her as dishonest before the public.

They further rejected allegations that she breached visitation procedures at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja. According to the lawyers, the accusation portrayed her as someone who disrespects official rules and procedures.

The notice also faulted claims that Mrs El-Rufai contradicted herself over reports that her husband was denied food while in custody. Her lawyers maintained that such remarks attacked her integrity and weakened her public image.

They also accused the commission of presenting her actions as an attempt to attract media attention and avoid official procedures. The legal team described the suggestion as unfair and damaging.

According to the notice, the publication circulated widely across local and foreign media platforms, leading to ridicule, embarrassment and injury to Mrs El-Rufai’s reputation.

Her lawyers described her as a woman with a clean public record and accused the agency of using its official platform against a private citizen.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated that it is addressing the blackout in parts of Abuja, including the Presidential Villa and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Naija News reported that parts of the nation’s capital, including the State House, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and other areas, have been thrown into darkness.

Speaking on the development in a statement by its spokesman, Ndidi Mbah, the transmission company blamed the outage on faults with the red and yellow phase 33kV bushings of the 100MVA power transformer in its Apo substation.

According to TCN, the red phase bushing has been resuscitated, while work is ongoing on the yellow phase.

TCN urged the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to take supply for customers on the outgoing 33kV feeders connected to the affected 100MVA transformer at Apo Substation.

“Presently, the red phase bushing has been resuscitated, while work is ongoing on the yellow phase.

“In view of this incident, TCN has requested that Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, take supply for customers on the outgoing 33kV feeders connected to the affected 100MVA transformer at the Apo Substation from other TCN feeders within its franchise area pending completion of repairs.

“Our engineers are working assiduously to restore the transformer and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience the incident has caused AEDC and electricity customers fed from the affected feeders,” TCN stated.

The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has disclosed that he once rejected a ₦5 million bribe during the military regime of late General Sani Abacha

Speaking on Saturday while marking his 23rd coronation anniversary, the Lagos monarch stated that the incident occurred during the detention of former Lagos governor, the late Sir Michael Otedola, under the Abacha military government.

According to the monarch, he had intervened and appealed to authorities at the time to facilitate the release of Otedola’s international passport, arguing that the military administration needed broader public acceptance.

He explained that after the passport was eventually released, an emissary approached him with an offer of ₦5 million in appreciation, but he declined it.

He stated that integrity, discipline and fear of God remained the foundation of true leadership and public service.

Reflecting on his 32-year career in the Nigeria Police Force, Oba Akiolu described policing as one of the noblest professions when carried out with honesty and integrity.

The monarch also used the occasion to urge Nigerians to continue supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration, expressing confidence that the economic and infrastructural reforms being implemented by the Federal Government would eventually produce positive outcomes.

Manchester United midfielder, Bruno Fernandes, has been named the Premier League Player of the Season.

Naija News reports that the United captain received the award on Saturday after an impressive campaign for Michael Carrick’s side.

Fernandes has equalled the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season, providing 20 assists. He now shares the record with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

The 31-year-old also scored eight league goals this season, helping Manchester United finish third and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Fernandes becomes the first United player to win the award since Nemanja Matic in the 2010/11 season.

He won the prize ahead of Arsenal’s David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice; Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo; Brentford’s Igor Thiago; and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White.

Fernandes had earlier won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award for the season.

Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji has opened up on her journey into acting and creativity, Naija News reports.

The thespian spoke during an interview with Bollywood star Tara Sutaria at Cannes 2026, where she discussed women in film, storytelling, and stereotypes in the industry.

She said, “My first experience on TV was at age 8. I think film chose me. I didn’t think I was going to be an actor; that was not a dream. I knew I wanted to be in the creative space, but fashion was my first love.”

Genevieve also pointed out how women are often misjudged, saying, “When a woman wants what she wants, how she wants it, that she’s difficult.”

She also noted that not all actors fit one personality type, adding, “Every actor is an extrovert. Some of us like to stay indoors and sleep.”

Genevieve spoke about the growing space for women in filmmaking and how it is changing the way stories are told.

The mother of one said, “We now get the opportunities to tell stories from a woman’s perspective, which has been drowned out for centuries.

“And we haven’t even started scratching that surface. So right now we have a lot more female filmmakers coming up.”

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.