Author: Opalim Lifted

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has enlisted a Washington-based lobbying firm to strengthen his reputation and influence policy perception in the United States ahead of the 2027 elections. Documents filed with the US Department of Justice show that Atiku signed a 12-month contract worth $1.2 million with Von Batten-Montague-York. The agreement was executed on March 9 and 10, 2026. Under the deal, the firm will work to “counterbalance” what it describes as the Nigerian government’s lobbying narratives in Washington, while promoting Atiku’s leadership credentials and policy agenda among US policymakers. The contract outlines plans to arrange high-level meetings between Atiku…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that key figures within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have agreed to support whoever emerges as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections. Speaking in a widely circulated DW Hausa interview, Atiku addressed the deepening leadership crisis rocking the party, insisting unity remains the top priority among stakeholders aligned with David Mark. The crisis intensified after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition from rival ADC factions led by Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe. The commission said it would avoid dealings with both camps pending a court decision. Despite the turmoil,…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has declared a total and indefinite nationwide strike beginning at midnight on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, escalating tensions with the Federal Government over doctors’ welfare. The planned action follows allegations that the government intends to halt the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table (PAT), a key agreement reached after the doctors’ 2025 industrial action. NARD said the revised allowance structure covering call duty, shift, non-clinical, and rural posting allowances was due to take effect in January 2026 but only commenced in February. The association now claims authorities are moving to suspend it by…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for more humane and people-focused governance, urging authorities to prioritise the welfare of Nigerian workers amid rising economic hardship. In its Easter message titled “This Easter: A Cross For Liberty!”, signed by its president Joe Ajaero, the union criticised policies that suppress workers’ rights and deepen inequality. The congress warned that using state power to silence dissent or impose harsh economic measures that favour a small elite undermines leadership and contradicts the spirit of Easter. It urged political leaders to draw lessons from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, stressing that governance should be…

The Labour Party (LP) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) have taken a swipe at the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over the party’s leadership crisis. On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it would no longer recognise the ADC factions led by David Mark or Nafiu Bala, following its review of the Court of Appeal judgment. INEC said it would strictly abide by the orders of the Court of Appeal in handling the leadership dispute within the ADC. However, the Mark-led faction rejected INEC’s interpretation of the appellate court’s ruling, accusing the electoral body of acting under external…

Barring last-minute changes, key opposition figures in Nigeria are weighing the possibility of abandoning the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for alternative platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. Top politicians, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, are said to be involved in high-level consultations following a leadership crisis that has engulfed the African Democratic Congress. The development comes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended recognition of all factions of the party’s leadership. The decision followed a ruling by the Court of Appeal and ongoing litigation over the party’s internal structure. Political insiders warn that the crisis…

A devastating landslide triggered by torrential rainfall has claimed the lives of a mother and her six children in Malabo, authorities have confirmed. Rescue services said the tragedy occurred on Thursday after prolonged heavy rain battered the city, causing a concrete retaining wall to collapse onto a wooden home before a landslide engulfed the structure. Two bodies, including that of the 36-year-old mother who was eight months pregnant, were recovered early Friday, according to witnesses at the scene. Efforts to retrieve the remaining victims continued amid difficult conditions. A neighbour, Dominica Ada, described the moment of the disaster. She explained…

Reactions have continued to trail remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, directed at Seun Okinbaloye during a media chat in Abuja on Friday. Wike had said he would have “shot” Okinbaloye over comments the journalist made regarding the possibility of Nigeria drifting toward a one-party state. Okinbaloye, speaking on his programme, had expressed concern that the 2027 elections were shaping up to be dominated by a single political party, citing internal crises within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He warned that Nigeria could be “doomed democratically” if the ADC seen as a viable opposition…

Nigeria’s secondary education system faces a growing credibility crisis as the widespread use of so-called “special centres” for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations continues to erode learning outcomes and academic integrity. Originally created as alternative examination venues, these centres have increasingly become hotspots for organised malpractice. Students are often registered outside their schools, supervised loosely, and in some cases openly assisted during exams. The result is a parallel system where success is frequently bought rather than earned. This trend is producing a troubling reality: many students cannot defend the certificates they hold. Some candidates reportedly do not even…

Amnesty International has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to immediately withdraw his “violent statement” and issue an apology. Reactions have continued to trail remarks made by Wike during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, where he directed a controversial comment at Seun Okinbaloye, a presenter on Channels Television. Wike had said he would have “shot” Okinbaloye over comments the journalist made regarding the possibility of Nigeria drifting toward a one-party state. Okinbaloye, speaking on his programme, expressed concern that the 2027 elections could be dominated by a single political party, citing internal crises…