Umahi Pledges 1.3M Votes To Tinubu+INEC Warns Against Rig & Die+Wike Offers Councillors N10M|OjyOkpe

Works Minister, David Umahi has pledged that Ebonyi State will deliver 1.3 million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the January 16 election, saying at the APC rally in Abakaliki that the party has no opponent in the state. The figure has raised questions, as only about 338,000 voters were accredited in Ebonyi in 2023. Vice President, Kashim Shettima was also conferred with the Igbo chieftaincy title, Aka Ekpuchi Ọnwa. Meanwhile, AAC presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore led a "Tinubu Must Go" street march in Abuja's Central Business District as he appeared before the Federal High Court, where he faces charges of cyberstalking and criminal defamation, which he denies. The court granted his request to summon INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan and APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe as defence witnesses, and ordered Amupitan to produce records of President Tinubu's past election nominations. INEC has warned politicians against the "rig and die" slogan, saying it could expose electoral officials, party agents and observers to violence. National Commissioner, Mohammed Kudu Haruna urged them to channel disputes through the commission, security agencies and the courts, while INEC disclosed that it has removed over 1.6 million invalid registrations from the voters' register. FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has promised a 10 million naira reward to every councillor who delivers their ward to President Tinubu in 2027, announced at a Rainbow Coalition meeting in Kwali. APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda defended the pledge, while critics question its funding and possible voter inducement. With 62 wards in the FCT, the total could reach 620 million naira. In Anambra State, Governor Charles Soludo says the state needs federal assistance to tackle its severe erosion challenges, which is why he backs Tinubu's re-election. His APGA has formally endorsed the President, and he projects more than half of Anambra's votes for him. Oyo State Governor and APM presidential candidate, Seyi Makinde took his campaign to Jos, Plateau State, promising to tackle insecurity and revive tourism under his Reset Nigeria agenda. He also told worshippers that his ambition is backed by God rather than a political godfather. In Abuja, a family is demanding justice after kidnappers killed their daughter, Oluwadamilola Adedayo despite receiving a 16.2 million naira ransom. She was abducted with her mother, brother and maid from their Kuje home in August. Police have arrested seven suspects and recovered her remains from a forest in Kuje. A viral video shows prospective corps members sleeping on thin mattresses on the floor at the NYSC orientation camp in Sagamu, Ogun State. The state government says over 4,300 arrived for the latest batch and that it provided 500 mattresses, while the NYSC is yet to comment. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was praised online for a video of himself interacting with corps members serving in the state Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago won praise for joining Christian worshippers in singing at the SHOUT praise concert in Minna. Today, Nigeria marks 31 years since the execution of environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders in November 1995 under General Sani Abacha. President Tinubu granted them a posthumous pardon in June 2025, but their families and Ogoni groups still want their names fully cleared. Finally, Nigeria's young athletes swept the 100-metre titles at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo won the girls' race in 11.16 seconds, 15-year-old Gift Bright took the boys' title in a record 10.28 seconds, and Praise Ugoh won the 400 metres in a personal best of 52.76 seconds. DavidUmahi Ebonyi BolaTinubu KashimShettima OmoyeleSowore AAC TinubuMustGo INEC JoashAmupitan RigAndDie NyesomWike RainbowCoalition CharlesSoludo APGA SeyiMakinde APM ResetNigeria Kuje Kidnapping NYSC Sagamu SanwoOlu MohammedBago KenSaroWiwa OgoniNine YouthOlympics Dakar2026 AriseNews AriseTV BreakingNewsNigeria NigeriaToday GlobalRoundup NigerianPolitics TrendingNigeria CurrentAffairs Election2027 Nigeria2027 OjyOkpe Subscribe to our Channel for high profile interviews. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ARISEtv | and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arisenewsofficial | and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriseTVNews | Check out our website www.arise.tv