President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Edo residents to re-elect him in January 2027, saying he needs a second term to complete ongoing projects in the state. Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the appeal on Thursday at an APC Presidential Campaign Council rally in Benin City. “We have come this far with your trust and we seek your mandate to finish the work we have begun,” Shettima told the crowd. He highlighted ongoing road projects, including the dualisation of roads leading to Ekpoma, Auchi and Okene, as well as repairs on the Benin-Asaba road. “We are determined to build roads on which a trader and aggregator could no longer lose money to delays,” he said. “You have every right to hold us to our word until you can travel these roads in comfort,” he added. Shettima also mentioned the completed Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline, new transmission lines capable of adding 600 megawatts to the national grid, radiotherapy services at the University of B...

The League of Ogoni Entertainers Concept (LOEC), organisers of the annual Ken Saro-Wiwa Candlelight Night at 25 Aggrey Road, Port Harcourt, has declared its support for the creation of Bori State. The event, regarded by its organisers as one of the largest gatherings in Rivers State, attracts participants from different parts of Nigeria, across Africa and beyond to honour the Ogoni environmental rights activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa. Speaking during the 2026 edition of the event, LOEC President, DAWIX, described the candlelight gathering as the largest in Port Harcourt, expressing excitement over the massive turnout and diversity of participants. He noted that people from different ethnic groups, states and countries travel to Port Harcourt annually to commemorate Ken Saro-Wiwa. "This is the largest gathering in Port Harcourt, bringing together people from every tribe in Nigeria, across Africa, and from different states to celebrate Ken Saro-Wiwa," he said. Similarly, th...

A 44-year-old caterer, Mrs Stella Omokhepen Olayioye, has appealed for financial assistance after delivering quadruplets at Atoke Medical Centre, Abeokuta, on November 7, despite 8–10 scans showing triplets. She delivered two boys and two girls through Caesarean section.  Speaking with PLATFORM TIMES, she said the fourth baby’s discovery shocked her.  “In the theatre room, when I heard there was a fourth child, it was a shock. It was a miracle. I was shocked because throughout the pregnancy, the scans never showed four children. The scans only showed three children,” she said.  Olayioye said she and her husband waited 11 years for their first child, now four. On raising four newborns, she said:  “Everybody is happy, but only a few might think about the other side, how we will raise these children. After the merriment and everything, the reality comes. How do we raise these children?”  She appealed to the Ogun State Government, organisations and Niger...

Indonesia’s Vice-President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has reportedly submitted his resignation letter to President Prabowo Subianto amid controversy surrounding his educational qualifications. An aide, Budi Arie, confirmed that Gibran submitted the letter to the president on Wednesday. However, it remains unclear whether Prabowo has accepted his resignation. The development follows a Supreme Court ruling that found no evidence that Gibran had completed senior secondary school or possessed an equivalent qualification, as required by Indonesian law for vice-presidential candidates. Gibran, who studied in Singapore and Australia, had relied on an Indonesian equivalence certificate to establish his educational credentials. However, the court ruled that there was no evidence of a foreign diploma or certificate to prove an equivalent qualification. The ruling sparked fresh calls for accountability, with more than 100 lawmakers supporting a parliamentary initiative that could have p...

A Saudi Arabian court has sentenced a 40-year-old Kenyan domestic worker, Esther Wanja Muthoni, to 100 strokes of a cane and one year of banishment after convicting her of having s+x and giving birth outside wedlock.  According to The New York Times, Muthoni was sentenced last month after becoming pregnant during a brief relationship with an Egyptian man identified only as Mohamud, who later left Saudi Arabia.  Court documents did not reveal his surname or whether authorities attempted to prosecute him for the same offence.  Muthoni gave birth in August 2025 at accommodation provided for staff by her employer, Maharah Human Resources. She was taken to a hospital after her supervisor discovered the birth.  Police subsequently questioned her about her marital status. After explaining that the child’s father had left the country, she was detained.  Her arrest reportedly cost her access to staff accommodation, while she was also denied a place at a shelt...

At least 66 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have been sentenced to de@th for cowardice, mutiny and refusing to obey military orders. The sentences followed the trial of 71 soldiers before a military court in Walikale, North Kivu province, in the eastern part of the country. Four soldiers were acquitted, while another received a 10-year prison sentence. According to local media reports, the soldiers were arrested on October 20 after allegedly abandoning their positions and fleeing during clashes with f+ghters from the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation (FRN), a rebel coalition that includes the M23 group. The Congolese army said the trial was aimed at strengthening discipline among troops battling armed groups in the country’s conflict-hit eastern region. The development comes after another 27 soldiers were sentenced to de@th last month for similar offenses after reportedly withdrawing from the frontline during clashes with rebels. DR Congo lift...

