Author: Gbenga Olaleye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that young Nigerians are at the forefront of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that within just seven hours of the nationwide online registration reopening on Monday, 69,376 Nigerians had successfully completed pre-registration. “Out of the total registrants, 48,033 are aged 18 to 34, representing 69.2 percent of early applicants,” Olumekun disclosed. Gender distribution shows a nearly balanced participation, with 33,803 applicants (48.7 percent) male and 35,573 (51.3 percent) female. Olumekun also highlighted that the online…

Prominent human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has strongly criticised the continued reverence accorded to former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), particularly the practice of referring to him as a “statesman.” In a post shared via X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Farotimi condemned such accolades as a distortion of history and an attempt to whitewash the damage he says Babangida inflicted on Nigeria during his time in power. “Not telling these ruinous cretins exactly what they are contributes towards the normalization of the evils that they have visited on the people,” Farotimi wrote.“This mutual affirmation strategy is…

A respected Mogaji in Ibadanland, Chief Abass Oloko, has come to the defence of business tycoon Chief Jubril Dotun Sanusi, following the controversial ultimatum issued by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Engr.) Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, demanding the revocation of Sanusi’s Okanlomo of Yorubaland title. The title, conferred by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has sparked tension between two major Yoruba traditional institutions. However, Chief Oloko dismissed the Alaafin’s threats as “absurd” and rooted in a misinterpretation of traditional authority within Yorubaland. In a statement issued Monday, Oloko asserted that the Ooni of…

A traditional rift appears to be widening in Yorubaland as the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has issued a strong rebuke to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over the recent conferment of the chieftaincy title “Okanlomo of Yorubaland” on Ibadan-born business magnate, Engineer Dotun Sanusi. In a statement released by his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the Alaafin described the Ooni’s action as a direct affront to the revered institution of the Alaafin, insisting that only the Alaafin holds the exclusive authority to confer titles that span the entire Yorubaland. Oba Owoade…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has credited its success in the recently concluded bye-elections held across 12 states of the federation to growing public confidence in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement issued on Sunday, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, expressed gratitude to Nigerians for what he described as “decisive support” that led to a sweeping victory for APC candidates in the polls. “These wins represent yet another solid endorsement of President Tinubu’s administration and its Renewed Hope Agenda, which is steadily transforming Nigeria’s economy and other critical sectors of national life,”…

A member of the legal team representing Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Onyedikachi Ifedi, has reiterated calls for his immediate release, stating that his continued detention lacks legal foundation. In a statement titled “The real theatre is in Abuja, not IPOB”, Ifedi criticised the Federal Government’s handling of Kanu’s case and argued that his arrest and repatriation from Kenya in June 2021 violated both Nigerian and international legal procedures. Citing the landmark ruling by the Court of Appeal in the case FRN v. Kanu (CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022) delivered on 13 October 2022. READ ALSO: Court…

The former Governor of Oyo State and Olubadan-designate, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has returned to Ibadan, the state capital, as preparations intensify for his official ascension to the throne. Ladoja, who was unanimously approved by the Olubadan-in-Council as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, is currently at his family house in Isale-Osi, located in Ibadan South East Local Government Area. He is expected to proceed shortly to his private residence on Ondo Street, in Bodija, within Ibadan North Local Government. Speaking on Monday, the media aide to the Olubadan-designate, Mr Adeola Oloko, confirmed Ladoja’s arrival in the city. “The 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland,…

The National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, is in mourning following the death of his beloved mother, Mama Lydia Yilwatda. She passed away at the age of 83 on Saturday morning at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State. Her passing has elicited a wave of condolences from political leaders, religious communities, and party members across the nation, marking a profound moment of grief for the Yilwatda family and the wider APC community. The Plateau State chapter of the APC confirmed the sad news in a statement issued at the weekend by…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has inaugurated a special-purpose committee to investigate 6,458 cases of technologically driven examination malpractice uncovered during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The 23-member committee was formally inaugurated on Monday in Abuja by JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who expressed concern over the growing complexity and sophistication of exam fraud in recent years. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Prof. Oloyede lamented the rise of high-tech cheating, describing the methods as far removed from traditional forms of malpractice. He revealed that the results of 6,458 candidates remain under scrutiny for alleged involvement in…

Presidency mocks Atiku and Peter Obi after APC secures 12 of 16 bye-election seats, taunting opposition over heavy losses ahead of 2027 polls. The Presidency has ridiculed opposition leaders Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party’s (LP) former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, following the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s sweeping victory in Saturday’s bye-elections. Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, took to his X account on Monday morning, posting: “How is the market now?” alongside a photo featuring Atiku, Obi and other ADC members. Although he did not directly mention names, the taunt was widely interpreted as aimed at…