Good morning, Nigeria. Welcome to Gossip News Now comprehensive roundup of the major newspaper headlines of Naija News across the country and Foreign News for today, Monday, December 15, 2025.
2. INEC Disowns Accord Party Factional Governorship Primary in Osun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has distanced itself from reports of a parallel governorship primary allegedly conducted by a faction of the Accord Party in the state.
The commission’s reaction follows claims that a disputed primary held on Sunday in Osogbo produced Bamigbola Clement as the party’s governorship candidate for the August 8, 2026, election.
Reports indicated that the exercise took place in the state capital, where Clement, said to be the only aspirant, emerged through a consensus arrangement.
However, INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Osun State, Musa Olurode, dismissed the claims, stating that the commission was not informed of any such primary election.
4. CCB Confirms Investigation of Former Ministers, Senior Government Officials
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has revealed that several former ministers, serving senior government officials, and other high-ranking public office holders at both federal and state levels are currently under investigation.
The disclosure was made by the CCB Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Bello, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.
Bello declined to name those under investigation, explaining that doing so could amount to a media trial.
He stressed that the Bureau operates independently and apolitically, adding that no individual is above the law.
According to him, the CCB has already obtained interim forfeiture orders from the courts against some of the individuals being probed.
Bello also noted that the Bureau prefers to carry out its investigations away from public attention to prevent premature condemnation before facts are fully established.
6. Tinubu’s Ambassadorial List Still Lopsided – Ndume Reiterates, Explains Screening Role
Former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, has reiterated his position that President Bola Tinubu’s ambassadorial nominee list remains lopsided, despite taking part in the screening exercise conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Naija News reports that Ndume had earlier expressed concerns that the composition of the nominees violated Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution, which enshrines the federal character principle to ensure fairness and national unity.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the Borno South lawmaker explained that he was persuaded by fellow committee members not to boycott the screening and confirmation process.
Ndume stated that he received assurances from the committee’s leadership that the concerns over imbalance in the nominations would be formally communicated to the President.
He stressed that states excluded from the current list must be included in the final nominations to be submitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
According to him, states such as Gombe and Yobe were not represented in the list, while some others were only allotted career ambassadors, whom he described as largely non-political appointments.
8. Actress Doris Ogala Attempts Suicide Over Alleged Relationship With Pastor Chris Okafor
Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has reportedly attempted suicide following emotional distress linked to her alleged relationship with the founder of Liberation City Church, Ojodu Berger, Pastor Chris Okafor.
Naija News reports that the actress made the disclosure in a viral video circulating on social media, where she accused the Lagos-based cleric of ruining her life.
The 44-year-old actress claimed she had been in an intimate relationship with Pastor Okafor since 2017. In the emotional video, Ogala alleged that the relationship led to severe personal losses, including health challenges and a miscarriage, as well as the mysterious death of her brother.
She further claimed that the pastor persuaded her to end her marriage with promises of marrying her, only to later announce his engagement to another woman.
According to Ogala, she endured multiple traumatic experiences during the relationship, including repeated miscarriages and emotional suffering.
Her outcry followed the circulation of a separate video showing Pastor Okafor proposing to another woman at a private ceremony attended by family and friends. The engagement reportedly became public shortly before Ogala released her video.
10. EPL: Man City, Aston Villa Secure Victories
Manchester City recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, cutting the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points. Aston Villa also impressed, twice coming from behind to defeat West Ham.
In other Premier League action, Nottingham Forest stunned Tottenham Hotspur with a convincing 3-0 win, while Sunderland edged local rivals Newcastle United 1-0, aided by a Nick Woltemade own goal.
Arsenal, who have set the early pace in the title race, claimed a narrow 2-1 win over bottom-placed Wolves on Saturday, benefiting from two own goals.
The result briefly eased pressure on the Gunners before City responded in dominant fashion, continuing to show signs of a return to top form in recent weeks.
9. AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Players Begin Camp Arrival
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who plays his club football in South Africa, was among the first players to report to camp ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Naija News reports that Francis Uzoho, along with Italy-based midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Akinsanmiro Ebenezer, also arrived early at the team’s base at the Renaissance Hotels in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday night.
Additional players, including Igoh Ogbu, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Tochukwu Nnadi, Amas Obasogie, Ademola Lookman, and Semi Ajayi, are expected to join the camp later.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to hold their first training session on Monday, as preparations continue for a friendly match against Egypt’s Pharaohs at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday.
Head coach Eric Chelle had earlier released his final 28-man squad for the tournament on Thursday, recalling Francis Uzoho while omitting Maduka Okoye as Nigeria steps up preparations for the AFCON scheduled to hold in Morocco.
7. Peller Hospitalised After Car Accident in Lagos
Popular Nigerian content creator and social media influencer, Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, has been admitted to a hospital following a car accident.
Naija News reports that the incident occurred on Sunday along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos and involved Peller’s newly acquired Mercedes-Benz.
The crash reportedly happened while the influencer was on an Instagram live session. Prior to the accident, Peller appeared visibly distressed, expressing emotional concerns related to his relationship.
Moments later, his vehicle was seen veering off the road and crashing into a barrier, resulting in significant damage to the luxury car. Bystanders at the scene quickly intervened and assisted him before he was taken to a hospital for medical attention.
5. Detained NAF Aircraft, Personnel Still Held in Burkina Faso – Foreign Affairs Ministry
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel and a C-130 military aircraft detained in Burkina Faso are yet to be released, as diplomatic engagements continue.
Speaking on Sunday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that the Federal Government is actively engaging Burkinabe authorities to resolve the issue through diplomatic means.
“We are engaging them, but they are yet to be released,” Ebienfa said.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken full responsibility for the negotiations aimed at securing the release of both the detained personnel and the aircraft.
Although the ministry declined to provide further details on the circumstances of the detention, it assured that discussions are being handled via appropriate diplomatic channels.
The Nigerian Air Force personnel were reportedly detained last week after their aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso, following allegations of airspace violation by the host country.
3. Presidency Fires Back at Atiku, Peter Obi, Says Failed Politicians Seeking Scapegoats
The Presidency has accused some opposition politicians of trying to resuscitate their failed political careers by attacking the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued and signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency alleged that the opposition figures are merely looking for scapegoats to explain their political shortcomings.
The reaction followed a joint statement by a coalition of opposition leaders, who raised concerns over the alleged politicisation of Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies.
The statement, signed by David Mark, Atiku Abubakar, Mallam Lawal Batagawara, Chief Bode George, Peter Obi, and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of deploying security and anti-graft agencies as instruments for the “systematic persecution of opposition leaders.”
They further claimed that state institutions, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), are being used to dispense “selective justice” aimed at weakening opposition voices and undermining Nigeria’s multi-party democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the Presidency dismissed the allegations, insisting that the opposition coalition would fail, just as its members allegedly failed in their previous political pursuits.
It also refuted claims that opposition figures are being coerced into joining the APC, maintaining that recent defections are voluntary and motivated by confidence in the achievements of the Tinubu-led administration.
Additionally, the Presidency denied accusations that state institutions, including the EFCC, are being weaponised against opposition politicians.
1. FG Prohibits Admission, Transfer of Students Into SS3 Nationwide
The Federal Government has announced a nationwide ban on the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) across both public and private secondary schools, effective from the 2026/27 academic session.
The move, introduced by the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at curbing the rising cases of examination malpractice and restoring integrity to Nigeria’s education system.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government clarified that the directive applies to all secondary schools nationwide.
According to the statement, students will only be permitted to gain admission or transfer into Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) under the new policy.
That wraps up the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. For more breaking stories on Naija News and Foreign News and in-depth reports, visit Gossip News Now . Join us again tomorrow for another news roundup.
