By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, has announced the commencement of registration for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for Private Candidates, Second Series.

WAEC, in an announcement on its X handle on Friday, said, “Registration opened on Sunday, May 4, 2026, and will close on Thursday, July 31, 2026.”

It added that the examination will be conducted entirely as a Computer-Based Examination.

The registration fee is set at ₦37,000.

Candidates are advised to visit the nearest WAEC office in their state to confirm available examination towns before completing their registration.

WAEC encouraged prospective candidates to register early to avoid a last-minute rush and to take full advantage of the computer-based format.

The WASSCE for Private Candidates (Second Series) is a special annual examination organised by WAEC for individuals who are not in regular secondary schools, allowing them to register and sit for the examination independently to obtain the certificate.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), recently met with JD Vance, vice-president of the United States; and Marco Rubio, US secretary of state; over counterterrorism cooperation in West Africa.

In a post on X, Secure Nigeria, a social media platform focused on security issues, stated that the meeting reinforced the partnership between Nigeria and the US in combating terrorism across the region.

The post added that President Bola Tinubu appreciates the partnership and continued support of the US government under President Donald Trump.

“@officialABAT is grateful for @realDonaldTrump’s partnership and continued U.S. training and intelligence support as Nigerian forces intensify operations to dismantle terrorist networks, protect Nigerian Christians, and defend all vulnerable communities,” the post reads.

“Africa’s largest democracy isn’t wavering. Nigeria stands as a frontline U.S. partner against ISIS, Boko Haram, and rising terror threats across the Sahel.”

The platform said both countries remain committed to defeating terrorism and strengthening regional security cooperation.

“This fight is winnable, and together, the U.S. and Nigeria intend to finish it,” the post added.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A deepening leadership crisis has split the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), the body of state governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC), into rival factions.

The incumbent chairman, Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo State, maintains that he remains in charge of the forum alongside his deputy, Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna State. However, a competing bloc has reportedly coalesced around Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun State, and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara State.

Governors aligned with the Abiodun-AbdulRazaq camp hail from Adamawa, Zamfara, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa, Niger, Kwara, Plateau, Enugu, and Katsina states.

On the other side, governors backing Uzodimma include those from Kano, Taraba, Kebbi, Yobe, Lagos, Gombe, Kogi, Edo, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, and Kaduna states.

On Friday, the governors supporting Uzodimma passed a vote of confidence in his leadership during what was described as an emergency meeting at the Imo State Lodge in Abuja. The gathering occurred just hours after the PGF denied reports that Uzodimma had been removed as chairman.

Governors present at the meeting included Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Ahmed Ododo (Kogi), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Babagana Zulum (Borno), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), Uba Sani (Kaduna), and Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo). Emmanuel Akabe, deputy governor of Nasarawa State, attended on behalf of his principal.

Earlier reports had claimed that Peter Mbah, governor of Enugu State, emerged as the new chairman of the PGF following an extraordinary meeting of APC governors in Abuja on Thursday night. According to those reports, about 20 governors—including those from Ogun, Bayelsa, and Enugu states—attended the closed-door session, which was said to have resulted in Mbah succeeding Uzodimma.

As of the time of this report, the precise cause of the disagreement remains unclear, and neither faction has issued a detailed official statement explaining the split.