Author: Farouk Abbas

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on Professor Joash Amupitan to resign as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that it will embark on civil disobedience if he remains in office. News Point Nigeria reports that the opposition party, which has consistently rated Amupitan poorly, made the demand while reacting to fresh allegations surrounding his alleged partisanship. Amupitan has recently come under intense scrutiny over purported old social media posts suggesting bias in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). In response to the controversy, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the…

THE Saudi–designated Nigerian Hajj air carrier, Flynas, has deployed six aircraft for the airlift of Nigerian intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for 2026 Hajj. This was announced by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Planet Travels Limited and General Sales Agent (GSA) for Flynas in Nigeria, Alhaji Umar Kaila, in an interview with journalists in Abuja. A statement sent to News Point Nigeria by Mahmood Muhammad Abande of the Flynas Media Office Abuja on Friday quoted the airline’s chief as saying that the company has lined up six wide-body Airbus A330 for the Hajj operation. Four of…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, asking it to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reverse changes made to the party’s leadership records on its portal. News Point Nigeria reports that in a motion on notice filed before Justice Emeka Nwite, the party is seeking an order of mandatory injunction setting aside INEC’s decision to remove its National Working Committee (NWC) members from the commission’s records, as well as its refusal to monitor the party’s congresses and convention. The applicants also urged the court to direct INEC…

BALA Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, on Wednesday hosted members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives from the state, in what appears to be a significant step in ongoing political realignments. News Point Nigeria reports that the meeting took place at the governor’s residence in Abuja, coming amid growing indications of his planned exit from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Dabo Ismail, who represents Toro Federal Constituency, explained that the governor convened the session as part of consultations with stakeholders ahead of a possible defection to the ruling party.…

THE leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) escalated on Thursday as a faction led by Nafiu Gombe staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, demanding official recognition. News Point Nigeria reports that Gombe, joined by Kogi lawmaker Leke Abejide and hundreds of supporters, accused the David Mark-led faction of attempting to unlawfully seize control of the party in violation of its constitution and established processes. Speaking during the protest, Gombe urged the electoral commission to adhere strictly to due process in resolving the dispute. “We are here to urge INEC…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded over 3.4 million new voters in the ongoing second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the country. According to the commission’s week 13 update released on Wednesday in Abuja sighted by News Point Nigeria, a total of 3,441,121 registrations had been completed as of April 3, 2026. The figure covers both online pre-registrations and physical walk-in registrations nationwide. INEC disclosed that 2,068,384 citizens completed their registration through its online platform, while 1,372,737 others registered physically at designated centres across Nigeria. A breakdown of the data by states showed that…

THE Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has firmly rejected allegations by opposition parties that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is working to ensure it emerges as the only viable party on the ballot in the 2027 general elections. Dare made this known on Wednesday while speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by News Point Nigeria, where he maintained that there is no plan either covert or overt—to restrict the ballot to the APC. “There is no design whether covertly or overtly to have just the APC…

JUSTICE James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced four Boko Haram terrorists to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Federal Government. News Point Nigeria reports that a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) also gave evidence during the trial. Justice Omotosho additionally convicted 14 other suspects, handing down prison terms ranging from 20 to 25 years on various counts filed against them. The Federal Government was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, supported by lawyers including Rotimi Oyedepo. Confessional statements of the convicts…

PROMINENT members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday led the “Save Nigeria Democracy” protest to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). News Point Nigeria reports that several chieftains of the party, including Peter Obi; ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar; a former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi; ex-governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso; a former Senate President, David Mark; ex-Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and a former Sokoto governor, Aminu Tambuwal, among others, are present as the protesters march through the streets of Abuja. Hundreds of their supporters and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement also attended…

VICE President Kashim Shettima has reassured Nigerians that the security challenges facing the country would be surmounted. News Point Nigeria reports that speaking at the 2026 National Police Day Grand Parade and Procession in Abuja on Tuesday, Shettima said Nigeria shall prevail. “Our institutions reformed, and our people are reunited. The road ahead may be long, but this nation is not stranded. So long as duties still answer when distress calls, and so long as we continue to choose reform over our nation, Nigeria shall continue to prevail,” he said. “As we celebrate the National Police Day, let it be…

