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Showing posts with the label NIGERIA POLITICS

Lagos APC to PDP: Focuses on governance not theatrics

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By Henry Obetta The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has criticised the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, accusing it of prioritising propaganda over effective governance. In a statement issued on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Christopher Odianarewo, the PDP described recent remarks by the APC spokesman in Lagos as “unsolicited” and “theatrical.” Odianarewo said the opposition party does not require “diagnosis” from a ruling party he accused of failing in governance while excelling in propaganda. “It is indeed fascinating, if not comical, that the APC, a party presiding over unprecedented economic hardship, insecurity, and institutional decay, now seeks to position itself as the moral compass of opposition politics,” he said. The PDP spokesman challenged the APC to address key concerns affecting residents of Lagos, including the reported ₦40 billion CCTV project on the Third Mainland Bridge, which he claimed lacks visible impact. He also ra...

Trump says considering ‘winding down’ Iran war

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President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering “winding down” military operations against Iran, as the United States temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to stem a global supply crisis. Iran launched a new wave of drone and missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel meanwhile after supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei claimed to have dealt a “dizzying blow” to his country’s enemies. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the United States was “getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East.” His post was the strongest indication yet that he may be prepared to soon end hostilities that began on February 28. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a post on X shortly after Trump’s message, said “the President and the Pentagon predicted it would take approximately 4-6 weeks to achieve this mission.” “Tomorrow marks week 3 — and the US Armed Forces are doing an exceptional jo...

Strait of Hormuz: EU rejects Trump’s demand to help

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•IEA prepared to release more oil reserves By Nkiruka Nnorom with agency report European leaders have rejected demands by the US President, Donald Trump, for help to clear the strait of Hormuz, as foreign ministers from the European Union gathered in Brussels yesterday to discuss skyrocketing oil prices from the US-Israeli war on Iran. The push back came after Trump called on the UK, China, France, Japan, South Korea and other NATO countries to send ships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, saying  it would be very bad for the future of NATO if allies don’t help secure the strait. US officials had also spent much of the weekend working to rally support behind Trump’s demand and said they hoped to announce a new coalition in the coming days, according to people familiar with the matter. Who that coalition consists of, and when it might be announced, remain open questions.  Even staunch US allies sound cautious about sending their militaries into...

Peterside backs GoNigeriaNG, identifies four pillars for strengthening Nigeria’s democracy

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Business leader and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Atedo Peterside, has thrown his weight behind the advocacy of civic platform GoNigeria, highlighting four key pillars essential for sustaining Nigeria’s democracy. Peterside, in a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) platform on Tuesday, said Nigeria’s democratic system rests on electoral reform, judicial reform, freedom of speech, and the security of life and property. He stressed that electoral reform remains the most critical of the four, noting that credible elections are fundamental to building legitimacy, strengthening institutions, and ensuring effective governance. “Elections do not simply select leaders; they determine whether power is accepted as legitimate, whether institutions are trusted, and whether governance will be effective,” he stated. The position aligns with a statement released by GoNigeria on Tuesday, which underscored the urgency of electoral reform in safeguarding the country’s democratic future. ...

PDP fires back at APC over criticism of party’s internal crisis

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, for claiming that the opposition party was no longer a political party, describing the remark as unfortunate and a reflection of what it called delusional propaganda. In a statement issued on Monday, the PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, maintained that despite defections allegedly orchestrated by the APC, Nigerians have continued to reject the ruling party due to the hardship caused by policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The party insisted that its relevance remains intact, arguing that public dissatisfaction with the APC government outweighs any internal challenges it may be facing. Morka had earlier said, “The PDP is no longer able to call itself a political party. The PDP is incapable, by its own internal dysfunction, of offering its members any sensible, credible, smart, actionable platform t...

Tinubu heads to London for first Nigerian state visit in four decades

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Nigerian President Bola Tinubu lands in London Tuesday for a state visit hosted by Britain’s King Charles III, the first between Africa’s most populous nation and its former colonial power in nearly four decades. Tinubu has visited the United Kingdom several times in his tenure as Nigeria’s president and the two countries remain major partners in trade, aid and defence. London is also home to a massive Nigerian diaspora. Likely on the agenda are issues ranging from major Nigerian port renovations backed by Britain as well as trade, which reached £8.1 billion ($11 billion) in the year to September 2025, an 11.4 percent year-on-year increase. Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, will be greeted Wednesday by Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales. Charles will later receive Tinubu for an audience at Windsor Castle before hosting a state banquet that evening. On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as well as members of the Nigeria...

