The Big Story
Court Rules Goodluck Jonathan Eligible to Contest the 2027 Presidential Election
A Federal High Court dismissed a suit seeking to bar Goodluck Jonathan from 2027, with Justice Peter Lifu ruling the plaintiff lacked locus standi and awarding NGN20m costs to Jonathan. The constitutional amendment cited cannot apply retroactively and earlier courts had already affirmed eligibility. The ruling keeps the door open for a comeback — weeks after a Makinde-backed PDP faction named Jonathan its sole 2027 candidate, a nomination he has yet to formally accept. [Premium Times]
What Else Is Happening
▪ Tinubu's Eid-el-Kabir message defends reforms and acknowledges insecurity.
Tinubu called the past three years a "journey of reconstruction and renewal," arguing reforms have produced a more stable economy even as many feel acute hardship. He acknowledged bandits continue to strike "despite the best efforts" of security agencies and pledged affected areas are "neither abandoned nor forgotten." [Channels TV]
▪ FG approves 50% discount on NRC train fares for Eid-el-Kabir travel rush.
The discount runs May 26 to June 1 across all NRC passenger services, with full-price ticket holders eligible for a 50% rebate usable within the window — targeted relief amid elevated living costs. [Guardian]
▪ Nigeria partners RwandAir to expand AfCFTA air cargo corridor to five new destinations.
The corridor adds Kigali, Harare and Lusaka plus a second option on Nairobi and Johannesburg, at under $2/kg. Non-oil exports to African markets rose from $150m in 2024 to $207m in 2025 under the original Uganda Airlines corridor. [Channels TV]
▪ Aviation minister unveils Nigeria Aircraft Leasing Company to support domestic carriers.
The private-sector-led vehicle with limited government guarantees will ease aircraft leasing for domestic carriers following Cape Town Convention compliance progress — a development airline executives described as long overdue. [Channels TV]
Market Watch
FX Naira softened to NGN1,375.41/USD on May 26, easing NGN0.49 from May 25's NGN1,374.92. CBN injected NGN9.71trn in April to support the rate — signalling stability is liquidity-supported rather than demand-driven. [CBN]
Equities NGX ASI fell 0.55% to 249,738.84 on May 26 from 251,125.02 on May 25, as profit-taking hit blue-chip names. T+1 settlement launches June 1 — sellers will access cash the next business day, expected to deepen market liquidity. [NGX Group]
Macro Nigeria's 3.89% Q1 growth is delivering "jobless growth" — services expanding while real wages erode under high inflation and agriculture, manufacturing and informal work remain constrained by insecurity and expensive credit. [Nairametrics]
Quick Hits
→ EFCC transferred Saleh Mamman to Kuje prison to begin his 75-year sentence, closing the loop on a case that began with a 3:30am intelligence-led arrest in Kaduna last week. [Punch]
→ Afrobeats and Nollywood led Nigeria's creative industries to 8.86% growth in Q1 2026, among the fastest-expanding sectors, as global streaming and international licensing revenues feed into the formal economy. [Nairametrics]
→ NEMA listed 15 Lagos and 19 Ogun LGAs as flood-risk zones ahead of the rainy season, urging residents to avoid flood-prone settlements and governments to activate emergency response plans. [Punch]
On a Lighter Note
Debutant Femi Azeez scored twice as the Super Eagles defeated Zimbabwe to reach the Unity Cup final in London — a confident performance that bodes well for upcoming fixtures. [Channels TV] At the Oran 2026 African Open Championships, Onyinyechi Mark set a women's 67kg world record with a 148kg lift as Nigeria topped the medals table with 24 medals, 15 golds. [Paralympic.org]
Why It Matters
  The Jonathan ruling keeps a credible candidacy alive without commitment — its own political leverage. The rail discount and RwandAir corridor are both reform-era wins worth tracking. The "jobless growth" read of GDP is the most honest — aggregate numbers improving while households remain strained is the tension that will define 2027. Mamman in Kuje is the clearest signal that EFCC is closing loops, not just arresting.
Around the Community
Today is Children's Day — marked in Nigeria every May 27 since 1964, honouring the rights and future of Nigerian children. Happy Children's Day to every young Nigerian at home and across the diaspora. We also celebrate Abdulsamad Afolabi who graduates from high school today. Congratulations — the next chapter awaits. [Wikipedia]
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Produced with AI assistance using open-source web content. Sources have not been independently verified by Frontier Brief Media. Readers are encouraged to consult original sources before acting on any information herein.

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