O WERRI, Nigeria — The red carpet will return, but that is not the real story this time. The IMOIFF Creatives and Film Festival, previously called the Imo International Film Festival, has fixed November 26 to 28, 2026, for its third edition in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The festival, put together with Julob Entertainment, says it wants to do more than show films. This year, the focus is on giving young creatives the skills and connections to earn a living from their talent. That decision was shaped by a reality many young Nigerians know too well having big ideas but little money or support to bring them to life. To capture that fighting spirit, the organisers chose Kwechiri as theme. It is an Igbo word that means to stay strong and refuse to give up. It is summed up in the festival slogan: "Keep Going. Keep Creating. Keep Becoming." The founder of the festival, filmmaker Izu Okafor, said the theme was chosen because it mirrors what young creatives go through every day. A...

T rouble is brewing in the Nigeria Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to an exclusive report by Punch Newspaper, the party's decision to begin registration of all support groups has triggered a fresh row with the powerful movements backing its presidential ticket. The crisis started after the NDC's National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, announced that the registration exercise is free and will be handled only by the Directorate of Support Groups at the party's national headquarters in Abuja. He warned that no state chapter or official is authorized to register any group or collect money, adding that any violation would attract disciplinary action under the party's constitution. But the directive was rejected by the Obi-Kwankwaso camp. The Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, insisted that his movement is an independent political organization and will not surrender its structure to the NDC. He said neither the Nigerian c...