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Presidential Election: 45 Candidates Step Down for Atiku, Buhari

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No fewer than 45 candidates out of the 72 presidential candidates billed to contest today’s election have abandoned their ambitions to rule Nigeria and adopted either President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress or former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party,  has learnt.

Saturday PUNCH correspondent, who spoke with the candidates and party chairmen on Friday, learnt that most of them lacked the funds and membership to carry out a nationwide campaign and thus decided to support the bigger parties.

It was learnt that about 15 of them had endorsed Buhari while 30 had agreed to work for Atiku.

Those working for Buhari include Shitu Kabir (Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance), Edozie Madu (Independent Democrats); Danjuma Mohammed (Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy); Yusuf Dantalle (Allied Peoples Movement); Ahmed Buhari (Sustainable National Party) and Isah Dansarki (Mass Movement of Nigeria).

Others are Ikechukwu Nwokeafor (Advance Congress of Democrats); Alista Soyode (Yes Party); Charles Ogbali (Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party); Kenneth Kalu (United Peoples Congress); Isiyaka Femili (Nigeria Element Progressive Party) and Robinson Akpu of the National Democratic Liberty Party.

Other candidates supporting Buhari are Inwa Sakil (Unity Party of Nigeria); Babatunde Ositelu (Accord), the Africa Peoples Alliance, which has also endorsed the President although its candidate, Ibrahim Hassan, says he is still in the contest.

While the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, has stepped down and did not endorse anyone, her former running mate, Galadima Oseni, who is also the national chairman of the party, had endorsed Buhari.

For Atiku, about 30 parties and presidential candidates have stepped down.

The parties, it was learnt, were members of the Coalition of United Political Parties.

On Wednesday, Eunice Atuejide (National Interest Party) stepped down for Atiku.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress has adopted Atiku while its Presidential candidate, Obadiah Mailafia, has yet to make any public statement on the matter.

The National Chairman of ADC, Chief Okey Nwosu, told one of our correspondents that Atiku had been adopted by the party, adding that it did so in line with the CUPP’s arrangement.

“Our candidate did not have enough funds to execute a nationwide campaign. However, we will be participating in all other elections from National Assembly, governorship to state Houses of Assembly,” he said.

The presidential candidate of the All Grassroots Alliance, Nwachukwu Nwabuikwu, has also endorsed Atiku.

Dr. Nicolas Felix, the candidate of the Peoples Coalition Party also endorsed the PDP candidate earlier in the week just as Action Alliance dropped its candidate, Abdulrashid Baba, and adopted the PDP candidate.

The National Chairman of the Advanced Allied Party, Salihu Butu, told one of  our correspondents on the telephone on Friday that his party had adopted Atiku.

Muhammed Zaki (Labour Party) also stepped down for the PDP candidate, according to the LP Chairman, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, while Dr Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies of the Mass Action Joint Alliance also stepped down for him.

Mark Audu of the United Patriots has also endorsed Atiku, according to its acting National Chairman, Chukwudi Ezeobika, while Nsehe Nseobong of the Restoration Party of Nigeria said that he had also stepped down for the former Vice-President.

The presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, Peter Ameh, said he had endorsed Atiku while Major Hamza Al Mustafa (Peoples Party of Nigeria) also stepped down for the former vice-president.

However, 27 other candidates will be slugging it out with Buhari and Atiku on Saturday(today).

They are Mr Fela Durotoye (Alliance for New Nigeria), Omoyele Sowore (African Action Congress), Donald Duke (Social Democratic Party), Rev. Chris Okotie (FRESH), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu (Young Progressive Party), and Adesina Fagbenro-Byron (KOWA).

Others are John Gbor (All Progressive Grand Alliance), Tope Fasua (Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party), Tanko Yunusa (National Conscience Party), Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim (People’s Trust), Yabagi Yusuf (Action Democratic Party), Shipi Godia (All Blending Party) and Peter Nwangwu of (We The People Nigeria).

