Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Saturday, 14th June, 2025.
1. Jonathan Addresses Social Media Post Hinting At 2027 Presidential Bid
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has denied any involvement with an Instagram post suggesting he plans to return to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Naija News reports that the viral post, which appeared on an Instagram account bearing Jonathan’s name, took a swipe at the country’s current leadership.
The post stated, “Since our current leaders are pretending to sleep, we pray that we will get our good leadership back in 2027; your choice will determine the betterment of our future.”
The message was accompanied by background music and an AI-generated image of Jonathan shaking hands with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The post has garnered over 16,000 views and more than 1,200 comments since it surfaced online.
But Jonathan’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, has debunked the post, describing it as fake.
“Former President Jonathan does not own an Instagram account,” Eze told TheCable on Friday, distancing his principal from the content.
This isn’t the first time Jonathan has had to distance himself from politically charged material shared in his name.
2. 2027: PDP Is Getting Ridiculous, It Will Get Beaten Thoroughly And Carried Out On A Stretcher
A policy analyst and public affairs commentator, Professor Okey Ikechukwu, has submitted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not ready to win the 2027 elections.
According to him, the house of the PDP is in so much disarray that the party does not represent a threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Friday during Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Professor Ikechukwu recalled the times when the PDP used to be a robust party but lamented that the party has now hit a very low point and is struggling to drag itself up.
He submitted that except the PDP is able to resolve its internal crisis in time for the 2027 elections, it will suffer a massive defeat at the polls and will have to be carried out on a stretcher.
The policy analyst said, “The PDP, a very robust party, a party which, during the days of (former President) Obasanjo, Audu Ogbe, and even Atiku (Abubakar) ran impressive campaigns. You had, I think, in 2003, three campaign teams. Today, it has shrunk into a whimpering collection of confounded men and women who are pretending to have a political party.
“What else does the PDP do today other than talk about its quarrels? Well, occasionally, it makes press releases attacking the APC, thinking that that is political opposition.”
Ikechukwu added that apart from falling from the position of a ruling party, the PDP has also failed in its role of providing credible opposition to the ruling government.
He lamented that the party has not made itself attractive to either politicians or the electorate.
3. You Will Never Come Together If You Continue To Tell Lies On Daily Basis – Akpabio Warns Opposition
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has advised the opposition to get their house together before the 2027 election.
He warned that the opposition would fail to come together if they kept criticising everything about President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akpabio spoke at the commissioning of the newly constructed Left-Hand Service Carriageway in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, such as former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), attended the event.
The Senate president referenced Tinubu’s statement during his Democracy Day address before a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
4. Court Shifts Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial To DSS Headquarters
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), be relocated to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Naija News learnt that Justice James Omotosho issued the directive on Friday, citing the need to inspect a shipping container linked to the IPOB leader as the primary reason for the relocation.
According to Daily Post, the court filings revealed that the container in question allegedly housed a radio transmitter believed to have been used for broadcasts on Radio Biafra.
Authorities claim the transmitter was smuggled into the country by Kanu in furtherance of his separatist campaign.
Justice Omotosho ruled that due to security considerations and the sensitive nature of the container, it would be more appropriate to move proceedings to the DSS facility, where the equipment is currently stored.
5. Tinubu’s Comment On One-Party State ‘Strange’ – Ologbondiyan
A former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kola Ologbondiyan, has described as “strange” President Bola Tinubu’s denial of plans to establish a one-party state in Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Ologbondiyan stated this while speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Friday, in reaction to Tinubu’s Democracy Day address to the joint session of the National Assembly.
President Tinubu had dismissed growing concerns over alleged moves to stifle opposition parties and turn Nigeria into a de facto one-party state. While addressing lawmakers on Thursday, the president said, “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.”
However, Ologbondiyan said such a remark was unconvincing, considering the reality on the ground.
“We never expected Mr. President to come to the public arena and declare that he knows nothing about the plot to bring up a one-party state,” he said.
The former PDP spokesperson also raised concerns about the handling of political party registrations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
6. Israel Launches Massive Strikes On Iran, Targets Nuclear Sites, Military Leaders
Israel on Friday launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and top military commanders in a bid to halt Tehran’s alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The Israeli military confirmed that Operation Rising Lion involved 200 fighter jets striking more than 100 targets across Iran, including the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, according to military spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin.
“This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video address, describing the moment as “decisive” in Israel’s history.
Iran retaliated by launching around 100 drones toward Israel, some of which were intercepted, Defrin added. Iranian state media reported explosions in multiple cities, including at Natanz, though the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said there was “no increase in radiation levels,” based on Iranian data.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that its commander, Hossein Salami, was killed.
Iranian outlets also reported the deaths of at least two nuclear scientists—Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi—along with six others in strikes on Tehran.
7. PDP Crisis: Saraki Reacts To Tinubu’s Mockery Of Opposition Parties In Democracy Day Address
Former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s comments regarding the ongoing turmoil within the opposition parties.
Naija News reports that many notable figures, including state governors from the opposition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
During his address commemorating June 12 Democracy Day on Thursday, President Tinubu took a swipe at the opposition parties, expressing satisfaction at observing them ‘in disarray.’
“For me, I will not say, try your best to put your house in order. I will not help you to do so, either,” the Nigerian leader said.
President Tinubu has also denied the claim that his administration is orchestrating a one-party system through the defection of opposition politicians to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
In response to Tinubu’s statement, Saraki, while addressing questions from reporters following the Democracy Day event held at the National Assembly, acknowledged that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is currently facing a crisis.
He called on party members and other opposition groups to organise themselves effectively.
8. Presidency Speaks on Issuing Fresh Honour List Featuring Aisha Yesufu
The Presidency has dismissed the publication, claiming that President Bola Tinubu gave a national honour to a staunch supporter of Labour Party (LP) 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Aisha Yesufu.
Naija News reports that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajaiyi, in a post via X on Friday, described the report on the purported honour as fake news.
Tinubu’s aide clarified that the Presidency has not issued any fresh honour list different from the ones in President Tinubu’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday.
He wrote, “The story on a viral list of national honours featuring names of Aisha Yesufu and others credited to Leadership newspaper is fake news. It should be ignored. The Presidency has not issued any fresh honours list different from the ones in President Tinubu’s address to the joint sitting of the National Assembly yesterday.”
9. Explained: Eight New Rules At 2025 FIFA Club World Cup
As the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup kicks off in the United States on June 15 with 32 teams participating for the first time, FIFA is also using the tournament to introduce eight groundbreaking rule changes.
These adjustments at the 2025 Club World Cup, developed alongside the International Football Association Board (IFAB), are aimed at improving the game’s flow, fairness, and fan experience.
Read the breakdown of the new rules.
10. ‘Everything Around Us Is Crumbling And Nigerians Are Barely Holding On’ – Kate Henshaw
Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, has questioned the relevance of the country’s uninterrupted democratic rule if it continues to fall short of addressing citizens’ needs.
Naija News reports that the film star, during an interview on Channels Television’s special Democracy Day programme on Thursday, asserted that the country’s democratic experience has failed to deliver a meaningful impact to the lives of ordinary citizens.
Kate Henshaw lamented the erosion of the middle class, the decay in public infrastructure, and the rising poverty levels, stressing that Nigerians are struggling to survive under worsening socio-economic conditions.
Despite the grim realities, Henshaw urged Nigerians not to give up on demanding accountability from those in government.
That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.
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