Morning recap: APC-Accord Osun naira rain, Atiku’s fuel subsidy debate, other top stories

FILE: Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji

Top stories for this morning centre around the concluded governorship election in Osun State, on a report that the All Progressives Congress and the Accord Party collectively deployed over N100 billion in the August 15 election.

While the embattled Adeyemi Matthew-fake agency is still being investigated, President Bola Tinubu has directed the suspension of three Permanent Secretaries owing to the discovery of another fake agency named “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” which operates within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Also, fuel subsidy removal continues to face criticism by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who has, in recent times, lamented that the policy, implemented by the Tinubu-led administration, needs reassessment.

The top stories in full:

1. Osun naira rain: How APC, Accord splashed N100bn

The All Progressives Congress and Governor Ademola Adeleke-led Accord party deployed over N100bn in the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Saturday PUNCH can report.

The funds were channelled into campaign materials, vote buying, payments of agents, canvassers, security personnel and electoral officers in the 3,763 polling units and 332 wards of the state.

The estimated expenses exceeded the N3bn limit set by the Electoral Act 2026 for each of the governorship candidates.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/osun-naira-rain-how-apc-accord-splashed-n100bn/

2. Another fake agency! FG suspends three perm secs, orders arrest

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries over the discovery of another fake agency operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The affected PS are M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah.

The President also ordered the arrest of one George Buchi Nwabueze.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/another-fake-agency-fg-suspends-three-perm-secs-orders-arrest/

• Subsidy: Your reforms worsening hardship, Atiku lashes at Tinubu
• EPL: Liverpool, Man City face new-era test without Salah, Guardiola
• 2027: Obi challenges Tinubu, others to defend records

3. Subsidy: Your reforms worsening hardship, Atiku lashes at Tinubu

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s description of his proposed intervention in the petroleum sector as economically ignorant, stating that the administration’s policies have worsened the cost-of-living crisis despite increased government revenues.

Atiku, in a statement issued on his behalf by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Friday, said the President was in no position to lecture Nigerians on economic management after the removal of petrol subsidy, the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market and the subsequent rise in inflation, transport costs and household expenses.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/subsidy-your-reforms-worsening-hardship-atiku-lashes-at-tinubu/

4. Cancer: Colleagues, fans battle to save veteran actor, Ogogo

For more than four decades, actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has been a familiar face in movies, portraying characters that have made him one of the most recognisable figures in the Nigerian film industry.

But in recent days, the 66-year-old actor has found himself at the centre of a health crisis, with his family, colleagues, friends and admirers rallying around him as he battles stage-four cancer.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/cancer-colleagues-fans-battle-to-save-veteran-actor-ogogo/

5. 2027: Obi challenges Tinubu, others to defend records

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has challenged President Bola Tinubu and other presidential hopefuls in the 2027 election to come out to defend their records and subject their programmes to public scrutiny.

The former Anambra State governor spoke while addressing a world conference on Friday marking the commencement of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly campaign season.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/2027-obi-challenges-tinubu-others-to-defend-records/

6. EPL: Liverpool, Man City face new-era test without Salah, Guardiola

Mohamed Salah and Pep Guardiola are two of the most iconic figures in Premier League history — how Liverpool and Manchester City cope without them will define their seasons.

For the first time since 2016, Liverpool kick off a campaign without Egypt forward Salah as their talisman, while City can no longer rely on Guardiola’s managerial genius to inspire them after a glorious decade.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/epl-liverpool-man-city-face-new-era-test-without-salah-guardiola/