Headlines
Bauchi Gov Bala Mohammed Signals Possible Defection to ADC
Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has indicated that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is his preferred political destination, fueling speculation about a potential departure from the crisis-plagued Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as the country’s opposition landscape begins to shift ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mohammed made the declaration on Tuesday in Bauchi after a meeting at Ramat House with an ADC delegation led by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal.
He said he explored every avenue for reconciliation within the PDP, but efforts ultimately failed.
The governor explained that extensive consultations had confirmed ADC as the platform most aligned with his political vision and that of his associates.
“We left all our options open, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), but we realized we cannot remain where we are not wanted. We must find a place within the opposition,” Mohammed said.
Describing the ADC as “enduring and widely acceptable” to his stakeholders, the governor emphasized that ongoing discussions across political divides accounted for the delay in making a final decision.
“Because I am managing two constituencies – Bauchi State and the Federation – we must act carefully. Party interests at both national and sub-national levels, especially within the PDP, must be respected. That is why discussions have taken time,” he added.
Mohammed revealed that a formal announcement of his defection would be made soon, as negotiations were underway to “perfect the conditions” for the move.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration, the governor said ongoing consultations with key stakeholders were critical to building a strong opposition. “The people in ADC are our brothers. Some joined earlier, and we are joining now,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Babachir Lawal warned that Nigeria’s future could be at risk if the APC-led government retains power in 2027.
He disclosed that efforts are ongoing to unite opposition forces under the guidance of former Senate President, David Mark, describing the upcoming elections as a decisive moment for the nation.
Lawal urged political actors with “good intentions” to consolidate and avert what he termed a looming national crisis.
FIFA on Thursday unveiled its list of match officials for the June 11-July 19 World Cup, including 52 referees, six of whom are women.
Football’s governing body will also take 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials, who hail from all six confederations and 50 member associations.
“The selected match officials are the very best in the world,” said Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s chief refereeing officer.
“They were part of a wider pool of officials that was identified and monitored over the past three years. They have attended seminars and officiated at FIFA tournaments.
There are 41 more match officials than at Qatar four years ago, where 32 teams played 64 matches.
“The fact that six women match officials have been selected continues a trend that was started four years ago in Qatar as we aim to further develop women’s refereeing,” Collina said, with six women having already refereed in 2022.
AFP
Iran, on Wednesday, shut the Strait of Hormuz following fresh Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire with the United States could collapse less than a day after it was reached.
The closure comes amid renewed hostilities that have cast doubt over efforts to halt more than a month of fighting. While both Iran and the United States had earlier declared victory after brokering the truce, fresh missile and drone attacks were reported across Iran and parts of the Gulf, alongside intensified Israeli bombardments in Lebanon.
In Beirut, Israeli strikes hit residential and commercial areas without prior warning, leaving at least multiple people dead and many others injured in what has been described as one of the deadliest days of the conflict.
Iranian state media confirmed the closure, with IRNA reporting that the move was taken “in the wake of Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.” The development has heightened concerns over the stability of the ceasefire agreement mediated by the United States.
Authorities in Iran also imposed strict controls on maritime movement in the strategic waterway. Ships near the strait were instructed to seek permission from Sepah, a special operations unit under the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, before passage. A radio message cited by The Wall Street Journal warned that any vessel attempting to cross without approval “will be destroyed.”
Earlier in the day, Iran had indicated a willingness to reopen the strait during the proposed two-week ceasefire, noting this would be done with “coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” U.S. officials, meanwhile, said American forces could assist in managing ship traffic, although details remain unclear.
U.S. President Donald Trump also told ABC News he was open to a “joint venture” arrangement with Iran that would involve charging tolls for vessels passing through the strait.
However, reports of ceasefire breaches soon emerged. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who played a role in negotiating the agreement, said on X that violations had already been recorded, further deepening uncertainty over whether the truce will hold.
The Presidency has come up with reasons behind President Bola Tinubu’s absent at the commissioning of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s projects in Lagos, on Wednesday.
Tinubu was noticeably absent at the scheduled project commissioning in Lagos, sparking public curiosity.
However, Sunday Dare, his Special Adviser on Public Communications and Orientation, has clarified the reason behind the last-minute development.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Dare revealed that the President had to prioritise urgent national security matters over the event.
According to him, although Tinubu is currently in Lagos, he has been deeply engaged in high-level State duties, particularly ongoing security briefings tied to recent developments across the country.
“The president has been busy taking constant briefs and has to prioritise when it comes to state matters, especially security,” Dare stated.
He referenced rising security concerns, including recent unrest linked to incidents in Jos, noting that the President has been closely monitoring the situation and working directly with intelligence agencies.
Dare emphasised that Tinubu remains fully engaged behind the scenes, actively coordinating with security operatives and receiving continuous updates to address emerging threats.
The absence, he stressed, should not be seen as neglect of official duties but rather a reflection of the President’s focus on safeguarding national stability at a critical time.
Tinubu skipped the Lagos commissioning not out of disregard, but to handle pressing security issues demanding immediate presidential attention.
