Author: Damilola

Lawmakers on the Joint Conference Committee of the National Assembly are set to meet on Monday to resolve differences between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the Electoral Amendment Bill before forwarding a unified draft to President Bola Tinubu for assent. The committee, drawn from both chambers, has been given one week to iron out disputed provisions—chief among them the issue of electronic transmission of election results. The move follows the passage of differing versions of the bill by the Senate and the House, particul.arly regarding the use of technology in collating and transmitting results. The amendment effort…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the National Assembly that it will require N873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections, alongside N171 billion to run its activities in the 2026 fiscal year. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the commission’s 2026 budget estimates and projected 2027 election costs before the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja. The proposed N873.78 billion marks a sharp rise from the N313.4 billion released by the Federal Government for the 2023 general elections. Nigeria is scheduled to hold nationwide polls in 2027, while Ekiti and Osun…

Atletico Madrid produced a commanding 4-0 victory over Barcelona in their Copa del Rey semi-final clash at the Metropolitano Stadium on Thursday night. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman played a decisive role, scoring once and registering an assist as the side coached by Diego Simeone dominated proceedings. The hosts wasted no time taking control after Eric Garcia inadvertently put the ball into his own net inside the opening minute. Antoine Griezmann extended the advantage in the 14th minute, calmly finishing from close range following a well-weighted pass. Before the interval, Lookman further stamped his authority on the contest by setting up…

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has assessed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has chosen his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, as his successor. According to a report by the BBC, the NIS briefed lawmakers that its conclusion was based on a “range of circumstances,” including Ju Ae’s growing visibility at major state functions. In recent months, the 13-year-old has accompanied her father to several high-profile events, notably a September visit to Beijing — her first recorded trip outside North Korea. The intelligence agency indicated it would closely observe whether she appears at the ruling party’s congress later this…

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has advised the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to consider zoning its 2027 presidential ticket to the southern region of the country. Speaking in Kano on Wednesday, Amaechi said the party must carefully assess three major factors when choosing its flag bearer: competence, age, and respect for the country’s informal power-sharing arrangement. “I will support whoever emerges. But I also advise the ADC to look around and identify the best material [aspirant] that can convince Nigerians that things will be turned around,” Amaechi said. He outlined his position further, stating, “First is capacity, second is…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advocated a generational transition in African politics, calling on countries across the continent to intentionally elevate younger leaders between the ages of 25 and 50 whom he described as better suited to handle the demands of modern governance. Jonathan made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja at the International Memorial Lecture and Leadership Conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of former Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed. Reflecting on his time in office, the former president highlighted the intense physical and mental strain associated with leadership. “Why do we begin to think…

Former Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has maintained that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains firmly rooted in the state, despite the decision of Governor Ademola Adeleke to defect to the Accord Party. Oyinlola made the remarks on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Osogbo. The gathering was attended by the party’s caretaker chairman and secretary in the state, Tunde Tijani and Seyi Bamidele, as well as former Secretary to the State Government, Fatai Akinbade, and former PDP South-West Vice Chairman, Taju Oladipo. However, all serving appointed and elected officials were absent. Addressing party members from the 30 local…

A proposed bill before the United States House of Representatives is urging the US Secretary of State to collaborate with the Nigerian government to curb what it describes as “hostile foreign exploitation of Chinese illegal mining operations” in Nigeria. The legislation, titled the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026, was introduced on Tuesday by five Republican lawmakers — Chris Smith, Riley Moore (the bill’s author), Brian Mast, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Bill Huizenga. According to the sponsors, some illegal Chinese mining activities in Nigeria are allegedly linked to the “destabilizing practice of paying protection money to Fulani militias.” Among…

Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has recused himself from two cases involving former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. At Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Egwuatu announced that he would no longer handle the matters, citing personal reasons and the need to uphold the interest of justice. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Malami on a 16-count charge related to alleged money laundering. In December 2025, the anti-graft agency said it uncovered properties valued at N212 billion linked to the former minister as part of an investigation into his time…

Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, widely known as 2Baba, has pushed back against what he describes as a long-standing misconception about his personal life, insisting that he is not a womaniser but someone who loves deeply. In an interview with Voice of Nigeria shared on Wednesday, the award-winning artiste spoke candidly about public perception, fatherhood, and life in the spotlight. “The biggest misconception about me is that I’m a womaniser. I like women; I’m just straightforward. But I’m a lover boy. I love hard,” 2Baba said. Reflecting on his role as a father, the singer admitted that juggling a successful…