The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has defended its anti-defection policy, which mandates candidates to sign legal documents committing to vacate their positions if they defect after winning elections.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, explained that the policy is enshrined in Article 16 of the NDC constitution.

“Any member of our party should have read through our constitution which clearly states in Article 16 that they must give an affidavit to remain in the party once elected,” he said.

The directive applies to candidates contesting governorship, National Assembly, and other elective positions under the NDC platform. According to Director, the measure is designed to strengthen democratic values and discourage political opportunism.

“Politicians are interested in elections, while statesmen are interested in nation building. NDC is a party interested in holistic growth and development of Nigeria. To that extent, we will encourage other parties to adopt this policy, to deepen the tentacles of democracy and the rule of law,” he added.

The party insists that the anti-defection clause will help stabilize Nigeria’s political system by ensuring elected officials remain loyal to the platform on which they secured their mandate.

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Dangote Refinery backed MRS filling station has reduced the pump price of its premium motor spirit, PMS .

A market survey on Friday showed that the petrol retail outlet has adjusted its pump price to N1,241 down from N1,317 per litre – in Abuja and its environs.

This means that the filling station cut its petrol price by N76 per litre, or 5.77 per cent.

The development comes three days after Dangote Refinery reduced its petrol gantry price by N75 per litre after crude oil prices fell to below $80 per barrel.

Meanwhile, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Ranoil, AA Rano, Empire Energy and other filling stations in the nation’s capital have failed to cut their petrol pump prices despite the drop in crude oil prices and Dangote Refinery’s gantry fuel price slash.

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AprokoRepublic Media, Awka.

The Federal High Court sitting in Awka has dismissed a suit challenging both the succession process to the revered Eze Nri throne and the Regency arrangement currently in place in Nri Kingdom.

In Suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/15/2025, instituted by Chief Godwin Uzoegbo and others, the court dismissed the action filed against Chief Chukwudi Nwokoye, Prince Ikenna Onyesoh and other defendants, thereby bringing an end to the legal challenge surrounding the Eze Nri stool and the Regency of the kingdom.

The judgment effectively removes all legal obstacles that had been placed before the emergence and ascension process of the Eze Nri-elect. The ruling also affirmed that Prince Ikenna Onyesoh (Idebuteaku) remains the duly recognized Regent of Nri Kingdom, with his status and authority remaining intact and unaffected by the litigation.

According to the court’s decision, the Regent shall continue to exercise the powers and responsibilities of the Regency in accordance with the customs, traditions and applicable laws of Nri Kingdom pending the lawful emergence, selection and coronation of a substantive Eze Nri.

The case, which was reportedly initiated by Chief Godwin Uzoegbo on behalf of Akamkpisi interests against the Agukwu Nri section of the community, sought to challenge aspects of the traditional succession and Regency arrangements. However, the court found no basis to sustain the action and consequently dismissed it.

The ruling has been widely interpreted as a significant development in the resolution of the dispute surrounding the Eze Nri institution. It also reinforces the continuity and legitimacy of the Regency structure while preserving the traditional processes governing the selection and installation of the Eze Nri.

Community stakeholders and residents have welcomed the judgment, expressing hope that the decision will promote unity, peace and progress within the ancient Kingdom of Nri.

With the legal challenge now dismissed, attention is expected to shift toward the customary and traditional processes leading to the emergence and eventual coronation of Chief Chukwudi Nwokoye as the new Eze Nri elect in accordance with established Nri customs and traditions.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed separatist group, has announced the suspension of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from holding office as Leader of IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra.

The decision followed a full-house meeting of the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS) on Wednesday, where intelligence reports regarding Kanu’s communications from Sokoto prison were reviewed.

In a statement signed by Mazi Chikadibia Edoziem, Head of the Directorate of State, IPOB declared that the DOS will now oversee the organisation’s affairs.

The leadership emphasized that IPOB was “formed and nurtured by a group of Biafrans in the Diaspora, not by any singular individual,” stressing that no one has the authority to dissolve the DOS, which remains the apex leadership structure.

According to the statement, the suspension was necessary to prevent “unchecked actions, reckless assumption of authority and unguarded utterances” that have allegedly led to arrests, torture, and deaths of IPOB members in Biafraland.

The group also raised concerns about monitored prison communications and alleged plots to establish a new militia that could trigger violence in the region.

The development came shortly after reports that Kanu had dissolved the Edoziem-led DOS and inaugurated a new administration, appointing US-based Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ as Head of the Directorate.

IPOB clarified that any criminal activity carried out under the suspended office will no longer be attributed to the organisation.

The DOS, originally established by Kanu in 2012, has previously been led by Dr. Justin Akujieze (United States), Mazi Uchenna Asiegbu (Spain), and Chika Edoziem (Switzerland), who assumed leadership in 2017 during Kanu’s earlier detention.

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Mahmood Yakubu, former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has formally taken up his new assignment as Nigeria’s Ambassador to the State of Qatar.

Yakubu arrived in Doha on June 19, 2026, where he was warmly received by officials of the Qatari government and members of the African diplomatic community.

At Hamad International Airport, he was welcomed by Ambassador Ibrahim Abdullah Fakhro, Director of the Protocol Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A delegation of 13 African ambassadors resident in Doha also joined the reception, led by Ambassador Thierno Sow of Guinea, who currently serves as President of the Bureau of the African Group of Ambassadors to Qatar.

Among the dignitaries present were Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and Michael Ihekwaba, President of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation in Qatar.

Yakubu exchanged pleasantries with several diplomats, including Mali’s Ambassador Dedeou Sidibe, Senegal’s Ambassador Cheikh Tidiane Sall, and Tanzania’s Ambassador Habibu Mohammed.

