Author: bibncollar

Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has no alternative to President Bola Tinubu as its presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. Speaking with the Senate Press Corps on Tuesday, Kalu expressed confidence in Tinubu’s leadership, arguing that even past presidents who struggled in their first term were re-elected. He acknowledged the economic difficulties Nigerians are facing but assured that the ongoing reforms are necessary for long-term stability. “We are appealing to Nigerians to be patient with the reform process. APC is not considering another presidential candidate outside of our…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reaffirmed that the registration deadline for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) remains March 8, 2025, with no possibility of an extension. JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, emphasizing that the deadline had been clearly communicated through advertisements and the official 2025 UTME calendar. The announcement follows the successful registration of over 1.5 million candidates, a figure that aligns with the Board’s projections for this year’s examination cycle. “We wish to inform all prospective candidates that there will be no extension of the…

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to communities in Ovia South West and Etsako East Local Government Areas (LGAs) following recent attacks that claimed the lives of several farmers. Condemning the killings, Okpebholo assured affected communities of the government’s full support and commitment to bringing the perpetrators to justice. Reports indicate that suspected Ijaw militants attacked seven communities in Ovia South West LGA, killing 22 farmers and destroying properties worth millions of naira. Additionally, two farmers were killed in Okpekpe, Etsako East LGA, on Monday, February 24, 2025. Speaking on the crisis,…

The family of the late Gen. Mamman Jiya Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 over an alleged coup plot against then-Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), has strongly condemned Babangida’s recently released memoir, describing it as “a collection of distorted facts” and “a good reference material for criminals.” Speaking to journalists in Minna on Tuesday, Jonathan Vatsa, a cousin of the late General and the family’s spokesperson, expressed outrage over Babangida’s claim that Vatsa’s execution was justified by evidence of his involvement in a coup plot. General Babangida has long abandoned the path of honor, and his belated autobiography…

Eshanekpe Israel, an ex-militant leader in the Niger Delta and Mayor of Urhoboland, has criticized former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai over his remarks on the 2027 general elections. El-Rufai had reportedly stated that the South-South geopolitical zone would not align with the North against President Bola Tinu’s APC-led administration, claiming the region had become politically wiser. Responding on Monday in Abuja while hosting Niger Delta leaders, Israel dismissed El-Rufai’s assertion, accusing him of overestimating his influence in both the North and South-South. He argued that the region would not back a movement to unseat another of its own, as…

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has refuted claims by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida was one of Tinubu’s tormentors. Osinbajo made the remark last week while reviewing Babangida’s autobiography, A Journey in Service, at its public presentation in Abuja. He recalled how Tinubu, then a senator, opposed the military’s dissolution of the Senate following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. In a lighthearted comment, Osinbajo suggested that Tinubu, who was once tormented by the military, including Babangida was now honoring one of his former…

Students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, have reportedly abandoned lectures and fled campus following the recent arrest of 47 students by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged internet fraud. The anti-graft agency raided multiple locations in Ekpoma on February 15, 2025, apprehending suspected fraudsters in areas known to have a high student population, including Ihimudumu, Poultry, G1, and G2 streets. A student identified as Chioma described the tense atmosphere on campus, noting a sharp decline in human and vehicular traffic. “Since the raid, the streets are virtually empty. During lecture hours, the majority of students you…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has sounded the alarm over the rising drug addiction crisis in Nigeria’s Northwest region, revealing that approximately three million people are struggling with substance abuse. NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), made this disclosure on Monday during the launch of a regional campaign against illicit drug use in Kaduna. The sensitization initiative, themed “Stop Drug Abuse and Domestic Violence in Our Communities,” seeks to address the growing drug menace and its social consequences. The campaign, organized by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the NDLEA,…

Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed uncertainty about backing President Bola Tinubu for re-election in 2027. Speaking on Prime Time on ARISE TV on Monday, El-Rufai also hinted that he might not remain a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by then. “I don’t know if I will support Tinubu in 2027. “I will evaluate the situation at the time and consult widely,” he said. El-Rufai explained that his support for Tinubu during the APC primaries was a strategic decision made by party leaders in Kaduna. “We wanted power to shift to the South, knowing…

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Olalekan Ojo and Kazeem Gbadamosi, have accused Justice Abdulrahman Oshodi of bias in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele. They have formally requested that the judge recuse himself from further proceedings. Justice Oshodi has scheduled a ruling for February 26 on the application seeking his recusal. During Monday’s hearing, Emefiele’s lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), argued that the judge’s comments during proceedings demonstrated prejudice. Ojo’s application for recusal was based on statements allegedly made by Justice Oshodi in open court, where he reportedly declared that the…