Top Nigerian Newspaper Headlines For Today, Tuesday, 13th January, 2026

Good morning Nigeria. Welcome to the Naija News roundup of top newspaper headlines in Nigeria for today, Tuesday, 13th January, 2026

1. ‘Nigerians Are Tired Of Press Releases’ – Peter Obi Raises Alarm On Whereabouts Of President Tinubu

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised questions about the whereabouts and activities of President Bola Tinubu.

According to Obi, in a social media post via his 𝕏 account on Monday, President Tinubu spent more days abroad in 2025 than the time spent with Nigerians within the same period.

The former Anambra State Governor lamented that the President has been unavailable amidst various challenges the country and its citizens are facing.

According to him, Nigerians is grappling with one of the hungriest populations globally, staggering insecurity, an unemployment rate exceeding 80 million among the youth, and one of the worst places to be born, with infant mortality rates worse than those of a nation seven times our size, but President Tinubu opted for a holiday abroad while the citizens continue to live in uncertainty.

Obi said there has been no leadership voice to provide reassurance or guidance for Nigerians, adding that the citizens are tired of mere press releases.

He also criticised what he described as the President’s silence following major national and international developments affecting Nigeria, saying Nigerians don’t need an absent or silent leader.

2. Two Rivers Assembly Members Withdraw From Impeachment Process Against Fubara

Two members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have withdrawn from the process to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

The two lawmakers are the Minority Leader of the Assembly, Sylvanus Nwankwo, representing Omuma State Constituency and Peter Abbey from Degema State Constituency.

They also urged other legislators to pursue a peaceful resolution to the current impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy.

In their speech during a chat with newsmen, the two lawmakers submitted that Governor Fubara has infringed on some parts of the constitution, but they appealed to other members of the House to see it as human error and allow the pending matters to be resolved amicably.

Nwankwo and Abbey said they have received calls from various stakeholders, both within and outside Rivers State, appealing for the disagreement between the lawmakers and the Governor to be amicably resolved.

3. APC Plan Is To Ensure No Other Party Survives Before 2027 – ADC Raises Alarm

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has vowed that what the All Progressives Congress (APC) did to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Labour Party (LP) will not happen in the ADC.

He accused the ruling party of engineering the crisis in the PDP, LP, and NNPP.

Speaking on AIT Focus Nigeria, Abdullahi claimed that the aim of the APC is to ensure that no other political party survives ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The ADC spokesman also declared that the opposition party has a solid legal backing.

4. Arms Discovered In Malami’s Kebbi House Amid Fresh Probe

The former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has yet to perfect the bail conditions granted him by a Federal High Court, as a fresh investigation into arms and ammunition allegedly found in his residence in Kebbi State complicates his legal troubles.

Naija News reports that Malami, who was granted bail alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and wife, Asabe Bashir, remains in custody at the Kuje Correctional Centre, having failed to meet the stringent conditions imposed by the court.

Findings indicate that Malami is facing a separate probe by the Department of State Services following the alleged discovery of arms and ammunition at his country home in Birnin Kebbi.

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly uncovered the weapons during a search of the property. However, because illegal arms possession falls outside the EFCC’s mandate, the items were said to have been handed over to the DSS for further investigation.

Although the exact quantity of arms recovered could not be confirmed, sources said the find was substantial enough to warrant a full-scale DSS investigation.

Security sources told reporters that Malami may be deliberately delaying the perfection of his bail to avoid immediate rearrest by DSS operatives over the arms-related probe.

5. ‘ADC Will Be Worse If It Does Not Field Peter Obi’ – Fayose

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has warned that the African Democratic Congress may slide into political irrelevance if it fails to present former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.

Fayose made the assertion during an interview on Arise Television, where he described Obi as the only major political asset capable of giving the ADC national visibility.

According to him, other figures within the party lack the electoral weight to significantly influence voters across the country.

The former governor said Obi’s political relevance was evident during the 2023 general election when his emergence as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate transformed the party from relative obscurity into a force that secured seats in the House of Representatives.

He argued that Obi’s appeal was not tied to a single political platform, adding that the former Anambra governor would still command widespread support even if he contested on the platform of a lesser-known party.

Fayose, however, clarified that he was not predicting whether Obi would win or lose the 2027 presidential election.

