News April 23, 2026 Edun, Dangiwa resigned, not sacked, says Presidency

Presidency has clarified that former Finance Minister, Wale Edun and Housing Minister, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, resigned voluntarily, debunking reports that they were sacked.

In a State House press release, Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga emphasised that Edun “duly tendered his resignation from office, citing health reasons,” just before Tinubu named a replacement on Tuesday.

Edun, who turned 70 on Monday amid recent ill health, submitted his letter on his birthday, stating: “It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda. Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future.”

Dangiwa, an architect and former Federal Mortgage Bank MD (2015-2022) plus Katsina State Secretary, “similarly resigned and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.”

Edun paid a valedictory visit to Tinubu at the Villa on Tuesday for an hour-long discussion before departing to focus on private businesses. His career highlights include Lagos Finance Commissioner under Tinubu (1999-2004), Chase Merchant Bank, World Bank Young Professionals (1986), co-founding Stanbic IBTC, and chairing Chapelhill Denham Group (2008-2021).

President Tinubu “expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme” and wished them success ahead.

He urged new Finance Minister Taiwo Oyedele to “consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.”

News April 23, 2026 CAN denies leadership tussle, diversion of relief funds

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dismissed reports of a leadership split within its ranks and denied allegations regarding diversion of funds meant for persecuted Christians in Northern Nigeria.

​In a statement signed on Wednesday in Abuja by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, the association described the claims as “false, malicious, and deeply defamatory.”

“There is no truth to the narrative that the body has been divided along Northern and Southern lines.

”CAN remains one united and indivisible body. There is no split, no secession, and no division within our structure. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and should be disregarded,” Okoh said.

Addressing the financial allegations, the association clarified that it had neither received nor managed the specific relief funds mentioned in the reports, adding that no money had been diverted under any circumstances.

The President expressed concern over the public propagation of these claims by Rev. Isaac Omolehin, the founder of Word Assembly Ministry, Ilorin.

He noted that the allegations were made without evidence and could potentially undermine national cohesion and Church unity.

The Christian leadership further frowned at the inclusion of prominent Christian leaders, including Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Bishop David Oyedepo, and Pastor William Kumuyi, in the “unwarranted” narrative.

”CAN will not tolerate the spread of falsehoods or any attempt to malign the Church.

”We issue a firm and final caution to Rev. Isaac Omolehin and any other individuals or groups who misuse their platforms to disseminate unverified or defamatory claims to desist immediately,” CAN added.

The association warned that it would be compelled to take legal action to protect its integrity if the dissemination of such misinformation continued.

It urged the public and the international community to disregard the claims and rely only on official channels for verified information.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to accountability and the welfare of believers affected by insecurity across the country.(NAN)

News April 23, 2026 Zamfara govt sponsors mass wedding for 100 vulnerable couples

The Zamfara government on Wednesday sponsored a mass wedding for 100 couples drawn from vulnerable groups across the state’s 14 local government areas.

Gov. Dauda Lawal said the initiative reflected his administration’s commitment to supporting vulnerable citizens and improving their welfare.

Represented by Deputy Governor Mani Mummune, Lawal said, “We remain dedicated to uplifting the less privileged and ensuring their well-being through meaningful interventions.”

Mummune, who also stood in for the grooms, announced a dowry payment of N200,000 for each bride on behalf of the state government.

He added that each bride would receive N50,000 to support small-scale businesses in their matrimonial homes.

The Emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Asha, represented the brides, formally giving them out in marriage to their husbands during the ceremony.

Lawal presented marriage certificates and household items to the couples, urging mutual respect and harmony in their unions.

“Respect one another and build peaceful homes to attract Allah’s blessings,” the governor advised.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that senior government officials jointly donated N5 million to support the newly married couples.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the State Hisbah Commission, Sheikh Umar Hassan, praised the government for constructing permanent offices for the commission across all local government areas.

He said, “This development will strengthen the commission’s operations and enhance service delivery across the state.” (NAN)

News April 23, 2026 Thieves raid FG staff buses at Niger LG secretariat

The buses of members of staff of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been burgled by thieves at the Suleja Local Government Secretariat.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that brain boxes of seven of the buses were stolen on Sunday by thieves.

NAN reports that the incident has already been reported at the Suleja Divisional Police Headquarters for investigation.

The buses affected belong to NAN, Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Budget and National Planning, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI).

Others are the Sharia Court of Appeal (FCT), Office of the Head of Service, and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

NAN reports that most federal government staff buses conveying staff from Suleja to Abuja park their vehicles at the secretariat for safety.

Mr Jimah Umar, driver of Budget and National Planning bus, told NAN that he was the first to discover the theft.

“We came out this morning to carry our bus for repairs and discovered that somebody has tampered with it.

“I even thought it was our battery they removed, but our battery was well protected enough. It was the brain box that was removed.

“We were the first set that raised the alarm that they have removed our brain box.”

