Abuja – Nigeria,

A recent court judgment nullifying the recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has triggered widespread debate over the role of the judiciary in Nigeria’s democratic process.

In a commentary titled “Judicial Rascality Taken Too Far? Reflections on the NDC Judgment,” former NDC aspirant for Onitsha South Constituency I, Hon. Nkemakonam Jideofor Nwonwu, argued that while courts have the constitutional duty to uphold the law, judicial decisions should not inadvertently restrict democratic participation.

The court reportedly ruled that the earlier recognition of the NDC was constitutionally flawed because all necessary parties were not joined in the proceedings, necessitating a fresh hearing. Although this is a recognized legal principle, the judgment has raised concerns among observers about its timing and its potential impact on the country’s political landscape.

Nwonwu stressed that justice must not only be legally sound but also inspire public confidence. He warned that frequent judicial interventions in political matters, particularly close to electoral processes, could weaken public trust in democratic institutions.

He further maintained that democracy is best strengthened through the ballot box rather than prolonged courtroom battles, urging that political parties meeting constitutional requirements should not be excluded over procedural issues.

The NDC has already indicated its intention to appeal the judgment, meaning the legal battle is far from over. As the case progresses, stakeholders continue to call for a judiciary that remains independent, impartial, and committed to reinforcing public confidence in the rule of law.

The development has once again brought renewed attention to the delicate balance between legal procedure and the preservation of democratic choice in Nigeria.

Hon. Nke Akonam OLMAN congratulatory message to His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi on His emergence as NDC Presidential candidate

The Federal Government has resumed the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, with another flight scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Tuesday amid rising fears of xenophobic attacks.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday, June 29, 2026, and is expected to bring back another batch of willing returnees.

“The return flight is scheduled to depart South Africa at 12:00 midnight and is expected to arrive at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning,” Ebienfa stated.

The evacuation forms part of the voluntary repatriation programme approved by President Bola Tinubu to ensure the safety of Nigerians ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests starting June 30.

Earlier batches saw 328 Nigerians evacuated, with 262 returning on June 11 and 66 on June 25. The government has approved additional flights to accommodate all registered individuals wishing to return home.

Ebienfa urged Nigerians remaining in South Africa to exercise caution, avoid protest areas, and stay in contact with the Nigerian High Commission for updates.

The move comes as concerns grow over potential violence targeting foreigners, with reports indicating that bureaucratic delays had previously left many stranded despite presidential approval for funding.

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A group of senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have reportedly surrendered to Nigerian troops in Borno State amid intensified military operations

According to counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama, the commanders abandoned their strongholds following weeks of sustained offensives, precision air strikes, and intelligence-led operations that have significantly weakened the group.

The surrendered commanders are currently being held at a secure military facility for profiling, intelligence debriefing, and other standard procedures. Their identities have not been disclosed for operational reasons.

Military sources attributed the development to the relentless tempo of Operation HADIN KAI, which has targeted terrorist enclaves, logistics bases, supply routes, and command centres across Borno and other parts of the North-East.

The publication noted that the sustained campaign has restricted terrorists’ movement, disrupted supply networks, and reduced their capacity for large-scale attacks, leading to declining morale and increased defections.

This latest surrender comes days after dozens of terrorists laid down their arms in different locations. Military records indicate that at least 76 fighters, along with some family members, voluntarily surrendered within the past week.

Security analysts link the growing defections to sustained pressure, deteriorating conditions in terrorist camps, dwindling resources, and internal divisions within ISWAP’s leadership.

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The death toll from twin earthquakes in Venezuela rose Friday to 920, with tens of thousands reported missing as international rescue teams boosted a desperate and slow-moving search for survivors.

Caracas residents jeered interim leader Delcy Rodriguez during her visit to a devastated neighborhood, as fury over the perceived lack of an official response mounted.

United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher told AFP that more than 50,000 people were missing after two powerful earthquakes struck within a minute of each other on Wednesday evening, flattening buildings in the north of
the country.

The coastal area of La Guaira, near the capital Caracas, was the worst hit, with one building after another crumpled by the magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes.

Access to the disaster zone was restricted from 8:00 pm on Friday (0000 GMT Saturday), Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello announced in a televised address.

A rescue team from Chile arrived at one residential complex in La Guaira made up of four tall buildings housing hundreds of apartments that
had largely been reduced to rubble.

