Ebonyi Community Pledges Support for Nwifuru, APC Ahead of 2027 Elections

Stakeholders and residents of Ezza Ntezi in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have pledged their support for Governor Francis Nwifuru’s re-election bid and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The commitment was made during a sensitisation visit by Ezza leaders under the Ezza Ezekuna Initiative for Greater Heights,  held in the hilltop area of Ezza Ntezi.

The Deputy Chief Whip of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chukwu Arinze Lucas, who represents Ishielu South Constituency, said the meeting was organised to familiarise residents with the party’s activities ahead of the elections.

Lucas maintained that Ezza Ntezi had consistently supported the APC in previous polls and would sustain the trend in 2027.

“We are voting APC. We are going to vote for all APC candidates, from the president to the governor, senators, House of Representatives members and House of Assembly candidates,” he said.

The APC State Deputy Chairman, Chinedu Alphonsus Nwali, who led the sensitisation delegation, explained that the visit was part of the party’s wider engagement with Ezza communities across the state to build support for Nwifuru and other party candidates.

He added that the community’s requests for autonomous community status and access roads would be presented to the governor for consideration.

Community Lists Development Priorities

Chief Ogodo Ali Nome, the governor’s Special Assistant on Agriculture and former Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, attributed the community’s support to what he described as the administration’s efforts in road development, the creation of autonomous communities and recognition of Ezza identity.

Similarly, the Vice Chairman of the community’s Town Union, Barr. Chijoike Ali, said unity among residents had contributed to their consistent voting pattern. He appealed to the state government to grant the community autonomous status, construct access roads to help farmers transport produce to markets and provide a transformer to improve electricity supply.

Another community representative, Chief Chukwuma Usulor, commended Nwifuru for restoring peace in the area through the recognition of their traditional institution. He said the community was prepared to reciprocate the gesture by supporting the APC in the forthcoming elections.

The delegation said its sensitisation campaign would continue across Ebonyi State as the party intensifies engagement with communities ahead of 2027.

The visit also comes amid expectations among some stakeholders that the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District could be considered for political power rotation after Nwifuru’s tenure, with Ezza being mentioned as a possible beneficiary.

Toluwanisings: Family Announces Death of Nigerian Gospel Singer

The family of Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has announced his death, expressing sorrow over the loss of the gospel minister.

In a statement shared on his Instagram account on Wednesday, the family disclosed that the singer died in the early hours of October 14, 2026. However, no details were provided regarding the cause of his death.

The statement described Bolaji as a beloved husband, family member and gospel minister, while appealing to the public to remember his wife, relatives and loved ones in their prayers during this difficult period.

The family said further details about his funeral arrangements would be communicated later.

Toluwanisings’ Music and Ministry

Bolaji was known for his contributions to gospel music through the Toluwani Gospel Music Ministry (TOGOMM). He was also recognised by the stage name Toluwanisings, under which he shared his music and ministry with audiences.

Among his works was the song My Plea, which received attention in a 2023 report by The Guardian Nigeria on his music.

In July 2026, the singer revealed that he and members of his crew had survived a road accident while returning from a gospel ministration. He shared photographs of their damaged vehicle on social media, explaining that a fully loaded trailer had nearly crushed the vehicle carrying the team.

Although the singer and his crew survived the incident, the family’s announcement of his death did not mention the accident. No information has been released linking the crash to his passing.

Pelumi Olajengbesi Reacts to Singer’s Death

The Convener of the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates, Pelumi Olajengbesi, expressed grief over the singer’s death in an emotional Instagram post.

Sharing a photograph of Toluwanisings, Olajengbesi lamented the loss of young people and called on God to show mercy.

He wrote: “My God! What a life! No, Lord! We plead for Your mercy upon Toluwanisings.

“I am deeply troubled by the deaths of young men and women. This is not God’s plan for us.

“We say no to untimely death.”

The singer’s passing comes amid other reported losses within Nigeria’s gospel music community, including gospel musicians Big Bolaji and Omije Ojumi.

As family, friends and admirers mourn the late minister, his relatives have requested prayers and support for those closest to him. The circumstances surrounding his death remain undisclosed, with funeral details expected to be announced in due course.

Nollywood Mourns as Veteran Actor Francis Duru Dies at 57

Veteran Nigerian actor Francis Duru has passed away at the age of 57 following a brief illness, leaving fans and colleagues in mourning.

The actor’s death was announced by his family in a statement shared on his verified Instagram page in the early hours of Friday, October 23, 2026. The family confirmed that he died after a short battle with an undisclosed illness.

In the announcement, the family expressed sadness over the loss and thanked friends, fans and well-wishers for their support and prayers during the difficult period.

The statement read: “We, the family of Francis Duru, regret to announce his passing following a brief illness. We appreciate your prayers, love, and understanding. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”

Francis Duru was a familiar face in the Nigerian film industry, earning recognition for his work on screen over the years. News of his passing is a sad development for Nollywood and the many viewers who followed his career.

Although the family did not disclose further details about his illness, their announcement has confirmed the loss of the veteran performer.

As tributes and condolences continue to emerge, the actor’s family has asked for prayers, love and understanding as they navigate this difficult time.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Toluwanisings’ Family Rejects Cemetery Burial, Threatens to Exhume Singer’s Remains

The family of late Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has threatened to exhume his remains if he is buried in a cemetery instead of beside his late mother at their ancestral home in Oyo State.

A family representative made the position known in a video circulating on social media, stating that relatives had agreed to have the singer buried at their father’s compound.

According to the representative, the family would not accept any alternative burial arrangement and insisted that the singer’s remains must be brought home.

“We have all decided in the family that Toluwanisings must not be buried in the cemetery. For this reason, they should bring him back home,” he said.

He further warned that the family would exhume the singer’s remains if the burial took place in a cemetery.

“If you people decide to bury him in the cemetery, we will remove him from there. I am speaking on behalf of all the family members,” the representative added.

Family Insists on Ancestral Burial Site

The representative also addressed concerns about burying the late singer at the house he built, maintaining that the family’s preference was for him to be laid to rest beside his mother at their father’s compound in Oyo State.

“If you say you can’t bury him in his house that he built, we don’t know your reasons and we don’t even care to know, just bring him home,” he said.

The disagreement has generated reactions on social media, with some users supporting the family’s desire to determine the singer’s final resting place, while others have called for a peaceful resolution that respects the deceased and all parties involved.

The family’s statement has brought attention to the ongoing disagreement over where the gospel musician should be buried. Further details about the final burial arrangements have not been provided in the report.