Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

The internal crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has taken a dramatic turn as the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, openly aligned himself with the political camp of the party’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, amid growing tension over Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s reported plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Gwarzo, who was in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj when the crisis broke out, has since returned and is now playing a visible role in high‑level meetings at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano. Party sources said loyalists are increasingly rallying around the Kwankwaso political structure,…

A group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the national leadership of the party to urgently intervene in the deepening political crisis rocking the party in Rivers State, warning that failure to act could expose the ruling party to public embarrassment and weaken its internal cohesion. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the group expressed concern over what it described as the “unfortunate path” taken by the legislative arm of government in the state, noting that the development poses serious risks to the stability and survival of the party at the state level. According to…

The Trump administration has appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as founding members of a powerful new “Board of Peace” for Gaza, as part of a bold plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas and guide the territory’s future governance and reconstruction. The White House announced on Friday that President Donald Trump will serve as chairman of the board, which forms the centrepiece of his 20‑point peace plan for the Middle East. The board is expected to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and manage its long‑term stabilisation and rebuilding. Also named to the founding…

Britain could begin mobilising reservists as old as 65 within the next 12 months as global security threats grow, military experts have warned, amid rising tensions with Russia, Iran and growing uncertainty over the future direction of the United States under President Donald Trump. The Government has announced plans to strengthen the nation’s military reserves by raising the maximum age for members of the Strategic Reserve from 55 to 65 and lowering the legal threshold for mobilisation from “national danger or attack on the UK” to “warlike preparations”. The reforms would allow tens of thousands of former Armed Forces personnel…

The exiled son of Iran’s last monarch has called on the international community to support protesters seeking to overthrow Iran’s government, declaring that the fall of the Islamic Republic is inevitable, even as the United States steps back from plans for an immediate military strike amid fears of a wider regional war. Reza Pahlavi, a US‑based opposition leader, said the global community should intensify pressure on Tehran and directly target the leadership of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. He argued that such action would weaken the regime’s grip on power and reduce further loss of life. “The Islamic Republic will fall —…

President Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that refuse to support his ambition to bring Greenland under United States control, a move that has escalated diplomatic tensions across Europe and raised fears of a major crisis within NATO. Speaking at a White House meeting on Friday, Trump said he “may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland,” describing the Arctic territory as vital to US national security. Greenland is a self‑governing territory under the sovereignty of Denmark, a NATO ally. Trump did not specify which countries could face new tariffs or the legal authority…

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has called on the United States to show respect for Venezuela’s dignity, saying her government is prepared to engage Washington diplomatically despite rising tensions between the two countries. Speaking on Thursday, Rodríguez said her administration was not intimidated by the power of the United States, even as she acknowledged its global military and nuclear strength. She stressed that Venezuela remained open to diplomatic engagement through political dialogue rather than confrontation. “We know they are very powerful. We know they are a lethal nuclear power,” Rodríguez said. “We are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political…

The Federal Government has welcomed the European Commission’s decision to remove Nigeria from the European Union’s list of high‑risk third countries for Anti‑Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), describing the move as a major milestone in the country’s ongoing financial and economic reforms. The decision, contained in a European Commission Delegated Regulation released this week, amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675, which previously classified Nigeria as a high‑risk jurisdiction requiring enhanced financial scrutiny by European institutions. In a statement issued on Thursday via X, the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mohammed Manga, said the delisting…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the decision of his son, Abba Abubakar, to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a personal choice, insisting that the development should not be a source of concern or political alarm. In a statement released on Thursday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Atiku said political decisions made by family members were normal in a democratic society and stressed that he does not impose his political views on his children or on Nigerians. “The decision of my son, Abba Abubakar, to join the APC is entirely personal,” Atiku stated. “In a democracy, such…

British dual citizens travelling to the United Kingdom without a valid British passport may soon face refusal of entry under new border regulations set to take effect next month, sparking concern among citizens living and working abroad. Under changes scheduled to come into force on 25 February 2026, British nationals who hold dual citizenship will be required to present either a current UK passport or a certificate of entitlement when entering the country. Those unable to provide the required documentation could experience delays at the border or be denied entry altogether. Previously, many dual citizens were able to travel to the UK using non‑British passports…