Orion Reports

Orion REPORTS The discovery of suspected AI generated photographs and other questionable records in Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register has raised fresh concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. INEC says it has identified the irregularities and begun investigating how they got into the register. The commission insists that the register is still preliminary and that corrections are underway ahead of its final certification on December 15. SERAP, however, wants more than an internal review. It has asked President Tinubu to direct the Nigeria Data Protection Commission to conduct an independent forensic investigation and establish whether voters’ personal data were compromised. Here is the point: Nigerians should neither panic nor dismiss these concerns. Finding questionable entries does not automatically mean the entire voters’ register is compromised. But acknowledging the problem is only the first step. Nigerians need clear answers, transparent investigatio...

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has sentenced a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, to 25 years in prison for defrauding a land buyer with forged documents. Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after finding Eselebor guilty on all five counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court imposed seven years each on counts one to three and two years each on counts four and five, without an option of fine. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning they will be served at the same time. The prosecution told the court that Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, collected money from Moses Osinachi for two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, in Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja, despite having no valid title to sell them. According to the evidence, Eselebor used documents bearing t...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has travelled to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Umrah, with prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and progress among the purposes of his spiritual journey. According to a State House press release issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the President intends to seek Allah’s guidance and blessings for Nigeria and its people. Before departing Abuja, Tinubu was scheduled to commission equipment acquired by the Nigerian Air Force at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The President is expected to return to Nigeria next week after completing the spiritual exercise.

Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa has been appointed as a member of the Directorate of Finance and Technical Services of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Renewed Hope 2.0 Presidential Campaign Council, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The appointment places Dr. Alfa within a directorate responsible for the campaign’s financial and technical functions, where his professional experience in business, investment and public policy will be relevant to the assignment. With experience spanning Nigeria and international markets, Dr. Alfa brings a background in investment and institutional engagement to his new role. His appointment comes as the APC continues preparations for the 2027 elections and the promotion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. The assignment offers Dr. Alfa an opportunity to contribute to the campaign council’s work and support its financial and technical operations as activities ahead of the elections gather momentum.

Orion Reports Good healthcare can mean the difference between life and death, and having access to the right treatment close to home can save families the cost, stress and uncertainty of travelling long distances for medical care. That is why the commissioning of the Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital in Maiduguri is a significant development for Borno State. Vice President Kashim Shettima commissioned the 400 bed facility on Friday, October 23, alongside other education projects delivered under Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration. The new hospital is designed to bring advanced medical services closer to residents and reduce the need to travel outside the state for specialist treatment. Its diagnostic equipment includes a 1.5 tesla MRI scanner, a 160 slice CT scanner, three conventional X ray machines, two mobile X ray machines, three 4D ultrasound machines, a fluoroscopy system and a digital mammography machine. These...

Orion Reports Former Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward David Onoja, has apologised to anyone he may have offended, knowingly or unknowingly, through his words, actions, decisions or inactions. The apology was contained in a message he posted on his Facebook page ahead of his deaconship ordination scheduled for Sunday, October 25. In the message, Onoja urged people to release past grievances and embrace a fresh beginning. “The past must not imprison our future,” he said, emphasising the importance of healing and a renewed commitment to love and service. His ordination will take place at the United Evangelical Church, Okegbi, Ogugu, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, at 9:00 a.m.

Orion Reports  Nollywood has lost one of its familiar faces. Veteran actor Francis Duru has reportedly died at 57 after a brief illness, leaving colleagues and fans mourning a man whose performances helped shape the industry. His family announced his death on Friday, October 23, in a statement shared on his official Instagram page. “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness. We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen,” the statement read. The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Sanusi Yakubu, also confirmed the news, describing Duru as “another great thespian.” Duru began acting in 1989 and became widely known for playing Ahanna in Amaka Igwe’s 1995 classic, Rattlesnake. He went on to build a career spanning more than three decades, earning respect for his contribution to Nigerian film. A Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Port Harcour...

Orion reports The word Ebola is enough to bring back painful memories for many Nigerians. In 2014, Patrick Sawyer arrived in Nigeria with the virus, triggering an outbreak that claimed lives and left the country on edge. Now, news of a different Ebola strain linked to Abuja has raised fresh concerns. Naturally, people want to know: Is this the same virus? How does it spread? And should Nigerians be afraid? Understanding the facts is the first step towards protecting ourselves and the people we love. WHAT MAKES THIS EBOLA STRAIN DIFFERENT? The strain identified in the current report is known as the Bundibugyo virus . It belongs to a different species of Ebola virus from the Zaire ebolavirus associated with Patrick Sawyer's 2014 infection. That distinction matters medically, but it does not mean the virus should be taken lightly. Bundibugyo virus can also cause severe illness and death. HOW DOES IT SPREAD? Ebola does not spread simply because an infected person i...