Ayo Dasilva (Save Nigeria Congress), Chukwudi Osuala (Rebuild Nigeria Party) and Victor Okhai (Providence Peoples Congress) have also decided to test their strength at the polls.

The Punch

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How Glo Network Became the Lifeline That Saved Two Lives: A True Story from Sallari

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By Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba

It was one of those calm, bright mornings in Sallari, a town in Tarauni Local Government Area of Kano State. I had gone to visit my longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Muhammad Umar Abdullahi, at his private facility, Rauda Clinic and Maternity. We were in his office discussing research, the usual challenges of medical practice, and other issues when the sound of hurried footsteps and anxious voices broke the calm. A young man rushed in, calling for the doctor.

Without hesitation, Dr. Muhammad sprang into action. I followed him instinctively. Within moments, two people burst through the gate, one man carrying a weak, heavily pregnant woman in his arms. Her breathing was shallow and wheezy, her face pale, and her body trembling between labor contractions and an asthma crisis. The scene was intense, we both knew that every second counted.

The team quickly moved her to the emergency bed. The Chief Medical Director Dr. Muhammad and his nurses worked swiftly to stabilize her breathing and monitor the baby. Oxygen was connected, IV lines were set, and within minutes, her breathing began to steady. The baby’s heartbeat was strong. After a short but tense period, she delivered a healthy baby girl. Relief filled the room like a gentle wind.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but admire the efficiency and dedication of Rauda Clinic and Maternity. The facility operated with the precision and compassion of a modern hospital. Every member of the team knew their role, every piece of equipment was in place, and the environment radiated calm professionalism. It reminded me that quality healthcare is not only about infrastructure, but about commitment and readiness when it truly matters. Rauda Clinic stood out that day as a quiet pillar of excellence and hope for patients and families alike.

The following day, I placed a call to Dr. Muhammad to ask about the condition of the woman who had been brought in the previous morning. He sounded cheerful and relieved. “Both mother and baby are fine now,” he said. Then, with deep reflection in his voice, he narrated the extraordinary story behind their survival, a story that showed how a single phone call, made at the right moment, became the bridge between life and death. As I listened to him recount the events, I couldn’t help but marvel at how sometimes, survival depends not only on medicine but also on connection.

Her name was Amina, a mother of three. That morning, she was alone at home, her husband was in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa state where he works, and her children had already gone to school. The first wave of pain came suddenly, followed by a tightening in her chest. Within minutes, she was gasping for air, her asthma worsening with every breath. She reached for her phone to call her husband, but the call wouldn’t go through. She tried again and again, each time, “Network error.”

Her strength was fading fast. She tried to reach her neighbors, but again, no connection. Alone, frightened, and struggling to breathe, she said she felt her end was near. Then, a thought crossed her mind, her maid had left her phone in the sitting room that morning. Gathering the last of her strength, Amina crawled toward the television stand where the phone lay.

When she reached it, she noticed the green SIM icon, it was a Glo line. Hope flickered. But when she tried to make a call, she saw there was no airtime. That could have been the end until she remembered Glo’s Borrow Me Credit service. With trembling fingers, she dialed the Glo borrow me code and she got the credit instantly, and that small credit became her lifeline.

Her first attempt to reach her husband failed. Then she dialed her younger brother, Umar. This time, the call went through immediately. Interestingly, Umar is a Glo user too. Without delay, Umar and his wife rushed to her house, found her collapsed on the floor, and carried her into their car.

On their way, Umar called ahead to alert the doctor, and again, the call went through clearly. By a remarkable coincidence, Dr. Muhammad was also using a Glo line. That seamless connection meant the hospital team was fully prepared by the time they arrived. Within minutes, Amina was stabilized, and both she and her baby were safe.

The next morning, Dr. Muhammad told me that Amina had smiled faintly and said to him, “Doctor, when every other network failed me, Glo answered. If that call hadn’t gone through, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Her words carried a truth that stayed with me. It wasn’t just a patient’s gratitude, it was a testimony about the power of reliable connection. At that moment, Glo wasn’t just a telecommunications network, it was the bridge between life and death, between despair and hope.

