Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and House of Assembly aspirant for Abeokuta North State Constituency, Babatunde Bayewunmi, has faulted the description of Nigerian youths as a “wasted generation,” describing such a characterisation as unfair, discouraging and contrary to the ideals of leadership. Bayewunmi made the remark on Friday while declaring his intention to represent Abeokuta North State Constituency in the Ogun State House of Assembly under the APC platform in the coming election. He said leadership must be rooted in inspiration, inclusion and empowerment, warning that blanket criticism of young people undermines their contributions to national development.…

…Shock, Horse-Trading as Aspirants, Party Heavyweights Left in the Dark Daud Olatunji Fresh details have emerged on how the Presidency reportedly intervened in the internal politics of the Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), culminating in the controversial emergence of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, as the party’s consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections. PLATFORM TIMES investigations revealed that the directive, allegedly transmitted through top political channels linked to the Presidency, compelled the Ogun APC leadership to adopt Yayi as consensus candidate despite growing resistance from aspirants and dissenting blocs within the…

Aishah Waliyullah The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has recorded its largest-ever graduating class, conferring degrees on 24,575 students at its 15th Convocation Ceremony held in Abuja on April 17 and 18, 2026. The figure marks a significant milestone in the institution’s history, reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s largest open and distance learning university. At the two-day ceremony, the outgoing cohort comprised 17,474 undergraduate degree holders, 5,282 master’s degree recipients, 1,788 postgraduate diploma graduates, and 31 doctoral degree awardees. A total of 57 graduates finished with First Class honours. The event also marked the first convocation presided over by…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Federal Government’s reported plan to reintegrate 744 individuals described as “repentant terrorists” into society, warning that the policy could undermine justice, weaken national security efforts and deepen the trauma of communities affected by insurgency. The opposition party described the move as a “dangerous failure of judgment,” accusing the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of prioritising rehabilitation over accountability in its counter-terrorism strategy. The controversy follows reports that about 744 former insurgents have completed a Federal Government deradicalisation programme under Operation Safe Corridor and are being prepared for reintegration into their communities.…

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes has announced that the reported rift between Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, has been amicably resolved. The group, in a statement signed by its President-General, Sulaimon Ajeniyi Ajewole, and made available through its Publicity Secretary, Kola Olomide, on Sunday, said tensions surrounding the relationship between the two leaders had been successfully doused. It described the development as a product of dialogue and established traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms in Ibadanland, stressing that peace had been restored. The council also dismissed speculations of a looming constitutional crisis, including alleged plans…

Nine years after their controversial dismissal, 38 senior officers of the Nigerian Army remain out of service despite multiple court rulings ordering their reinstatement, raising fresh concerns over impunity and disregard for the rule of law within the military. The affected officers — comprising major generals, brigadier generals, colonels and lieutenant colonels — were compulsorily retired on June 9, 2016, over allegations including corruption in arms procurement and partisanship. However, investigations and subsequent judicial pronouncements found that due process was not followed, as none of the officers was tried before a court martial or formally found guilty of any offence.…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has dismissed calls for refunds from candidates who incurred charges while attempting to check their 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results, insisting that no official release had been announced at the time. The board’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, said on Sunday that candidates who made multiple attempts to access their results did so prematurely, stressing that the examination body could not be held responsible for such actions. Benjamin’s clarification followed widespread complaints by candidates who said they were charged repeatedly while trying to check their results after an earlier assurance that the results would be…

The Federal Ministry of Finance has rejected allegations that Nigeria’s federation revenues are being diverted or concealed, insisting that recent reports suggesting “hidden spending” stem from a misinterpretation of the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of State for Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, said the reports “misrepresent the World Bank’s analysis” and reflect a poor understanding of the country’s fiscal framework. The ministry specifically faulted claims surrounding deductions by the Federation Account Allocation Committee, noting that such deductions are legitimate and should not be classified as waste or missing funds. According to the…

Despite the disbursement of over N109.5bn from Nigeria’s Ecological Fund within three years, concerns are mounting over the country’s preparedness for the 2026 rainy season, with experts warning that many states remain highly vulnerable to flooding. Findings showed that between July 2023 and December 2025, a total of N109,516,046,114.35 was released to address ecological challenges, particularly flooding. The figures, sourced from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, indicated a steady increase in spending, rising from N21.1bn in the latter half of 2023 to N34.78bn in 2024, and peaking at N53.62bn in 2025. However, the rising financial commitment has…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has raised fresh concerns over what he described as a coordinated attempt to implicate him in criminal activities and prolong his detention. El-Rufai, in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, alleged that recent developments point to “malicious orchestrations” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and undermining his legal standing. The former governor recalled that the alleged plot dates back to February 12, 2026, when he was reportedly targeted for arrest upon arrival at the Abuja airport from Cairo, describing the incident as an early indication of what he termed sustained…