Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Presidency has debunked widespread reports claiming that President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu. The reports, which went viral early Monday, alleged that Yakubu had been removed from office and replaced with a certain Professor Bashiru Olamilekan in what was described as a “sweeping change” in the electoral body’s leadership. Reacting to the claims, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, described the news as false and urged the public to disregard it. “Disregard any fake news making the rounds about the replacement…

Young demonstrators under the aegis of the Take-It-Back Movement on Monday defied police warning and staged protests in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, among other states. Clad in their signature orange berets, the protesters began their rally in Lagos at the Ikeja Under Bridge, marching through major roads in the state capital while chanting solidarity songs, under the watchful eyes of police officers. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had earlier urged the movement to cancel its planned nationwide protest, describing the timing as “ill-conceived and mischievous.” However, in a swift response, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore dismissed the police’s…

The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a dramatic turn on Monday as two rival factions within the party summoned separate meetings of the National Executive Committee (NEC), signaling a deepening rift over the party’s leadership and direction. The move follows Friday’s judgement by the Supreme Court, which many observers believe has emboldened opposing camps to assert control over the party’s structures ahead of upcoming political realignments. Julius Abure, the embattled national chairman of the party, convened a NEC meeting which is expected to be held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja. The meeting was announced in…

President Ibrahim Traore has declared to the people of Burkina Faso in a televise speech that the country is not in a democracy but in a revolution. The Captain and President of Burkina Faso said a country cannot develop under democracy. He said in his speech: “We are not in a democracy, we are in a revolution,” “If we have to say it loud and clear here, we are not in a democracy, we are in a popular, progressive revolution.” “Everyone needs to understand this. It’s even more surprising that those who are supposed to be intellectuals, who have been…

The Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, on Monday, said Peter Obi, is a member of the party till further developments. Tanko, a campaigner for the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), said the former Anambra State governor has not joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP). “As far as I am concerned, His Excellency, Peter Obi, is a member of the Labour Party. It remains so until when there is any other thing that may come up,” Tanko said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. The LP chieftain was reacting to a claim by…

The protesters who are members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ were greeted by heavy police presence at the protest venue as early as 9am. Officers of the Rivers State Police Command on Monday morning fired teargas at protesters gathered at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. The protesters who are members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ were greeted by heavy police presence when they gathered at the protest venue as early as 9am. “Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the young demonstrators told the policemen who warned…

Nollywood actress Kate Henshaw has taken to social media to express her frustration with online trolls who resort to name-calling and personal attacks when they disagree with her opinions. Henshaw, who has been a vocal presence on social media, stated that being referred to in derogatory terms such as “olosho” and “prostitute” is draining and urged her critics to engage in more intelligent and respectful dialogue. The actress asserted that many online trolls deliberately choose to be dull and lacking in sense, rather than engaging in thoughtful and constructive conversations. “Name-calling like olosho, prostitute & the like is just so…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to meeting global demands for sustainable social development and justice. Speaking on Sunday, at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on the topic: ‘Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice.’ Kalu cited the country’s key legislative achievements in recent years, saying they attested to Nigeria’s commitment towards realizing the objective. He said: “Nigeria has taken decisive steps to meet the global demand for sustainable social development and justice. Our legislative achievements in recent years bear testament to our unflinching commitment.…

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria has distanced itself from the planned nationwide protest tagged Take-It-Back, warning that such demonstrations could inflame tensions and destabilise the country. President of the group, Isah Abubakar, in a statement issued on Sunday in Kaduna, said while the council acknowledges the frustrations of many young Nigerians, it believes that the current atmosphere calls for restraint, dialogue, and national unity, not street protests. “We are deeply concerned about the rising tension across various regions and the increasingly fragile socio-political climate. “As an organisation committed to youth empowerment, we understand the grievances driving these calls for…

The Abia State Government has denied allegations that Governor Dr. Alex Otti approved the involvement of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) Eastern Security Network (ESN) to confront Fulani herdsmen and protect Abia farmers. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, described the report as malicious and misleading, aimed at creating disaffection and unnecessary tension in the state. Ekeoma stated that the government had intentionally ignored a similar false report issued a few weeks prior but felt compelled to respond to the latest statement to prevent innocent citizens from falling prey to the fabrication. “The authors of…