Morning recap: INEC unveils list of Senate race, banks shut 476 branches in three years, other top stories

INEC’s release of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections has intensified the contest for Nigeria’s 109 senatorial seats.

Meanwhile, the CBN reports that Nigerian banks closed 476 branches and cash centres between 2022 and 2025, reducing the number from 5,410 to 4,934, an 8.8% decline.

These developments are among the major stories making the headlines now

1. 2027: INEC final list sets off Senate race

The Independent National Electoral Commission’s release of the final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections has intensified the battle for the 109 senatorial seats across the country.

With the publication of the list, political parties and their candidates now have a clearer picture of the contenders for the Senate, setting the stage for a fierce contest for the legislative seats in the February 2027 elections.

Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/2027-inec-final-list-sets-off-senate-race/

2. Banks shut 476 branches in three years – CBN

Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria closed a net 476 branches and cash centres between 2022 and 2025, reducing their physical footprint by 8.8 per cent in three years, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Figures contained in the CBN’s 2025 Statistical Bulletin for the Financial Sector showed that the number of bank branches and cash centres across the country declined from 5,410 in 2022 to 4,934 in 2025.

Read the full story here:https://punchng.com/banks-shut-476-branches-in-three-years-cbn/

• 2027: INEC final list sets off Senate race
• 2027 budget: FG gives MDAs September 18 deadline
• Abandoned truck, piling rig raise safety fears on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

3. How I found out my wife was molesting daughter — Husband

The husband of 36-year-old Anulika Onyeanusia, who was arrested by the Anambra State Police Command for allegedly using a sex toy on her underage daughter, has recounted how he discovered the alleged sexual abuse.

Ikechukwu Onyeanyusi said he was informed about the incident by a friend who showed him a video of his wife allegedly using a sex toy on their daughter.

Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/how-i-found-out-my-wife-was-molesting-daughter-husband/

4. 2027 budget: FG gives MDAs September 18 deadline

The Federal Government plans to submit the 2027 budget proposal to the National Assembly in September, in an attempt to advance the budget cycle amid persistent implementation challenges and overlapping fiscal years.

The plan is contained in the Federal Government of Nigeria 2027 Personnel Costs Budget Call Circular dated September 4, 2026, and signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu.

Read the full story here: https://punchng.com/2027-budget-fg-gives-mdas-september-18-deadline/

5. The long road home: How 30-minute journey became midnight ordeal

For commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the journey home can quickly become a battle against time, traffic and uncertainty. What should have been a short trip can stretch deep into the night, testing patience, draining resources and raising fears about getting home safely. In this diary, FOLASHADE OBISANYA recounts how an ordinary journey after work became a four-and-a-half-hour ordeal she would not forget in a hurry.

Read the full article here: https://punchng.com/the-long-road-home-how-30-minute-journey-became-midnight-ordeal/