The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified its decision to withhold access codes from the Labour Party for uploading the names of candidates for the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections. In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Ewa-Messi, the Commission attributed the decision to the prolonged leadership crisis within the Labour Party, which has resulted in multiple court cases. The clarification followed a protest by Labour Party supporters at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja, where demonstrators accused the Commission of deliberately excluding the party from the…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Emeka Bekee-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has declared Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the leader of the party in the state, insisting that the position is clearly provided for in the party’s constitution. Bekee made the assertion on Wednesday while speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show, against the backdrop of ongoing political tensions involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. According to him, any sitting governor who joins the APC automatically becomes the leader of the party in his or her state, stressing that the provision is not open to debate.…
Former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has declared that he is the only “priceless” politician in Kano State, insisting that money does not influence his political decisions. Kwankwaso, who was the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election, made the statement on Tuesday while addressing supporters at his residence in Kano. He said that although many Nigerians believe that every politician can be bought, he was proud to describe himself as priceless, stressing that his political choices are guided by principles rather than financial gain.…
The Yobe State Independent Electoral Commission (YBSIEC) has fixed Saturday, June 6, 2026, for the conduct of local government elections across the state’s 17 local government areas. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Damaturu by Mohammed Nguru, Permanent Member I of YBSIEC, during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by representatives of security agencies, political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), and members of the media. Nguru said the election timetable had received the approval of Governor Mai Mala Buni, noting that the exercise was aimed at strengthening grassroots democracy in the state. “This stakeholders’ meeting is critical to the…
Former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has formally declared his intention to contest the presidency in the 2027 general elections. Baba-Ahmed made the declaration at a rally held at the Labour Party’s national secretariat in Abuja. The announcement comes barely one week after the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, announced his departure from the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Addressing party members and supporters at the rally, Baba-Ahmed said his decision to run for president was neither reactionary nor influenced by Obi’s political move, stressing that…
Former Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has denied reports circulating on social media that he is in talks to defect to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In a statement signed by him and made available to journalists, Badaru described the reports as baseless, false and unfounded, saying they were driven by political mischief for selfish gains. He stressed that he remains firmly committed to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he said he helped to establish, adding that his loyalty to the party remains total and unwavering. The former minister urged members of the public and supporters of…
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 6 Brigade, operating under Sector 3 of Operation Whirl Stroke, have foiled another kidnapping attempt and rescued three victims in Taraba State. The operation was carried out on January 5, 2026, following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected kidnappers in Sangai village, Bachama Ward of Karim Lamido Local Government Area. According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Brigade’s Acting Spokesperson, Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, troops deployed in Jeb Jeb town swiftly mobilised and pursued the suspects towards the border area between Taraba and Plateau states. “On sighting the advancing soldiers, the kidnappers abandoned…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has no right to complain about the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP said the APC must take responsibility for the political consequences of its actions in Rivers State. According to the party, Wike is no longer a member of the PDP, accusing the APC of knowingly aligning with him for political advantage and now raising objections after the relationship has become problematic. The PDP’s reaction followed…
The lawmaker representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency in Edo State, Murphy Osaro Omoruyi, has said he joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) instead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to what he described as poor governance by the ruling party. Omoruyi, who was elected on the platform of the Labour Party, formally announced his defection to the ADC on Tuesday during a press conference in Benin City. InfoStride News reports that the lawmaker, who resigned from the Labour Party in December 2025 and was the party’s only serving member in the state, said the decision was informed by the hardship…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared his “total support” for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, amid rising tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Wike made the declaration on Tuesday while giving an update on his ongoing tour of local government areas in Rivers State, noting that his next stops would be Akuku-Toru and Degema Local Government Areas. “Yesterday, we were in Oyigbo and Ogu-Bolo LGAs. Today, we will be in Akuku-Toru and Degema LGAs,” Wike wrote on his X handle. “Here, it is local politics, and our support for Mr President is total,” he…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed deep sorrow over the recent attacks on communities in Niger State that reportedly claimed at least 30 lives, with several others abducted. In a statement issued on Sunday, Atiku described the attacks as heinous and brazen, condemning the brutality unleashed on defenceless communities and stressing that such acts are unacceptable. He noted that the primary responsibility of any government is the protection of lives and property, urging authorities to strengthen security measures, restore public confidence in affected areas and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The former vice president’s reaction comes…
