Good morning, Nigeria, and welcome to your Gossip News Now roundup of the major stories making headlines across the country today, Sunday, November 2, 2025.
1.“We Are Seen As a Threat” — Baba-Ahmed Says U.S. Using Religion to Divide Nigeria
Former presidential aide Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has warned that foreign forces are attempting to create internal strife in Nigeria following reports that the U.S. has classified the country as one of “particular concern.”
Reacting in a Facebook post, Baba-Ahmed said the designation — reportedly linked to accusations of genocide against Christians — fails to consider the reality of Nigeria’s security situation, where both Muslims and Christians are victims of violence.
“If these reports are true, we say Bismillah, because it means foreign interests are being stirred up against us,” he wrote.
He emphasized that those responsible for killings in Nigeria do not differentiate between religion or ethnicity, adding that communal and ethnic conflicts have affected all sides.
Baba-Ahmed accused Trump and his allies of harboring deeper geopolitical motives, suggesting that the United States has historically been uneasy with the emergence of strong, resource-rich African nations such as Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, and South Africa.
2. Senator Sunday Katung Defects to APC, Says Move Will Benefit Kaduna South
Senator Sunday Katung has formally resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing a commitment to deliver greater development and stronger representation for the people of Kaduna South.
In a statement shared on his 𝕏 handle on October 31, 2025, the senator described the decision as challenging but necessary, explaining that it came after “deep consultations with constituents, stakeholders, family, friends, and political associates.”
“The past few weeks have been incredibly demanding yet profoundly reflective,” he wrote. “Ultimately, this move stems from a genuine desire to serve our people more effectively and ensure our voices are heard at the highest decision-making levels.”
Katung said he was encouraged by appeals from constituents and acknowledged the support shown by President Bola Tinubu and Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani towards collaborating on “phenomenal and epoch-making development” for the region.
He also revealed that Daniel Amos and several Kaduna State lawmakers joined him in defecting to the APC, describing the ruling party’s growing influence in Kaduna South as proof of its “commitment to inclusion, equity, and progress.”
3. “It’s All About 2027” — Gumi Says U.S. Christian Genocide Claim Is Political
Controversial Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has dismissed allegations of Christian persecution in Nigeria as a politically driven narrative aimed at influencing the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the U.S. designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) over alleged religious persecution, Gumi took to his Facebook page to accuse certain Nigerian clerics of collaborating with foreign powers to destabilize the country.
“We have many unpatriotic bigot clerics aiding imperialists to divide us so they can pillage our resources,” he wrote.
Gumi criticized the United States and former President Donald Trump, who announced the designation on Friday, accusing Washington of hypocrisy for commenting on Nigeria’s internal affairs while struggling with domestic issues.
“At a time when Americans are lining up for food rations, what concerns them with our internal problems?” he asked, acknowledging insecurity in Nigeria but insisting that the issue is criminality, not religion.
He further claimed that some NGOs operating in the country serve as fronts for arming criminal groups under the guise of humanitarian operations.
“Those who armed outlaws as NGOs and come around to claim piety — the danger is they may start arming another militia like they have done in other places,” Gumi warned.
The Kaduna cleric argued that efforts to frame Nigeria as hostile to Christians are part of a broader agenda, insisting the crisis is not religious but rooted in banditry and crime.
4. FG Commends Ghana for Jailing Nigerian Human Trafficking Kingpin
The Federal Government has praised authorities in Ghana for securing the conviction and sentencing of Nigerian human trafficking kingpin, Chukwudi Nwachukwu, to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour.
According to NiDCOM, the Achimota Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong, handed down the sentence after months of coordinated intelligence, investigation, and surveillance.
The case stemmed from the rescue earlier this year of ten Nigerian girls, aged 15 to 18, who were trafficked to Ghana and forced into prostitution. They were rescued through a joint effort involving the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Ghana, the Nigerian High Commission, Ghanaian security agencies, and NiDCOM.
In a statement by the Commission’s media unit, NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa said justice had been served and praised the collaborative effort that led to the trafficker’s conviction. The court also ordered Nwachukwu to pay GH₵15,000 in restitution to each victim.
The rescued girls have since been transferred to Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and reunited with their families.
5. Chelsea Defender Wesley Fofana Avoids Jail After Ninth Driving Offence
Chelsea and France defender Wesley Fofana has avoided a prison term after admitting to dangerous driving—his ninth driving-related offence.
The 24-year-old footballer was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid community service and handed an additional driving ban by Staines Magistrates’ Court, following an incident on the A3 Esher Bypass in Surrey.
Dashcam footage presented in court showed Fofana weaving through traffic at high speed and using the hard shoulder, behaviour prosecutors described as posing a significant danger to other motorists. The offence occurred at around 4:50 p.m. on April 20.
Fofana, who earns approximately £200,000 per week, was already serving a two-year driving suspension for earlier speeding violations. The court added an extra 18-month ban, meaning he cannot drive until May 2027.
