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2027: We Shall Resist Any Attempt To Shift Power To The North – AYDM

March 25, 2026

By Akinwale Kasali

Over 130 Pan Yoruba Groups under the auspices of Alliance For Yoruba Democratic Movements, AYDM, have called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to restructure Nigeria before the 2027 Presidential Election.

The Group made the call in Lagos during its meeting which was attended by delegates from the old Western Region comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Delta and Edo States.

Yoruba and Itsekiri groups from West African countries attended the historic event.

The Conference drew over 800 Delegates who attended with a working group dedicated on Security and livelihood in the region.

Observers at the event were ethnic and socio-cultural groups, South-South Congress, Middle-Belt Indigenous Peoples Congress, Hausa National Congress, HNC, and other groups from South East.

The guest Speaker, Adewale Adeoye, spoke on Democracy, Peoples Power and Livelihood in the South West.

He called on the people to rally round to defend democracy and mobilise for the restructuring of the country.

The group also said that the next President in 2027 should come from the South adding that anything short of power rotation is a recipe for the disintegration of the country.

“Since 1960, the North has ruled Nigeria for 46 years while the South has ruled for only 20 years. Any attempt by the North to produce the next President is unacceptably and will be resisted”, Adeoye stated.

In the communique issued after the event and signed by AYDM General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi, Rasaq Arogundade, Taofik Adeyemi and Alice Asoropa, AYDM, said the most important challenge facing the country is restructuring to avoid a slip into anarchy.

It said the crisis in the Middle East occasioned by the feud between Iran and Israel-United States is being exploited by radical extremists in Nigeria to carry out their pre-conceived agenda of terror aimed at setting the country on fire.

It added that the recent introduction of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, which killed a man and another Mother and Child in Kwara State shows that terrorists in Nigeria have entered a new phase in their evil plot to toppled democracy and turn Nigeria into a field of blood and arson.

It alleged that the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, once an arm of the All Progressive Congress, APC, which ruled Nigeria for eight years from 2015 to 2023 turned Nigeria into a sanctuary of terrorism and mayhem in many instances providing official support for the crimes committed by the terrorists.

The groups said the remnants of the cabal are the chief suspects in the current campaign of terror being intensified across the country.

“The current Federal Government is dealing with economic, political and military wings of terrorism in Nigeria. The terrorists have economic and ideological funders masquerading as elected and unelected politicians and statesmen.

“It’s one single scourge with the single aim of gaining power to turn Nigeria into a theocratic fielfdom.

“The problem with terrorists mindset is that they take actions without thinking twice. They want to destroy the political, cultural and economic foundations of Nigeria. It is within this vortex that the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is operating”, he stated.

The groups condemned the recent coup attempt warning that any attempt to topple democracy will spur unprecedented crisis.

“The country is witnessing a very tough economic experience characterised by hunger and misery compounded by terrorism. But the solution is not a military coup. The agenda of the plotters is to plunge Nigeria into a fascist past, to achieve a designed ethno-extremist religious plan.

“The plotters have the same agenda with the ravaging terrorists across the country”, the groups said.

In the communique, the groups said DISCOS, especially Ikeja Electric has become the No 1 enemy of the South West due to its gross incompetence, savage exploitation of the people and its determination to stunt industrial development of the South West.

The groups in the communique warned that any military intervention will automatically plunge Nigeria into nuclear groups of armed resistance including but not limited to the prospect of guerrilla warfare across the country with devastating consequences for West Africa.

“We call for the speedy trial of the alleged coup plotters, if found guilty, they must face the full weight of the law, including death to serve as deterrent to future coup adventurists. We submit that the coup was nothing but an ethnic agenda.

“To avoid future recurrence, the groups called on the President and the National Assembly to speed up the immediate creation of state police and the restructuring of Nigerian security architecture which should include the decentralization of the Nigerian Defense Academy, NDA, Nigerian Military School, Zaria and the Airforce training commands into four regions, two in the South and two in the North.

“Nigeria needs to transform from a garrison state to a truly democratic country reflecting the country’s diversity and plural civilisation. There is no time to waste. This is an historic step that should have been taken more than 50 years ago”, the group said

It noted in the communique with strongest term, condemning the ravaging terrorists that have taken over South West territories, killing and maiming their people, men, women, infants and even pregnant women being slaughtered by Fulani terrorists.

