Punch evening roundup features disputes, election claims and Ronaldo record

Punch’s evening roundup brought together political disputes in Anambra, Delta and Ebonyi, along with statements from the Lagos State Task Force and the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila. Daniel Ezeigwe, media aide to Anambra State First Lady Nonye Soludo, disputed former governor Peter Obi’s claim that he and his wife are godparents to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s children. Ezeigwe said Obi was not a godfather to any of the children.

He said Nonye Soludo was the confirmation godmother to Obi’s daughter, while Margaret Obi was the baptismal godmother to one of Soludo’s daughters. The account was presented as a clarification of the relationship between the families. The Lagos State Task Force denied involvement in an incident involving a Toyota Tacoma bearing the inscription “TRD 4×4 Sport Tacoma”.

The agency said asking for permits for vehicle inscriptions was outside its mandate and that it no longer enforced traffic-related offences. In Delta State, Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate Chris Iyovwaye rejected traditional rulers’ endorsement of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as the sole candidate of the Urhobo Nation for the 2027 election. Iyovwaye said the endorsement could not override voters’ constitutional right to choose a governor and said he would remain in the race.

Works Minister David Umahi said there was no “rainbow coalition” in Ebonyi State and reaffirmed his support for President Bola Tinubu. Gbajabiamila, meanwhile, said the police, Department of State Services and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had cleared him after investigations. The roundup also reported that Cristiano Ronaldo had reached 234 appearances for Portugal, and that former President Goodluck Jonathan and other dignitaries attended the coronation of King Charles Douglas Jaja as Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom.