Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The national leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has instructed its Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade, to prepare legal processes to take the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, the party’s former vice-presidential candidate, and the entire PDP structure in Delta to court for defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Addressing journalists after the first meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, for the year, Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, explained that the party was prepared to challenge the defection legally to reclaim its mandate, as the officials were initially elected under the PDP platform. The…

Ifeanyi Okowa, vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, says President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete eight years in office.  Okowa, a former senator, spoke on Tuesday on ‘The Morning Show’, an Arise TV programme. The former governor of Delta recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with his successor and several political officeholders in the state, in tow. “But beyond all this, for the stability of this nation, I also do believe that, yes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected president in 2023, and for the stability of Nigeria, it…

Operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested popular Lagos socialite and businessman, Emeka Okonkwo Daniel, popularly called E-Money, for allegedly misusing the Naira notes. Sources within the commission said on Tuesday that E-Money was arrested on Monday night at his residence in the Omole area of Lagos for allegedly spraying United States dollars, an act said to violate the Foreign Exchange Act. “On Monday night, we arrested E-Money for Naira abuse and defacing foreign currencies. Specifically, he was alleged to have sprayed US dollars, which is against the Foreign Exchange Act. “He was arrested at his…

By Uche Aguoru In an alarming show of high-handedness, insecurity, and utter disdain for democratic values, the administration of Governor Alex Otti has unleashed a new wave of repression on traditional rulers in Abia State. Under the guise of a so-called “code of conduct,” Otti’s government has issued directives that amount to nothing less than the caging of these custodians of culture and tradition. The new guidelines dictate that no traditional ruler may receive or host visitors in their palaces without express approval from the governor. Even more shockingly, they are forbidden from traveling outside the state or convening meetings…

Former Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has faulted Senator Bukola Saraki’s comment about his defection, saying the former Senate President has no moral right to criticise his decision. On Monday, key political stakeholders in Delta State including Governor Sheriff Oborevwori his predecessor, Okowa and political appointees in the state officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Following the gale of defection which emptied the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) structure into the APC, Saraki, in a strongly worded statement, said Okowa’s defection to the APC is an indication of how low politics has become in Nigeria. Given the…

Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, has suspended Caulson Oahimire, the executive secretary of the Edo primary healthcare development agency, over alleged financial infractions. Fred Ituah, chief press secretary (CPS) to the governor, confirmed the incident on Tuesday. In a statement, the governor directed that the most senior official of the agency should take over pending the outcome of an investigation by a special committee. “The executive governor of Edo state, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Caulson Osoikhia Oahimire over allegations of grave financial and official infractions,”…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the federal government’s request to allow its witnesses to testify behind a screen in the terrorism charges against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The court’s decision was based on security reasons, with the government’s lawyer arguing that protecting the witnesses’ identities was necessary due to the nature of the charges. Kanu’s lawyer did not object to the application but requested similar cooperation when arguing Kanu’s bail application. The court granted the request, and the first witness of the federal government code named, PWAAA in the matter…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arrested businesswoman Aisha Achimugu at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Our correspondent gathered that Achimugu was arrested around 5am shortly after her return from London. Achimugu had been declared wanted in March by the EFCC over allegations of criminal conspiracy and money laundering. On Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice I.E. Ekwo, had ordered her to appear before the EFCC on Tuesday, and also to appear before the court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Her lawyer, Chief Chikaosolu Ojukwu, confirmed her arrest in a message saying,…

Former Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, says his defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is informed by the need to build a platform free from godfatherism and internal dysfunction. He said Nigeria urgently needs a credible political alternative to rescue it from existential threats. El-Rufai made the remarks in Kano on Monday while briefing newsmen on why he decamped to the SDP. He said he was in Kano to visit the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and to meet with SDP leaders to strategise on building a strong grassroots political movement in the state. “Kano…

Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has sentenced the husband of late gospel singer, Osinachi, Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging. Justice Nwosu-Iheme found him guilty of culpable homicide resulting in the death of the deceased on April 8, 2022. The judge sentenced Nwachukwu to death while sentencing him after the court had held that the prosecution had proven the burden of proof placed on it by the law and subsequently found the defendant guilty. Nwachukwu was arraigned on June 3, 2022, by the Office of the Attorney-General of the…