A Professor of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, has described the opposition declaration in Ibadan on fielding a single presidential candidate for the next general elections as a call for national liberation. Utomi made the remark on Sunday during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, while reacting to Saturday’s opposition summit held by leaders of various political parties in the city. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said the choice of Ibadan as the venue was symbolic, reflecting a collective resolve among opposition figures to address what he described as threats to Nigeria’s democratic system. “Ibadan was an appropriate venue…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it will actively participate in the 2027 general elections despite its ongoing leadership crisis. A chieftain of the party, Sam Ohuabunwa, made this known on Sunday during an interview on Arise Television. According to him, the party remains focused on rebuilding its structure amid internal challenges. “A Supreme Court judgment will decide the fate of the PDP, but for now, the party is trying to rebuild,” he said. Ohuabunwa noted that the PDP has faced significant internal disruptions since 2022, citing clashing interests, persistent conflicts, and leadership issues. “The PDP has been battered…
The Lagos State Government has introduced a “no power, no pay” policy as it signed three power purchase agreements aimed at improving electricity supply and ensuring payment is made only for energy delivered to public facilities. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that the agreements are part of efforts to address gaps in power delivery and enhance reliability across the state. “Today at Lagos House, Marina, I witnessed the signing of three power purchase agreements designed to build on existing capacity and address what has not been working,” the governor said. Under the arrangement, Fenchurch…
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has approved dates for the party’s ward, local government, state, and national congresses ahead of the 2027 general elections. The NEC also fixed the date for the party’s national convention and released the prices for nomination forms for various elective positions. The decisions were taken at the 25th NEC meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Friday, where the timetable for congresses, primaries, and the national convention was ratified. According to the schedule, ward congresses will be held on May 21, 2026, followed by local…
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience Jonathan, forced him out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Amaechi said the former First Family took control of the party’s structure in Rivers State and handed it over to others, leading to his exit from the PDP. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, the former Rivers State governor said he was sidelined for opposing certain policies of the Jonathan administration. “I was literally chased out of the PDP by former…
The Nigeria Police Force, Edo State Command, has rescued nine victims from two separate kidnapping incidents in Edo State. The victims include five passengers of a GUO Transport bus abducted along the Benin–Lagos Expressway, as well as four residents of Imeakabu/Itsukwi communities who were held captive in the Imiegba forest in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Benin City. Ikoedem said all five victims from the GUO bus incident and the four others held in the forest were rescued unhurt following coordinated security…
The Nigeria Police Force in Osun State has announced that the written examination for police recruitment will hold from April 28 to 30, 2026, for eligible applicants across the state. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Osogbo by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi. According to the statement, the exercise is being conducted by the Police Service Commission (PSC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force. It added that the examination for Osun State applicants will take place at the Osun State University, Oke-Baale Campus. The command noted that only candidates who successfully passed…
The Labour Party in Sokoto State has elected Yawale Abubakar as its new state chairman, with party leaders expressing optimism about strengthening its structure ahead of the 2027 general elections. The election took place on Saturday during a state congress held at the party secretariat in Sokoto, where delegates from all 23 local government areas participated in the process. The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mahmud Muhammad, who announced Abubakar as the consensus candidate, described the exercise as peaceful, orderly, and credible, noting that it reflected the party’s internal democratic values. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State has produced two state chairmen following parallel congresses held on Tuesday and Thursday, deepening the party’s leadership crisis. The development reflects ongoing internal disputes involving longstanding members and recent defectors from other political parties. At the Tuesday congress, Musa Wamba was returned as state chairman, while Nasir Umar emerged as secretary-general. However, a separate congress conducted on Thursday by another faction produced Mohammed Rimi as chairman and Abubakar Adhama as secretary-general. Officials of the party’s national secretariat had earlier rejected the Tuesday exercise, describing it as unauthorised and insisting that recognised congresses…
Suspected gunmen on Thursday night attacked Olegabulu community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, killing a traditional ruler, his wife, their child, and other residents. Sources told news men that one person was also injured in the attack, which has thrown the community into mourning. The victims were identified as Chief Momo Alexander Awodi, the traditional ruler of Olegabulu, his wife, Abigail Awodi, and their son, Boniface Ochowechi. Others reportedly killed include Mr. Ochowechi Ochegwu and Mrs. Deborah Ochowechi. A source in the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the attack may not be linked to…
