Category: Politics

MAKURDI, Nigeria (NPA) — Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has declared an end to the acrimony and disagreements among political leaders in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections following a peace and reconciliation meeting of stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Governor stated this after convening a high-level APC Peace and Reconciliation Meeting at the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

According to Alia, the meeting brought together leaders of the ruling party across the state to rebuild trust, strengthen unity, and refocus attention on governance and the welfare of the people.

“Yesterday, we chose unity over division, and dialogue over disagreement,” the Governor said.

He added that the stakeholders meeting was aimed at healing political divisions within the party and promoting collective commitment toward the progress of the state.

“A high-level APC Peace and Reconciliation meeting brought together leaders across Benue to heal wounds, rebuild trust, and refocus on what truly matters — our people. Benue first. Always,” Alia stated.

The Governor said he was encouraged by what he described as the spirit of togetherness displayed during the discussions.

“There was honesty. There was reflection. And, most importantly, there was a shared resolve to rebuild trust and strengthen our party for the good of our people,” he said.

Alia stressed that Benue’s future depends on unity, cooperation, and sustained commitment to delivering meaningful results for residents of the state.

“Benue is bigger than any individual ambition,” the Governor added.

Meanwhile, Alia on May 3 received the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms reportedly purchased for him by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Benue State chapter, and the Benue Motorcycle Association (BEMOA) at the Government House, Makurdi.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom, transparency, and democratic accountability as journalists across the world marked the 2026 World Press Freedom Day.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a message delivered by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said a free press remains one of the strongest pillars of democracy and pledged continued support for initiatives that protect journalists and strengthen democratic governance.

The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security.”

According to the Governor, the occasion provides another opportunity to reflect on progress made in advancing press freedom and reassess the commitment of stakeholders to the ideals of independent journalism.

“The theme aptly underscores the critical role of the media in fostering peace, strengthening institutions, and advancing sustainable development,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He noted that the media gives voice to the voiceless, holds leaders accountable, and serves as a vital bridge between government and the people.

In a statement signed by Gbenga Omotoso, Sanwo-Olu stressed that the evolving information landscape has placed greater responsibility on journalists, especially as governments at different levels continue to implement reforms across the country.

“More than ever, the current realities in our country, especially the various reforms being undertaken at different levels of government, make it imperative for members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to remain committed to objective, balanced, and professional reporting,” he said.

The Governor urged media practitioners to critically examine government policies while ensuring fairness, professionalism, and unbiased reporting.

He also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to transparency, openness, and constructive engagement with the media, noting that a well-informed society is fundamental to peace, security, and inclusive development.

Sanwo-Olu, however, warned about growing threats posed by misinformation and disinformation, alongside economic pressures and safety concerns confronting journalists.

According to him, such challenges pose significant risks to national stability and development and require stronger collaboration among governments, media professionals, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of the information ecosystem.

“As we approach another electoral cycle in our country, the role of the media becomes even more critical,” the Governor said, adding that ethical journalism, fairness, and national interest must guide election coverage and public discourse.

He further called for sustained investment in media literacy, support for ethical journalism, and the creation of an enabling environment where the press can operate freely without undue interference.

“I wish to assure you that the Lagos State Government will continue to support initiatives that promote press freedom, protect journalists, and strengthen democratic accountability,” Sanwo-Olu said.

DUTSE, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has announced that the Kaduna–Kano–Jigawa–Katsina–Maradi railway project has reached 60 per cent completion, with authorities projecting delivery by December 2027.

Mr. Ali Bukar, Resident Engineer of the Federal Ministry of Transportation overseeing Section Two of the project, disclosed this during an inspection visit by the Presidential Media Team to project sites in Jigawa State.

The delegation was led by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare.

Details of the inspection were contained in a statement issued on Sunday by Mr. Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information and Public Relations at the State House, Abuja.

According to Bukar, construction activities have intensified across the project’s two major corridors, particularly along the Kano–Dutse axis, where bridge works over waterways and difficult terrains are advancing rapidly.

He said piling and substructure works on several bridges had reached advanced stages, while superstructure installations were ongoing at multiple locations.

The engineer added that major progress had also been recorded along the 104-kilometre Kano–Jigawa corridor and the branch line connecting Kano to Dutse, with track laying, earthworks, and structural installations progressing steadily.

Bukar stated that the rail project is being fully funded under the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Scheme of President Bola Tinubu.

The inspection tour formed part of an ongoing assessment of federal and state government projects in the North-West zone initiated by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors under the leadership of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

During the visit, the Presidential Media Team also inspected other infrastructure projects in Kano and Jigawa states, including the Tal-Udu interchange flyover in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State and the ongoing concrete waterline project from Kapin Chiri Dam designed to support irrigation.

In Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, the team visited the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Skills Acquisition Centre and inspected tractors procured by the state government to boost agricultural productivity. (NAN)

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Ebonyi State Security Council has lifted the dusk‑to‑dawn curfew imposed on Amasiri Community in Afikpo Local Government Area, following weeks of tension and unrest.

