Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the KeepLoss roundup of top Nigerian newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Sunday, 5th July, 2026.
1. ‘I Was In The Wrong Party’ – Akpabio Gives Fresh Reason For Dumping PDP For APC
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has justified his decision to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio submitted that a progressive-minded person like him should belong to a progressive family.
According to him, when APC approached him, he discovered that the PDP had been the wrong party for him all along, so he took an early exit and joined the progressives.
KeepLosss reports that Akpabio gave the fresh revelation on Friday while speaking at the inauguration of access roads to renewed hope cities and estates in Karsana West District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Recall that Senator Akpabio officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on August 8, 2018.
He publicly announced his departure after resigning as the Senate Minority Leader and was formally welcomed to the ruling party during a mega-rally held at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom State.
2. Atiku Asks Tinubu To Explain ‘Missing’ Two Percent Of GDP After IMF Disclosure
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the federal government of Nigeria to account for what he described as the “missing two percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product,” following a disclosure by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that public expenditure equivalent to that amount was omitted from the country’s budget.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Saturday, said the IMF’s disclosure and the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) raised serious concerns about public financial management under the President Bola Tinubu administration.
He argued that the omission of expenditure equivalent to two per cent of the nation’s GDP from the budget process raised constitutional and legal questions requiring urgent explanations.
Describing the development as more than an accounting error, the former Vice President added, “This is no longer an accounting discrepancy. It is a constitutional, legal and moral scandal. Money does not simply disappear from a national budget. Somebody authorised it. Somebody approved it. Somebody spent it. Somebody benefited from it. Nigerians deserve to know who those people are.”
KeepLoss reports that Atiku further alleged that the IMF’s findings reinforced concerns that the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was part of a wider pattern of institutional corruption.
The ADC presidential candidate also criticised what he described as the government’s spending priorities, alleging that while the Federal Ministry of Health reportedly received only ₦36 million for critical health interventions despite a budgetary provision of over ₦218bn, the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated about ₦1.3bn.
Atiku called on the National Assembly, the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Public Accounts Committees of both chambers, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the IMF’s findings.
A lawyer, Maxwell Opara, has raised the alarm over the alleged arrest of Emeritus Professor Martin Aghaji, a medical expert said to have conducted an independent assessment of the health condition of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
KeepLoss reports that Opara claimed that Aghaji was arrested at his residence in Independence Layout, Enugu State, on Friday, July 3, 2026.
In a statement on Saturday, the lawyer said the professor had reportedly issued independent medical reports on Kanu’s health, which allegedly contradicted an earlier report presented by the Department of State Services.
Opara did not disclose the agency responsible for the alleged arrest or whether any charge had been filed against the professor.
He, however, called on professional bodies and civil society organisations to monitor the development and ensure that due process is followed.
4. Arabambi Demands ₦50 Billion From Peter Obi Over Alleged Defamation
The National Vice Chairman (South West) of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, has accused the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, of defaming him and exposing him to ridicule.
Arabambi, in a pre-action demand letter issued through his lawyers, accused Obi of making comments during a recent interview where he was said to have stated that Arabambi “does not have an address.”
KeepLoss reports that he therefore demanded a public retraction, apology and ₦50 billion in compensation over the alleged defamatory statement made during a podcast interview.
According to Arabambi, in the letter dated July 3, 2026, and issued by Neplus Ultra Attorneys and signed by Anderson U. Asemota, Peter O. Asimegbe and Stanley C. Eziefulle, the claims made by Peter Obi are false, malicious and defamatory, contending that it portrayed their client as a faceless individual, lacking legitimacy, credibility and standing in public life.
The lawyers maintained that the interview was subsequently circulated across television stations and multiple digital platforms, including Facebook, 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, thereby exposing their client to widespread public ridicule.
It further argued that the publication damaged Arabambi’s reputation and subjected him to embarrassment and public ridicule.
Former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State.
Abba announced his defection on Saturday at a rally in Bamaina, the hometown of former Jigawa State Governor and PDP chieftain, Sule Lamido.
The former police chief said he joined the PDP to pursue his ambition of representing Jigawa South-West Senatorial District in the National Assembly.
“I have left the APC for the PDP because I believe this is the platform to deliver real representation for Jigawa South West,” Abba said.
Abba said the turnout at the rally showed that the people were eager for change.
He said his campaign would focus on security, agriculture and youth employment.
“I will take the voice of our farmers, our youths, and our women to the Senate if elected,” he added.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has asked the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, to step aside to allow a full investigation into the controversy surrounding the alleged Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC).
