Author: Hamza Rufai

PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has described those at the forefront of forming a coalition to unseat him ahead of the 2027 presidential election as persons who have been internally displaced politically. Tinubu, who spoke at a one-day presidential state visit to Nasarawa, where he inaugurated projects, urged his supporters not to pay attention to his political opponents as they were in a coalition to unseat themselves. “Just don’t pay them any attention. They are the political IDPs. Don’t give them a home. The hope is here,” he said. The President, however, commended the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for bringing development…

GUNMEN have killed ward chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State. He was killed alongside his son. The attack, it was gathered, happened on Tuesday night at the deceased’s home in Lile Village, near Ndeji community. Sources said the gunmen stormed the residence and opened fire, killing both father and son on the spot. A former local government chairman of the area who confided in Daily Trust said “The deceased and his son were shot dead during the invasion”. The motive behind the attack was still unclear as of Wednesday. A community…

THE Federal Government has officially commenced the concurrent implementation of bachelor’s degree programmes across 15 approved Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria. This move follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent assent to the legislation empowering Federal Colleges of Education to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education and Bachelor’s degrees in education. Speaking at a one-day sensitisation programme on ministerial deliverables and the education sector roadmap, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, announced the development. Enitan, represented by the Director of Educational Planning, Julie Uzor, noted that the dual certification model was aimed at revitalising teacher…

AS the crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party deepens, the dispute over the National Secretary position and the party’s upcoming 100th National Executive Committee meeting are expected to dominate discussions when PDP governors meet with the Independent National Electoral Commission today in Abuja. According to INEC’s letter dated June 18 and signed by the commission’s acting Secretary, Halliru Aminu, which was obtained by this newspaper, the meeting is scheduled to hold on Tuesday (today) at 2pm in the electoral body’s Conference Hall. This is as reliable multiple sources within the PDP National Working Committee told our correspondent that during the…

RETAIL outlets owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have effected an upward adjustment in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, to N945 per litre in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday. It also adjusted its petrol pump price to ₦915 per litre at several of its Lagos retail outlets, marking a fresh upward shift in the downstream retail market. The latest increase marks a fresh spike of N45 and N35 in Lagos and Abuja, respectively, up from the previous prices of N870 and N910 per litre. The price adjustments come just days…

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday said the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC does not have the powers to prevent the party from holding it 100th National Executive Committee NEC scheduled for Monday June 30, as it is purely an internal affairs of the party. Debo Ologuagba, the Party’s National Publicity Secretary stated this on Sunday, while briefing Journalists ahead of the scheduled NEC meeting. Controversy had arose over the arrangement for the meeting following INEC’s response to the party’s letter inviting the electoral umpire to the meeting. The INEC, citing part 2(12)3 of the 2022 Electoral Act as…

AAHEAD of the 2027 presidential election, some members of the Peoples Democratic Party’s National Executive Committee have expressed diverse views on whether the party should abide by the provision of its constitution on zoning or allow the rule of the majority to prevail. As Ex-Vp Atiku Abubakar is expected to move out of the party, this is also coming against the backdrop of recent advice to the leadership of the party by one of its chieftains, Olabode George, who stated that for the PDP to stand a chance of forming the next government, it should respect the principle of zoning…

THE League of Northern Democrats (LND) has called on the security agencies to intensify efforts to find the criminals responsible for the killings in Benue State and bring them to justice. LND stated this in a condolence message to the government and people of Benue State over the recent killings in the state. The message signed by the LND spokesman, Dr Ladan Salihu, condemned the killings and called on the federal government to intervene with practical and radical measures to forestall further occurrences. “As a people, we may differ in our thoughts and opinions. However, our thoughts and opinions must…

THE House of Representatives Committee on Environment has summoned the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Desease Control (NCDC), Dr. Olajide Idris, to appear before it on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 and address allegations of release of gaseous substances into the atmosphere of Abuja, the federal capital territory. According to a statement issued by the Senior Legislative Aide to the Speaker/Head, Media, Chooks Oko, the invitation followed a petition received by the committee over the emission of gaseous and chemical contents into the atmosphere around Gaduwa area of the FCT, which raised environmental concerns among residents. The statement added that…

THE 36 state governors in Nigeria have agreed to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes across the country. They made the resolution after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja which ended early Thursday. The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said the governors resolved to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes which they say was responsible for food inflation in the country. The communique was signed by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. “The Forum received a briefing from the National…

