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The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Udeme Otong, has sparked public outrage after a viral video showed him claiming that the 2027 legislative elections in the state have already been decided and that he can determine who emerges under the APC. Otong made the statement while addressing a group during a visit to his community in Abak Itenge. Speaking in the Annang language, he boasted that all 26 House of Assembly tickets were “in his pocket” and that no aspirant could secure the party’s ticket without his approval. Akwa Ibom State has 26 seats in the House of Assembly. Earlier in 2025, the political landscape of the state changed after Governor Umo Eno and the majority of lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, a move that intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections. The speaker’s comments sparked backlash within and outside the party. The APC Media Network in Akwa Ibom described the remarks as anti democratic and...

In a major boost to Nigeria’s livestock sector, the Federal Government, through the World Bank–financed Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), has unveiled a Model Veterinary Hospital in Akwuke, Enugu State. The government also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Enugu State Integrated Livestock Centre at Ubahu, Nkanu East LGA. The initiative, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is part of the landmark agricultural reform programmes of the Tinubu-led administration. The Ministry has already constructed and equipped seven additional model veterinary hospitals across the country. Speaking at both events, the Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described the Akwuke Model Veterinary Hospital as a “Centre of Excellence” designed to enhance animal health delivery nationwide. He noted that the broader livestock centre at Ubahu is a state-of-the-art facility with an initial capacity to h...

The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 11 passengers who were abducted by gunmen along the Benin Akure highway near Obarenren village in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state. The passengers were among 18 travellers kidnapped on December 12 when armed men attacked their vehicle while it was in transit along the busy highway. The assailants reportedly forced the vehicle to stop before taking the passengers into a nearby bush. Following the incident, the police launched a coordinated rescue operation involving tactical teams and local security operatives. According to the command, sustained pressure from security forces led to the safe release of 11 victims. The rescued passengers have since been reunited with their families and are currently receiving medical attention and counselling. Police authorities said efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining seven victims and to apprehend those responsible for the attack. They assured ...

An FCT High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that a former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service centre in Kuje pending the determination of his bail application. The order was given after Ngige was arraigned before the court on charges brought against him by prosecuting authorities. At the court session, his legal team applied for bail on his behalf, urging the court to grant him temporary freedom while the case proceeds. However, the presiding judge declined to rule on the bail request immediately and instead fixed Thursday, December 18, for a ruling on the application. The court subsequently directed that Ngige be taken to the Kuje correctional facility and remain there until the bail decision is delivered. The matter was adjourned to the stated date for ruling, while Ngige was remanded in custody as ordered by the court.

Comrade Anigbo Emeka In a political earthquake that has reshaped the landscape of Enugu State, every single member of the House of Representatives from the state now stands under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This is not a sudden rupture, but the culmination of a strategic, years-in-the-making realignment. This piece traces the journey of this historic mass defection; from its quiet, grassroots beginnings to its stunning culmination on the national stage. For years, a persistent narrative held sway in the Southeast: that the APC was a party alien to Igbo interests. But while many were swayed by this delusion, a few clear-eyed individuals saw the bigger picture for Nigeria and made the courageous decision to board the moving train. The likes of Rochas Okorocha, the late Ogbonnaya Onu, Dave Umahi and Hope Uzodimma were the progressives that gave the party the needed posture in the South East. In Enugu, the party was built on the resilient backs of its fou...

The civil society organisation Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has sent a direct message to the federal government: the path to peace in the South-East may well begin with the release of Nnamdi Kanu. In its recent pronouncement, RULAAC linked the continued detention of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the deepening security crisis in the region. The group argued that his release would open the door to meaningful dialogue, restore trust and serve as a catalyst for stability. The call echoes similar proposals from the House of Representatives Committee on South East Development Commission which stressed that Kanu’s incarceration has “fueled tensions, deepened grievances and hindered stability” in the region. Stakeholders believe that only an inclusive political solution, rather than purely security driven tactics can break the cycle of unrest. RULAAC’s intervention arrives amid mounting concern over escalating armed attacks, agrarian...

