Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

President Bola Tinubu has declined to sign the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Bill, 2025, into law. The decision was conveyed in a letter read on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday, during plenary. Citing Section 58(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Tinubu explained that the bill’s provision allowing the NDLEA to retain part of the proceeds from drug-related crimes conflicts with current financial regulations. According to the President, all proceeds of crime are paid into the government’s Confiscated and Forfeited Properties Account. Disbursements to any recovery agency, including the NDLEA, can only be made…

In a bid to strengthen peace and security in Africa, the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has proposed a fundamental reorientation of the security partnership between Africa and the European Union. Kalu made the proposal at a meeting with Ms. Ingeborg Ter Laak and Mr. Benjamin Oppermann on the sidelines of his series of engagements at the European Union (EU) Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on Wednesday. LaaK is a member of European Parliament as well as Vice Chair of the Delegation to the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and of the Delegation to the…

Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, a former senator and ex-governor of Kwara State, is dead. According to family sources who spoke to TheCable, Adebayo passed away early Wednesday morning in Abuja. He was 84 years old. Born on February 24, 1941, in the Igbaja community of Kwara State, Adebayo served as governor of the state in 1983. He also served as Minister of Communications from 2003 to 2006 and was elected as a senator in 1979 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Adebayo was a member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which played a key role in…

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has voiced strong opposition to the federal government’s proposed plan to establish cattle ranches in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, describing it as a threat to indigenous land rights and cultural identity. In a statement released by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group expressed concern that the proposed policy could result in the displacement of the Gbagi people, whom they identified as the original inhabitants of the FCT. The group likened the plan to the previously suspended RUGA settlement initiative and warned that it could trigger land ownership disputes and community tensions if…

Borno South Senator, Ali Ndume, has thrown jabs at a former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, over his political troubles with President Bola Tinubu, suggesting El-Rufai is now suffering the consequences of abandoning a former minister, Rotimi Amaechi. At the same time, Ndume warned that if Tinubu fails to address Nigeria’s challenges, he too may dump the ruling All Progressives Congress. The lawmaker, who was the Director-General of the Rotimi Amaechi Presidential Campaign, spoke during an appearance on Arise News on Tuesday. He used the platform to both criticise the current administration and reflect on the fallout between El-Rufai and…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) on Tuesday lost one lawmaker each in the House of Representatives to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors — Hon. Peter Akpanke and Hon. Paul Nnamchi — formally announced their switch during plenary, with their defection letters read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Akpanke, who was elected on the PDP platform, represents Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwara Federal Constituency of Cross River State. Nnamchi, elected under the LP, represents Enugu East/Isi Uzo Federal Constituency of Enugu State. Both lawmakers attributed their defections to internal crises within their former parties and their desire to…

Following widespread criticism of the planned birthday rally for Peter Obi’s 64th birthday, the Obidient Movement has announced the suspension of its public fundraising efforts for the celebration. The movement had earlier announced its plan for a nationwide rally to celebrate Obi’s birthday on July 19. To fund the rally activities, the group had initially created four dedicated bank accounts jointly managed by Serah Ibrahim, Ezeokoli Blessing, and John Alor. However, the announcement sparked concerns about accountability as many questioned the necessity of the monetary aspect of the rally activity. Consequently, the backlash prompted the movement to suspend the fundraising.…

The Social Democratic Party has suspended its National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, over alleged financial misconduct and misappropriation of party funds. The party also suspended its National Auditor, Nnadi Clarkson, and National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu. The decision was announced in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Araba Aiyenigba, on Tuesday. “The suspended officials were linked to a series of unauthorised financial transactions, personal enrichment schemes, and diversion of funds without NWC approval,” the statement said. According to Aiyenigba, Gabam had submitted an unauthorised financial statement to INEC and published a summary in newspapers, prompting the party to alert law…

Uganda’s ruling party on said Tuesday that the country’s long-running president Yoweri Museveni will seek re-election in polls due early next year. The 80-year-old had been widely expected to try and extend his almost four-decade rule over the East African country. The opposition has faced a mounting crackdown ahead of the general election in January, with leading activists and politicians intimidated, abducted and detained. Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) party said in a statement on its website that the leader “seeks to retain the positions of the NRM chairman and party presidential flag bearer in the 2026 elections”. Tanga Odoi,…

The Vice President of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, and his wife, Maria Alckmin, on Tuesday, arrived in Nigeria for the commencement of the second session of the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism. On arrival at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the delegation was received by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia and Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole. Other government officials that received the delegation are the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, Minister of Agriculture, and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; among others. The high-profile visit represents a watershed in…