News
Defection Storm Rocks Reps as Parties Jostle for 2027 Advantage
HBy Gloria Ikibah
A fresh round of defections has shaken the House of Representatives, with lawmakers switching allegiances in what signals early manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Upon resumption of plenary following the Easter recess, the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu read out multiple defection letters, pointing to a rapidly shifting political landscape. He brushed aside fears of an emerging one-party state, arguing that the movement across party lines reflects a functioning democracy.
“This is to show the country that no party is stiffled. People are leaving the majority party to the minority parties and the minority parties to the majority party. This is the beauty of democracy,” Kalu said.
Among the high-profile moves, Rep. Thaddeus Attah of Lagos State exited the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress, citing internal instability within his former party.
“the protracted crisis in the leadership of the LP,” he noted, had hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
The Peoples Democratic Party took the biggest hit, losing five members in the latest reshuffle. Some defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, while others aligned with the ADC. In Osun State, two lawmakers also left the PDP for the Accord Party.
The APC, however, was not spared, as a handful of its members crossed over to opposition parties, underlining the two-way nature of the political shifts.
With less than two years to the next general elections, defections appear to be gathering pace, driven by internal party disputes, strategic calculations and the quest for stronger political platforms.
Observers note that as parties begin to consolidate ahead of primaries, more lawmakers are likely to reassess their positions, making further realignments almost inevitable.
Plenary was later adjourned in honour of Kano lawmaker Hassan Danjuma, who passed away earlier in April at the age of 66.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the results of candidates who wrote the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, on Monday.
The spokesperson of the commission, Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement directs affected candidates to the board’s standard result-checking channels.
According to the statement, candidates can access their scores by sending “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 via SMS, using the phone number with which they registered for the examination.
Monday’s UTME results are the latest in a series of daily result announcements that JAMB has been making since the 2026 UTME commenced on Thursday, April 16.
The examination involves over two million candidates sitting computer-based tests at centres across the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Fatima Suleiman Zuntu as the new Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA)
Her appointment is for an initial term of four years and is in accordance with the provisions of the National Biosafety Management Agency Act of 2015, which governs leadership appointments within the agency.
This was disclosed in a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, issued by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Chris Ugwuegbulam.
The statement highlighted Dr. Zuntu’s extensive experience in public health administration and policy formulation, noting her involvement in several nationwide programmes, particularly in the health sector and public service delivery.
President Tinubu charged her to apply her expertise in advancing the agency’s objectives and contributing to national development.
The National Biosafety Management Agency is responsible for regulating modern biotechnology in Nigeria, ensuring that its application does not pose risks to human health or the environment.
The Federal Government has finally revealed the identities of individuals who allegedly plotted to forcefully overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
The suspects include a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, said to be at large in the charge.
Others are Major General Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, Captain Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Kashim Goni and Abdulkadir Sani.
In a 13-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/206/2026 filed at the Federal High Court on Tuesday, they were accused of plotting to levy war against the Federal Republic of Nigeria to overthrow President Tinubu.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary and punishable under Section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code.
The alleged coup plotters are scheduled to be arraigned on April 22, before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The charge was filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
The Federal Government accused the defendants of treason, terrorism, and failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others but failed to alert authorities.
The federal government is also prosecuting the defendants for terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
JAMB Releases Monday’s UTME Results
Tinubu Makes Fresh Key Appointment In Government
FG Reveals Identities Of Alleged Coup Plotters, Files Treason Charges
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