FocalPoint Reports

The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has announced the assumption of duty of Felix Ohagwu as the 47th Commissioner of Police in the state. Ohagwu succeeds Adebowale Lawal, following his deployment by the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu. The Command said the deployment was part of ongoing efforts by the police authorities to strengthen internal security and improve policing across the country. This was contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh. According to the statement, Ohagwu is a seasoned police officer with more than three decades of service experience. The Command said the new police commissioner had served in several investigative, operational and administrative capacities in different parts of the country. It added that his experience would be valuable in sustaining peace, improving crime prevention and strengthening public confidence in policing in Ondo State. Upon assuming office, Ohagwu pledg...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cleared former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, to contest its Enugu State governorship primary ahead of the 2027 election. Nnaji was cleared during the faction’s governorship screening exercise held in Abuja on Thursday. The screening committee was chaired by former Kaduna State Governor and former PDP national chairman, Ahmed Makarfi. Apart from Nnaji, entrepreneur Samson Nnamani was also screened and cleared to participate in the forthcoming PDP governorship primary in Enugu State. According to Premium Times, Nnaji’s clearance comes despite an alleged certificate forgery scandal involving his degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates. The former minister resigned from office in October 2025, days after reports emerged on the controversy. Group faults clearance Reacting, a civil society organisation, Defence for Democrac...

‘ Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Ogbomoso and the killing of innocent Nigerians in Katsina State, including a pregnant woman, saying the incidents show Nigeria is bleeding under a government that has reduced leadership to post-tragedy press statements. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said he was particularly heartbroken by the murder of one of the teachers abducted in Ogbomoso, describing the continued bloodshed as not just a security failure, but a frightening collapse of leadership at the highest level. “At a time when armed criminals are abducting schoolchildren, slaughtering innocent citizens, and turning communities into graveyards, President Tinubu’s response remains the same tired ritual: condemn the killings, threaten that the perpetrators will face the ‘full wrath of the law,’ and then wait for the next massacre. “Nigerians have heard thi...

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Basiru, has denied claims that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, handpicked those who emerged victorious in the party’s primary elections in Rivers State. Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Monday, Basiru clarified that Wike is not a member of the APC. The APC secretary, however, added that the fact that Wike is not a member of the party does not mean those affiliated with him can not run on the platform of the party. He insisted that those who emerged as winners from the APC primary elections in Rivers State, won a free and fair election, not because they are associated with Wike. “You cannot empirically say that those who have won primary elections in the APC in Rivers State are linked to the umbilical cord of Minister Nyesom Wike. Everyone will be screened; everyone will aspire in his own name. Till tomorrow, Mr. Nyesom Wike has not said—and is not—...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released the full list of Senatorial aspirants not cleared to participate in the Party’s Senate Primary Elections ahead of the 2027 general elections. Total of 47 aspirants were not cleared according to the list released by the APC on Monday. The party insisted that the screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in accordance with established procedures and guidelines. Those not cleared include Senator Ben Murray Bruce from Bayelsa, Sen. Garba Musa Mai Doki from Kebbi, Bello Abudullahi Bodejo from Taraba and Senator Banigo Ipalibo from Rivers State. Below is the full list, which cuts across all the states of the federation. 1. Hon. Hamish Idris – Adamawa State, North Senatorial District 2. Hon. Abdurman Kwacham – Adamawa State, North Senatorial District 3. Chimzobam Kingsley Nnalue – Anambra State, North Senatorial District 4. Donald Daunemigita – Bayelsa State, West Senatorial District 5. Sen. Ben Murray Bru...

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has postponed its presidential screening exercise from Monday to Wednesday following disagreements among party leaders over a preferred consensus candidate ahead of the 2027 election.  Sources within the party disclosed that consultations and negotiations were still ongoing among key stakeholders over who should emerge as the party’s consensus presidential candidate. According to party insiders, the leadership has yet to reach an agreement among three leading contenders – Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen. A source familiar with the development said the postponement was aimed at giving the party more time to resolve internal disagreements and avoid deepening divisions before the presidential primary. “The ADC presidential screening exercise has been shifted from Monday to Wednesday,” the source said. “The party has failed to agree on a consensus candidate between Amaechi, Atiku and Hayatu-Deen.” Sources also r...

