Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State has been hit by a wave of high-profile resignations, with serving lawmakers, party chieftains, and aspirants dumping the party amid deepening internal crises ahead of the 2027 general elections. Among those who have exited the party are members of the House of Representatives, Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, who represents Ibarapa Central/North Federal Constituency, and Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, representing Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West. Also joining the exodus are the Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Akeem Olatunji,  alongside several other party members across the state. Findings indicate that the mass resignation is largely driven by…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have arrested a suspected Nigerian billionaire, Amadi Simon, in Switzerland over his alleged involvement in a sprawling international drug trafficking and money laundering network. The arrest, carried out in collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and other European security agencies, followed months of coordinated intelligence gathering across multiple jurisdictions. The NDLEA disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by its spokesman, Femi Babafemi, noting that the operation also led to the arrest of two alleged accomplices in Nigeria. According to the agency, the suspects include 34-year-old Jecinta Amara Ikechi, apprehended…

No fewer than 1,000 houses have been destroyed following a devastating windstorm that swept through parts of Niger State, leaving scores of residents homeless and communities in distress. The disaster, which affected several settlements across Mokwa and Bida local government areas, was confirmed by the Niger State Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday. According to the agency, preliminary assessments revealed widespread destruction in multiple communities, particularly in Mokwa, where rooftops were blown off and buildings severely damaged. The Director-General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba Arah, disclosed that the worst-hit areas in Mokwa included Sawmill, Kpege Wayata, Kpege, Station Girigi, Efu Shaba Lile,…

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested and extradited a Chinese national, Xu Qing, over his alleged involvement in a $245 million Ponzi-style investment fraud. The police said the suspect was apprehended in Ogun State and subsequently repatriated to China to face prosecution. Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the operation was carried out by operatives of the International Criminal Police Organisation National Central Bureau in Abuja, following a formal request from Chinese authorities. According to the statement, Xu had been declared wanted in Beijing over allegations bordering on the illegal…

The Senate on Thursday rescinded its controversial amendment to the Standing Orders on the election of presiding officers, a move that effectively restores broader participation rights for all senators and reopens the contest for key leadership positions. The reversal followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who warned that the earlier changes could trigger constitutional inconsistencies and heighten tensions within the red chamber. The amendment, introduced earlier in the week, had restricted participation in leadership elections to only senators who had taken the Oath of Office and Allegiance as stipulated in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.…

The lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Bello El-Rufai, has dumped the All Progressives Congress for the African Democratic Congress. His defection was formally announced on Thursday during plenary by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen. Tajudeen also disclosed that two lawmakers from Peoples Democratic Party in Kaduna State, Reps. Umar Ajilo and Suleiman Richifa — defected to the ADC alongside El-Rufai. In a related development, a Kano lawmaker, Kamilu Ado, switched allegiance from the ADC to the Nigeria Democratic Congress. Similarly, the member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory, Joshua Obika, resigned from…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said he will consult widely before deciding whether to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing the race for Nigeria’s top office as a serious undertaking that requires careful reflection. Jonathan stated this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving youth groups who urged him to return to the presidential race. Responding to the appeal, the former president cautioned against trivialising the process of seeking the nation’s highest office. “The presidential race is not a computer game. I have heard you, and I will consult widely,” he said. He commended the visiting youths for their interest in…

Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, on Wednesday joined other top government officials and women leaders in Abuja to galvanise support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through a nationwide women’s mobilisation drive ahead of the 2027 general elections. Salako-Oyedele spoke at the “Power of 10 Million Movement” rally held at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, where stakeholders unveiled a platform aimed at connecting and empowering 10 million Nigerian women politically, economically and socially. Addressing participants, the deputy governor said although women have continued to contribute significantly across sectors, their impact has been limited by weak coordination and insufficient…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has affirmed Hon. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye as the consensus candidate for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency ahead of the next electoral cycle, in a development party stakeholders described as the outcome of extensive consultations and internal negotiations. Adeleye’s emergence was reportedly reached through a process anchored on dialogue, reconciliation, and consensus-building among party leaders, stakeholders, and apex political figures within the constituency. Describing the development as a collective responsibility rather than a personal victory, Adeleye said the consensus reflected the party’s commitment to unity, fairness, and internal democracy. She expressed appreciation to the Ogun State Governor,…

…Says millions of girls still face education gaps, harmful norms, poor access to information Daud Olatunji The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified calls for stronger and sustained platforms to amplify the voices of adolescent girls in Nigeria, warning that millions remain constrained by entrenched social barriers, limited opportunities, and inadequate access to information. UNICEF’s Adolescent Development Specialist, Ngozi Izuora-Songu, made the appeal on Tuesday in Osogbo, Osun State, during a “Yes! Girl” watch session organised for adolescent schoolgirls and boys. The event featured the screening of selected episodes of the Yes! Girl podcast in a cinema-style setting, drawing…