Middle Belt Group urges Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to return to leadership in 2027

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By Emma Nnadozie The New Nigeria Integrity Movement (NMIM), Middle Belt Zone, has called on former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to consider returning to national leadership in the 2027 general election, citing the urgent need for experienced and stabilising leadership amidst worsening national challenges. The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of a strategic meeting of the group, during which members reviewed the current state of the nation and expressed deep concern over rising insecurity, economic hardship, and the deteriorating living conditions of millions of Nigerians. According to a media release jointly signed by Hon. Pastor Peter Hassan, National Leader, and Dr. Blessing Eliagu, Secretary, “Nigeria is currently facing a critical moment marked by widespread poverty, hunger, and persistent insecurity across several communities, particularly in the Middle Belt region.” The statement continued, “Across the nation, millions of Nigerians are experiencing...

Senator Natasha debunks fake investment video, warns public

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By John Alechenu, Abuja The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has debunked a viral video circulating on social media that falsely portrays her promoting a fraudulent investment scheme. The lawmaker issued a public warning on Sunday, describing the video as manipulated and misleading content created by fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting members of the public. In a statement shared on her official social media handle, Akpoti-Uduaghan explained that the video was doctored from a previous interview she granted to television journalist Seun Okinbaloye. She said criminals altered the footage to promote a fake investment platform. “Although the manipulated clip appears to feature my voice and image, it is entirely fabricated and should not be trusted,” she said. Akpoti-Uduaghan urged Nigerians to ignore the viral video and refrain from engaging with any investment opportunity linked to the manipulated content. She also appealed to memb...

Labour Party begins e-registration in Nasarawa, denies existence of caretaker committee

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By Edwin Philip, Lafia The Labour Party in Nasarawa State has commenced an electronic membership registration exercise, while insisting that the party’s constitution does not recognise any form of caretaker committee. The state chairman of the party, Mr. Emmanuel Alexander Ombugu, stated this during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held at the party secretariat in Lafia to deliberate on the e-registration exercise and interact with aspirants seeking to contest future elections on the party’s platform. Ombugu warned individuals parading themselves as members of a caretaker committee to desist, describing such claims as illegal and capable of causing division within the party. “There is nothing like a caretaker committee in the Labour Party. It is not recognised in our constitution. Anyone parading himself as caretaker is only trying to cause problems and create confusion within the party,” he said. He emphasised that the Labour Party in the state remains united and does no...

2026 Mother’s Day: First Lady celebrates women’s resilience, courage

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First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has hailed the resilience, courage, sacrifice and achievements of women across the country and the globe. Mother’s Day is celebrated in March in honour of the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. The first Lady, in a message to mark the day, on the 2026 Mother’s Day, describing mothers as the silent architects of the nation’s future and the enduring heartbeat of every home, she ended her message with “Happy Mother’s Day. “Today, I honour and celebrate every mother across Nigeria. Your love, care and sacrifices do not go unnoticed.” “Beyond the big sacrifices, it is the small, quiet moments that truly define a mother’s love. On this special day, we carry those moments in our hearts and say thank you for the warmth and love you selflessly give. “To all mothers who nurture, love and shape our families, you are the heroes of our nation,” Oluremi said. Oluremi furthe...

Plateau LG polls: ADC conducts primaries in 15 LGAs

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The Plateau chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) says it has successfully conducted primaries in 15 of the state’s 17 local government areas. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the primaries are for local elections slated for September 9. Plateau ADC Chairman, Mrs Hanatu Gagara, told NAN that the primaries were conducted peacefully across the local government areas, except in Mikang and Langtang South. Gagara said that in the remaining local governments, ADC has candidates contesting for councilor and chairmanship seats. “What really happened was that the two local governments came late to obtain the forms, and by then, we couldn’t sell the forms to them anymore because the time had already elapsed. “Now that the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) has increased the period for the primaries based on the new electoral act, their issue will be looked into. “We haven’t started the process yet because I just received the letter this a...

Tinubu to Media Executives: Hold states, LGAs accountable as you do to me

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•Says US-Israel-Iran war affecting key economic sectors  By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja President Bola Tinubu yesterday urged media executives to also scrutinize state and local governments, the way they scrutinize his administration.  The President said states and local government areas under his administration enjoy greater financial autonomy.  President made the appeal, while hosting Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria,NPAN, Media executives and Nigeria Guild of Editors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He said: “We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money.  “But how they use it is in your hand, so don’t bombard me alone. Look at local government too, and equally, the sub-national.” President Tinubu said no state in Nigeria is currently borrowing money to pay workers’ salaries, attributing the development to reforms implemented by his administration. “Today, there is no sta...

2027: Is PDP collapsing because Wike is ‘holding it down’ for Tinubu or due to internal crisis?

