Entertainment News February 11, 2026 High Expectations as Zule Zoo Set to Celebrate 20 Years on Stage With ‘Ultimate Thank You Party’

Preparations are in full swing as iconic Nigerian music duo Zule Zoo marks 20 years in the entertainment industry with a special anniversary concert tagged the “Ultimate Thank You Party.”

The milestone event commemorates the group’s two-decade journey, which began in the early 2000s and was propelled into national prominence by their breakout hit, Kerewa. 

The song helped define an era and established Zule Zoo as pioneers of the distinctive “Takuraku” sound, a fusion of traditional Nigerian rhythms, hip-hop, and reggae.

Scheduled for February 21 in Abuja, the celebration will bring together top-rated music stars, comedians, dancers, and renowned MCs for a night of performances and tributes. 

Organizers describe the concert as a historic gathering dedicated to music, legacy, and appreciation of fans who have supported the group over the years.

Beyond the festivities, the anniversary will also serve as a tribute to the late Michael Aboh, one half of the duo, who passed away in 2022. The event is expected to honour his enduring contributions to Nigerian music and his role in shaping Zule Zoo’s legacy.

The surviving member, Al-Hassan Ibrahim, is spearheading the initiative as a heartfelt expression of gratitude to fans and industry supporters. The concert will be held at Blake Excellence Resort, promising an evening that blends nostalgia with contemporary entertainment.

With two decades of influence behind them, Zule Zoo’s anniversary celebration stands as both a reunion of memories and a reaffirmation of their lasting imprint on Nigeria’s music scene.

Ticket prices have been slashed to enable fun seekers come out in their large numbers go honour the duo.

News Politics February 11, 2026 APC congresses: Handing party structures to governors may trigger crisis, Nabena warns

 

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Yekini Nabena, has warned the Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda-led National Working Committee (NWC) against surrendering party structures to serving governors as the party prepares for nationwide congresses.

Nabena, an APC chieftain from Bayelsa State, said giving control of structures at ward, local government and state levels to governors could fuel resentment, sideline loyal party members and drive away the remaining grassroots supporters.

In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, he warned that “the 2027 general elections is about masses against the few people in the corridor of power, hence the masses must be carried along.”

He said indications from ongoing preparations suggested that the current NWC was positioning to hand over structures in each state to the governors, based on developments and information from the APC national secretariat.

Nabena, however, noted that it was not too late for the party leadership to correct the process and ensure free and fair congresses across the country.

“We will not be surprised if this prediction comes true because the National Chairman himself and more than half of the entire NWC didn’t go through election. They were appointed. So, what do you expect?”

He urged the NWC to allow open contests at all levels by making nomination forms available to every aspirant, warning that anything short of this could lead to litigation and disputes across states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He also said members of the present NWC required proper guidance, noting that “many of them did not know what it takes to contest and win election into the position they are currently”.

He said: “As the party preparing for congresses, the report we are getting is that all the nomination forms are being delivered to the Governors – who will eventually determine who become what by selection. This will not end well. In fact, it will be the beginning of internal crisis which may lead to implosion.

“I think this move should be avoided now before it is too late. So, I appeal to our National Working Committee led by Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda to do the right thing now before it is too late.

“It is also important that the elders and leaders of our party speak up now by calling the NWC members to order so that they won’t proceed in error.”

While warning of possible internal crisis, Nabena called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step in before the nationwide exercise begins.

“So, my appeal to the NWC is that they should not chase away the remaining masses we have in the party. APC used to have about 40 million registered members but now we are struggling to get 10 millions registered members in the ongoing electronic registration. This calls for caution and we must be wise to do the right thing now.”

News Others February 11, 2026 “I will work against Peter Obi in 2027” – Cubana Chief Priest declares

 

Popular socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has announced his intention to work against Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential bid. This marks a major political shift for the celebrity barman, who was a vocal supporter of the Labour Party candidate during the 2023 elections.

The revelation came during a lively interaction with his followers on Instagram, sparked by questions about his new political alignment and role in the “City Boy Movement,” a key support group for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

When asked if he truly plans to oppose Obi, Cubana Chief Priest responded bluntly:

“Yes oh, hope say no be crime, because I worked for Obi last election even as special adviser to an APC governor.”

