Category: PM News

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Joash Amupitan has urged staff of the Commission to remain committed to credible and transparent electoral processes ahead of the Ekiti and Osun off cycle governorship elections and the 2027 general election nationwide.

Amuptan said this in his 2026 International Workers’ Day message to staff in Abuja on Friday, titled “The Dignity of Service.”

The INEC boss described the commission’s 14,000 employees as the silent engine driving Nigeria’s democracy forward while urging them to uphold the highest professionalism ahead of the critical electoral milestones across the country in coming months.

Amupitan told the staff that the nation’s stability rests on the dedication of electoral workers, praising their administrative excellence during the recently concluded Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections held earlier this year.

“That success was not a product of chance; it was the result of your collective sweat, late-night strategy sessions, and an unyielding commitment to excellence,” he said.

The chairman noted that despite recent achievements, electoral work demands constant preparation, particularly ahead of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and implementation of the 2027 roadmap.

“I charge you to remain the reliable professionals the nation expects. Our task is more than logistical; it is a labour of trust built on integrity and accountability,” Amupitan said.

“Every ballot processed and every result transmitted is a testament to the integrity of the Nigerian worker,” he added, urging staff to remain committed to credible and transparent electoral processes nationwide.

Amupitan reaffirmed commitment to transforming INEC into a workplace of the future, prioritising staff welfare and digital empowerment, while ensuring systems supported efficient and transparent election management across all levels.

He pledged that merit would remain the only currency for career advancement, ensuring all staff were equipped and motivated to meet evolving demands of modern election administration in Nigeria.

The INEC boss urged staff to use the May Day holiday for reflection and strengthening solidarity, emphasising unity and shared purpose in delivering credible elections that inspired public confidence nationwide.

“We are one team, bound by one mission: to deliver an electoral process beyond reproach. Your labour shall not be in vain,” he said, linking credible elections to national prosperity.

(NAN)

By Mohammad Tijjani

The Commander, Infantry Corps of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, says the medical outreach organised for residents of Birnin Yero community in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State is part of efforts to strengthen civil-military relations and give back to neighbouring communities.

Mutkut stated this on Saturday during the Nigerian Army Medical Outreach held in commemoration of the 2026 Combat Arms Training Week.

He said the outreach was jointly organised by the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre and the Corps of Armour as part of activities lined up for the training week.

According to him, Birnin Yero shares close proximity with the Jaji Military Cantonment, making peaceful coexistence and mutual support necessary.

“We sincerely thank God for the opportunity to reach out to our immediate neighbours in Birnin Yero. From Birnin Yero to Jaji is not far, and we are connected in many ways.

“Our families come here regularly for one thing or the other, so there is a need for us to also give back to this wonderful community,” he said.

Mutkut explained that the medical outreach was not intended as a permanent solution to all health challenges but a gesture of goodwill and neighbourliness.

He added that the programme also demonstrated the strong civil-military cooperation existing between the Nigerian Army and the people of the area.

He said ailments targeted during the outreach included malaria, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sore throat, eye infections, ear, nose and throat conditions, as well as refractive eye defects requiring glasses.

The commander added that free investigations such as blood sugar tests, hepatitis B and C screening, and malaria parasite tests were also conducted for residents.

Speaking, the Village Head of Birnin Yero, Alhaji Aburajab Usman, commended the Nigerian Army for organising the outreach and for its continued support to the community.

Usman said the Army has remained helpful not only in providing security but also in delivering medical assistance and other humanitarian services to residents.

Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Umar Abbas, said the programme had changed the perception of many residents about the Nigerian Army.

According to him, many people previously feared soldiers whenever they saw them, but the outreach had shown that the Army was friendly and close to the people.

Abbas expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting that it had strengthened trust and improved relations between the military and civilians in the community.

He added that residents now better understood that soldiers and their families were part of everyday community life through regular social and economic interactions.

(NAN)

The ancient city of Ile-Ife came alive on Saturday as prominent Nigerians converged for the installation of Mrs. Olufunsho Amosun as the Yeye Moremi Oodua, in a ceremony that underscored the enduring significance of Yoruba cultural heritage.

The installation, performed by the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, took place at Afenworo Square, opposite the monarch’s palace, and coincided with the 60th birthday of the philanthropist and founder of the Uplift Development Foundation.

