Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Concerned Christian Youth Forum (CCYF) has declared full support for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in its renewed call for justice over the killings and persecution of Christians across the country. Speaking through a statement released in Abuja on Friday, the Convener of CCYF, James Paul Adama, said it’s time for the Nigerian government and the international community to stop pretending and face the truth. According to him, even people outside the country are beginning to speak up and stand with Nigerian Christians – a sign that no amount of paid propaganda can hide the ongoing bloodshed. “From…

Rights activist and outspoken public figure, Aisha Yesufu, says Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, now has far better chances in 2027 than he did in the 2023 elections. Yesufu made this bold remark in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, while speaking at the Girls’ Summit organised by the Protect The Precious Foundation, where she charged young girls to find their voice in a nation still battling systemic neglect. According to her, the support Obi enjoys today wasn’t there when he first threw his hat into the 2023 race. “When he started in 2023, they said only four people…

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come down hard on activist and Sahara Reporters founder, Omoyele Sowore, over his planned protest calling for the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. APC’s Publicity Secretary in Lagos, Seye Oladejo, in a strongly worded statement, accused Sowore of once again “seeking cheap attention” by jumping on a sensitive issue that is already before the court. “It is both baffling and laughable that Sowore, a man with no cultural or political connection to the Southeast, now parades himself as the rallying point of Ndigbo,” Oladejo said. The party said…

As hunger and violence tighten their grip on millions of Nigerians, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has delivered a sharp rebuke to Nigeria’s political class, warning them to stop prioritising 2027 elections over the real suffering on the streets. Speaking at the 2025 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, the 24th since his coronation in 2002, the respected monarch didn’t mince words. He said while politicians are busy forging alliances and jostling for relevance, ordinary Nigerians are grappling with poverty, insecurity, and rising food prices. “Political attention has shifted to 2027. Nigerians are left to suffer. Governance is being abandoned,…

As Abia State gears up for another tense political season, the Abia Renaissance Group (ARG) has sent a strong warning to Governor Alex Otti: avoid divisive comments and actions that could endanger the peace the state is known for. In a statement signed by Chairman Kelechi Uwakwe and Secretary Emma Nwangwu, the group expressed deep worry over what it called “inflammatory language” in the political space, urging all leaders to prioritize unity over personal interests. “Abia has enjoyed peace and political tolerance for years,” the group noted. “It is not the time to gamble with our fragile stability.” The group…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has postponed its much-anticipated 103rd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, originally fixed for Wednesday, October 15, 2025. This comes as the party battles internal tremors and external political heat, especially with recent high-profile defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The announcement was made on Monday, October 13, via a statement by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on X (formerly Twitter). According to him, the decision was reached after an emergency meeting of the PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja. “Distinguished members of the NEC may recall that the 103rd NEC…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made a bold declaration that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, no judge serving in the FCT High Court will be living in rented accommodation by the end of the President’s first tenure in 2027. Wike made this statement on Monday during the official flag-off of the design and construction of residences for FCT Heads of Courts. He stressed that this initiative will bring to a close the long-standing issue of judicial officers in Abuja living in rented quarters – a practice many have called embarrassing and inappropriate for…

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has raised the alarm over serious death threats coming his way, all because of his bold moves to clean up Nigeria’s troubled mining sector. Speaking through his spokesperson, Segun Tomori, the Minister said he has had to triple his personal security after he started revoking licences of operators who have been flouting mining regulations or sitting on government-issued permits without using them. But despite the threats, Dr. Alake says he’s not backing down. “We won’t tolerate defaulting licence holders. I have had to increase my personal security, but I remain undaunted,”…

In the midst of rising academic tension across Nigerian universities, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has firmly distanced itself from the two-week warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). While ASUU announced the industrial action starting October 13, citing years of unfulfilled promises by the Federal Government, CONUA says it is staying out of the fray. The breakaway union is instead calling for calm, urging its members to continue their teaching and administrative duties. “We’re Not Part of the Strike” – CONUA Clears the Air President of CONUA, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, made it clear in…

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has called on young Nigerian girls to challenge outdated societal norms that teach them to accept shame and remain silent in the face of injustice. The Kogi Central lawmaker made the passionate appeal during a mentorship session held in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child. The interactive event, tagged “An Evening with Senator Natasha”, gathered over 50 young women from across the country for an evening of bold truth-telling, real talk, and renewed purpose. “We’ve been raised to wear the shame, carry the blame, and keep our mouths shut. That ends with…