Category: News

In a recent episode of the podcast State Affairs, hosted by Edmund Obilo, author Charles Omole—known for penning From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari—dropped a bombshell about the inner workings of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. According to Omole, no fewer than five distinct power blocs are pulling the strings behind the scenes, each with its own sphere of influence.

Omole identified the first cabal as the group led by Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President. The second cabal revolves around Seyi Tinubu, the president’s son, who Omole claims has handpicked key officials, including the Minister of Youth. He pointed out that this explains why the Youth Minister is constantly seen trailing Seyi Tinubu.

The third cabal, Omole said, is headed by First Lady Remi Tinubu, who enjoys her own independent access to the president. The fourth cabal consists of young associates and individuals Omole described as “thugs” who surround Tinubu. Finally, the fifth cabal is none other than Tinubu himself, who Omole suggests operates his own inner circle of influence.

This revelation sheds light on the complex power dynamics at play within the current administration, suggesting that governance is not solely in the hands of elected officials but also shaped by influential figures both inside and outside the formal structure of government.

Human rights advocate Aisha Yesufu has promised the people of the Federal Capital Territory that their efforts and sacrifices will yield tangible benefits if she secures the FCT senatorial seat in the 2027 elections.

In a statement shared on her verified X profile on Sunday, Yesufu outlined her proposed Abuja Residents Empowerment Bill, which she intends to champion. The bill, she explained, would enforce quotas for youth and women-led enterprises in government contracts, ensuring fair access to opportunities.

A co-convener of the BringBackOurGirls movement, Yesufu highlighted key components of her bill, including rent control measures to prevent unjust increases, the elimination of double taxation, and a skills empowerment program designed to equip Abuja residents with practical abilities. Additionally, the legislation would mandate that a portion of taxes collected in the FCT be allocated to micro-loans for small businesses, fostering economic growth at the grassroots level.

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki has categorically stated that former President Goodluck Jonathan remains a committed member of the party. The group made this known in a statement issued on Saturday by its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong.

According to the faction, Jonathan recently took part in the party’s digital membership registration exercise and personally completed his enrollment in his ward. This action, they noted, underscores his unwavering allegiance to the PDP.

The statement also addressed circulating campaign posters on social media that allegedly link Jonathan to other political parties ahead of the 2027 elections. The faction dismissed these posters as misleading and urged Nigerians to ignore any claims suggesting that Jonathan has joined another party.

Some of the campaign materials portray Jonathan as a presidential candidate, while others pair him with various politicians as running mates. The Turaki-led faction described these as baseless and fabricated.

The group emphasized that Jonathan is a duly registered member of the PDP under the Turaki-led faction. They added that the former president reaffirmed his membership during a recent meeting with the party’s interim National Working Committee.

The faction explained that the clarification was necessary because Nigerian law prohibits an individual from belonging to more than one political party simultaneously. They also alleged that some individuals might attempt to secretly register Jonathan and other politicians in multiple parties without their consent.

Consequently, the group called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public to disregard any alleged registration records or campaign materials associating Jonathan with any political party other than the PDP.

Former Nigerian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has officially obtained the governorship nomination form from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections in Kebbi State. On Saturday, via his verified Facebook account, Malami announced what he termed a ‘state of emergency on misgovernance’ in the state, citing his inability to stay silent amid escalating insecurity, widespread poverty, failing education, and economic decline.

Malami stated that his decision to enter the race stems from deep concern over the state’s condition, which he described as facing severe governance and humanitarian crises. He alleged that the current administration has misplaced priorities, leading to the collapse of critical public sectors. According to him, over 67% of children aged 6 to 15 in Kebbi are not enrolled in school, while more than 88% of children live in multidimensional poverty.

He further claimed that hundreds of severely malnourished children died within nine months in 2025, and that maternal mortality and under-five health outcomes remain alarming due to poor healthcare access in rural areas. Insecurity, he added, has worsened across many parts of the state, with recurring bandit attacks, kidnappings, farmer displacement, and declining economic activity.

The former minister declared a ‘state of emergency on misgovernance’ and promised to prioritize security, education, healthcare, agriculture, youth empowerment, and governance reforms if elected. He emphasized his commitment to public service, accountability, and sustainable development, vowing to rebuild Kebbi into a safer and more prosperous state and insisting that the era of poor leadership and propaganda must end.

Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has taken a swipe at other political parties in Nigeria, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for their internal divisions. Speaking at the NDC’s inaugural national convention in Abuja on Saturday, he boasted that the NDC remains free of factions and legal disputes.

According to Dickson, the NDC is not embroiled in any court cases or appeals, unlike many other parties. He emphasized that there are no warring groups within the party, and all members are free to contest for any leadership position without hindrance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former governor of Bayelsa State also hinted that certain actions by other parties might infringe on the constitutional right to freedom of association. He stated, ‘Some of these activities violate our constitutional right to freedom of association.’

Dickson’s remarks come amid reports that former presidential candidates Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso have joined the NDC. Their defection is widely seen as a prelude to them becoming the party’s presidential candidate and running mate for the 2027 election. In a related development, the NDC has zoned its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria for the upcoming poll.

Lere Olayinka, who serves as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has refuted assertions that the Supreme Court invalidated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention that took place in Abuja on March 29–30, 2026.

Media reports had circulated claiming that a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the PDP leadership dispute revealed that the Wike-aligned faction lost the battle for control of the party. It was further alleged that the apex court declared the Abuja convention unlawful and upheld the suspension of key figures within the Wike-backed faction, such as Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Kamaldeen Ajibade.

