Organisers of the popular reality television show, Big Brother Naija, have announced that auditions for its eleventh season will commence on May 22, with this year’s selection process returning fully to physical screenings. The organisers disclosed this in a statement shared on Instagram on Saturday, noting that interested applicants are expected to register between May […]
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The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu on Saturday, was returned as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Bende Federal Constituency in the 2027 general elections unopposed. Hon. Kalu was returned through a pronouncement by the APC registered members in the 13 electoral wards of Bende Federal Constituency. […]
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Former Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency seat ahead of the 2027 general elections, following her victory at the party’s primary election held on Saturday.
Adeleye secured a sweeping victory across the 21 wards that make up the federal constituency, polling a total of 25,167 votes.
According to the result announced by the party’s Electoral Officer, Wale Ajayi, in the presence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security officials and party stakeholders at Ifo RCM 1, Adeleye garnered 17,286 votes from Ifo Local Government Area and 7,881 votes from Ewekoro Local Government Area, bringing her total to 25,167 votes.
DAILY POST reports that Adeleye expressed gratitude to the leadership and members of the party for their confidence and overwhelming support, noting that the peaceful conduct of the exercise further reaffirmed the party’s commitment to internal democracy, inclusiveness and progressive ideals.
“The election was conducted peacefully and transparently, reflecting the maturity, discipline and unity within our great party. Beyond the outcome, today’s exercise further demonstrates that our party, the APC, remains committed to internal democracy, fairness and collective progress.
“I sincerely appreciate the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the consensus governorship candidate, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, leaders, stakeholders, delegates and party faithful for their confidence, sacrifices and unwavering support throughout this process,” she stated.
Ogun ex-commissioner, Adeleye secures APC ticket for 2027 poll
The senatorial hopeful of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, has rallied his supporters to brace up for an epic battle ahead of the party’s primary election.
Nwankwo stated this soon after scaling the hurdle of the APGA screening. This is coming as the leader of the party and Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has insisted on credible primaries, choosing Option A4 as the mode of election.
Nwankwo, while addressing his supporters, thanked the APGA Screening Committee for a thorough job, noting that APGA had been known for such impeccable standards.
He said: “I’m not new to my people, and my people are not new to me. I have lived most of my life among them and appreciate their problems. That was one of the chief reasons I set up the Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo Foundation years ago, through which I have touched many lives.
“I’m ready to do more if given the mandate, but what I’m saying is that all of you must brace up because the primary election will be a tough battle.”
Nwankwo is running for the APGA ticket alongside Amb. Jerry Ugokwe. They are seeking to represent Anambra Central Senatorial Zone, where the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Senator Victor Umeh, is the current representative.
Former governors of Anambra and Kano states, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, on Saturday cautioned aspirants of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2027 general elections against greed, vote-buying and politics driven by personal ambition. The two political leaders spoke through their representatives at a one-day summit for aspirants organised by the Obidient […]
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Angry youths in Benue South on Saturday staged a protest during the ongoing All Progressives Congress, APC, primary elections, demanding an end to the persistent killings in parts of the Idoma-speaking area.
The protesters barricaded a major highway in Apa Local Government Area, disrupting movement and political activities in the area.
Carrying a coffin and placards with various inscriptions, the youths chanted “No election” and insisted that no political exercise should take place while insecurity continues to claim lives in the community.
According to the demonstrators, the worsening security situation in Apa Local Government Area has left residents living in fear, with many communities repeatedly attacked by suspected armed herdsmen and criminal elements.
The protesters maintained that political leaders must prioritise the protection of lives and property before embarking on party primaries and other political activities.
“The youths of Apa are saying no to any primary election until the insecurity situation in our land is addressed,” one of the protesters said.
Benue youths protest with coffin, reject APC primaries over killings in Idoma community
No fewer than five persons have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a building in the Durumi 3 area of Abuja, near the popular Gudu Market.
The tragic incident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, throwing the area into confusion as rescue workers and residents battled to save trapped victims.
The Mandate Secretary for Health and Human Services in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, confirmed the incident while speaking on behalf of rescue agencies involved in the operation.
According to her, a total of 15 persons were pulled out from the rubble during the rescue exercise.
She disclosed that nine victims were rescued alive, while five persons lost their lives. One other victim was said to be in critical condition.
Dr. Fasawe revealed that preliminary findings by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, indicated that the developer may have compromised the quality of the cement mixture used for the construction of the building.
She urged residents and property developers in the nation’s capital to always obtain the required approvals from the FCT Development Control Department before embarking on any building project.
Meanwhile, rescue operations and investigations into the cause of the collapse are ongoing.
The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has dismissed as misleading and politically motivated a report by TrackNG concerning the construction and furnishing of an ultra-modern conference and e-learning facility at Bende Secondary Grammar School, Abia State, captured in the 2024 Federal Government budget.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Press Affairs to the Deputy Speaker, Udora Orizu, the office clarified that legislators are only responsible for attracting projects and development initiatives to their constituencies, while implementation and supervision remain the exclusive responsibility of the executive arm of government and its agencies.
The office stated that it would ordinarily not have responded to the publication but decided to do so to prevent members of the public from being misled.
It described as “curious and mischievous” the use of the Deputy Speaker’s image in connection with a project over which he has no implementation or supervisory role.
The statement called on the appropriate procuring agency to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that whoever was awarded the contract is held accountable in line with the law.
According to the office, its major concern is to ensure that the project is completed and delivered for the benefit of the people of the constituency.
It further clarified that the initial naming of Bende Secondary Grammar School as the project location was an error because the school already has an ICT Centre.
Deputy Speaker’s Office clarifies controversy over Abia School Project
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Saturday emerged unopposed as the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate for Zaria Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tajudeen secured the party’s ticket through an affirmation exercise conducted across the 13 electoral wards in the constituency.
