The All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again tightened its grip on Nigeria’s political landscape, sweeping 12 out of the 16 constituencies contested in Saturday’s by-elections across 13 states. According to results compiled at press time, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) secured two seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won one seat each. The African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite the hype and heavy political backing it enjoyed ahead of the polls, failed to register a single victory. The by-elections, which attracted 637 candidates from 17 parties jostling for 68 vacant seats…
Author: National Update
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has dismissed reports suggesting that he lost his polling unit during last Saturday’s Babura/Garki Federal Constituency by-election in Jigawa State. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Comrade Mati Ali, the Minister described the claims as “false, untrue, and deliberately misleading,” insisting that official results from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC) won at his polling unit. “Our attention has been drawn to the circulation of an election result from Babura Kofar Arewa Polling Unit 001 mischievously…
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jigawa State has rejected the outcome of last Saturday’s Babura/Garki Federal Constituency by-election, in which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner. In a statement signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Umar Kyari Jitau, the PDP alleged widespread irregularities, accusing the APC of using state machinery to compromise the process. “The PDP strongly rejects in totality the conduct and outcome of the Babura/Garki Federal Constituency by-election. Our party observed how the APC used state power, indulged in vote buying, intimidation, and…
By Uhuru Samuel, Jalingo The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scored a major political upset in Taraba State, clinching victory in Saturday’s Karim I State Constituency by-election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s candidate, Abner Shittu, winner after polling 5,901 votes, narrowly defeating his closest rival from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ali Kanda, who scored 5,527 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate trailed with 2,069 votes, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) managed just 106 votes. The by-election followed the resignation of Mr. Dio Jen, who vacated his Assembly seat to join the Taraba State Executive…
The ancient city of Oyo roared with colour, chants, and the fiery spirit of Sango over the weekend as the 2025 World Sango Festival climaxed in a historic moment: the official presentation of the UNESCO World Heritage Certificate to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Abdulhakeem Owoade I. The Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, led the symbolic handover, describing the recognition as a turning point for Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy. Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the minister, Dr. Nneka Ikem Anibeze in a statement on Sunday quote her thus, “We celebrate…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Musa Hassan Yakubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the Dekina-Okura State Constituency by-election held on Saturday in Kogi State. Announcing the results at the Egume Collation Centre, the Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Eneche Onoja of the Federal University Lokoja, said Yakubu secured 55,073 votes to defeat his closest rival, Godwin Meliga of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 1,038 votes. Other results announced showed Joseph Egene Ugbede of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) with 445 votes, Amos Ahiaba of the African Democratic Congress…
By Oseloka H. Obaze When I appeared on Arise Prime Time interview with Charles Aniagolu on 2nd June, 2025, I said amongst other things, that any political opposition coalition for the 2027 presidency, which did not include Peter Obi, will not succeed. I stand by that statement. From the caption of this piece, any discerning reader would have already guessed the singular objective of this write-up; to encourage Peter Obi not to be deterred by any force or persuasion from running for the Nigeria presidency in 2027. Here’s the upshot. If Obi runs, he might not win; if he does…
The Aiyepeku family in Kogi State has been thrown into deeper mourning as Chief James Aiyepeku, father of murdered photojournalist Ayobami Aiyepeku, died of a stroke barely three weeks after his son’s killing. Family members say the elder Aiyepeku’s death on Tuesday, August 12, was directly linked to the shock and trauma of Ayobami’s brutal murder on July 22 in Lokoja. “He never recovered from the pain,” Ayobami’s elder brother, Timothy Aiyepeku, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “On August 6, after making arrangements for Ayobami’s burial, I returned home to find my father had collapsed. He was hospitalised,…
Nigeria has scored one of its biggest counter-terrorism victories in years with the capture of two notorious leaders of Ansaru, the Al-Qaeda–linked terror group that has orchestrated kidnappings, bombings, and assaults across West Africa. The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced on Saturday that Mahmud Muhammad Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), Ansaru’s self-proclaimed “Emir,” and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), were arrested in a string of high-risk intelligence operations carried out between May and July 2025. “These men have been on international watchlists for years,” Ribadu said. “Their capture closes a bloody chapter of terrorist attacks against…
Three months after devastating floods swept through Mokwa, Niger State, killing more than 150 people and displacing thousands, President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦16.7 billion for the urgent reconstruction of the collapsed Mokwa Bridge, a lifeline for the affected communities. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the approval on Saturday, describing it as a major relief for residents still reeling from the tragedy. “This is music to the ears of Niger people. The President has approved ₦16.7 billion for a 10-span bridge to reconnect communities cut off by the disaster,” Idris said. The May floods left…