Ibadan – A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, George Agbakahi, has said that one-party dominance is not a bad thing.
Agbakahi stated this on Monday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Arise Television.
He said that for the first time since 1999, the APC is truly united, stressing that this is the reason others are defecting to the party.
According to him, “It may not become a one-party state, but it will be a one-party dominant system, and there is nothing wrong with that.
“What you saw in Enugu over the weekend was a profound and resounding endorsement of President Bola Tinubu. The APC gathering that was televised nationally elicited tremendous enthusiasm. There was a great feeling of love and an outpouring of support among APC members in the Southeast.
Disquiet, heavy security as Kano Gov joins APC
There was a tense atmosphere and disquiet in Kano state on Monday, following Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defection was rescheduled to Monday after the January 5 date.
Governor Yusuf won the 2023 election on the platform of the NNPP but decided to join the ruling APC to improve on his development efforts in the state, his aides say.
It was also learnt that Yusuf’s decision stems from the unresolved leadership crises and multiple court cases within the NNPP that could jeopardise his mandate.
Although, there was no official speech from the State Government or formal ceremony heralding the defection, it was clear that the Governor and his administration were no longer of the NNPP platform.
Peter Obi gives ADC new relevance, says Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party is no longer Nigeria’s leading opposition party, pointing to internal divisions as the party’s undoing.
He also singled out former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as a key political figure to watch ahead of the 2027 elections, noting that his defection to the African Democratic Congress has given the party more relevance.
Fayose made the comments in an interview with Arise News while discussing the state of opposition politics, the PDP’s internal struggles, and the rising influence of other political platforms.
On why the PDP has lost its dominant position, Fayose placed the blame on internal weaknesses rather than the ruling All Progressives Congress, Arise News reported on Monday.
Two Rivers lawmakers make u-turn on Fubara’s impeachment plot
The Minority Leader and member representing Omuma state constituency at the Rivers State House of Assembly, Sylvanus Nwankwo and his colleague, Peter Abbey representing the Degema Constituency have retraced their steps in the ongoing plot to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday, the duo urged the State Assembly to reconsider its step.
According to them, the decision followed an appeal from “our elders and leaders”, who begged for leniency.
They said, “Rivers State issued a notice of impeachment on Governor Fubara and his Deputy. We appeal to our fellow colleagues to temper justice with mercy and see how we can solve this matter without the impeachment proceedings.
Rivers political crisis is power fight for 2027 — Olisa Agbakoba
A former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and a human rights activist, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has characterised the political turmoil in Rivers State as a struggle for power ahead of the 2027 elections.
He stated that the conflict between Governor Similayi Fubara and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, exemplifies how the political class is neglecting their core responsibilities.
Instead of focusing on the needs of the people who elected them, they are preoccupied with issues that do not serve the public interest.
Agbakoba, speaking on Channels TV’s Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye, emphasised that only the two main figures involved can truly explain the situation.
He urged both parties to put aside their differences and prioritise governance for the benefit of their constituents.
Former Ekiti Governor, Segun Oni joins APC
A former Governor of Ekiti State, Olusegun Oni, has formally defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as he registered with the party at his Ifaki Ekiti country home on Sunday.
This development came barely 24 hours after the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, revalidated his membership of the party and called on party faithful across the state to embark on aggressive mobilisation drives to fortify the APC at the local level.
Oni became Ekiti governor in 2007 and ruled until 2010 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but was the 2022 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he came second, trailing Governor Oyebanji, who emerged victorious in the poll.
Tinubu absent when Nigeria needs him most — Peter Obi
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of being absent at a time the country needs him the most.
In a statement on X on Monday, Obi questioned the President’s visibility as Nigeria battles deepening poverty, hunger, insecurity, and rising unemployment, noting that the country is projected to have about 140 million people living in extreme poverty by the end of the year, the highest figure globally.
