Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Onyedinma Foundation has condemned the gruesome rape and murder of 21-year-old Miss Chinwendu Achumba, a post-basic midwifery student at Lady of Mercy College of Nursing, Umulogho, Obowo, Imo State, describing it as heinous. DrumAfricanews reports that Miss Achumba,who began her post-basic midwifery Lady of Mercy College of Nursing after completing her basic studies at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology (ABSCOHMAT),was raped and murdered by two suspects after refusing their romantic advances. An indigene of Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Miss Achumba was murdered on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Imo State, by two…

…September deadline ends May 10 ‘lockout’, gives losing APC aspirants escape route The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday voided INEC’s 2027 election timetable, striking out the May 10, 2026 deadline that barred politicians from switching parties. The ruling gives Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso’s National Democratic Congress four extra months to woo aggrieved APC aspirants ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election. Justice M.G. Umar held that INEC “cannot lawfully abridge” timelines set by the Electoral Act 2026. The Act permits parties to submit membership registers and candidate lists until September 2026. The judgment effectively dismantles INEC’s…

…says Ariaria is comfortable now, doesn’t want to see bad governance again The chairman of the Ariaria International Market Traders Association (AIMATA), Sir Hyacinth Ositadinma Nnabude, has said that the remaining schedule for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will be treated with a high level of seriousness as though lives depend on it. Sir Nnabude, who has been monitoring the registration from zone to zone, likes to line as well as capture other people who earn their daily living in Ariaria International Market, like the okada riders, wheelbarrow pushers, truck pushers, loaders and jobmen, and said that no one will…

An Abia state magistrate court sitting in Aba North, remanded one Mr Ekeke Nnamdi, over the alleged forgery of using the seal belonging to a deceased legal practitioner, Agbai Igwe. Nnamdi, who allegedly presented himself as a legal practitioner, was alleged to have forged late Igwe’s seal to prepare a deed of power of attorney in favour one Okoro Onyekachi Christiana. Our correspondent reports that in the three count charge with number; MAN/182c/2026, Commissioner of Police vs Ekeke Nnamdi, (Male),43 years, the prosecutor alleged that the suspect knew that Agbai had died two years ago, but forged his seal to…

The Society for Human Rights Advocacy and Development (SOHAD), an umbrella platform of civil society organisations and pro-democracy groups based in Abia State, has condemned what it termed inappropriate actions and decisions by some police in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. SOHAD said that after the recent mayhem and civil disorder linked to the recent kingship tussle and community clash in Okon Aku and Okagwe communities in Ohafia Local Government Area, the group’s hierarchy met on May 18, 2026, at Freedom Hall to appraise the role and position of the Abia State Police Command in the whole issue. …

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has given all adults of Igbo origin that getting a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) is not negotiable anymore, as it is the only right they have to make a statement in the current Nigeria. Addressing Igbos including traders, transporters, government workers and people of all walks of life, the Abia President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Chukwuemeka Okwuonu, said that in this 2027, Igbos will make a statement that will bring respect back to the race. Okwuonu stressed that no Igbo parents should allow their male and female adults who are up to 18 to waste the…

A frontline aspirant for the Abia State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) 2027 governorship primary election, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu has hailed the party as the only party in Nigeria that is now intentional in introducing a leadership model where women and youths are accommodated. Kalu, who was speaking during a radio programme at Magic 102.9 FM, which was monitored by this site, said that in addition to having very qualified aspirants for the governorship position, the PDP in Aba has taken the lead in women and youths being given opportunities. He said that in the past, he often heard about what…

Information available to DrumAfricanews has it that more than 200 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the 13 electoral wards of Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State on Monday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). As gathered, the defectors were led by the current Abia North Zonal Deputy Chairman of the PDP and former Chairman of Bende Local Government Area, Hon. Gabriel Okereke Elendu, the defectors unanimously endorsed the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for another term in office during a courtesy visit to him. Speaking on behalf of the defectors,…

The member representing the Obingwa-West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly,Erondu Uchenna Erondu Jnr. has emerged as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Abia South Senatorial District election, 2027.  Erondu, who hails from the same local government as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is is hoping to spend 24 years on the Abia South Senatorial District seat come 2031 and is currently the only recognized aspirant in the Labour Party (LP). The Obingwa West lawmaker defeated three other aspirants with a high-margin victory announced by the election officer, Prof. Emmanuel Kalu Agabaeze.  DrumAfricanews reports that…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has screened and cleared Mrs Anastasia Odochi Uchenna, a popular Aba-based radio broadcaster, to contest the election to represent Aba Central State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.  Also cleared by the PDP were Mr Enyinnaya Appolos, a former Chief Press Secretary to the immediate past governor of the state and now ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain; Dr Okezie Ikpeazu; and 16 other aspirants to contest the party’s primary election for the Abia State House of Assembly. DrumAfricanews gathered that the PDP primaries are scheduled to be held on Friday, May 22,…