Author: Editor
By Owei Lakemfa Information filtered through a few weeks ago, that “a small team” of United States, US, soldiers were in Nigeria. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026 an additional information was that 200 American soldiers are being deployed to provide security for the small team. I am sure that soon these 200 would need a thousand US soldiers to give them cover. The troop numbers are nothing to worry about, except that this was the same story of American involvement in Vietnam. In the 1950s, President Dwight Eisenhower sent 740 troops to that country. A decade later, President John Kennedy…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced the dates for the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. According to a statement released by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, on Friday, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections will take place on March 6, 2027. Addressing the press in Abuja, Prof. Amupitan described the announcement as “a significant milestone in our democratic journey” and a constitutional obligation aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s democracy. The elections will cover various positions, including President and Vice President, Governors…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called on the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, to urgently investigate alleged grave human rights violations by a self-styled vigilante leader in Egwedu Autonomous Community, Atta, Njaba Local Government Area of the state. In a statement dated February 13, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said it had received disturbing reports of abuses allegedly committed by the vigilante leader, identified as Mr. Chibuike Duru, also known as “Nwagbenta.” According to the rights group, preliminary verification through credible media sources and community…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Stakeholders from Ohuhu, kinsmen of the late Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Dr Michael Okpara, have endorsed Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, for a second term in office, describing his administration as one that has rewritten the development narrative of the state. The endorsement was announced during an enlarged solidarity visit by over 2,000 Ohuhu indigenes to the governor at the Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Chief Obi Aguocha, said the visit was to appreciate Governor Otti for his long-standing relationship with the Ohuhu people and…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has assured traders in Aba that no existing shop owners will lose their shops in the ongoing remodelling of Ariaria International Market and Ekeoha Market. The governor gave the assurance on Thursday at the Michael Okpara Auditorium while receiving a delegation of the National Executive Council of the National Association of Nigerian Traders. Otti said original shop owners would enjoy the first right of refusal before any shop is allocated to others, stressing that he had issued firm instructions to that effect. “What we call first right of refusal will be…
Our Reporter, Abuja Former Green Eagles captain, Dr Olusegun Odegbami, has announced that five generations of Nigeria’s national football team players will converge on Uvuru-Mbaise, Imo State, next weekend for a historic reunion and novelty match in honour of Chief Obioma Success Akagburuonye. Odegbami disclosed this in a social media post on Friday, describing the event as a unique football and socio-cultural celebration to recognise Akagburuonye, who was recently named Sun Newspapers’ Humanitarian of the Year 2026. According to him, former internationals drawn from the Green Eagles of 1980, Flying Eagles of 1983, Golden Eaglets of 1985, the Daman Miracle…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected a total expenditure of N873.778 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday while presenting the Commission’s 2026 budget proposal alongside the estimated cost of the 2027 polls before the Joint Committee of the National Assembly on Electoral Matters. Amupitan clarified that the projected N873.778 billion election budget is separate from INEC’s proposed N171 billion allocation for the 2026 fiscal year, which is intended to cover routine operations, including by-elections and off-cycle governorship polls. He explained that the estimated…
Our Reporter, Abuja The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has petitioned the Police Service Commission (PSC) to investigate allegations of abuse of office, monetisation of bail, retaliatory prosecution and deliberate frustration of bail against the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ajuwon Police Station, Ogun State, Yusuf, and officers under his command. In a petition dated February 12, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, RULAAC said the complaint arose from the treatment of Mrs Akinluyi Rosemary, a 44-year-old widow, who was allegedly turned from a complainant into an accused person following her report of…
Our Reporter, Abuja The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed as false and malicious a publication attributed to former Ekiti State Governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, alleging secret political dealings involving Atiku and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Atiku’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the report titled “Between Atiku and Makinde, Untold Story of What Happened in Minna Yesterday” as a “reckless and malicious fabrication” devoid of any factual basis. Shaibu stated that Atiku was not involved in any form of political negotiations as claimed in the…
By Sola Adeyemi Biodun Jeyifo, who has died at the age of 80, was one of the most formidable and beloved figures in African letters: a critic of rare moral clarity, a teacher whose influence spanned continents, a playwright and poet whose creative imagination was inseparable from his political commitments, and a family man whose gentleness at home stood in striking, endearing contrast to the intellectual ferocity he could summon in debate. His passing marks the end of an era in Nigerian and African literary scholarship, for he belonged to that generation of thinkers who believed that literature mattered not…