The wards involved include Kwarbai A, Kwarbai B, Limancin-Kona, Unguwar Fatika, Unguwar Juma, Dutsen Abba, Gyallesu, Kufena, Dambo, Wuchichiri, Tudun Wada, Tukur-Tukur, and Kaura.
The exercise, which began simultaneously in all wards at about 10 a.m., recorded large turnout of APC members who gathered at various party offices across the constituency.
At Kwarbai B Ward, the Speaker’s ward, the process was conducted peacefully under the supervision of the ward APC Returning Officer, Malam Iliyasu Muhammad Balarabe, in the presence of Abbas Tajudeen.
According to the ward APC secretary, Nafiu Sabo, the ward has over 10,000 registered members, but 220 members were accredited for the exercise.
Before the affirmation, Balarabe informed members that Tajudeen was the only aspirant who purchased nomination forms, underwent screening, and was cleared by the APC national leadership to contest the Zaria Federal Constituency seat.
Following a voice vote by accredited members, the Speaker was affirmed as the party’s candidate in the ward, a process replicated across the remaining 12 wards.
At the constituency collation centre, the APC Returning Officer for the House of Representatives primary in Zaria Federal Constituency, Dr. Hamisu Ibrahim Kubau, announced that 1,376 APC members across the 13 wards endorsed Tajudeen as the party’s flagbearer.
He explained that although thousands of party members participated in the exercise, only accredited delegates were allowed to vote.
Dr. Kubau declared: “There are 13 wards in Zaria Federal Constituency, and only one aspirant purchased a form, was screened, and cleared. He is Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen. After due process, we conducted affirmations across all wards.”
He added that the process was peaceful and monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and party representatives.
Chairman of the APC House of Representatives Primary Elections in Kaduna State, Senator Yakubu Oseni, described the outcome as a reflection of the Speaker’s popularity and acceptance among constituents.
He expressed confidence that Tajudeen would secure victory in the 2027 general elections.
Ward-by-ward results showed Kwarbai A – 97; Kwarbai B – 220; Unguwar Juma – 98; Limancin-Kona – 97; Kaura – 95; Tudun Wada – 96; Gyallesu – 95; Unguwar Fatika – 92; Tukur-Tukur – 97; Dambo – 98; Wuchichiri – 97; Dutsen Abba – 100; and Kufena – 94, totaling 1,376 votes.
Speaking after his declaration, Speaker Tajudeen expressed appreciation to APC members for reaffirming their confidence in him.
2027: Speaker Abbas secures APC return ticket for Zaria Reps seat
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon Davidson Akinlayo, has denied sponsoring hoodlums to disrupt the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election held on Saturday in Ekiti State.
Akinlayo, who represents Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido-Osi Federal Constituency at the National Assembly and is seeking re-election, said the allegation was not only politically motivated but also a calculated attempt by his detractors to tarnish his image and discourage his supporters from voting for him.
Recall that the police in the state arrested 11 suspected political thugs armed with dangerous weapons at a hotel in Ikun Ekiti, claiming they were being sponsored by the federal lawmaker.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, Akinlayo stated that only two of the people arrested were known to him, saying the duo were his media aides.
The federal lawmaker said, “They said they went to that hotel and caught some people. It is only two people that I know from that group, the head of my media team and the assistant media aide, who are well known in Ekiti State. They are media gurus and they have never been involved in any criminality.
“So the rest that were arrested are well known in town. None of them is from my federal constituency, none of them works for me, and I don’t live in the hotel. I only lodged there for two or three days when my house was fumigated, and I had left the hotel and returned to my house.”
On the identity of the other arrested persons, he said, “They are appointees of government, we all know them. Ijaya is well known in society, he is a government appointee. All of them are on government payroll. They are non-state actors; you know the people they call non-state actors? Yes, they are all non-state actors in the state. So how are they working for me? How come I now bought them guns? Do I even have a gun myself?
“Why would I buy somebody a gun to do what? I had a thriving business before joining politics. I’m not a puppet, for crying out loud. I have a functional gas plant, I have functional filling stations all around, and I am into real estate, so I was never a poor person.
“I came into politics with my wealth, and I spend my money on people. That’s one of the reasons people like me. People love me because I do a lot of charitable work. I contribute to people’s lives. I have affected many lives in this environment and touched so many lives. I am not one of those politicians people call and cannot reach, or seek help from without getting assistance. I help people regardless of the party they belong to, even outside my constituency, from Ado to Omuo and every community in Ekiti State.”
Akinlayo, who stated that he was on a campaign tour of Ilejemeje on Thursday and also attended a security meeting before resuming campaign activities the following day, alleged that his opponent, who had not campaigned in a single ward in the constituency, was boasting of using his connections to win the primary by writing the results.
“My opponent is only eager to write results. He is not ready for the primary, he is not ready for real contest, and democracy is government of the people, by the people. It is not by an individual sitting comfortably at home and writing results. What I wanted from the government was for them to allow a level playing field for all aspirants to test their popularity on the field.
“My opponent has been going up and down claiming that Gbaja is the one who asked him to come and contest, that he is the one sponsoring him. He is using Gbaja’s name to intimidate everybody around, but nobody can intimidate me. I’m an Ekiti man, a thoroughbred Ekiti man. Nobody can intimidate me. It is the people that matter to us.”
While maintaining that his media aides who were arrested were not criminals, he said, “I campaigned in three local governments and nobody was injured despite the massive crowd. There has not been a single injury in the last four days.
“How can they now claim that I wanted to rig the election? I’m the candidate to beat. I am popular. A popular candidate doesn’t need anything; he only needs the masses and support from God. I don’t depend on the support of anybody, but I have God behind me. That’s why people love me, and they should just allow a level playing field.”