Orion reports The word Ebola is enough to bring back painful memories for many Nigerians. In 2014, Patrick Sawyer arrived in Nigeria with the virus, triggering an outbreak that claimed lives and left the country on edge. Now, news of a different Ebola strain linked to Abuja has raised fresh concerns. Naturally, people want to know: Is this the same virus? How does it spread? And should Nigerians be afraid? Understanding the facts is the first step towards protecting ourselves and the people we love. WHAT MAKES THIS EBOLA STRAIN DIFFERENT? The strain identified in the current report is known as the Bundibugyo virus . It belongs to a different species of Ebola virus from the Zaire ebolavirus associated with Patrick Sawyer's 2014 infection. That distinction matters medically, but it does not mean the virus should be taken lightly. Bundibugyo virus can also cause severe illness and death. HOW DOES IT SPREAD? Ebola does not spread simply because an infected person i...

Orion reports. Nigerian comedian Broda Shaggi has opened up about the frightening experience that nearly cost him his life, revealing how a stray bullet left him uncertain about his future. The entertainer, whose real name is Samuel Animashaun Perry, said he was caught in traffic near the Sango Ota bridge on March 9, 2026, while returning from a brand activation shoot when he heard a loud bang. He soon discovered he had been shot in the hip. He was rushed to a hospital in Alakuko, but was reportedly transferred to a facility in Ikeja because the first hospital lacked the equipment needed to treat him. His recovery took months, and the injury affected movement in his leg. Beyond the physical pain, Shaggi feared he might never make skits again or reconnect with the fans who had supported his career. For someone who had spent years making others laugh, the thought of losing his ability to entertain was difficult to bear. Now, he is sharing his journey through a comeback video ...

Orion reports  FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says political stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are working together to secure support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Wike made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting with party leaders, traditional rulers, women and youth groups in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), where he urged residents to put political differences aside and focus on development. He highlighted infrastructure projects, including the long-delayed Apo-Karshi Road, as well as the establishment of women and youth secretariats in the FCT. He also defended the removal of the fuel subsidy, acknowledging the economic pain while arguing that the reform was necessary. The meeting featured declarations of support from both APC and PDP leaders. FCT PDP Chairman Mohammed Dogara said the party’s grassroots structure would mobilise for Tinubu by January 16, 2027, while APC...

Orion Reports. The African Action Congress (AAC), the party of activist and 2027 presidential hopeful Omoyele Sowore, has asked President Bola Tinubu for permission to hold the inauguration of its Presidential Campaign Council at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja. In a letter dated October 21, 2026, the party requested the use of the facility for the event scheduled for November 11. It also asked the Presidency to provide food, drinks and other logistical support for participants. The request was signed by the party’s National Secretary, Oshiokhue Philip Ikpe ioghena, who cited multiparty democracy, fairness and equal treatment of political parties as the basis for the appeal. The AAC argued that public institutions should not be seen as serving only the interests of the ruling party. It also pointed to reported arrangements for a similar political engagement involving the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting that opposition parties should receive equal conside...

Hon. Victor Eidah, Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Grassroots Mobilisation, has met with APC stakeholders from various wards in Ibaji, urging them to strengthen party unity and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections. Eidah commended the stakeholders for their contributions to the APC’s victory in the October 17 local government elections, praising the turnout and peaceful conduct of the exercise. He urged them to sustain the cooperation and mobilisation that contributed to the party’s success, with greater attention to coordination at ward and polling unit levels. Those present are Hon. Silas Ojotule Anekwe;SSA to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, Hon. Ojima Raphael Ugoya, Councillor representing Akpanyo Ward, Hon. Marcus Okwute; LSA to the Governor from Ejule Ward, Hon. Johnson Ugbaje Kenneth; Former House of Assembly Candidate of SDP from Akpanyo Ward, Lady Justina of Analo Ward, Hon. Akwu Onate; Former SDP Youth Leader.

Orion Reports The dispute between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Presidency over alleged unpaid Nigeria LNG dividends has raised fresh questions about public revenue, transparency and the financial relationship between the Federal Government and the states. Makinde alleged that each state was expected to receive more than ₦250 billion from NLNG dividend proceeds but claimed that the money would not be released until after the 2027 general elections. The governor made the allegation at the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement in Ibadan, where he questioned why political considerations should delay funds he said could support development projects in Oyo State. According to Makinde, his administration had already identified projects that could expand the state’s economy. He alleged that the dividend proceeds had entered the Federation Account but had been spent rather than distributed as expected. The Presidency has strongly rejected the claim...

