Category: News

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced a shift in the timetable for its governorship primary elections in Bauchi and Kwara states, now set to take place on Friday, May 22, 2026. This change was disclosed in an official statement released by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday.

Additionally, the primaries for the State House of Assembly seats in Maradun I and Maradun II constituencies, located in Zamfara State, have been moved to Sunday, May 24, 2026. The NWC stated that these modifications were made after extensive discussions with key stakeholders, emphasizing the party’s dedication to ensuring a transparent, orderly, peaceful, and credible primary election process.

The statement clarified that only the governorship primaries in Bauchi and Kwara, along with the two assembly constituencies in Zamfara, are affected by the rescheduling. No other primary elections have been altered. The party reaffirmed its commitment to conducting fair and credible internal elections across all states.

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has issued a strong appeal to members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to come out in large numbers and cast their votes for President Bola Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election. He made this statement on Thursday shortly after completing his accreditation at the gubernatorial direct primaries held at RCM Primary School in Ihugh, the administrative center of Mbadede Council Ward.

Alia emphasized that President Tinubu deserves another term in office to build upon his achievements, which include major infrastructure projects, economic reforms that have attracted investments, initiatives aimed at creating jobs and enhancing security, and a strengthened governance framework.

Furthermore, the governor assured that he would reach out to all disgruntled APC members and those who lost in the primaries for Senate, House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly, urging them to remain within the party fold and collaborate to ensure victory for the APC in every election.

He expressed his satisfaction with the large turnout for the gubernatorial primary, interpreting it as a clear endorsement of his leadership by the people. Alia confidently stated, “I guarantee that after my eight years in office, Benue will become a state that everyone will desire to visit.” He added, “What you have witnessed here is merely a fraction of my plans for the state. I started from scratch and have been laying a solid foundation.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a landmark judgment that overturns the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) revised timeline for the 2027 general elections, granting political parties until September 2026 to submit their membership registers. The ruling provides a significant reprieve for candidates who lost in recent primary elections, as it invalidates the earlier deadlines that many deemed overly restrictive.

Justice Mohammed Garba Umar presided over the case, which was brought by the Youth Party against INEC. In his verdict, Justice Umar declared that INEC’s imposed timeframe for party primaries, candidate submissions, withdrawals, and replacements was inconsistent with the Electoral Act of 2026. He emphasized that the commission lacks the authority to shorten the statutory periods outlined in the law.

The suit, filed under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2016, sought to nullify INEC’s timetable that required all 18 political parties to submit their registers by May 10 and conduct primaries by the end of May. The court agreed with the plaintiff’s argument that such deadlines contravened Sections 29, 82, and 84(1) of the Electoral Act, which set specific timeframes for candidate nominations and submissions.

Specifically, the court noted that Section 29(1) mandates parties to submit candidate particulars no later than 120 days before an election, and INEC cannot reduce this period. Similarly, Section 31 allows for candidate withdrawal and substitution up to 90 days before elections, while Section 32 requires the final candidate list to be published at least 60 days prior. The judge ruled that INEC’s timetable improperly shortened all these periods.

Additionally, the court addressed Section 98, which governs campaign timelines, stating that INEC cannot end campaigns two days before elections as it had proposed. The ruling also clarified that Section 33’s requirement for membership register submissions does not apply to primaries conducted for replacing withdrawn candidates. Justice Umar ordered the nullification of all inconsistent deadlines, setting aside the entire revised schedule.

This decision comes amid widespread protests against primary results, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress, where allegations of candidate imposition have led to withdrawals and tensions. With the new extension, parties now have until September 2026 to finalize their registers and primaries, offering a chance for disgruntled politicians to seek alternative platforms or recontest.

In a targeted security operation on May 20, soldiers from the 196 Amphibious Battalion apprehended a woman suspected of aiding ISWAP militants in Baga, Borno State. The arrest took place around 8 am during a routine checkpoint at the C Company post in Lawanti, a locality within Baga town.

