Author: Opalim Lifted

Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, says the presidential pardon list is currently at the “final administrative stage” which involves reviewing the names and recommendations. Last Thursday, President Bola Tinubu granted presidential pardon and other forms of clemency to 175 persons, following the approval of the council of state. Among the 175 beneficiaries are Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists; Farouk Lawan, a former member of the house of representatives; and Mamman Vatsa, a major general and poet executed in 1986 over alleged treason. Drug offenders, illegal miners, white-collar convicts, and foreigners are…

The Senate on Thursday confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), making him the sixth substantive head of the body since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. His confirmation, carried by a unanimous voice vote, drew commendations from lawmakers but sparked outrage among civil society groups, who accused the Senate of rubber-stamping the executive’s choice without due diligence. Senate President Godswill Akpabio hailed Amupitan as “a fit and proper person” for the job, citing clean security and medical records. He succeeds Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose decade-long tenure ended earlier this month.…

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reportedly cancelled the Super Eagles’ planned international friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia, which were slated to hold in the United States this November. A reliable source at the Sunday Dankaro House confirmed that the decision was reached during a closed-door meeting after Nigeria sealed qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs, set to take place in Morocco next month. According to the NFF, the friendlies were scrapped to allow the players concentrate fully on the crucial playoff fixtures, as the proposed match dates clashed with the World Cup schedule. “The friendlies have been…

With less than 18 months to the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s political chessboard is shifting rapidly, and the opposition appears increasingly fractured. The once-vibrant Labour Party (LP) and its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi once hailed as the face of a “new Nigeria” are now grappling with a sharp political decline marked by weak structures, waves of defections, and deep internal divisions that threaten to erode the movement’s momentum and relevance ahead of the next polls. The latest political tremor came from Enugu, where Governor Peter Mbah dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).…

Kenya’s political titan, Raila Odinga, has died at the age of 80. The former prime minister passed away on Wednesday in India after suffering cardiac arrest during a morning walk at an Ayurvedic hospital, his family said. Odinga had been receiving treatment for bacterial infections and was on bed rest before the sudden collapse that led to his death. A towering figure in Kenyan and African politics, Odinga served as Kenya’s prime minister from 2008 to 2013 and led the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), one of the country’s leading opposition parties. Known for his fiery rhetoric and unyielding pursuit of…

Former Bayelsa East Senator, Ben Murray-Bruce, has officially resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), announcing his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a statement on Wednesday. Murray-Bruce, a businessman and media executive, praised President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and economic reforms, describing the President as “a man driven by results, not applause.” “I have known President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 1998. I know his mind, his courage, and his conviction. For the first time in our nation’s history, we have a President who truly understands finance, one who sees the economy not as a slogan, but as…

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has made a public appearance at the 1–54 London Art Fair amid concerns over his health. A short video that surfaced on Facebook Wednesday showed the minister visiting the O’DA Art Gallery booth at the event in the company of two other individuals. The video was posted by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy. Edun’s appearance comes hours after reports emerged that he had travelled to the United Kingdom to receive medical treatment. He was earlier said to have been receiving care…

Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing years of neglect and unrecognised voices from his people. In a statewide broadcast on Tuesday morning, Mbah announced his exit from the PDP, a party he said had walked “side by side” with the people of Enugu for nearly three decades but had lost touch with their aspirations. “Leadership sometimes demands difficult, even painful decisions in service of higher principles. Today, we make a bold choice to join the APC,” Mbah declared. The governor’s defection wasn’t a solo move.…

Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has announced the Nigerian leg of his 5ive tour, with shows scheduled to hold in Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Enugu and Lagos. The award-winning artiste made the announcement on Tuesday in a post on his official X handle. Davido said the tour will begin in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on October 26, before moving to Yola, Adamawa, on October 29. The train will then head to Enugu on November 1 and end with two shows in Lagos on November 9 and December 25. According to Davido, returning home to perform after a successful North…

President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a fresh list of high-profile nominations to the Senate for confirmation, including Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The request, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the resumption of plenary yesterday, urged the red chamber to give “expeditious consideration” to the nominations in line with constitutional provisions. “In accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I am pleased to present for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Prof Joash Amupitan as Chairman of INEC,” the President’s letter reads. Tinubu expressed confidence…