Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday exploded into a chaotic confrontation in Abuja, prompting the party’s National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, to issue an extraordinary appeal to United States President Donald Trump and other foreign powers to intervene and “save Nigeria’s democracy.” Trouble began shortly before the rival factions of the party scheduled parallel National Executive Committee meetings at the PDP national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja — a move that set loyalists of Turaki and supporters of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on a collision course. Speaking moments before the clash, Turaki accused Wike of “leading armed…

The internal crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday degenerated into a full-blown war as the faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ratified the expulsion of three serving governors and several prominent party heavyweights. At a heated meeting held at the party’s national secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, the factional National Executive Committee announced the expulsion of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal. Also expelled were former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara; former Deputy National Chairman, Bode George; and…

The 20th coronation anniversary of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, on Monday drew fresh tributes as prominent Egba chief, Chief Olalekan  Shoyinka, described the monarch’s reign as “two decades of unmatched stability, cultural revival, and purposeful leadership.” In a statement made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Tuesday, Shoyinka—who holds the traditional title of Gbadegesin of Ijemo—praised the monarch for what he called “a historic tenure that has strengthened institutions and advanced the unity of the Egba nation.” According to him, Oba Gbadebo’s 20 years on the throne have not only…

… Pictorial Warnings Push Quit-Attempt Rate From 26% To 43% … BATN Fined $110m For Repeated Violations Under WHO FCTC Daud Olatunji  Nigeria has reported major progress in its fight against tobacco consumption, enforcement and industry accountability, unveiling new data that shows a significant drop in smoking rates and stronger national action against violators of tobacco control laws. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the breakthroughs on Monday while presenting Nigeria’s progress report at the Eleventh Session of the Conference of Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO…

Millions of Nigerians will enjoy major relief from routine bank deductions as the Federal Government has approved the abolition of five widely applied bank charges, effective January 2026. The removal of the charges forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sweeping fiscal reforms signed into law on June 26, 2025. The overhaul — anchored on four new legislations: the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), Nigeria Revenue Service Act (NRSA) and Joint Revenue Board Act (JRBA) — aims to ease doing business, grow the economy and reduce financial pressure on households and small enterprises. Chairman of the…

The Lagos State House of Assembly has formally acknowledged an executive communication from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu seeking a date to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which proposes a staggering ₦4.237 trillion budget for the fiscal year. The letter, read at plenary by the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, signalled the commencement of legislative work on what will become the state’s next financial plan. A lawmaker who reviewed the proposal described it as “a defining budget for Lagos’ infrastructure and social expansion,” adding that the Assembly would “scrutinise every detail to ensure value for Lagosians.” In a separate development,…

The federal government has vowed to swiftly rescue 25 schoolgirls abducted from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Information Minister Mohammed Idris, in a statement on Monday, condemned the “reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were carrying out their noble duty.” Police said the terrorists, locally referred to as bandits, struck the school around 4 a.m., killing one staff member and abducting 25 students. “Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces a grave threat if corruption and indiscipline are allowed to fester within the judiciary. Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, Tinubu said the integrity of judges remains the nation’s last line of defence against tyranny, instability and loss of public trust. “History has shown that whenever Nigeria faced moments of uncertainty, the judiciary stood firm as the stabilising force of our national life,” the president said. “It is through the courage of judges and their pronouncements that tyranny…

Daud Olatunji The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced the suspended Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, to five years imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually harassing his female students. Justice James Omotosho convicted Ndifon on two out of the four-count charges filed against him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The court handed him two years on the first count and five years on the second, but ordered that the sentences run concurrently. The judgment brings to an end a long-drawn case that had triggered…

A top Nigerian Army officer, Brigadier General M. Uba, has been killed by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) after the terrorists allegedly intercepted and tracked his live location along the Damboa–Biu axis of Borno State, multiple military sources confirmed on Sunday. The senior officer, who commanded the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, was abducted late Friday during a violent ambush that also claimed the lives of soldiers and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force. He was later executed after a brief interrogation in captivity. It was gathered that the attack occurred shortly after General…