Morning recap: APC chairmen reject Wike’s coalition, FG seeks fresh $1.5bn World Bank loan, other top stories

FILE: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike

Good morning. Here is your morning news recap, bringing you the latest and most important stories across politics, metro, entertainment, business and sports.

1. APC chairmen reject Wike’s coalition, demand defection

Several state chapters of the All Progressives Congress have rejected the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, with party leaders asking the former Rivers State governor to formally join the ruling party if he is genuinely committed to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

The reactions followed a renewed confrontation between Wike and APC governors over the political structure the FCT minister is assembling ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While some APC state chapters welcomed Wike’s support for Tinubu and said they would receive him if he decided to defect to the ruling party, others opposed the coalition outright, arguing that a politician could not simultaneously support the APC at the presidential level and candidates of other parties in governorship and legislative elections.

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2. FG seeks fresh $1.5bn World Bank loan

The Federal Government has opened discussions with the World Bank for three new loans totalling $1.5bn, even as Nigeria’s public debt climbed to a record N166.79tn at the end of June 2026.

Documents obtained from the World Bank show that the proposed financing comprises three separate $500m facilities for climate resilience, social protection and early childhood development.

The most immediate is a proposed $500m additional financing for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project, known as ACReSAL.

The World Bank has fixed October 29, 2026, as the estimated date for consideration by its board. The borrower is the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while the Federal Ministry of Environment is the implementing agency.

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3. 2027: Again, NDC, Obi-Kwankwaso camp lock horns

The decision by the Nigeria Democratic Congress to commence registration of support groups ahead of the election has caused fresh row between the party and some support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket.

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the Kwankwassiya groups registered their disagreements in separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH.

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The NDC had earlier, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and warned state chapters against collecting fees from groups seeking registration.

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4. FG unveils five-year blacklist for defaulting contractors

The Federal Government has approved new guidelines for the debarment of contractors, consultants and service providers, outlining six grounds that could lead to their exclusion from Federal Government procurement for between three and five years.

The grounds include offering bribes or other benefits to influence procurement decisions, conviction for fraud, wilful failure to perform contractual obligations, a history of unsatisfactory performance, falsification of documents and debarment by a multilateral organisation.

The directive was contained in a circular titled “Implementation of the National Guideline on Debarment of Contractors,” signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

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5. Ogun police nab 11, recover 25 debit cards

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 11 suspects and recovered 25 Automated Teller Machine cards, three firearms and two suspected stolen vehicles during an 11-day security operation across the state.

The command said the ATM cards were recovered from a 45-year-old man, Ameachine Anthony, who was arrested in Igbesa over an alleged N2.5m fraud.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the arrests and recoveries were recorded between September 16 and 26, 2026.

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