Dignitaries from across political, traditional and business circles attended the colourful ceremony, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Bola Obasanjo.

Speaking at the event, Obasanjo described the Yeye Moremi title as one of the most revered honours in Yorubaland, symbolising courage, sacrifice and service to humanity.

He commended the Ooni for preserving Yoruba cultural heritage and fostering unity across the country.

In her acceptance speech, the newly installed Yeye Moremi expressed gratitude to God and the Ooni, describing the honour as both humbling and a call to greater responsibility.

She pledged to uphold the legacy of the legendary Moremi Ajasoro, noting that the title demands service marked by humility, integrity and compassion.

“This title is not merely ceremonial; it is a call to serve God and humanity,” she said, adding that she would strive to justify the confidence reposed in her.

Also speaking, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde stressed the importance of unity among Yoruba leaders, noting that the gathering reflected a collective commitment to the progress of the region beyond political affiliations.

“This is Yorubaland and there is no political party here today. What we are seeing is unity in the interest of the Yoruba nation,” Makinde said.

In his remarks, the Ooni congratulated Mrs. Amosun, describing her as a compassionate and selfless individual whose life reflects the virtues of Moremi. He urged her to continue promoting cultural values and impacting lives positively.

The monarch also used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting traditional institutions and cultural preservation in Nigeria.

The event attracted an array of high-profile personalities, including former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; and other political leaders, lawmakers, traditional rulers and business figures.

Traditional rulers such as the Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo were also in attendance, alongside members of the royal household, adding colour and cultural splendour to what observers described as a historic and unifying event for the Yoruba nation.

The governor made the appeal during a funeral thanksgiving service held in honour of the late monarch at Among those in attendance were Deputy Governor Sanwo-Olu described the late monarch as a steady and principled leader whose reign brought decades of peace and stability to the ancient coastal town. He noted that the Akran’s palace remained a place of openness and justice, where leadership was guided by wisdom and restraint.

He urged the people not to allow grief overshadow the monarch’s achievements, but to honour him by sustaining the values he upheld–preserving cultural monuments, promoting traditions, and strengthening the identity of the Badagry Kingdom.

Following the service, the governor performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I Cultural Park, a project aimed at immortalising the late monarch and boosting cultural tourism in the area.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the late Akran’s nearly nine-decade life and 48-year reign, described as the longest in Lagos’ modern traditional history, were defined by service, humility and unwavering commitment to his people.

He added that the monarch played a pivotal role in safeguarding Badagry’s historical heritage, promoting its festivals, and ensuring that its cultural identity remained intact amid rapid modernisation.

In his sermon, the Prelate Emeritus of Makinde also commended the Lagos State Government for ongoing infrastructure projects, including the Blue and Red Line rail systems and the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, urging continued support for the proposed Badagry-Sokoto Expressway.

He charged attendees to reflect on the transient nature of life and to live purposefully, noting that individual actions ultimately shape one’s legacy.

The UN has voiced concerns over what it termed the growing attacks on journalists, warning that attacks on media workers must stop.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, stated this in a message ahead of World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3.

Worldwide, roughly 330 media workers are currently detained along with some 500 citizen journalists and human rights bloggers, according to UN reports.

Similarly, laws on defamation, disinformation, cybercrime, and terrorism are increasingly being used to protect the powerful, while costly legal cases are being used to intimidate and silence journalists.

Turk said practically, no country offers a safe environment in which to be a journalist.

“When attacks on the media are normalised, freedom itself begins to decay, and with it, the foundations of peace, security, and sustainable development,” he warned.

The High Commissioner paid tribute to the courageous reporters and photographers across the world “who document horrific atrocities, expose corruption, and scrutinize business operations.”

He noted, however, that “journalism today has become an insecure and, at times, dangerous profession”.

He regretted that media workers have been “bombed in their cars, abducted from their offices, silenced behind bars, and dismissed from their jobs.”

No fewer than 14 journalists have been killed since January and only around a tenth of killings in the past two decades has led to full accountability.

According to him, covering armed conflict poses the highest risk adding, Israel’s war in Gaza has become a death trap for the media.

“My Office has verified the killing of nearly 300 journalists since October 2023, with many more injured,” he said.

Turk said that local reporters who are covering wars, such as the journalists he met in Sudan “had faced extreme violence, brutality, and even famine”.