Political thugs stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Ondo on Sunday and disrupted the collation and announcement of results from last Saturday’s primary elections for House of Representatives aspirants on the party’s platform. The thugs, suspected to be loyal to some disqualified aspirants, temporarily halted proceedings at the APC secretariat in Akure, the state capital. As a result of the attack, the APC chairman in Ondo, Kolawole Babatunde, alongside party executives, electoral officials, delegates, and supporters, were said to have exited the venue through the back door as tension escalated. Security operatives at the venue also evacuated the members of the seven-man National Assembly Primary Election Committee, led by Hon. Iboroma Harry Dabibi, from the secretariat as a result of the attack. According to eyewitnesses, the suspected thugs stormed the secretariat during the exercise and demanded that the committee chairman suspend the announcement o...

By Elizabath Adjerhore Leading aspirant for the Warri Federal Constituency seat under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Chief Sheriff Mulade, PhD, has called on party faithfuls, supporters, and the good people of Warri Federal Constituency to remain hopeful, united, and committed to the collective vision of building a better future ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chief Mulade, a renowned peace advocate, development strategist, and grassroots mobiliser, stated that the growing support and acceptance being enjoyed by the NDC across Delta State and particularly within Warri Federal Constituency is a clear indication that the people are ready for purposeful, inclusive, and people-oriented leadership. According to him, the journey towards 2027 is not just about politics, but about restoring confidence in governance and peaceful coexistence among Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo ethnic nationalities that make up the Warri Federal Constituency. The environmental...

Newly Inaugurated INC Executive Promises to Promote Unity, Development of Ijaw Nation By Ezekiel Kagbala The National Executive members of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has been inaugurated in Warri, Delta State with a promise to promote peace, unity, and development of Ijaws of the Niger Delta. The Ijaw National Congress which is the highest Ijaw apex body has been promoting Ijaw cause and development since its inception. In his inaugural speech, the National president of INC, High Chief (Barr.) Macdonard Ebi Igbadiwei said that unity, peace and development of Ijaw nation remain a top priority of INC and would vigorously pursue it. He said the leadership of INC is not about power but about service to the Ijaw nation, adding that they will sacrifice for the collective destiny of the Ijaw nation. According to him “Together we shall rise above division, defend our heritage, protect our communities and environment and build a stronger, united and prosperous Ija...

The Speaker of the Gwagwalada Area Council legislative arm, Mohammed Ibrahim Ibwa, and his aide, Ibrahim Ibwa, have died in a fatal motor accident at Sheda village along the Abuja-Lokoja highway. The accident occurred around 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday, involving a Mercedes-Benz car and a Sino truck. The Speaker’s aide died on the spot, while Ibwa died in the early hours of Thursday at the Abuja Teaching Hospital, where he had been referred after initially receiving treatment at Legend Hospital in Gwagwalada.  A source said the Speaker was travelling in the Mercedes-Benz with two other persons when the vehicle was involved in a head-on collision with the truck near Sheda village. According to the source, the third occupant of the vehicle survived the crash and is currently receiving medical attention. The source added that the Speaker and his aides were returning to Gwagwalada from Kwali, where they had attended a political meeting, when the accident occurred. An official of...

Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) recently strengthened maritime security in the Niger Delta by handing over 15 newly procured gunboats to the Nigerian armed forces, as seen in this Facebook post. The donation includes 7 gunboats for the Nigerian Army and 8 for the Nigerian .....Navy, aimed at enhancing patrols and combatting illegal oil theft in the region.. These vessels are intended to boost the capacity o....  ...f the Army and Navy to curb illegal bunkering and protect critical oil infrastructure, complementing the ongoing surveillance efforts by Tantita. This action highlights the continued partnership between private security firms (Tantita) and government security agencies (Operation Delta Safe) to secure the waterways. This action highlights the continued partnership between private security firms (Tantita) and government security agencies (Operation Delta Safe) to secure the waterways.

Former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State. Mimiko arrived at the APC secretariat in Ondo West Local Government Area on Wednesday to formalise his membership of the ruling party. He was received by the APC Chairman in the state, Babatunde Kolawole, and the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, amid cheers from party supporters. Mimiko, who governed Ondo State between 2009 and 2017, had in April resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ending speculation over his political future. Before joining the PDP, the former governor was a prominent figure in the Labour Party (LP), where he played major political roles at both state and national levels. Sources who spoke with The Nation said his return to active partisan politics followed a period of relative political quiet during which he maintained influence through loyalists and political structures across the st...

