Welcome to today’s roundup of Nigerian newspaper headlines, accompanied by our advocacy-focused calls for government action on pressing issues that impact citizens.
1. Punch: Hurricane Tinubu: Mass defections ignite one-party state fears
The Punch reports that as the 2027 general elections approach, President Bola Tinubu is strengthening his political dominance in the South, following a wave of defections by governors and influential politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties to the All Progressives Congress.
The development has, however, ignited fears of a one-party state, with opposition leaders condemning the mass movement to the ruling party.
Our Take: If Nigeria keeps tilting towards a one-party state, we might as well rename the National Assembly the ‘House of Agreement’, because opposition voices are fast disappearing. Yes, political leaders have the constitutional right to defect under the freedom of association, but citizens equally have the civic duty to hold them accountable to their promises of good governance and democratic integrity.
2. Vanguard: By 2026, Nigeria Will Have 30 APC-Controlled States, Says Information Minister, Idris
Vanguard reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has expressed confidence that Nigeria will have 30 All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled states by 2026, as more opposition governors have indicated interest in joining the ruling party.
Our Take: While the minister celebrates the prospect of 30 APC-controlled states by 2026, perhaps the real victory would be 30 states where democracy truly thrives, and the government is truly responsive to the needs of the people.
3. The Guardian: Stakeholders Welcome Easing Inflation, Worry about Cost-of-Living Crisis
Finally, in The Guardian, stakeholders have expressed concerns about the cost-of-living crisis, noting that the situation remains acute, particularly for low- and middle-income households, notwithstanding the easing inflationary trend as reported in the September inflation report.
Our Take: Even as inflation seems to be taking a polite bow, Nigerians are yet to feel any standing ovation in their wallets. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) may celebrate falling numbers, but market women, commuters, and civil servants are still paying premium prices for survival. The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, the CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, and the Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, must now make the statistics match reality by translating macroeconomic grammar into everyday relief so that Nigerians can buy bread without budgeting like economists.
