Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

ABUJA — The gale of defections in the House of Representatives intensified on Thursday as seven federal lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing irreconcilable internal crises within their former parties. During Thursday’s plenary, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, read letters from the defecting lawmakers, marking a significant political realignment in the state’s representation at the national level. Among the defectors, six were elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while one, Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, was previously a member of the Young Progressives Party (YPP). The PDP lawmakers…

In a strategic move widely seen as an effort to counter growing Chinese and Russian influence on the African continent, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an unexpected summit with five African heads of state. The meeting, set to take place at the White House on July 9, will bring together leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal, a White House official confirmed on Wednesday. According to the official, the summit will focus on “commercial opportunities” and will include a working lunch hosted by the president. “President Trump believes that African countries offer incredible commercial opportunities which benefit both…

The Nigerian naira continued its decline against major global currencies today, Wednesday July 2, 2025, reflecting growing pressure on the local economy and foreign exchange market. According to data from the google finance  the official exchange rates are as follows: £1 (British Pound) = ₦2,101.87 $1 (US Dollar) = ₦1,533.75 €1 (Euro) = ₦1,813.40 ¥1 (Chinese Yuan) = ₦214.13 This marks one of the lowest valuations of the naira in recent years and indicates persistent volatility in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market. Why Is the Naira Falling? Several economic challenges are contributing to the naira’s depreciation. Key among them is Nigeria’s…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing feud, U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly lashed out at billionaire Elon Musk, telling the tech magnate to “return to South Africa” in a fiery Truth Social post. The outburst comes amid Musk’s vocal opposition to Trump’s latest tax and spending bill, igniting a fresh round of hostilities between the two high-profile figures. Musk, the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), had condemned the Trump-backed legislation as a betrayal of fiscal responsibility. “Those who campaigned on cutting spending but voted for this should hang their heads in shame,”…

Donald Trump has formally lifted US sanctions on Syria, marking a dramatic shift in American foreign policy and reigniting debates over justice, peace, and accountability in the war-ravaged country. In a move that stunned analysts and sparked cautious optimism across the Middle East, the US president signed an executive order in May that dismantled most of the sanctions imposed on Syria since 2004. The decision follows growing regional pressure, particularly from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to support Syria’s reintegration into global diplomatic and economic frameworks. These efforts have been amplified by the recent political transition that saw former Islamist guerrilla…

The White House has sharply criticized the United Kingdom following a narrow vote in the House of Commons to support a controversial assisted dying bill. In an unprecedented intervention, the U.S. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour, under the Trump administration, condemned the proposed legislation as “state-sponsored suicide,” sparking diplomatic tension between the two longstanding allies. The proposed law, which recently cleared its second reading by a 23-vote majority (314 to 291), would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to legally end their lives under specific, regulated conditions. It applies to individuals over the age of 18…

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has officially stepped down from his position in what insiders say was a move influenced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Though no formal reason was provided for the abrupt resignation, it is widely believed that it was requested by the President during a late-night meeting on Friday. Shortly after, Ganduje’s portrait was removed from the APC national secretariat, signaling a swift transition. A copy of Ganduje’s resignation letter, accessed by New Daily Prime, is attached below. This development comes amid rising political intrigue surrounding the 2027 general…

Nigeria is mourning the death of one of its most iconic business figures, Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 94. Widely regarded as one of the most influential industrialists in West Africa, Dantata lived a life that blended enterprise, public service, and devotion to community upliftment. As tributes continue to pour in following his death on June 28, here are thirteen essential facts that capture the extraordinary life and legacy of this iconic figure. He Was Born into a Dynasty of Wealth and Trade Aminu Dantata was born on May 19, 1931, in…

In another blow to Nigeria’s opposition ranks, two federal lawmakers from the Labour Party (LP) — Senator Neda Imasuen and Hon. Chimaobi Atu — have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the country’s ruling party. Their exits come amid a wave of defections reshaping the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 general elections.  Imasuen: “I Must Align With National Priorities” During Thursday’s Senate plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South), in which the lawmaker declared his decision to join the APC after “extensive consultations with constituents and political stakeholders.” “I want…

A series of Israeli airstrikes hit Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon early Thursday, in what the Israeli military described as a response to renewed efforts by the militia to rebuild its operational facilities. According to a report by Sky News, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched precision strikes on an underground site used by Hezbollah to manage its “fire and defense array.” The IDF stated that the facility had been previously targeted, but recent intelligence suggested Hezbollah was attempting to restore operations at the location. “The IDF identified attempts by the Hezbollah terror organization to restore the site, and therefore…