President Bola Tinubu has outlined his administration’s plans for Nigeria, promising to lower the cost of living, improve security, provide reliable electricity and create more job opportunities ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Tinubu made the promises while speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Jigawa State, where he presented what he described as the party’s “road map to prosperity.” Listing the priorities of his administration, the President said, “Number one item, we save lives, investment in medical stability and opportunity in every local government.” He also promised to address the rising cost of living, improve security and provide a reliable power supply across the country. “We will lower the cost of living, Security. We will provide reliable power not the old privatisation that is not working. We will provide you with reliable power in this Nigeria,” he said. Tinubu further pledged to strengthen the country’s industrial sector, ...

Former Vice-President and ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the Tinubu administration’s proposed $500 million World Bank loan, warning against burdening the next government with fresh debt.  In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said:  “No outgoing president has the right to burden his successor with fresh debt days before handing over power.  “Taking loans as if you were a drunken sailor is a road to economic bondage, a second slavery. If this government is determined to mortgage Nigeria’s future and place our country at the mercy of creditors, we will not accept it.  “The Tinubu administration’s latest move is a preemptive attempt to lock Nigeria into a path of economic instability. A government cannot use its final days in office to bind the country and make governance more difficult for its successor.  “The proposed $500 million facility ...

Over 50,000 Ogonis gathered at Old Port Harcourt Township on Monday, November 9, for the annual Ken Saro-Wiwa Candlelight procession, commemorating the lives of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists executed on November 10, 1995. The event attracted dignitaries, human rights activists and participants from different parts of the world, who gathered to remember the executed Ogoni leaders and renew calls for environmental justice, human rights and justice for the Ogoni people. Speaking with RwGBlog News, renowned human rights activist Dr. Celestine Akpobari condemned the circumstances surrounding the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa, alleging that there was a conspiracy against the late environmental activist. Akpobari questioned the justification for executing Saro-Wiwa, particularly pointing out that the late activist was not in Gokana during the incident for which he and others were accused. He said: "Look at Ken Saro-Wiwa. Wasn't Ken too big for the government ...

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying the administration’s policies are largely in line with recommendations many economists would make. Gumi stated this during an interview with PAPShow, where he said he found little fault with the economic direction of the Tinubu administration, particularly its decision to remove fuel and electricity subsidies. Asked whether Tinubu was getting his economic policies wrong, Gumi said, “No. I am not saying the economic measures themselves are wrong. You may find very little fault with the economic direction in principle.” He described the removal of the fuel subsidy as an inevitable decision given Nigeria’s economic circumstances, noting that international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), had welcomed some of the reforms. The cleric also pointed to improvements in key economic indicators, including GDP, government revenue and allocations to state and loca...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has promised a ₦10 million reward to every councillor who delivers their ward for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Wike made the promise on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a political engagement in Kwali Area Council of the FCT. The minister urged political stakeholders and residents to support Tinubu’s re-election bid, while assuring them of continued development under his administration.

The Federal Government is seeking a fresh $500m World Bank loan to establish an infrastructure financing platform, with approval scheduled for May 25, 2027, just four days before Nigeria’s next presidential inauguration.  According to the World Bank’s Initial Project Information Document obtained by The PUNCH, the loan is part of a $3.85bn initiative known as the Nigeria Infrastructure Financing and De-Risking Platform for Growth and Jobs (INFRAGROW).  The Federal Ministry of Finance is listed as the borrower, while the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority will implement the project.  The document estimates Nigeria’s annual infrastructure financing gap at $100bn, describing it as “a binding constraint on growth, fiscal sustainability, competitiveness, and job creation.”  The bank said closing the gap requires “an integrated approach” involving project preparation, risk-reduction measures and sectoral reforms.  The proposed $500m facility comprises ...

The Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, Haruna Dangyatin, has declared that residents of the state must vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, describing support for the president as a religious obligation. Dangyatin made the statement on Saturday while inaugurating the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential and governorship campaign council in Dutse. According to him, Tinubu deserves the support of Jigawa residents because he is a fellow Muslim, has a Muslim running mate and has demonstrated concern for the North. The speaker also recalled Tinubu’s role in supporting the emergence of former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that the North should reciprocate the gesture. “Tinubu is our fellow Muslim and a leader who has the interests of Jigawa State at heart,” he said. Dangyatin further disclosed that although Jigawa was initially left out of Tinubu’s campaign itinerary, the president would now visit the state. “That is why we must ...

