Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Chess player and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has defended his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, insisting that the gesture was “not political” and should not be interpreted as “an endorsement” of the Nigerian president.  Onakoya, who recently set a second Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon—playing non-stop for 64 hours in Times Square, New York—came under heavy criticism shortly after photos of his meeting with Tinubu surfaced online. Many Nigerians, especially on social media, questioned the optics of the visit, arguing it contradicted his advocacy for slum children amid widespread economic…

Former Minority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Chijioke Chukwu has urged the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu to ignore selfish politicians asking him to declare future political ambitions when he is concentrating on building legacies and fulfilling his electoral promises to his constituents. Hon. Chukwu while reacting to the call by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on the Deputy Speaker to declare his ambitions ahead of 2027 General Elections described the statement as uncharitable and a decoy to distract the Deputy Speaker from his efforts in repositioning the APC for…

Former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien has denied joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State. Essien stated this in clearing the air over his presence at the Government House, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, venue of Governor Eno’s defection to the ruling APC. Addressing Journalists concerning his presence at the ceremony on Tuesday in Eket, the elder statesman debunked the claim, explaining that he was at the defection ground in solidarity with the governor who, according to him, is vested with the constitutional rights to take decisions best on…

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…