Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has criticised the state government’s N3.69 billion Chief Reuben Fasoranti Park project, describing it as poorly timed, insensitive and a reflection of misplaced priorities amid prevailing economic hardship. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Sunday, the Ondo State PDP Chairman, Mr Modupe Aisida, faulted the project, arguing that it comes at a time when critical sectors such as education, healthcare and housing are in dire need of attention. The Ondo State Government had, in April 2025, approved the sum of N3.69 billion for the upgrade and vertical…

The National Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ogini Olaposi, has declared that the political influence of the party’s former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is overrated in Kano State and will not have any significant impact on President Bola Tinubu’s votes in the 2027 general election. Olaposi made the assertion in a statement signed on Sunday, insisting that Kwankwaso’s relevance as a former governor of Kano State has diminished over time. According to him, the former governor no longer commands the level of grassroots support often attributed to him, particularly ahead of the next presidential contest. The…

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has re-emphasised that safety and security remain the foremost priorities of his administration, assuring residents that his government will not be distracted from its people-centred agenda. The governor gave the assurance on Sunday at the Mater Dei Catholic Cathedral, Umuahia, during the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Interdenominational Thanksgiving Service. The event was organised by the Abia State Government in collaboration with the Nigerian Legion, Abia State chapter, to honour fallen heroes who paid the ultimate price in the service of the nation. Addressing the congregation, Otti said his administration places premium importance on security,…

The Speaker of Nigeria’s 10th House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has congratulated the Super Eagles for their impressive qualification to the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following a convincing 2–0 victory over Algeria. The quarter-final encounter, played on Saturday in Morocco, saw Nigeria deliver a commanding second-half performance, with goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sealing the nation’s place among the final four teams in Africa’s premier football competition. After a tightly contested first half, the Super Eagles took control of the match shortly after the restart. Star striker Victor Osimhen opened the scoring just…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stirred controversy with a declaration that he will use his authority to “punish people” who oppose him, escalating tensions in Rivers State’s fractious political landscape. Wike made the remarks on Sunday during a “thank-you tour” of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State, where he sought to rally support among grassroots political constituencies. Addressing supporters, the former governor emphasised the nature of political power, asserting that it is not granted as a gift but is fought for. In an unusual comparison, Wike referenced the United States, claiming that…

The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has defended Nigeria’s newly gazetted tax laws, insisting that concerns raised by KPMG Nigeria stem largely from misunderstandings of policy intent or disagreement with deliberate reform choices rather than actual errors. In a statement issued on Saturday, Oyedele said the committee welcomed scrutiny and feedback but maintained that the majority of KPMG’s observations mischaracterised the objectives and structure of the new tax framework. “We welcome all perspectives that contribute to a shared understanding and successful implementation of the new tax laws,” the statement said. Oyedele acknowledged that…

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has assured Nigerians that the 2027 General Election will be free, fair, transparent and driven by technology, warning that the Commission will not tolerate misconduct in the electoral process. Amupitan gave the assurance in Lagos during the 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat of the Commission, held from January 9 to 10. He said INEC was positioning itself to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving electoral environment and the growing expectations of the electorate. “We gather here today not merely as electoral administrators and leaders, but as…

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old man, Peter Adubi, in connection with the alleged defilement of a 13-year-old girl in Ibadan. The arrest was confirmed on Friday in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Olayinka Ayanlade. He said the matter was reported on January 8, 2026, at about 8:50 pm by the girl’s guardian. According to the police, the guardian became concerned after noticing unusual changes in the child’s behaviour. When approached for clarification, the minor reportedly disclosed that she had been sexually abused in 2022 while living with her mother in the…

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, has disabled its image creation and editing feature for non-paying users following intense backlash over the tool’s use to generate sexualised deepfake images of women and children. The decision comes amid growing international scrutiny of Musk’s social media platform X, where Grok is integrated, after reports emerged that users were exploiting the AI tool to create explicit and unlawful imagery. Some users allegedly generated images depicting women and children undressed and, in some cases, placed in sexualised positions. In a response to users on Friday, Grok announced the restriction via a post on X,…

The former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has firmly dismissed reports claiming that he recently declared his intention to contest the presidency, describing such claims as a misinterpretation of his remarks. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Baba-Ahmed clarified that he made no declaration of interest in the presidency and stressed that reports suggesting otherwise were inaccurate. According to him, his comments were taken out of context and amplified beyond their original meaning. “I never declared to contest the presidency two days ago,” he said unequivocally. “What I did was simply say…