Mr Amos Amodu, who is a driver with the Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission and the Secretary of the Suleja Staff Buses Association, also expressed concerns over the situation.

“I got a call from Mr Abdul that the brain box of his vehicle had been stolen. On arriving, we discovered that his vehicle was not the only one attacked. Many agencies’ buses were involved.”

Other drivers at the scene shared their views on the recurring security challenges.

Mr Joel Arenkhanda, a driver with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, said he had been parking his bus at the secretariat since 2015, noting that incidents of theft only began from September 2025.

“This matter started as of September last year, when we started having issues; drivers came and found that their fuel had been siphoned.

“My vehicle has suffered a similar fate twice. I would buy full tank to cover three days, but the fuel will finish soon after.

“Similarly, some drivers have complained of the disappearance of wheel spanners, jacks and tyres. The truth is that, before now, nothing like that ever happened.”

The security personnel on duty at the time of the incident comprised of two elderly men and two civilian vigilante members who operate on weekly shifts.

They told NAN that they were not aware of the theft and that the incident might have happened during the heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds on Saturday.

A senior officer at the Police Station in Suleja, who confirmed the thefts, told NAN that the incidents were being investigated. (NAN).

News Politics April 23, 2026 Empowerment: DSP Barau Jibrin distributes assorted vehicles to Kano North APC leaders, others

In continuation of his empowerment programmes, the Deputy President of the Senate,Barau Jibrin, has distributed assorted vehicles to Chairmen and Secretaries of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and other benefiaries in the Kano North Senatorial District.

The vehicles, 47 cars and 282 motorcycles, were given to the beneficiaries at a colourful ceremony held in Kano on Wednesday.

The Chief of Staff to the Deputy President of the Senate, Prof.Muhammad Ibn Abdullahi, who launched the programme, said the initiative is aimed at lifting the beneficiaries out of poverty towards self reliance.

Ibn Abdullahi urged the beneficiaries to make use of the items so as to achieve the desired objectives.

In his remarks at the occasion,the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Shitu Madaki, who is also the APC Chairman of Ghari Local Government Area, said the initiative was aimed at boosting the economic status of the beneficiaries.

Madaki explained that the intervention was benefited by party stakeholders, including zonal and state executives, headmasters and principals, as well as special reporters within the Kano North Senatorial District.

He also explained that the initiative is part of broader efforts by Senator Barau to tackle unemployment and ensure that constituents benefit from the dividends of democracy.

He disclosed that the Deputy President of the Senate President presently engages over 5,000 legislative aides, alongside other empowerment programmes.

In his address,the Chairman APC Kano North zone, Abdullahi Lamba, noted Senator Barau’s contributions to education which include provision of scholarships for students to study in institutions of higher learning both in Nigeria and abroad.

Lamba listed other interventions to include the upgrading of the Federal Polytechnic Kabo to a university and the upgrading of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano, to a Federal University of Education.

He also disclosed that DSP Barau had supported students with allowances,and provided classroom infrastructure and educational materials.

News April 23, 2026 JUST IN: Wike-backed PDP releases election timetable, fixes cost of nomination forms

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election.

The party, in a timetable issued by its National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, on Wednesday in Abuja, fixed the total cost for its presidential expression of interest and nomination forms at N51 million.

The party also pegged the cost of nomination form for governorship at N31 million, Senate and House of Representatives at seven million and four million Naira respectively, with the House of Assembly at three million Naira.

The female aspirants, according to the timetable, are expected to pay for only the expression of interest form, which is fixed at one million naira for each of the positions.

According to the timetable and schedule of activities, the sales of forms for all positions will commence on April 27 and end on May 4, while the last day for submission is May 9.

Also, the presidential primary election is fixed for May 17 to May 18, governorship, May 27; House of Representatives, May 21; Senate, May 23 and Houses of Assembly, May 25, while all appeals will hold on May 30.

The party also fixed May 12 for the screening of presidential and governorship aspirants, while aspirants for the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly would be screened on May 11.

According to Bature, the timetable is released in strict compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2026.

He added that the timetable also followed the revised timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).(NAN)

News April 23, 2026 JUST IN: Tinubu minister resigns

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has resigned as the Minister of Power to focus on his ambition to contest the governorship of Oyo State.

His resignation, contained in a letter dated April 22, 2026 and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, takes effect from April 30, 2026.

The letter was submitted through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and framed as a formal exit to allow for a smooth transition in office.

In the correspondence, Adelabu said he was stepping down with what he described as “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude,” adding that the decision was necessary to ensure an orderly handover of responsibilities.

He expressed appreciation to the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege and highlighting his contribution to reforms in the power sector.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation,” he wrote.

Adelabu said his resignation was driven by his intention to fully pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State, noting that the aspiration dates back to 2016 during his time as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

He recalled that he voluntarily resigned from the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2018 to pursue the same political goal.

He also cited provisions of the amended electoral law, stating that public office holders are restricted from contesting elections under the framework.

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time,” he said.