Elder statesman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has declared that the party will present a presidential candidate from the southern region in the 2027 general elections.

George, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees and former military governor of Ondo State, made this known in an interview.

George disclosed that following the party’s review of its internal crisis over zoning and the fallout of the 2023 presidential election, the PDP had reached a firm decision to rotate the presidency to the South in 2027.

“The communique after our post-election review meeting was written by Prof Jerry Gana. It was agreed and signed that though mistakes were made in 2023, we will not repeat them. The presidency will return to the South in 2027,” George said.

He reiterated the party’s constitutional commitment to zoning and rotation of elective and party offices as enshrined in Section 7(3) of the PDP constitution.

Reacting to concerns about Nigeria’s slide toward a one-party system, George dismissed the idea as laughable and unsustainable.

“One-party state is a huge joke. It can never happen. What is democracy if not the management of national resources for the people’s benefit? Has APC delivered succour to the people?” he asked.

He also expressed deep concern over the country’s flawed electoral process, describing it as one where “the will of the people cannot be respected because manipulators are everywhere.”

Commenting on the trend of PDP governors and politicians defecting to the APC, George attributed it to political immaturity.

“Most of them are new in politics. Let them learn. But when the people decide to revolt against injustice, no one should stand in their way,” he warned.

George also addressed the influence of former Rivers State governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in PDP affairs. He accused Wike of exploiting a loophole created by the party’s internal disorganization.

“He found himself in an opportunistic environment. But there is a higher being watching. The constitution of our party was ignored, especially regarding zoning elective offices,” George said.

Senator Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) has said that he sponsored 31 bills, moved 20 motions and attracted 51 constituency projects to his senatorial district since joining the Senate in 2023.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District and Chairman, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday.

Nwoko said that his two years in the Senate had been that of strategic leadership, national influence and people-centred representation.

He also said that his approach to governance was premised on a deeper philosophy: that public office must serve and that the leadership must listen.

The senator said that it was in view of this that, through his legislative responsibilities, he committed to sponsoring bills and motions that would protect the citizens, advance national development and respond to emerging realities.

“In the last two years as a senator representing the Delta North senatorial district, I have sponsored over 30 bills and 25 motions addressing critical national issues and cutting across sectors and also attracted 51 projects to my senatorial district.

He listed the bills to include: the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Grant Programme (Establishment) Bill, the Waste Management and Malaria Eradication Agency (Establishment) Bill, the One-Month Rent Limitation and Landlord Registry Act and the Electoral Courts Establishment and Jurisdiction Act.

Others were the Compulsory Professional Indemnity Act, Cashless Asset Acquisition Act, Self-Defence and Firearm Ownership Regulation Act, Coroners System Repeal and Re-Enactment Bill, ECOWAS Parliament Elections Law Bill, Diaspora Voting Bill and Parliamentary Governance System (Establishment) Act.

The bills, he said, also included the Nigerian Defence Academy (Amendment) Bill, the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Upgrade to the Federal University of Technology Act, the Private Security Licensing and Regulation Bill, the First Aid, CPR, AED and Good Samaritan Law Constitutional Alteration Bill and the National Talent Rehabilitation and Integration Agency (Establishment) Bill.

He equally listed the Public Service Retirement Age Alteration Bill, Central Bank Act Amendment – Prohibition of Foreign Currency for Remuneration, National Social Security Agency (NSSA) Establishment Bill and National Centre for Substance Abuse Management (NCSAM) Bill as part of the bills he sponsored in the Upper Chamber in the last two years.

Nwoko, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, said that all the bills were at various stages of the legislative process.

He said that while some had passed the first and second readings, others were either undergoing committee scrutiny or awaiting harmonisation.

“Each of the bills reflects my commitment to shaping responsive, inclusive and future-forward laws that directly address national and constituency needs,” he said.

On the constituency projects, Nwoko said that the projects attracted were borne out of a clear demonstration of commitment to the development and well-being of his constituents.

“From rural electrification to school renovations and healthcare upgrades to water supply schemes, each intervention is tailored to address specific needs across communities in Anioma, ensuring no local government is left behind,” he said.