The conversation quickly became contentious as critics reminded him of past encounters with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noting that the same government he now supports had previously investigated him. Undeterred, he dismissed the concerns with his usual bravado:

“If you never go EFCC for Naija, you never make am.”

The debate intensified when a commenter raised the issue of South-East regional development, suggesting that Obi could have won the last election if the region’s influential figures had been more united. Cubana Chief Priest responded sharply:

“Shut up your mouth and go support who you want. As you like, Biafra reach how many developments you don do for South-East?”

This political shift coincides with another high-profile appointment: Obi Cubana, a close associate, has been named South-East Director of the City Boy Movement, a move announced by President Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu. The development has ignited discussions on social media about the political direction of influential South-East businessmen ahead of the 2027 elections.

News Politics February 11, 2026 Sowore: 90% of Lawmakers would lose seats if Nigerian elections were transparent

 

Human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, has asserted that up to 90 per cent of members of the National Assembly and other elected officials would lose their seats if Nigeria’s elections were conducted in a truly transparent manner.

Sowore made the claim while reacting to the ongoing debate surrounding amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly the provisions on electronic transmission of election results.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved amendments allowing the electronic transmission of results, a development widely welcomed by Nigerians. However, lawmakers retained a clause permitting manual collation in areas with poor internet connectivity, a provision critics have described as unnecessary and open to abuse.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Sowore argued that legislators are unwilling to introduce reforms that would guarantee credible elections because such measures threaten their political survival. He dismissed claims that network challenges justify manual collation, describing them as mere excuses.

According to him, lawmakers oppose transparent elections because they know credible polls would significantly reduce their chances of returning to office. He also criticised the Senate’s decision to retain manual collation, describing it as a calculated move designed to preserve what he called the old, discredited method of announcing election results, which has weakened public confidence in the electoral process.

Sowore further criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IREV system as outdated and advocated adopting full electronic voting, similar to India’s model. He noted that India successfully conducts elections for about 900 million voters using electronic voting with minimal post-election disputes.

He also questioned why Nigerians cannot vote electronically from their homes, despite being able to carry out other sensitive and confidential transactions online.

News Politics February 11, 2026 Abure faction retakes LP secretariat as Nenadi Usman camp kicks

 

Fresh tensions rocked the Labour Party on Tuesday night after the Julius Abure-led faction announced that it had regained control of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, barely 24 hours after the Nenadi Usman–led caretaker committee took over the premises.

The Abure faction disclosed this in a late-night statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh.

Ifoh said the party’s national headquarters, which he claimed was “forcefully invaded” in the early hours of Tuesday, had been reclaimed. He also released photographs showing banners and billboards bearing the image of the caretaker committee chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, being removed from the premises.

“The Julius Abure–led leadership of the Labour Party has recovered the party’s national secretariat, which was illegally occupied earlier today by the Abia State Government and Nenadi Usman’s group,” the statement said.

According to the faction, control of the secretariat was restored after it was determined that the takeover by Usman’s camp and the Abia State Deputy Governor was illegal and unauthorised.

Ifoh added that the party would carry out an inventory to assess alleged losses and cases of theft arising from the invasion, after which legal action would be taken.

“The party will take inventory of the losses and outright theft observed as a result of the illegal invasion, and a formal charge will thereafter be pressed,” he said.

He warned that the party would no longer tolerate attempts by what he described as desperate politicians to undermine its lawful activities, advising any group claiming leadership to await the final determination of the matter by appellate courts.

The statement assured party members that normal activities would resume at the national secretariat from Wednesday and apologised for any inconvenience caused.

Reacting, the acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, expressed shock and disappointment, accusing the Abure faction of acting in violation of an existing court judgment.

Speaking in a phone interview through her Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa, Usman said there was a subsisting court ruling declaring that Abure had ceased to be the party’s national chairman.

“There is a court judgment in place stating that Abure is no longer the national chairman, and the secretariat is where lawful duties should be carried out,” she said.

She questioned the legality of the action, adding, “Someone has taken the law into his hands by insisting that a court judgment should not be implemented. Have we gone bananas in this country?”

