The Nigeria Democratic Congress has moved to shut down what it described as an unauthorised revenue channel within its state structures, warning party chairmen and officials against demanding money from support groups seeking recognition. The directive, obtained by our correspondent, came after the national leadership received reports that some state chairmen had been asking support groups to pay fees before they could be registered with the party. In a statement signed by the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party made it clear that registration of support groups is free, and that no state chapter has the authority to…
Author: National Update
The former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has questioned how $123.77m in external development facilities is now being presented as debt inherited from his administration when, according to Debt Management Office figures he cited, the state’s external debt stood at about $30m when he handed over power in March 2014. The discrepancy is at the centre of Obi’s latest response to the renewed controversy over Anambra’s debt profile, providing a fresh dimension to the long-running financial dispute between his administration and the government of his successor, Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Obi’s position is…
By Douglas Baye-Osagie Email: dbayeosagie@yahoo.com Congratulations to Moses Simon. Tonight in Uyo against Madagascar, if Eric Chelle fields him, he will become a centurion – 100 caps for the Super Eagles. An incredible feat of professionalism, talent and patriotism. The NFF will honour him, and deservedly so. Before tonight, four men had done it: Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama, Ahmed Musa and Alex Iwobi – who just reached his century against Portugal in the friendly before the 2026 World Cup. Tonight, Moses Simon becomes the fifth member of Nigeria’s exclusive Centurion Club. The numbers show his loyalty: debut on March 25,…
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process have warned that the credibility of the 2027 general elections could be undermined not only by what happens at polling units but also by artificial intelligence-generated falsehoods, weak institutions, unverified results and gaps in the electoral justice system. The warning was issued on Thursday at the 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu, where editors, politicians, lawyers and other stakeholders examined the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 elections. The conference was held under the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy…
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has recounted how he narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt in Maitama, Abuja, while pursuing his ambition to become governor of the state. Otti said about 12 armed men arrived at a location in July 2015 with the intention of killing him, but their plan failed because he had left the premises shortly before their arrival. The governor disclosed this on Thursday in Umuahia during a solemn assembly and covenant renewal service organised by the Abia State Government to rededicate the state to God. According to Otti, the attackers believed he was still inside the…
The future of Kogi East is sitting in classrooms, workshops, farms, markets, offices and homes across the nine local government areas. They are young graduates searching for their first opportunity. They are artisans trying to build businesses with limited tools. They are farmers looking for better ways to produce and sell. They are young women running small businesses from their homes. They are technology enthusiasts trying to work with inadequate internet access. They are young people with ideas, energy and ambition who simply want a fair opportunity to make something of their lives. High Chief Peter Ojonugwa Ameh believes Kogi…
Lagos State generated more Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2025 than 22 other states combined, as the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory recorded a combined N5.15 trillion during the year. The figure represents a 40.93 per cent increase from the N3.65 trillion generated by the states and the FCT in 2024, according to the 2025 Internally Generated Revenue Report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Lagos accounted for N1.77 trillion of the total, making it the highest-earning jurisdiction in the country. The combined IGR of the 22 states ranked below the top 15 jurisdictions stood at N909.35…
The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in Gombe State. Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed gave the order on Thursday in a suit filed by Usman Aliyu Garry challenging the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Pantami as the party’s candidate. Garry had challenged Pantami’s emergence after the PDP announced him as its sole candidate on June 26, 2026. He argued that the party failed to conduct the required governorship primary in accordance with its rules and applicable electoral laws. Pantami, a former All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, defected…
The Kano State Chairman of Jama’atu Izalatil Bidi’a Wa Ikamatus Sunnah, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Pakistan, has called for stronger prosecution of drug offenders, saying enforcement must go hand-in-hand with community intervention to tackle the state’s growing social challenges. Pakistan said the failure to ensure that drug offenders face appropriate legal consequences could further undermine efforts to curb drug abuse, violence and other social vices. He spoke when the Chairman of the Kano State Multi-Agency Task Force on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, visited him in Kano. The former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of…
The Federal Government has introduced a new framework for calculating interest on late payment of taxes, with the Nigeria Tax Administration Order 2026 taking effect from October 1, 2026. The Order was signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and announced by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday. Under the new framework, interest on overdue naira-denominated taxes will be based on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary Policy Rate plus one percentage point. However, the applicable rate cannot fall below the yield on 364-day Treasury Bills. For tax liabilities denominated in foreign…