Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of stopping him from congratulating the Flamingos after their World Cup triumph.

What Obi said

Obi said he was at the airport in Abuja at about 7am on Monday, 9 November 2026, to catch a flight to Enugu, when he saw the Flamingos, who had just arrived with the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup trophy. He said he asked his protocol officer to find out if he could go over and welcome the players, but was told that NFF officials had refused, reportedly warning that anyone who allowed him near the team would lose their job.

'Not the first time'

Obi said this was not the first time he had been prevented from supporting a national team. He recalled travelling to Uyo in March 2025 to watch a World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe, and said that although he was warmly received before the match, he was not allowed the same access afterwards.

Background

The Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat on Saturday to become the first African team to win the tournament, and were welcomed back to Nigeria on Monday. President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady have both congratulated the team.

What happens next

The NFF had not publicly responded to Obi's claim at the time of writing.

Ebonyi State governor Francis Nwifuru has promised President Bola Tinubu 80 per cent of the state's votes in the 2027 presidential election.

What he said

Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally in Abakaliki on Monday, 9 November 2026, Nwifuru told the President that Ebonyi was an APC state, that 80 per cent of its votes were assured for him and that he would win by a landslide.

Background

The rally is part of Tinubu's campaign tour of the South-East and South-South, which has included stops in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states in the past week. Several South-East governors have declared support for the President, and the APGA in Anambra has also adopted him as its candidate. The South-East, however, is the home region of NDC candidate Peter Obi, who won most of the region's votes in 2023, and his party has set ambitious targets of its own, including 98 per cent of Anambra's votes.

How people reacted

The governor's pledge drew mixed reactions on social media. Supporters of the President welcomed it, while others questioned whether any governor could guarantee how residents would vote.

What happens next

The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

The presidential campaign of Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde has criticised President Bola Tinubu's claims about the naira.

What the campaign said

In a statement reported on Monday, 9 November 2026, Richard Nnanna Ihediwa, director of strategic communications for the Makinde–Daura campaign, accused the President of trying to take credit for the naira's recent stability after policies that first caused a drastic fall in its value. He said the President could not preside over the destruction of the currency's purchasing power and then ask for applause. The campaign pointed out that the official exchange rate was about ₦461 to the dollar when Tinubu took office in May 2023, before the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the exchange rate, and said marginal improvements offer little relief to people facing high inflation.

Background

The statement responds to Tinubu's remarks in Uyo last week, where he said the naira would have become worthless without his reforms and put the current rate at about ₦1,300 to the dollar. Makinde is the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), with former DSS chief Lawal Musa Daura as his running mate, and recently launched his 'Reset Agenda' manifesto. The government has said the old official rate understated the true value of the dollar and that unification was needed.

What happens next

The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027.

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor, says the state government will enforce the legal limit on advance rent payments.

What he said

Speaking at a governorship debate organised by a coalition of media organisations on Sunday, 8 November 2026, Hamzat said the one-year cap on advance rent is already contained in the Lagos State Real Estate Registration Agency law passed in 2025, and that the focus now is making sure it is followed. He warned landlords against demanding two or three years' rent upfront, and said estate agents are required to register with the state and appear on an official database, urging residents to check it before dealing with agents.

The law

The Lagos State Tenancy Law of 2011 already makes it unlawful for landlords or their agents to demand more than one year's rent in advance from a new tenant, and limits advance payments from sitting tenants. Despite this, demands for two or more years' rent have remained a widespread concern.

Rhodes-Vivour's pitch

At the same debate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the governorship candidate of the opposition ADC, said APC governments in Lagos had focused on policies that favoured the elite for more than 20 years, while residents of poorer and rural communities did not feel the benefit of the state's high revenue. He promised more than 100,000 housing units, a safer and cleaner state, and technology-driven measures to end flooding.

Background

Hamzat is seeking to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the 2027 governorship election. Former governor Akinwunmi Ambode recently pledged to mobilise support for him. Housing costs are one of the biggest concerns for Lagos residents.