Politics

Benin’s president said on Sunday that the “situation is completely under control” in his country after the government thwarted an attempted coup thanks to loyalist soldiers. A group of soldiers announced earlier in the day on state television that they had ousted President Patrice Talon. That sparked a swift response from loyal army forces, air strikes from neighbouring Nigeria and …

Authorities in Benin have, however, arrested several other members of the group after defence and security forces successfully thwarted the attempted coup. Colonel Pascal Tigri, identified as the leader of the mutineers who briefly seized Benin Republic’s national television station on Sunday, is currently on the run, according to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Nigeria’s President …

The Nigerian military has deployed fighter aircraft to the Benin Republic following Sunday’s military coup that toppled President Patrice Talon, reliable security sources have confirmed. The aircraft, which took off from Lagos earlier on Sunday, were sighted operating within Beninese airspace as Nigeria intensifies surveillance and monitoring of the rapidly evolving political and security situation in the neighbouring country. Sources …

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on Peter Obi to decide whether he is part of the coalition, adding that zoning ahead of the 2027 election is not an option. The development comes after Obi said the ADC-led coalition was “faltering” due to unresolved issues over zoning and the rotation of key political offices. In his reaction, ADC spokesperson, …

A group of soldiers on Sunday appeared on Benin’s state television announcing the dissolution of the government in what seemed to be a coup in the West African country. The soldiers declared the removal of President Patrice Talon, who has led the country since 2016, along with the suspension of all state institutions. Identifying themselves as members of the “Military …

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has hailed the Supreme Court’s split judgment on the withheld local government allocations in the state. The PDP on Friday described the ruling as a clear affirmation of the rule of law and a major reproach to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. In a statement on …

United States lawmaker representing Florida’s 6th congressional district, Randy Fine, has joined a growing list of members of Congress supporting a resolution calling for stronger U.S. action in response to worsening religious-related violence in Nigeria. In a statement shared on X handle on Wednesday, the congressman expressed alarm over continued attacks by extremist groups in parts of Nigeria, particularly in …

Sixteen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers who defected on Friday, included the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule. The development represents the latest political twist in the drama that has enveloped the oil-rich state. The legislators who defected to the …

Former Senator Kabiru Marafa has endorsed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of possible military action in Nigeria, saying the warning could pressure the government to take stronger steps against insecurity. Marafa, who represented Zamfara Central in the Senate between 2011 and 2019, stated his position on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. “I strongly support the …

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the coalition-led African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for engaging in early campaign through the distribution of vehicles to the state coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) across the country. They argued that the development signalled that the president was more focused …