Author: Damilola Olufemi

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a voice vote by lawmakers after his screening session. Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, was screened at the National Assembly complex where he fielded questions on electoral reforms, technology integration, and his vision for credible elections in Nigeria. He arrived at the Red Chamber accompanied by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries. His nomination had earlier been vetted and cleared by the Office of the…

President Bola Tinubu on October 11, 2025, granted presidential pardon and clemency to 175 persons, including former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, nationalist Herbert Macaulay, Mamman Vatsa, and many others. In a release by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the decision for the pardon followed recommendations by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). The list, released on Saturday, was divided…

After a decade at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral body, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has stepped down as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yakubu, who first assumed office in 2015, announced his resignation on Tuesday during the commission’s quarterly meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja. This session he described as his “last as chairman.” Invoking Section 306 of the 1999 Constitution, he explained that the decision was to ensure a seamless transition as INEC enters a demanding election cycle. By consensus of the national commissioners, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, the most senior member, will serve as acting…

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, says the recent surge in cooking gas prices was triggered by temporary supply disruptions during the strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN). Speaking to State House correspondents on Sunday after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Ojulari described the spike as “relatively artificial,” noting that operations were stalled for several days due to the industrial action. “The increase you saw was relatively artificial because for the period of the strike, movements and loading were delayed by about two,…

Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has advised politicians not to exaggerate their academic records, stressing that a secondary school certificate is sufficient to qualify for elections or government appointments. His comment came on Monday after a Premium Times investigation revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), denied awarding a Bachelor of Science degree to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji. Court documents showed that Nnaji himself admitted the institution never issued him a degree, as he did not complete his programme. The minister has since dragged the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC),…

France has been thrown deeper into political uncertainty after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu abruptly resigned on Monday, only 27 days into the job. President Emmanuel Macron accepted his ally’s resignation, the Elysee confirmed, describing the move as both sudden and unprecedented in modern French politics. Lecornu’s departure came barely a day after he unveiled his cabinet, which had been scheduled to meet for the first time on Monday afternoon. The line-up, however, drew swift criticism from across the political spectrum. Some accused it of leaning too far to the right, while others argued it did not go far enough, signs…

Minister of power, Bayo Adelabu, has announced that he will contest the Oyo State governorship election in 2027. Speaking at an event, Adelabu said his long involvement in politics makes him confident that the time has come for him to lead the state. “Truly, I have been on this journey for so long. I believe you don’t get a position immediately you join politics. I have paid my dues. I ran against Seyi (Makinde) in 2019, and again in 2023. By that time he was already in power,” he said. Referencing the Yoruba phrase Emi lokan which translates to “it’s…

The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review will on Monday, October 6, 2025, hold a consultative session with the leadership of registered political parties as part of ongoing efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution. The committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, has listed several priority areas for possible amendment, including state police, power devolution, local government autonomy, judicial and electoral reforms, independent candidacy, human rights, and the creation of special seats for women. In recent weeks, the panel toured the six geopolitical zones to gather stakeholders’ views on the review process. It is expected to submit its final…

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has praised the Department of State Services (DSS) for ordering the release of Ruth Marcus and Keshia Jang, two reporters with Jay 101.9 FM, Jos, who were detained while covering the funeral of the late mother of the All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda. NUJ National President, Alhassan Yahya, in a statement on Sunday, said the union welcomed the intervention of the DSS Director-General, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, whose directive ensured the journalists were freed without delay. Marcus and Jang had been held after uploading footage on social media that showed a clash…

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