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Next UK prime minister: Sunak closes in after Johnson balks

Former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak is strong favorite to become Britain’s next prime minister within days — or even hours — after former leader Boris Johnson dropped out of the Conservative Party leadership contest.

After the resignation of Liz Truss last week, the governing party is choosing Britain’s third prime minister this year at a time of political turmoil and severe economic challenges.

Sunak, 42, is the only candidate with confirmed support from more than 100 lawmakers, the number needed to run in the election. House of Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt has far fewer expressions of support, but is aiming to reach the threshold by the time nominations close at 2 p.m.

If Mordaunt does not reach 100 nominations, Sunak will win by acclamation and could move into 10 Downing St. by Monday evening.

If both make the ballot, the 357 Conservative lawmakers will hold an indicative vote on Monday to show their preference. If neither subsequently drops out, the choice will go to the 172,000 party members around the country, with a result announced Friday.

Mordaunt will come under intense pressure to step aside and not force a membership vote if Sunak is the strong favorite among lawmakers.

Home Secretary Grant Shapps, a Sunak supporter, said the former Treasury chief did not think he had the contest “in the bag.”

“He’s speaking to colleagues this morning, he’s working very hard to attract those supporters who were perhaps with Boris Johnson previously,” Shapps said. “But, look, I’ll leave it to Penny, she’s a terrific colleague. Let’s see what happens.”

Sunak, who was runner-up to Truss in this summer’s Tory leadership race to replace Johnson, has promised “integrity, professionalism and accountability” if he forms a government — a contrast to the chaos that consumed the past two prime ministers.

Johnson dramatically quit the race on Sunday night, ending a short-lived, high-profile attempt to return to the prime minister’s job he was ousted from little more than three months ago amid ethics scandals.

Johnson spent the weekend trying to gain support from fellow Conservative lawmakers after flying back from a Caribbean vacation. Late Sunday he said he had amassed the backing of 102 colleagues. But he was far behind Sunak in support, and said he had concluded that “you can’t govern effectively unless you have a united party in Parliament.”

The prospect of a return by Johnson had thrown the already divided Conservative Party into further turmoil. He led the party to a thumping election victory in 2019, but his premiership was clouded by scandals over money and ethics that eventually became too much for the party to bear.

In his Sunday statement, Johnson insisted he was “well placed to deliver a Conservative victory” in the next national election, due by 2024. And he said that he likely would have won a ballot of Conservative Party members against either of his rivals.

“But in the course of the last days I have sadly come to the conclusion that this would simply not be the right thing to do,” he said.

He hinted he might be back, however, saying: “I believe I have much to offer but I am afraid that this is simply not the right time.”

Truss quit Thursday after a turbulent 45 days in office, conceding that she could not deliver on her botched tax-cutting economic package, which she was forced to abandon after it sparked fury within her party and weeks of turmoil in financial markets.

Sunak, who was Treasury chief from 2020 until this summer, steered Britain’s slumping economy through the coronavirus pandemic. He quit in July in protest at Johnson’s leadership.

The Conservative Party turmoil is fueling demands for a national election. Under Britain’s parliamentary system, there does not need to be one until the end of 2024, though the government has the power to call one sooner.

Currently that looks unlikely. Opinion polls say an election would spell disaster for the Conservatives, with the left-of-center Labour Party winning a large majority.

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Gov AbdulRazaq receives 23 freed hostages, pledges to crush kidnappers in Kwara

Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday, received 23 abductees rescued by troops of the Nigerian Army, warning that kidnappers and other criminal elements ‘have no place’ in the state.

The victims were handed over to the governor at the headquarters of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, following their release by the Army after weeks in captivity.

During the brief handover ceremony, AbdulRazaq expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Armed Forces and President Bola Tinubu for their support in the ongoing military operations to clear out bandits and kidnappers from forests across the state.

The governor said: ‘We thank God that you were all freed following pressure from the security forces. We also thank the Commander-in-Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Nigerian Army for this success.

‘We are glad to see 23 victims freed today. The government will support your rehabilitation. The challenges we are facing are temporary. It is either these criminals leave Kwara or they die here. This is a state of harmony’.