According to him, journalists face hostile environments while trying to continue their essential work.

Turk warned that “virtually no country is truly safe for those who speak truth to power.”

The High Commissioner pointed to his recent visit to Mexico, where reporting on corruption, environmental harm or organized crime has exposed journalists, their sources and even their families to grave risks.

“I am deeply concerned that media workers are the primary targets of growing transnational repression and surveillance most recently seen in attacks against Iranian journalists abroad,” he said.

The UN rights chief voiced concern over online harassment and bullying, which disproportionately affects women journalists, three-quarters of whom have suffered abuse such as smear campaigns and threats of sexual violence.

Such attacks “risk creating a disinformation society, in which the media is forced to obscure facts and deny science to operate in safety.”

He also appealed for tech companies to take meaningful action against online abuse and disinformation, and underlined the importance of maintaining independence, transparency, and integrity within media institutions.

In his message for the Day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed that “recent years have seen a sharp rise in the number of journalists killed, often deliberately targeted, in war zones.”

The UN chief noted a popular saying that truth is the first casualty in war.

“Far too frequently, the first casualties are the journalists who risk everything to report that truth not only in war, but wherever those in power fear scrutiny.”

Guterres regretted that press freedom is also under “unprecedented strain” due to “economic pressures, new technologies, and active manipulation”.

The UN scribe urged governments to prevent attacks against media workers, protect them from surveillance, including when working abroad, investigate violations and ensure accountability. (NAN)

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has rejected suggestions that the church has any political affiliation, saying it remains strictly a place of worship for all Nigerians.

He made the clarification during the May edition of the church’s Holy Ghost Service, themed “Excellent Counsel”, where he responded to public perceptions linking the RCCG with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adeboye said such assumptions overlook the diverse political representation within the church.

“Some people are saying RCCG is an APC church. I just smile. In RCCG, you will find a governor from the Peoples Democratic Party sitting down with a governor from the Labour Party, APC, and APGA. By the special help of God, we are representative of the whole nation, and that is what we will continue to be,” he said.

He stressed that the pulpit is not used for political expression, regardless of the status of worshippers present.

According to him, church activities are focused on prayer and worship rather than political engagement or announcements.

“If you saw one governor among us today dancing and you were expecting he would be called forward to say something, we don’t do that. But if you come to worship with us, you are welcome. Our duty is to pray for everybody,” he added.

The cleric also commented on Nigeria’s political future, particularly the 2027 general election, stating that ultimate outcomes are already known in the divine order.

“The one that will rule has been decided by God before we were born. He knows the end from the beginning,” he said, urging citizens to remain prayerful while fulfilling their responsibilities.

Adeboye further addressed his participation in past civic protests, explaining that his involvement was based on directives from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“That was because the then chairman of CAN asked all Christians to go out for a peaceful protest. If he talks tomorrow and asks me to march, I will,” he said.

He emphasised that his public actions are guided by the umbrella Christian body on national issues affecting believers.

On his role within the wider Christian community, Adeboye also clarified that he does not assume a national spiritual leadership title.

“I don’t want to be the father of all Christians in Nigeria. I am certified as being the father of RCCG, and that is enough assignment for me,” he said.

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued six abducted civilians in Borno State, in what authorities are describing as another breakthrough in the ongoing war against insurgency in the North-East.

The victims, mostly women and children, were freed during an operation by troops of Operation HADIN KAI in Ngoshe community, Gwoza Local Government Area.

According to a statement by the Joint Task Force spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, the rescue took place in the early hours of May 1 around Amuda — a deserted corridor between Ngoshe and Gava notorious for terrorist activities.

The army said the victims were intercepted while troops were returning from an overnight offensive targeting insurgent hideouts in the Mandara Mountains.

Preliminary findings revealed that the victims had been abducted during the March 3 attack on Ngoshe and were held captive in Gava before managing to escape.

However, their freedom did not come easily.Troops reportedly came under sporadic gunfire from fleeing terrorists attempting to recapture the victims.

“The troops responded decisively, engaging the terrorists in a brief exchange of fire, forcing them to withdraw into the mountainous terrain,” the statement said.Following the encounter, the rescued civilians were given immediate medical attention at a military facility before being reunited with their families the same day.

The military added that the operation forms part of intensified offensives that have significantly weakened terrorist networks in the region, with intelligence reports pointing to growing disarray within insurgent ranks.

