Atiku Sweeps ADC Presidential Primary In Yobe; Aruna Drops 20 Spots In ITTF Rankings

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Atiku Sweeps ADC Presidential Primary in Yobe 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has emerged winner of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primary election in Yobe State after securing a landslide victory in the exercise conducted across the state.

Chairperson of the electoral committee in Yobe, Hajiya Ma’am Kyari, announced the result on Monday in Damaturu, declaring Atiku winner after polling 44,841 votes to defeat other contenders in the primary.

According to the result announced by the committee, former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, secured 300 votes, while Mr. Mohamed Hayatudeen garnered 365 votes.

Kyari said Atiku emerged victorious after scoring the highest number of valid votes cast during the exercise.

“Having scored the highest number of valid votes cast, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is hereby declared winner of the ADC presidential primary election in Yobe State,” she stated.

She described the primary election as peaceful, transparent and conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines and electoral procedures.

The committee chairperson commended party officials, members and security agencies for ensuring a smooth and orderly exercise across the state.

Kyari also praised the aspirants and their supporters for maintaining decorum and demonstrating sportsmanship throughout the primary process.

Speaking after the exercise, the ADC governorship candidate in Yobe State, Mr. Kassim Geidam, described the primary election as peaceful, successful and well coordinated.

Aruna drops 20 spots in ITTF rankings 

Nigeria table tennis star Quadri Aruna has suffered his biggest setback in over a decade in the latest International Table Tennis Federation rankings, dropping 20 places to 76th in the world and fourth in Africa, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

It is the first time since 2014 that the Nigerian star has dropped out of the top two in Africa.

For over a decade, Aruna has dominated the continent alongside his Egyptian rival Omar Assar, who remains the No. 1 player in Africa and 31st in the world.

In the latest rankings released on Monday, Aruna was overtaken by Egypt’s Youssef Abdel-Aziz, who is now second in Africa and 57th in the world. At the same time, Algeria’s Mehdi Bouloussa, who defeated Aruna in the semi-finals of the ITTF Africa Cup in February, is now third in Africa and 75th in the world.

Aruna sits just one place below Bouloussa with 463 points.

While Assar leads the continent with 1,009 points, Abdel-Aziz follows in second place with 601 points, highlighting the gap between the Egyptian and the rest of the field.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo also slipped six places to 193rd in the world, placing 12th in Africa, while youngster Matthew Kuti sits five places below him at No. 198 in the world and 14th in Africa. Abdulbasit Abdulfatai is ranked 226th in the world, while Taiwo Mati, who recently finished on the podium in the men’s doubles alongside Kuti at the WTT Contender Lagos, is ranked 255th in the world.

On a brighter note for Nigeria, 18-year-old Sultan Agunbiade, who reached the round of 16 at the WTT Contender Lagos, climbed 238 places to 268th in the world.

WTT Contender Lagos winner Anders Lind also moved up three places from 17th to 14th, while China’s Wang Chuqin remains the world No. 1 with 10,677 points.

In the women’s rankings, no Nigerian player is currently in Africa’s top five, although several players improved their positions globally.

Fatimo Bello climbed 19 places to 171st in the world, while Ajoke Ojomu remained 175th.

NCAA suspends no-pay, no-service airline enforcement order 

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority has temporarily suspended its “No-pay, No-service” enforcement directive against domestic airlines over outstanding statutory remittances, citing the need to protect operational stability within the country’s aviation industry.

In a statement signed by the Director-General of the NCAA, Chris Najomo, on Monday, the authority said the suspension followed extensive consultations within the aviation sector and a careful assessment of prevailing industry realities.

The PUNCH also gathered that the decision comes amid growing concerns from operators and stakeholders that strict enforcement of the directive could worsen the financial strain already confronting airlines battling rising aviation fuel prices, foreign exchange instability, and increasing operational costs.

The regulator, however, clarified that the suspension should not be interpreted as a cancellation, waiver, or forgiveness of debts owed by airlines to the authority and other aviation agencies.

The statement partly read, “This decision follows extensive consultations within the sector and a careful review of current operating realities, particularly the rising cost of aviation fuel and its impact on airline operations and overall industry stability.”

“It is important to state clearly that this suspension does not represent a cancellation, waiver, or forgiveness of outstanding statutory financial obligations, as such a decision is beyond the purview of the Authority.”

The NCAA recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had earlier approved a 30 per cent discount on outstanding fees owed by domestic airlines to aviation agencies as part of measures to cushion the impact of high Jet A1 prices and support the sector.

According to the authority, the intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to stabilise airline operations and prevent avoidable disruptions within the industry.

The NCAA maintained that all affected airlines remain fully responsible for settling their statutory obligations, adding that engagements would continue with operators individually to ensure debt recovery without crippling the sector.

The statement further read, “This relief, as contained in a statement by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to cushion the impact of the high cost of Jet A1 fuel, stabilise the aviation industry and safeguard airline operations.”

“All affected operators, therefore, remain fully responsible for the settlement of their statutory debts, and the NCAA will pursue structured engagements with airlines individually to ensure recovery in a manner that supports both compliance and sector stability,” the authority stated.

Explaining the importance of the disputed charges, the regulator said the 5 per cent Ticket and Cargo Sales Charge is a statutory component established under the Civil Aviation Act and embedded within the cost of air travel and cargo operations.

The authority stressed that the charges do not belong to the airlines, warning that they should not be treated as part of airline operating revenue or profit.

Najomo emphasised, “It must be emphasised that this charge is collected at the point of ticket and cargo sales by airlines on behalf of the aviation ecosystem, and is expected to be remitted to the NCAA for defined purposes.

NTTF gets equipment support from China manufacturer 

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation has received equipment support from China-based sports equipment manufacturer Wang Kai Table Tennis, which also pledged further assistance toward player development across Africa, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

WKTT donated items like rubbers, blades, balls and other items.

At the presentation held during the 2026 WTT Contender Lagos over the weekend, WKTT representative Vera Ruijia Zhao described Nigeria as a nation rich in table tennis talent, citing stars such as Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo.

“For young players, equipment is essential — without it, they cannot even start playing table tennis. This year is also the China-Africa cultural exchange year, and we hope to organize Nigeria-China or Africa-China invitational tournaments in China to give African players more opportunities to compete and improve their skills,” Zhao explained.

She noted the impressive performances of young Nigerian players, some as young as 10 or 11, who already challenge top international competitors.

“This is a good signal for the future. There are over 150 talented players here. If they keep their passion and train well, I hope to bring them to China for training camps and tournaments. They need to see the world, measure themselves against stronger players, and learn what it takes to build brighter careers,” she added.

NTTF President Adesoji Tayo commended the gesture, stressing its importance for grassroots development.

“If we want to move to the next level, we need the right equipment, and it must be replaced consistently — which is difficult because of the cost in Nigeria. Vera has already supported Aruna and Omotayo abroad, and now she is extending that support to more Nigerian players. This is just the beginning of greater collaborations, including cultural exchanges, training opportunities, and equipment support. It’s significant because it gives us a chance to elevate the game further,” the NTTF helmsman said.

“This is her first time in Nigeria, yet she has shown great love for the country — even styling her hair in Nigerian fashion. That kind of passion and friendship is invaluable. We appreciate the love, the determination, and the partnership, and we will do everything possible to sustain and expand it,” Tayo said.

WKTT is a prominent table tennis equipment and coaching brand, and in Harbin, China, it is predominantly known as a specialised hub for table tennis training and premium equipment distribution. The brand has become internationally recognised for producing specialised, high-performance table tennis and frequently collaborates with international professional players.