The lawmaker said that some of the projects included: the provision of all-in-one solar streetlights in selected communities across his senatorial district

“I also attracted training and empowerment of market women in the Delta North senatorial district, a medical outreach programme in selected communities in the district, as well as renovation and equipping of Idumuje-Ugboko Medical Centre in Delta.

“There was also the training and empowerment of youths, procurement and installation of transformers across communities, and construction of ICT centres in selected communities in the district,” he said.

Nwoko further told NAN that within the period under review, tractors and equipment were procured for farmers across the senatorial district.

“Construction of a one-kilometre access road in Idumuje Ugboko, construction and renovation of classroom blocks in schools across selected communities, establishment of fish farms, procurement of fertilisers and construction of markets (open and locked-up stores) across the Delta North senatorial district were also carried out,” he added.

The senator said that training of youths on livestock farming, as well as training and empowerment of youths and women on cassava farming, provision of solar-powered street lights in Aniocha North, provision of computers and laptops for students in the district and training and empowerment of women on production of Akwa-Ocha, were also part of the projects.

He said that some of his motions within two years in office included the need to demand reparations for historical injustices and mitigation of neocolonialism in Nigeria, the need for redress, healing and reconciliation for the grievous 1967 Asaba massacre and the need to investigate the incessant and nefarious acts of crude oil thefts in the Niger Delta and its actors.

“I also moved motions on the need for the establishment of social media platform offices in Nigeria for economic advancement and efficient dispute resolution, and the urgent action needed to fortify security and tackle the surge of kidnappings in FCT, following the tragic abduction of 19 individuals in Galadimawa, among others,” he added.

The Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has condemned age falsification among civil servants, saying the practice denies younger people opportunities to join the service.

He disclosed this during a Thanksgiving service in honour of the Head of Service, Mininim Oseji, at the Church of God Mission in Asaba on Sunday.

Oborevwori warned that altering birth records to extend years of service was not only dishonest but also damaging to the growth of the civil service.

“We must give room for younger and energetic people,” the governor said, expressing full support for the civil service commission’s ongoing screening and age verification exercise.

He also announced that his administration would soon appoint new permanent secretaries, stressing that the process would be thorough and guided by due process.

Oborevwori praised Oseji’s career path, describing it as a testimony of divine favour rather than human effort.

Oseji, in her remarks, said she never imagined becoming Head of Service when she began her career as a young medical officer. She thanked the governor and congratulated him on his second anniversary in office.

Bishop Nathaniel Mordi, who delivered the sermon at the service, urged Christians to remain focused on Christ and live with discipline and obedience.

The event was attended by the governor’s wife, Tobore; Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme and his wife, Ezinne; along with other senior officials.

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects linked to the kidnapping and murder of a female bank manager in Onitsha.

The suspects, Monday Egbe, 32, and Kenneth Nnoga, 28, were tracked and arrested on May 28 in a neighbouring state.

Anambra police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said on Sunday that the arrests followed a “diligent investigation” by command operatives.

The victim, Ifeoma Onyekwelu, was abducted in December 2024, and her lifeless body was subsequently found on January 13, along Nnobi Road of the state, with her eyes tied.

The kidnappers allegedly collected a ransom of N14m from her family before killing her.

Ikenga said the suspects are now in custody and undergoing interrogation.

“They are giving useful information to help the investigation and lead to the possible arrest of other gang members,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to justice, noting that the command would follow up on all cases to a logical conclusion.

“Our duty remains the protection of lives and property across Anambra State,” the police said, assuring the public of relevant updates on the case.

At least 23 persons have been killed at Aondona, Orbiam and Ahume in Gwer West local government area of Benue state by armed herdsmen.

Aondona is a community located on the Naka Taraku road and is home to Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Wilfred Anagbe, and Mrs. Eunice Ortom, wife to the former governor of Benue state.

Confirming the incident which took place on Sunday, the chairman of Gwer West local government area, Victor Orban Torsar, expressed outrage over the killing of over 20 persons, including a child of two years in 3 communities of his local government area.

He said while 12 persons were killed at Aondona on Sunday around 5pm, 5 others were killed at Orbiam community and 6 others, including a police man at Ahume community on Saturday.

The chairman condemned the attack in strong terms, describing it as “heinous and unacceptable.”