A United States (US) district court in Michigan has sentenced Nkechy Ezeh, a former executive director at Early Learning Neighbourhood Collaborative (ELNC), to 70 months in prison for having orchestrated a fraud scheme that stole $1.4 million in taxpayer and donor funds intended for vulnerable preschool children. Hala Jarbou, the district judge, described Ezeh as a “a fraud and a thief ” who engaged in a “brazen and widespread” scheme to steal money meant for “most vulnerable children” in West Michigan. Ezeh, an associate professor of education, is the founder of ELNC, a non-profit organisation funded by the US Department of Health and the Department of Education, as well as private donors, to provide meals, transportation, funding, advocacy, and other services to children in underserved communities. According to a statement released by the US government, the trial judge ordered Ezeh to pay $1.4 million in restitution to the victims of the fraud and $390,174 to the Internal...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that contrary to reports of postponement, its presidential primary election for the 2027 polls would be held as scheduled on May 23, 2026. National publicity secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, said in a statement on Wednesday that reports on social media and other communication platforms about changes to the timetable were false. “This clarification has become necessary following the circulation of false and misleading reports on social media and other communication platforms suggesting otherwise,” the statement read. Under the revised calendar, the sale of nomination forms began on Saturday, April 25, and ran until Saturday, May 2, 2026. Completed forms and accompanying documents were submitted no later than Monday, May 4. Screening of aspirants for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship were held between Wednesday, May 6 and Friday, May 8, while Presidential aspirants faced screening panel on ...

The Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Mustapha Abdullahi, has denied being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged ₦500 billion fraud as reported in the media. Abdullahi, in a statement signed and issued by his Media Aide, Abdulrasaq Danjuma, said he only honoured an invitation by the anti-graft agency. While appealing to the public to avoid speculation, misinformation, sensational commentary, and the circulation of unverified claims that may distort facts, prejudice ongoing processes, or create unnecessary tension, Abdullahi noted that the invitation was consistent with due process and respect for constituted authorities. Abdullahi further urged the public to allow the relevant agencies to carry out their responsibilities so that the facts would emerge through lawful, transparent, and due process. He said, “It is important to clarify that he was not arrested, but attended the engagement voluntarily as a respons...

Former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has withdrawn from the race for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Yobe State ahead of the 2027 election.  Baba announced his withdrawal in a statement released to journalists on Wednesday. This development ends his participation in the contest after days of disagreement within the party over the choice of a consensus candidate. Before his withdrawal, the former police chief was part of a group of six APC aspirants who opposed the emergence of Baba Malam Wali as the party’s consensus candidate. The aspirants had insisted that the party should conduct direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the guidelines of the APC. The aggrieved aspirants included Senator Ibrahim Bomai, Mustapha Maihaja, Bashir Machina, Usman Baba, Kashim Musa Tumsah and Lawan Kolo Geidam. Earlier, Lawan Kolo Geidam had also withdrawn from the contest and declared support for the consensus arrangement adopte...

No fewer than 72 people were reportedly killed after a military air strike hit Tumfa market in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State on Sunday. According to AFP which cited a community leader, some of the victims’ bodies were “blown beyond recognition.” The actual death toll is hard to establish at the moment. Everybody, residents and bandits, goes to the market. People are at the mercy of the bandits. There is nothing they can do,” AFP reported Garba Ibrahim Mashema as saying. This is as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defend Nigeria’s constitution as it tackles the country’s insecurity. Tumfa market is reportedly controlled by bandits and some of those killed were young girls selling millet porridge and tofu in the market. Amnesty International has put the death toll at over 100, stating that one affected village buried 80 people at once. The military has denied reports of civilian casualties, describing them as “not tr...

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has rejected the Federal Government’s plan to remove the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme.  The union said the move could weaken the standard of teacher training in the country. NUT National President, Audu Amba, made the position known in Abuja during a teachers’ workshop organised by 21st Century in partnership with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). He said admission into colleges of education should not be treated as a lower option compared to universities. He raised concern that many high-performing students now prefer universities, while colleges of education are often left for candidates who could not secure university admission. According to him, this pattern could affect the quality of future teachers in Nigeria. Amba argued that teaching should attract some of the strongest students, addin...

