Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have strongly criticised Honourable Ibraheem Shittu, representing Saki West State Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), labelling him an “absentee lawmaker” with minimal participation in legislative duties. In a joint statement released on Thursday and made available, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin, and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Media, Public Affairs and ICT, Hon. Waheed Akintayo, accused Shittu of consistently missing plenary sessions and committee assignments. Their statement comes in response to Shittu’s recent allegation that the Assembly secretly approved a ₦300 billion loan request by Governor Seyi Makinde during…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that the voter registration figures recently released for Osun State are implausible. In a statement issued on Thursday, the electoral body maintained that there was “nothing extraordinary” about the data, which recorded 393,269 online pre-registrations in Osun alone within the first week of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The ADC had earlier criticised the figures, describing them as “statistically implausible” and inconsistent with historical voter registration trends and demographic data in the state. READ ALSO: Jonathan calls for reforms in INEC leadership selection…

National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reaffirmed the party’s willingness to engage in discussions with other political parties, individuals, or coalitions ahead of the 2027 general elections. However, he insisted that the party is not rushing into any political alliances or agreements. Speaking at the NNPP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the former Kano State Governor emphasised that any future collaboration would be a collective decision involving the leadership and grassroots members of the party. “We are ready to talk to anybody who wants us to work together…

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has signed a $2.5 billion agreement with the Ethiopian Government to construct one of the world’s largest single-site fertiliser plants in Gode, located in the Somali Regional State of Ethiopia. The agreement, formalised on Thursday, is between Dangote Group and Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the government’s strategic investment arm. Under the deal, Dangote Group will hold a 60% equity stake, while EIH will retain 40%. According to EIH, the plant will rank among the world’s top five urea production complexes, with a capacity of up to three million metric tonnes annually. The project, slated for…

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of passport application fees within Nigeria, with the new rates set to take effect from 1 September 2025. This development was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), A.S. Akinlabi, who noted that the revision is aimed at maintaining the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport ahead of its full implementation on 1 September 2025. READ ALSO: UK passport fees to rise by nearly 7%, Home Office confirms According to the new structure, a 32-page passport with a five-year validity will now…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has dismissed rumours of internal discord, asserting that the party remains united and committed to strengthening its national structures in preparation for the 2027 general elections. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, refuted recent claims suggesting a leadership crisis within the organisation. His comments follow a press briefing on Wednesday, during which Nafiu Bala declared himself the legitimate National Chairman of the ADC. Bala argued that both the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution designate him as the rightful successor following the resignation of Ralph…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clarified that, despite President Bola Tinubu receiving the party’s endorsement for a second term, other members who wish to contest for the presidency will still be allowed to participate in the 2027 primaries. Sulaiman Argungu, the APC’s National Organising Secretary, made this known on Wednesday while addressing journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. He explained that the endorsement of President Tinubu was not intended to foreclose the chances of other aspirants, stressing that the party would remain open to internal democracy when the time comes. “We will definitely not close our doors…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and close associate of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Oladimeji Fabiyi, has attributed the party’s current woes to leaders he described as lacking loyalty to its traditions and foundation. Speaking in an interview with Trust TV News, Fabiyi argued that many of the PDP’s present power brokers were not part of the party’s formative struggles and therefore do not fully understand its guiding values. “The PDP is in this mess today because many of those steering the ship don’t understand the party’s foundation,” he said. Citing examples, Fabiyi queried: “Where was Wike…

Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has threatened legal action against popular human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Deji Adeyanju, over alleged defamatory posts made against him on social media. In a legal notice issued by EJESIMEN & CO MADIBA CHAMBERS, SAN, Obi’s legal representatives accused Adeyanju of consistently making “false and malicious” remarks targeted at damaging Obi’s reputation. The notice particularly highlighted a post dated 21 August, in which Adeyanju alleged that Obi had siphoned funds from Anambra State during his tenure and channelled them into his family business. Adeyanju also claimed…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced a comprehensive personnel audit of civil servants aimed at capturing the Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN) of all employees. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Didi Walson-Jack, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the HCSF office, Mrs Eno Olotu. According to Walson-Jack, the initiative forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is designed to build a modern and efficient civil service. She explained that the audit would not only…