Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has said no military coup can succeed without the involvement or support of civilians. Babangida, popularly known as IBB, made the remark while reflecting on Nigeria’s history of military interventions in politics and the circumstances surrounding past coups. According to him, military officers cannot successfully take over government without some level of civilian involvement, whether through support, collaboration or acceptance. The former military ruler said coups are often influenced by broader political and social conditions within a country rather than being solely the decision of members of the armed forces. He stressed…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has expressed confidence in his chances of securing victory in the ongoing governorship election. Adeleke said the people of the state were speaking with one voice through their participation in the electoral process. The governor made the statement while speaking to journalists after casting his ballot at his polling unit. He urged residents to remain peaceful and allow the electoral process to take its course. Adeleke also commended voters for coming out to exercise their franchise, describing the turnout as an indication of the people’s interest in determining the future leadership of the state. The…
Former Kaduna State Senator Shehu Sani has described the Osun State governorship election as a crucial contest for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s political future. Sani said Adeleke was effectively fighting for his political survival as voters in the state decide whether to retain him in office or elect a new governor. He made the remark while commenting on the significance of the election and the political competition surrounding the poll. According to Sani, the contest carries substantial implications for Adeleke, particularly given the intense rivalry between the major political parties and candidates. He noted that the outcome could influence Adeleke’s political…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has uploaded 37 per cent of the results from the Osun State governorship election to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The development came as the collation of results from polling units across the state continued following Saturday’s governorship election. The uploaded results allow voters, political parties, observers and other stakeholders to view results transmitted from polling units electronically. INEC’s electronic results system is designed to enhance transparency and enable the public to independently verify results recorded at polling units. The commission has continued the uploading process as results are received and processed from various…
Former Kogi State Senator Dino Melaye has alleged that the withdrawal of security personnel from some locations in Osun State is part of a plan to manipulate the ongoing governorship election. Melaye claimed that the Accord Party was leading in the election and alleged that the withdrawal of security personnel was intended to create an opportunity for electoral malpractice. He raised the allegation in reaction to developments surrounding the conduct of the poll, urging relevant authorities to ensure that adequate security is maintained throughout the electoral process. According to him, any deliberate reduction in security presence could expose voters, electoral…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has approached the court seeking an order to disqualify President Bola Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election over an alleged issue concerning his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. Atiku’s legal team is challenging Tinubu’s eligibility, arguing that the matter surrounding the certificate raises questions that should be determined before the next presidential election. The former vice president is seeking judicial intervention to prevent Tinubu from being presented as a candidate if the court finds that he does not meet the constitutional requirements for contesting the presidency. The case adds a fresh legal dimension…
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the government over the recent attacks on communities in Benue State. Obi alleged that the government failed to adequately protect residents of Otukpo, Nobi, Efeyi and Ugboju communities from attacks that resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property. He expressed concern over the recurring violence in Benue, stressing that the protection of citizens should remain the primary responsibility of government. The former governor condemned the killings and described the situation as unacceptable in a country where citizens expect government to guarantee their safety. Obi called…
Troops operating in Zamfara State have intercepted a large cache of explosives and neutralised several terrorists during ongoing military operations in the state. The operation was conducted as part of intensified efforts by security forces to disrupt terrorist networks and prevent attacks on communities. The troops reportedly recovered 180 explosives and other items linked to the activities of the terrorists during the operation. Several terrorists were also neutralised during encounters with the troops, while others were forced to flee their positions. The operation forms part of sustained military efforts to dismantle terrorist and bandit groups operating across Zamfara and other…
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has urged residents to remain calm following the Federal Government’s proposal to establish pilot ranches in Benue and other states. The governor said the proposed ranching initiative should be approached with caution and through constructive engagement among the Federal Government, state authorities, farmers, herders and other stakeholders. Alia stressed the need for any ranching programme to respect the rights of host communities and take into consideration the peculiar security and agricultural realities of each state. He called on residents to avoid actions or statements capable of creating tension over the proposal, particularly given the history…
The Nigerian military has raised the alarm over an alleged attempt to hack its official X account. The military said the suspected cyberattack was detected and measures were immediately taken to prevent unauthorised access to the account. It warned members of the public to be cautious of any suspicious posts or messages that may be published from the account if the attackers succeed in gaining access. The military urged Nigerians to rely on information released through its verified communication channels and disregard unverified statements attributed to the armed forces. Security officials said efforts were underway to strengthen the security of…