In the past five years, the group said, that four traditional rulers have been killed in the South West by terrorists of Fulani extraction.

The latest is the planting of Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs, on highways to kill Yoruba people.

“This has been recorded in Woro, Kiama in Kwara State where it killed a man while a woman and her child were wounded”.

The groups said they condemn ‘what appears like the cold complicity of a section of the Fulani elite including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III , Sheik Ahmad Gumi, Abubakar Malami, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, Malami among many others who have refused to speak against the on-going genocide instead, employ rhetoric that tends to support the terrorists or provide ideological shield for them.’

It noted that the Yoruba and especially the Muslim masses in Western Nigeria are disappointed in the queer role of the Sultan of Sokoto who is the head of the Fulani in West Africa. Why he is quick to make calls for the release of former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nassir El Rufai, he is conspiratorially silent on the gruesome murder of Yoruba people including numerous Muslims by the Fulani terrorists, including the murder of five Yoruba traditional rulers and his silence on other heinous crimes committed by his people

It said that no inch of Yoruba, Itsekiri land is available for Sharia.

“Every state in Nigeria where Sharia has been introduced are afflicted by terrorism, corruption, impoverishment and elite repression of the poor”, the group noted.

Zamfara Commissioner Resigns Over Governor’s Defection To APC

Adesina Soyooye

March 25, 2026

By Adesina Soyooye

In Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, on Tuesday, March 24, one man stood out because of his loyalty to the embattled Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

While Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside a number of All Progressives Congress Governors and members of the National Executive Council, NEC, were excitedly receiving the Governor of the State, Dauda Lawal, members of his Cabinet, Members of the State House of Assembly and many more who dumped the PDP for the APC, one man thought and behaved differently. He decided to stand alone out of principles.

That man is Wadatau Madawaki, until Tuesday, Zamfara State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

He refused to defect with them. And, instead, resigned from Governor Lawal’s Cabinet. He said he was forced to resign following the defection of Governor Lawal from the PDP to the APC.

He pointed out that his resignation stemmed from his loyalty to the PDP, and emphasized that he could not join the APC.

“I only resigned because the Governor is joining the APC. I’m a PDP member. I’ve never been in the APC. And I’m not ready to be an APC member,” he disclosed in an interview with Channels Television.

He said he was not under any pressure to resign and described his decision as voluntary.

He said: “The governor has never forced anyone to resign. I only resigned because I think it is an honourable thing to do.”

His resignation has been accepted by the Zamfara State Government which has appointed the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Abdulmalik Gajam, to act as the Commissioner for Education.

21-Year Old House boy To Die By Hanging In Ondo

Ayodele Oni

March 25, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

A 21-year-old house boy, Emmanuel Akpan, in Ondo State, is to die by hanging for the murder of his employer, Mrs. Febisola Caroline Adedayo, while his co-defendant, Goodness James Akpe, was discharged and acquitted by an Akure High Court.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday in Charge No: AK/57C/2022, Justice Rotimi Olamide held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt on the charge of murder against the second defendant.

The case filed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State, contained two counts of conspiracy to commit murder contrary to Sections 324, 316 and 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The Court heard that the incident occurred on March 29, 2021, at Ifakanbale Street, Sabo, Ondo town, where the deceased, a food vendor, was attacked in her residence at night.

According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired to kill Mrs. Adedayo and the second defendant, Emmanuel Akpan, inflicted fatal machete cuts on her neck, leading to her death.

According to evidence before the Court, the suspects killed the woman after hearing she had money in her house and later attempted to cover up the crime by setting the building on fire to make it look like a gas explosion.

In his judgment, Justice Olamide said the testimonies of prosecution witnesses were credible, consistent and unshaken under cross-examination, adding that the confessional statements of the defendants further strengthened the case against them.

The Judge rejected the denial by the defendants, noting that their claims were contradicted by evidence before the Court.

The Court also held that the second defendant’s explanation of how he was arrested was not believable, stressing that his conduct after the incident pointed to guilt.

Justice Olamide described the act as cruel, inhuman and undeserving of mercy, especially considering that the deceased had once assisted the defendants.

