Author: Festus Adeloye

President Bola Tinubu has extended warm birthday felicitations to Lagos Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, on his 60th birthday, commending his stewardship and visible contributions to the advancement of Lagos. In a congratulatory message on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu celebrated Governor Sanwo-Olu’s “steadfast commitment” to the state’s growth and development, describing him as a loyal mentee and effective implementer of Lagos’s long-term development blueprint. “Your execution of this vision is exemplified by landmark achievements, including completing the Blue and Red Rail lines and the ongoing preparations for the Purple Line, which will…

Violence broke out at the national headquarters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Abuja on Tuesday following the suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, and other top officials over alleged financial misconduct. Videos circulating online show a group of armed thugs dressed in black attire storming the premises, attacking journalists and party staff members. Several media workers were physically assaulted during the chaos, with phones and cameras seized before security operatives arrived to restore order. The incident occurred shortly after the SDP’s National Working Committee (NWC) announced the suspension of Gabam, National Auditor Nnadi Clarkson, and…

Two members of the opposition parties in the House of Representatives on Tuesday joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). The two members are Peter Akpanke representing Obanliku/Obudu/ Beware federal constituency of Cross River State, who is leaving the PDP and Prof Paul Nnamchi representing Enugu East/Isi Uzo federal constituency of Enugu, who is leaving the Labour Party. While Akpanke said he was dumping the PDP because of protracted crisis, which has defied solution, Nnamchi also hinged his decision on the leadership crisis in the Labour Party. The letter of defection of the two lawmakers was read at plenary on Tuesday by Speaker…

Award-winning singer Davido has accused security personnel at Hi Ibiza nightclub of attempting to kill him and his team during an altercation on Saturday night. The singer, currently on vacation in Ibiza with his manager, Asa Asika and close associate Cubana Chiefpriest, shared on his social media images of the security staff involved, alleging a violent confrontation. He wrote: “@Hiibizaofficial security just tried to kill me and my team!!! All of yall goin down!!” and vowed that “justice must be served.”

Iran and Israel traded a volley of missiles on Sunday after the United States announced its bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. In a move which escalates the tensions between both nations, Iran and Israel exchanged no less than 27 missiles, with Israel’s main Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv targeted alongside research facilities, and command centres. According to an Iranian state news agency report, air raids were heard across most parts of Israel as millions sought refuge in safe rooms and bomb shelters. It was also reported that explosions and missile interceptions were sighted above the commercial hub of Tel…

Opposition leaders under the banner of Coalition Movement have adopted the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), and applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register as a party ahead of the 2027 election. The coalition’s application letter addressed to INEC chairman and dated June 19 as obtained by LEADERSHIP, was co-signed by the National Chairman of ADA, Chief Akin Ricketts and Protem National Secretary, Abdullahi Musa Elayo. The letter which was stamped received by the office of the INEC chairman on June 20, 2025, was titled: “Application for registration as a political party” with ADA name and flag. “We…

The Federal Government is set to roll out smart police stations across the country as part of efforts to modernise the Nigeria Police Force and improve national security through technology. This development follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Galaxy Backbone (GBB) and the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) on Friday in Abuja. Speaking during the ceremony, the Managing Director of GBB, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, described the partnership as a major leap in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey and a significant contribution to addressing security challenges through innovation. “Now, our partnership with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund will…

Despite a renewed immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, a federal court in the United States has temporarily blocked the deportation of Matthew Ariwoola, a Nigerian PhD chemistry student at the University of South Carolina. The ruling comes in response to a controversial move by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which revoked Ariwoola’s student visa over a case of mistaken identity tied to a 2023 criminal warrant issued in Georgia—a state the student maintains he has never visited. The visa revocation on April 8, 2025, abruptly disrupted Ariwoola’s academic journey. He was banned from attending classes, suspended from his…

The presidency has stated that the Muslim-Muslim ticket through which President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima came into power in 2023 is no longer an issue. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said this on Thursday, added that fears about Islamisation had been dispelled. According to Onanuga, most of the individuals being brought forward as Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 are Muslims. “Christians are living their lives. The president even attended the Pope’s inauguration in Rome. There’s nothing to worry about. “Many of the names being speculated as potential running mates…

The Federal Government, on Thursday, arraigned suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on charges of alleged criminal defamation. The lawmaker appeared before Justice Chizoba Orji on a three-count charge bordering on alleged defamation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio and former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. The charges stemmed from public statements allegedly made by the Senator, including claims that the two high-profile politicians conspired to have her assassinated. One of the counts accused Akpoti-Uduaghan of stating during a televised interview that, “It was part of the meeting, the discussions that…