AbdulRazaq commended the General Officer Commanding and the new Brigade Commander (GOC), Brigadier General Nicholas Nemetne Rume, for their renewed onslaught against criminal elements in the state, adding that their deployment has restored calm to previously troubled areas.

He disclosed that the state government would immediately deploy forest guards once the ongoing Army ‘clean-up operations’ are concluded to maintain peace and enable displaced farmers to return to their farmlands.

‘The GOC has been on the ground for two weeks, and since he came, we’ve seen a turnaround. Many criminals have been arrested or neutralised. Peace is being restored to Kwara’, the governor added.

Rume praised the governor for his support of the Army, vowing to sustain pressure on the kidnappers until they are completely flushed out of the state.

He said: ‘Your Excellency, without the state government’s support, most of our operations would not have been possible’, he said.

‘The GOC’s order is clear it is either the bandits leave Kwara State or they die here. That’s the only mandate I have, and we will continue to do our best to achieve it.

One of the rescued victims, Pastor Obafemi recounted his ordeal in captivity, describing the experience as ‘traumatic’.

He said: ‘It was a very painful experience being held against our will. I thank the Governor and the troops for rescuing us. God will continue to strengthen them to overcome the people tormenting us’.

Kwara, once regarded as one of the most peaceful states in North Central Nigeria, has in recent months witnessed a surge in kidnapping and banditry, particularly in parts of Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi local government areas.

The Nigerian Army and other security agencies have since launched coordinated operations to dislodge the criminal networks believed to have infiltrated the state from neighbouring Niger and Kogi states.

AbdulRazaq has repeatedly assured residents that his administration will continue to support security agencies with logistics, intelligence, and welfare packages to ensure that the state remains safe for residents and investors.

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LG poll: Niger declares 2-day public holidays

The Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Bago has declared Thursday and Friday as public holidays ahead of the 1 November 2025 local government elections.

According to a directive on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the work-free days would provide voters the opportunity to go to their respective polling units and cast their ballots.

The government said that markets, banks, financial institutions, and public offices would remain closed, while movement of persons and vehicles would be restricted, except for those on essential duties.

‘Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has declared Thursday, 30th, and Friday, 31st October, 2025, as state-wide work-free days to enable citizens across the state to fully participate in the forthcoming Local Government Elections on Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

‘A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, stated that the work-free days are intended to provide all eligible voters the opportunity to go to their respective polling units and cast their votes in the elections.

“The SSG further announced that markets, banks, financial institutions, and public offices will remain closed, while movement of persons and vehicles will be restricted, except for those on essential duties”, Lawal stated.

He quoted the SSG as saying that the government was encouraging residents to come out en masse and perform their civic responsibilities on Saturday.

‘Government is encouraging citizens to come out en masse and perform their civic responsibilities on Saturday, 1st November, 2025.

‘This election provides yet another opportunity for Nigerlites to elect capable leaders who will champion development and represent our collective interests at the grassroots level.

‘Bago has directed all security agencies in the State to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, reaffirming the government’s commitment to guaranteeing a safe and hitch-free electoral process’. Usman said.

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Sowore condemns US revocation of Soyinka’s visa

Sowore claims APC stole his ideas from 2019

Human rights activist, Mr. Omoyele Sowore has condemned the revocation of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka’s United States visa, describing the development as ‘sad’.

In a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the publisher of SaharaReporters expressed dismay over the incident.

He wrote: ‘Donald Trump reportedly revokes U.S. visa of Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka! Sad! What the U.S. has become’.

Soyinka had disclosed during a media parley at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery at Freedom Park, Lagos, that the United States government had revoked his visa, effectively barring him from entering the country.

‘It is necessary for me to hold this conference so that people in the United States who are expecting me for this event or that event do not waste their time’, Soyinka said.

‘I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States. And if you want to see me, you know where to find me’, he added.

According to Soyinka, the U.S. Consulate informed him of the revocation in a letter dated 23 October 2025.

The Nobel Laureate said he was unaware of any wrongdoing that might have warranted the action, describing it as puzzling.

He also urged people to continue standing against discrimination and injustice everywhere.

Soyinka noted that he had maintained a cordial relationship with the U.S. for many years, except for moments of tension that emerged during Trump’s first administration.