Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has issued a stark warning that merely amending Nigeria’s current constitution will not resolve the country’s deeply entrenched political, economic, and security challenges. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Friday, Ozekhome described the 1999 constitution as a “curse” to national development, arguing that it was neither crafted by the people nor designed to serve their best interests. “What we need is a brand-new constitution that is people-driven. You can’t amend a bad document. A document that is already afflicted with an ailment cannot be amended,” the senior lawyer stated emphatically. Using a vivid…

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has expressed bewilderment over Peter Obi’s involvement in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), describing it as puzzling given Obi’s past ties with the PDP. Obi was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election and is now a leading figure in a newly formed coalition aiming to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, George urged those who have left the PDP to reconsider and return to the party, arguing that unity is crucial to increase their chances of defeating…

The Labour Party (LP) has officially announced that its 2027 presidential ticket is open to all interested aspirants, vowing that no candidate will be given preferential treatment. This was disclosed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, during a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday. Arabambi stated unequivocally that the era of handpicking candidates is over, and the party would conduct transparent primary elections to select its flagbearer for the next general election. “There shall be primary elections in the Labour Party, and no aspirant will be favoured this time around,” he declared. In the 2023 presidential election,…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has called on members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its coalition partners to remain steadfast and committed to the collective vision of unity, progress, and national development. He warned against abandoning the party over internal disagreements, urging party faithful to confront challenges with resilience and shared purpose. Governor Makinde made the remarks on Friday during the PDP South West Zonal Caucus meeting held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The meeting brought together party leaders, stakeholders, and elected officials from across the region to deliberate on the party’s direction, strategies, and cohesion…

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) recorded a major milestone on Thursday as investors gained N1.806 trillion in a single trading session. This followed a sharp increase in the All-Share Index (ASI), which rose by 2,457.13 points, or 2.01%, to close at 124,446.80 the highest level in the history of the exchange. The ASI had previously closed at 121,989.67. Thursday’s rise pushed the index beyond the 124,000 mark for the first time. Similarly, market capitalisation rose by 2.35%, settling at N78.726 trillion, compared to N76.970 trillion recorded on Wednesday. Market analysts attributed the gains to improved investor confidence, better liquidity conditions,…

Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has delivered a scathing assessment of Nigeria’s state-owned oil refineries, declaring that the facilities in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna may never function properly again despite an estimated $18 billion spent on their rehabilitation. Speaking at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery during a visit by members of Global CEO Africa, Dangote revealed that his decision to build the 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery stemmed from the government’s refusal to sell him the existing refineries under the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua’s administration. “We bought the refineries in January 2007, but had to…

Justice has finally begun to take shape for Ivan Onose Omhonrina, the two-year-old boy who was tragically killed by a stray bullet during a drug raid in Delta State last year. In a significant move, the Nigerian Senate has recommended the payment of ₦200 million in compensation to his grieving family. The heart-wrenching incident occurred on 13 July 2023, when operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stormed a suspected drug hotspot in Okpanam, located in the Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State. During the chaotic operation, a stray bullet allegedly fired by an NDLEA officer…

Former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has stated that all lingering disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been amicably resolved, positioning the party to successfully conduct its forthcoming National Convention and prepare for the 2027 general elections. Ortom made the remarks on Thursday during a media briefing in Makurdi, emphasising that the PDP is not currently in any coalition with another political party. “To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing like a coalition and my party is not into any coalition with any political party,” he said firmly. The ex-governor reiterated his support for a Southern…

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Interim National Chairman Senator David Mark, has assured the party’s state chairmen of their full inclusion in the coalition aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. The assurance came during a meeting on Thursday at Senator Mark’s Abuja residence, attended by the ADC NWC, state chairmen, and key stakeholders. This meeting followed earlier tensions when Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, alongside some state chairmen, accused Mark and Interim National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola of being imposed on the party and plotting to…

The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong displeasure over the repeated failure of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. The committee is probing massive financial discrepancies totalling ₦210 trillion discovered in the company’s audited accounts from 2017 to 2023. At the latest hearing held on Thursday, Ojulari failed to honour the Senate’s summons, sending company representatives instead. The committee, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, declined to entertain the delegates, stating that only the GCEO himself could respond to the critical audit queries. Senator…