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has dismissed growing speculation that his party may lose a coveted nomination ahead of the 2027 election. Obi firmly stated he is not afraid of losing the ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to his rival Atiku Abubakar. In recent weeks, reports have intensified that Atiku may secure the ADC 2027 presidential ticket – despite Obi’s ambition to run. Analysts say Obi’s support base from the South-East and youth vote, built during his 2023 campaign, gives him bargaining power in the coalition. Meanwhile Atiku enjoys deep organisational strength in the North and longstanding political networks. Obi’s proclamation underscores his readiness to continue in the race, but also highlights tensions in how the ADC and its affiliated opposition coalition will settle on a candidate. Some internal critics have accused coalition leaders of positioning Atiku as the default flag-bearer and using Obi mainly for his mass appeal. Observers now...

Reports of an alleged plot by some military personnel to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have triggered public outrage in Nigeria, with senior lawyers, civil society groups and retired generals warning against any attempt to subvert democracy. The controversy began when online publications claimed that the headquarters of the presidential guards had been placed on high alert amid rumours of a coup plot. Two of the most prominent institutions to respond to the story swiftly were the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) and the Nigerian Army, both describing the allegations as fake news and baseless. In a statement, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Acting Director of Defence Information at the DHQ, said the claim that 16 officers had been arrested for plotting a coup or that an emergency meeting had been held involving the president was totally false and described the publication as malicious and intended to cause undue tension. The federal government, through the ...

The Federal Government has finally cleared the air on the growing confusion surrounding the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and its role in the 2025 admission process. Contrary to widespread rumours on social media suggesting that JAMB had been scrapped or replaced, the government has confirmed that the examination body remains a core requirement for gaining admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Minister of State for Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, made this clarification while addressing the media in Abuja. He described the viral claims as “false, baseless, and misleading,” stressing that the Federal Ministry of Education has not introduced any new system to replace JAMB or alter the existing admission process. Alausa explained that JAMB was established by law to conduct entrance examinations and coordinate admissions into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. He noted that its mandate remains valid and essential ...

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political and academic circles, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, following revelations that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, disowned the degree certificate he has been parading. The controversy centers on Nnaji’s academic credentials. The University of Nigeria confirmed that although he was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology and Biochemistry, there is no record that he completed his degree or was ever awarded a certificate. A letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, stated that the university was unable to confirm that Nnaji graduated, as there were no records of his completion of study. This is not the first time the university has publicly questioned Nnaji’s claims. The institution has issued multiple letters since May 2025 disowning the certificate he...

In a definitive statement, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuta Mbata, has clarified that the socio-cultural organization does not possess the authority to prevent any Igbo individual from contesting the 2027 presidential election. This announcement comes in response to circulating reports suggesting otherwise, which Mbata explicitly labeled as fake news. He emphasized that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a cultural entity, not a political party, and thus cannot dictate or advise on electoral candidacy. Any Igbo person affiliated with a political party is free to run for office in 2027, and Ndigbo are encouraged to continue their lawful political activities within their chosen parties . However, a faction within Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Deputy President General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has expressed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027. This group argues that the Southeast's optimal opportunity for producing a president lies ...

Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada of Nasarawa West has signaled a major political shift, formally leaving the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and rejoining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This decision comes shortly after a private meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Dr. Umar Ganduje, and Senator Wadada himself—sparking widespread speculation about his political future . Wadada’s defection stems from what he described as fundamental differences with recent SDP entrants, notably former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. Although El-Rufai is his senior and long-time friend, Wadada publicly stated that he could not remain within the same party as someone whose political conduct he finds unprincipled . Political analysts view Wadada’s return to the APC as a major coup for the party in Nasarawa State. As a prominent political figure with grassroots support and cross-party appeal, his reintegration into the...