Addressing residents during a visit to the area, the chairman vowed to resign from his position if the government fails to take concrete actions to address the security situation in the local government area.

He emphasised that the people of Gwer West deserve to live in peace and safety, and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure their protection.

The chairman called on the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel to the area to prevent further attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

He also urged the people of Aondona, other affected areas and surrounding communities to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies to tackle the insecurity in the area.

The killings in Aondona have sparked widespread fear and anger among residents, who are demanding increased security presence in the area.

The chairman’s vow to resign if nothing is done about the situation has added weight to the growing calls for action from the government.

The security situation in Benue state has been a concern in recent times, with various communities experiencing attacks and violence.

The state government has been working to improve security, but more needs to be done to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safety of citizens.

The chairman’s statement is seen as a significant development in the ongoing armed herders attacks on Benue, and many are watching to see if the government, particularly the federal government will take concrete actions to address the situation

The member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to securing the IPOB leader’s release

Aguocha, who was present at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday when Kanu appeared for trial, said he has been engaging in both political and diplomatic resolution of the case. “There’s no going back,” the legislator declared.

“I will continue to pursue all viable channels, political, legal, and diplomatic, to ensure that my brother and constituent, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, regains his freedom.”

The House Committee Chairman on Monitoring and Evaluation disclosed that he has held a series of high-level consultations, including meetings with former President Muhammadu Buhari, key figures in the National Assembly, and members of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Among those he engaged were the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the President’s Chief of Staff.

According to Hon. Aguocha, these engagements were aimed at brokering a political solution to what he described as a “sensitive and emotionally charged issue” that has deeply affected the South-East region and Nigeria at large.

“I have made it clear at every forum that the time has come for healing, dialogue, and national reconciliation.

This is not just about Kanu but about peace and justice in Nigeria,” he added.

Hon. Aguocha’s renewed push for Kanu’s release is likely to galvanise support among Kanu’s sympathisers while putting additional pressure on the Federal Government to consider non-litigious pathways toward resolving the matter.

Mr Babatunde Ogala, the Senior Legal Counsel to President Bola Tinubu and Grand Patron of Renewed Hope Global, has dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has “weaponised poverty” in Nigeria.

Ogala made the remarks on Saturday during a dinner in Abuja organised by Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to celebrate the mid-term of the Tinubu-led government.

The event’s theme was “Two Years of Impact: Honoring Mr President and the Voices of Renewed Hope.”

He stated that contrary to opposition narratives, the Tinubu administration had delivered landmark achievements reflecting a deliberate and strategic commitment to national transformation.

“The achievements in education, health, economy, and infrastructure are visible to all Nigerians,” Ogala said.

Ogala also commended Nigerians, including diaspora members, for their continued faith in the APC and the administration in spite of limited political appointments.

“We appreciate the Renewed Hope Diaspora for promoting the government, the party, and the country internationally,” he added.

Assuring that the administration remained on track with its policies and reforms, Ogala reaffirmed the government’s dedication to setting Nigeria on a path of sustainable progress.

Mr Ade Omole, chief host of the dinner and former Director of the APC Diaspora Campaign Council, emphasised that the event was about truth-telling, not mere praise.

“The Tinubu administration is not just counting years but weighing its impact. Progress has not only emerged but endured under this leadership,” Omole said.

The dinner brought together APC leaders, support group members, government appointees, and state government representatives.

Dr Aliyu Modibo, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on General Duties representing Vice President Kashim Shettima, lauded Tinubu’s unparalleled commitment to ensuring a Nigeria where all interests were protected.

The West African Examinations Council has started investigating the leakage of examination questions in the ongoing 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, Sunday PUNCH reports.

Our correspondents gathered that some officials of the exam body might be connected to the leakage, particularly the circulation of the English Language paper to the public four days before the examination.

It was learnt that the police had also opened a probe into the matter.

The 2025 WASSCE English Language paper was leaked in some parts of the country, forcing WAEC to reprint new sets of questions.

The situation forced many candidates to sit the exam late into the night without electricity. Some of the affected states are Lagos, Ogun, Taraba, and Osun.

Videos and photos circulated on social media showed students sitting the examination as late as 12am and relying on torchlights and lanterns due to power outages.

