CALABAR – Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Duke was formally registered on Friday at Ward 5 in Calabar Municipality, where he received his membership card to the cheers of supporters. This marks his second departure from the PDP. He previously joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he contested as its presidential candidate, a move that generated controversy. During the event, ADC leaders in Bakassi Local Government Area urged citizens to embrace the party, describing it as a credible platform for transformative change.…
Author: Reporter
The Rivers State government on Friday said it did not deny the Nyesom Wike-led pro-President Bola Tinubu rally organisers access to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, stating that the stadium was under reconstruction. The FCT Minister alongside Ambassador Desmond Akawor, Chairman of the Renewed Hope Agenda in Rivers State, had accused Rivers government of denying the group’s request to use the stadium for the inauguration of coordinators of the Renewed Hope Agenda. The coordinators are spread across the three senatorial districts and 23 local government areas of the state. In fact, Wike threatened to break down the stadium…
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will further tighten its grip on Nigeria’s shifting political landscape today, with the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, expected to formally defect to the party, while the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, will, barring unforeseen circumstances, be received by the national leadership of the party Tuesday (tomorrow). Characterised by insiders as a ‘carefully sequenced consolidation’ drive by the APC, the development is coming amid fresh disclosures on how the APC capitalised on internal tensions within Rabiu Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to draw the Kano governor into its fold. The governor’s defection, it…
Prominent businessman and philanthropist, Otunba Muraina Olatunji Banjoko, popularly known as Threeco, has declared that his ambition to represent Ogun Central Senatorial District in the 2027 elections is driven by a mission to restore the pride and dignity of the region through effective and purposeful representation. Speaking at a legislative roundtable with select journalists on Sunday, Banjoko painted a vivid picture of the challenges confronting communities across Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Obafemi-Owode, Odeda, Ifo, and Ewekoro local government areas. He lamented the state of poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare facilities, rising youth unemployment, and limited access to social services, stressing that…
Armed bandits have again struck in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State area, abducting six residents of Unguwar Barkonu in Maraban Kajuru. The latest attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday in Kufana Ward, even as the Christian Association of Nigeria held special prayers for the safe return of the previously abducted worshippers. A resident of the community, Steven Kefas, said the armed men invaded the area around 1 am, breaking into several houses and abducting six residents. “Bandits stormed our community at about 1 am, broke into houses and forcefully took six people away to an…
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has voiced concerns over the current political climate, saying it has become increasingly difficult to challenge authority under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Makinde made the remarks during the 60th birthday celebration of Rev. Samson Anetomobi, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Oyo State. He contrasted the present situation with what he described as a more consultative approach during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The governor particularly lamented the handling of tax reform bills, noting that governors were sidelined in the legislative process. “We don’t even know what was passed…
OPINION 2027: THREECO AND THE OGUN CENTRAL SENATORIAL CHALLENGE By: Yomi Adekunle As the 2027 electoral season beckons, politicians and political platforms have switched a gear up with lots of jostling, alignments and positioning. To the electorate, the elections are further away, but for the partisan political class, the elections are here already. For a politically sophisticated state like Ogun, you expect no less, as the conversation and contestation for different offices are on the rise. One of such office eliciting discussions at the moment is the Ogun Central senatorial seat. Before now, electioneering heat in the Gateway state has…
The World Bank yesterday said that Nigeria’s economy is on track to record its fastest growth in more than a decade, upgrading its forecast for the country’s economic growth to 4.4 per cent for 2026 and 2027. The World Bank disclosed this in its latest Global Economic Prospects report released yesterday. The latest growth forecast represents 0.7 and 0.6 percentage points from the 3.7 per cent and 3.8 per cent in June 2026. The World Bank said: “In Nigeria, growth edged up to 4.2 percent in 2025. The increase was driven by expansion in the services sector—especially the finance and…
The 36 states of the federation are set to receive an estimated N5.07tn as their share of Value Added Tax in 2026, following the commencement of a new VAT sharing formula introduced under the National Tax Acts. This development is contained in the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper approved by the Federal Executive Council. According to the fiscal framework, the implementation of the new National Tax Acts from January 2026 will reduce the Federal Government’s VAT share from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, while the states’ share rises from 50 per cent to 55 per…
National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr Yunusa Tanko, has dismissed speculation that former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi may accept a vice-presidential role ahead of the 2027 general election. Tanko, who is a close ally of Obi, clarified in an interview monitored by The Pundit that the former Labour Party presidential candidate remains focused solely on contesting for the presidency. According to him, “We have never put that on the table. Obi is running for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. No more, no less. There is no discussion or anything related to him…