THE Senate has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to provide detailed explanations regarding discrepancies amounting to over ₦210 trillion in its audited financial statements from 2017 to 2023. The directive followed a questioning session by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, which scrutinized the company’s records and raised concerns over unexplained figures under “accrued expenses” and “receivables” in the reports. Former NNPCL Boss, Mele Kyari is speculatively in trouble as he was in charge of NNPCL for four out of the six year period of the audited report. Kyari served from 2019 to…

THE House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday warned 13 non-compliant oil companies to appear before it to answer questions in the ongoing probe of non-remittance of monies due to the Federal Government, or face grave sanctions. The companies are allegedly owing the Federal Government about $456.95m (N731.12 bn) in unremitted revenues. In a statement issued by its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, the House noted that despite repeated invitations and public notices through national newspapers, the companies failed to appear before the Committee, prompting the PAC to consider punitive actions in line with legislative and constitutional provisions. According to the…

THE Senate Adhoc Committee on the Emergency Rule in Rivers State has commenced the screening of nominees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), with a major point of contention emerging over the nomination of Michael Odey as the chairman of the electoral body. Odey, a native of Cross River State, came under scrutiny from the panel, chaired by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, over his non-indigene status, particularly as he hails from the same state as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ekwe Ibas. While defending his eligibility, Odey said his nomination does not contravene any provisions of…

THE Senate will on Wednesday begin the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the South-West Development Commission, marking a significant step toward operationalising the long-awaited regional intervention agency. At its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the Senate Committee on SWDC, led by Senator Yunus Akintunde, announced that it would screen the presidential nominees for key leadership positions, including the commission’s Chairman, Managing Director, and other board members. Akintunde assured all that the committee would not only carry out its constitutional role of confirming appointments but also deliver a robust oversight function aimed at ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability…

THE Federal Government says it is targeting to close the infrastructure gap in Nigeria through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The Director-General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Jobson Ewalefoh, stated this on Tuesday during a two-day Nigeria Private-Public Partnership Summit 2025 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The summit which has Vice President Kashim Shettima was themed ‘Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: The Role of PPPs in Delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda’. Ewalefoh said under President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government has repositioned infrastructure as a key driver of inclusive growth and for promoting PPPs as a governance model…

CONFLICTING data from two top Senate officials have cast doubt over the official legislative record of the Nigerian Senate’s activities during its first two years in office. At the 2025 Democracy Day joint session of the National Assembly held last Thursday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated that the upper chamber had introduced 844 bills and passed 96 between June 2023 and June 2025. However, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, in a separate midterm statement released Sunday, reported that the Senate introduced 983 bills and passed 108 during the same period. “No fewer than 983 bills—both executive and private members—were introduced between…

THE Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security says its circular calling on staff members for three days fasting and prayers is not part of an official policy to address food security issues in the country. The circular dated June 11, 2025, issued by Adedayo Modupe, director of the human resources management, had called on staff of the ministry to gather for collective prayers for “God’s guidance and success in supporting the government’s efforts to achieve food security”. However, according to a rebuttal statement signed by Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the assistant information officer, the prayer session was an initiative of the Human…

THE Inspector General of Police IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has ordered it’s monitory unit to produce Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa at the force headquarters over alleged criminal defamation as a result of Ganduje’s suspension. You may recall that in 2024, the APC exco of Ganduje ward suspended the party’s national chairman from being a member over what they described as anti-party activities and lack of payment of the party dues. This decision was alleged to be mastermineded by the Kano Governor’s spokesperson Mr. Sanusi Bature, who happened to be from the same locality. In a letter dated…

TWO years into the 10th National Assembly, eight federal constituencies remain without representation following the deaths and resignations of lawmakers. Despite constitutional provisions mandating timely bye-elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to fill these vacancies, a delay that has triggered growing frustration among civil society groups, political observers, and the affected constituents. Since the Assembly’s inauguration in June 2023, six lawmakers; five from the House of Representatives and one senator have died. Two additional seats became vacant following the resignations of lawmakers who contested and won in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, bringing the total number…

A BILL seeking the creation of a new state in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country has passed its second reading in the Senate and is now under consideration by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review. Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West, disclosed this development on Friday during a media parley in Abuja, where he marked his two-year milestone in the National Assembly. He revealed that the proposed state, tentatively named ANIM State will be carved out from parts of Anambra and Imo States. “It’s not a favour, it’s a matter of equity,” Izunaso declared. “Every other region in…