***Demands Urgent National Action The African Democratic Congress (ADC) disability leadership has raised fresh concerns over what it describes as the “unfinished state” of Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that millions of persons with disabilities (PWDs) remain systematically excluded from governance, public services, and economic participation. In a Democracy Day statement titled “Democracy Without Access is Democracy Denied,” the National Leader of Persons with Disabilities in the ADC, Chike Okogwu, said Nigeria cannot claim democratic completeness while large segments of its population are shut out by physical, economic, and institutional barriers. Okogwu said Democracy Day should not only be a moment of…
Author: National Update
Today, we celebrate democracy and the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers—not through violence. We have experienced the longest stretch of civilian rule in our history. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it. In the coming days, Ekiti and Osun States will hold elections. I urge INEC, security agencies, and all parties to ensure these polls are peaceful and credible. Democracy fails when…
Frontline National Democratic Congress (NDC) House of Representatives aspirant, Engr. Obi Njoku, has issued a forceful challenge to fellow contenders in the Abuja primary election, demanding a complete break from what he described as “politics-as-usual” and urging a return to people-centred representation. Speaking ahead of the primary, Njoku said Nigeria’s legislative space has drifted dangerously away from the citizens it was created to serve, warning that lawmakers are increasingly absorbed in internal party battles, political negotiations, and resource control while the country’s core problems continue to deepen. He questioned the relevance of current parliamentary priorities, arguing that the lived realities…
Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, has called on Nigerians to defend democracy and safeguard the gains of the June 12 struggle, warning that the sacrifices made by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and other pro-democracy heroes must not be betrayed. In a Democracy Day message commemorating the 33rd anniversary of the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, Adebayo said Nigerians must move beyond symbolic celebrations and recommit themselves to the ideals of free and credible elections, constitutional governance, and the supremacy of the people’s will. According to him, June 12 remains one of…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) appeared to come under increasing pressure in the ongoing Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project trial after a series of admissions by its own witnesses handed the defence fresh ammunition to challenge the foundation of the prosecution’s case. What began as a trial focused on the controversial award of the $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract has increasingly evolved into a battle over the credibility of the documents upon which the prosecution relies. At the centre of the dispute are Federal Executive Council (FEC) records from May 21, 2003, which the EFCC has presented…
By: Lamara Garba The Kano State Government is considering plans to establish a state-owned airline as part of efforts to expand its economic base, enhance transportation services and create new sources of revenue for the state. Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf disclosed this while addressing Kano pilgrims in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. According to the Governor, the proposal is informed by the strategic importance of the aviation industry in the global economy and its immense potential to contribute to the socio-economic development of Kano State. “We are thinking of floating an airline company for…
POWER BELONGS TO ALLAH, RE-ELECTION IS NOT A DO-OR-DIE AFFAIR — GOVERNOR ABBA KABIR YUSUF ……..Urges Electorate to Remain Peaceful, Prayerful and Law-Abiding By Lamara Garba The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared that his political future, including the question of re-election in 2027, rests entirely in the hands of Almighty Allah, stressing that political power is neither a matter of life and death nor something that any individual can permanently give or take away. Governor Yusuf made the remarks while addressing Kano pilgrims and Hajj officials in Makkah during a Sallah visit on Wednesday. Speaking…
Retired judge, respected legal scholar, and author, Hon. Justice (Professor) Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, is set to turn the spotlight from legal scholarship to educational empowerment with the launch of a foundation dedicated to supporting indigent students across Nigeria. The Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye Educational Foundation for Indigent Students will be officially unveiled on July 2, 2026, during the public presentation of two groundbreaking books on electronic evidence in Abuja. The event, scheduled to hold at the ultra-modern Conference Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Jabi, is expected to draw leading figures from the judiciary, academia, legal profession, government, technology…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Executive Director of the Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently publish maps of newly restored constituencies across affected states following a recent court judgment. Abdul made the call in a statement issued on Thursday in Lokoja, stressing that the maps would facilitate the effective implementation of the judgment and serve as a guide for stakeholders ahead of future electoral activities in the affected areas. He urged INEC to ensure the full restoration of all previously suppressed constituencies, describing…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has pushed back strongly against the International Monetary Fund (IMF), describing its assessment that Nigeria’s economic reforms are working as a “logical contradiction” in the face of worsening poverty and hardship across the country. In a statement issued on June 11, 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the group said it was deeply concerned that international economic assessments are increasingly detached from the daily struggles of ordinary Nigerians. HURIWA argued that it defies logic to describe any reform as successful when the majority of citizens are becoming…