The Nigerian Navy has rescued 10 crew members from a distressed vessel, MV SEMA III, which was sailing from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to Calabar, Cross River State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Director of Naval Information, Commodore Ayiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who said the rescue operation demonstrated the Navy’s swift response capability and commitment to saving lives at sea.

According to Adams-Aliu, personnel from the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ibaka carried out the rescue on Friday after receiving a distress call at about 8 p.m.

“Acting on a distress call received around 2000 hours, a naval gunboat equipped with a submersible pump was immediately deployed. On arrival, the team discovered the vessel taking in water and promptly evacuated all occupants, comprising one Cameroonian, one Equatorial Guinean, and eight Nigerians,” he said.

The rescued crew members were taken to FOB Ibaka, where they were debriefed and cared for until Saturday.

The Master of MV SEMA III expressed profound appreciation to the Nigerian Navy for its timely intervention and professionalism in preventing a potential maritime disaster.

Adams-Aliu added that the successful operation underscores the Navy’s commitment to maritime safety, protection of national assets, and the promotion of lawful economic activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The lawmaker representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared his full support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.

Jibrin, who left the APC in May 2022, announced his defection during a political gathering held on Sunday in his hometown, Kofa, Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State.

Confirming the move in a Facebook post on Monday, the lawmaker said his supporters had unanimously agreed to abandon the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement to align with the APC.

He wrote, “Today, in a show of solidarity, I was warmly received by thousands of my constituents in my hometown of Kofa, Bebeji. The gathering resolved to leave the NNPP/Kwankwasiyya, join the APC, and endorse President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a second term in office. From the beginning, almost 2,000 scholars from my constituency have prayed special prayers for the President and sought peace, development, and progress for Kiru/Bebeji, Kano, and Nigeria altogether.”

Jibrin’s return to the APC comes just two months after his resignation from the NNPP, following his expulsion over alleged anti-party activities and non-payment of membership dues.

Reacting to his suspension at the time, the former Director-General of the Tinubu Support Groups described the party’s action as “shocking and unjustified,” arguing that the interview he granted, which was cited as the reason for his suspension, did not merit such a “harsh penalty.”

He accused the NNPP leadership of violating due process and the principles of fair hearing by expelling him without an opportunity to defend himself. Jibrin, however, said he accepted the decision in good faith and chose not to challenge it in court.

The lawmaker dismissed claims that he defaulted on his membership dues, insisting that he had always met his obligations. He also criticized the NNPP leadership for failing to value its members.

While expressing gratitude to the NNPP for the support he received during his time with the party, Jibrin called on his followers to join him in his “new journey,” urging them to maintain peaceful relations with those who choose to remain in the NNPP.

Jibrin’s defection is seen as a major boost for the APC in Kano, a state that remains a key battleground as political alignments intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo behind closed doors at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Fayose, who arrived at the OOPL complex was received by aides of the former president before proceeding to Obasanjo’s private where the meeting was held.

Although details of their discussions were not made public, sources close to the meeting described it as “a private visit” that lasted for over an hour.

The former Ekiti governor, known for his outspoken political style and criticism of national leaders, has in recent times called for unity among southern political actors ahead of future political realignments.

The meeting has, however, sparked political speculation, coming at a time when discussions around the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and national reconciliation efforts are gaining momentum.