The court subsequently discharged and acquitted the first defendant, Goodness James Akpe, for lack of sufficient evidence linking him directly to the killing.

However, the court found Emmanuel Akpan guilty of murder and pronounced the mandatory sentence.

“The sentence of the court upon you, Emmanuel Akpan, is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul,” the judge declared.

Akpan and Akpe were arrested in March 2021 after the killing of Mrs. Adedayo in Ondo town.

Police investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly murdered their employer in order to steal valuables including ATM cards, phones and a generator before attempting to burn the house to destroy evidence.

Zonal South-west APC Elects Leaders By Consensus

Ayodele Oni

March 25, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress, (APC), on Wednesday re-elected Dr Isaacs Kekemeke as its South West Zonal Chairman.

Kekemeke, alongside seven other zonal exco members, emerged via a consensus arrangement at the APC South-West Zonal Congress at Mobolaji Johnson Arena (formerly Onikan Stadium) in Lagos.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Mr Jide Jimoh, said that 1,398 delegates from the South-West states of Lagos, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti, participated in the congress.

After reeling out the consensus list one after the other, the chairman conducted voice votes before affirming the election.

Those elected unopposed are Alfred Aluko (Secretary), Ismail Majaro (Legal Adviser), Lateef Ibirogba (Organising Secretary), and Ayobami Afolabi (Publicity Secretary).

Others are Mrs Oyetunde Adesanya (Woman Leader), Mr Daramola Adesuyi (Youth Leader), and Mr Dayo Ishola (Persons With Disability).

Speaking on behalf of the South-West Governors, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, congratulated the newly elected officers.

In his acceptance speech, Kekemeke, described the congress as historic and epoch-making, being the zone of the President.

He appreciated the party leaders in the zone for honouring the team with the responsibility of serving the party.

“We will do better than we have ever done in the last four years. Our duty in the South West is to make sure we give our President overwhelming support in 2027.

“We call for everyone’s support, including all our governors in the zone, to ensure that South West has the higher number of votes for Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

According to him, the team will ensure victory for the APC in the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun.

Speaking, Dr Ajibola Basiru, the APC National Secretary, represented by the party’s National Youth Leader, Dr Dayo Israel, congratulated the party and the zone for the successful congress.

“I expect the new team to work as a team and we must deliver the South West for Mr President, and the journey begins now.”

Madumere Fmr. Imo Deputy Gov., Resigns From APC

Suleiman Anyalewechi

March 25, 2026

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, has drawn the curtain on his many years of association with the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.

In a letter of resignation dated March 17, 2026, addressed to the APC Chairman of the Ezinihitte Ward, Mbieri, in Mbaitolu Local Council of Imo State, Madumere one of the founding figures of the party in Imo state, alongside former Governor Rochas Okorocha, informed that his decision which takes immediate effect came after a deep personal reflection on his journey within the ruling party.

While describing the decision as a difficult one to take, the former Deputy Governor said it, however, provides yet another opportunity to “explore new paths” on his political journey.

“I write to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership of the All Progressive Congress, APC effective, immediately.

“The decision, though difficult, has become necessary after deep personal reflection on my political journey with the party.

“I sincerely feel it is time for me to explore new paths. It is my utmost desire and expectation that we all continue to maintain the cordial relationship that we have built over the years in our collective desire to build a better Nigeria” Madumere stated.

This is as he appreciated the party for the opportunity given to him to further his political career and to serve the people.

He, however, reaffirmed his unflinching commitment to the wider goal of building a better Nigeria – his exit from the APC nothwithstanding.

Although, Madumere did not disclose his next line of action, there are strong indications that he may court the opposition coalition platform, the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

El-Rufai Demands Withdrawal Of Judge In ICPC’s Money Laundering Case; Alleges Bias

Suleiman Anyalewechi

March 25, 2026

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has objected to his trial by a Kaduna Federal High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Rilwan Aikawa, citing fears of conflict of interest and bias as major reasons.

The Source reports that El-Rufai, after a prolonged spell in custody without trial was on Tuesday March 24, 2026, arraigned by the ICPC before Justice Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and inflation of Severance package to the tune of over N570 million, while holding sway as the Kaduna State Governor.

El-Rufai, a prominent figure in the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress, ADC, was arraigned alongside Joel Adoga.