The exam body, however, apologised for the delay in the conduct of the exam, blaming it on question paper leakage and malpractice.

In a statement on Thursday, WAEC’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, said the measures taken to prevent paper leakage “inadvertently impacted the timeliness and seamless conduct of the examination.”

She cited logistical challenges, security concerns, and sociocultural issues as contributing factors.

No fewer than 1,973,253 candidates registered for this year’s WASSCE across 23,554 schools in the country.

This came barely a month after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board suffered a major glitch during the 2025/2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which left thousands of candidates stranded and disrupted scheduled sittings nationwide.

How exam papers leaked

Credible sources within the council, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that WAEC had already involved the police and other security agencies to investigate those behind the leak.

One of the sources explained that the council had printed the exam questions, which were being distributed when a concerned Nigerian sent information about the leak.

The source said the council was forced to reprint question papers in response to the tip-off.

The official admitted that the situation took staff by surprise, disrupting scheduled logistics and putting pressure on human resources.

“Everybody was under pressure. Some people worked 48 hours non-stop just to manage the crisis. Some staff in Ikorodu had to travel to printing presses and help pack and code question papers,” the source said.

According to insider revelations, a syndicate of “exam run” operators made millions from leaked papers.

Another source said, “One platform had over 80,000 subscribers. They were charging N1,000 per candidate for answers to the English Language paper. Even if only 50,000 people paid, that’s N50m. We have begun tracing payments made to rogue platforms, especially on WhatsApp and Telegram.”

When asked whether arrests had been made, the source simply stated, “We have met with all necessary agencies and are tracking the information. The process is ongoing.”

Leaked papers

Sunday PUNCH sighted leaked question papers that included English Language, Geography, Physics, and Literature-in-English on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

Some of the platforms included Free WAEC Exam Infos, WAEC, Free WAEC NECO IJMB/JUBEP Students Connect, King of Exams Runs, WAEC GCE NECO Expo, Nigeria School Exams, Exam Tips Solution, and WAEC, NECO and JAMB Expo.

On some of them, users were asked to pay between N1,500 and N5,000, depending on the subject, to “buy” leaked examination papers.

A message on one of the platforms, posted on Saturday, May 24, four days before the exam, read, “For English and Mathematics, N1,500 compulsory. It will be dropping at midnight with full essay and objectives. Start subscribing ‘cause only those in the VIP will be lucky. 09159611255.”

On another platform, the cover page of the English Language Paper Two was posted on Tuesday, May 27, a day before the examination, with the poster urging candidates to pay N1,000 to get the questions.

A school administrator, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, alleged that the questions were leaked by senior officials of the council.

He blamed the incident on the greedy officials, adding that they were only interested in personal gain.

“The question had been out as early as Saturday and Sunday, even before the exam on Wednesday. We had access to the summary, comprehension, essay, and objective questions.

“Some people got the questions through different platforms on social media. The questions were sold for as much as N4,000.

“I will blame the incident on greedy officials of the council who are all out to make money through whatever means possible.”

Parents, candidates fear mass failure

Parents and some candidates expressed fear of mass failure following the late-night conduct of the English Language paper on Wednesday in some centres across the country.

Some parents, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, blamed the exam body for subjecting candidates to inhumane and mentally draining conditions, and called for an immediate re-sit of the examination to prevent mass failure.

The parents, under the aegis of the National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria, condemned the poor conduct of the examination and called on WAEC to cancel the English Language paper and reschedule it.

The National Publicity Secretary of NAPTAN, Ademola Ekundayo, made the call in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday.

The body bemoaned the hardship students went through during the examination, adding that parents were also thrown into turmoil while worrying about the whereabouts of their children.

They called for the outright cancellation of the English Language paper, arguing that no reasonable results could come out of the examination.

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, the father of one of the candidates at Islahudeen Grammar School, Oke-Oniti, Osogbo, Osun State, Ajayi Ademola, lamented that the development was disturbing for him and his daughter.

He said his daughter could not revise for the next day’s paper after getting home around 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ademola said, “It was a disturbing experience for me when Idowu didn’t return home around 6:30–7 p.m. She had the English paper around 2pm, and she was expected to be back home around 6pm. I started reaching out to people in town to find out what was happening, and I was told they were just starting the exam around 7 p.m.

