Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed claims that a recent Supreme Court judgment puts the eligibility of its 2027 governorship candidate, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, in doubt. The apex court, in a judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, stressed compliance with Section 77(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act. The provisions require political parties to submit a verified register of members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before conducting primary elections. The ruling has triggered a legal and political debate over whether it affects Chinda’s bid to contest the 2027…

Built by Nigeria’s irrepressible Chinekezi brothers, JobSeeker AI emerges as a bold new force in artificial intelligence, challenging the conventional belief that the advancement of AI must inevitably come at the expense of human employment. A new chapter in the global conversation around Artificial Intelligence is unfolding with the launch of JobSeeker AI, an innovative employment and entrepreneurship development platform created by the Chinekezi brothers of Nigeria, described as among Africa’s leading AI developers and technology innovators. Launched recently on the World Wide Web under the technology portfolio of Avatar and Qantum AI Technologies Limited, JobSeeker AI seeks to redefine…

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said there is no Rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State, while insisting that his relationship with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike remains strong. Umahi described Wike as his good friend and brother, saying that even if Wike has a political candidate in Ebonyi State, such a candidate cannot break their relationship. He said Wike had not told him that he has a candidate in the state, adding that whoever the candidate may be is not part of the personal relationship between him and Wike. Speaking about the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Umahi said he killed the…

The Imo State Government yesterday explained that the local government election scheduled to hold last Saturday, September 26, was stalled by ongoing court process. The Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba, disclosed that opposition parties had taken the State Independent Electoral Commission to court, seeking to stop the election. He said APGA and NDC specifically asked the court to stop the election on several grounds, adding that the substantive suits have been adjourned to October 30 for hearing. Emelumba said it would have been irresponsible for the government to proceed with the election while the legal…

For years, whenever you mentioned Imo State in investment circles, what you heard was complaints. Bad roads. Insecurity. Young people leaving. But something has changed in the last five years. And it is not just talk. Governor Hope Uzodimma has been quietly fixing the things that any serious investor checks before bringing money into a place. Not the fancy stuff. The core basics. Let’s start with roads, because that’s where everything begins. Over 150 road projects have been delivered. The Owerri-Orlu road. Owerri-Okigwe. Owerri-Mbaise-Umuahia. The Owerri-Onitsha Road, the Owerri-Port Harcourt Road and many more. These are roads that used to…

…Urges Urgent Help from NEMA, SEMA Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has expressed deep concern over the devastating flood in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu communities in Bende Local Government Area which also constitutes Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State. Reports indicate that two persons lost their lives after two days of torrential rainfall that submerged many homes, including the palaces of two traditional rulers, Eze Ifeanyi Owo of Amaeze Community and Eze Gilbert Chukwu of Amaokai community in the federal constituency. In a statement, Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency, described the incident…

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State, has said that the claim by the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC),that Senator Nkechi Nwaogu (our own Mama APC) is a member of their party is false. Abia APC said that for the purposes of clarity and to put the records straight, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu remains a bonafide member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Uche Aguoru, Publicity Secretary APC, Abia State, said that Senator Nwaogu purchased the APC Senate nomination form and participated in the APC Senatorial Primary Election held on the 18th day of May 2026. According to Aguoru,Senator Nwaogu scored 12,033…

The Supreme Court has upheld electoral provisions governing political party membership registers and candidate nomination, a development with potential consequences for disputed nominations ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The judgment, delivered on Thursday, September 24, 2026, allows an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission against an earlier Court of Appeal decision favouring the Zenith Labour Party. A seven-member panel led by Justice Adamu Jauro set aside the appellate decision and upheld the trial court’s judgment. The apex court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against the ZLP. (tvcnews.tv⁠) The litigation concerned Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of…

RC, Ochubara dike Ohia, Writes from Ozuitem. Development does not happen by wishful thinking. It happens when leadership moves from promises to projects, from plans to implementation, and from political rhetoric to measurable results. This is the logic behind what can be described as Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s radical approach to the aggressive development of Bende Federal Constituency. The approach is characterised by an emphasis on visible infrastructure and interventions across multiple sectors. Ben Kalu’s official project record lists roads, classroom blocks, agricultural initiatives, medical outreach, empowerment programmes and other community interventions across Bende Federal Constituency. A constituency is developed…

The people of the Ahiaba Ubi community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area have expressed gratitude to the Abia State commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi, for the prosecution of Chukwudi Eguzowa, a 49-year-old man suspected to be a notorious drug kingpin. The community equally thanked the Commander of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) Abia State, CSP Oracle Emeka and CSP Obinna Omenihu of the VCRU Olokoro Unit with other officers who made sure that the drug kingpin was prosecuted and remanded as the case continues. As gathered, the hearing of the case has been adjourned, and the…