But in a statement signed by Muyiwa Adekeye, his spokesperson, the former Kaduna State Governor expressed fears that justice may not be served going by the fact that El-Rufai had filed a pending petition against Justice Aikawa , before the National Judicial Council, NJC.

According to Adekeye, El-Rufai’s legal team which raised the objection during Tuesday’s court proceedings expressed serious concern that the development may not serve the interest of justice in the ongoing case as the NJC is yet to dispense with El-Rufai’s petition against Justice Aikawa.

According to Adekeye, the legal team told the Court that El-Rufai is not likely to get a fair trial from the presiding Judge whom he accused bias against him in past cases.

“Surprised that Justice R. M. Aikawa is presiding over the matter. El-Rufai’s legal team reminded the Court of its client’s petition against the Judge which is pending before the National Judicial Council”, Adekeye wrote.

In his response, Justice Aikawa, before adjourning proceedings till March 31, 2026, ruled that the legal team should file a formal written application before the next adjourned date.

“Justice Aikawa ruled that he would, at least, conduct the arraignment of the two defendants (El-Rufai and Adoga ), and hear the matter of his recusal if Counsel would bring it by way of a formal written application”, El-Rufai’s spokesperson added.

According to Adekeye, the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, had, on March 17, set aside Justice Aikawa’s verdict in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by El-Rufai in 2024 against the Kaduna State House of Assembly.

The Appellate Court, affirmed El-Rufai’s appeal that he was not given a fair hearing by Justice Aikawa while presiding over the case between the Kaduna State Lawmakers and the former Governor.

Consequently, the Appeal Court ordered the trial Court to re-commence the case a fresh so as to afford El-Rufai the opportunity to defend himself.

He noted: “That case had prompted the first petition against Justice Aikawa by El-Rufai’s counsel. In a petition dated 18, July, 2024, A. U. Mustapha, SAN, on behalf of Malam El-Rufai, accused Justice Aikawa of gross bias, injustice, and denial of fair hearing.

“The petition , addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, requested that the case be reassigned to another Judge. When that request was not granted, El-Rufai’s counsel pursued and succeeded in the appeal.

“The second petition against Justice Aikawa dated 18 March 2025, was submitted by Malam Nasir El-Rufai to the Chief Justice of Nigeria in her capacity as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council NJC.

“In it, El-Rufai accused Justice Aikawa of bias, injustice, denial of fair hearing and conduct unbecoming of a Judicial Officer.

“Malam Nasir El-Rufai sent reminders concerning the petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria in November 2025 ,and again in March 2026 .

“The most recent reminder urged the Chief Justice to ensure that the NJC expedites the resolution of the petition without further delay.

“The reminder also requested the Chief Justice to direct the immediate transfer of all relevant cases before the Federal High Court Kaduna to another Judge as a prudent interim measure to restore impartiality and safeguard judii processes”, Adekeye further stated .

The source further reports that El-Rufai’s arraignment on Tuesday was characterized by heightened security amidst tension and protest by his supporters. The media was barred from covering the Court’s proceedings.

“No Matter Who Is President, The North Controls Everything” – Fmr Sen. Okurounmu

Ayodele Oni

March 25, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Senator Femi Okurounmu has described the 1999 constitution as “simply a decree which Abacha brought out and turned into a constitution for us.”

According to him, that is why the Constitution lacks democratic legitimacy. He insisted that Nigeria’s Constitution was not a product of popular participation, but a document imposed by the Military.

Okurounmu, a former senator who represented Ogun Central Senatorial District, pointed out that the Constitution structurally favours the northern region, warning that the imbalance has continued to shape governance outcomes and deepen political and economic challenges across the country.

Speaking during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State on Wednesday, the elder statesman of the First Senate during the Fourth Republic, examined the relationship between democratic governance and economic policy while raising concerns about the foundation upon which Nigeria’s democracy is built.

He argued that without addressing these structural concerns, efforts at national development may continue to face significant setbacks.

Okurounmu, maintained that the current constitutional framework has created a system where political power is unevenly distributed, thereby affecting decision-making at the highest levels of government.

He stressed that this imbalance has not only shaped legislative outcomes but has also influenced policy direction and governance priorities over time.