“I was moved to tears as I pitied the students who had been seated since 1:30pm in preparation for an exam that was supposed to start by 2pm. How were they going to perform well in the exam? WAEC is not fair to the students. If you claim the exam question leaked, were the students responsible for that? The body should sanitise itself and stop punishing our children for the inadequacies of its staff. The exam should have been cancelled and rescheduled for another day.”

Another parent, Dele Ajewole, said his daughter sat the examination at a private school in the Ogo-Oluwa area in Osogbo, and was distraught before the papers were distributed to the students around 7:35 p.m. in her school.

He added that many of her colleagues were too tired by the time the examination eventually commenced.

“As a parent, if you are told by your child what they went through, then you already have an idea of what the result would be. If this suggestion can be considered, then I would say students should be allowed to re-sit the paper.

“The likelihood of mass failure is high with the challenges that marred the conduct of the exams. I waited for my daughter to complete her paper around 9:30 p.m. before we left the school premises. Everyone was rushing the paper because it was late,” he said.

Speaking in a similar vein, another parent, Isiaka Akande, who said the paper should be cancelled and a new date fixed, noted that parents and students already had an excuse should mass failure be recorded in the subject.

Also narrating her experience, a mother, Mrs Ngozi Akasike, said she became apprehensive when her daughter, Peace, didn’t return home around 7pm.

“I came back from work at 7 o’clock in the evening, only to find that my daughter, who is currently sitting the WASSCE, had not yet returned home. As a mother, I became apprehensive and was eager to know the reason she hadn’t come back. I remembered I needed to call one of the teachers at school, but his phone was switched off, which heightened my fears,” she said.

Upon arriving at the venue, Akasike said she discovered her daughter was still in the exam hall, writing English Language at exactly 23 minutes past 7.

‘Leaked exam placed serious students at disadvantage’

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a candidate, Olamide Adefowope, lamented that the leaked examination questions placed honest students at a serious disadvantage.

She expressed concern that the integrity of the exam process had been compromised, adding that WAEC must take decisive action to restore fairness and accountability.

Adefowope expressed fear of mass failure following the circumstances in which students were forced to sit the examination.

“We would have performed better if we had written it in the afternoon because within that afternoon, our brains were still cool, but that night, our brains were already hot because some people already wanted to go home.

“Nigeria’s education system is getting worse every day. A similar thing happened during the JAMB examination. They are making things hard for us, and it’s not supposed to be like that.

“I was under stress and pressure during the examination. I just managed to answer the questions, I did the little I could and left because it was very late in the night,” she stated.

Another candidate, Fatima Yusuf, who sat the examination in Lagos, called for the immediate cancellation of the English Language paper, describing the situation as unfair and demoralising.

She urged the examination body to prioritise integrity and justice, stressing that failure to act could erode public confidence in WAEC examinations.

Calls for CBT, stronger safeguards

Stakeholders, including the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, have called for the adoption of Computer-Based Testing for the conduct of senior secondary school examinations.

The National President of ANCOPPS, Mallam Musa Ibrahim, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, argued that the introduction of CBT at the secondary school level would further curtail malpractice and eliminate the influence of “miracle centres” and rogue websites.

He said, “Just like JAMB, if WAEC goes paperless, you throw rogue websites and miracle centres out of business. The attack on WAEC and JAMB is part of a wider resistance to reform. Some people don’t want CBT at the secondary school level because it will destroy their illicit business.”

He advised WAEC to improve the early detection of leaks and continue to act swiftly, as they did during the recent incident.

On his part, the National President of NAPPS, Yomi Otubela, called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

Otubela explained the need for a fact-finding committee to ascertain the actual events surrounding the examination before making any definitive decisions.

He said, “I am not against a re-sit, but a committee that will investigate the exact thing that happened should come first. If the committee finds that all the information circulating on social media is true, then there may actually be a need for a re-sit.”

“From my investigation, what some schools are saying is that students finished at 6 p.m., and I felt if they finished at 6, it might be okay. But we also need to investigate what the scheduled finishing time for the paper was. I guess it wasn’t 6 p.m.”

