Morning recap: INEC list controversy, Nigeria’s debt interest surge, other top stories

Good morning. Here is the morning news recap, bringing you the latest and most important stories across politics, metro, entertainment, business and sports.

1. 2027 election: Missing names, party disputes cloud INEC list

Political parties and their candidates have begun moves to resolve discrepancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections, following the omission of several governorship and other candidates across the country.

The development has triggered protests and anxiety among affected parties, with the Peoples Democratic Party, Nigeria Democratic Congress, African Democratic Congress and other political platforms engaging the electoral commission over the missing names.

While some parties suspect administrative or technical errors, others are grappling with internal leadership disputes, nomination controversies and pending court cases, with the Action Alliance threatening legal action to secure the inclusion of its affected candidates.

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2. Nigeria’s debt interest soars 124% above revenue

The Federal Government spent N7.7tn on interest payments in the first half of 2026, representing 124.2 per cent of its total revenue of N6.2tn during the period, according to the World Bank.

The figures indicate that interest payments alone exceeded the government’s revenue by N1.5tn between January and June 2026, raising concerns about Nigeria’s debt burden despite improved revenue collections.

The findings were contained in the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, titled Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Shaped State Priorities, obtained by The PUNCH.

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3. World Bank report affirms reform gains — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update, saying its findings, including that the poverty rate has stabilised for the first time since 2019, confirm that his economic reforms are working.

In a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said the October 2026 edition of the report, titled ‘Beyond the Federal Purse: How Higher Revenues Reshaped State Priorities,’ showed that the reforms were delivering results and putting the economy on a firmer footing for sustained growth.

He noted the bank’s expectation that poverty will decline gradually as gross domestic product grows faster than the population.

• 2027 election: Missing names, party disputes cloud INEC list
• Nigeria’s debt interest soars 124% above revenue
• 2027: 257 candidates jostle for 24 Plateau Assembly seats

According to the report, the economy grew 4.2 per cent in the first half of 2026, up from 3.9 per cent in the first half of 2025, despite the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

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4. Atiku, ADC fault INEC over ballot contracts, postings

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission to disclose the companies contracted to produce sensitive materials for the 2027 general elections, warning that secrecy surrounding ballot printing and key personnel appointments could undermine public confidence in the polls.

His query came as the African Democratic Congress also raised concerns over alleged ethnic bias in recent personnel postings and redeployments by INEC, demanding an explanation from the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, through a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, specifically asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech or a company associated with it had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the 2027 elections.

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5. Xenophobia: 111 more Nigerians return from S’Africa

The Federal Government has evacuated another batch of 111 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in the country.

The returnees, comprising 44 men, 23 women and 44 children, arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways Flight SA060 on Thursday, October 8, 2026.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Sunday.

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