“Unfortunately, the collapse is total, and there is littlenchance of finding survivors. Efforts are now focused on recovering the bodies of the deceased,” team leader Nadiomar Polanco said at the site, which resembles many others in the city.

Elsewhere, family members, neighbors and volunteers used their bare hands to try to dig out survivors, bemoaning the lack of heavy machinery or official help to save those trapped alive.

“I am looking for my little Gael… he was only five months old,” said an anguished Marjosly Salazar, 40, whose 16-year-old daughter diednin the quake. The baby and Salazar’s cousin are both missing.

“Please, we need support here. We need machinery to start lifting the columns,” she said. “We haven’t seen any government officials here, none at all.”

In an upscale Caracas neighborhood, Rodriguez was greetednwith angry chants from a crowd of people whose loved ones were trapped under
the debris.

“The government isn’t doing anything for the people,” they yelled from behind cordons next to a pulverized building.

– ‘Very complex’ –

AFP saw workers using sledgehammers to break through detritus, calling for “absolute silence” to detect cries from survivors.

“It’s a very, very complex emergency response,” the UN’s Fletcher told AFP, warning the death toll could rise significantly.

Aftershocks and destroyed buildings still posed significant dangers.

Venezuela’s worst earthquake in more than a century has come after the oil-rich country endured more than a decade of economic collapse.

The crisis has hollowed out hospitals and public services, driving millions to leave the country.

The country is still in a fragile transition six months after the United States ousted leader Nicolas Maduro.

– Help arrives –

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said search and rescue teams from at least 17 countries were being mobilized to help find survivors.

Spanish, Salvadoran, Swiss, Colombian, and Mexican rescue teams were already on the ground.

Rodriguez said Friday she had recieved a call from US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio who “reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the response efforts by sending rescue workers,
specialist equipment, support for temporary shelters and humanitarian aid for the affected families.”

The United States said earlier it was sending a disaster response team of more than 250 personnel, including three special search-and-rescue units with dogs trained to locate people trapped beneath the rubble.

A senior US military official landed in Caracas to oversee Washington’s relief efforts.

“Even before the earthquakes, millions of people across Venezuela were facing food insecurity, collapsing health services, protection risks, and limited access to basic services,” the UN and other aid agencies said in a statement Friday.

“The international community must not allow this emergen to deepen into a larger human tragedy.”

Earthquakes of similar magnitude claimed more than 200,000
lives in Haiti in January 2010 and 73,000 lives in Kashmir in October 2005.

– Foreigners killed –

Those killed included 28 Portuguese nationals, five Spaniards, two Brazilians, seven Chinese nationals, one Chilean and one Italian-Venezuelan.

85 Portuguese nationals and 119 Spaniards were missing or otherwise unaccounted for, according to their respective governments.

The quakes were the most powerful to hit Venezuela since a
7.7-magnitude tremor struck offshore in 1900.

Venezuela’s northern coast sits on a boundary between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, but had not experienced a major
quake since 1997.

Minutes of silence preceded Friday’s World Cup 2026 matches to honor the victims of the tragedy.

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Ayekooto Akindele, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu over her controversial business advice that sparked backlash online.

In a viral video, the First Lady had encouraged women to embrace small-scale businesses, noting that ventures such as frying akara, selling roasted corn, or producing kulikuli are viable ways to earn a living.

Her remarks drew criticism from many Nigerians, who accused her of trivializing youth unemployment.

Reacting on his official X handle, Akindele argued that the advice was directed at those living in poverty, not internet fraudsters or supporters of opposition candidate Peter Obi.

“Every petty business Mama mentioned is patronised daily by virtually every home in Nigeria. Even the yahoo boys and Obidients who are lamenting eat one or two of these items daily. But Mama was talking to those on or under the poverty line, who want to retain their dignity while earning a livelihood without sleeping with strangers or duping foreigners online. There’s dignity in lawful labour,” he wrote.

Akindele insisted that Remi Tinubu’s message was about encouraging self-reliance and lawful survival strategies for struggling Nigerians, rather than dismissing the challenges of unemployment.

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Residents and businesses in Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe states are set to experience temporary power disruptions on Sunday as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) carries out scheduled maintenance on critical grid infrastructure.

The planned outage, announced by TCN on Friday through its spokesperson Ndidi Mbah, will also affect Gazaoua in the Niger Republic, which receives power through Nigeria’s national grid.

