Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reaffirmed his support for presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He said his former deputy, though not a messiah, was far better than President Muhammadu Buhari, Punch Newspaper reports. Mr Obasanjo reportedly made this statement during an interview with the BBC Pidgin where he also explained why…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attacked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, saying that he (the Vice President) has displayed executive recklessness and abuse of office. He made the statement in an open letter titled “Point for Concern and Action” which he distributed to journalists at a press conference held at his…

The year 2018 could be described as one drama-filled one in the Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Senate President Bukola Saraki. In as much as he at times tried to evade controversies in 2018, the official fought major battles that tested his political strength. Several controversies trailed the lawmaker…

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has vowed to deport foreign nationals who intend to disguise as tourists to illegally observe next month’s general elections in Nigeria. According to a report by Vanguard newspaper, the Controller-General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede, said this during his first quarterly forum with Command Comptrollers and…

The Senate has constituted a six-member conference committee to review the condition of service for national assembly staff members. The deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, announced the membership of the committee at the start of plenary on Thursday. The committee is to be chaired by Emmanuel Paulker, with Binta Masi…

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has declined assent to five bills passed by the lawmakers. The bills are Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Amendment Bill (RMAFC), 2018; Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill, 2018 and Federal Polytechnic Amendment Bill, 2018. Others are Maritime Security Operations Coordinating Board Amendment Bills 2018 and Energy…

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated a retired major general, Paul Tarfa, as the chairman of the North-East Development Commission for confirmation by the senate. He also nominated Mohammed Alkali as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission and nine others as members of the board of the…

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations has appealed to the Senate to hasten the passage of the National Commission for the Prohibition of Illegal Importation of Small Arms, Ammunitions and Light Weapons Establishment Bill. In a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, the groups said the passage of the bill…

The National Assembly office of a senator, Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central) in Abuja, was burgled on Thursday, with some items carted away. Mrs Tinubu's husband, Bola Tinubu, is a leader of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu. A statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES by her legislative aide,…

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to allegations that his ruling All Progressives Congress protects corrupt politicians once they join the party. The president said he would not spare anyone if there were evidence proving wrongdoing. Allegations of lopsided corruption war have dogged the administration, with critics saying the Economic and…

Aminu Shagari, the son of former Nigerian President, Shehu Shagari, has revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari disappointed him and his family before and after the death of his father. He made the revelation in an interview with Punch Newspaper. He said although his late father "forgave his offenders, he never…

Anne Obidike was somewhat shy talking about her menstrual hygiene management with PREMIUM TIMES. When she finally agreed to, she confessed that she could count the number of times she used sanitary products since she started menstruating. "I don't even worry about getting money to buy pads. How many will…

The year 2018 ended on a rather subtle note with little noise from politicians, and the first week of the new year was no different. While political watchers anticipate a kick-off of major political events such as campaigns, other stories dominated the political world in the past week. Below are…

Majority of Nigerians who partook in a PREMIUM TIMES' opinion poll picked Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the best candidate during the December 14 vice presidential candidates debate. He was one of the five politicians available as options for participants in the poll. Mr Osinbajo, who represented the All Progressives…

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of a former President of Nigeria, Shehu Shagari. Mr Shagari, 93, died Friday evening at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness. The death of the elder statesman was announced by his grandson, Bello Shagari, via his Twitter handle. In…

Adnan Mukhtar, 26, is the candidate of the United People Congress (UPC) for a seat in the Kano State House of Assembly where he hopes to represent Nasarawa Constituency. He is an activist who dedicated most of his university days to students’ politics. He is also a former member of…

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki,, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take full and direct control of the incessant killings in Zamfara State. Mr Saraki is one of the many government officials who have reacted to the numerous reports of killings emanating from the state, which he described as…

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has described the re-arrest and detention of an activist, Deji Adeyanju, as political rather than judicial in nature. Mr Saraki called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct his immediate release. His call for Mr Adeyanju’s release is to ensure that his fundamental human rights are not continuously…

The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has said the call by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for Yorubas to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 so as to have a shot at the presidency in 2023 is a wake-up call for the Igbos. He made the statement…

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has described the 2019 budget proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari as "fundamentally flawed." In an article sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his office, Mr Abubakar said the budget proposal "deliberately ignores and fails to address current realities." PREMIUM TIMES…

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Heineken Lokpobiri, has blamed rice smuggling in Nigeria on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free trade. He said the nation’s fight against the smuggling of foreign rice into the country is being hampered by Nigeria's neighbours,…

The Senate has called on the federal government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh. Mr Badeh, a former Air Chief Marshal, was shot dead Tuesday  by unknown persons he returned from his farm along the Keffi-Jos Road, near Abuja. Details of the attack are still…

The Senate has reviewed and approved N22.2 billion (22,254,062,330.08) as a refund to Taraba State for projects executed on behalf of the federal government. The lawmakers had initially approved N34.3 billion for Taraba on December 5. The new approval comes barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari accused the National Assembly of inflating…

Over one year after the Executive nominated new heads for the anti-graft agency, ICPC, the Senate has finally confirmed the nomineees. On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Bolaji Owasanoye (Osun, South-West), a law professor, as the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC). It also confirmed…

The parliament witnessed a rowdy session on Wednesday when President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly. Lawmakers from different political divides booed and cheered the president as he explained the budget details. Few minutes before noon, Mr Buhari arrived at the National Assembly to present…