Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Jesutega Onokpasa, a lawyer and prominent political commentator, is dead. The news of his demise was disclosed by Okezie J. Atañi, a pro-All Progressives Congress crusader, on his X (Twitter) account on Tuesday. Onokpasa, who was a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council in 2023, passed away under yet-to-be-disclosed circumstances. He served on the APC’s Publicity Committee. He gained national attention for his political commentary and staunch support for President Bola Tinubu, often appearing on TV to defend the administration. One of Onokpasa’s most notable appearances came in October 2023 during a heated on-air exchange with…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State says it is not bothered about Monday’s defection of some party leaders to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP Vice Chairman (Lagos Central), Mr Hakeem Olalemi, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday. Some PDP leaders, including the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, announced their resignation from the party on Monday. Other prominent PDP leaders who dumped the party for APC were Alhaja Safurat Abdulkareem, a two-time State PDP deputy governorship candidate, a former State PDP deputy chairman, Chief Ola…

Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration has done well in stabilising Nigeria’s economy and believes the country’s turnaround will not happen overnight. Fayose said this on Monday night after visiting President Tinubu in his Lagos home. “My visit is personal, to further encourage him to continue to do what he’s doing for Nigerians,” the former governor and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told journalists after the visit. “No one is saying it is easy, but there is no miracle that can turn around things overnight.” According to him, the president…

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone the party’s presidential ticket to the southern region of the country in the 2027 election. Wike said this late Monday while reading a communiqué after a meeting of critical stakeholders of the party under the aegis of the “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP.” “In the spirit of fairness, inclusion, federal character principles and respect for our party constitution, the Party must make an unequivocal pronouncement zoning its presidential candidate to the South in the 2027 elections after the unbroken years of Northern President under…

Minister of Works, David Umahi has declared that after God, his loyalty lies with President Bola Tinubu. According to him, he takes instructions only from the duo. Umahi made the declaration in Abakaliki on Monday while speaking with journalists. He was reacting to the President’s recent commendation of his achievements in infrastructure development. The minister said the commendation was worth more than one trillion dollars to him, noting that it shows he was on the right track and that God answers prayers. “I have told the President even publicly that my loyalty is to God first and then, him. “When…

Federal Capital Territory, FCT minister, Nyesom Wike on Monday disclosed that the maintenance of the newly renovated Abuja International Conference Centre AICC will no longer be left in the hands of politicians in order to maintain the fidelity of the multibillion Naira structure. Wike stated this after inspecting some of the 17 projects slated for commissioning from June 10. The minister who also explained how he was able to navigate bureaucratic bottlenecks to deliver on the projects, said he has a standing policy of ensuring that top civil servants who might want to frustrate the Renewed Hope Agenda are sent…

Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has defended his administration’s investment in the state’s brewery, insisting it remains a major economic asset despite criticisms. In an interview on Monday with Arise News anchor Rufai Oseni, Obi recounted the challenges he faced attracting investment to Anambra, particularly in establishing the brewery, which he said has become the state’s largest revenue earner. “If I ever tell you what I suffered for that brewery to be built in Anambra State, you will not believe it,” Obi said. “I had to go out trying to attract business to…

Mr. Aliyu Audu has resigned his appointment as Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to President Bola Tinubu, citing concerns over efforts to suppress political opposition in Nigeria. In a resignation letter dated June 8 and submitted through the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Audu announced his immediate departure from the position, stating: “I write to formally tender my resignation as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, effective immediately.” In a separate public statement, Audu said his decision was not a rebellion but an act of conscience. He declared his refusal to be part of a…

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said 59,786 inmates, representing 74 percent of the population across custodial centres nationwide, have so far been successfully registered in the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment exercise. Public Relations Officer of NCoS, Umar Abubakar disclosed this in a Monday statement debunking media reports suggesting the process has not commenced in custodial centres across the country. He said, “This report is misleading and inaccurate and does not reflect the current state of affairs within our custodial facilities. “A majority of inmates across various custodial centres nationwide have already been successfully enrolled into the national identity…

The Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has insisted that he is not part of those who have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office. Ndume stated this on Sunday, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme. The lawmaker was keen to remind Tinubu that former President Goodluck Jonathan was endorsed by 22 governors of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2015 election but lost his re-election bid to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Last month, 22 governors elected on the platform of the APC, unanimously adopted Tinubu as their…