Author: Vardiafrica

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the October 31 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the national convention planned by the PDP for Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16. In a unanimous judgment, a three-member panel of the appellate court resolved the four issues for determination against the PDP. The court held that the appeal by the PDP was without merit and that the Federal High Court was right…

A section of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation building in Abuja has gone up in flames. Eyewitnesses report that the fire was first noticed in one part of the structure at approximately 8:20 a.m., with smoke billowing from the affected area. The incident was said to have occurred at Section C of the head of service building, within the Head of Service complex, as staffers in the building were seen moving away from the affected area while emergency responders were alerted to contain the situation. The media department of the Office of the Head of…

US President Donald Trump said Britain was giving “serious thought” to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East, but made clear he did not believe Washington needed British help in the war with Iran. “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” Trump’s remarks came after Britain’s defense ministry…

IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, today decorated eight senior officers elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in a ceremony at Force Headquarters, Abuja. In his address, IGP Disu described the ceremony as more than a symbolic adornment, emphasising that promotion to DIG recognises decades of dedicated service, professional excellence, and leadership capacity. He charged the officers to provide strategic direction, strengthen internal discipline, drive reforms, and ensure policing strategies remain responsive to evolving security challenges. He urged them to leverage their experience in intelligence-led policing, operational coordination, inter-agency collaboration, and accountability while inspiring confidence within…

Iran has named Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader following the k!lling of his father, Ali Khamenei. The decision was announced on Sunday, March 8, by the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible under Iran’s constitution for selecting the country’s supreme leader. In a statement circulated by state media, the Assembly said Mojtaba Khamenei was chosen after what it described as a “decisive vote.” It called on citizens to remain united and support the new leader. The statement urged Iranians, “especially the elites and intellectuals of the seminaries and universities,” to pledge allegiance to the leadership and help preserve national…

Guinea has dissolved 40 political parties, including its three main opposition groups, via a late-night decree, fewer than two months after former junta leader Mamady Doumbouya was sworn in as president. Doumbouya, who has ruled Guinea with an iron fist, was elected in late December in a vote in which all major opposition leaders were barred. Guinea’s minister of territorial administration and decentralisation ordered the dissolution of the parties late on Friday for “failure to fulfil their obligations”. The decree also stripped them of control of their assets. Since coming to power in a 2021 coup Doumbouya has cracked down on civil liberties and…

Inflation in Venezuela surged to about 475 percent in 2025, the highest rate in the world, according to figures released by the country’s central bank. The sharp rise in prices was largely driven by economic pressure linked to tighter sanctions imposed by the United States during the final period of rule by former president Nicolas Maduro. Data published on Friday, March 6, by the Central Bank of Venezuela showed that full-year inflation far exceeded the International Monetary Fund forecast of 269.9 percent. The bank also reported that accumulated inflation during the first two months of 2026 had already reached nearly…

The United States has started using British bases for certain operations against Iran during the Middle East war, the UK government announced on Saturday. Britain’s defence ministry said the US had begun using the military sites for “specific defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles into the region”. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer annoyed US President Donald Trump for initially refusing to have any role in the US-Israeli war with Iran, which started a week ago, on February 28. He later agree to a US request to use two British military bases for a “specific and limited defensive purpose”. Those…

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that his country would never surrender to Israel and the United States, as the war entered its second week. Iran’s enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves,” Pezeshkian said, in a speech broadcast on state TV. Israel and the United States launched strikes against Iran on February, 28 killing the supreme leader Ali Khamenei and triggering a regional conflict. Iran has since responded with missile and drone strikes on Israel and US interests in regional countries, mainly in the Gulf. Pezeshkian is among three…

Dubai’s main airport, a key global transport hub, was forced to briefly close on Saturday, March 7, as Iran launched missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf. The barrage came despite Iran’s president apologizing to neighboring countries for its attacks, saying they would no longer be targeted unless strikes were launched from their territory. Attacks were reported on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, where the national oil company announced a “precautionary” cut to production. The Emirates said it was targeted with 16 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones. One unidentified object was…