Port Harcourt-based cleric, Mark Miracle, has generated mixed reactions on Facebook after publicly displaying his account number and soliciting fuel donations following the arrival of his new SUV, reportedly worth N200 million. Miracle announced the arrival of the vehicle in a Facebook post, describing it as a special gift and congratulating himself and his family on the new purchase. “To the first 5 persons that will send a fuel seed as a point of contact to this car gift, My God that has never failed me will give you a gift you never begged for or lobbied for in Jesus name!” he wrote.

Pastor Dolapo Lawal has challenged the belief among some Christians that failing to pay tithes automatically attracts hardship or punishment from God. Lawal, while recounting an experience from his time as a pastor in Maryland, said he once tried to convince a woman who believed her financial losses were connected to her failure to pay tithes. According to him, the woman repeatedly insisted, “Once I don’t pay my tithes, things are tight for me.” The pastor said he eventually responded, be it unto you according to your word, after realizing how deeply she had embraced the belief. He questioned the idea that God would deliberately punish someone simply because they failed to give Him money, describing such thinking as unreasonable. Lawal illustrated the mindset by pointing out how some people imagine God reacting to unpaid tithes by deliberately causing problems in their lives, saying, “Because, do you know how preposterous it is to think that because you didn’t give God mone...

Abdulaziz Yari, Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has sparked reactions after telling Nigerians that laziness is partly responsible for the hunger being experienced in the country. Yari made the statement on Saturday while speaking at an APC presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The former Zamfara State governor argued that Nigerians should not blame the government alone for their economic struggles, insisting that personal effort also plays a role in people’s ability to provide for themselves. “You are hungry because you are lazy. If you work hard, you will not be hungry,” Yari said. According to him, a significant number of Nigerians, particularly young people, are unwilling to engage in productive work and instead prefer to remain at home expecting financial assistance. Yari recalled that in the past, Nigerians were more inclined to farming and other forms of manual labour, saying people could wor...

The usually quiet community of Kegbara Dere in Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers state, came alive as Comrade Teddy Gianen, a strong grassroots mobilizer and political advocate, took his campaign for Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol to the community ahead of the 2027 Rivers State House of Assembly election. The campaign witnessed a warm reception from market women and other residents, as Comrade Gianen engaged community members in a bid to strengthen grassroots support for the APC candidate in Gokana State Constituency. Addressing the market women, Comrade Teddy Gianen called on them to rally behind Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol and ensure his victory at the polls in 2027. He emphasized the importance of continuity in leadership, noting that the lawmaker’s return to the Rivers State House of Assembly would further consolidate efforts aimed at improving the welfare of the people. According to him, a vote for Rt. Hon. Dumle Maol represents a vote for sustained development, effective representati...

A Kenyan court has sentenced Paul Mackenzie, the founder of Good News International Church, to 200 years in prison for his role in the de@ths of 191 church members who were manipulated into starving themselves and their children to d+ath in the name of meeting Jesus. Mackenzie and 27 other defendants were found guilty of influencing church members to undertake deadly fasts, which resulted in the d+aths of hundreds of people. Delivering the judgment at the Mombasa High Court on Friday, Justice Diana Mochache held Mackenzie primarily responsible for the crimes, noting that he had instructed his followers to fast until d+ath. The judge described the sentence as appropriate and necessary to send a strong message that such atrocities deserve the maximum punishment permitted by law. The conviction follows investigations into the de@ths of members of Mackenzie’s church, whose bodies were discovered in shallow graves in Shakahola Forest in 2023. More than 400 bodies were eventually...

A North Carolina man, James Gates, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that its ChatGPT chatbot encouraged and assisted his estranged wife, Cheryl Gates, in planning an attempt to p%ison him. According to the lawsuit filed at the San Francisco Superior Court, Cheryl allegedly used ChatGPT over several months to research dangerous substances, calculate potentially lethal drug combinations, obtain toxic materials anonymously and learn how to avoid detection. Gates claimed he became seriously ill in July 2025, suffering severe abdominal pain, heart-related symptoms, confusion and extreme jitteriness. He later discovered a handwritten note allegedly belonging to his wife, containing a list of substances, dosage instructions and reminders to delete ChatGPT conversations. The discovery prompted him to contact the police, who reportedly recovered syringes, a capsule-filling kit, medical droppers, scales and various medications during their investigation. Cheryl was indict...

