Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Tension gripped the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Monday as heavy security presence surrounded the building following the resumption of former North-Central Vice Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, as the party’s acting national chairman. Mohammed’s assumption of office comes amid a widening leadership crisis within the opposition party, with rival factions of the National Working Committee (NWC) announcing counter-suspensions of key officers over the weekend. Earlier in the day, Mohammed and his supporters converged on the Federal Capital Territory office of the PDP, where he addressed party faithful, confirming his takeover as acting chairman. “I am…

Minister of Aviation and Space Development, Festus Keyamo, has applauded the defection of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a major political breakthrough for the party in the South-South region. Reacting on Monday to a welcome message from APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, Keyamo said Diri’s defection marks a turning point for the party, positioning it for greater political strength ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Finally, the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle in the South-South has moved into place! Officially, five of…

The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD-FCTA), has vowed to continue its ongoing strike until all outstanding demands are fully met by the government. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, the President of ARD-FCTA, Dr George Ebong, expressed disappointment that despite repeated assurances and several interventions, the key issues raised months ago remain unresolved. Ebong explained that the strike, which had earlier been suspended six weeks ago following the intervention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the National Assembly, was resumed due to what he described as the government’s…

A wave of mixed reactions has continued to trail United States President Donald Trump’s recent threat to deploy American forces to Nigeria following his decision to designate the country as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians. President Trump, in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday, claimed that Christianity was facing an “existential threat” in Nigeria, accusing “Islamist extremists” of orchestrating the “mass slaughter” of Christians. He warned that if the Nigerian government failed to stop the killings, the U.S. would “intervene with guns-a-blazing.” The declaration, which immediately followed Nigeria’s renewed listing…

The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Kaduna State Chapter, has strongly criticised the decision of the United States government under President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged persecution and killings of Christians. The council described the move as unfair, biased, and based on a distorted understanding of Nigeria’s complex security situation. It also accused the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of spreading what it called false claims of Christian persecution, warning that such narratives could deepen division and fuel mistrust across the country. President Trump, in a post shared on his…

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), has issued a stern warning against any form of protest or gathering within the university premises, particularly cautioning the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ekiti State chapter, to desist from any planned demonstration that could threaten peace and academic activities on campus. In a statement released on Sunday by the Students’ Union President, James Adio; General Secretary, Ayorinde Alao; and Public Relations Officer, David Abiola, the student leaders emphasised that the union “would not sit back and watch any unauthorised gathering on campus or disruption of peace and…

The Dangote Group has assured Nigerians that the recent approval of a 15 per cent import tariff on petrol and diesel by the Federal Government will not lead to higher pump prices. The Group’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, gave the assurance on Sunday during an interview with Arise News, amid growing public concerns that the tariff might trigger a price hike. Chiejina described such fears as “misplaced,” explaining that the policy was meant to discourage dumping and encourage local refining, not to inflate fuel prices. “Yeah, I’ve heard what people are saying, but I will tell you that…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has extended the deadline for the completion of the 2025 admission processes into public universities from 31 October to 17 November 2025. In a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the Board said the extension became necessary due to “emergent and compelling circumstances” affecting several universities. Dr Benjamin recalled that the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held on 18 July 2025 under the chairmanship of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, had initially set 31 October as the cut-off date for all public universities to finalise their…

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has defended his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying the move was made in the overall interest of the state. Speaking for the first time since his defection on October 15, Diri said on Sunday at the 14th Bayelsa Thanksgiving Day held at the Ecumenical Centre in Igbogene, Yenagoa, that “someone had to take the decision,” and he did so on behalf of Bayelsans. “Some of you might not understand now, but later it will be clear to all. I took the decision in the…

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in a “hopeless situation” and currently has no prospect of returning to power, following deepening internal crises within its leadership. Fayose, speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, backed the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Umar Damagum, by a faction of the PDP, while congratulating Mohammed Abdulrahman, the National Vice Chairman (North Central), on his emergence as Acting National Chairman. “The party needs a leader who can reunite everybody at this time. There is no hope of PDP coming back for now. Even the captains…