Usman maintained that her faction’s takeover of the secretariat was done lawfully and in the open.

“When we took over the secretariat, it was in broad daylight. Someone else has gone there in the middle of the night to announce that he has reclaimed the secretariat,” she said, adding that she was disappointed security operatives were not left behind to prevent what she described as an illegal action.

The latest development comes less than 24 hours after Usman, accompanied by Abia State Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu, assumed control of the Labour Party’s Utako national headquarters under heavy security.

Earlier reports indicated that armed policemen were deployed within and around the secretariat as Usman’s faction took over, with banners and billboards bearing the images of Abure and his executives removed and replaced with those of Usman.

Party members, supporters and journalists were subjected to strict security checks before being granted access to the premises, while sources said the caretaker committee had begun plans to take over other Labour Party state secretariats nationwide.

Confirming the takeover earlier on Tuesday, Usman said the move was long overdue and dismissed fears of resistance from the Abure faction.

However, Ifoh had earlier accused the police of acting despite an appeal filed by the Abure-led group.

Last month, a Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Abure’s tenure as national chairman had expired and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise a caretaker committee led by Usman pending the conduct of a national convention.

INEC subsequently updated its records, listing Usman as acting national chairman along with other members of the caretaker committee, replacing Abure’s name.

The ruling followed months of internal wrangling, parallel leadership claims and protracted court battles that intensified after the 2023 general elections.

Despite rejecting the judgment and filing an appeal, Abure has vowed to resist what he described as an unlawful takeover of the party.

News February 11, 2026 Another Kwara massacre feared as DSS issues alert, OPC calls for security emergency

 

The Department of State Services (DSS) in Kwara State has issued a security warning over a potential attack on Gbabe community in Baruten Local Government Area, heightening fears of fresh violence in the state.

The alert, sent to the Kwara State Police Command, comes barely days after a deadly attack on Woro community in Kaiama LGA that reportedly left scores of residents dead.

A copy of the intelligence report, dated February 5, 2026, and signed by the Kwara State Director of DSS, J.S. Adams, was addressed to the Commissioner of Police in Ilorin amid growing insecurity across the Kwara North axis.

Titled “Threat of Attack on Gbabe, Baruten LGA”and referenced S.122/1/1897, the letter warned of the movement and build-up of armed men suspected to be Mamuda elements around Kiyoru Settlement in Gwanara District.

According to the DSS, the intelligence points to a possible attack on Gbabe community, noting that residents have already expressed hostility toward the suspected armed elements.

The agency also cited the violent history of armed groups operating around the Kainji Lake National Park corridor and stressed the need for urgent preventive action.

“In view of the antecedents of armed groups around Kainji Lake National Park, there is a need to emplace necessary security measures to forestall any untoward development,” the DSS said, urging the police to treat the information with urgency to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

The warning has further unsettled residents and community leaders, especially following the Woro attack, where gunmen reportedly killed scores of people and forced many others to flee. Eyewitnesses said the attackers operated from forest routes linking Kaiama and Baruten LGAs and extending toward the Benin Republic—an area security agencies have long identified as vulnerable.

While security presence has reportedly been reinforced in parts of Kaiama, residents of Baruten LGA have expressed anxiety over the fresh threat.

In response, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq convened an emergency security council meeting on Monday night at the Ahmadu Bello House in Ilorin, bringing together heads of security agencies in the state.

The governor said the meeting was aimed at reviewing the security situation and strengthening coordinated efforts to neutralise emerging threats.

“As part of our multi-layered response to the recent terrorist attack in Kaiama LGA, I summoned an emergency security council meeting today,” AbdulRazaq said, adding that security commanders briefed the government on strategies to protect lives and property.

Earlier, Governors Usman Ododo of Kogi State and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State accompanied AbdulRazaq to visit victims of the Woro attack receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Ilorin.

Oyebanji expressed solidarity with the people of Kwara State and commended the Federal Government and security agencies for their swift response, noting that the victims were stable but still under close medical observation.

Meanwhile, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has called on governors of the South-West, Kwara, Kogi, and other Yoruba-speaking states to immediately declare a state of emergency over worsening insecurity.