He said Nigeria is grappling with one of the hungriest populations in the world, worsening insecurity, an unemployment crisis affecting over 80 million youths, and alarming infant mortality rates that make the country one of the worst places to be born.
According to him, President Tinubu spent 196 days outside the country in 2025 alone, a period he said exceeded the time the President spent within Nigeria despite the scale of the national crises.
Obi also faulted the President’s silence since December 2025, alleging that Nigerians entered the New Year without a presidential address or national broadcast, while reports suggested the President was on holiday in Europe.
NBS’s December inflation adjustment sparks credibility concerns
The National Bureau of Statistics has said that it would ‘normalise’ Nigeria’s inflation data for December 2025 over a projected spike in last month’s Consumer Price Index.
This was disclosed on Monday during a virtual stakeholders engagement convened by the NBS and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, with the former explaining that the expected spike in inflation is driven by technical base effects linked to the recent rebasing of the inflation series rather than changes in economic fundamentals.
The PUNCH reported that multiple analysts have projected a spike in the headline inflation for December on the back of base effects. Projections ranged from 31.4 to 32.4 per cent year-on-year.
Providing the official position of the Bureau, Statistician General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of NBS, Adeyemi Adeniran, explained that the projected December spike stems from the rebasing of the CPI, which adopted 2024 as the new base year after a 15-year gap from the previous 2009 base.
Olubadan inaugurates probe panel on Onido traditional stool crisis
Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja has inaugurated a 3-man panel on the Onido of Ido traditional stool.
It is reported that three persons are laying claim to the traditional stool.
The development, which is causing ripples among the stakeholders in the area, has necessitated the swift intervention of Ladoja before it snowballed into a major crisis.
The panel inaugurated by Oba Rashidi Ladoja at the Olubadan Palace, Oke -Aremo, Ibada,n has as its members the Osi Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi, Ekerin Balogun, Oba Akeem Mobolaji Adewoyin, and Aare-Ago Balogun, Chief Lateef Adetokunbo Akintola.
Briefing the media on behalf of the Olubadan-in-council at the end of the meeting, Oba Adewoyin said that the panel will be chaired by the Osi Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi while the Ekerin Balogun, the Acting Chairman, Ido Traditional Counci,l will be serving as a member.
Curfew, restriction as Badagry mourns Akran
Badagry, a historic coastal town renowned for its rich cultural heritage, was on Monday enveloped in a sombre and brooding mood following the passage of its 89-year-old monarch, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry.
The revered monarch, who reigned for 48 years, was a towering figure in the history and development of the ancient coastal town.
He was a former journalist before ascending the throne of his forefathers on April 23, 1977.
95 princes, princesses indicate interest in stool of Awujale
A total of 95 princes and princesses of Fusengbuwa Ruling House have indicated interest in the stool of Awujale of Ijebuland.
The Olori Ebi of Fusengbuwa Ruling House who is also Otunba Jadiara, Lateef Owoyemi disclosed this today at the commencement of Nomination Meeting of the held at Bisi Rodipe Hall, GRA , Ijebu Ode.
Other leaders of the Ruling House at the meeting included Deputy Olori Ebi, Otunba Ajidagba, Chairman, Chief Fassy Yusuf among others.
Kogi: Nigeria police foil attack on Obajana town, arrest several suspects
The Nigeria Police Force, NPF, has foiled an attempted attack on the Obajana Operational Base by suspected criminal elements and successfully arrested several suspects.
CSP William Ovye Aya, the Public Relations Officer for the Kogi State Police Command, shared this update in a statement on Monday.
This incident occurs just days after an extensive police operation, supported by the Air Wing of the Nigeria Police, targeted known hotspots and hideouts of bandits throughout Kogi State.
The operation, which yielded considerable results, seemingly provoked criminal factions to retaliate.
In a counteraction, the criminal elements attempted an attack on the Obajana base but were met with a swift and effective response from police operatives, who executed a coordinated counter-assault, neutralizing the attackers.