Falana said the Presidency owed Nigerians explanations over how the disputed agency allegedly appeared in official government processes despite being described as non-existent.
Speaking on Eagle 102.5 FM, Falana said the controversy had exposed Nigeria to “unprecedented ridicule.
He said, “How did an agency that is not created by law find its way into the Appropriation Act of Nigeria? How did that body get an office in the Federal Secretariat? How did that body successfully open accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeria?
“How did the Head of Service post about 300 staff to that office? The government will have to explain to Nigerians how a sum of ₦24 billion was budgeted for an unknown agency, as well as how that agency had accounts with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“If this is a conman that can con the Presidency into issuing a letter of appointment, con the Central Bank into opening accounts, con the National Assembly into inserting the agency into the budget, I think the government is kidding.”
The Ekiti State Police Command has rescued worshippers abducted during an attack on the Christ Apostolic Church, Eda-Oniyo, in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state.
KeepLoss reports that the command disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, SP Sunday Abutu.
Abutu said the victims were rescued following sustained intelligence-led operations carried out by the police in collaboration with the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti State Government.
According to him, the rescued victims have been taken to a hospital for medical examination and treatment.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Falade Adegoroye, commended the security agencies involved in the operation for their professionalism and collaboration.
He described the rescue as a product of effective inter-agency synergy and coordinated intelligence gathering.
Adegoroye also appreciated Governor Biodun Oyebanji for supporting security agencies in the state, while thanking residents for providing useful information that aided the operations.
The police commissioner said efforts were ongoing to arrest those responsible for the abduction.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state and urged residents to remain vigilant.
Adegoroye also called on members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activities to security agencies.
The worshippers were abducted on April 28, 2026, when suspected gunmen attacked an overnight service at the Christ Apostolic Church, Eda-Oniyo.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has denied reports that he conferred a chieftaincy title on Nollywood actor and comedian, James Olanrewaju, popularly known as Baba Ijesha.
The monarch clarified that although the actor recently visited the Ile Oodua Palace with his wife to celebrate the birth of their son, no traditional title was bestowed on him.
KeepLoss reports that this was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare.
According to the statement, the Ooni received Baba Ijesha and his wife at the palace on Wednesday, where he presented the actor with a brand-new car and cash gifts as a demonstration of fatherly love and royal generosity.
The palace said the gesture should not be mistaken for a formal chieftaincy installation.
It explained that the phrase, “Awada Konge Oduwa,” which Baba Ijesha later described on his social media pages as a chieftaincy title, was only a humorous remark made by the monarch during a relaxed interaction.
Nigerian media personality cum Nollywood actress, Toke Makinwa, has said she is an advocate of dating within one’s financial bracket.
KeepLoss reports that Toke made this known while speaking on financial disparity in relationships and marriages, in a recent episode of the MENtality podcast hosted by media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu,
According to Toke Makinwa, dating someone above one’s financial class can be problematic, especially for men who have not ‘blown’.
Toke Makinwa stressed that many men leave women in their income bracket to chase women above them, only to complain later that women are materialistic.
Morocco became the first team to book a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dominant second-half display earned them a 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada.
The result also extended Morocco’s unbeaten run to 10 matches, while Canada’s campaign came to an end, making them the first of the tournament’s co-hosts to be eliminated.
Canada made a brighter start and nearly stunned the North Africans inside the opening 15 minutes. Tani Oluwaseyi found himself in a promising position but was denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who stood firm to keep the score level.
The hosts continued to threaten before the break. Alistair Johnston headed straight at a Moroccan defender from close range after escaping his marker, while Morocco struggled to create clear openings. Their only effort of note in the first half came from Soufiane Rahimi, whose long-range strike was comfortably gathered by Maxime Crépeau.
Morocco emerged with far greater purpose after the interval and broke the deadlock within five minutes of the restart. Achraf Hakimi caught the Canadian defence off guard with a clever free-kick that picked out the unmarked Azzedine Ounahi, who calmly swept the ball into the bottom corner.
Canada searched for a response but lacked the cutting edge that had been evident early in the contest. Jonathan David missed a golden opportunity from a free-kick just outside the area, sending his effort over the crossbar.
Jesse Marsch’s substitutions injected fresh energy into the Canadian attack, and Tajon Buchanan forced Bounou into a fine save with a powerful strike from distance as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
However, Morocco sealed the result in devastating fashion. Brahim Díaz broke clear on the right and unselfishly squared the ball for Ounahi, who rifled his finish into the roof of the net to complete his brace and send the Atlas Lions into the last eight.
Rahimi added further gloss to the scoreline by scoring Morocco’s third with virtually the final kick of the match.