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Management at the University of Lagos, Dr Olusola Thomas, urged the examination body to revisit some of the affected subjects.

“As it stands, we’ve not been able to fully ascertain the extent of the damage. So far, we’ve relied largely on public accounts and preliminary reports, which may not be comprehensive or detailed.

We don’t even have an exact count of the schools that have been compromised. This clearly suggests that the affected subjects need to be revisited,” she said.

According to her, the long hours of waiting before writing exams could have far-reaching consequences on the students’ mental health and potentially lead to widespread failure.

The authorities of Saudi Arabia has revealed that the 2025 Arafah sermon will be translated and broadcast live in Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, alongside 34 other languages.

This initiative is designed to help pilgrims and listeners around the world engage with the sermon in their native tongues.

Haramain, a Saudi-based online news platform, shared this announcement via X on Saturday, highlighting Nigeria’s local languages, Hausa, Fulani, and Yoruba as part of the translation lineup.

The message stated,” The Hajj Khutbah 1446 will be translated into 34 languages on Thursday, 9 Dhul Hijjah 1446.

“The full list of languages includes Arabic, Urdu, English, French, Indonesian, Persian (Farsi), Hausa, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, Bengali, Turkish, Malay (Bahasa Melayu), Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Filipino (Tagalog), Amharic (Ethiopia), Bosnian, Hindi, Dutch, Thai, Malayalam, Swahili, Pashto, Tamil, Azerbaijani, Swedish, Uzbek, Albanian, Fulani (Fula), Somali, Rohingya, and Yoruba.”

This multilingual broadcast aims to deliver Islam’s message of tolerance to a global audience in their native languages, enhancing communication between Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide.

PUNCH Online had reported that Saudi Arabia confirmed the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent on May 27, signalling the start of the 12th month in the Islamic calendar.

According to the announcement, June 5 will mark the Day of Arafat, while June 6 will be celebrated as Eid-el-Adha, the most significant festival for Muslims.

Dhul Hijjah is revered as a sacred month marked by increased devotion, reflection, and worship.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has said the power of prayer over the nation has kept the nation saying, “Some say, ‘You’ve been praying and fasting — where is the result?’ I laugh. If we had not prayed, Nigeria would have been in a far worse state. Let’s not stop.

He also declared that RCCG operates under a divine shield — a supernatural covering that has preserved the church from calamities since its inception.

Speaking on Sunday during the monthly Thanksgiving service and special prayer for security and paramilitary personnel at the RCCG national headquarters in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, Adeboye
added, “There is a God who rules in the affairs of men. If those praying would pause for just one week, the difference would be terrifying. Keep praying. God controls the hearts of kings.”

Adeboye preaching on the topic “Shadow of the Almighty,” talked about miraculous accounts that point to what he described as the “peculiarity” of RCCG under God’s shadow. 

He said, “I never preach church or denomination, but there is something peculiar about the Redeemed Christian Church of God. There is a shield over the RCCG — unseen but undeniably present.”

Adeboye recalled how a building in the United States, which hosts an RCCG house fellowship, was the only one spared in a row of 15 houses during a devastating flood. “House after house was flooded, but house number eight — the only one with a sign that read, ‘House Fellowship of RCCG holds here’ — remained untouched,” he said.

He also cited a fire incident in March at Otedola Bridge, Lagos, where a blaze razed multiple buildings but mysteriously spared an RCCG structure. “The buildings before and after were consumed, yet the RCCG building was left standing. That is not a coincidence — that is divine covering,” Adeboye said as the church’s media team projected the image during his sermon. 

He emphasized that although God’s protective presence may not always be visible, it is powerful and ever-present for those who abide in Him. “Your security is only assured in Him. Whether in peace or war, young or old, the Almighty casts a shadow of protection over His own,” he declared.

Earlier in the service, his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, led a passionate session of prayer for the peace and progress of Nigeria and those in leadership. “Let’s ask God to show our president mercy and give him peace, so that he may enjoy his time in office,” she prayed.

The Thanksgiving service, which also honored security and paramilitary forces, highlighted RCCG’s ongoing commitment to spiritual intercession for Nigeria’s peace and divine protection for its people.