Author: Platform Times Newspaper

BENUE State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has moved to douse rising political tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, confirming that he personally invited the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and other key stakeholders to a reconciliation meeting aimed at unifying the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. Alia disclosed this on Saturday when he received expression of interest and nomination forms for the 2027 governorship race, purchased on his behalf by the Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Motorcycle Hirers Association at the…

Ten Nigerian nationals have been convicted in the United States for their roles in a sophisticated international wire fraud and business email compromise scheme that siphoned about $215 million from more than 1,000 victims across the world. The convictions were secured at a federal court in Ohio after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges bordering on wire fraud, money laundering and computer-based email compromise offences, in a case presided over by Judge James Knepp II. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Nigerians were part of a wider 25-member criminal network that included 15 American nationals as well as suspects…

Leaders of the African Democratic Congress are making last-ditch efforts to halt the planned defection of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and ex-Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, amid growing uncertainty over the party’s 2027 presidential ticket. Multiple party sources disclosed that the two prominent politicians are weighing options to exit the opposition coalition and may announce their next political move within days. A senior party insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the defection plans had reached an advanced stage, adding that both men were considering a new platform to pursue their presidential ambitions ahead of the 2027…

Street-hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola (Portable), has alleged foul play following his defeat to skit maker, Carter Efe, in a celebrity boxing bout held in Lagos. The fight, tagged Chaos in the Ring 4, took place in the early hours of Saturday at the Balmoral Hall of Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, where Carter Efe secured a unanimous decision victory after all three judges scored the contest 30–27 in his favour. Reacting shortly after the bout via an Instagram live session, Portable rejected the outcome, alleging that the match was manipulated and unfairly judged. “I was robbed. They did ‘ojoro’ for…

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has called for the immediate reopening of several unresolved murder and extrajudicial killing cases across Nigeria, warning that continued silence and inaction threaten justice and public trust. Falana made the call on Saturday during an interactive session organised by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project in Ikeja, Lagos, where he charged the media to intensify advocacy for accountability amid worsening insecurity nationwide. Speaking on the theme, “The Role of Media in Promoting People’s Rights, Accountability and Access to Justice,” the senior advocate lamented that many high-profile killings had been abandoned without prosecution or closure. He urged…

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked a Police Mobile Force (PMF) camp in Tenebo community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing three officers and injuring two others. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, throwing the community into panic as residents fled for safety amid prolonged gunfire. Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who reportedly stormed the area around 2am in large numbers, some riding motorcycles, attempted to infiltrate the town but met resistance from security operatives, leading to a fierce exchange of gunfire. A resident, Mohammed Abdul, said the gun battle lasted…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Federal Government of favouring Christians over Muslims, citing the ongoing construction of a N25bn ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. In a statement issued on Saturday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, criticised what he described as “preferential treatment” in the allocation of public resources and interventions across religious lines. Akintola alleged that the government, in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), had commenced the construction of the multi-billion naira chapel and pilgrimage centre without making a similar provision for Muslims. He said, “The Federal Government should explain…

The Federal Government has summoned the acting South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed on Saturday that the envoy has been invited to a meeting scheduled for Monday at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja, as diplomatic concerns mount over the safety of Nigerians in the former apartheid nation. In a statement, the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the engagement is aimed at conveying Nigeria’s “profound concern” about the recent wave of violence, which threatens the long-standing bilateral relations…

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, has declared that Nigeria’s next president has already been ordained by God, stressing that the outcome of the 2027 election is beyond human control. Adeboye made the remark on Saturday during a workers’ meeting held at the Redemption City along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. According to him, divine sovereignty ultimately determines leadership, noting that God had long settled who would govern the country. “The one that will rule has been decided by God before we were born. He knows the end from the beginning,” he said. The cleric added,…

Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has formally defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), citing the protracted leadership crisis rocking the opposition party. Mohammed announced his defection on Saturday after a high-level meeting with political stakeholders, convened to deliberate on the implications of the recent Supreme Court of Nigeria judgment that nullified parallel conventions conducted by rival factions within the PDP. The governor revealed that he had spent over a week in Abuja consulting with party leaders in a bid to salvage the situation but admitted that efforts to restore unity had failed.…