The Niger State Police Command has arrested five men, including four fathers accused of offering their biological children as sacrifices in exchange for wealth during an alleged money ritual. The suspects were apprehended on October 27, 2026, at an isolated compound in the Garima area of Bosso, Minna, where police operatives reportedly disrupted a suspected ritual ceremony. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that the suspects were identified as Mohammed Idris Dogara, 57; Aliyu Sule, 25; Abubakar Abdullahi, 40; Ibrahim Mohammed Hamisu, 43; and Shehu Abubakar, 40, a native doctor. According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the four men approached the native doctor to perform money rituals using a skeleton allegedly discovered during mining activities. Although the native doctor initially declined, the men reportedly insisted and offered their children as sacrifices in exchange for different sums of money. Police said the na...

Pastor Philip Olubakin has urged Christians to reconsider their approach to childbirth, expressing concern that many Christian families are choosing to have fewer children while Muslims continue to increase their population. Speaking during the Shift Conference on Wednesday, the pastor began by urging Christians to stop limiting the number of children they have. “Stop having two children. I will explain now. Children are weapons. The Bible says because of those children, the man will not be ashamed. He will be able to speak to their enemies at the gate” “There’s an agenda to outnumber Christians just by childbirth. Christians are dozing. Christians are saying, I just want one child, one dog. Am a dog mom, cat mom. So Christians are dozing. They are acting cute. They want a cute family. The Muslims are populating the world. I’m telling the truth,” he said. He further stressed the importance of population numbers, claiming that Muslims were recording higher birth rates and wa...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reportedly commenced the disbursement of ₦50,000 cash relief to vulnerable Nigerians under its National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI). The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, announced the commencement of the intervention in a statement dated October 30, describing it as a presidential initiative aimed at providing immediate financial assistance to vulnerable households across the country. According to the minister, the programme is designed to cushion the impact of rising food prices and the increasing cost of essential commodities on low-income households. The initiative reportedly targets beneficiaries identified through verified government records, including the National Social Register, in collaboration with data from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). Several financial institutions and payment service providers have reportedly been selected as payment ...

The Federal High Court has sacked the David Mark-led ADC leadership and ordered INEC to recognise Nafiu Bala Gombe as the only recognised NEC member of the ADC. Nafiu Gombe had approached the court to query the process through which the Senator Mark-led Committee took over the reins of leadership of the party. He maintained that, with the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he (Gombe) was qualified to assume the party's leadership. Consequently, he, among other things, prayed the court to nullify all actions taken on behalf of the party by the Senator Mark-led leadership. The actions included the primary election that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

A graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has died just days after celebrating his graduation, leaving family members and loved ones devastated. The deceased’s cousin announced the heartbreaking news in an emotional tribute shared on his Facebook, expressing disbelief over his sudden death. According to the cousin, they had spoken just a day before his d+ath, during which he also sent a voice note that has now become the last one the family member would ever receive from him. The cousin recalled how they had recently celebrated his graduation from UNIZIK and expressed sadness that he would not get the opportunity to enjoy the achievements and opportunities ahead of him. Describing him as someone who was full of life and had numerous dreams and plans, the cousin lamented that his death came at a time when he had so much to look forward to. The circumstances surrounding his d+ath were not disclosed in the tribute.

West Hollywood, a city in Los Angeles County, California, has unanimously approved an ordinance allowing people in polyamorous relationships, including throuples and foursomes, to register as domestic partners. The ordinance, introduced by Mayor John Heilman, was passed by the city council on Tuesday and allows three or more people in committed relationships to officially register their partnerships with the city. Under the new law, registered partners will enjoy certain protections, including hospital visitation rights, recognition by healthcare facilities and city-operated jails, as well as additional housing protections. The measure also prevents landlords from terminating or refusing to renew a tenancy simply because a registered partner remains in the rented property. However, the ordinance does not grant multi-partner relationships the same legal rights and benefits enjoyed by married couples or traditional domestic partners. To qualify, participants must mutually con...

The Nigerian Army has honoured Private Utim Terwase with a ₦500,000 cash reward for refusing payment offered by a notorious kidnapper to secure his freedom. Terwase reportedly intercepted the suspect while he was attempting to escape but declined the money offered to facilitate his release. He subsequently handed the suspect over to the relevant authorities. The recognition was approved by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Major General Maxwell Dangana. The cash reward was presented on Dangana’s behalf by the Commander of Sector 6, Colonel Philimon Malgwi, while the operation’s spokesperson, Captain Polycarp Chinonso Oteh, confirmed the development. Dangana praised Terwase for placing his responsibility above personal gain, describing his actions as an example of the discipline, integrity and professionalism expected of military personnel. He said: “The soldier’s conduct reflects the highe...

