Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Toyyibat Qasim Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to clarify his political allegiance, insisting that he cannot simultaneously support the ruling All Progressives Congress and other political parties ahead of the 2027 elections. Lawal, who spoke in an interview with Channels Television on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, said members of the APC Governors’ Forum remained opposed to the cross-party political arrangement associated with Wike and known as the Rainbow Coalition. Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, has publicly backed President…

 Daud Olatunji Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said he will continue to scrutinise and challenge policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration but will not resort to personal attacks or insults against the President. Obi stated this while speaking at the 2026 All Nigeria Editors Conference organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Enugu. The conference, held under the theme, “The Ballot, the Media and the Task of Keeping Democracy Alive,” brought together editors and other stakeholders to examine Nigeria’s democratic process, the media and challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections. The former Anambra…

Zainab Abioye The Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Abdullahi, has regained his freedom after spending 61 days in captivity following his abduction by armed bandits. Abdullahi was abducted on July 25, 2026, when armed men attacked his residence in Bungudu town, triggering a gun battle with members of his security detail. Four members of his security team—two police officers and two local vigilantes—were killed during the attack. The chairman and four other victims eventually escaped from captivity in the early hours of Thursday and were subsequently received by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West,…

Ayomide Awe The Peoples Democratic Party has fixed Tuesday, September 29, 2026, for a fresh governorship primary election in Gombe State, days after a Federal High Court nullified the earlier process that produced former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election. The Gombe State chapter of the PDP also cleared Pantami, Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki and Usman Aliyu Garry to participate in the rescheduled primary. The development followed Thursday’s judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, which ordered the party to conduct another governorship primary in accordance with…

…Zamfara Council Chairman Among Those Rescued …Troops Seize AK-47s, Ammunition, Arrest Suspects Daud Olatunji Nigerian troops have intercepted 44 family members of suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and rescued nine kidnap victims in separate operations across Borno, Zamfara and other states, according to a military operational report. The operations also resulted in the arrest of suspected kidnappers, alleged terrorist collaborators and a suspected gunrunner, while troops recovered firearms, ammunition, a motorcycle, mobile phone and other items. The operational report, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday, detailed a series of military actions conducted by…

Toyyibat Qasim The Proprietor of Trinity College, Ijaye, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr Oluseyi Adeyemi Sobande, has urged students to combine the resilience, discipline and resourcefulness of past generations with the vast opportunities offered by modern technology. Sobande made the call on Friday at a seminar organised as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the institution. The seminar, titled “Yesterday’s Students vs Today’s Students: Which is Better?”, brought together students, teachers, parents and alumni to examine the changing nature of education, discipline, technology and opportunities available to young people. Speaking on the three-decade journey of the school, Sobande described…

Monarch says suspect allegedly committed over 10 thefts since April release A suspected ex-convict, identified as Soyingbe Timothy, has been re-arrested by the police in Ijofin, Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, following allegations linking him to a series of night-time burglaries in the community. Timothy was reportedly apprehended at about 2am on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, while allegedly attempting to retrieve and move a machine said to be worth about N1m from a bush where it had reportedly been concealed. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that some youths in the community had mounted surveillance around the area after allegedly receiving…

Daud Olatunji The Peoples Democratic Party candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo, remains eligible to contest the 2027 election, her media aide, Dr Odun Agbalajobi, has said, dismissing claims that Thursday’s Supreme Court judgment automatically disqualified her from the race. Agbalajobi, in a statement on Friday, described reports linking the September 24, 2026, judgment of the apex court to Obasanjo’s candidacy as a “misleading interpretation” of the ruling. The Supreme Court had, on Thursday, upheld an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission and restored provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership…

Daud Olatunji The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has promised to establish a Border Communities Development Commission if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election. Adebutu made the pledge on Thursday during the flag-off of the PDP governorship campaign in Ogun West at Ipokia, where party members and supporters gathered for the campaign event. The PDP candidate said the proposed commission would focus on addressing what he described as years of neglect of communities along Ogun’s border corridors, particularly in the provision of roads, potable water, healthcare and other basic infrastructure. Adebutu said his journey…

Daud Olatunji The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has honoured three prominent Nigerians — Professor Is-haq Oloyede, Professor Muhib Opeloye and Alhaji Kunle Sanni — for their contributions to national development and the advancement of Islam in Nigeria. The recognition, according to a statement issued by the Sultan’s Media Team on Friday, followed a review of the careers and accomplishments of the three men, particularly their contributions to education, public service, interfaith relations and the development of the Muslim community. The statement, signed by Prince Bashir…