Morning recap: APC-Accord Osun naira rain, Atiku’s fuel subsidy debate, other top stories

Nigeria's Osun State governorship election saw an alleged massive spending spree, with the All Progressives Congress and the Accord Party reportedly deploying over N100 billion collectively. This figure drastically surpasses the N3 billion limit stipulated by the Electoral Act for governorship candidates, suggesting widespread campaign material distribution, vote-buying, and payments to agents and personnel across the state's polling units and wards.

In a separate development, President Bola Tinubu has taken decisive action against a fraudulent operation within the government. He ordered the suspension of three permanent secretaries, M.S. Danjuma, Nadungu Gagare, and Richard P. Pheelangwah, following the discovery of a fake agency. This entity, named the “National Brands Development and Made-in-Nigeria Special Project Office,” was reportedly operating within the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Additionally, an individual identified as George Buchi Nwabueze has been ordered arrested in connection with the scheme.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar continues to voice strong criticism against President Tinubu's economic reforms. Abubakar specifically targeted the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy, along with the liberalization of the foreign exchange market, has exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis. He stated that the administration's current approach is worsening hardship for Nigerians, despite increased government revenues, and that Tinubu is ill-positioned to lecture on economic management.