Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has criticised the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, over what he describes as confusion regarding Wike’s political loyalty. Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television on Friday, Cole questioned Wike’s relationship with the ruling APC while simultaneously claiming membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “Is he APC or is he PDP? As far as we know today, he is PDP,” Cole said. He warned that such ambiguity risks misleading voters in Rivers State and Nigerians at large, undermining democratic clarity. “We cannot continue…

The lingering local government crisis in Osun State has taken a new turn as reinstated All Progressives Congress (APC) local government executives have filed a suit against the Federal Government, the Inspector General of Police, and the Osun State Government, seeking clarity and protection over their tenure. The affected officials, elected in October 2022 but initially removed following a Federal Court ruling nullifying their election, were reinstated by the Court of Appeal in February 2025. Despite this, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) swiftly conducted local government elections on 22 February 2025, swearing in their own executives and creating a dual…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that governors from the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones have abandoned their former political parties to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term. Speaking through the party’s Deputy National Chairman, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, at the APC’s 12th Expanded Stakeholders meeting held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Yilwatda attributed the governors’ defection to their belief in the president’s character and leadership style. “I am very happy with the South-South geopolitical zone because all the governors that were in other political parties before have seen the…

Former federal lawmaker Dachung Bagos has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to demonstrate its neutrality by sanctioning President Bola Tinubu and his supporters over billboards bearing the inscription “Vote Tinubu 2027”, which have appeared in parts of the country well ahead of the official campaign window. Speaking on AIT’s Focus programme on Thursday, Bagos, who represented the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said the billboards contravene Section 94 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which prohibits campaign messages explicitly soliciting votes outside the designated period. “The law is against using the word ‘vote…

Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South in the National Assembly, has spoken out against mounting calls for the removal of Nigeria’s service chiefs, asserting that such a move would not address the root causes of the country’s security crisis. In a statement issued on Thursday, the senior lawmaker and member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) criticised individuals and groups demanding the dismissal of military leaders, suggesting that they are driven by ulterior motives rather than genuine concern for national security. “People calling for the removal of the current service chiefs have hidden agendas and are not acting…

Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has issued a stern warning to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana, threatening legal action should she be barred from resuming plenary duties on Monday, 15th September. The warning, contained in a letter dated 10 September and signed by her legal counsel, Chief Michael Numa, SAN, follows what Akpoti-Uduaghan describes as continued disregard for a court order permitting her return to legislative functions. “Take notice that failure to comply by Monday, 15th September 2025, will leave us with no alternative but to initiate proceedings against you personally and in your official…

The Nigerian government has announced that, starting from 1 January 2026, all Nigerians and non-residents will be required to obtain a Tax Identification Number (Tax ID) to open or operate bank accounts and access financial services. This directive follows the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu. The law makes it compulsory for individuals and entities to present a valid Tax ID when engaging in banking, insurance, stockbroking, and other financial transactions. It also applies to contracts with federal and state governments. READ ALSO: FG reverses 5% telecom tax amid public…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has summoned the management of Dangote Refinery and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to an emergency meeting, following rising tensions over alleged violations of an agreement granting workers the right to freely associate with labour unions. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm on Friday and is expected to include representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other key stakeholders in the labour and petroleum sectors. The move by the DSS comes just days after both parties — Dangote Refinery…

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an application brought forward by the Department of State Services (DSS) seeking to expedite the trial of Khalid Al-Barnawi, the suspected mastermind of the 26 August 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, along with four co-defendants. At the hearing, DSS counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Alex Iziyon, moved the application for an accelerated hearing, asserting the agency’s readiness to ensure a swift determination of the case. The application faced no opposition from the defence counsels. The trial, which is currently at the stage of a trial-within-trial—a legal…

The Obidient Movement has appealed to former President Goodluck Jonathan to support Peter Obi in the upcoming 2027 presidential election, rather than joining the race himself. The appeal follows a closed-door meeting between the two leaders on Thursday, which Peter Obi shared publicly via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle. In the post, Obi described Jonathan as “a very dear elder brother, statesman, and leader,” adding that their discussions focused on the state of the nation. While speculation continues to grow about Jonathan’s potential return to presidential politics, the former president has not made any formal declaration. In a statement…