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Veteran British politician Andy Burnham has emerged as the new leader of the United Kingdom’s governing Labour Party, clearing the way for him to become the country’s next Prime Minister following the resignation of Keir Starmer.

Burnham was confirmed as Labour leader on Friday after no other candidate secured the required nominations to challenge his bid during a special Labour Party conference, effectively handing him the leadership unopposed. The outcome was officially announced by the UK’s Interior Minister, Shabana Mahmood, who declared Burnham the duly elected leader of the Labour Party.

“There being no other eligibly nominated candidate, it is therefore my honour to declare that the duly elected leader of the Labour Party is Andy Burnham,” Mahmood told party delegates.

Burnham’s emergence comes at a pivotal moment for the Labour Party, which has been grappling with internal uncertainty following Starmer’s decision to step down as party leader amid mounting pressure from within the party. A seasoned politician, Burnham has held several senior ministerial positions under previous Labour governments.

He later became Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he built a strong national profile through his advocacy for greater regional autonomy, improved public services, and increased investment in local communities.

His tenure as mayor earned him widespread recognition, particularly during periods of national crisis when he repeatedly called for increased financial support and greater decision-making powers for local authorities. Burnham is expected to complete the constitutional process and formally assume office as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister on Monday.

In his acceptance speech, the incoming Labour leader pledged to reunite the governing party after a period of internal divisions and restore public confidence in government.

He also promised to devolve more powers from central government to local authorities, arguing that local communities should have greater control over decisions affecting their economies and public services.

Among his key priorities are strengthening the National Health Service (NHS), improving public transport, stimulating economic growth, and expanding opportunities across every region of the United Kingdom. Political analysts believe Burnham’s administration will focus heavily on regional development, investment in public infrastructure, and reforms aimed at reducing economic inequalities across the country.

His confirmation has already drawn reactions from political leaders, Labour members, and supporters, many of whom expressed optimism that his leadership could mark the beginning of a new chapter for both the Labour Party and the United Kingdom. Attention is now expected to shift to the formation of Burnham’s cabinet and the policy agenda his government intends to pursue during its first weeks in office.

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Ex-Miss Universe Chidinma Adetshina, returned to the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday, July 16, 2026 as she continued her legal fight against deportation after her arrest for allegedly being in South Africa illegally.

Proceedings resumed shortly after 2pm, when the former Miss South Africa contestant was expected to submit an affidavit detailing the steps she says she has taken to regularise her immigration status.

According to an update from eNCA reporter Nobesuthu Hejana, the affidavit forms part of her effort to challenge the Department of Home Affairs’ deportation case.

Adetshina was arrested on 6 June and first appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on 9 June.

She was released on warning while the matter was postponed to allow the legal process to continue.

The Department of Home Affairs alleges that she and her minor son were living in South Africa without lawful immigration status and is seeking her deportation through the courts.

Court documents previously filed by immigration officials state that authorities believe Adetshina entered South Africa while prohibited from doing so.

Those allegations remain before the court and have not been tested at trial.

Speaking outside court, Nobesuthu Hejana reported: ‘After 14H00 she will present an affidavit on steps she’s taken to regularise her status in the country.’

The court is expected to consider the affidavit alongside the Department of Home Affairs’ submissions before deciding on the next steps in the deportation proceedings.

The court proceedings mark the latest development in the immigration dispute surrounding the beauty queen, whose nationality became the subject of intense public debate during her participation in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant.

Adetshina, who was born in Soweto, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, had initially contested for the Miss South Africa 2024 crown before withdrawing from the competition amid controversy surrounding her family’s citizenship status.

Her withdrawal followed an investigation by South African authorities into allegations concerning her mother’s identity and citizenship documentation.

The controversy also sparked widespread social media attacks directed at Adetshina because of her Nigerian heritage, despite the fact that she was born in South Africa and had met the eligibility requirements for the beauty pageant.

In August 2024, the South African government stated that Adetshina’s mother, at the time the contestant was a finalist in the Miss South Africa competition, may have been involved in identity theft.

Adetshina was later accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, and emerged as the winner, earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the global Miss Universe competition.Africans & Diaspora

At the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico City, Adetshina, finished as the first runner-up and was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s extensive infrastructure delivery in Abuja has effectively neutralised political critics, insisting that visible performance remains the strongest response to opposition.

Speaking during the commissioning of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Wike said the scale of projects executed under the Tinubu administration had transformed governance in the FCT and provided residents with tangible evidence of government performance.

“If there are opponents of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with what you have done in their lifetime, they cannot do anything again. If they go to the people of Gbazango, the people will ask them, ‘When you were there, what did you do?’ This is what we call ‘operation show your report card.’ If you call Tinubu today, he will show you his report card on the satellite towns and on the city. Abuja is shut down. Abuja is closed,” Wike declared.

The minister made the remarks as the FCT Administration concluded its 31-day project commissioning programme, which began on June 9 and ended on July 17, 2026.

Describing the exercise as unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, Wike said no President had ever commissioned and flagged off projects continuously for such a long period.

“Everything that has a beginning has an end. Today we are taking a break to refill and energise ourselves before returning before the end of the year. We thank God that from June 9 till today, everything went smoothly. There was no accident, no incident that we would regret, no fighting. Everybody came and left happily,” he said.

According to him, the successful completion of the commissioning exercise reflected the administration’s commitment to delivering development rather than making promises.

“It is unprecedented in the history of this country for a President to commission and flag off projects continuously for 28 days. When something unusual like this happens, you can see the joy on the faces of the people,” he said.

Wike noted that residents of Kubwa and Gbazango had experienced firsthand the impact of good governance through the reconstruction of a road that had long impeded movement and commercial activities.

“For them, this is the impact of positive governance. For them, government has finally come home. If you see what this road looked like before now, you will understand why the people are rejoicing,” he said.

He added that improved road infrastructure would stimulate economic activities and improve the livelihoods of traders and other business operators in the area.

“Governance is not difficult. Governance is about commitment. Governance is about making the people happy, and today the people here are happy because they have been positively impacted by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.

The minister disclosed that since Tinubu assumed office, the FCT Administration had commissioned more than 53 projects, describing the achievement as evidence of purposeful leadership.

He assured residents that the pace of infrastructure development would continue, announcing plans to commission at least 10 additional projects before the end of the year.

“We are taking a short break, but before the next round of national political activities, we will return to commission another 10 projects,” Wike said.

Responding to a request by community leaders for improved water supply, the minister directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority to urgently address the challenge.

“Go home and give your people water. That is your responsibility. You must be prepared to solve the problem,” he directed.

The Arab/Gbazango Road project marked the final commissioning in the FCT Administration’s anniversary programme, which featured the inauguration and flag-off of major road, transport, housing and public infrastructure projects across Abuja under the Renewed Hope Agenda.