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has described the Osun State governorship election as a contest between Governor Ademola Adeleke and President Bola Tinubu. Momodu made the statement while assessing the political dynamics surrounding the governorship election and the strength of the major political parties involved in the contest. According to him, the election has assumed a wider political significance because of the involvement and influence of the two major political camps. He said the contest was no longer simply about the candidates seeking the governorship but had become a battle involving the political interests of…
The Bauchi State Government has declared Monday a work-free day to enable residents to participate in the forthcoming local government elections across the state. The declaration is part of measures to encourage eligible voters to exercise their civic responsibility and participate fully in the electoral process. The state government urged residents to use the opportunity to come out and vote peacefully for candidates of their choice. It also called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and avoid actions capable of disrupting the elections. Security agencies and other relevant stakeholders are expected to maintain law and…
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has said Osun State should be performing better, given the financial resources accruing to the state from the Federal Government. Akpabio made the remark while speaking about the development and governance of the state ahead of the Osun State governorship election. The Senate President argued that the state has continued to receive significant financial allocations from the Federal Government and should be able to translate the resources into improved infrastructure and better living conditions for residents. He urged the people of Osun to carefully assess the performance of successive administrations and determine whether the…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Enugu State has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the handling and publication of details relating to its governorship and State House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 elections. The party expressed concern over what it described as discrepancies in the information associated with some of its candidates, saying the situation could create confusion among voters and party members. The Enugu chapter maintained that it had properly conducted its nomination processes and submitted the required details to the electoral commission. It urged INEC to clarify the situation and ensure that the correct…
President Bola Tinubu has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that the Osun State governorship election is conducted peacefully, transparently and in accordance with the law. Tinubu gave the directive ahead of the governorship poll, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, urging all institutions involved in the exercise to maintain professionalism and impartiality. The President stressed the importance of allowing voters to freely exercise their franchise without intimidation, harassment or interference. He also urged security personnel deployed for the election to protect voters, electoral officials, political parties, journalists and other stakeholders while remaining neutral in…
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has disclosed fresh strategies being considered by opposition parties as part of efforts to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election. The party said the opposition coalition was focused on building a broad political alliance capable of presenting a strong alternative to the ruling party. ADC stated that discussions among opposition leaders were ongoing, with emphasis on unity, coordination and the mobilisation of Nigerians ahead of the election. The party maintained that the success of the coalition would depend on the willingness of opposition leaders to put…
A call has been made for the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to immediately arrest an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator over a controversial remark allegedly made ahead of the Osun State governorship election. The demand was made by a political group, which accused the lawmaker of making comments capable of heightening tension and threatening the peaceful conduct of the August 15 election. The group urged the police authorities to investigate the senator’s statement and determine whether it violated any provision of the law. It argued that political actors should be held accountable for statements that could incite violence or…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has declared that nothing would stop him from pursuing his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general election. Atiku made the declaration while speaking about his political journey and determination to continue seeking the presidency. The former vice president reportedly compared his political experience and persistence to that of former United States President Abraham Lincoln, who faced several setbacks before eventually attaining the presidency. Atiku said his repeated attempts at the Nigerian presidency should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness, but as evidence of his determination to achieve his political objective. He maintained…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has described President Bola Tinubu as a citizen of Osun State, expressing confidence that the ruling party will make significant gains in the state. Igbokwe made the statement while speaking about the APC’s prospects in the forthcoming Osun governorship election. He argued that Tinubu’s connection to Osun State gives the President a strong personal interest in the political development of the state. According to him, the President’s supporters and members of the APC are working to strengthen the party’s presence across Osun ahead of the election. Igbokwe expressed optimism that…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso against accepting the position of running mate to Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The APC chieftain argued that accepting the running mate position would not advance Kwankwaso’s reported ambition to contest the presidency in 2031. He said Kwankwaso should carefully consider the long-term political implications of joining Obi’s ticket, particularly if he intends to pursue his own presidential ambition after the 2027 election. The APC figure maintained that political decisions should be evaluated beyond immediate electoral calculations, especially when they could…