In a move that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape, former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi appears to have drawn a line in the sand over party loyalty. On February 18, 2026, Abia State Governor Alex Otti celebrated his 61st birthday amid widespread acclaim for his governance. Yet, conspicuously absent from the chorus of well-wishers was Obi, whose silence is being interpreted as a deliberate snub tied to Otti’s refusal to follow him in defecting from the LP to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Obi, who officially dumped the LP for the ADC on December 31, 2025,…
Author: Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Nigeria’s senior men’s national football team coach, Eric Chelle, has reportedly tabled a sweeping list of demands before the Nigeria Football Federation as he negotiates a new contract. Chelle, who took charge of the Super Eagles in January 2025 on a two year agreement with an optional extra year, is said to have submitted a 19 point proposal to the federation on January 22, 2026. The submission followed what was described as detailed checks and verification of the document. At the heart of the proposal is a request for a monthly salary of $130,000. The figure would cover Chelle, his…
Residents of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory were left stunned after the chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the upcoming Bwari Area Council election suddenly withdrew and endorsed his opponent from the All Progressives Congress. Mr Julius Adamu announced on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, that he would no longer contest in the Saturday, February 21, 2026 election. Instead, he declared support for Mr Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress. Adamu explained that the decision followed consultations with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike. He said the step was taken “in the interest of unity…
The Rivers State House of Assembly on Thursday halted impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, in a sudden move that followed the intervention of President Bola Tinubu. The decision was taken during plenary at the Assembly’s sitting in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State in southern Nigeria. Lawmakers moved a motion to suspend the impeachment process, effectively pausing the political showdown that had threatened to deepen tensions in the state. Rivers State, located in the Niger Delta region, is one of Nigeria’s key oil producing states and has significant political and economic influence. Any…
Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have surged to $48.5 billion, reaching their highest level since May 2013 in what signals a major turnaround for the country’s external finances. Figures obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria database show that the current reserve balance is the strongest recorded since May 14, 2013, when reserves stood at about $48.51 billion. The steady build-up began in the closing weeks of 2025 and has continued into the first months of 2026. Analysts say the improvement reflects stronger foreign exchange inflows and tighter liquidity control by the Central Bank of Nigeria. At the end of 2025,…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has confirmed that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai is now in its custody as investigations intensify around his time in office. In a brief statement issued late on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the Commission’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, said the former governor was being held in connection with ongoing investigations. The statement did not outline the specific allegations. “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to state that Malam Nasiru El-Rufai the former Governor of Kaduna state is in our custody as at close of work…
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has signed the Electoral Act, 2022 Repeal and Re-Enactment Bill 2026 into law, following dramatic scenes in the country’s parliament over how election results should be transmitted. The bill was passed on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, by the National Assembly, Nigeria’s federal legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives, after months of review and political negotiations. Tension rose in the Senate when lawmakers resumed debate on Clause 60 of the bill, which deals with the transmission of election results. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), pushing for…
Gambia-born Nigerian actress Rosy Meurer has lashed out at online critics amid renewed public attention surrounding her husband, businessman Olakunle Churchill, and his former wife, actress Tonto Dikeh. The controversy followed a recent public reunion between Churchill and Dikeh, who were previously married and share a son. Images and reports of their interaction sparked heavy reactions on social media, with many users directing comments at Meurer. In posts shared on her Instagram story, Meurer said she was tired of being silent while people spread what she described as false narratives about her life. She insisted she would not stay in…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has indefinitely postponed its scheduled state, local government, and ward congresses in Adamawa State, as revealed in an official letter from the party’s national leadership. The announcement, dated February 17, 2026, was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the account @NigAffairs, sparking speculation about underlying political maneuvers. In the letter addressed to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC stated: “We write to inform you of the postponement of the State, Local Government and Ward Congresses for Adamawa State. A new date will be communicated to you in due course.” The…
The Christian Association of Nigeria has issued a strong message to political leaders, calling for urgent action on policy implementation and national unity as Christians in Nigeria and across the globe begin the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent in the Christian faith, a solemn 40-day period of reflection and spiritual preparation before Easter. In Nigeria, where Christianity is one of the dominant religions, the day is widely observed. In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said the country is…