Politics

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has addressed his son’s recent move to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the decision as “entirely personal” and urging Nigerians not to draw broader political conclusions from it. Atiku made the remarks on Thursday via his X handle, in response to the announcement that his son, Abba Abubakar, formally left the PDP to join the ruling APC. The defection was publicly made at the National Assembly in Abuja, where Abba pledged hi

The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has refuted reports suggesting that Value Added Tax (VAT) has been newly imposed on banking services, fees, commissions, or electronic money transfers, describing such claims as misleading. In a press statement issued on Thursday, the revenue authority said the narrative circulating in parts of the media was “categorically incorrect,” stressing that the existing tax framework already covers banking-related service charges. According to the NR

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has paid tribute to members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, commending their courage, sacrifice and dedication to national unity and security. In a message posted on his verified X handle on Thursday to mark Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed annually on January 15, Atiku said he and his family joined “millions of Nigerians in solemn remembrance and deep gratitude to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.” The day is dedicated to h

Two additional members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have publicly withdrawn their backing for the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, urging their colleagues to explore peaceful alternatives to the political crisis confronting the state. The lawmakers, Barile Nwakoh (Khana Constituency I) and Emilia Amadi (Obio/Akpor Constituency II), made their appeal on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, saying recent int

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned further proceedings in the ongoing leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), setting January 23, 2026, for the hearing of a motion filed by the Kabiru Turaki–led faction seeking a stay of further action in the matter. The dispute centres on rival claims to the party’s national leadership following a controversial convention and subsequent court challenges. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik made the adjournment on Wednes

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has disclosed that he has faced personal threats in the course of implementing Nigeria’s comprehensive tax reforms, describing the experience as part of the challenge of restructuring a long-standing, “broken” system. Oyedele made the revelation on Tuesday in Abuja while speaking at a governance colloquium held to mark the 50th birthday of the Special Adviser to the President on Policy

President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria will co-host Investopia with the United Arab Emirates in Lagos in February, as part of efforts to attract global capital and accelerate sustainable investment into the country. The President made the disclosure on Tuesday while addressing participants at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, where Nigeria also sealed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE to strengthen trade, investment and cooperation ac

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has expressed deep sadness over the recent kidnapping and killing of a young man in Ekpoma, pledging intensified security operations to address rising insecurity and bring perpetrators to justice. Okpebholo’s remarks came in a post on his verified X handle on Monday, following the incident that occurred on Friday, January 9, 2026, in Esan West Local Government Area, which has heightened fear and anger among residents, including students of

Peter Obi has raised fresh concerns over what he described as the absence of presidential leadership amid Nigeria’s worsening socio-economic and security challenges, questioning President Bola Tinubu’s visibility and engagement at a time he said the country is facing a national emergency. In a statement shared on Monday via his X handle, the former Labour Party presidential candidate asked pointedly, “Where is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?” stressing that

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, ahead of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, reinforcing Nigeria’s engagement in global discussions on sustainable development and economic transformation. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu touched down at the Presidential Wing of Zayed International Airport at 11:30 pm local time. He was received by the U

The Nigeria Tax Act 2025 has clarified that amounts wagered on gaming and lottery activities commonly referred to as “stakes” will be exempt from Value Added Tax (VAT), removing a source of uncertainty that previously affected operators in the betting, gaming and lottery sectors. Under Section 185, Subsection M of the newly enacted tax law, “money, stakes or securities including interest in money or securities” are explicitly listed among items exempt from VAT. The provisio

Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, a former vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has denied that he recently declared his intention to run for the presidency in the 2027 general election, saying reports suggesting otherwise misrepresented his comments. Baba-Ahmed spoke on Channels Television on Friday, explaining that what he said had been widely misunderstood amid early positioning ahead of the next elections and ongoing discussions within opposition circles. “I never dec

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have finalised a joint framework aimed at resolving consumer complaints arising from failed airtime and data transactions, particularly cases where subscribers are debited without receiving value. The development was announced in a press release dated January 8, 2026, issued by the NCC and signed by Nnenna Ukoha, Head of the Commission’s Public Affairs Department. According to the statement, th

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s rising poverty levels, warning that political infighting and competition for power are occurring alongside deepening economic hardship for millions of citizens. In a statement shared on his verified X handle on Thursday, Obi said political actors are increasingly focused on internal party contests and power struggles while the number of Nigerians living in poverty continues to rise sharply. “As w

Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticised what he described as growing fiscal indiscipline in Nigeria, raising concerns over the Federal Government’s reported approval of a large-scale debt write-off involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). In a statement posted on his official X handle on Wednesday, Obi said the decision signalled an “era of financial recklessness,” warning that such actions undermine transparency and public accounta

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected claims that it deliberately denied the Labour Party access codes to upload candidates for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, citing unresolved leadership disputes and ongoing court cases. The clarification was contained in a press statement released on Wednesday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Esa-Messi, on behalf of the Commission. INEC was respondin

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has issued a stern warning to counsel and litigants involved in the trial of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, cautioning them against attempting to approach him for favours. The warning was delivered on Wednesday, January 7, 2025, during proceedings in the ongoing trial in which Malami is being prosecuted alongside his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe, and son, Abuba

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains alive, strong, and resilient, dismissing speculation about the party’s decline, as he received members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja. Jonathan made the remarks on Tuesday during a consultative meeting with the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki–led NWC at his private office in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory. Addressing the delegation, Jonathan said the PDP r

The Federal Government has unveiled a set of reforms aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in WAEC and NECO examinations from 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s assessment system. The announcement was made in a press statement issued on Monday by the Federal Ministry of Education and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folashade. The measures were disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr Maru

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to resign from his cabinet position, accusing him of interfering in the internal affairs of the ruling party. Basiru’s demand followed comments made earlier by Wike during a thank-you visit to supporters in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, where the minister warned the APC national secretary to “leave Riv