Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration is rebuilding FCT to a befitting nation’s capital. Wike stated this on Sunday, during a Thanksgiving Service at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, for the successful completion of project inaugurations by Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office. The minister said nothing was moving in the nation’s capital until the coming of Tinubu’s administration, pointing out that residents were already confessing the changes. “This is because you have a government that is determined to make the needed changes. “If the Tinubu government…

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The Senate has given conditions for the reinstatement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, after a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the six-month suspension handed down on her by the Senate. Justice Binta Nyako, in her judgment on Friday, ordered the Senate to reinstate the Kogi Central senator, describing her suspension as excessive. In March, Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Red Chamber for six months for alleged gross misconduct, following her face-off with the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, over the sitting arrangement. Tensions intensified when Akpoti-Uduaghan, on national television, accused Akpabio of punishing her for rejecting his alleged sexual advances. The…

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President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sadness at the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai. ‎Rufai, 61, died on Thursday after a brief illness. ‎In a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President extended condolences to the Rufai family, friends, and the Nigerian football community. ‎The President praised Rufai’s lasting impact on Nigerian football, describing him as a legendary figure beloved by fans across the country who affectionately called him “Dodomayana.” ‎Tinubu lauded the ex- Super Eagles’s goalkeeper as a patriotic sportsman who carved his name in gold in Nigeria’s football history and across…

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The House of Representatives has called for the immediate establishment of a permanent military base in the Madagali/Michika axis of Adamawa State, following renewed attacks by armed assailants that left several residents dead and many others abducted. This followed a resolution passed during Thursday’s plenary, where lawmakers decried the persistent security breaches in the area and mandated a thorough investigation into the violence. The House also resolved to investigate the persistent security breaches in the Northeast, particularly in the Madagali/Michika axis of Adamawa State. “To stem the tide of violence, the House urged the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector…

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Comedian AY Makun has come to the defense of a fellow celebrity, 2baba, following his public apology to his lover and fans. Recall that 2baba had earlier commented about men not being wired for monogamy, but later apologised to his partner, kids, and fans. AY Makun urged people to consider the human side of public figures, noting that men are often raised to suppress their emotions and are blamed or misunderstood when they speak out. He described the situation as a complex issue, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding. In his defense, AY Makun emphasised the societal expectations placed…

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The Julius Abure group within the Labour Party (LP) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Peter Obi to resign his membership of the party over his bromance with the David Mark-led opposition coalition. In a statement on Thursday, a spokesman for the group, Obiora Ifoh, said all members of the coalition once mismanaged Nigeria at one point or the other. Ifoh said desperate politicians can’t birth a new Nigeria, stressing that the Labour Party won’t tolerate Obi’s alliance with the coalition powered on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) while the former presidential candidate still identified with the…

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Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has said that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition will always put Nigerians first in all its decisions. This is as Obi reaffirmed his support for the adoption of the ADC as the coalition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections to unseat President Bola Tinubu. Obi said the move was borne out of a commitment to provide competent and compassionate leadership for Nigeria. In a post on his X handle on Thursday, the former Anambra governor said the coalition’s decision to unite under the ADC was…

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The founding National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu, has revealed that party leaders voluntarily stepped down to allow former Senate President David Mark and ex-Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola to assume leadership and steer the party and Nigeria towards a new political direction. Nwosu made the announcement on Wednesday at the unveiling of the ADC as the official platform for the newly formed opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. The event took place at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja. Mark and Aregbesola have been named the interim National Chairman and National Secretary…

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The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has warned members against contemplating defection, vowing to take decisive action against those undermining the party. The Acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, made this declaration during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, following the meeting of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC. Damagum, who spoke with newsmen alongside other NWC members, stressed the PDP’s unity and resilience ahead of the 2027 general elections, emphasising that the party remains strong and intact despite internal challenges, urging members to remain loyal and avoid actions that could weaken the PDP from within. “If you are…

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The House of Representatives has halted the consideration of all bills originating from the Senate, citing prolonged delays by the upper chamber in giving concurrence to House-passed legislation. The decision followed a motion raised on Wednesday, July 2, after Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda drew attention to the disparity in legislative cooperation between the two chambers. Chinda observed that while the House routinely considers and fast-tracks Senate bills, the Senate has failed to reciprocate, with over 140 bills passed by the House still pending in the red chamber. Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, confirmed the growing frustration among lawmakers,…

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