FRSC Blames Speeding and Driver Fatigue After 22 Passengers Were Involved in One of the Deadliest Crashes on the Busy Kogi Corridor This Year At least 16 people have been confirmed dead after a commercial bus plunged off a bridge along the Lokoja–Okene highway in Kogi State, in a tragic accident that has once again highlighted the dangers on one of Nigeria’s busiest roads. The fatal crash occurred at about 9:20 a.m. on Friday at Aku village near Osara, along the Lokoja–Okene route, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The vehicle involved was a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number BUS 17 ZD. The bus, which was travelling from Jos, reportedly lost control at high speed, veered off the road and crashed beneath a bridge. Kogi State FRSC Sector Commander, Lawal Fagge, said 22 passengers were on board the vehicle, comprising 21 male adults and one female adult. According to him, 16 passengers — 15 men and one woman — died at the scene of the c...

President Bola Tinubu’s government is reportedly negotiating a fresh $1.25 billion  loan  facility with the World Bank to support economic reforms, job creation, and investment growth. The proposed facility were contained in a World Bank document titled  “Nigeria Actions for Investment and Jobs Acceleration.” According to Channels Television, the document showed that the negotiations have reached an advanced stage, with the proposed facility expected to be presented for approval on June 26, 2026. The development indicates that the loan request has moved beyond the concept and appraisal phases and is now approaching final consideration by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. If approved, the facility would rank among Nigeria’s largest recent borrowings from the global lender, behind only the $1.5bn Reforms for Economic Stabilisation to Enable Transformation Development Policy Financing approved in June 2024. The document identified the borrower...

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to resign over the recent amendment to the Senate Standing Orders guiding the election of leaders in the Red Chamber.  Oshiomhole made the call while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday. The former Edo State governor said the new rules had created what he described as a moral problem within the Senate. According to him, the amendment has raised questions about fairness and the qualifications needed to occupy top positions in the chamber. The Edo North senator argued that Akpabio should not continue to preside over the Senate if the new requirements are applied strictly. He said the Senate President himself may not meet the condition being discussed under the amended rules. Oshiomhole explained that the new arrangement demanding longer years of service before anyone can contest for Senate President would also affect Akpabio. He noted that Akpabio had not spent up to eight years in the Sen...

The Nigerian Senate has approved fresh amendments to the Electoral Act 2026, repositioning the Court of Appeal as the highest judicial authority for resolving pre-election disputes across governorship, National Assembly, and state Houses of Assembly elections. The upper chamber of the National Assembly also granted the Court of Appeal original jurisdiction to hear pre-election cases tied to presidential elections, with any further appeals channelled straight to the Supreme Court, effectively cutting out intermediate courts from the process. The legislation, which cleared both second and third readings on the floor of the Senate, was sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong, who represents Plateau South. Tackling Conflicting Judgments The amendments push to end the damaging practice of forum shopping, which is described as a tactic where litigants deliberately file cases in courts perceived to be sympathetic to their cause. This has long produced conflicting rulings from court...

Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have killed three terrorists during a fighting patrol operation in Zamfara State. The troops also recovered arms and ammunition from terrorists during the operation carried out in Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas of the state. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, May 7, by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-West Operation FANSAN YAMMA,  Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja. According to the statement, the operation was conducted on May 7 as part of ongoing efforts to deny terrorists freedom of movement in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West. Danja said the troops came in contact with armed terrorists at Doumbourum Village, where they engaged them in a gun battle. The statement said,  “A fierce firefight ensued,”  adding that the troops overpowered the attackers with superior firepower. According to the task force, three terrorists we...

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has entered the race for the Bauchi South Senatorial District seat under the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections. It was reported that he picked up his nomination form in Abuja on Thursday after attending the party’s National Executive Committee meeting. The meeting had the National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, and other party leaders in attendance. During the meeting, the governor spoke about problems in the political system, saying that unfair practices and pressure in politics have made it difficult for some leaders to operate freely. He explained that his move to the APM was based on shared ideas about leadership, fairness in party affairs, justice, inclusion, and respect for the law. He also noted that his decision was not his alone. According to him, several politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) moved with him. These include lawmakers, members of the state assembly, local government leaders, commission...