A former presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has distanced the party from ongoing opposition coalition discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections. Adebayo said the party does not believe that elite political alliances are the solution to defeating the ruling party, stressing the need to mobilise disengaged Nigerian voters. In a statement issued by his media team, he argued that many coalition efforts lack credibility, discipline, and shared values. “Strategic partners in an election are not necessarily politicians. The real partners are segments of society, those who have not been participating in the process,” he…
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has postponed its presidential and governorship primaries by one week. The party rescheduled the presidential primary to May 23, 2026, and the governorship primary to May 21, 2026, from the earlier dates of May 15 and May 16, respectively. According to the APC, the adjustment is in line with a revised timetable for its 2027 general election activities. APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko, disclosed this at the end of the party’s 186th National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday. “We hereby present the new revised timetable and schedule of…
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has assured the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of his administration’s commitment to fulfilling its statutory obligations to the scheme. The governor gave the assurance during the swearing-in ceremony for the 2026 Batch ‘A’ Stream II corps members deployed to the state for the mandatory one-year national service. Mohammed said Bauchi State remains supportive of the objectives of the NYSC, adding that his administration would continue to collaborate with the scheme to ensure its smooth operation. He described the programme as a vital platform for national development and urged corps members to take their service…
The Interim National Chairperson of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman, has said it may be too late for the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to return to the party. Usman stated this on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television programme, Prime Time. She explained that the party would close its membership register 21 days before its primaries, in line with the Electoral Act, after which no new member would be admitted. “It will be too late for Peter Obi to come back to Labour Party because if you look at the Electoral Act, at some point, we will…
Factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has said the party under his leadership is not responsible for the ongoing leadership crisis. Abure made the remark on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television, while reacting to a recent Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed his suit and recognised Nenadi Usman as the authentic national chairman of the party. InfoStride News reports that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgement delivered by a three-member panel of justices, dismissed Abure’s appeal challenging the party’s leadership. Reacting to the ruling, Abure insisted that he and…
Twelve persons abducted by Boko Haram from Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State have escaped from captivity and are now safe. According to a report by Daily Trust, a source in Pulka said the victims—10 men and two women—regained their freedom during ongoing military operations in the area, which forced the insurgents to abandon some of their captives. “One of the victims told us that there were military operations in the area which forced the insurgents to abandon some of them and escape with the majority of the captives,” the source said. The development was also…
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old suspect, Ubong Michael, popularly known as “Ubong Boy,” over alleged involvement in multiple kidnapping operations in the state. The command also disclosed that disturbing human remains, including a skull and bones, were recovered during the arrest. In a statement issued on Thursday in Uyo, the Police Public Relations Officer, Timfon John, said the suspect had long been on the command’s wanted list. According to her, the suspect was apprehended following intelligence reports that he had returned to the community after previously going into hiding in Port Harcourt. “Preliminary investigations reveal…
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s leadership under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging support for his re-election to sustain ongoing reforms and development efforts. Fubara made the call on Thursday during a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council held in Port Harcourt, where monarchs from the 17 southern states gathered to deliberate on unity, security, and economic growth. The governor noted that despite prevailing challenges, the current administration has made progress in economic recovery and infrastructure development, citing projects such as the coastal road construction. He emphasised the need for leadership continuity, stating that “it…
The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has expressed grief over the death of two intending pilgrims who lost their lives in a road accident. The victims were identified as Alkasim Ibrahim Walawa, 48, and his mother, Hadiza Garba, 73. The incident reportedly occurred along the Rimin Gado road in Kano, where both victims were said to have died on the spot. Family sources disclosed that Alkasim is survived by two wives and seven children, while Hajiya Hadiza is survived by five children. Both deceased were natives of Walawa village in Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State. In a statement…
A Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has sentenced one Shehu Saleh to two years’ imprisonment for fraud involving N22 million. Delivering judgment, Justice Aisha Kumaliya found the defendant guilty of misappropriating funds after he was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charge read that the convict, sometime in 2024 in Maiduguri, converted to personal use the sum of N22,000,000 belonging to one Zara Betra Aliyu through bank accounts domiciled in GTBank and First Bank, contrary to Sections 296 and 297 of the Penal Code Law of Borno State. Saleh pleaded guilty when the charge…