The Senate is considering a bill seeking to punish hospitals and healthcare providers who fail to comply with proposed emergency treatment standards with up to six months’ imprisonment, a ₦300,000 fine, or both. Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, the proposed amendment to the National Health Act, 2014, seeks to ensure timely emergency care, proper training of healthcare workers and improved patient referral procedures. Under the bill, public and private hospitals would be required to assess emergency patients within 15 minutes of arrival, begin initial stabilisation within 30 minutes and complete referrals within three hours where necessary. The legislation also mandates immediate life-saving interventions, including CPR, airway management and bleeding control, once a life-threatening condition is identified. Basic stabilisation must include oxygen therapy, intravenous fluids, pain relief and preliminary diagnostic procedures. Hospitals would also be required to provi...

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged Nigerians to learn from American voters, saying elections remain a powerful tool for holding political leaders accountable when their policies fail to serve ordinary citizens. The party said American voters had demonstrated that no leader is bigger than the people and no political party is entitled to remain in power forever, stressing that elections should be based on citizens’ welfare rather than sentiments, political loyalties or personality c¥lts.

Lere Olayinka, an aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has argued that Nigeria has made progress compared to previous decades, urging Nigerians, particularly members of the younger generation, to stop portraying the country as though things have never been this difficult. Speaking during an interview on AIT News, Olayinka recalled how his parents struggled to pay as little as ₦20 in school fees when he was in secondary school, explaining that the amount later increased to ₦40, which they still found difficult to afford. He said, “My parents could not get ₦40 that time. It was so difficult. They would tell us that things are bad.” He further argued that the purchasing power of money should not be judged merely by comparing figures from different periods, insisting that earning money was difficult even when prices were considerably lower. “Because that ₦40 you are talking about, the same effort you made then, where will you get the ₦40 the...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a statement has described his time working in the United States as a young man and linked those experiences to his administration’s student loan programme. President Tinubu stated that after arriving in the United States he drove a taxi to raise money for his education and postponed starting school for several months in order to save enough funds. He said that once in Chicago he took on different jobs to support himself and pay his way through university, covering tuition, accommodation and living expenses. He noted that those experiences have remained with him and that he understands the pressure of managing education costs while studying. President Tinubu added that education created opportunities in his own life and that he believes Nigerian children should have similar access regardless of where they are born or their parents’ financial situation. He cited this background as one reason education is a priority for his administration. Accord...

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for recording improvements in Nigeria’s economy, citing economic growth, declining inflation, increased foreign reserves and export diversification. Speaking on Tuesday at the Oxford Global Think Tank conference convened by Arunma Oteh, Sanusi said the country was beginning to lay the foundations for economic stability, although significant challenges remained. “I’m not a fan of politicians, but we need to give credit to President Tinubu’s administration for bringing us back from the brink,” he said. The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor noted that the economy grew by 4.48 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, compared with an average growth rate of 0.9 per cent during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. “Today it’s at 4.5 percent. That’s progress,” he said. Sanusi also said inflation had dropped from about 30 per cent to 14.6 per cent and was projected to fall ...

Evangelist Tonto Dikeh has spoken against the negative assumptions people make about wealthy individuals, stressing that not everyone who becomes rich acquired their wealth through rit¥al practices or immoral activities. Speaking during a fellowship with church members, she said some people had worked hard for years, endured struggles and made sacrifices before their efforts finally paid off. She urged people to stop associating wealth with questionable practices and recognise that genuine hard work, dedication and perseverance can also lead to financial success.

Four Nigerian-Americans have emerged victorious in the November 3, 2026, midterm elections in the United States, securing elective positions across different levels of government, while the outcome of another Nigerian-American candidate, Segun Adeyina, remained undecided as vote counting continued. The successful candidates are Will Jawando, Junior Ezeonu, Oye Owolewa and Carol Kazeem, who secured victories in local government and state legislative contests across Maryland, Texas, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Their victories represent another significant milestone for Nigerians in the diaspora, highlighting the growing participation and influence of Nigerian-Americans in the American political landscape. The elected officials are expected to bring their respective experiences, leadership capabilities and policy priorities to their new positions, representing their constituents in different communities. Meanwhile, attention remains on the race involving Segun Adeyi...

Democrats have secured control of both the US House of Representatives and Senate after defeating several Republican candidates in a major electoral upset, dealing a significant blow to President Donald Trump. The victory gives Democrats the power to block Trump’s legislative agenda, investigate his administration over alleged corruption and challenge his policies during the final two years of his presidency. The election results reportedly reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living, tariffs and Trump’s war against Iran, which has contributed to soaring fuel prices. Democrats recorded major victories in traditionally Republican states, including Kansas, Iowa, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio. In Kansas, Methodist minister Adam Hamilton defeated Republican incumbent Roger Marshall, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent the state in the Senate since 1932. In Iowa, Democrats also secured a Senate victory, marking their firs...