Today’s Headlines: 2027 will be Atiku’s easiest election; hungry Nigerians will vote for him — Shaibu , Sultan of Sokoto Calls on Muslims to Prepare for Jumadal Ula Crescent Sighting

Phrank Shaibu, a communication aide to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has said the 2027 presidential election will be the easiest for his principal, predicting that Nigerians struggling with economic hardship will vote for him.

Shaibu said Atiku would gain additional votes from Nigerians dissatisfied with the economic conditions under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He stated this during an interview on the Mic On Podcast while responding to a question about how Atiku could improve on his performance in the 2023 presidential election, when he secured 29 per cent of the votes, amid Tinubu’s incumbency and political structure.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged Muslims throughout Nigeria to participate in the search for the new crescent moon marking the beginning of Jumadal Ula 1448 AH.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Professor Sambo Wali Junaidu, Chairman of the Sultanate Council’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, through the Wazirin Sokoto. The directive highlights the role of moon sighting in determining the start of months and important dates in the Islamic calendar.

According to the statement, Sunday, October 11, 2026, falls on the 29th day of Rabi’us Thani 1448 AH and has been set aside for the nationwide exercise. The outcome of the crescent observation will help establish when Jumadal Ula, the fifth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, begins.

The Nigeria Police Force has trained 30 officers in Unmanned Aircraft Systems technology to strengthen its operations against terrorism, banditry and other criminal activities.

The officers, who are graduates of the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano, completed the Basic Unmanned Aircraft Systems Course One organised by Kaduna-based indigenous defence technology company, Nethawk Aviation Solutions.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Flight Lieutenant Adedoyin Akerele (retd.), said the training was part of efforts to develop local expertise in aviation technology and improve security operations.

Akerele said the graduation marked the first phase of a planned programme to train 100 police officers in unmanned aircraft systems.

Kenyan presidential candidate Patrick Osoi has urged Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote not to rush the proposed refinery project in Kenya, declaring that he would rely on local investors to undertake the project if elected president next year.

Osoi made the remarks in a video that started trending on Sunday, while addressing supporters at a Lions Movement event, where he argued that Kenya has business people capable of establishing a refinery without depending on the Nigerian industrialist.

“I want to tell Aliko Dangote, please don’t rush to start the refinery because, when I’m sworn in as President of Kenya next year, you will be heading back to Nigeria,” he said.

“We Kenyans have business people who can start the refinery. We also have business people in this country who can do that job. This is what we stand for. This is the home of all movements,” Osoi added.

SaintWriter [email protected]