Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Bolaji Abdullahi, former minister of sports and interim spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), says ending banditry in Katsina state would be a top priority for the coalition. His statement was in response to Dikko Radda, governor of Katsina, who dismissed the newly formed opposition coalition, adding that the group is made up of familiar politicians with no fresh ideas or solutions for the country. He said the coalition lacks credibility and has nothing new to offer Nigerians. Responding, Abdullahi criticised the government of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it had long abandoned efforts to tackle the…

The Nigeria Police Force has announced the rescue of 31 kidnapped victims in two separate operations in Taraba and Edo states. This was contained in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday. In the statement, Adejobi said, “In a sustained effort against banditry and kidnapping, the Nigeria Police Force has again recorded significant breakthroughs in Taraba and Edo States, successfully rescuing 31 kidnapped victims in two separate coordinated operations. “In Edo State, on Friday, July 11th, 2025, at approximately 7:20 pm, police operatives from the state command swiftly responded to an attack along…

The U.S. Senate has approved the White House’s request to cancel 9.4 billion dollars in federal spending on foreign aid and the NPR and PBS broadcasters. The late Wednesday vote of 51-48 sent the bill to the House of Representatives, which is expected to give its final approval by July 18, CNN reported. If passed, the draft law would go to President Donald Trump for a signature. In early June, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the White House had sent a request to Congress to cancel 9.4 billion dollars in previously approved spending. It was identified as “wasteful’’ by…

A group of young political leaders on the platform of South-South Emerging Leaders’ Forum (SELF) has cautioned the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, against threatening the coalition-backed opposition party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) for its presidential ticket. According to the forum, Mr Obi would most likely dump coalition like he did before presidential primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2022, if the ADC does not hand over its ticket to him on a platter. In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Benjamin Kolowei,…

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board has temporarily suspended its recruitment application portal to improve system efficiency. The Secretary to the Board, Maj. Gen. AM Jibril (retd.), made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. He stated that the suspension affects the portal dedicated to the recruitment of personnel into the board’s paramilitary agencies. Jibril stated that the board announced that the portal will reopen on Monday, July 21, 2025. He explained that the move was necessary to handle the surge in applications and ensure a smooth recruitment process. “This development will ensure that the…

Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation magazine and former presidential candidate, has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Momodu announced his resignation in a letter dated July 17 and addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Ihievbe, Owan East LGA, Edo state. The publisher said his decision to resign is “simple and straightforward” and that the party has been hijacked by “antidemocratic forces, from within and outside, in broad daylight”. Momodu announced his intention to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the platform adopted by opposition coalition politicians to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. “I wish to…

Paul Ibe, Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has said that the letter announcing his principal’s resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was leaked. Ibe stated this during an interview on Wednesday night on Arise News, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the timing of Atiku’s exit from the PDP, which coincided with the nation’s mourning of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who was buried on Tuesday. Ibe claimed that individuals opposed to Atiku’s political ambition, including some members within the PDP and their allies in the All Progressives Congres (APC) orchestrated the leak and not voluntarily released.…

The Federal Government has said that it has not received any formal communication from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, authorities regarding the new conditions for issuing transit visas to Nigerian nationals. This is as President Bola Tinubu has assured all Nigerians that his administration will continue to pursue the best possible outcomes for citizens abroad, ensuring that Nigerians can travel, work, and live with dignity and respect in any part of the world. These among others were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. President Tinubu according…

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has filed a notice of appeal to challenge the ruling of the Federal High Court, which ‘ordered’ the recall of suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to the Senate. In a notice of appeal dated July 14, 2025, filed by Akpabio—through his lead counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, Akpabio is seeking to overturn the July 4 judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako. The High Court had described Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension as “excessive” and without legal justification. The appeal, marked CA/2025, arises from suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, which was instituted by Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to challenge her suspension from the Senate. Akpabio’s…

The Northwest Governors Forum has declared Tuesday, July 15, 2025, a public holiday across all seven states of the region in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday in a hospital in the United Kingdom. In a statement personally signed by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, the governors expressed profound grief over the demise of the elder statesman, describing it as a colossal loss to Nigeria. “The Northwest Governors Forum receives with shock and deep sorrow the news of the passing of our beloved former President, General…