However, during an interview on Arise TV on Saturday night, Olayinka argued that the issue of suspension was never raised in either the Appeal Court or the Supreme Court. He stated, “The matter of the March 29 convention was not before the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is not Father Christmas; it does not rule on issues not presented to it. If it wasn’t contested in court, the court won’t discuss it.”

Olayinka elaborated that what the Supreme Court considered originated from the Appeal Court. He noted, “They claim Sam Anyanwu was suspended by the Appeal Court, and the Supreme Court affirmed that suspension. But his name wasn’t mentioned in the Appeal Court judgment. How could it suddenly appear in the apex court? It didn’t.”

When directly asked if the Supreme Court nullified the March 29 convention, Olayinka firmly responded, “No, that is a lie.”

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Magaji Mato, has called on the factions loyal to Taminu Turaki and Nyesom Wike within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop their infighting and allow the party to survive.

Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Sunday, Mato described the Supreme Court’s ruling as a victory for all sides, noting that it should encourage the party to set aside personal ambitions and resolve its internal crisis.

He pointed out that both the appeal filed by Wike’s group and the cross-appeal by Turaki’s faction were dismissed by the apex court. This, he explained, makes each side a winner in its own way, as neither emerged with a clear legal victory.

Mato urged the warring factions to go back to the drawing board, lay aside their pride and selfish interests, and work together to save the party. He emphasized that the only way forward is to bring all stakeholders together and chart a new course for the PDP.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has shed light on the absence of certain governors from the party’s screening process. Speaking to reporters at the Plateau Governors Lodge in Abuja on Saturday, Yilwatda clarified that the governors were granted exemptions due to pressing state affairs.

He specifically named Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru as those who had yet to appear. According to Yilwatda, the party understands that these governors have significant responsibilities as chief executives of their states.

“Any governor who has matters to address, we accommodate that,” Yilwatda stated. He noted that Governor AbdulRazaq cited urgent issues, while Fubara also had commitments, leading to their exemptions. He emphasized that the governors are commanders in their states and can schedule their screenings at their convenience.

“Whenever you are available, contact the screening committee. We will set a time for you. You can come at your own convenience, and we will proceed with the screening,” he explained.

Sources from DAILY POST indicate that Fubara is expected to undergo screening on Sunday at the Plateau State Government Lodge in Abuja.

A security affairs analyst, Amb. Abdullahi Bakoji Adamu, has called for severe penalties against politicians who back or promote political violence as the 2027 elections approach. He argued that such actions gravely endanger democracy and national stability.

In an exclusive chat with DAILY POST on Friday, Bakoji emphasized that political thuggery in Kano State and other northern regions should be viewed as a critical security threat, not merely youthful misconduct. He stated, “Political thuggery undermines democratic stability and peaceful coexistence.”

He insisted that any politician supplying funds or encouragement for electoral violence must face the full force of the law, irrespective of their status or power. “Those who finance violence must be accountable—governors, senators, lawmakers, and all candidates seeking office,” he declared.

Bakoji cautioned that using young people as instruments of political violence jeopardizes democracy’s future and endangers innocent lives. “No political position is worth the blood or suffering of citizens,” he added.

To combat this issue, he urged intelligence-driven policing, advising security forces to identify and dismantle criminal networks before violence breaks out. He also advocated for stronger inter-agency cooperation through joint operations, including coordinated patrols and raids in vulnerable areas.

Technology, he noted, should play a vital role. “The government should invest in modern surveillance such as CCTV in public spaces, markets, motor parks, and entry points, and also deploy drones and digital tracking tools,” Bakoji said.

He further called on INEC and security agencies to establish a robust electoral security framework for before, during, and after elections to ensure peaceful processes. Community engagement is also key: traditional rulers, religious leaders, and youth groups must actively participate in peacebuilding and violence prevention.

Regarding unemployment, Bakoji pointed out that many youths turn to thuggery due to joblessness and manipulation. “We need youth empowerment, vocational training, education, and rehabilitation programs to reduce their recruitment into violence,” he stressed.

He also recommended the creation of special fast-track courts to expedite prosecution of electoral offenders. “Swift justice will deter others,” he noted.

Concluding, Bakoji warned politicians to change their tactics ahead of 2027, insisting elections should center on ideas, leadership, and development—not intimidation or violence. “Any political system reliant on violence threatens democracy and national unity,” he stated.

The Federal Government is set to implement a temporary closure of specific portions of the Ikorodu–Sagamu Road starting Monday to facilitate essential repair work on degraded sections. This development was confirmed by Olayiwola Komolafe, the Federal Controller of Works for Ogun State, who noted that the move is required to allow contractors to advance restoration efforts on key segments of the highway.

Komolafe indicated that Minister of Works David Umahi has instructed Arab Contractors to resume operations on the site and accelerate the completion of critical project components. The affected areas encompass the stretch from Ikorodu Roundabout to Sabo Junction, as well as the section from Lagos Cement to the Coca-Cola facility heading toward Sagamu.

For motorists traveling from Ikorodu to Sagamu, a counterflow traffic arrangement will be implemented, redirecting vehicles through alternative lanes during the rehabilitation period. The project is anticipated to span three months, allowing for construction activities and proper curing of the concrete pavement.

To manage traffic flow and reduce congestion along the corridor, officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be stationed at strategic points. The ministry has called on road users to cooperate with traffic management personnel and security agencies throughout the duration of the works. An appeal was also made for understanding regarding any inconvenience caused by the repairs.