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded letters to the Senate seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for appointment into the boards of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. In the first letter, Tinubu nominated former senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, as Chairman of the NUPRC board. Abe is a two-term lawmaker, former board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and currently chairs the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.…
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has declared that the state wants Senate President Godswill Akpabio to retain his position beyond 2027. Eno made the statement on Sunday during a Special Inter-denominational New Year’s Thanksgiving and Covenant Service held in Uyo, the state capital. The governor said it would be against the interest of Akwa Ibom for anyone from the state to oppose Akpabio’s continued stay as Senate President, describing such opposition as the work of “enemies of the state.” According to him, the state will both pray and work towards ensuring that Akpabio’s colleagues in the National Assembly…
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has cautioned cyber cafés and recruitment agents against extorting money from applicants seeking enlistment into the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). The warning followed reports that some applicants are being charged as much as N15,000 or more under the guise of assisting with the recruitment process. In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission’s spokesperson, Mr Torty Njoku, debunked claims by some agents that the fees collected were being remitted to the PSC or other government agencies, describing such claims as false and misleading. Njoku said the Commission had received complaints about the activities of “unscrupulous…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has met with the Rivers State chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chukwuemeka Aaron and Chief Tony Okocha, respectively. The meeting was disclosed in a Facebook post by Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, who said the three leaders met on Monday morning. InfoStride News reports that the Tanimu Turaki-led leadership of the PDP in Rivers State recently collapsed its structure into the faction led by Aaron Chukwuemeka, pledging allegiance to Wike. The political alignment was made public on Friday during Wike’s visit to Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, has conducted a sensitisation programme at the Ehere Electronic Market in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state as part of efforts to curb drug abuse and trafficking. The sensitisation exercise, led by Assistant Commander of Narcotics (ACN) Frank Nwaohamou and supported by a team of NDLEA officers, was targeted at traders operating within the market. Speaking during the programme, Nwaohamou warned traders against the dangers associated with drug abuse as well as the illegal trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. He said drug abuse poses serious social, health and…
The Nenadi Usman-led interim leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has declared its support for the defection of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This was disclosed in a statement issued late Wednesday in Abuja by Usman’s Special Adviser on Media, Ken Asogwa. According to the statement, the interim leadership noted that Obi had enjoyed the party’s backing to participate in coalition talks from the outset. Usman recalled that on May 26, 2025, the Labour Party formally gave its approval for Obi to join the ADC-led opposition coalition. She added that the party…
Legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has warned against what he described as renewed attempts to undermine democratic principles in Rivers State as the 2026 political year begins. In a statement issued in Calabar on Friday, Ahiakwo said the resurgence of political tension in the state reflects the waning influence of godfatherism, intimidation and elite-driven propaganda. He expressed concern that Rivers politics is again being drawn into what he termed “murky waters” at a time the state should be consolidating democratic gains, noting that such moves expose desperation to preserve outdated power structures rather than respect the…
The Obidient Movement has insisted that it will only support former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to emerge as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The movement made it clear that it will not support Obi as a vice-presidential candidate to anyone. The clarification followed reports credited to the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Yunusa Tanko, suggesting that the group would remain in the ADC even if Obi failed to secure the party’s presidential ticket. However, in a subsequent statement, Tanko described the reports as “deliberate misrepresentations and malicious propaganda.” According to the statement, the…
Former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said he would only consider defecting to another political party if he is offered either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections. Kwankwaso stated this on Saturday while addressing supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) at his residence in Kano, stressing that any decision to defect must reflect his political standing and the interests of his nationwide support base. The former governor said his political structure, built over more than four decades, would not accept a move that does…