Author: bibncollar

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has downplayed the significance of high-profile political defections, asserting that such moves have little to no impact on electoral outcomes in Nigeria. Speaking to journalists in Kano State, El-Rufai, a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), emphasized that real political power lies with the electorate—not with presidents, governors, or political godfathers. According to El-Rufai, “The defection of prominent politicians is not what determines election results. These events may generate headlines and sell newspapers, but on the ground, they carry little political weight. If you don’t have the support of the people, your profile…

President Bola Tinubu has described the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the most significant political shift in Nigeria’s history. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at a grand reception held in Asaba to welcome the defectors and the entire PDP structure in the state, Tinubu said the scale of the defection was unprecedented. “This is the first time in our political history that a sitting governor has crossed over to another party with the full structure of his former…

Armed bandits on Monday evening blocked the Kankara–Dutsin-Ma highway in Katsina State, intercepting a vehicle and abducting all its occupants. The incident, which reportedly occurred around 5 p.m., was disclosed by security analyst Bakatsine in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. “This evening, around 5PM, bandits blocked the Kankara–Dutsin-Ma road in Katsina State, intercepted a vehicle, and abducted all its passengers,” he wrote. The attack came less than five hours after another group of bandits ambushed farmers in Doma village, also in Katsina, abducting several individuals. As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested prominent businesswoman and socialite, Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu. According to a statement released by her legal team on Tuesday, Achimugu was taken into custody at approximately 5 a.m. upon her voluntary return to Nigeria from London. Her lawyers had earlier informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that she intended to visit the EFCC on Tuesday in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering. Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had previously ordered Achimugu to report to the EFCC on April 29,…

Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire, over allegations of serious financial and administrative misconduct. The suspension was announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, in Benin City, the state capital. According to the statement, the most senior official within the agency is to assume leadership in an acting capacity, while a special committee is set to be constituted by the government to investigate the allegations. “The Executive Governor of…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denounced the scheduled trial of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, labelling it as a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the principles of justice. Kanu is expected to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, with Justice James Omotosho presiding over the case. He is facing terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Nigerian government. In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the trial as a “sham” and a “judicial travesty,” calling on the international community—including the United Nations, African Union,…

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has reaffirmed the judiciary’s dedication to upholding fairness, accessibility, and inclusivity in the country’s justice delivery system. Speaking on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the Basic Certification Course for Court Interpreters, organized by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in collaboration with Ahmadu Bello University, the CJN emphasized that justice must be both comprehensible and accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. Justice Kekere-Ekun acknowledged that the long-overdue training of court interpreters marks a significant step toward strengthening judicial integrity. She noted that the lack of properly trained interpreters…

The Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State, highlighting the escalating violence, rampant kidnappings, and persistent banditry that have made life increasingly perilous for residents. In a statement released by its Chairman, Salihu Suleiman, NAN emphasized the gravity of the situation, pointing to the failure of local governance and the urgent need for a coordinated federal response. The Chairman expressed concern over the recent surge in violence, noting that armed groups have become bolder, launching organized attacks on villages, displacing families, and instilling widespread fear in the population.…

Bandits killed one person and abducted at least 10 others, including men, women, and children, in a deadly assault on Gidan Dawa village, located in the Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. The attack, which took place on Sunday night, was disclosed by security analyst Bakatsine in a post shared on X on Monday. The assailants launched the invasion under the cover of darkness, killing one individual and injuring two others. Several homes were also looted during the raid. Bakatsine’s report stated that the bandits took 10 villagers, including both adults and children, as captives. “Yesterday night, bandits invaded…

Umar Sani, a former spokesperson to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo and a leading figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, claiming they are pushing Nigeria toward economic collapse. In a statement released on Sunday, Sani accused the Tinubu administration of pursuing a “state capture agenda” aimed at consolidating power and destabilizing the nation’s political and economic structures. He condemned several key policy decisions, notably the removal of fuel subsidies, the floating of the naira, and electricity tariff hikes, describing them as reckless moves that have exacerbated poverty across the country. “On…