6. ₦3.5 Trillion New Projects “Sneak” Into 2026 Budget Despite FG Directive

An analysis of the proposed 2026 budget by Punch reveals that no fewer than ₦3.50 trillion in new projects have been introduced, despite explicit directives to Ministries, Departments and Agencies to roll over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital allocations and avoid new projects.

Figures extracted from the 2026 Appropriation Bill indicate that new project entries across MDAs alone amount to ₦844.49bn. When Service-Wide Votes are included, the total value of new projects rises sharply to ₦3.50tn.

Against the proposed capital expenditure of ₦23.21tn for 2026, the ₦3.50tn provision for new projects represents 15.09 per cent of total capital spending.

In December 2025, the Federal Government had directed MDAs to carry over 70 per cent of their 2025 capital budget into the 2026 fiscal year as part of efforts to prioritise completion of ongoing projects amid weak revenue performance.

The directive was contained in the 2026 Abridged Budget Call Circular issued by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and circulated to ministers, service chiefs and heads of agencies.

According to the circular, “MDAs are to upload 70 per cent of their 2025 FGN Budget to continue in FY2026, rather than seeking fresh projects,” adding that all spending would be subjected to scrutiny to ensure value for money.

Contrary to the guideline, Punch observed that at least 82 MDAs have one or more new capital or programme items in the 2026 budget.

7. AFRIMA 2026: Rema Sweeps Three Awards, Beats Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid

The 2026 edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has crowned Nigerian music star, Rema, as its biggest winner, following a glittering ceremony held in Lagos.

The 24-year-old ‘Calm Down’ crooner carted away three major awards at the prestigious event, further cementing his status as one of Africa’s leading music exports.

Rema won Best Male Artiste in Western Africa, Artiste of the Year, and Best African Artiste, Duo or Group in African RnB/Soul for his global hit song, Calm Down.

In clinching the highly coveted Best Male Artiste in Western Africa and Artiste of the Year awards, the Mavin Records star edged out top Nigerian heavyweights including Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and Asake.

While receiving his awards, Rema expressed gratitude to his fans and the award organisers, describing the moment as special.

He said the unwavering support from fans across Africa and beyond “means everything” to him and has continued to inspire his musical journey.

8. ‘Fake Alfa, Prophet, You Will Die In My Place’ – Saheed Osupa Replies Islamic Cleric

Legendary Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa, has replied to a controversial Muslim cleric popularly known as Alfa Olopa Meta, over a death prophecy about him.

Naija News learnt that the Alfa earlier claimed that Osupa will die on January 10 2026.

The cleric who claimed to have begged God on the singer’s behalf told Osupa to buy a big ram for prayers.

However, reacting to the prophecy during a live performance on Sunday, January 11 2026, Osupa said that those wishing him death would die in his place.

9. Real Madrid Appoint Álvaro Arbeloa As First-Team Coach Following Xabi Alonso’s Exit

Real Madrid have confirmed that Álvaro Arbeloa will take over as the club’s first-team coach after Xabi Alonso departed by mutual consent.

The announcement came earlier today, January 12, just a day after Los Blancos suffered a narrow defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final.

“Real Madrid announces that Álvaro Arbeloa is the new head coach of the first team,” the club said in an official statement.

Naija News reports that Alonso’s tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu lasted less than eight months, with the club describing his exit as a decision reached by mutual agreement.

Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid defender, had been managing Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s B team, since June 2025.

10. Algeria Petition CAF, FIFA Over Refereeing After AFCON Exit To Nigeria

The Algerian Football Federation has formally lodged complaints with the Confederation of African Football and the world governing body over what it described as troubling refereeing decisions during its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final defeat to Nigeria.

The move was confirmed on Monday in a statement shared via the official 𝕏 account of Équipe d’Algérie de football, with the federation saying it had written to CAF and FIFA to demand a full investigation.

According to the Algerian FA, the decisions taken during the match raised serious concerns and sparked widespread dissatisfaction among players and supporters alike.

Algeria’s complaint followed a 2-0 loss to Nigeria on Saturday that brought the Desert Foxes’ campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to an abrupt end.

Video clips that later surfaced online showed heated exchanges involving players and referees, alongside a brief attempt by some supporters to enter the field of play before security personnel intervened.

That’s the top Nigerian newspaper headlines for today. Read more Nigerian news on Naija News. See you again tomorrow.