Author: Vardiafrica

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated its website, listing David Mark as the national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary following the judgement of the supreme court. The development, spotted on Thursday evening, reverses INEC’s earlier decision in early April to remove the Mark-led executive from its portal, citing the ruling of an appeal court on the leadership crisis in the ADC. The Mark-led faction of the ADC and Nafiu Bala, a former national vice-chairman of the party, have been laying claim to its leadership. However, earlier today, the supreme court…

The National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the adoption of 112 as the National Emergency Number at all levels and across relevant agencies as part of measures to strengthen Nigeria’s emergency lifeline and build a unified and coordinated national response to emergencies. Council also approved the establishment of a multi-agency implementation committee and programme coordination led by the Office of the Vice President and National Communications Commission (NCC). The approval was part of decisions taken against the 157th meeting of NEC held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The Vice President said the 112 emergency lifeline had become…

The Supreme Court has set aside an earlier directive mandating the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to maintain the status quo ante bellum in its ongoing leadership dispute, ruling that the order was improperly issued. In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, the apex court held that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal exceeded its jurisdiction by issuing the directive after it had already dismissed the substantive appeal before it. The court described the action as “unnecessary, unwarranted, and improper,” emphasizing that such an order could not validly arise from a…

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have declared an indefinite strike, beginning from May 1, over stalled negotiations with the Federal Government. According to a letter dated April 30 from NASU general secretary and SSANU president, Mohammed Ibrahim, the unions said the industrial action will start at midnight. “With the agreement not concluded as of April 30, 2026, and with no new offer, the strike action shall commence by 12:00 am on May 1, 2026,” they said in the letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji…

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe as the Minister of Power.  Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate. “The nomination has been transmitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation in accordance with the Constitution,” the statement read in part. Tegbe’s nomination comes after the resignation of Adebayo Adelabu, who stepped aside to pursue his governorship bid in Oyo State ahead of the 2027 election. Like his predecessor, Tegbe is also from Oyo State. He is a fiscal and economic reform expert with over 35…

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Delivering the majority judgment on Thursday, Justice Stephen held that the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, last year, was in defiance of an existing judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice James Omotosho The apex court berated the Turaki-led group for going on to another court of coordinate jurisdiction to secure an order, instead of going on appeal It described the move as an abuse of court process. The majority…

King Charles has said that he “won’t see the long-distant future”. He made this statement while delivering a speech in the presence of A-listers in New York during the latest stop of his state visit to the US. The King, who has bravely battled cancer after a diagnosis in 2024, was speaking at a “Greater Together” event in New York. Celebrities were in attendance at the event, including Lionel Richie, Anna Wintour, Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren, Katherine Jenkins, model Iman, and Donatella Versace joined at auction house Christie’s in New York. The party was held to showcase UK’s cultural importance across the States – in…

The NNPC Gas Infrastructure Company (NGIC), a wholly owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, has successfully completed the River Niger Crossing of the 130-kilometre Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Gas Pipeline, marking a major milestone in the expansion of Nigeria’s national gas transmission network. The successful crossing unlocks the full potential of the OB3 Pipeline, a strategic infrastructure designed to transport up to 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, significantly strengthening energy availability, enhancing supply reliability, and accelerating national economic development. Executed approximately two kilometres beneath the River Niger riverbed, the technically complex crossing was delivered by the NNPC project team…

President Tinubu sacks Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and appoints Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement. Before his appointment, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar served as the Group Sales and Marketing Director of Dangote Cement Plc He has over 20 years of experience in senior and executive functions within the downstream Petroleum and Cement manufacturing sectors with a focus on transformational leadership. Rabiu started his career in Oando Plc and rapidly rose to hold different management roles within the marketing business and led the Sales and Marketing Transformation plan successfully. In…

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections. Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation. “Until his nomination, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. “Enikanolaiye is a distinguished diplomat and…