“I will let you know that the problem is much more complicated than that. I told you, the 1999 constitution has more or less tilted all the structures of governance in favor of the north.

“The north has infiltrated the central government so much that whoever is the president does not matter. The north still controls the government. Whoever is the president of Nigeria at this stage with our present constitution and with the present structures of governance does not matter.”

According to him, the implications of such structural inequality are far-reaching, particularly in a diverse country like Nigeria where equitable representation is critical to unity and stability.

He traced origin of the constitution to the administration of former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, noting that the process leading to its adoption did not involve adequate consultation with Nigerians.

This, he said, has continued to raise questions about its credibility and acceptance among citizens.

“The 1999 constitution was simply a decree which Abacha brought out and turned into a constitution for us. And that so-called constitution was not even made known to the public until after the elections so that even the president, who was going to take over did not, was not aware of the constitution by which he was going to govern when he was contesting election.

“So, I would say it was not really a constitution, it was a decree and Abacha just brought it out and transmitted it into a constitution and gave it to the president after election.”

Okurounmu further argued that the 1979 and 1999 constitution share significant similarities, which he claimed also contained structural imbalances that have persisted into the present system.

He noted that these inherited features have continued to influence governance patterns in ways that are not entirely equitable.

“And a lot of the provisions are very similar to that of the 1979 constitution which, you know, was engineered by Murtala Muhammad and Obasanjo and most of the provisions in that constitution are very unequitable insofar as governance in Nigeria is concerned.

“The 1999 constitution which, as I have said, is a close relationship to the 1979 one virtually gives veto power to the north over how Nigeria will be governed. All the structures of governance are tilted to the north.” he added.

PDP For Final Reconciliation Turaki Assures As Both Factions Work For Peace

Suleiman Anyalewechi

March 25, 2026

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Peoples Democratic party PDP has assured that machineries have been put in place for the revival of the reconciliation option among warring factions.

This is as the party leadership emphasized the need for all parties to de-escalate all divisive rhetorics that could potentially flay tempers, and jeopardize meaningful reconciliation.

The Source reports that efforts to reconcile contending camps have continued to falter, amidst growing mistrust resulting from conflicting political interests ahead 2027 polls.

However, at a media briefing on Wednesday March 25, 2026 in Abuja ,the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee NWC informed that the party has resolved to explore all available pathways towards finding a lasting solution to its leadership and internal crises

“I can unequivocally confirm that as of today, leaders on both sides have broken the ice, and are exploring various pathways towards a lasting resolution.

“We urge our supporters across board to immediately de-escalate high-tempered communications and actions so as not to jeopardize the ongoing peace efforts”, Turaki stated.

The party leadership also reassured all potential aspirants that it is working relentlessly to ensure that the party field candidates for all elective offices in line with Article 6(2).of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

The PDP similarly expressed immense gratitude to Nigerians who have continued to show interest in the affairs of the party, including registering as members,via its ongoing e-registeration exercise nationwide.

“Despite recent challenges, the faith of our core supporters remains unshaken. It is for them that we are making every effort to resolve the issues before us”, Turaki noted.

The PDP leadership expressed the unflinching commitment and determination of the party to play its critical role of holding the ruling party at all levels accountable to the people.

“As we are aware, democracy is not merely about the periodic conduct of elections; it also requires a virile opposition, and an active society to hold Government accountable.

“As Nigeria’s only surviving legacy party in the current republic, with the rare privilege of having led this country for 16 years, we remain committed to defending and consolidating our democracy even as an opposition party.

“We call on those in authority to remain conscious that they are delegates of the people, and that their actions must, at all times, align with the will of the people. Ultimate power resides with the people. It must, therefore, remain the centrepiece of governance.

“Let me end by reassuring Nigerians that the PDP is alive ,and will participate in the forthcoming elections, offering a credible platform for political contests at all levels so that power may truly return to the people”,Turaki affirmed.”

Momodu Says With Atiku As ADC Presidential Candidate, Tinubu Will Be Defeated In 2027

Ayodele Oni

March 25, 2026

By Ayodele Oni

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 elections if picked by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its Presidential Candidate.

A member of the ADC, Dele Momodu, who expressed the view on Wednesday said the “gang” that brought late former President Muhammadu Buhari to power in 2015 is ready to help Atiku defeat President Tinubu in 2027.

