The controversy surrounding the reported appointment of veteran journalist Yomi Odunuga as Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has been laid to rest following an official clarification from the SGF’s office. In a statement issued by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, it was confirmed that Mr. Odunuga was indeed appointed to the role and began functioning in that capacity on Thursday, July 10, 2025, upon receiving formal approval from the SGF. According to Kuanum, Odunuga is currently undergoing mandatory documentation in line…
Author: National Update
In a swift and decisive move, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate redeployment of security officers stationed at the Edo State Government House, including the Camp Commandant, following a controversial lockout that marred Friday’s Supreme Court victory celebration. Journalists and several members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were denied access to the Government House premises during the event, sparking outrage and confusion among party loyalists and invited guests. Governor Okpebholo, visibly displeased by the development, condemned the action as unauthorized and completely at odds with the inclusive governance style he has championed since assuming office.…
In what many see as a timely intervention amid growing concerns over political theatrics in churches, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has issued firm new guidelines on how politicians and government officials are to be received during worship services and official church programmes. This move comes in the wake of recent incidents, including a widely publicised outburst by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whose fiery remarks during a church thanksgiving in Asokoro sparked national conversation about the misuse of religious platforms for political brawling. In a memo signed by the Primate of the Church, The…
Officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) have raised concerns over poor voter turnout across polling units in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area during Saturday’s local government elections. Despite early deployment of materials and personnel, polling stations remained largely empty hours after voting began. At Polling Unit 036, where 56 voters were expected, only a handful had shown up by mid-morning. A LASIEC official at the unit lamented, “We’ve been here since 8 a.m., but not many people have shown up.” Polling Unit 020, Ward 2, recorded a similarly dismal turnout—only two voters out of 94 expected had…
A heated political row has erupted in Nigeria’s capital city, as the media aide to Senator Ireti Heebah Kingibe issued a scathing rebuttal to comments made by Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. In a blistering statement on Thursday, July 10, 2025, Kennedy Mbele, the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Senator Kingibe, described Olayinka’s remarks as “childish, irresponsible, and completely divorced from the real issues at stake.” The clash follows Senator Kingibe’s recent interview highlighting governance concerns in the FCT—a conversation that has since spiraled into personal mudslinging. “It is only very…
Prominent constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ozekhome, has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, declaring it fundamentally flawed and incapable of solving the nation’s political and economic woes. Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Ozekhome did not mince words as he dismissed repeated constitutional amendments as “futile efforts to fix a broken foundation with patches.” “What we need is a brand-new constitution that is people-driven. You can’t amend a bad document. A document that is already afflicted with an ailment cannot be amended,” he said. According to Ozekhome, Nigeria’s current constitution—handed down…
Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been named Governor of the Year in Infrastructure Development at the prestigious 15th African Achievers Awards, held at the House of Lords, Westminster Palace, London. The award, presented by the Deputy Mayor of London, Mr. Mete Coban, recognizes Governor Yusuf’s strides in infrastructure, including major road constructions, urban renewal programmes, and the rehabilitation of key public facilities aimed at modernizing Kano State. In a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Governor was represented at the event by Usman Bala, mni, Special Adviser on State Affairs, and Sunusi…
“A LAYMAN’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING HON. JUSTICE BINTA NYAKO’S JUDGMENT-A TALE OF TWO ACTS OF DISOBEDIENCE: SENATOR NATASHA DISOBEYED THE SENATE RULES, AKPABIO DISOBEYED THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION” BY DR. TONYE CLINTON JAJA, (1st Nigerian Recipient of PhD in legislative law degree by the University of London) A lot of commentaries have been written by lawyers on the true meaning of the judgment of the 4th July 2025 that was delivered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako. In this write-up, I will attempt to use simple, plain English language to explain the said judgment to non-lawyers or laypersons. As with other of…
By Muhammed Danjuma Ogwu, Lafia As the 2027 general elections draw closer, political activity in Nasarawa North Senatorial District is intensifying, with stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) unanimously endorsing Governor Abdullahi Sule for the senatorial seat. This move comes amid quiet but strategic consultations by aspirants from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and other political parties. The central question gaining momentum across the zone remains: Who will emerge victorious among the leading contenders—incumbent Governor Abdullahi Sule, sitting Senator Godiya Akwashiki (SDP), and former Deputy Governor Micheal Abdul? The field of possible aspirants is…
By Fred Itua In the tragic pages of Weep Not, Child, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o tells the story of youthful dreams caught in the web of colonial betrayal, societal unrest, and personal disillusionment. It is a narrative of broken promises, false hope, and the agonising realisation that the world is far more brutal than it first appears. If ever there was a modern Nigerian parallel to this timeless African tragedy, it would be the political misadventure of Asue Ighodalo—a man whose ambition was inflated by praise singers, deceived by a crumbling godfather, and ultimately buried under the weight of a futile…