Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Members of the House of Representatives will this week debate a motion seeking urgent medical intervention for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The decision followed an intervention during Tuesday’s plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu,CFR who in reaction to a point of order raised on the subject matter by the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, notified the House that it will be properly presented for hearing within the week. Aguocha had raised a point of order, (order 6 rule 2 on matters of privilege), stating…

It was far from business as usual on Tuesday inside the green chamber of the National Assembly as a heated face-off broke out between Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Obi Aguocha from Abia State. The Abia lawmaker had raised a point of privilege, drawing attention to a letter he sent back in August to the Speaker, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and President Bola Tinubu. The letter was a call for urgent medical intervention for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been in custody since June 2021. According to Aguocha, the letter has been…

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday, swore in three newly elected lawmakers following their victories in the August 16 bye-elections held across several states. The swearing-in ceremony took place during plenary at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, marking the official return of full representation for some affected federal constituencies. The bye-elections became necessary after the Green Chamber tragically lost four of its members between 2024 and 2025 due to illness. Among the late lawmakers were: Ekene Adams (Kaduna State), Isa Dogonyaro (Jigawa State), Olaide Akinremi (Oyo State), Oriyomi Onanuga (Ogun State) In addition,…

After a full decade at the helm of Nigeria’s electoral commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu has officially stepped aside as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Yakubu, who was first appointed in 2015 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, completed two terms of five years each, navigating Nigeria through some of its most challenging and controversial elections. On Tuesday, October 7th, Yakubu formally handed over leadership to National Commissioner May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will now serve as Acting Chairman of the Commission pending the appointment of a new substantive head. Tinubu to Appoint New INEC Chairman Soon All eyes are…

Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, has distanced himself from a viral post credited to him and circulated by Igbere TV (IGTV) on Facebook and another platform, “Olu Ndi Igbo”, on X (formerly Twitter). The publications, which alleged that Ekeoma made damaging statements against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, particularly regarding Kalu’s relationship with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, have been described by Ekeoma as “fake, irresponsible, and criminal.” In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, Ekeoma condemned the report, describing it as “a display of…

The Abia State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has distanced itself from a protest allegedly held at the Government House, Umuahia, by individuals claiming to represent the union. In a disclaimer issued on Friday, the NLC State Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, said the protest was orchestrated by impostors who falsely used his name to cause unrest over the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for health workers in the state. Comrade Ogbonnaya clarified that he did not lead or authorize any protest related to CONHESS payments, stressing that the NLC leadership remains committed to maintaining a…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is poised to take over the governance of Abia State in 2027, expressing gratitude to the people for their support.  Addressing a mammoth gathering of APC supporters and members of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State in Umuahia, the capital on Sunday, Kalu emphasized that the party’s victory would be through the votes of the masses, not federal government force. He urged all Abia residents and eligible voters to obtain…

In a fresh political jab, former Edo State Governor and senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has sent a clear message to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan: Don’t contest in 2027. Speaking during an interview on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Oshiomhole didn’t mince words. He said only those who don’t truly care about Jonathan’s legacy would encourage him to return to the presidential race. “If a man had PDP at its peak and lost, only his enemies will push him to run again,” Oshiomhole said. According to him, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which defeated Jonathan in 2015, can still beat…

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has thrown a punch at politicians who forge or exaggerate their academic qualifications to secure political appointments. Reacting to a fresh certificate scandal involving Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, Sani advised political hopefuls to stick to the basics; their WAEC certificates. “All you need to contest elections or for political appointment is a secondary school certificate,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. His comments come on the heels of a damning investigation by Premium Times, which uncovered that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) disowned Nnaji’s Bachelor of Science…

Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, has issued a strong warning to former President Goodluck Jonathan not to yield to pressures urging him to contest the 2027 presidential election. Speaking in Lagos during a media chat, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in Lagos said Jonathan’s return would be a political miscalculation. According to him, it would be difficult — if not impossible — for Jonathan to defeat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he described as a “political grandmaster.” “This same Tinubu defeated Jonathan from the outside in 2015. Imagine what he’ll do now as an incumbent with full structure,”…