The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order revoking his bail. Trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, issued the remand order in a brief ruling after dismissing an application by Sowore requesting that the judge withdraw from the case over allegations of bias. The court subsequently fixed June 24 for the hearing of the defendant’s motion seeking a stay of the order revoking his bail and the…
Author: National Update
Supporters of the Accord Party in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states have thrown their weight behind the presidential aspiration of Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, signalling what party stakeholders describe as a renewed drive to expand the party’s influence and consolidate its grassroots presence ahead of the 2027 general elections. The endorsement followed a series of consultations and meetings involving party leaders, members and supporters across the three North-West states, where participants pledged to intensify mobilisation efforts and strengthen the party’s structures at the ward and local government levels. In Jigawa State, supporters from the state’s 27 local government areas expressed confidence in…
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged Nigerians to confront the country’s decline and take collective responsibility for rebuilding the nation, warning against handing over a troubled Nigeria to future generations. In a reflective Father’s Day message on Sunday, Obi painted a picture of a country that has drifted far from the unity, security and prosperity he experienced growing up, asking a pointed question: “Are we cursed, or are we the cause?” The former Anambra State governor said he belonged to a generation that witnessed a more cohesive Nigeria, where ethnic and religious differences rarely…
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has revealed how Governor Alex Otti convinced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the development of a full international airport in Abia State instead of the airstrip initially planned by the Federal Government. According to Keyamo, the Federal Government had earmarked funds in the 2024 budget for the construction of a basic airstrip after Tinubu expressed surprise that Abia lacked any aviation landing facility. However, Otti reportedly sought a more ambitious project and approached the President with a proposal to transform the planned airstrip into a full-fledged international airport. The governor pledged…
A civil society organisation, the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA), has reopened controversy surrounding the academic credentials of President Bola Tinubu, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify his eligibility ahead of the 2027 general elections. In a letter addressed to the new INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, the group asked the electoral body to provide what it described as “urgent legal clarification” on the certificates submitted by the President during the 2023 election cycle, warning that failure to do so could trigger legal action. The group, which described itself as a pro-democracy and anti-corruption advocacy…
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected the outcome of the Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election, calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the exercise and conduct a fresh poll over alleged irregularities. In a statement issued on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Danjuma Joseph, the party alleged widespread flaws in the conduct of the election, including issues it said undermined the credibility of the process. The by-election, conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission, was held to fill the vacant Nasarawa North Senatorial seat following the death of former lawmaker, Senator Godiya Akwashiki. The party claimed that…
APC chieftain Hon. Jonathan Vatsa has raised fresh concerns over the possible conduct of the 2027 general elections, warning that the credibility of key democratic institutions may determine the stability of the process. Speaking during a thanksgiving service marking his 64th birthday, Vatsa expressed apprehension over what he described as the “body language” of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the potential role of the judiciary in post-election disputes. He cautioned that if INEC fails to strictly uphold neutrality and transparency in the management of the electoral process, and if the judiciary is perceived as partisan in adjudicating election…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned reported incidents of violence, voter intimidation and vote-buying that characterised the Ekiti State governorship election and several by-elections, describing the development as a disturbing setback for Nigeria’s democratic process. HURIWA said the recurring electoral irregularities under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that Nigeria’s elections continue to face serious ethical, legal and credibility challenges that must be urgently addressed. In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group expressed disappointment that despite the deployment of security personnel and operatives of…
The National Organising Secretary of the Labour Party, Oluchi Oparah, has extended warm greetings and heartfelt appreciation to fathers across Nigeria and around the world in commemoration of Father’s Day. In a goodwill message released on Sunday, Oparah described fathers as “pillars of strength, protectors, providers, mentors, and silent builders of society,” noting that their sacrifices often go unnoticed but remain the foundation upon which stable families and communities are built. She paid special tribute to Nigerian fathers, commending their resilience in the face of economic and social challenges, and their unwavering commitment to the welfare and upbringing of their…
The Senate has launched a fresh effort to resolve the lingering regulatory dispute between the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), in a move aimed at eliminating uncertainty in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and restoring investor confidence. Leading the intervention, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector, Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, said lawmakers are determined to address the jurisdictional overlaps that have sparked tensions between the two agencies and raised concerns among industry players. Speaking at a five-day stakeholders’ retreat in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Sumaila described the…