The political atmosphere ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections took a new twist on Saturday as the Forum of State Chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) issued a public clarification over a controversial visit to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The group dismissed speculations that it had collectively endorsed Atiku, noting that the meeting with the opposition figure was attended by only a minority of its members. Atiku, who has left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been engaging opposition leaders as part of his consultations for a possible 2027 presidential run. Reports indicate that he is…
Author: Podium Reporters
For a man who has spent years branding himself as the face of “true democracy” in Nigeria, Omoyele Sowore has done everything but practice the values he preaches. Since the formation of the African Action Congress (AAC) in 2018, the party has existed less like a democratic structure and more like a personal business enterprise solely managed by Sowore himself. From 2018 until now, Sowore has retained the position of Chairman of the AAC, doubling as the Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and unsurprisingly, the Presidential Candidate — not once, but twice (2019 and 2023). In essence, the AAC under Sowore has…
In a fiery interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of being “consistently inconsistent” and a serial betrayer. Wike also leveled similar criticism at Aminu Tambuwal, describing both figures as having changed political loyalties frequently in pursuit of personal ambition. According to Wike, Atiku’s political journey over the past two decades exemplifies this perceived inconsistency. He recalled instances such as Atiku switching parties, contesting for the presidency under different banners, and returning to his former party. Regarding Tambuwal, Wike pointed to his multiple party affiliations and claimed that…
The $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, one of Nigeria’s most ambitious yet troubled infrastructure plans, has once again taken the spotlight as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned ex-Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, on September 18, 2025. Court Proceedings Agunloye was brought before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on an amended seven-count charge. The EFCC alleges that the former minister illegally awarded the contract for the 3,960-megawatt power station to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) in 2003. According to the charges, Agunloye disregarded a presidential directive and instead…
After more than six decades of decentralised passport production, Nigeria has finally established a single central hub to oversee the process nationwide. Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Thursday unveiled the Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja. He described the milestone as the first of its kind in the country’s history since the creation of the NIS in 1963. “The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” he said. The minister explained that the outdated production machines had a maximum capacity…
Peter Obi’s remarks at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation Annual Democracy Dialogue in Accra may have impressed a foreign audience, but Nigerians remember his leadership history — and facts speak louder than carefully crafted speeches. Obi stated: “Democracy dies when it ceases to be accountable to the people and when it no longer prioritises their needs.” Yet, under his governorship of Anambra State (2006–2014), numerous indicators exposed his shortcomings in prioritising citizens’ welfare. 1. Healthcare Neglect: While Obi boasts about prudent financial management, reports from the Nigerian Medical Association and health workers in Anambra consistently highlighted the lack of basic facilities…
Atiku Abubakar has once again attempted to distort Nigeria’s democratic reality by misrepresenting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s statesmanlike intervention in Rivers State. In his latest outburst, Atiku declared: “Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today. President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.” But Nigerians are neither deceived nor swayed by…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mourned the lives lost in the tragic fire that engulfed Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos Island, leaving seven people confirmed dead, including four employees of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The disaster, which broke out on Tuesday, also affected staff of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Afriland Properties Limited, sparking widespread grief across the financial district. Victims who were rushed to various hospitals in Lagos succumbed to injuries despite frantic medical efforts. In a condolence statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu extended…
Atiku Abubakar’s recent post, where he claimed to be receiving support from “state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC),” only exposes the contradictions, desperation, and disunity that have always trailed his political career. Once again, the former Vice President has shown Nigerians that he is more interested in political survival than in genuine service. It is rather shameful that Atiku, who presided over Nigeria’s economic missteps during his time as Vice President, now parades himself as a redeemer. Nigerians have not forgotten the scandalous privatization policies he championed—policies that sold national assets to cronies, leaving the people…
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has officially lifted the state of emergency that gripped Rivers State for six months, paving the way for Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials to return to their posts. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Presidency, Tinubu said the emergency rule was necessary to resolve what he described as a “total paralysis of governance” that plagued the state earlier in the year. The emergency was first announced on March 18, 2025. The crisis in Rivers had stemmed from an acrimonious rift between Governor Fubara and 27 lawmakers who aligned with the Speaker…