Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 22, for hearing in the suit on the authentic National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The judge fixed the date for a definite hearing of all motions against the suit filed by the embattled National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, based on the agreement of the parties. The matter which was coming before Justice Umar for the first time, had earlier been fixed for judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo before the plaintiff brought an application for amendment of his original process. Anyanwu had originally sued the Independent…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 16 for the conduct of 16 constituency bye-elections in 12 states of the Federation. Accordingly, the commission stated that it would deploy 30,451 officials for the exercise. The commission also announced the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration CVR nationwide from August 18. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the second regular consultative meeting with political parties. Yakubu noted the perennial complaints by opposition parties that incumbents often deny them access to state facilities, including public media, saying going forward, the commission would work with…

President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025, into law. The decision was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday, during plenary. Citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Tinubu explained that the bill’s provision allowing the NDLEA to retain part of the proceeds from drug-related crimes conflicts with current financial regulations. According to the President, all proceeds of crime are paid into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. Disbursements to any recovery agency, including the NDLEA, can only be made…

In a bid to strengthen peace and security in Africa, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has proposed a fundamental reorientation of the security partnership between Africa and the European Union. Kalu made the proposal at a meeting with Ms. Ingeborg Ter Laak and Mr. Benjamin Oppermann on the sidelines of his series of engagements at the European Union (EU) Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday. LaaK is a member of European Parliament as well as Vice Chair of the Delegation to the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and of the Delegation to the…

Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, a former senator and ex-governor of Kwara State, is dead. According to family sources who spoke to TheCable, Adebayo passed away early Wednesday morning in Abuja. He was 84 years old. Born on February 24, 1941, in the Igbaja community of Kwara State, Adebayo served as governor of the state in 1983. He also served as Minister of Communications from 2003 to 2006 and was elected as a senator in 1979 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Adebayo was a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which played a key role in…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has voiced strong opposition to the federal government’s proposed plan to establish cattle ranches in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, describing it as a threat to indigenous land rights and cultural identity. In a statement released by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group expressed concern that the proposed policy could result in the displacement of the Gbagi people, whom they identified as the original inhabitants of the FCT. The group likened the plan to the previously suspended RUGA settlement initiative and warned that it could trigger land ownership disputes and community tensions if…

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has thrown jabs at a former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, over his political troubles with President Bola Tinubu, suggesting El-Rufai is now suffering the consequences of abandoning a former minister, Rotimi Amaechi. At the same time, Ndume warned that if Tinubu fails to address Nigeria’s challenges, he too may dump the ruling All Progressives Congress. The lawmaker, who was the Director-General of the Rotimi Amaechi Presidential Campaign, spoke during an appearance on Arise News on Tuesday. He used the platform to both criticise the current administration and reflect on the fallout between El-Rufai and…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) on Tuesday lost one lawmaker each in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors — Hon. Peter Akpanke and Hon. Paul Nnamchi — formally announced their switch during plenary, with their defection letters read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Akpanke, who was elected on the PDP platform, represents Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara Federal Constituency of Cross River State. Nnamchi, elected under the LP, represents Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency of Enugu State. Both lawmakers attributed their defections to internal crises within their former parties and their desire to…

Following widespread criticism of the planned birthday rally for Peter Obi’s 64th birthday, the Obidient Movement has announced the suspension of its public fundraising efforts for the celebration. The movement had earlier announced its plan for a nationwide rally to celebrate Obi’s birthday on July 19. To fund the rally activities, the group had initially created four dedicated bank accounts jointly managed by Serah Ibrahim, Ezeokoli Blessing, and John Alor. However, the announcement sparked concerns about accountability as many questioned the necessity of the monetary aspect of the rally activity. Consequently, the backlash prompted the movement to suspend the fundraising.…

The Social Democratic Party has suspended its National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, over alleged financial misconduct and misappropriation of party funds. The party also suspended its National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu. The decision was announced in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, on Tuesday. “The suspended officials were linked to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and diversion of funds without NWC approval,” the statement said. According to Aiyenigba, Gabam had submitted an unauthorised financial statement to INEC and published a summary in newspapers, prompting the party to alert law…