Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has formally emerged as the presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections, pledging sweeping economic reforms, transparent governance and a citizen-focused leadership model if elected President of Nigeria. Makinde, who accepted the party’s nomination on Friday in Ibadan, said his decision to run was anchored on what he described as an urgent national duty to restore hope, rebuild public confidence in governance, and reposition Nigeria’s economy for productivity and fairness. He stressed that Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources should translate into improved living conditions for citizens,…

A wave of grief and tension has engulfed Ilesha-Baruba in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State after suspected gunmen killed a popular Islamic cleric, Alfa Iliasu, in a brutal attack on Saturday. The incident, which occurred at the cleric’s residence, has thrown the agrarian community into turmoil, sparking outrage, protests and retaliatory violence that left one of the suspected attackers lynched by an angry mob. Eyewitness accounts said the assailants stormed Alfa Iliasu’s home in the early hours of the day and attacked him with a cutlass, inflicting severe head injuries. The cleric was reportedly rushed to a…

Armed bandits operating in Zamfara State have killed a councillor representing Jangebe Ward, Habibu Jangebe, and the Director of Planning of Talata-Mafara Local Government Area, Alhaji Jamilu Sani, following allegations that the victims were involved in monthly payments to a terrorist group identified as Lakurawa. The two officials were abducted on May 18 while travelling from Jangebe to the local government headquarters reportedly for preparations ahead of the last pilgrimage exercise. Their bodies were later discovered 10 days after the abduction. A local source, who spoke in confidence due to security concerns, alleged that the slain officials had been used…

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki on Saturday declared former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, despite the sealing of its original convention venue in Abuja by security operatives. The faction had planned to hold its special national convention at the A-Class Event Centre in Wuse 2, but later relocated to its national secretariat in Area 10, Garki, after the venue was sealed earlier in the day. Former President Goodluck Jonathan was not present at the event, but his Certificate of Return was received on his behalf by…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed no fewer than 16 sachet water production facilities across Rivers State following the discovery of widespread safety and regulatory breaches. The enforcement exercise, which covered Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas, exposed what the agency described as “alarming” violations ranging from lack of valid licences to unhygienic production conditions. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday, the South-South Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Chukwuma Oligbu, said several of the affected factories were operating illegally and endangering public health. He listed the infractions to include…

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted a former Director of Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, and his wife in Katsina State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday along the Matazu axis of the state while the retired Major General and his wife were travelling to Katsina. Sources said the assailants intercepted their vehicle, forcefully whisking the couple to an unknown destination. A security source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the driver of the vehicle was also attacked during the ambush but managed to escape despite sustaining a gunshot injury. According to the source, the…

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has ratified former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. The decision was taken at the party’s national convention held in Abuja on Saturday, where delegates endorsed Obi amid cheers and applause. The motion for his ratification was moved by the senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, and seconded by a former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. The endorsement, which was adopted through a voice vote, drew loud jubilation from party faithful gathered at the venue, signalling early momentum for the party ahead of the 2027 polls. Obi, a…

A member of the House of Representatives, Bello El-Rufai, has emerged as the candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the Kaduna North Federal Constituency after winning the party’s primary election unopposed. El-Rufai, who currently represents the constituency, polled a total of 7,727 votes in the exercise held on Saturday, consolidating his position as the party’s flag bearer ahead of the next general election. The lawmaker, who is the son of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, described his emergence as both humbling and a call to greater service. In a statement issued shortly after the exercise, he expressed gratitude…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has proposed a new national minimum wage of ₦100,000 as part of efforts to mitigate the biting economic hardship facing Nigerian workers. Chairman of the forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, noting that the proposal was driven by escalating inflation, high cost of living, and increasing financial pressure on citizens. AbdulRazaq said state governors had acknowledged the urgency of improving workers’ welfare in line with prevailing economic realities, adding that consultations were ongoing with relevant stakeholders. He said, “State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’…

The abducted Vice Principal of Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Folawe Alamu, has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde and other stakeholders to urgently negotiate with kidnappers holding her, pupils and teachers captive. In a distress video circulating online on Thursday, the visibly shaken school administrator, seen kneeling and speaking in a weak tone, said the victims had spent about 15 days in the bush since their abduction during coordinated attacks on schools in the Ogbomoso axis of the state. She said the abductees—including schoolchildren and teachers—had…