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has denied issuing any threat to Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, insisting that his controversial remark was merely figurative and never intended to be taken literally. News Point Nigeria reports that Wike made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the management and staff of Daar Communications, stating that his earlier comment had been widely misinterpreted and taken out of context. Reflecting on the incident, the minister expressed frustration over how his remarks were perceived, noting that people often “capitalise on things” without considering the full context. “You can imagine…

AS preparations gradually intensify for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, the Federal Government has proposed a substantial sum of N135.22 billion in the 2026 budget to address election-related disputes and post-election obligations. News Point Nigeria reports that the allocation, described as funding for “Electoral Adjudication and Post Election Provision,” signals a growing recognition of the financial burden that legal battles and administrative processes often impose on the country’s electoral cycle. Details of the provision were contained in the House of Representatives Order Paper dated March 31, 2026, which included the report on the 2026 Appropriation Bill. The document, reviewed by News…

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised fresh concerns over its participation in the 2027 general elections, warning that recent actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could effectively shut the party out of the electoral process. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused INEC of refusing to receive its official correspondence, a development it said has made it nearly impossible to fulfil key legal requirements ahead of crucial deadlines. According to the ADC, INEC’s position has created a procedural bottleneck, preventing the party from meeting statutory obligations…

RESIDENTS of Arikon community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have strongly refuted claims by the Nigerian Army that dozens of worshippers abducted during a deadly Easter attack have been rescued, insisting that all victims remain in captivity. News Point Nigeria reports that the development follows the violent invasion of a branch of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), where armed bandits stormed a church service, killing five worshippers and abducting several others, sparking outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in the region. In a statement issued earlier, the Nigerian Army said its troops responded swiftly to a…

FORMER Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has revealed how the Federal Government uncovered widespread payroll fraud, identifying no fewer than 45,000 “ghost workers” through the integration of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system. News Point Nigeria reports that Adeosun made the disclosure while speaking at the Citadel School of Government Dialogue Series in Lagos, where she detailed how technology was deployed to address long-standing inefficiencies in the federal payroll system. According to her, prior to the reforms, personnel costs constituted the largest component of government expenditure, plagued by systemic loopholes that had resisted earlier attempts at clean-up. “The payroll was…

FORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has enlisted the services of a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York L.C., in a move aimed at strengthening his reputational standing and political positioning within the United States. News Point Nigeria reports that documents filed with the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that the agreement was executed on March 9 and 10, 2026. The contract was signed by the firm’s managing partner, Karl Von Batten, and Nigerian politician Fabiyi Oladimeji, acting on behalf of Atiku. According to filings obtained from the DOJ’s official website, the engagement is designed to shape perceptions of the former vice-president within…

SUSPECTED bandits have invaded Ariko community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, targeting two Christian worship centres during Easter celebrations, killing at least seven persons and abducting several others. News Point Nigeria reports that the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, threw the community into panic. The councillor representing Awon Ward, under which Ariko District falls, Mark Bawa, confirmed the attack to News Point Nigeria on Sunday via phone call. According to him, the affected churches are First ECWA Church and St. Augustine Catholic Church, both located in Ariko. “I am currently on my way…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have uncovered a sophisticated international drug trafficking operation in which cocaine was concealed in tins of palm kernel oil bound for the United Kingdom. News Point Nigeria reports that the discovery, which followed a three-week intelligence-led operation, led to the dismantling of the syndicate, the arrest of its kingpin, and the recovery of critical evidence, including hundreds of modified tins prepared for drug concealment. ”The breakthrough came on March 11, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, where NDLEA officers intercepted 3.10 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside tins of…

FORMER Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, presidential aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has declared his readiness to support whoever emerges as the party’s flagbearer in the 2027 presidential election. News Point Nigeria reports that Atiku also dismissed claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could undermine the ADC, noting that the party has continued to attract members nationwide. The INEC had, on Wednesday, said it would cease further communication with all the leadership of the ADC and would not monitor the national convention of party slated for April 14. The electoral body based its action on a court ruling,…

THE Chief of Staff to the Zamfara State Governor, Mouktar Lugga, narrowly escaped an attack by gunmen along the Gusau–Funtua highway on Thursday evening, with no casualties recorded. News Point Nigeria reports that the incident occurred at about 6:00pm near Kucheri village in Tsafe Local Government Area, when armed assailants reportedly emerged from both sides of the road and opened fire on the convoy conveying the senior government official. During the ambush, a bullet pierced the vehicle’s windscreen, narrowly missing the driver. Another attacker’s weapon was also said to have malfunctioned at close range. Despite the intensity of the attack,…