Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Peoples Democratic Party has declared that its national convention scheduled for Saturday in Ibadan will proceed as planned, insisting that the exercise is “sacrosanct” despite a subsisting court order seeking to halt it. Chairman of the 2025 National Convention Organising Committee and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, made the declaration on Friday after a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja. Fintiri, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said the party had resolved to go ahead with preparations, stressing that no legal distractions would stop the convention. “We’ve just come out…

The Nigerian Red Cross Society has raised a fresh alarm that no fewer than 33 million Nigerians may be pushed into acute hunger and malnutrition in 2026 unless urgent interventions are implemented. Secretary-General of the organisation, Dr. Abubakar Kende, issued the warning on Friday in Abuja during the unveiling of the Red Cross Nutrition Advocacy Plan, a new framework aimed at intensifying national efforts against food insecurity. Kende said worsening economic hardship, climate-induced food shortages, and rising insecurity across food-producing regions were deepening the risk of hunger for millions. He stressed that coordinated action from government, humanitarian agencies and private-sector…

The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) on Friday declared an indefinite nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of refusing to implement the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) more than 12 years after negotiations began. The JOHESU National Chairman, Kabiru Minjibir, announced the decision in Abuja after the union’s Expanded National Executive Council meeting, saying affiliate unions in all federal health institutions had been directed to withdraw their services from 12 midnight, Friday. Minjibir said repeated engagements with the government since 2014—including conciliation meetings, signed memoranda and assurances from top officials—failed to produce meaningful action. According to him, the government’s…

Nollywood actor Olanrewaju Omiyinka, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has reportedly regained his freedom after spending more than three years behind bars for the sexual assault of a minor. The development was disclosed on Friday by fellow actor and long-time associate, Yomi Fabiyi, who announced the release in a post on Instagram. Fabiyi claimed that an appeal court had overturned the embattled actor’s conviction, clearing him of allegations of defiling a minor. “You are now officially free and out,” Fabiyi wrote. “I am also happy you were cleared by the appeal court of ever having sex with or defiling any…

The Department of State Services has rearrested Abdulazeez Obadaki, a wanted member of the Ansaru terror group and one of the over 800 inmates who escaped during the July 2022 attack on the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Obadaki, described by security sources as a “high-value terror operative,” was apprehended during a Friday morning operation. He had been on the run for more than three years. Obadaki was linked to major terror-related crimes before his escape, including coordinated bank attacks in Uromi, Edo State, and the fatal shooting at Deeper Life College, Okene, Kogi…

Obiano, who broke his silence in a post on his Facebook page, assured the public that he was alive and in good health. “My beloved Ndi Anambra, friends, and well-wishers, I woke to hear of a rumour making the rounds about my wellbeing,” he wrote. “Let me assure you personally: I am alive, hale, hearty, and in excellent health. By the special grace of God, I am doing very well.” He expressed concern over the increasing trend of individuals spreading unfounded stories, saying such actions were unnecessary and harmful. “It is unfortunate that some individuals still find joy in spreading…

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, stopped the Peoples Democratic Party from proceeding with its national convention scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Ibadan, Oyo State, following the exclusion of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, from the contest. Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the PDP violated its own constitution and guidelines by denying Lamido the opportunity to obtain the nomination form for the National Chairmanship position. The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from monitoring, supervising or recognising the outcome of any convention conducted without Lamido’s inclusion. Justice Lifu held that undisputed evidence…

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has opened a sweeping investigation into the generation, remittance and management of stamp duty revenues across federal agencies, signalling what lawmakers describe as a renewed push for financial transparency in government. Committee chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, disclosed on Thursday that the probe was triggered by persistent concerns over alleged opacity, underreporting and mismanagement of proceeds from stamp duties — a key non-oil revenue source expected to bolster the nation’s dwindling finances. Wadada, a former banker, said the National Assembly would no longer tolerate loopholes in revenue administration, stressing that every kobo collected must reflect…

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria is averting an estimated 18 million malaria cases every year through intensified national control efforts. Salako gave the figure while speaking in Abuja at the second day of the 2025 Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review, themed “Strengthening Nigeria’s Health System Resilience for Sustainable and Inclusive Care.” He attributed the milestone to the federal government’s investments in the National Malaria Eradication Programme, including the distribution of over 63 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) between 2021 and 2023. The minister said the country now records…

…Commission Outlines Strict Monitoring Plan …Officials Urged To Embrace Transparency The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has issued a stern warning to local government officials nationwide, declaring that any abuse or mismanagement of council funds under the newly restored local government autonomy will attract decisive sanctions. ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, delivered the warning on Thursday in Jos at a capacity-building workshop on the Local Government Accountability Framework for LGAs in Nigeria. The programme was organised by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), funded by the European Union and implemented by International IDEA. Represented…