The call was made in a statement issued Tuesday by Kazeem Lawal, Chairman of Dr. Frederick Fasehun’s OPC Caretaker Committee, following the killing of more than 100 people in Woro and Nuku communities of Kaiama LGA.

Describing the killings as “heartbreaking and provocative,” the OPC demanded decisive action against what it described as jihadist terrorists, urging security forces to hunt them down without delay.

Lawal warned governors against politicising the security crisis and instead called for regional collaboration to deliver swift and effective solutions.

“Governors of the 10 Yoruba-speaking states must immediately declare a state of emergency on security to reflect the gravity of the situation. With the activities of terrorists, bandits and jihadists, all Nigerians face an existential threat,” he said.

The OPC further urged the Federal Government, the Kwara State Government, and security agencies to launch a massive manhunt to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“Those who committed this heinous act are not spirits. All available resources must be mobilised to hunt down, arrest, prosecute and neutralise these killers,” the statement added.

News February 11, 2026 ‘Dangerous insertions’: CSOs raise alarm over revised E-transmission clause

 

A coalition of civil society organisations has raised serious concerns over the Senate’s revised Clause 60(3) on the electronic transmission of election results, warning that vague provisions could erode electoral integrity.

At an emergency plenary on Tuesday, the Senate overturned its earlier rejection of electronic transmission and approved a revised clause allowing the electronic transmission of results from polling units.

The new provision makes electronic transmission mandatory “as long as it does not fail,” while designating Form EC8A as the primary source of election results. The Senate also expanded its conference committee from six to twelve members to match the size of the House of Representatives’ delegation.

In a joint statement signed by the Centre for Media and Society, The Kukah Centre, International Press Centre, Elect Her, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, and Yiaga Africa, the groups welcomed the Senate’s reversal, describing it as a positive outcome of sustained public advocacy.

However, they warned that certain insertions in the revised clause could dilute the safeguards established under the 2022 Electoral Act.

The organisations described the conditional phrase “provided if it fails and it becomes impossible to transmit” as dangerously unclear, noting that the bill fails to define what constitutes failure, how such incidents should be recorded, or what verification standards would apply.

“In the absence of clear safeguards, this clause creates a loophole capable of defeating the very purpose of electronic transmission,” the statement said.

They cautioned that allowing discretion in the management of results could reopen pathways for manipulation between polling unit declaration and final collation.

The coalition also expressed concern over naming Form EC8A as the “primary source” of results. While acknowledging the legal importance of polling unit results, they argued that prioritising Form EC8A without giving equal legal status to electronically transmitted results could weaken transparency and accountability mechanisms.

“If the electronically transmitted copy is not accorded equal weight, its role as a tool for verification and accountability may be compromised,” the groups said.

They emphasised that electronic transmission is not a symbolic reform but a structural safeguard designed to provide an immediate and verifiable audit trail, warning that making it optional or conditional undermines its deterrent value.

The CSOs urged the National Assembly’s conference committee to adopt the House of Representatives’ provision mandating electronic transmission of results in real time.

They recommended a clause stating that designated election officials should electronically transmit all election results, including accredited voter figures, directly from polling units and collation centres to a public portal, with transmitted results used to verify all other records before collation.

The groups also called for the adoption of the House’s provision allowing downloadable missing and unissued voter cards to prevent disenfranchisement.

On electoral timelines, the coalition strongly advised retaining the existing provisions in the 2022 Electoral Act and the House bill—360 days for notice of elections, 180 days for submission of candidates’ lists, and 150 days for INEC’s publication of nominations.

They further demanded meaningful inclusion of civil society organisations and technical experts in the conference committee’s deliberations.

According to the coalition, Nigerians have consistently shown strong support for transparent and credible elections. While describing the Senate’s reversal as evidence that sustained civic pressure can yield results, they stressed that close scrutiny remains essential.

“The details matter. The credibility of future elections depends on getting Clause 60(3) right,” the statement said.

The groups called on Nigerians, civil society, the media, technology experts, political parties, and citizens to remain actively engaged as the bill progresses through the conference process