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Ugandan Opposition Leader, Bobi Wine Placed Under House Arrest as Museveni Leads Uganda Election

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was placed under house arrest on Friday, following elections that showed President Yoweri Museveni holding a commanding lead as he seeks to extend his 40-year rule. Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986, has faced widespread criticism for repressing opposition ahead of the vote, and his government imposed an internet blackout earlier this week. With roughly a quarter of votes counted, the Electoral Commission reported Museveni at 76.25 per cent and Wine at 19.85 per cent. Thursday’s voting was disrupted by technical problems, including malfunctioning biometric machines and delayed ballot deliveries in several areas. Final results for both presidential and parliamentary elections are expected by 0200 GMT on Saturday. Analysts say the outcome was largely predictable, given Museveni’s tight control over the state and security forces. The 81-year-old former guerrilla has routinely sidelined challengers during his four decades in power. Wine, 43, born Robert Kyagulanyi, has become Museveni’s most prominent opponent. The former singer, who grew up in Kampala’s slums, calls himself the “ghetto president.” “The military and police have surrounded the residence of President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, effectively placing him and his wife under house arrest,” his party, the National Unity Platform, said on X late Thursday. “Security officers have unlawfully jumped over the perimeter fence and are now erecting tents within his compound.” AFP journalists visiting Wine’s home on Friday described the scene as calm, though a military vehicle and several police officers were stationed outside. A heavy security presence was reported across Uganda on election day. The United Nations had warned that the elections were taking place in an environment of “widespread repression and intimidation” against opposition figures. Wine also alleged “massive ballot stuffing” and attacks on his party officials during the internet blackout, though these claims could not be independently verified.

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Rivers Assembly Reaffirms Impeachment Bid Against Governor Fubara and Deputy

The Rivers State House of Assembly on Friday confirmed it would continue with the impeachment process against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu. At a live press conference in Port Harcourt, the lawmakers accused Fubara of blackmail and said he had lost the trust necessary to tackle the ongoing crisis in the oil-rich state. They also alleged the governor had violated the 1999 Constitution, leaving the Assembly with no alternative but to use its legislative powers to remove him from office. The Assembly members further claimed that Fubara and his deputy had tried to intimidate parliament. They thanked President Bola Tinubu for intervening in the situation and called on Speaker Martin Amaewhule to reconvene the House. Four lawmakers who had earlier advocated for a political solution recanted their position and pledged support for the impeachment process. The group then moved to the chambers to begin a parliamentary session.

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Phyna Clashes With Police Officer Over Alleged Illegal Road Stop

Phyna, the reality TV star, confronted a police officer after being stopped on a Nigerian road, questioning the legality of the stop. She argued that officers should not block vehicles randomly and stressed that proper procedures must be followed, including parking before conducting checks. As a public figure, Phyna directly challenged the officer, describing the stop as “wrong and unacceptable” and warning she would report the incident to senior authorities. She instructed her driver to remain calm and avoid any physical confrontation, focusing solely on highlighting what she saw as unprofessional conduct. Phyna said: “Oga, I am a celebrity, how dare you stop me and say what you said? In the middle of the road, Nigeria police will now stop and just select a random car and stop the car just like that. I’ve never heard about it in my life. You need police to park on the road and stop. You’re not allowed to stop like this.” Between Phyna and a Nigerian police as she was stopped on the road🙆‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/MCXCOquP56 — Man of the world (@Grey37631292) January 15, 2026

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EU Removes Nigeria From High-Risk Financial List

Nigeria has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of high-risk jurisdictions, a development expected to ease trade relations, simplify financial transactions and improve investment flows between the country and Europe. According to Business Insider, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday that Nigeria, along with South Africa, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Tanzania, had made significant progress in strengthening their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) frameworks. The commission said the countries no longer exhibited “strategic deficiencies” under EU assessment criteria. It noted that the reforms implemented had aligned their financial systems with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Reacting to the decision, the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, described Nigeria’s delisting as a major confidence booster for investors. In a post on X on Thursday, she wrote, “Big win for Nigeria! Removed from EU’s financial ‘high-risk’ list! Congrats to President @officialABAT on this achievement. As Minister of State for Finance, I’m proud of this boost to trade and investor confidence.” Nigeria’s inclusion on the EU high-risk list previously meant that transactions involving European partners were subjected to enhanced due diligence, tighter documentation requirements and increased regulatory oversight. These measures placed additional pressure on Nigerian banks and businesses, often slowing cross-border trade and complicating investment processes. The country’s removal from the list is expected to reduce these hurdles and strengthen economic engagement with European partners.