District Judge Julie Cooper admonished the defender for setting a poor example, stating, “You obviously realise there are a lot of young people who look up to you and they would like to be like you and follow you.”
6. Actress Peju Ogunmola Speaks Out After Losing Only Son, Ayomikun
Veteran Nollywood actress Peju Ogunmola has publicly addressed the loss of her only son, Ayomikun, for the first time since his passing.
The actress and her husband, legendary actor Sunday Omobolanle, popularly known as Papi Luwe, recently lost their son, sparking speculation online about the cause of his death.
However, a statement issued by the family’s spokesperson, Yemi Amodu, clarified that Ayomikun died after a brief illness in Ibadan and had already been buried. Amodu debunked circulating rumours claiming the young man died from a bathroom accident or a domestic incident.
After weeks of mourning, Ogunmola returned to Instagram to share a message of gratitude and strength as she embarks on a healing journey and prepares to return to acting.
“New month, new dawn,” she wrote. “The past months have been heavy, but your love, prayers, and condolences have carried me through the storm. Today I rise stronger, grateful, and ready to embrace my passion again. The screens have missed me… and I’m back, doing what I love most.”
Top Nollywood figures including Dele Odule, Ronke Odusanya, Fausat Balogun, Bimbo Oshin, Ebun Oloyede, Olaiya Igwe, and Fali Werepe visited the couple’s Ibadan home to offer condolences following the tragedy.
Ogunmola, daughter of the late theatre icon Kola Ogunmola, has confirmed her readiness to return to film work.
7. “Government Embraces Terrorists Publicly” — Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Reacts to U.S. Terror Watch Designation
Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, has asserted that the United States’ designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over alleged religious persecution was inevitable.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump had, in a Truth Social post on Friday, accused “radical Islamists” of orchestrating widespread killings of Christians in Nigeria and announced the CPC designation, insisting the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”
Reacting via his X handle, Ejimakor said Nigeria brought the designation upon itself by suppressing peaceful demonstrators while allegedly engaging with violent extremists openly.
“When a nation tear-gasses peaceful protesters but romances terrorists in full glare of the public, being slammed as a Country of Particular Concern becomes inevitable,” he wrote, sharing photos of himself after being reportedly hit with tear gas during a protest.
Ejimakor was recently arrested alongside Omoyele Sowore, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, and others during a demonstration calling for Kanu’s release near the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The group was arraigned before a Kuje Magistrate Court and remanded. Ejimakor reportedly collapsed in custody and received medical attention at Kuje prison.
8. Ex-Abia Commissioner Accuses Governor Alex Otti of Diverting Local Government Funds
Former Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, has accused Governor Alex Otti of diverting funds meant for local governments in the state.
Speaking during an appearance on Arise Television, Chikamnayo alleged that the governor has “crippled” grassroots administration by withholding financial resources meant for local government development.
“In Abia today, Alex Otti has mopped up all funds going to the local governments,” he claimed. “He has ensured that grassroots development is grounded, making it impossible for the councils to function or breathe.”
Chikamnayo also refuted suggestions of a political rift between Governor Otti and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. He maintained that Kalu only demanded transparency and accountability from the state government.
“There is no personal issue between Honourable Benjamin Kalu and Governor Alex Otti,” he said. “All we are asking for is that the governor practices what he preaches. Abia needs transparency and accountability, especially with the resources available to the state.”
9. PDP Turmoil Escalates as Wike-Backed Faction Suspends Acting Chairman Damagum, NWC Members
The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) intensified on Saturday after a faction loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, alongside five members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
This comes shortly after the NWC under Damagum’s leadership suspended the party’s National Legal Adviser, Samuel Anyanwu, along with two others.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu — acting on behalf of the faction — declared Mohammed Abdulrahman, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), as the new Acting National Chairman.
The latest development deepens the already-fractured power struggle within the party, highlighting the growing rift between factions aligned with Wike and those backing other senior PDP figures.
10. Tinubu Responds to Trump: “Nigeria Protects Religious Freedom for All”
President Bola Tinubu has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Nigeria is a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious persecution.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday, alleged that “radical Islamists” were responsible for widespread attacks against Christians in Nigeria, adding that the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”
Reacting in a statement on his 𝕏 handle on Saturday, Tinubu insisted that Nigeria remains a democratic nation that protects the rights of citizens of all faiths.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” he said.
According to the President, his administration since 2023 has actively engaged both Christian and Muslim leaders to address national security concerns affecting citizens across regions and religions.
He stressed that portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect its true reality or the government’s continued efforts to defend freedom of worship.
“Religious freedom and tolerance are core to our national identity,” Tinubu noted. “Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it.”
He added that the government remains committed to partnering with the United States and the international community to advance peace and protect communities of all faiths.
That’s all for today’s top Nigerian news headlines. Stay connected with Gossip News Now for the latest updates. Join us again tomorrow for more breaking stories and nationwide developments.
