NEWS
AAC Calls For Immediate Removal Of Wike As FCT Minister
The African Action Congress (AAC) in the Federal Capital Territory has demanded the urgent dismissal of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, following allegations of corruption, misuse of office, and harassment of residents.
In a statement endorsed by its chairman, Agena Robert Ande, the party said it was “utterly appalled” by disclosures suggesting that Wike was behind the acquisition of a $2 million mansion in Florida.
According to the AAC, the property was allegedly purchased in the names of his wife and children to disguise true ownership.
The party further accused the minister of a series of questionable activities, ranging from “secret land allocations” to nepotism, intimidation of Abuja residents, and unexplained wealth.
READ ALSO: APC Bigwigs, Okpebholo, Wike, Oshiomole Unveil New Edo Line
It specifically cited the allocation of land in Guzape II worth N400 million to Wike’s 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike.
The AAC alleged that Wike has been using his position to intimidate business operators in the capital city.
According to the party, shop owners and market users have been warned that their properties could be seized unless they back his chosen candidates in the upcoming council elections.
The statement described such conduct as a direct assault on democratic principles.
“Our exhaustive investigations are backing the many allegations and pervasive pattern of corrupt practices by Wike, encompassing:
‘Secret Land Allocations: Wike has been accused of allocating prime Abuja lands to his family members and friends, including his 90-year-old father, Joshua Nlemanya Wike, who received a plot of land in Guzape II worth N400 million.
‘This blatant nepotism and favoritism demonstrate Wike’s utter disregard for the public interest and his propensity for exploiting his office for personal aggrandizement,’” the statement read.
The AAC further claimed it had “received credible information that Wike, being a puppet of the APC, is threatening shop owners and market users in FCT with land acquisition if they don’t vote for his preferred candidates in the FCT upcoming elections, a brazen attempt to intimidate citizens, undermine democracy, and subvert the electoral process.”
“This must not be allowed to continue especially now that campaigns have not been formally approved by INEC. Wike cannot be above the law to be using his office to carry out unlawful activities with regards to FCT coming elections,” the party added.
On the allegation of illicit enrichment, the AAC argued that with “an official annual salary and allowances of about N7.8 million (supposedly), it’s implausible for Wike to amass over $2 million for the luxury acquisition without dipping into public resources, raising serious concerns about illicit enrichment, cross-border money laundering, and the egregious abuse of office.”
The party also recalled that Wike “has one of the most expensive vehicles he brags about, acquired in his time as the FCT Minister.”
Condemning the minister “in the strongest possible terms,” the AAC urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action, demanding “a comprehensive and transparent investigation into Wike’s assets and activities as FCT Minister to uncover the full extent of his corruption, illicit enrichment, and abuse of office.”
It warned that keeping Wike in office would further erode public trust and embolden impunity.
“Enough of having him undermining the people of FCT and acting with impunity like he is the de facto president,” the party said.
The AAC also demanded that Tinubu guarantee that FCT residents can “exercise their right to vote without fear, intimidation, or coercion, and that their rights are protected and respected.”
It concluded by calling on Nigerians to rise in defense of accountability and transparency.
“We cannot continue to tolerate public officials who engage in corrupt practices, subvert the democratic process, and undermine the public trust,” Ande said.
“We demand a government that is transparent, accountable, and serves the interests of the people.”
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
SEE ALSO: NAFDAC Warns Nigerians As Fake Cowbell Milk Floods Market
According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
NEWS
‘Over 10m Nigerians Got ₦75,000 Cash Transfer, But They’re Not On Social Media’ — Yilwatda
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said more than 10 million Nigerians have received ₦75,000 each through the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme.
Yilwatda made the disclosure on Saturday while responding to questions from journalists after the APC’s three-day National Executive Council (NEC) retreat in Maiduguri, Borno State.
According to him, many of the beneficiaries are not active on social media because they cannot afford mobile phones and other communication devices.
ALSO READ: Atiku Vows Probe of ₦33.75bn Cash Transfer to 3.29m Nigerians
He said this has made the impact of the government’s interventions less visible in online discussions.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction,” Yilwatda said.
The APC chairman said the beneficiaries were largely vulnerable Nigerians who have limited access to mobile phones, television and social media platforms.
He maintained that the absence of beneficiaries from social media discussions should not be interpreted to mean that government interventions were not reaching them.
Yilwatda also listed road construction, employment opportunities created through infrastructure projects and student loans among programmes implemented by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
He said the Federal Government was constructing roads across the country while Nigerians working on the projects were being paid.
His comments come amid ongoing public scrutiny of the Federal Government’s conditional cash transfer programme, particularly regarding the number of beneficiaries and the amount disbursed.
In August, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, said the government had distributed more than ₦600 billion in cash transfers over three years, reaching slightly more than 10 million households.
Biztellers reports that former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar subsequently questioned the government’s reported beneficiary figures and called for greater transparency and accountability in the programme.
Meanwhile, Yilwatda said the APC NEC retreat also reviewed the party’s structures and activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the party had resolved to strengthen reconciliation efforts across its state chapters and urged chapters that had yet to establish reconciliation committees to do so.
Yilwatda added that the APC leadership would take an active role in communicating the Tinubu administration’s programmes and achievements to Nigerians during the party’s electioneering activities.
The APC chairman also said the NEC expressed support for President Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
The party also expressed condolences to the government and people of Niger State over the deaths of 37 miners.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