The Kogi government has confirmed the safe rescue of all victims abducted from the Daarul-Kitab Islamic Orphanage in Lokoja. The confirmation came in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that gunmen attacked the orphanage on April 26 and abducted 23 pupils, including the proprietor’s wife. The government had earlier confirmed the rescue of 15 victims on April 27 following intensified security operations across the state. Fanwo said the remaining nine victims regained freedom during a rescue operation conducted in the early hours of Wednesday. He described the development as a major breakthrough against criminal elements operating within the state and a relief to affected families. According to him, troops of the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army led the coordinated search-and-rescue mission with support from other security agencies. “The operation, carried out in the A...

The Inspector-General of Police(IGP),  Olatunji Rilwan Disu,  on Wednesday, May 6, met with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, SAN, and other senior officials of the commission at the Force Headquarters in Abuja over security arrangements for upcoming elections. The meeting focused on plans to ensure peaceful, credible and secure elections, especially ahead of the Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections, forthcoming bye-elections and the 2027 General Elections. Also in attendance were members of the Force Management Team and senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force. The INEC delegation included the National Commissioner for the North-Central Region, Professor Sanni Muhammed; National Commissioners for the North-East Region, Mrs Jamila Abubakar Malafa and Dr Baba Bila; National Commissioner for the South-South Region, Rear Admiral Rhoda Gumus; and National Commissioner for the South-West Region, Professor Kunle Ajayi...

A renowned Delta State-born development advocate and environmental rights activist Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff (PhD), the Ibe-Serimowei of ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State has pledged to bring about improved and sustainable development to his constituency, if given the mandate during 2027 general election to serve as a federal lawmaker in Warri Federal Constituency, at the National Assembly, Abuja. He made the declaration Tuesday, in a press release, said '' I am appealing to electorates in the Warri Federal Constituency to make a wise choice in the 2027 general election by voting me. I am your own and I want to pledge a purposeful driven, unity, people oriented, all-inclusive, economic empowerment, employment, skill acquisition, accessible, reliable and dependable representation, if voted into office,'' He appealed. Comrade Mulade who also a United Nations Peace Ambassador, appealed to politicians to show decorum, purpose-driven and issue-...

The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from sanctioning broadcast stations and presenters over the expression of personal opinions, alleged intimidation of guests, or failure to maintain neutrality. It was made to understand that Justice Daniel Osiagor granted the interim injunction on Monday following an ex parte application filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). The suit was argued by counsel to the applicants, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN). The court order prevents the NBC from enforcing several provisions of the 6th Edition of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code pending the determination of the substantive motion before the court. Justice Osiagor ruled, “ That an order of interim injunction is granted restraining the Defendant, its officers, agents, privies, assigns, associates or any other person or group of persons from enforcing, imposing sanctions, ...

The federal government has ruled out any return to fuel subsidies or the introduction of price controls, reaffirming its commitment to market-driven economic policies. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, made this known on Tuesday in Paris, stating that subsidy regimes distort the economy and will not be reinstated. He added that while the government supports market pricing, regulatory oversight would remain to prevent exploitation across the supply chain. “We will not bring back subsidies because they create distortions in the economy, and we will not introduce price controls because we believe in markets while ensuring that regulation is responsible so that no supplier, trader, or manufacturer takes advantage of the Nigerian people,” he said. Oyedele also noted that global developments, including tensions involving Iran, present both risks and opportunities for Nigeria, particularly in attracting energy investments and maximising revenue under...

A Delta APC Chieftain, John Feh, has called for an urgent intervention of the Federal and State Government in the Bomadi/Patani federal constituency politics, warning of massive wave of defection of members to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) if nothing is done. Feh stated this in a statement on Tuesday. He said that Bomadi/Patani federal constituency was approaching a critical tipping point that demanded immediate and strategic intervention. According to him, emerging political developments indicate a high likelihood of mass defections from the ruling political structure to the rival NDC, driven by growing dissatisfaction among key stakeholders and grassroots supporters. ”This is not a routine political shift. It is a systemic signal of discontent that can fundamentally alter the political balance of the constituency and beyond, if not urgently addressed. ”The situation calls for decisive, fair and forward-looking action by the Delta Government and all relevant stakeholde...