Briefing journalists after the Council meeting on May 4, 2026, the Director of DSS, Mrs Eneh Kolawole, conveyed the decision, stating: “Minimum security will still be deployed to forestall further breakdown of law and order, while those apprehended in connection with the crisis will be charged to court.”

A statement by Dr Monday Uzor, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, noted that the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Ben Odoh, explained the action followed letters of remorse from Amasiri people, which were accepted by the Okporojo community and their traditional institutions.

On the proposed delisting of Amasiri Development Centre, Odoh said the bill had been rejected. “We have persuasion and pleas from the Founding Fathers and Elder’s Council to reject the delisting of Amasiri Development Centre. Consequently, a memo will be sent to the State Assembly conveying the rejection and by implication we now have complete 64 Development Centres,” he said.

The Head of Service, Dr Rita Mary Okoro, confirmed that schools and hospitals in Amasiri would reopen immediately. “A memo will be sent to relevant agencies to recall to their previous duty posts all those civil servants who were transferred out of Amasiri as a result of the crisis,” she said.

Commissioner for Information, Barr Ikeuwa Omebe, assured that government remains committed to protecting lives and property.

Earlier, Newpost Africa reported that the curfew was imposed after the January 29, 2026 crisis, when armed men allegedly from Amasiri invaded Okporojo in Afikpo South, setting houses ablaze and killing at least four people. In response, Governor Francis Nwifuru dismissed all government appointees from Amasiri, dissolved the community development union leadership and village heads, and withdrew the certificate of the traditional ruler.

Visibly angered by the killings, Nwifuru described the attack as “most unfortunate,” vowing to act decisively to restore peace and ensure justice for the victims. His measures mirrored earlier interventions in Effium Community, Ohaukwu LGA, where he successfully quelled a protracted communal conflict between the Effium aborigines and the Ezza people.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government of Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration among the media, government institutions, and stakeholders to address the growing threat of disinformation and misinformation, stressing that collective action is essential to protect public trust and national stability. A statement signed by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, said the minister, Mohammed Idris, made the remarks on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 World Press Freedom Day commemoration held at Radio House.

The event was attended by senior officials including the Inspector General of Police, represented by DCP Anthony Okon Placid; the Director‑General of the DSS, represented by M. O. Chukwuka; the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council, Dr Dilli Ezughah; and representatives of UNESCO Abuja Office.

According to the statement, the minister said, “This administration has prioritised collaboration with media stakeholders and international partners to promote responsible journalism, counter disinformation and misinformation.”

Idris described press freedom as a fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution, noting that government remains committed to its protection. “The Federal Government fully recognises press freedom as a fundamental right and remains committed to fostering an environment where the media can operate freely, safely, and responsibly, in accordance with democratic principles and the rule of law,” he stated.

He highlighted steps taken under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to strengthen transparency and access to information, including sustained media engagement, implementation of the Freedom of Information Act, and investment in public communication platforms. Idris also pointed to Nigeria’s partnership with UNESCO in establishing the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) in Abuja, describing it as a pioneering initiative to empower citizens to critically engage with information and promote responsible communication in the digital age.

The Minister urged journalists to uphold professionalism, fairness, and ethical standards. “The true test of press freedom lies not in our declarations, but in our actions, how safely journalists can do their work, how truthfully information is shared, and how responsibly it is consumed,” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Binyerem Ukaire, described the event as a critical platform for strengthening collaboration across institutions. “This gathering reflects our shared commitment to strengthening press freedom and fostering a more informed and inclusive society. It provides an opportunity for constructive engagement on how best to advance a media environment that is both free and responsible,” she said.

Ukaire stressed the need for coordinated responses to challenges posed by the evolving information ecosystem, particularly the spread of misinformation. “The expansion of digital platforms has introduced new complexities that require coordinated institutional responses, especially in addressing misinformation and strengthening public trust,” she noted.

The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to working with the media, civil society, and international partners to build a resilient information system that supports democratic governance, national unity, and sustainable development.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Senator Seriake Dickson, National Leader and founder of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the current momentum within the party as a powerful convergence of leadership, with himself as organiser and builder, joined by political heavyweights Mr Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alongside other leaders united under one platform for a common purpose.

Dickson said the NDC is a party with a special place for young people and women, prioritising mentorship and preparing citizens for service. He stressed that the party is designed to serve not only the powerful but also the ordinary and vulnerable.

He noted that the goal is to build an ideological political party comparable to the ANC in its finest years in South Africa, and to established parties across Europe, America, India, and even the Communist Party of China—in terms of stability, structure, and endurance beyond its founders for generations to come.

Addressing criticisms, Dickson clarified the outburst of Dr Umar Ardo, whom he accused of sponsoring a misleading campaign against the party. He published annexures showing that the NDC initiated its registration process in 2017 and that INEC granted approval before the process was halted. “When party registration resumed last year, we revisited and updated our earlier application. The other document shows a Google search we conducted on February 2, 2017, while searching for the appropriate ‘V‑sign’ as the party’s logo,” he said.

Dickson acknowledged that ambitious projects attract distractions. “These are all parts of the terrain that we are used to. I therefore urge Nigerians to discountenance and ignore such propaganda about the NDC or any of its leaders and remain focused on the bigger picture,” he said.

