A young Nigerian man’s declaration that he would vote for President Bola Tinubu simply because they are both Yoruba has reignited one of Nigeria’s most uncomfortable political debates: how much should ethnicity influence the way Nigerians choose their leaders? In the viral video, the man acknowledges that Peter Obi could perform well as president but…
With the Osun governorship election only days away, vote-buying has emerged as one of the biggest threats to the credibility of the August 15 poll. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political actors against buying votes, while civil society groups have identified 13 local government areas as high-risk areas. Security agencies are also…
Nigeria’s tax chief, Zacch Adedeji, has offered an unusual defence of President Bola Tinubu’s administration amid criticism that political leaders live comfortably while ordinary Nigerians struggle with rising living costs. In a Channels Television interview, Adedeji, chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, pointed to what he described as Tinubu’s personal simplicity. He said the President…
President Bola Tinubu’s decision to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to return to court and seek the lifting of its freeze on Osun State government accounts has transformed a financial investigation into a much bigger political and institutional debate. The EFCC had obtained a court order freezing the account amid an investigation…
Cardinal John Onaiyekan’s latest criticism of Nigeria’s political system has shifted attention from the usual 2027 campaign arguments to a more fundamental question: what happens when citizens do not trust the system that is supposed to protect their votes? Following the July 28 meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria,…
A Family Court in Aba, Abia State, has sentenced 30-year-old Chidiebere Kalu, a security officer at Radiant Glory Academy, to concurrent one-year prison terms after convicting him of offences involving the abuse and intimidation of a 10-year-old pupil. One of the sentences carried no option of a fine, while the second had a ₦200,000 fine…
The Federal Government has assured public servants that outstanding wage awards will be paid before the middle of August, after months of complaints over delayed payments. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the assurance as the government also moved to address outstanding promotion arrears. The immediate significance is obvious: workers…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has frozen an Osun State Government bank account over what it says are suspicious transfers linked to an investigation into the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in public funds. The investigation, which began in March, covers funds including ecology money, intervention funds and FAAC allocations. But the…
North Korea launched a suspected short-range ballistic missile towards waters off its east coast on Thursday, according to South Korean officials. The projectile fell into the sea and did not pose a reported threat to Japanese territory. On its own, another North Korean missile test might look routine. Pyongyang has conducted repeated launches this year…
Nigerian security forces have rescued 308 people abducted in separate incidents across Kwara and Niger states, in what the Presidency described as the country’s largest same-day rescue operation by a joint security team. The operation involved the military, Department of State Services (DSS), police and other security agencies, with 163 victims rescued from Woro in…