Following the airport ceremony, Yakubu proceeded to the Nigerian Embassy in Doha, where he met with officials and staff to begin his diplomatic duties.

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A 23-year-old nursing student, Chiamaka Chilaka, has been found dead in her apartment in Uruezeani, Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State

Chiamaka, an ND II student at the College of Nursing Sciences, Alor, and a native of Isingu in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, was discovered lifeless on Sunday after a church service.

A viral video on social media showed a cleric wailing uncontrollably, lamenting her death and repeatedly shouting “My daughter, my daughter.”

Social media reports alleged that the deceased had rejected repeated unwanted advances from her landlord and was last seen having an altercation with him.

Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Police Command spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the landlord has been arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation.

Ikenga stated that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, ordered a full-scale investigation after the case was transferred from the Nnobi Divisional Police Headquarters to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka.

Police operatives who visited the scene observed visible injuries on the deceased, including a deep cut on her thigh, other marks of violence, and blood stains, suggesting possible foul play.

The body has been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy. The police assured the public that a thorough investigation is underway and anyone found culpable will be brought to justice.

They also urged anyone with useful information to come forward.

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The federal government will launch FreeTV, a national digital television platform, on June 17 as part of efforts to expand access to
digital broadcasting across the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, the government said the platform would provide Nigerians with free access to more than 100 national, regional
and state television channels without monthly subscription charges.

According to the federal government, the initiative is part of Nigeria’s Digital Switch-Over (DSO) programme and aligns with “President
Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digital inclusion, job creation and access to opportunities”.

FreeTV will offer a range of programming, including news, sports, movies, music, children’s content, educational programmes, and
dedicated Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo language channels.

The service will be accessible through satellite and terrestrial transmission, as well as the FreeTV mobile application, enabling
users in urban and rural communities to access digital television services.

The government said Nigerians would not need to purchase new television sets to access the platform, provided they have compatible DVB-T2 or DVB-S2 decoders.

Households already using compatible free-to-air decoders may not need additional equipment.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Charles Ebuebu, director-general of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), said the platform would improve access to digital content while creating opportunities for local creatives and media professionals.

“FreeTV speaks directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope towards expanding access, creating opportunity and
ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, can benefit from the digital economy,” Ebuebu said.

“With FreeTV, families across Nigeria can enjoy quality digital television without a monthly subscription, while our local content producers, technicians and young creatives gain new platforms and new jobs.”

The NBC said the platform would also support Nigeria’s creative economy through regional production studios in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Benin.

The studios are expected to create opportunities for content creators, editors, camera operators, sound engineers, technicians and other
professionals within the broadcast value chain.

The commission added that Nigeria’s final analogue switch-off remains scheduled for December 31, 2028, and encouraged citizens to
confirm decoder compatibility and download the FreeTV mobile application ahead of the rollout.

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Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has responded to reports alleging that he is shielding the convicted
leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

In an interview with Nevon News hosted by Rufai Oseni, the former Anambra Governor said he openly criticises every wrong done in Nigeria,
including the South East.

During the interview, Rufai told Obi that his critics are alleging that he does not criticise Kanu

Rufai said, ” Your critics allege that you don’t come out openly to criticise whatever is done wrong by Nnamdi Kanu because he is from
your place.”

But Obi responded saying, “that is nonsense, absolute nonsense. They don’t follow me because if you follow me, I criticise whatever
things that are wrong, whether in the East, North, or anywhere.

“But in criticising it, I keep saying that we should look at it holistically”.

On whether Nnamdi Kanu has done anything wrong to deserve his sentencing, Obi said “Nobody is perfect.”

According to him, “we all have the wrong side of us but I’m saying that in building the future, we use the experiences of things we didn’t
do well to do it better.

“Every human being has done wrong things in the past, whether it is Nnamdi Kanu, Sunday Igboho or Peter Obi, we have all done
something wrong.”

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An Imo North senatorial aspirant, Isaac Nwachukwu, has dragged the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court in Owerri, seeking to be declared the party’s authentic candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Nwachukwu, in a suit filed on Wednesday through his counsel, Cajethan J. Oguzie, accused the NDC of unlawfully substituting his name with another aspirant despite his emergence as the consensus candidate and substantial financial contributions to the party.

According to court documents, Nwachukwu paid ₦25 million to the NDC ₦20 million as party support and ₦5 million for the nomination/expression of interest form for the Imo North Senatorial District ticket.

He claimed that after being screened, cleared, and ratified as the consensus candidate, his name was inexplicably replaced.

Key reliefs sought by the plaintiff include:

A declaration that he is the rightful consensus candidate of the NDC for the Imo North Senatorial Zone ahead of the 2027 election.

An order restraining the NDC from fielding any other candidate for the zone.

A perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognising or accepting the candidacy of any other person except Nwachukwu for the position.

In an affidavit in support of the originating summons, Nwachukwu alleged irregularities in the handling of funds, claiming that his ₦20 million contribution was wrongly allocated to another aspirant, Matthew Omegara, while Omegara’s payment was credited to him.

He stated that he participated fully in the party’s screening exercise and was declared the winner of the primary process before the substitution occurred.

The aspirant further claimed that he was invited to a meeting by the NDC’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, where he was informed that some Imo State party leaders considered him not popular enough to fly the party’s flag.

When contacted, the NDC’s Imo State spokesperson, Dr Charles Akano, said he needed authorisation from party leaders before commenting on the matter. He later stated that he had not yet received approval to speak on the issue.

The case is seen as one of the early legal tussles within the relatively new NDC as opposition parties position themselves for the 2027 polls. The court is yet to fix a hearing date.

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