The Senator representing Bayelsa West thanked Nigerians across the country for their growing support and confidence in the NDC. He described that trust as the most important currency driving the party from its early days, especially with the recent addition of Obi and Kwankwaso.

He urged citizens to join the NDC, register, participate, and contest elections. “Together, let us reclaim and rebuild our country,” he said.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Mr Peter Obi, presidential aspirant under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has explained that his decision to join the new party alongside Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was driven by one clear purpose: to continue the struggle for a new Nigeria built on justice, competence, accountability, and compassion for the ordinary citizen.

In a statement titled “The condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria, informed my decision to leave ADC for NDC,” Obi stressed that the move was not born of anger, personal ambition, or convenience. “It came after deep reflection on the present condition of our nation and the urgent need to rescue Nigeria from the dangerous path it is currently heading,” he said.

Obi emphasized that politics must never be about individuals or personal gain, but about the people. He pointed to millions of Nigerians who can no longer afford necessities, whose businesses are collapsing, and whose children are losing hope.

He reiterated that he left the ADC for the same reason he left the Labour Party: “the severe, orchestrated litigation and internal crises deliberately designed to ensure that I, alongside many other notable individuals, do not effectively participate in the electoral process.”

Obi expressed gratitude to the ADC leadership: “I sincerely appreciate and remain deeply grateful to the Leadership of ADC for the opportunity to work together in pursuit of a better Nigeria. I am particularly grateful to ADC Chairman Senator David Mark for his exceptional Leadership. I also deeply appreciate my Leader and elder brother YE, Atiku Abubakar, as well as other respected leaders within the party.”

He appealed to the Nigerian government to discourage unresolved litigations and crises within political parties. “Democracy must never become a weapon against the people. A healthy democracy thrives on strong institutions, credible alternatives, and the freedom of citizens to make choices without intimidation, manipulation, or fear. Opposition parties must not be weakened or destroyed, because when democracy loses balance, the people ultimately suffer,” he said.

Obi, the 2023 Labour Party candidate, warned that Nigeria is passing through one of its most difficult periods, citing rising poverty, insecurity, and collapsing businesses. “Businesses are shutting down daily. Our young people are becoming discouraged, and many citizens have lost faith in the system. At a time like this, leadership must be driven not by propaganda or division, but by competence, capacity, character, and compassion,” he appealed.

He insisted that joining the NDC was not an abandonment of values but a continuation of the mission to build a Nigeria where leadership is about service, resources are managed responsibly, institutions function independently, and every citizen can live with dignity, security, and hope.

Campaigning under the banner “A new Nigeria is still Possible,” Obi pledged to work with Nigerians of goodwill across political, ethnic, and religious lines. “The task before us is bigger than any individual or political party. It is about the future of our children and the survival of our dear nation,” he said.

Obi thanked Nigerians, especially youths and women, for their resilience and peaceful spirit despite enormous challenges. “Nations do not change because people surrender to hopelessness; they change because people continue to believe, continue to sacrifice, and continue to stand for what is right,” he charged.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared renewed internal resilience and unity despite its ongoing leadership crisis, as its National Executive Committee (NEC) convened its 103rd meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The meeting, convened with a two-thirds majority of NEC members in line with the party’s constitution, comes amid heightened legal and political tensions following a Supreme Court judgment on April 30, 2026, which nullified the 2025 PDP National Convention and effectively stripped the party of its National Working Committee (NWC).

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and Protem Chairman of the NEC, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, said the BoT assumed interim administrative leadership of the party to prevent a vacuum, citing constitutional provisions of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

He explained that the intervention became necessary after the apex court invalidated the convention that produced the Kabiru Turaki-led NWC, while also upholding suspensions of key figures linked to the disputed March 29–30 convention in Abuja, thereby rendering the exercise and its outcomes void.

Wabara thanked party leaders and members for their confidence in the BoT, describing the PDP as a resilient political institution capable of surviving what he called “seemingly impossible situations.” He also commended the suspended NWC leadership led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN, alongside party staff, for their loyalty and dedication during the crisis period.

The BoT chairman further acknowledged governors, members of the National Assembly caucus, state chairmen, national ex-officio members, and other stakeholders for what he described as collective resistance against attempts to weaken or destabilise the party.

He alleged that the crisis within the PDP was being fuelled by coordinated political efforts aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, accusing the ruling Bola Tinubu–led All Progressives Congress (APC) of worsening national hardship and eroding public trust in governance.

According to him, there were deliberate attempts to destabilise the party through litigation, alleged manipulation of institutions, and disputed party activities, but insisted that such efforts would fail, stressing that the PDP “will never die.”

Wabara said Nigerians were increasingly looking to the PDP as an alternative platform capable of restoring national stability and addressing economic hardship, adding that public sentiment ahead of 2027 reflected growing expectations for the party’s return to power.

He maintained that despite internal challenges and external pressure, the PDP remains united in its mission to reposition itself as a leading force in Nigeria’s political landscape.