Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Wednesday morning

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday announced that Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Oyo states were leading other states in the number of registered voters in the country ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, also said that the Commission only received the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the Electoral Act on Tuesday and was studying it.

2. Amphibious excavators have begun efforts to recover victims of the Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crash in the riverine area of Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The recovery operation commenced on Tuesday amid difficult terrain and challenging water conditions at the crash site.

3. The naira on Tuesday depreciated to N1,362 per dollar from N1,357 in the parallel market on Monday. However, the naira appreciated to N1,331.50 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.

4. The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the Commission’s workers are among the least-paid employees in Nigeria. Amupitan disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections at a World Press Conference.

5. The six area council chairmen of the Federal Capital Territory have again failed to appear before the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee to answer questions over alleged financial infractions contained in audit reports involving about N100 billion. The committee has issued a seven-day summons to the Directors of Personnel Management and Finance, as well as the Heads of Audit of the six councils, directing them to appear on Oct. 14, 2026.

6. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and some leaders of the Rainbow Coalition met with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, at the latter’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. Also at the meeting were the state governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kingsley Chinda, and Senator Magnus Abe.

7. The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has promised to restore the petrol subsidy if elected president in 2027, reversing the impression created by earlier comments that his administration would only seek to reform the scheme. Obi made the promise on Tuesday during an interview with the BBC, where he argued that the major problem with the subsidy regime was the corruption surrounding its implementation.

8. A traditional ruler in Ayeka, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, High Chief Akinwalere Akinola, has reportedly been shot dead during the burial rites of a fellow traditional ruler in the community. The incident reportedly occurred on Tuesday while traditional rulers and other members of the community were performing funeral rites for their late colleague.

9. The African Democratic Congress has called for an audit of funds released for the maintenance of Nigerian Air Force aircraft following Monday’s crash of an ATR-42 aircraft in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The opposition party also questioned the disparity between funds released for the maintenance of the Nigerian Air Force fleet and those released for the Presidential Air Fleet, saying the figures raised questions about the government’s funding priorities.

10. A 50-year-old murder suspect, Bethlehem Nwanlia, reportedly slumped and died shortly after proceedings began at the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa on Tuesday. Nwanlia was standing trial alongside two other defendants over alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and multiple murder when the incident occurred at Court 11.

Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Wednesday morning