Authorities insist the pressure will not be eased, vowing sustained operations to rescue more captives, secure communities, and eliminate remaining terrorist elements across the North-East.The latest rescue underscores the fragile security situation in Borno, even as military authorities push a narrative of steady gains against insurgents who continue to launch attacks and abductions in vulnerable communities.

Organised labour in Lagos State has declared support for the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as he prepares for a possible governorship bid in 2027.

The endorsement came from the Lagos leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who jointly threw their weight behind his ambition during activities marking the 2026 World Labour Day at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Friday.

The NLC Chairperson in the state, Agnes Funmi Sessi, alongside the TUC leader, Abiodun Aladetan, led the declaration, which signals increasing backing for Hamzat from labour circles within the state.

Their position adds to a growing list of political and institutional endorsements already shaping the early conversation around succession politics in Lagos.

Within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), key figures including the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have previously indicated support for Hamzat as a preferred successor. The governor has framed the move as part of a broader agreement aimed at ensuring continuity in governance and sustained development across the state.

Additional support has also been recorded from the APC state leadership, led by Cornelius Ojelabi, as well as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa. Various groups, including the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), have also publicly aligned with the deputy governor’s aspiration.

This is not the first time labour unions in Lagos are aligning with the Sanwo-Olu-Hamzat political partnership. During the 2023 governorship election cycle, both the NLC and TUC had backed the joint ticket, which eventually secured a second term in office.

Responding to the latest wave of endorsements, Hamzat expressed appreciation to his supporters and reiterated his commitment to consolidating ongoing projects in Lagos State. He also pledged to pursue governance anchored on continuity, inclusiveness and accountability.

Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has rejected his defeat to skit maker Carter Efe, claiming the fight was manipulated against him.

Portable, who spoke in an emotional Instagram Live session shortly after the bout, alleged bias and accused organisers of foul play.

“I was robbed. Carter Efe was not professional enough. He was strangling with his long hands and height. I threw him many punches, why didn’t you people count them? Any blow that I threw to him ought to count even if it meets him on the shoulder or hand. And to the organisers, I want my stream money amounting to about N200 million. Just give me my money before I cause trouble,” he said.

The visibly upset singer went further, lashing out at both the organisers and spectators.

“They did ojoro for me. All of you are mad. Carter Efe was just holding my neck. I was punching him too but you people are not talking about that. They knew he is tall and has long hands but still put him in a boxing match with me.”

Despite his anger, Portable appeared to shift focus to his personal life, saying the loss means little compared to his growing family.

“You can only buy a belt with money, but a child cannot be bought. You people cheated. They can’t pay the money amounting to the sum of N23 billion. I thought I was going to dance with my belt but I ended up with my new baby.

“My wife just gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. I value that more than a belt. You can buy the belt but not my child.”

The drama followed his defeat at the Chaos in the Ring 4 event held in Lagos, where Carter Efe was declared winner by unanimous decision.

All three judges scored the contest 2730 in favour of the comedian, ending Portable’s reign as celebrity boxing champion.

Before the fight, Portable had boasted of extending his dominance in the ring after previous wins over Charles Okocha and Speed Darlington.

“I will use you to collect my third belt,” he had declared confidently.But Carter Efe fired back: “One punch and you fall.”

Inside the ring, that confidence paid off, as the skit maker used his height and reach advantage to dominate proceedings, landing cleaner punches and controlling the pace across three rounds.

The victory crowns Carter Efe as the new celebrity boxing champion.

The In a statement issued on Saturday by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, According to the Army, preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation into a possible breach of the Armed Forces’ Social Media Policy revealed that the soldiers engaged Chidiebere in discussions covering a wide range of issues, including matters considered sensitive within the military.

The statement alleged that some of the exchanges suggested attempts to incite dissatisfaction within the ranks, including conversations described as bordering on subversion.

“It is important to state that a situation where civilians cultivate vulnerable personnel towards acts of subversion has far-reaching implications on discipline and national security,” the Army said.

The military confirmed that Chidiebere was apprehended alongside the soldiers involved in the discussions as part of the investigation.

The Army said while the soldiers remain in military custody, the influencer has since been handed over to civil authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Army maintained that its actions were in line with established procedures and emphasised its commitment to upholding discipline within its ranks, as well as safeguarding national security.