By Orion Reports.  05.10.2026 Hon. Victor Eidah, Senior Special Assistant to Kogi State Governor on Grassroots Mobilisation, has intensified his engagements with grassroots stakeholders in Ibaji and Idah Local Government Areas as the state moves towards the 2026 local government elections and the 2027 general elections. Eidah spent the weekend in a series of political meetings and community engagements across the two local government areas, rallying support for the APC and its candidates while strengthening contact with grassroots groups. During the engagements, he highlighted what he described as the key achievements and ongoing programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s government in Kogi State. He urged the people to support the APC at the local and national levels, arguing that continuity would enable the governments to consolidate ongoing projects and programmes across the state and the countr...

By Opaluwa Oguche  A scheduled execution in Tennessee has been halted after death row inmate Christa Pike reportedly survived two rounds of lethal injection. Pike, 50, was due to be executed on Wednesday, September 30, for the 1995 murder of 19 year old Colleen Slemmer, her classmate at a Knoxville job training facility. According to court filings by Pike’s lawyers, officials administered two doses of pentobarbital. Media witnesses reported that more than 40 minutes after the second dose, Pike was still breathing and could reportedly be heard snoring. The execution chamber was eventually closed to witnesses. At about 8:53 p.m., the microphone was cut and media witnesses were escorted away. Pike was later transported by ambulance to an outside medical facility. The Tennessee Department of Correction said it followed the state’s approved execution protocol and confirmed that she was taken for medical treatment. The incident followed a legal battle over Pike’s execution. A...

By Orion Reports| Enugu The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken full control of the grassroots political structure in Enugu State after sweeping the September 26 local government elections. The party won all 17 chairmanship positions and 260 councillorship seats across the state. The results were declared by the Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Professor Christian Ngwu , following the completion of the collation exercise. According to ENSIEC, APC candidates emerged victorious in all 17 local government areas and secured all 260 councillorship positions across the state’s 260 wards. The result places the APC in control of every elected local government council and political ward in Enugu State. Among the chairmanship winners declared are Ugochukwu Nwanjoku in Aninri, Okolo Uchenna Joseph in Awgu, Beloved Dan Anike in Enugu East, Onoh Ibenaku in Enugu North and Caleb Ani in Enugu South . Others are Vitalis Chinedu Ngwu in E...

Today was a day of distinguished women paying their respects, as Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman and Hajiya Habiba Tijjani Onumoko, FCNA, separately paid condolence visits to Dr. Mahmoud Bala Alfa and his family following the passing of his father, Alhaji Mohammed Alfa. Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman is the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU). She plays an important role in coordinating and tracking the implementation of the Federal Government’s key policies and programmes across its ministries and agencies. Hajiya Habiba Tijjani Onumoko, Accountant General of Kogi State, is also an important part of the state government’s financial management and administration. She is sometimes regarded to as the engine room of the incumbent Ododo-led administration. Beyond their official positions, their visits were acts of friendship, kindness and support for Dr. M...

By Orion Reports | Abuja BD Lawal has likened former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to Adolf Hitler, saying that was how he was perceived by Southern Kaduna communities during his tenure. Lawal made the explosive comparison while defending Defence Minister Christopher Gwabin Musa against criticism over his recent comments concerning El-Rufai. He said El-Rufai’s defenders had the right to support him, but argued that their defence could not erase the experiences of Southern Kaduna people. “To them, and by extension us, all Northern ethnic nationalities and Christians, Nasiru El-Rufai was what Adolf Hitler was to the Jews; no more, no less,” Lawal said. He described General Musa as “a brilliant patriot and a highly regarded military officer” and warned El-Rufai’s supporters against attempting to “lynch” him over his comments. Lawal also urged El-Rufai’s defenders to turn their attention to insecurity, out-of-school children and allegations involving some politi...

The Senior Special Assistant to the Kogi State Governor on Grassroots Mobilisation, Hon. Victor Eidah , has held a strategic meeting with ward executives and stakeholders of Ugwoda Ward , urging them to strengthen unity and take greater responsibility at their respective polling units. During the meeting, Hon. Eidah emphasised the importance of cooperation among party stakeholders, stressing that a united and well-coordinated grassroots structure is essential to achieving success for the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the various polling units. He also encouraged the ward executives to remain committed to their responsibilities and ensure effective mobilisation and coordination within their respective areas. In a gesture of support, Hon. Victor Eidah donated ₦50,000 to the party executives to assist with the transportation expenses of members returning to their various destinations after the meeting.