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Soludo Urges South-East Youths To Join Armed Forces, End Self-Marginalisation

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has called on youths in the South-East to end what he described as deliberate self-marginalisation by enlisting in the Nigerian Armed Forces and taking active roles in national institutions. Soludo made the call in Awka during the wreath-laying ceremony to mark the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day. Reflecting on the 56th anniversary of the end of the Nigerian Civil War, the governor described the conflict as avoidable and said the spirit of “no victor, no vanquished” must continue to define Nigeria’s unity. He said the event was organised to honour all Nigerians who lost their lives while serving the country, both during the civil war and in subsequent years. “We are remembering not just members of our armed forces who died during that needless war, but all those who paid the supreme price afterwards,” he said. “This is the time we have set aside as a nation to remember and to say: never again.” Soludo paid tribute to widows, widowers and families of fallen heroes, and commended serving military and security personnel, particularly those deployed in Anambra State, for their dedication to maintaining peace. Addressing the South-East directly, the governor expressed concern over the low number of Anambra indigenes within Nigeria’s security architecture, describing it as self-inflicted exclusion from national decision-making and influence. He urged young people to see military service as a legitimate avenue to contribute to the country and secure their place within it. “We must participate as co-owners of Project Nigeria,” he said, stressing that the civil war ended over five decades ago and that the region must fully reintegrate into all national structures. On the prevailing insecurity in the region, Soludo appealed to those engaged in violent agitation to abandon such actions and embrace peace. “The era of terror is over, and I call on our brothers in the bushes to come out,” he said. “We will help you to become useful citizens of the state. To Ndi Anambra and the rest of the South-East, this is the time to remind ourselves that the war has ended.” The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security commanders in Anambra State for their efforts, expressing confidence that the long-standing security challenges would soon be decisively addressed.

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Alaafin of Oyo Denies Consulting Or Endorsing Rotational Chairmanship Claimed by Governor Seyi Makinde

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Engr.) Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has denied being consulted or approving the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin’s Palace responded to remarks attributed to Governor Seyi Makinde, who reportedly claimed he consulted the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso before inaugurating Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa I, as chairman of the council. “The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to a statement credited to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, that he consulted with the three traditional rulers in the state on the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs,” the statement read. The Palace categorically denied the claim, stressing that no such consultation took place. “There was no time that His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, held any meeting with either the State Governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned on this issue,” it stated. It also made clear that the Alaafin did not endorse the proposed rotational arrangement. “The Alaafin did not tell the Governor nor make any categorical statement endorsing rotational chairmanship among the three traditional rulers in the state,” the Palace added. The statement emphasized that the Alaafin’s stance, alongside that of the Oyo community, had already been formally communicated to the governor. “The position of the Alaafin and the entire Oyo community on the issue of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs has been clearly enunciated in a memorandum delivered to His Excellency by the Oyo Council of Elders,” it concluded.

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Anu Adeleke’s Alleged Mother Breaks Silence, Accuses Davido Of Bullying And Insists Daughter Is Fighting For Her Identity

The woman behind the renewed paternity controversy involving Davido has issued a lengthy clarification, saying her decision to speak out was driven solely by concern for her daughter’s wellbeing. Using her daughter’s Instagram account, she identified herself as Ayo Labinjoh and firmly rejected being described as Davido’s baby mama or being labeled a prostitute. She said she has deliberately stayed away from public drama over the years to protect her daughter from emotional harm caused by constant online attacks and bullying. “Good evening, we are heading to bed now. First things first, my name is Ayo Labinjoh. I’m NOT Davido’s baby mama or a bitch. I am very protective of my daughter’s mental health after the level of bullying she went through for years. My daughter cried for days, fainted in school and went through psychotherapy.” According to her, the family had largely moved on from the issue until it resurfaced again, dragging her daughter back into public attention. She accused Davido of ignoring her for years while privately portraying her as a prostitute, a claim she strongly denied. “David Adeleke has largely ignored me for years because he thought he picked up a prostitute from GQClub in Ibadan. I was a waitress and not picked up on the streets. I come from a good home.” She went on to speak about her background and her late father, while also describing her daughter as intelligent, tech-savvy and highly protected from conversations about her family at school. She stressed that she keeps no friends and ensures no one discusses her daughter’s personal life with her. Labinjoh also challenged Davido’s claim that five DNA tests had been conducted. She alleged that the testing process was mishandled from the beginning and that the public had been misled about the number of tests done. “Dr Deji Adeleke took us to a LAB not a hospital where Anu’s blood was drawn in 2014 then discarded behind our backs and fake result was printed,” she claimed, adding that Nigerians were previously told two tests were done before the narrative later changed to five. She expressed shock that her daughter began trending again on social media, saying it followed renewed denials and insults from Davido. “To my shock she was trending on X because her dad needed to call me a bitch that he’s never met yet he subjected himself to a DNA test 5X?” Labinjoh further alleged that Davido contacted her daughter directly, accusing him of threatening and bullying the teenager through private messages. “My daughter is fighting for her identity. David chatted my daughter tonight threatening to lock me up, cursing Anu and repeatedly bullying her.” She concluded by insisting that the situation is not about financial gain but about her daughter’s right to know her identity. She said she plans to seek an independently supervised DNA test, possibly involving international authorities, to ensure transparency. “My daughter did not beg to be here… Bullying my daughter is WRONG.”

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Atiku Describes Son’s APC Move As Personal, Vows To Deliver Credible Alternative

Former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has commented on his son Abba Abubakar’s decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a matter of personal choice. In a statement shared on X, Atiku said, “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal. In a democracy, such choices are neither unusual nor alarming, even when family and politics intersect.” He stressed that he respects individual conscience, adding, “As a democrat, I do not coerce my own children in matters of conscience, and I certainly will not coerce Nigerians.” Atiku also criticized the ruling party, saying, “What truly concerns me is the poor governance of the APC and the severe economic and social hardships it has imposed on our people.” He reaffirmed his commitment to offering Nigerians an alternative, stating, “I remain resolute in working with like-minded patriots to restore good governance and provide Nigerians with a credible option that brings relief, hope, and progress.”

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