Author: Gbenga Olaleye

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend its forthcoming elective convention, scheduled to take place on 15 and 16 November 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State. Saraki warned that proceeding with the event under the prevailing circumstances would further deepen the crisis threatening the party’s stability. The former Kwara State governor made the appeal on Wednesday while receiving the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Team at his residence in Abuja. Saraki, who also chairs the PDP National Reconciliation Committee, stressed that dialogue—not litigation—remains the most effective way…

The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ongoing internal crisis within the party as self-inflicted, while confirming that preparations for its forthcoming national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, remain on course. Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday during the presentation of the BoT Reconciliation Committee’s report, BoT Chairman and former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, maintained that the PDP remains united and determined to reposition itself ahead of future elections. “It is absolutely practicable for us to go to the convention,” Wabara said. “All organs of the party — the Governors’ Forum, the National…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his commitment to upholding due process and respecting all government institutions, including the military, while addressing disputes over land ownership in Abuja. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday regarding the recent confrontation between FCT officials and some military personnel, Wike emphasised that his administration would continue to prioritise legality and institutional cooperation in managing the capital city. “I will continue to respect all government institutions, including the military. However, everyone must also learn to obey the laws. We cannot allow a situation where approved land allocations are…

The African Union (AU) has dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump that Christians are facing genocide in northern Nigeria, following his recent threat to launch a military intervention in the country. Speaking at a press conference in New York on Wednesday, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chair of the African Union Commission, said that while Nigeria continues to grapple with complex security challenges, it is inaccurate and misleading to describe the situation as genocide. “There is no genocide in northern Nigeria. The complexity of the situation in northern Nigeria should push us to think twice before making such statements,” Youssouf stated.…

The Anambra State Government has announced plans to construct 30 new primary schools across various communities in the state, following a comprehensive report identifying areas without public primary and secondary schools. The decision comes in the wake of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s landslide re-election on November 8, 2025, in which he secured victory in all 21 local government areas of Anambra State, earning 73 per cent of the total votes cast. In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, said the resolution to build new schools and other key policy decisions were reached during the…

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 20 suspects across several states for offences ranging from kidnapping and armed robbery to terrorism and infrastructure vandalism, as part of its intensified efforts to strengthen national security. The agency’s National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this during a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the arrests were made by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad between October and November 2025, following directives from the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi. According to Afolabi, eight of the suspects were apprehended for alleged involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder.…

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has dismissed as false the viral claims that he gifted a brand-new Toyota SUV to Lieutenant Ahmed Yerima, the naval officer recently involved in an altercation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. In a statement released on Thursday through Atiku’s verified X handle, his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, described the circulating reports as “entirely fabricated” and lacking any factual foundation. He urged members of the public to disregard what he called a “baseless social media rumour.” “His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria (1999–2007), did not gift…

Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has publicly condemned FCT Minister Nyesom Wike following a confrontation with military personnel in Abuja. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated online on Tuesday, showed Wike engaged in a heated exchange with soldiers over a disputed plot of land. In a statement, Buratai described the confrontation as a threat to national security and called for an immediate response. “His public disparagement of a uniformed officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces transcends mere misconduct; it represents a palpable threat to national security and institutional integrity,” Buratai said. He further explained that a…

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is set to establish a $1 billion industrial complex in Zimbabwe, combining cement production, coal extraction, and electricity generation, according to reports. Discussions between Dangote’s representatives and Zimbabwean officials reportedly began during the Afreximbank Annual Meetings held in Abuja in June. Paul Tungwarara, investment adviser to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, confirmed that arrangements are underway for a high-profile meeting between the president and Dangote. “The richest man in Africa is coming to Zimbabwe at the invitation of President Mnangagwa,” Tungwarara said. “The two have been in constant communication, and we are presently working on the…

Legal experts have reiterated that under Nigerian law, ministers have no authority to dictate, countermand, or intimidate military officers while on duty, following a recent confrontation involving the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a soldier at a duty post in Abuja. Writing in a legal analysis, Pelumi Olajengbesi, Esq., Senior Partner at Law Corridor, explained that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) vests command of the Armed Forces exclusively in the President as Commander-in-Chief. This authority is exercised through the military chain of command and may only be delegated to members of the Armed Forces, not to civilian…