Nigeria in January 2026: the most important developments in politics
Nigeria's politics in January 2026 were dominated by disputes at state level and by preparations for the 2026 elections. Lawmakers in Rivers State moved to impeach the governor despite a court order. In Kano State, a dispute over the emirship continued as political tensions rose, and Governor Abba Yusuf met President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock. The ruling APC suspended electronic registration in Kano over defections, and later shifted the dates of its congresses, extended its electronic membership registration nationwide and unveiled a roadmap for party congresses, as defecting governors joined its Progressive Governors' Forum. The opposition PDP insisted that its national convention in Ibadan remains valid after a Federal High Court declined to order the electoral commission INEC to monitor the event. In Kano, a court ordered three electoral officials remanded in prison over an alleged 1.02 billion naira fraud case.
The trial of former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke opened in a London court on 19 January. Prosecutors allege she accepted cash and luxury items in exchange for awarding oil contracts, and said more than N4 billion was spent at a luxury London department store from funds they allege came from bribes.
Tinubu made a state visit to Turkey, where he was received with full military honours and agreed with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to accelerate cooperation in trade, energy and defence; the two countries also signed an agreement on media and communication. The Presidency said Tinubu is in 'great shape' after a stumble at an event in Turkey. Tinubu named ambassador-designates to France, the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey. The Nigerian military said officers allegedly involved in a coup plot will face a court martial, and the Senate President asked for a closed-door discussion of a senator's criticism of recent US airstrikes in Sokoto. The United States stopped visa processing for Nigeria and other countries. Ondo State called Ogun State's claim of ownership over Eba Island unacceptable.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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