Abba Atiku, son of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has declared strong confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s political future, saying no individual or political party can stop him from winning the 2027 presidential election.

Abba made the statement on Monday in Yola, Adamawa State, shortly after collecting his All Progressives Congress (APC) membership card at Gwadabawa Ward in Yola North Local Government Area. His entry into the ruling party immediately drew attention, not just because of his family background, but because of the bold message he delivered.

Explaining his decision to join the APC, Abba said he was impressed by what he described as wide-ranging economic and human development reforms under President Tinubu’s administration. He said these achievements convinced him that the president deserves another term.

“I want to make it very clear that nobody or any political party can stop President Bola Tinubu from returning to Aso Rock come 2027,” Abba said. “Nigerians have seen his good work; he is not a tribalist, he don’t make appointments based on religion or region, but his decisions are purely on merit.”

He added that the level of infrastructural development across the country also influenced his choice to align with the ruling party. According to him, sustaining these efforts will require broad public support.

“The president needs your support to continue with the good work. We should mobilise more people and beyond party affiliations to support our president,” he said.

At the event, the APC Zonal Vice Chairman for Adamawa Central, Alhaji Isa Bagalti, presented Abba with his membership card. Bagalti said the move had removed any doubt about the APC’s chances in the next general election.

“It is now clear to people that there is no party in Nigeria or presidential candidate that can face our president at the poll come 2027,” he said.

Another party leader in the state, Alhaji Jamil Yusuf, also spoke in support of President Tinubu. He dismissed other potential challengers, describing them as unrealistic in their ambitions.

“Majority of those saying that they are going to contest for the office of president see politics as a trade fair venue, where people sell and buy,” Yusuf said. “I advise such people to invest their money in profitable ventures, because the office of the president is no longer for the highest bidder, but for competent people like President Tinubu.”

Abba’s position stands in contrast to that of his elder brother, Adamu Atiku, who remains a senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party and currently serves as Commissioner for Works and Energy Development in Adamawa State under Governor Ahmadu Fintiri. Their father, Atiku Abubakar, is pursuing his presidential ambition on the platform of the African Democratic Congress.

Despite these differing political paths, Abba Atiku’s message was clear: in his view, the road to 2027 leads only one way, and President Bola Tinubu stands without a serious challenger.

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market for one week over what he described as ongoing economic sabotage linked to the Monday sit-at-home.

The governor made the announcement on Monday, January 26, 2026, through a post on his official social media platforms.

“Today, I have ordered the shut down of the Onitsha Main Market for one week due to the protracted economic sabotage cloaked as ‘Monday sit-at-home’. Going forward, this order would apply to any other market in Anambra that shuts down on Monday,” Soludo wrote.

He explained that the decision was taken in the interest of protecting the state’s economy and the livelihoods of its people.

“This action is not taken lightly, as I am determined to protect the economic interests of our state and its people. No individual or group has the right to halt the lives and livelihood of the people,” the governor stated.

Governor Soludo called on traders and market leaders across the state to ignore sit-at-home directives and continue their normal business activities.

“I urge all traders and market stakeholders to disregard this call to economic sabotage and resume business as usual. Let us work together to build a prosperous Anambra,” he said.

He also issued a warning to individuals or groups supporting the action, stressing that the government would no longer tolerate such acts.

“To those who continue to aid and abet this economic sabotage, I warn that we will not tolerate it any further. Our government will take all necessary measures to ensure the security and safety of lives and property in the state,” Soludo added.

Reassuring residents, the governor encouraged people to go about their daily activities without fear, noting that the government remains committed to making Anambra a safe place for business and investment.

“Let us stand together against economic sabotage and build a brighter future for our state. May Anambra continue to win!”

The dispute over the ownership of the oil-rich Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve in Akwa Ibom State has continued, with the Ibeno Elders Council strongly rejecting claims by the Ekid people of Esit Eket Local Government Area.

The Ekid people have argued that they have controlled the reserve for decades, relying on a 1918 ruling of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and documents linked to compensation paid in 1998 to support their position.

However, the Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed this claim. Speaking through the Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uko Udom SAN, the government stated that the 1918 Privy Council case did not grant ownership of the Stubbs Creek land to any ethnic group or community.

The commissioner explained that the land was later lawfully declared a forest reserve by the Colonial Government of Nigeria under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, with further amendments in 1941, 1955 and 1962. He added that once the land was reserved, ownership rights were transferred to the government, which has since managed the area under existing laws.

Reacting to the renewed claims, the spokesman of the Ibeno Elders Council, Barrister Diamond Akpanika, described Eket’s position as misleading and based on propaganda rather than facts.

He accused Eket leaders of changing their narrative by suddenly linking their claim to Esit Eket, despite previously distancing themselves from the area.

According to Akpanika, Eket Local Government Area does not own any part of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, stressing that survey plans, ordinances and historical records clearly support Ibeno ownership.

He said the only land connected to Esit Eket within the reserve was a small area around Ntak Inyang, which he described as insignificant and not enough to justify wider ownership claims.

Akpanika also dismissed arguments suggesting that land belonging to Edor automatically belongs to Eket, describing such reasoning as unsupported by law or history.

On the issue of compensation, he said payment of compensation does not amount to ownership, noting that similar compensation was paid to Ibeno communities without transferring land rights.

He further recalled that in 1999, following a lawful excision from the reserve, the Akwa Ibom State Government under former Governor Victor Attah issued two Certificates of Occupancy to Mkpanak in Ibeno, which he said confirmed Ibeno ownership.

Akpanika added that colonial records from the 1940s showed royalty payments made to Ibeno communities, while official survey plans indicated that nearly 70 per cent of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve lies within Ibeno land.

He insisted that the facts, maps and boundary markers remain clear, despite what he described as attempts to rewrite history.