Good Morning! Here are today’s top highlights from Nigerian Newspapers:
1. A fresh wave of defection hit the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday, with Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri dumping the party. The governor defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, alongside 19 members of the State House of Assembly.
2. Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike has slammed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governors for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Wike, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, said the same people “who said I want to destabilize the party, (PDP), I'm working for APC, and all of them are now in APC.”
3. The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has reacted to the recent defections of the governors of Enugu and Bayelsa States to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. It said it was a confirmation of its long-held warning that President Bola Tinubu is determined to turn Nigeria into a one-party state. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the defections as a betrayal of the people and a dangerous sign for Nigeria’s democracy.
4. Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has disclosed that Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party is currently the only opposition politician in Nigeria. Fayose, who featured on Channels Television's Politics Today on Wednesday, said that the five governors that would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are trying to kill the party.
5. The National Chairman of the NNPP, Agbo Major, has lambasted governors from Enugu, Bayelsa, and other states who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, describing their moves as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. He described the defections as “political betrayal”, stressing “I honestly do not understand what a sitting governor hopes to gain by defecting to another party when his followers are not even in agreement with him. This is what I call food is ready politicians. It’s a tragedy for our democracy.”
6. Deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson have rejected the defection of the Governor, Duoye Diri to the All Progressives Congress, APC. The two politicians, alongside others, said they would remain in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
7. Amid the confusion in the polity over the gale of defections, the 2023 Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has affirmed that he will be on the ballot in 2027. Obi aso recommitted to a single tenure of four years, saying it was enough for him to positively change Nigeria's trajectory if elected president in 2027. “I am contesting, and I am sure I will be on the ballot,” he said.
8. For the sixth consecutive time this year, Nigeria's headline inflation dropped to 18.02 per cent in September 2025, down from 20.12 per cent in August. This is according to the National Bureau of Statistics in its consumer price index and inflation data released on Tuesday.
9. Nigerian Finance Minister Wale Edun has been flown to the United Kingdom for treatment. The development was confirmed to the West Post on Tuesday. The presidency had earlier confirmed that Edun was sick and that he was receiving treatment in Nigeria.
10. Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga has passed on, aged 80. He was said to have died during a health checkup visit in India, at the Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre in Kerala. He was said to be walking alongside his sister, daughter, and a personal doctor when he suddenly collapsed. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital, but was declared dead.
