Author: Nnamdi Deborah

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has fired back at Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and other All Progressives Congress governors, insisting that his political support ahead of the 2027 general elections is specifically for President Bola Tinubu and not automatically for APC candidates contesting governorship and legislative elections. Wike said he would mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election but never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party would withdraw from or avoid contesting governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections. The minister stated this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public…

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers after a shootout with security operatives led to the rescue of two victims in a forest around Isua-Akoko. The operation, which involved the police, the Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun, and Agbe-Koya, also resulted in the recovery of N1.5m suspected ransom money and foodstuffs. The suspects, identified as Abdullahi Abubakar, Ibrahim Abubakar and Oseni Abubakar, were arrested along Idoani Road on Sunday, September 13, 2026, following a sustained follow-up operation. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, disclosed this while confirming the development, adding that the suspects…

The Peter Obi Media Office has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to scrutinise the reported endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by about 600 university lecturers ahead of the 2027 presidential election. The media office, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Idris Zekeri, on Tuesday, alleged that the development could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and create concerns over the neutrality of academics who may be engaged as election officials. According to the statement, university academics have frequently been recruited to serve as returning and collation officers during elections, making their reported endorsement of an…

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general election will be transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful, with its outcome reflecting the sovereign will of the electorate. The Acting Chairman of INEC, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the African Union Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The AU delegation, led by Ethiopia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s electoral preparedness and identify areas where technical and institutional support may be required ahead of the 2027…

The Progressive Governors Forum has drawn a clear line against political alliances outside the All Progressives Congress, declaring that its members will not support any candidate or coalition that could weaken the party or threaten President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. The position, announced by the forum’s Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, followed a closed-door meeting of APC governors in Abuja on Monday night. The declaration is coming amid growing political realignments around the Rainbow Coalition championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, a PDP member who has been mobilising politicians across party…

Security agencies have placed schools, churches, mosques, NYSC orientation camps and other public places on heightened alert following intelligence of possible terrorist attacks during the ember months. The Nigeria Police Force raised the alarm in a security alert circulated to its formations nationwide, directing commanders to strengthen security around locations considered vulnerable to attacks. The warning comes as schools prepare to reopen for the 2026/2027 academic session, with intelligence suggesting that some attacks could be timed to coincide with the resumption of academic activities. The Department of Operations at the Force Headquarters reportedly issued the directive to zonal and state…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arrested a 56-year-old Mexican suspected methamphetamine expert who allegedly attempted to flee Nigeria through the Lagos airport, following an investigation that led to the discovery of another clandestine drug laboratory in Ebonyi State. The suspect, identified as Arturo Carrera Loaiza, was arrested on August 19, 2026, after NDLEA operatives allegedly established his links to a network involved in setting up methamphetamine laboratories in Nigeria. The agency said its investigation uncovered the Ebonyi facility after operatives traced forensic evidence from photographs recovered during their probe into a separate methamphetamine laboratory discovered in Oyo…

The Federal Government has selected 16,000 Nigerians for the inaugural cohort of its newly launched Digital Training Academy, a six-month programme designed to equip participants with digital skills and professional certifications. The Federal Ministry of Education disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade. The ministry said the academy received 72,850 applications from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, out of which 19,699 applicants met the entry requirements. Speaking at the launch of the programme in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, said the initiative…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Edo State Command, has destroyed five cannabis farms and arrested three suspected traffickers during operations across the state. The command also seized thousands of tablets and capsules of illicit drugs, including tramadol and diazepam, as well as hundreds of bottles of codeine-based cough syrup. The state commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Benin City on Monday. Ofoyeju said the five cannabis plantations, destroyed within the past two weeks, covered a combined 2.27 hectares with an estimated yield of 5,674.17kg. According to him, two farms measuring 0.93…

A luxury handbag reportedly carried by Margaret Obi, wife of former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has sparked debate on social media over the politician’s reputation for frugality. The bag, identified in reports as a Hermès Kelly, is alleged to be worth more than N250 million. The reported value has drawn criticism from some commentators, who questioned whether the alleged luxury purchase is consistent with Obi’s repeated advocacy for prudence and reduced cost of governance. Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was among those who criticised the former…