Leading civic rights organisations have strongly cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against what they describe as a dangerous gamble with Nigeria’s democratic future—insisting that the appointment of partisan Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) makes the promise of a free and fair 2027 election practically impossible. In a joint alarm raised by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), the organisations decried what they called the quiet politicisation of INEC’s top positions through the strategic nomination of loyalists of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as…
Author: National Update
While the All Progressives Congress (APC) basks in the glow of a unanimous endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term, one senior party figure is calling for a reality check. Senator Ali Ndume, a ranking APC lawmaker known for his blunt honesty, has publicly rejected the May 22 endorsement of Tinubu by 22 APC governors, questioning both its timing and its relevance to the mood of the nation. In an interview on Channels Television, Ndume revealed that he walked out of the gathering at the Presidential Villa once it became clear that the meeting had turned from…
The Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, CON, mni, on Sunday, June 8, 2025, received members of the Association of APC Songwriters, Jigawa State Chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit at his Kano residence as part of the Eid-El-Kabeer festivities. Led by their State Chairman, Alhaji Lawan Gujungu, the delegation extended warm Sallah greetings to the Minister and commended his patriotic service to the nation. The group offered prayers for his continued strength and divine wisdom, especially in his role overseeing Nigeria’s defence and confronting pressing security issues. The Association of APC Songwriters, established during the formation of…
The Kano State Government has issued a bold demand to the Federal Government: compensate the state for the economic and cultural devastation caused by the cancellation of the annual Durbar celebrations for two consecutive years. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Tajo Uthman, made the declaration on Sunday during the traditional Sallah homage paid by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Government House. Uthman lamented that the suspension of the historic festival—renowned globally and recognised by UNESCO—had inflicted severe financial setbacks on the state and deprived the people of…
***Highlights numerous projects By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja SENATOR Sunday Karimi, representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly in collaboration with Tinubu Support Group is to disburse N300 million as bursary to Kogi State students in the 2025 academic session. Karimi disclosed this during a Media Parley to mark his second year in office at the National Assembly themed: “2 Years of Impact, Accountability, Progress in Kogi West”, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre on Saturday in Lokoja. The Distinguished Senator who has concluded plans to extend the bursary award to students from the the three…
The Edo State Government has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Mr. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, demanding a full public retraction and apology for what it describes as a defamatory and malicious social media publication targeting Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo and members of the state executive council. The warning was contained in a formal letter dated June 8, 2025, and signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Rt. Hon. Dr. Samson R. Osagie. The government said the post, published on June 6, made “false, damaging, and criminally reckless” allegations against the current administration. According to the viral post, the Governor had…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja MASREAL Media, a media consultancy outfit, has called for collective advocacy to educate citizens of Kogi State on “Voluntary Tax Compliance” and importance of tax payment in funding public goods and services. Amb. Ahmed Suleiman, Executive Director, Masreal Media made the call at a Town Hall Meeting on Voluntary Tax Compliance organized in collaboration with Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS). The Town hall Meeting held at Reverton Hotel, Lokoja, was the grand finale of the statewide sensitization tour to educate citizens on Voluntary Tax Compliance across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. Amb.…
The Federal Government has declared Thursday, June 12, 2025, a public holiday to mark this year’s Democracy Day. This was announced on Sunday by the Ministry of Interior in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani. The holiday was approved by the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the federal government. The declaration is coming just days after the government also announced Monday, June 9, as a public holiday to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, making it the second national holiday of the week. Speaking on the significance of June 12, Tunji-Ojo described it as a day…
Senator Ayodele Arise, a former federal lawmaker and pioneer in Nigeria’s tech space, says the Tinubu administration is laying the groundwork for a full-scale digital economy through strategic and accelerated deployment of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). According to Arise, Nigeria’s most consequential transformation isn’t taking place in oil blocs or legislative chambers, but across digital ecosystems — in innovation hubs, coding bootcamps, startup incubators, and data-driven governance platforms. Appearing on Arise TV’s The Morning Show over the weekend, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain described the administration’s digital push as “bold, focused, and transformative,” praising what he sees as…