Good evening from MEZIESBLOG. Here is a summary of top news from Nigerian newspapers today.

1. Atiku Abubakar wins ADC presidential ticket

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has won the presidential ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), polling 1,846,379 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, who scored 540,117 votes. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen came a distant third with 177,120 votes. Atiku was declared winner by returning officer Tunde Ogbeha. National Chairman of the party, David Mark, handed over the ADC flag to Atiku, certifying him as the party’s standard-bearer in the 2027 presidential election. With this development, the 2027 presidential election is shaping up as another three-horse race, with Atiku billed to face incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his 2019 running mate, Peter Obi, now the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Accepting his nomination, Atiku said opposition political figures continue to be harassed and intimidated, including Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who has been in detention for three months despite court orders granting him bail. Meanwhile, the ADC has appealed to aggrieved presidential aspirants, Rotimi Amaechi and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, to pursue their complaints through the party’s internal dispute resolution channels rather than making public accusations over the presidential primary election.

2. Tinubu pledges intensified rescue efforts for abducted pupils on Children’s Day

President Bola Tinubu has pledged intensified rescue efforts for abducted pupils in Oyo and Borno States. In a statement marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, Mr Tinubu said children abducted in Oyo and Borno would not be forgotten. The President also urged Nigerians to protect the nation’s children and sustain and intensify security operations to recover pupils and teachers held captive in parts of the country. However, singer and activist Falz described the situation as a “miserable Children’s Day,” noting that over 40 children are still missing in Oyo. “Kidnappers getting richer by the day because our government allow children to be tortured and then reward the criminals with handsome ransom payments,” Falz wrote.

3. Tinubu says economic reforms have yielded stable economy

In his Sallah message to Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu declared that the “sacrifices and efforts we have made over the past three years have yielded a more stable economy, making our country a preferred investment destination that will drive job creation and economic growth”. The President also called on Nigerians to use the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir to deepen the values of tolerance, generosity, and peaceful coexistence. Speaking on a similar note, the Forum of Former Governors called on Nigerians to use the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir to pray for the unity, peace and progress of the country.

4. World Bank clarifies continued support for Nigeria’s electricity sector

The World Bank has clarified its continued support for Nigeria’s electricity sector following the cancellation of about $717 million in undisbursed funds linked to a major power sector reform programme. In a chat with The Nation on Thursday, the World Bank said it remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s energy sector reforms.

5. TETFund indispensable to survival of tertiary education – CPA

The Centre for Public Accountability has described the Tertiary Education Trust Fund as a critical lifeline sustaining Nigeria’s struggling higher education sector, warning that many public tertiary institutions would have faced deeper infrastructural decay and academic setbacks without the agency’s interventions. According to CPA, records showed that between 2011 and 2024, TETFund disbursed over ₦1.8 trillion to public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Universities received more than ₦918 billion, while polytechnics got over ₦461 billion and colleges of education received more than ₦458 billion within the period. The organisation said more than 152,000 infrastructural projects have been executed through TETFund interventions nationwide, including lecture theatres, laboratories, libraries, hostels, ICT centres, faculty buildings, entrepreneurship centres, workshops and innovation hubs.

6. NDC retains May 29 primaries despite Eid disruptions

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has insisted that its nationwide primaries will go ahead on May 29 despite disruptions caused by the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and travel difficulties across the country. The party said the festive holidays caused major logistical setbacks, including flight shortages that left several aspirants and members of its screening committee stranded in Abuja after concluding screening. NDC National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, said May 28 would now be dedicated to consultations, documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), interactions with security agencies, and meetings with party stakeholders and aspirants in various states. He maintained that the presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly primaries or affirmations would still take place on May 29 as earlier planned.

7. US report raises alarm over 30,000 armed Fulani militants across Nigeria

A new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has revealed that an estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants are currently operating across Nigeria, intensifying insecurity and contributing significantly to religious violence in several parts of the country.

8. Wike-led PDP faction adopts Senator Sandy Onor as 2027 presidential candidate

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has affirmed a former member of the National Assembly, Senator Sandy Onor, as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

9. Court fixes July 6 for ruling on forfeiture of ex-minister Malami’s 57 properties

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday fixed July 6 for judgment in the forfeiture suit filed by the EFCC on 57 properties linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

10. Nigeria signs $1.5 billion Katsina-Ala hydropower concession agreement

The Federal Government yesterday signed the Concession Agreement for the Grand Katsina-Ala Hydropower Project, a major public-private partnership milestone in Africa.

11. Dangote Refinery to save Nigeria N15 trillion on imports

An analysis by The Nation indicates that increased reliance on local refining could save Nigeria up to $11 billion annually in foreign exchange outflows, reducing pressure on the naira and improving macroeconomic stability.

12. Nigeria unveils re-equipped neonatal ward in Enugu

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has unveiled the newly renovated and re-equipped Neonatal and Special Babies Ward at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Parklane, Enugu, as part of activities marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration. The facility, upgraded through the intervention of the Cecilia Oyebola Foundation, is equipped with modern incubators, infusion and syringe pumps, phototherapy equipment, autoclave machines, baby monitoring devices, and upgraded nursing facilities.

13. Femi Azeez scores brace on debut as Super Eagles reach Unity Cup final

Millwall forward Femi Azeez announced his arrival on the Nigerian football scene on Tuesday night, scoring a brace on his debut to help the Super Eagles beat Zimbabwe 2-0 and reach the final of the 2026 Unity Cup in London.

14. David Nkang Odu elected to Board of Regents of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

David Nkang Odu has become the first Nigerian and West African to be elected to the Board of Regents of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE), the governing body of the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation.

15. FG declares public holidays for Eid-el-Kabir celebration amid security alerts

The Federal Government declared Wednesday, May 27 and Thursday, May 28, 2026, as public holidays for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration amid heightened security alerts and nationwide deployments by military and law enforcement agencies to forestall possible attacks during the festivities. Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the announcement on behalf of the government.