Author: Hamza Rufai

THE crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) worsened on Sunday as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, pulled out of all reconciliation agreements previously reached within the opposition party. Wike blamed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for the problems rocking PDP, warning that “non-adherence to agreements reached was the bane of the party, and that he was the chief culprit of this anomaly.” In a statement he personally signed, the former Rivers governor accused key party leaders, including Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, of betrayal, dishonesty, and serial violations of mutual understandings. While tracing the roots…

THE Federal Government has dismissed allegations that recent defections to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were linked to efforts by some politicians to evade prosecution, insisting that ongoing corruption investigations will continue regardless of party affiliation. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, issued the clarification in a statement released on Friday by his media aide, Kamarudeen Ogundele. Fagbemi responded to comments made by Paul Ibe, spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, during a recent television interview. Ibe had alleged that top officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Federal…

THE Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday approved an interim order forfeiting landed and building properties linked to two former Directors of Finance and Accounts at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Suleiman Bulkwang and Abdullahi Sambo, over an alleged N1.4 billion fraudulent payment probe within the agency involving the two suspects. Justice Obiora Egwatu granted the orders after the legal team of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), led by Ekene Iheanacho, SAN, applied through an ex parte motion for the interim forfeiture order to be granted. “An interim order of this Honourable Court forfeiting to the…

THE 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Adewole Adebayo, has declared that he will not step down for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming 2027 general elections. Adebayo made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday monitored by News Point Nigeria, while reacting to growing speculations about a possible opposition coalition ahead of the polls. Amid claims that the SDP could be co-opted into a broader alliance to challenge President Bola Tinubu, Adebayo was emphatic in stating that neither he nor Atiku has the power to “use” the party. “I…

IN response to escalating insecurity in Adamawa and across the North-East, the Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to establish a military base in Hong Local Government Area. This call follows a motion moved by Senator Aminu Abbas (PDP-Adamawa) and jointly sponsored by all senators representing the region. The motion, titled “Resurgence of Boko Haram Activities in Hong and Gombi Local Government Areas, Adamawa and other North-East States”, highlights a troubling spike in attacks by the extremist group. The Senate, while commending the efforts of security agencies, stressed the need for additional military reinforcement. “We need a full-fledged military…

THE Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the completion of the Kashimbila Dam in Taraba State, stating that the project holds the key to resolving Nigeria’s persistent electricity problems. Speaking on Wednesday at the inaugural Taravest Summit in Jalingo, the state capital, the Sultan praised Governor Agbu Kefas for his commitment to improving security and creating an enabling environment for investment. But the Sultan expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Kashimbila Dam and stressed the need for immediate and total completion. “We need that dam ready at 100…

AS part of activities marking the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has earmarked 19 days for projects commissioning. This was part of the decisions taken today, at the 14th Executive Committee meeting of the FCTA, which was chaired by the Minister. A statement by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, “the commissioning of projects will commence on June 10, 2025, and will go on for 19 days”. Some of the projects scheduled for commissioning are: the newly renovated Abuja International Conference…

THE Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, with a proposal to establish a new centralized agency to manage assets and properties recovered from unlawful activities. The bill, sponsored by Senator Idiat Oluranti Adebule (Lagos West), is titled the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2025 (SB. 343). She canvassed that the bill aims to improve accountability, transparency, and efficiency in handling recovered assets by removing asset management duties from the 18 agencies currently tasked with prosecution and property management under the existing law. Leading…

PRESIDENT of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said lawmakers were not elected to engage in confrontation with the Executive but to foster policies that promote national development. The Senate President spoke in an upcoming feature documentary to mark two years of the Bola Tinubu administration. Akpabio, reflecting on the importance of cooperation between the National Assembly and the Executive, said: “When elected into the National Assembly, whether in the Senate or the House of Representatives, your constituents will not give you boxing gloves. It’s not a boxing tournament. You are there to work in a bipartisan manner for the interest…

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) North West Zone emerged from its stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna on Saturday, endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its Presidential Candidate for the 2027 general elections. The meeting included the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, APC Governors from the zone, including Uba Sani of Kaduna, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, and Umar Namadi of Jigawa, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I Jibrin, Ministers from the Zone, and other stakeholders. Others in attendance were chairmen of State Chapters of APC, state and federal…

THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has predicted more defections of high-profile opposition figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the months ahead. This, the Speaker said, is an indication of the growing confidence Nigerians have in the ruling party. The APC recently welcomed prominent opposition members into its fold, including the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, and the entire Peoples Democratic Party structure in the state. Opposition federal lawmakers drawn largely from the PDP and the Labour Party have recently joined the APC, citing internal crisis in their former political…

THE Forum of Former ANPP stakeholders has hughlighted the strenght and contribution of the ANPP in the 2015 APC Merger table. In a statement signed by the Forum’s National Coordinator, Dr Umar D Duhu made available to News Point Nigeria, Saturday night, the forum condemns efforts by some quarters to downplay the contribution of ANPP in the APC merger formation. The statement read in part: “a pressing issue that has been lingering in the shadows of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). As we stand at the threshold of a new era under the leadership of President Bola…

FORMER Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has emphasized the importance of service-oriented leadership in politics and governance, describing it as both imperative and a privilege. Osinbajo made this call while delivering the keynote address at the Rotary International District 9141 Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on the topic “The Magic of Connection: The Imperative and Privilege of Service.” He stressed that politics should be centered on providing essential services such as quality education, accessible healthcare, and a robust social security system, which he described as basic rights of every citizen. The VP referenced Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s introduction of free…

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s confirmation of appointees to lead the South West, North Central, and South South development commissions. In a correspondence to the Senate on Thursday, President Tinubu nominated a total of 55 individuals across the three commissions. For the North Central Development Commission, 19 nominees were presented, with Cosmos Akiyir named as Chairman and Cyril Yeltsin as the Managing Director. In the South West Development Commission, 18 appointees were nominated by the President including Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi as Chairman and Charles Akinola as Managing Director. Similarly, 18 nominees were proposed for the South South…

THREE members of the House of Representatives from Katsina State on Thursday announced their defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers blamed deep-seated crises and leadership failures within the PDP for their defection. The lawmakers were Salisu Yusuf Majigiri, representing Mashi/Dutsi federal constituency, Aliyu Iliyasu Ruma (Batsari/Safana/Danmusa), and Abdullahi Balarabe Dabai representing Bakori/Danja federal constituency, made their decision known in separate letters read during plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. This is coming two days after six lawmakers from Delta State dumped the PDP for the APC, while two lawmakers from…

THE trial of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, continues before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the prosecution, tendering key exhibits linking the defendant to acts of terrorism. Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecution’s witness with Code name BBB, resumed testimony, focusing on a petition allegedly authored by the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and addressed to the Department of State Services (DSS). The letter accused Kanu of terrorism, murder, and incitement to violence…

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday erupted into a fiery debate as lawmakers from conflict-hit regions raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation. Leading the charge was Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno), who warned that Boko Haram has not only resurged but returned with deadlier tactics, including the use of weaponised drones. This followed the debate on a motion of urgent public importance moved by Ahmed Satomi on the recent fire incident at the armory at Giwa Barracks and the escalating attacks on military formations in Borno and Yobe state. Jaha, who represents Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency, said 10 peasant farmers…

SIX members of the House of Representatives from Delta State and their two counterparts from Enugu have announced their defection from their former parties to new political platforms. While the six members from Delta state announced their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, the two members from Enugu state swapped the Labour Party for the PDP. The letters of defection from the members were read on the floor of the House at the resumption of plenary on Tuesday. The defecting members from Delta were led by the Leader of the Southern regional caucus of the…

THE Federal Ministry of Finance has vehemently refuted recent online reports alleging irregularities in the award of contracts amounting to ₦13 billion between February and June 2024. In a statement on Monday, the Ministry dismissed the claims as “unfounded” and “malicious,” reaffirming its unwavering commitment to transparency and due process in all its operations. The online report suggested that the Ministry, under the leadership of Minister the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, violated procurement procedures. Responding with a firm denial, the Ministry emphasised that every contract awarded…

THE National Assembly has urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dismiss the suit filed by 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. In its response, it contended that the suit was procedurally flawed and lacked merit. It further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and should award N1 billion in costs against the plaintiffs for filing what it termed a frivolous and speculative suit. In a preliminary objection, the National Assembly argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, particularly…