2027 PRESIDENCY: A NORTH VS SOUTH CONTEST? A few days ago, I had a conversation with one of the senior leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was in London for a medical check-up. During our meeting, I sought his views on the latest developments in the party and who will likely emerge as the presidential candidate in the …

GOVERNORS WHO MAY DEFECT TO APC With Wednesday’s defection of the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) there are indications that more governors in the opposition parties are either preparing or being pressured to switch and join the APC. Most of the governors, according to Weekend Trust …

ELECTRICITY TARIFF MORE THAN N70,000 NEW MINIMUM WAGE – NLC The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Friday, said Nigerians are paying electricity tariffs that are more than the new minimum wage of ₦70,000 that was approved by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The NLC also said that inflation has eroded the new minimum wage, as it cannot take workers home at …

ATIKU OR PETER OBI: WHO SHOULD LEAD THE COALITION With the line of opposition blurring following the defection of some Delta Governor and Former Governor and others, with other expected defections, it’s now obvious that those who would be remaining in whatever would remain of opposition parties after defections, would have to work together to stand a chance against Tinubu …

OUR WITNESSES WERE OFFERED ₦30M TO SWAY THEM – EDO PDP GUBER CANDIDATE, HEADS TO SUPREME COURT The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to bribe his witnesses at the tribunal with ₦30 million. Ighodalo made the disclosure …

OHANAEZE NDIGBO HAILS IGBANKE COMMUNITY FOR EMBRACING IGBO ROOTS President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Sen John Azuta-Mbata, has hailed the Akiko Uwa Social Cultural Group over the successful conclusion of the Igbanke Unity Festival held under the theme “Igbanke Nor be Bini”. He assured the collaboration of Ndigbo with the Igbanke, a community in Edo State, in the realisation of …

OHANAEZE NDIGBO HAILS IGBANKE COMMUNITY FOR EMBRACING IGBO ROOTS President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Sen John Azuta-Mbata, has hailed the Akiko Uwa Social Cultural Group over the successful conclusion of the Igbanke Unity Festival held under the theme “Igbanke Nor be Bini”. He assured the collaboration of Ndigbo with the Igbanke, a community in Edo State, in the realisation of …

ENERGY COMMISSION DEFENDS ASO ROCK’S SWITCH TO SOLAR, SAYS ELECTRICITY BILL TOO EXPENSIVE The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, has defended the federal government’s decision to install a N10 billion solar power grid at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. This comes amid mounting public criticism over the cost and timing of the initiative, given Nigeria’s current …

POLICE ARREST RIVERS RESIDENT FOR KILLING REVEREND SISTER OVER UNPAID DEBT Kelvin Okoro, a resident of Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, has been arrested by the state police command for allegedly killing a Reverend Sister, Maureen Wecheonwu, after repeated demands for repayment of a debt. Community sources said the Reverend Sister had consistently reminded Okoro …

RIVERS SOLE ADMINISTRATOR APOLOGIZES TO REPS OVER FAILURE TO HONOUR PREVIOUS INVITATIONS Details have emerged from the closed-door session between the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the State of Emergency in Rivers State and the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), as the panel prepares for further legislative action. The retired naval officer appeared before the committee …

2027 ELECTION: IT’S NIGERIANS VERSUS TINUBU GOVT – ATIKU REACTS TO GALE OF DEFECTIONS I have been overwhelmed with inquiries from concerned Nigerians, all eager to understand my position on the latest political shifts, particularly the defection of some PDP members to the ruling party. Let me be unequivocal: freedom of association and expression are not optional in a democracy …

SUBMIT PETITION TO EFCC AGAINST FORMER NNPCL CEO, MELE KYARI A group of lawyers and civil society organisations on Friday submitted a petition against the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Recall that on Tuesday, a group of protesters under the banner of “Concerned Citizens …

NIGERIA HAS MORE POOR PEOPLE THAN CHINA, INDONESIA, VIETNAM COMBINED DUE TO INCOMPETENT LEADERSHIP — PETER OBI Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has lamented that Nigeria has more poor people than China, Indonesia and Vietnam put together. Obi blamed poor leadership for the rising poverty levels in the country. He stated this while delivering …

DANGOTE APPOINTED TO WORLD BANK POSITION The President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has been appointed to the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab, an exclusive initiative aimed at driving investment and job creation in emerging economies. Dangote’s appointment marks a significant milestone, as he joins a distinguished group of global business leaders tasked with shaping …

AKPABIO LEADS FIVE-MAN NIGERIAN DELEGATION TO POPE FRANCIS’S BURIAL President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named a five-member Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, scheduled to hold in Vatican City on Saturday. Senate President Godswill Akpabio will lead the delegation, a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said. …