Security analyst Zagazola Makama, citing military sources, confirmed the incident on his X handle on Thursday. The suspect was found in possession of four packs of ready-to-use therapeutic food, two hijabs, and a wristwatch.

Preliminary inquiries suggest that the woman was transporting these supplies to her son, allegedly an active member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating in the Dumba region. Following her detention, she has been taken into custody for additional questioning and legal proceedings.

The Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) has announced its readiness to conduct the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for June 13. According to a statement made on Thursday, the election will take place in all 21 local government areas across the state.

Zenald Zidon Love, the commission’s Commissioner for Public Affairs, Planning, and Strategy, shared updates during a press briefing in Yola. He confirmed that all election materials are in place, ad-hoc staff have been recruited, and security agencies are fully involved in the process, including candidate screening.

A joint security meeting is planned for June 8, 2026, at the ADSIEC Secretariat to finalize security arrangements, as added by Love.

The election timetable indicates that campaigning, which began on May 1, 2026, will conclude on June 11. Results are expected to be announced between June 13 and June 14, with a possible rerun on June 20 if needed.

Love also confirmed that 11 political parties have been cleared to contest the polls. These include the Young Progressive Party (YPP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Peoples Party (APP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Boot Party (BP), and Accord Party (AP).

The Lagos State Government has confirmed that approximately 28,000 trucks have been enrolled in the Lekki-Epe electronic call-up system, a digital initiative designed to streamline truck movements along the corridor. Commissioner for Transportation Oluwaseun Osiyemi shared this update during a gathering with stakeholders, which included representatives from NUPENG, terminal operators, and transport unions.

Despite the high registration numbers, Osiyemi pointed out that some truck operators are still bypassing the platform to access the Lekki-Epe route without proper clearance. He cautioned that the government is preparing to roll out stringent enforcement measures to compel adherence to the system, ensuring that all operators comply moving forward.

The meeting, also attended by Permanent Secretary Olawale Musa, aimed to evaluate the e-call-up system’s performance and address challenges tied to its use around the Dangote Refinery, Lekki Free Zone, and Lekki Deep Sea Port corridor. The consultant overseeing the project reported that around 11,000 transport operators have signed up, with nearly 28,000 trucks now logged in the digital registry.

Key figures at the session included LASTMA General Manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki, Director of Transport Operations Engr. Olasunkanmi Ojowuro, NUPENG officials, terminal operators, and other transport sector stakeholders. The state government kicked off enforcement of this electronic call-up system for tankers and articulated vehicles along the Lekki-Epe corridor in 2025, aiming to prevent the kind of severe traffic congestion that once plagued Apapa.

Instead of permitting haphazard truck parking, the system introduces a coordinated, tech-driven scheduling process. Truck operators must register online, submit their “Authority to Load” documents, and await electronic approval before entering the Lekki-Epe area.

The Ogun State Government, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Republic of Korea, is set to roll out a comprehensive vaccination drive aimed at reaching children who have missed routine immunizations. The campaign, which runs through December, targets unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in selected communities, with a focus on boosting routine immunization coverage and reinforcing primary healthcare delivery.

During an orientation session on Thursday at Oke-Mosan, Elijah Ogunsola, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Healthcare Development Board, emphasized that this initiative represents a significant step forward in enhancing child health outcomes. He expressed gratitude to development partners, especially UNICEF, for their ongoing support in strengthening immunization efforts. The campaign will prioritize children aged zero to 23 months, ensuring they receive essential life-saving vaccines.

Ogunsola noted that the outreach will be implemented in local government areas and underserved communities where immunization rates are low. The program will involve coordinated efforts among health workers, community mobilizers, and development partners to maximize reach and impact.

Micheal Oyediji, a UNICEF Local Vaccine Consultant, praised health workers and stakeholders for their dedication to improving immunization coverage. He highlighted that the ROK-UNICEF project will support selected health facilities, integrate regular outreach, and strengthen monitoring systems. It will also prioritize HPV vaccination, improve cold chain infrastructure, and enhance community mobilization to ensure no eligible child is left behind.

Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Lagos, stated that the intervention will strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, support routine immunization delivery, and rebuild public confidence in healthcare services, especially at the grassroots level. She underscored that reaching zero-dose children is a national development priority, as healthy children are crucial for human capital development, productivity, and social stability.

Lee Sang Ho, Consul General of the Republic of Korea, noted that Nigeria’s high number of unvaccinated children poses a serious threat to global health security, justifying Korea’s investment under the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator framework. He described immunization as a critical component of national development and urged mothers, community leaders, and healthcare workers to support the campaign, stressing that no child should be denied protection against preventable diseases due to distance, ignorance, or socio-cultural barriers.

In a swift response to a distress call, security operatives from Sector 7, Sub-Sector 71 of Operation Enduring Peace successfully disrupted a kidnapping plot along a highway in Sanga Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

According to information released by security analyst Zagazola Makama on his X platform, the event unfolded around 12:15 a.m. on May 21. Soldiers stationed at the Ungwan Gora checkpoint acted on a report of suspicious activity near Ungwan Dariya village.

The troops moved rapidly to the location, compelling the criminals to flee into the bush and abandon their scheme. A victim who sustained injuries during the incident was rescued and promptly taken to Confidence Hospital in Fadan Karshi for medical care.

Authorities have confirmed that efforts are ongoing to locate and capture the escaping culprits, while security presence along the route has been strengthened to avert any future incidents.

A fresh wave of discord has hit the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State following Senatorial aspirant Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi’s firm denial of withdrawing from the Zamfara North primary election.

In a formal letter to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Shinkafi dismissed claims that he stepped aside for a consensus candidate during the party’s May 19 primary. He insisted he never withdrew or issued any statement to that effect.

“I did not step down from the senatorial race. I neither wrote any withdrawal letter nor made any public or private declaration of withdrawal,” Shinkafi asserted.

The aspirant accused certain powerful party figures of scheming to exclude him from the primary process. He claimed that aspirants in Zamfara were told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had instructed all senatorial hopefuls to make way for incumbents—a directive he termed arbitrary and illegal.

Shinkafi argued that such an arrangement contravenes the Electoral Act 2026 provisions governing party primaries and consensus candidates. He warned that the APC risks repeating the internal implosion that cost the party all elective seats in Zamfara after the 2019 polls.

He further alleged that political thugs were deployed to disrupt senatorial primaries in some areas, deliberately clearing the path for an illegitimate consensus. Shinkafi said he instructed his supporters in Zamfara North not to take part in the affirmation of candidates, vowing to legally challenge his exclusion.

He also cautioned that rising insecurity, economic hardship, and deepening internal rifts within the APC could jeopardize the party’s performance in the 2027 general elections in the state.

The Nigerian Presidency has swiftly refuted claims circulating in certain quarters that President Bola Tinubu is plotting a constitutional amendment to rename the country as the United States of Nigeria. In a statement released on Thursday, the administration labeled the reports as baseless and fabricated, urging the public to disregard them entirely.

Bayo Onanuga, a media aide to President Tinubu, categorically denied the allegations, which also suggested a move to abolish Sharia Law in the northern region. Onanuga described the story, which relied on unnamed sources, as a deliberate attempt by certain political actors to sow discord and destabilize the nation ahead of upcoming elections.

He emphasized that the president has no intention of submitting any bill titled “Project True Federation” to the National Assembly, contrary to the false claims. Instead, Tinubu remains fully committed to advancing the economic reforms already initiated by his administration and delivering tangible benefits to Nigerians.

Onanuga cautioned citizens to be vigilant against consuming fake news, especially as political campaigns intensify leading up to the general elections scheduled for January 2026. He reiterated that the presidency is focused on governance and not on divisive agenda.