According to TCN, the maintenance is scheduled at the Kumbotso 330-kilovolt transmission substation in Kano. It will allow contractors to upgrade the 330kV Bus II jumpers and replace existing 350mm² conductors with higher-capacity 800mm² conductors.

These upgrades are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the transmission network and improve overall power reliability in the northern region.

During the maintenance period, affected electricity distribution companies primarily the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), and parts of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) will be unable to offtake power.

This will impact supply to Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states, as well as Azare in Bauchi State and Nguru in Yobe State.

TCN assured consumers that the outage is temporary and necessary for critical infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing the stability and capacity of electricity supply in the long term.

Customers in the affected areas are advised to plan accordingly for the disruption. No specific duration was detailed in the statement beyond the general notice for Sunday’s works.

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Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has described Northern Nigeria as a conquered society, blaming what he called poor leadership, greed, insecurity, and worsening economic hardship for the region’s current challenges.

Shehu made the remarks in a post on his X handle on Thursday, where he argued that the North had been defeated physically andbtactically under democratic rule.

According to him, the region’s problems were largely self-inflicted.

“The North has been defeated physically and tactically,” he wrote.

“The defeat became possible on account of some greedy and cowardly Northerners with material afflictions, who mortgaged the North on selfish grounds just for them to remain comfortable,” he said.

Shehu also blamed what he described as the complacency of many northerners for the region’s current situation.

According to him, “The defeat has been foretold because docility became part of the pathology of majority Northerners.”

He further argued that poor judgment and a lack of foresight had contributed to the North’s decline: “The defeat became inevitable on account of the avoidable stupidity and shortsightedness of most Northerners.”

The public affairs commentator said many people in the region misunderstood the nature of modern conflicts.

“We lost the war because we stupidly thought wars are fought with guns only whereas propaganda and shamelessness are the modern-day weapons
of war,” he said.

Criticising northern elders for their failure to provide courageous leadership, he said: “A society whose population of elders is madebup mostly of cowards, selfish imbeciles with too much survival instinct is a society whose defeat is inevitable. Such is the Northern society.

“With the level of hunger in the North, increasing death tolls from wanton killings, arson, deliberate murder, hunger, starvation,diseases, malnutrition, total collapse of infrastructure, compromised culture
and values, total confusion and frustration, which are all signs of a conquered society, what remains is for the North to surrender and become prisoners of
war.”

Shehu concluded by claiming that the North had been conquered and decimated under democracy through a combination of violence, economic policies, and what he described as the region’s own stupidity and docility.

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The media office of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has described the Lokoja High Court judgment regarding the party’s registration status as a temporary setback, saying the
decision will be challenged legally.

This is contained in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, signed by its spokesperson, Idris Zekeri Jnr, on Friday.

POMR noted that it has been flooded with inquiries from journalists and concerned Nigerians following the decision.

The media office urged Obi’s followers, political partners, and the general public to stay calm while the legal team finishes reviewing then judgment and prepares to file an appeal.

It maintained that it fully expected to face systemic hurdles in the ongoing bid to challenge the political establishment, viewing the court’s decision as a brief obstacle rather than a permanent defeat for its political objectives.

“We have received the news of today’s bizarre ruling from the court in Lokoja regarding the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

“While our legal teams are thoroughly reviewing the judgment to initiate immediate corrective and appellate measures, our Principal urges all our supporters, coalition partners, and patriots nationwide to remain
absolutely calm and focused,” the statement said.

According to the group, the legal decision would not changenthe ultimate goal of establishing an alternative political platform for Nigerians.

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Tijani Mustapha, media aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has fired back at the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his criticism of the State Police Bill.

In a post on X on Friday, Mustapha insisted that Obi failed to read the legislation before commenting on it.

Recall that Obi had criticised the Senate’s passage of the bill, describing the process as hasty and lacking due legislative procedure, arguing that the manner in which the bill was passed had fuelled public suspicion about the political motives behind its introduction.

He also expressed concern that the legislative process appeared disorganised, noting the absence of a public hearing, warning thatnstate police could easily be exploited by state governors to suppress political opponents.

Responding, Mustapha dismissed Obi’s concerns, stating that they demonstrated he had clearly not read the bill as passed.

Mustapha noted that the bill already makes provision for the establishment of an independent State Police Service Commission, addressing Obi’s major concern.

“I know this because his major concern of the creation of an independent State Police Service Commission was duly addressed in the bill.

“For a man who doesn’t know the meaning of KPI, one again wonders what this individual’s mental capacities are,” Mustapha wrote.

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