Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the Labour Party will not be participating in the forthcoming National Assembly by-elections in Edo State, scheduled for next week. The confirmation was made during a press briefing in Benin City by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Professor Anugbum Onuoha. According to him, a total of nine political parties successfully submitted candidates for the elections, which aim to fill vacant seats in the Edo Central Senatorial District and the Ovia Federal Constituency. The vacancies were created following the emergence of Senator Monday Okpebholo and Honourable Dennis Idahosa as…

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has challenged the practice of rotational presidency in Nigeria, insisting that the country should focus on effective leadership rather than regional rotation. Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Sowore said Nigerians want a president who can govern well, irrespective of their place of origin. “If I have a good President in Nigeria, who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from,” he stated. “That is what the majority of the Nigerian people are aspiring for. That is the idea of this…

The Federal Government has issued a warning of heavy rainfall expected between 5 and 9 August across 19 states, raising the risk of widespread flooding in 76 locations. The alert was issued on Tuesday by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre, under the Federal Ministry of Environment. Authorities urged residents in flood-prone areas and relevant stakeholders to take urgent precautionary measures. This latest forecast comes as floods have already affected parts of Ogun and Gombe states. Several other states, including Lagos, Plateau, Anambra and Delta, are also reporting damage caused by recent rainfall. A list of areas identified as…

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has reiterated his unwavering loyalty to his political godfather, former Governor Udom Emmanuel, dismissing any claims of a rift between them despite his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Eno, who assumed office in May 2023 after winning the gubernatorial election under the PDP banner, surprised many political observers when he officially joined the APC in June 2025. The move was seen as a strategic alignment with the ruling party at the federal level, especially as President Bola Tinubu’s administration continues to consolidate its influence across…

Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has blamed past northern leaders for the widespread poverty, insecurity, and decaying infrastructure in the northern region, accusing them of betraying the trust of the people. Speaking on Tuesday during a visit by the Tijjaniyya Grassroots Mobilisation and Empowerment Initiative of Nigeria (TIGMEIN) to his residence in Kaduna, Sani said leaders from the North squandered opportunities and looted public resources, leaving the region underdeveloped despite holding power for decades. “We had Buhari in power for eight years, yet the North remained impoverished. Industries like KTL, UNTL, Nortex, Arewa Textiles, and others were abandoned.…

Lagos, 5 August 2025 — Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Co-Chairman of the African Union’s 4th Industrial Revolution Policy Council, has called on the Nigerian federal government to reward Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, the 17-year-old student from Yobe State who was recently crowned the world’s best in English at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals in London. Nafisa, a pupil at Nigerian Tulip International College in Yobe, outperformed more than 20,000 contestants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations, to claim the top prize in the prestigious competition. Her achievement has been widely celebrated as a testament to the potential of Nigerian students…

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Nafisa Aminu, a student of Nigerian Tulip International College in Yobe State, for emerging as the world’s best in English at the prestigious 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals. In a congratulatory message shared via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, Atiku described Nafisa’s accomplishment as a shining example of the boundless potential of the Nigerian girl-child when given the right opportunities. “Nafisa’s outstanding success serves as a powerful testament to the limitless potential of the Nigerian girl-child when provided with quality education and a supportive…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate and ex-Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has reiterated his commitment to serve only one term if elected president, stating that four years is sufficient to transform Nigeria through sincere and purposeful leadership. Obi made the statement on Tuesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, expressing surprise at the widespread debate sparked by his one-term pledge. He argued that a focused and principled leader can deliver meaningful change within a single term. “I still find it baffling that my decision to do a term of four years, if given the mandate to rule this…

A leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kaduna State, Ahmed Tijjani Mustapha, has issued a stern warning to former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, urging him not to interfere in the party’s internal affairs or attempt to destabilise its structure. Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, Mustapha accused El-Rufai of orchestrating moves to seize control of the ADC’s Kaduna chapter through “subversive alliances” and “illegitimate political manoeuvres,” despite not being a registered party member at the ward level — a basic requirement for formal membership. “Let it be clearly understood that the Kaduna State Chapter…

Notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji, has reportedly released 32 kidnapped victims and surrendered part of his weapon stockpile as part of a peace initiative brokered by Islamic clerics in Zamfara State. The revelation was made by prominent Islamic cleric Musa Yusuf, popularly known as Asadus-Sunnah, during a religious gathering in Kaduna on Monday. He said the peace process followed several meetings held in July between clerics and Turji, alongside other notorious fighters operating in the Fakai forest, Shinkafi Local Government Area. Yusuf explained that the initiative was launched by concerned residents of Shinkafi who appealed to the clerics to engage…