In today’s world, a simple phone call can determine whether someone lives or dies. That day reminded me that technology, when dependable, is not just about data speed, it’s about human connection at its most critical. Glo proved to be that connection: steady, available, and trustworthy when it mattered most.

Before she was discharged, she laughed and told the doctor she had already chosen a nickname for her baby “Amira Glo.” They both laughed, but deep down, Dr. Muhammad understood the meaning behind that name. It symbolized gratitude, faith, and survival.

As I ended the call with Dr. Muhammad that day, I felt a quiet pride. I had witnessed not just the miracle of life, but the harmony of medicine, compassion, and reliable technology. Through Rauda Clinic and Maternity, I saw what true service means, dedication without boundaries, and connection that saves.

Amina’s story isn’t an advert, but living proof that sometimes, when every other signal fades, Glo stands firm, and when every other facility seems far away, Rauda Clinic and Maternity remains a beacon of care and excellence.

For patients, families, and health workers alike, Glo is proven to be a network of necessity. It connects life to hope, when every second truly counts…

Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba writes from Kano, and can be reached via drssbaba@yahoo.com

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Delta Govt Confirms Death of Senator Nwaoboshi at 68

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Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi, the former lawmaker who represented Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has passed away. He was 68.

Reports said that Nwaoboshi died on Friday in Abuja following a brief illness.

His demise was confirmed in a condolence statement issued by the Delta State governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

Expressing sorrow, the governor described Nwaoboshi’s passing as a monumental loss to Delta State, the Anioma nation, and the Nigerian federation.

In the statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, Governor Oborevwori hailed the late Senator as a “fearless advocate” of the Anioma cause whose contributions to nation-building remain indelible.

The governor recalled Nwaoboshi’s impactful tenure in the Red Chamber, particularly his role as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.

He noted that Nwaoboshi’s consistent advocacy for the development of the oil-rich region distinguished him as a passionate and committed leader.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State, I mourn the passing of my dear friend, Senator Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi,” the governor said.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his immediate family, the people of Anioma nation, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and all those whose lives he touched. I pray that Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest.”

Before his elevation to the Senate in 2015, he served meritoriously as a two-term Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, where he was instrumental in consolidating the party’s grip on the State.

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Ribadu’s Office Denies Arming Miyetti Allah in Kwara

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The National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the office of the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has refuted claims that it armed members of the Miyetti Allah group for counter-terrorism operations in Kwara State.

The Head of Strategic Communication at NCTC, Mr. Michael Abu, issued the rebuttal on Wednesday in Abuja.

Abu described the reports circulated by some online platforms as false and misleading, saying they misrepresented ongoing security operations in forested areas of the state.

He said that in line with the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, it continued to coordinate and support law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies in countering all forms of terrorism across the country.

NCTC spokesman explained that Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts guided by the National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST), involved the deployment of hybrid forces comprising regular security personnel and trained auxiliaries such as hunters and vigilante elements, particularly in difficult terrains.

According to him, the hybrid approach, which was previously deployed with the Civilian Joint Task Force in the North-East, is currently being applied in parts of the North-West and North-Central, including Kwara State, and has recorded several successes against banditry and other criminal activities.

He stressed that the Federal government was not conducting kinetic operations with any socio-cultural group, adding that claims that the Office of the National Security Adviser provided arms to such organisations are unfounded and should be disregarded.

According to him, all auxiliary personnel involved in hybrid operations were recruited directly by authorised security and intelligence agencies after due diligence, and that all operations were conducted strictly in line with the law and established standard operating procedures.

He urged the media to exercise responsibility by protecting sensitive security information and seeking clarification through designated official spokespersons, while advising the public to ignore unverified reports capable of undermining ongoing operations.

He reaffirmed the centre’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement to deepen public understanding of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts.

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