Momodu identified the “gang” to include former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, Abubakar Malami, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and ex-Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who are, now, all members of the ADC.

In an interview on Arise News Morning Show, Momodu identified Atiku as his preferred candidate for the ADC’s presidential ticket.

He said: “We have in ADC today two of the leading presidential contestants in the last election, so you do not need to reinvent the wheel. To win an election is not just the crowd or the noise, not just the ideas or how brilliant you are.

“Go back to the drawing board and look at how Buhari captured power in 2015, I was a part of those who worked at that time, I wasn’t a member of APC.

“Tinubu is so formidable that you are not just going to produce a candidate that would take him out, it doesn’t work that way and I will go around the world.

“You will remember that Joe Biden was removed by the Democrats in America, then they brought Kamala Harris.

“She raised a lot of money which I liked but at the end of the day she could not defeat Trump. Everything was said against Trump but he was able to defeat Kamala.

“I have my preference and that is Atiku, in matters of strategy, ADC must go to the part of the country where they are most disgruntled against the ADC.

“The people who worked for Tinubu to become President were partly in Buhari’s gang and today they are angry that they have been abandoned.

“El-Rufai in languishing somewhere in detention, Malami is running up and down, so that team is waiting for ADC to capture. When you go in that direction, you have Atiku, Tambuwal, El-Rufai, and others.

“Let ADC go all out to capture, if you pick Atiku he comes from the North-East where APC has the vice president and the region will be very happy to have a President for the very first time.”

Money Problems Can Cause Fast Memory Loss- Varsity Experts

James Orji

March 25, 2026

Forex in Nigeria - Dollar and Naira Price CBD

Medical experts from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have claimed that financial problems facing adults, particularly those in midlife and older age can lead to fast memory loss.

The University published its findings over the issue in a report that has now been made public, saying the population experiencing significant financial deterioration showed memory decline equivalent to roughly five additional months of aging per year.

The study is among the first to examine the cognitive consequences of poor financial well-being. The findings are published in the American journal of Epidemiology.

Lower average financial well-being and worsening financial conditions were consistently linked to poorer memory function and accelerated decline, the researchers said.

Associations were strongest among adults aged 65 and older and findings were robust to sensitivity analyses addressing potential reverse causation and attrition, according to the research. .

“Financial well-being is an emerging economic determinant of health that may be associated with cognitive aging,” said Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri,PhD associate professor of Epidemiology at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and senior author. “Prolonged financial strain may overwhelm mental bandwidth and contribute to negative cognitive outcomes.”

Researchers analyzed data from 7,676 adults aged 50+ in the Health and Retirement Study (2010–2020), assessing how both average financial status and four-year changes in financial well-being relate to memory performance over the subsequent four years.

To measure financial well-being, researchers developed and validated an eight-item index using existing survey data. The index captures both psychosocial strain—such as financial dissatisfaction and stress—and material hardship including difficulty paying bills, low income, and reduced access to basic needs. It was validated against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Financial Well-Being Scale.

Each one-point worsening in financial well-being was associated with lower memory scores and faster decline. In contrast, improvements in financial well-being were not consistently associated with better cognitive outcomes.

“Our index was designed to capture poor financial well-being as a multidimensional exposure encompassing both a lack of psychosocial resources — for example, perceived financial dissatisfaction and strain — alongside material constraints such as difficulty meeting basic needs and low income,” said Katrina Kezios, PhD, assistant professor of Epidemiology at Boston University School of Public Health and former post-doctoral scholar at Columbia Mailman School and co-author. “We validated our index against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Financial Well-Being scale, which was first introduced in the HRS in 2020.”

The authors suggest that older adults may be particularly vulnerable due to limited financial recovery options and reliance on fixed incomes, such as Social Security and pensions. Financial strain may harm cognitive health through chronic stress, reduced access to healthcare and nutrition, and constrained social engagement.

“Our findings also point to potential policy implications,” observed Zeki Al Hazzouri. “Income supports and financial assistance in later life may help protect cognitive health and reduce dementia risk, particularly for those experiencing financial decline.”

Overall, the study supports the hypothesis that worsening financial well-being in midlife and later life may contribute to accelerated cognitive aging.

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