LIBERATION

....Only 3 States Score Above 45% In Fiscal Transparency Ranking — Niger Ranks Lowest Kaduna State has emerged as Nigeria's highest-ranked state in the 2026 Transparency and Integrity Index with 54.68 per cent, while Niger State ranked lowest with 10.86 per cent. The report, unveiled on Monday, September 28, was published by the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI). It assessed state governments on disclosure of public financial information, procurement practices, human resources and inclusion, anti-corruption measures, and citizens' engagement. Osun State ranked second with 50.54 per cent, followed by Kwara with 48.19 per cent. Rivers came fourth with 37.97 per cent, while Enugu and Kebbi jointly occupied fifth position with 36.63 per cent each. The findings showed a 43.82 percentage point gap between Kaduna, the top-ranked state, and Niger at the bottom. According to the report, only three of the 36 states scored at least 45 per cent, while ...

 Director General of the 2027 APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator (Dr.) Abdul'aziz Yari Abubakar, has congratulated Nigerians on the nation's Independence Day, urging citizens to remain united and hopeful while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's efforts to drive national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State, said the anniversary offers an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the sacrifices of the country's founding fathers, celebrate its diversity and renew their commitment to building a peaceful, just and prosperous nation. In a message released on Wednesday, the APC chieftain praised the resilience of Nigerians, noting that despite challenges confronting the country, citizens continue to demonstrate remarkable courage, hard work and patriotism. He said the Nigerian spirit has remained unbroken through decades of political, economic and social transformations, adding that the nation's streng...

Tension reportedly erupted along Zaria Road in Kaduna when a group of youths allegedly confronted and chased Senator Lawal Adamu, popularly known as Mr LA, out of the area during a condolence visit. The incident reportedly occurred while the senator was visiting members of the family of the late Councillor, Hon. Ado Dankula, to commiserate with them over the death of their relative. The youths, who expressed anger over what they described as poor representation, accused the senator of allegedly abandoning his constituents for more than three years after securing their votes to represent them in the National Assembly. One of the youths, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, alleged that Senator Adamu had become largely inaccessible since relocating to Abuja, claiming that he rarely visited the constituency or attended community events. According to the youth, the alleged absence of the senator had generated resentment among some constituents who expected gre...

 By Sam Agogo Among the most striking lessons from the natural world is how different animals respond to storms. Cattle, sensing danger, instinctively run away from it. Yet because they flee in the same direction the storm is moving, they remain trapped beneath its fury for longer, battered by winds and rain they cannot escape. The buffalo, however, does something counterintuitive. It turns toward the storm, charges directly into it, and crosses through by the shortest possible route. What looks reckless at first glance is, in fact, wisdom: the buffalo does not outrun the storm, it reduces its exposure to it.This behaviour offers a powerful metaphor for leadership in times of crisis. Across societies, the instinct to avoid difficulty is common. In governance, it manifests as delay — reforms postponed, decisions deferred, truths withheld. Leaders often hope that problems will resolve themselves, but storms do not dissipate simply because they are ignored. They grow stron...

 By Sam Agogo Nigeria’s Supreme Court ruling of September 24, 2026, is one of those rare judicial moments that reverberates far beyond the courtroom. It has already reshaped the political landscape, and its effects will continue to unfold as the country marches toward the 2027 general elections. Delivered by a seven‑member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro, the judgment upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. These provisions require political parties to compile membership registers, submit them to INEC at least twenty‑one days before primaries, and use only those registers in determining who may vote or contest. Candidates must emerge either through direct primaries or properly documented consensus.The ruling set aside the Court of Appeal’s July decision that had voided these requirements, restored the Federal High Court’s earlier position, and imposed ₦2 million in costs against the Zenith Labour Party. Similar appeals by the Social De...

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with experts saying the President believes Washington can secure better terms by sustaining economic pressure on Tehran. "I reject their proposal," Trump told reporters on Saturday, arguing that Iran wants a deal because it is "losing so badly." "They want to make a deal, and I think that's fine. I'd like to make a deal too. But that deal would not be acceptable," he said. On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had seen Trump's initial reaction but was yet to receive a formal response through mediators. Qatar has been mediating talks between Iran and the U.S. on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Iran's seven-day roadmap proposed that Washington lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, release an estimated $12 billion in f...