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Luminous Jannamike, Abuja A few metres from the busy junction near the Peoples Democratic Party national secretariat in Wuse Zone 5, Musa Sani runs a small kiosk squeezed between a POS operator’s stall and a modest business centre where residents come to print documents and photocopy forms. Behind his seat is a carton filled with unused campaign posters from the February 21 Federal Capital Territory council elections. As he opens it, the familiar umbrellas of the Peoples Democratic Party; red, white and green spill out, bright but untouched. For years, he was the kind of grassroots loyalist every party relies on: the man who shares flyers, argues politics on street corners, and helps mobilise crowds whenever rallies are held. This time, most of the posters never left his kiosk. “We printed plenty. But the excitement was not there like before,” he said, lifting one from the carton. A Crisis That Had Been Building By the time the Court of Appeal delivered its ru...

Makinde group urges Wike allies to return to ‘PDP mainstream’

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The Seyi Makinde Disciples, a political support group, has urged members of a factional caretaker committee backed by Minister Nyesom Wike to return to the party’s mainstream leadership. Convener of the group, Mr Laja Adeoye, made the appeal on Thursday in Lagos during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Adeoye said the party remained open to reconciliation and expressed optimism that the lingering leadership crisis would soon be resolved. He urged members of the caretaker committee, led by Mohammed Abdurahman and Sen. Samuel Nwanyanwu, to embrace peace and to reintegrate into the party structure recognised by its constitution. “We are hopeful that all the issues within the party will soon be put behind us. The PDP remains a big family with room for everyone. “The National Caretaker Committee is not recognised by the law or the party’s constitution, and that position has been clearly stated. “The Wike camp now has the opportunity to return home. The PDP is o...

PDP strong in Sokoto despite defections, says Senator Gada

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By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Abubakar Umar Gada, has assured members and supporters that the party remains strong and united in Sokoto State despite recent defections by some political actors. In a press statement issued on Thursday in Sokoto, the former lawmaker urged loyal members of the party to remain calm, steadfast and committed to the ideals of the PDP, stressing that the party’s structure and electoral prospects in the state remain intact. Gada noted that while political defections are common in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, such developments would not weaken the PDP’s long-standing grassroots presence in Sokoto State. According to him, the PDP remains one of the most organised and people-oriented political parties in the country, with structures spread across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. He explained that t...

Iranian president demands guarantees, reparations to end war

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday set out conditions for a possible end to the war, saying the only way to halt the fighting would be international guarantees ensuring a permanent end to all attacks. Writing on X, Pezeshkian also called for reparations and said Iran’s “legitimate rights” must be recognized. He did not specify which rights he meant, but observers of Iranian domestic politics say he may have been referring to the appointment of a new supreme leader and the need for international recognition. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “not happy” with the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new religious leader and head of state, saying the new leader should expect significant difficulties. “I don’t believe he can live in peace,” Trump said, without giving further details.

PDP leadership crisis: BoT constitutes reconciliation committee

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The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a special committee to interface with the party’s legal team and stakeholders to foster internal reconciliation. The BoT disclosed this in a communiqué issued on Wednesday in Abuja, at the end of its two-day expanded emergency meeting, presided over by the board chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara. According to the communiqué, the special committee is to address the leadership crisis following the March 9 judgement of the Court of Appeal as well as to help enable the party to field candidates for the 2026 general elections. The Appeal Court judgement had invalidated the party’s November 2025 National Convention, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC). The communiqué also stated that while the PDP BoT disagreed with the appellate court’s judgement, it was awaiting formal advice from its lawyers on the way forward. It expressed concern over the avoidable internal leade...

Gov. Yusuf sacks Kano Head of Service

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By Bashir Bello KANO – Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State, has sacked his Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa. In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, the Governor said the Head of Service is relieved of his appointment with immediate effect. Governor Yusuf said the decision is part of the ongoing efforts by the present administration to reposition the state civil service for greater efficiency, discipline, and improved service delivery across all government institutions. He directed Musa to handover the affairs of the office by Wednesday to the Permanent Secretary, Admin and General Services at the Cabinet Office, Hajiya Bilkisu Shehu Maimota who is directed to serve in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Service. The Governor expressed appreciation to the outgoing Head of Service for his contributions and dedication to the service of Kano State during his tenure. According to the statement, “We wish him the best ...

INEC Calls for Peaceful Campaigns Ahead of Osun Election

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Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged political parties and candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns as political activities begin for the 2026 Osun State governorship election.  INEC officials warned that electoral violence or hate speech could threaten the credibility of the election. The commission emphasized the need for all stakeholders—including political parties, supporters and security agencies—to maintain order during the campaign period.  The Osun election is expected to attract strong political competition, making it an important test for Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of future national elections.

PDP Leaders Meet in Abuja Amid Party Crisis

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The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scheduled a crucial meeting in Abuja to address ongoing leadership disputes within the party. The meeting comes after a court ruling that nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.  The judgment has intensified tensions within the opposition party, with different factions pushing for control of the party structure ahead of future elections. Party leaders say the meeting is aimed at restoring unity and deciding the next steps.  Political analysts believe the outcome of the BoT meeting could shape the PDP’s internal leadership structure and determine its readiness for upcoming political contests in Nigeria.