Category: Breaking News

BREAKING: Tinubu assents to amended Electoral Act 2026 amid controversy over result transmission

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 into law, formally introducing amendments to Nigeria’s electoral legal framework. The development followed the approval by the National Assembly, where lawmakers retained electronic transmission of election results while allowing manual collation as a backup a decision that generated widespread public debate and criticism. Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier indicated that the President was expected to assent to the amended bill in February after harmonisation between the Senate and the House of Representatives.   Details…

BREAKING: Saudi Arabia sights Ramadan Moon, fasting begins Wednesday

Emporium Reporters

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially sighted the crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, with fasting set to commence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. According to Inside Haramain, a publication focused on the affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the moon was sighted on Tuesday evening, confirmed that February 17 mark the final day of Sha’ban, the Islamic month preceding Ramadan. “Ramadan 1447/2026 Crescent has been sighted. Subsequently, Wednesday, 18 February 2026, will be the first day of Ramadan 1447,” the announcement stated. Ramadan…

BREAKING: Senate reconstitutes Electoral Act Conference committee amid rising protests

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has reconstituted a 12-member Electoral Act Conference Committee as part of renewed efforts to harmonise proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, amid mounting public protests over electoral reforms. Senator Simon Bako Lalong was appointed chairman of the committee, which is mandated to work with its counterpart in the House of Representatives to reconcile differences in the amendment bill and produce a unified version for passage by the National Assembly. The move is seen as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s electoral legal framework ahead of future elections,…

Captain Abiodun Folorunsho appointed new Director of Naval Information, takes over as Nigerian Navy Spokesperson

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Navy has a new voice. Captain Abiodun Abidemi Folorunsho has officially assumed duty as the Director of Naval Information and Spokesperson for the Nigerian Navy, following the approval of the appointment by the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas. He succeeds Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who served in the role for over two years and has now been redeployed as Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT. Born on 27 December 1979 in Benin City, Captain Folorunsho is an accomplished naval officer with an impressive academic and…

BREAKING: Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, 21 lawmakers, others resign from NNPP amid APC defection speculation

Emporium Reporters

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), SaharaReporters has confirmed. The governor tendered his resignation on Friday, alongside 21 members of the State Assembly, 8 members of the House of Representatives, and 44 Local Government Chairmen in Kano State. In a letter to the Chairman of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward, NNPP, in Gwale Local Government Area, Yusuf cited persistent internal party challenges and growing disenfranchisement among members as reasons for his resignation. The governor emphasized that his decision was in the best…

BREAKING: Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, is dead

Emporium Reporters

The Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, has passed away. The revered Islamic scholar and spiritual leader died on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the age of 75. Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu devoted his life to Islamic scholarship, teaching, and service to the Ilorin Emirate. Widely respected for his depth of knowledge and spiritual guidance, he was regarded as one of the most influential Islamic leaders in Kwara State and beyond. Popularly known as Imam Fulani, Sheikh Saliu was appointed the 12th Chief…

BREAKING: Bandits release 17 more abducted ECWA church worshippers in Kogi

Emporium Reporters

Bandits have released 17 additional worshippers abducted from the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) in Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu, Kogi State, following sustained negotiations and the payment of ransom. The latest release came after weeks of engagement involving the abductors, families of the victims, and the Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu Development Association, which has been coordinating community efforts to secure the freedom of those held captive. Reports indicated that the Kogi State Government was not involved in the negotiations or the releases recorded so far. The worshippers were abducted on Sunday, December…

Tinubu presents ₦58.18trn 2026 Budget to NASS, projects Economic Stability ,shared Prosperity

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, proposing a ₦58.18 trillion budget aimed at consolidating economic reforms, strengthening resilience, and delivering shared prosperity for Nigerians. The budget, themed “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” reflected the administration’s commitment to stabilising the economy, improving living standards, and translating recent reforms into tangible benefits for households and businesses. In his address, President Tinubu said Nigeria’s economy is showing signs of recovery, citing a 3.98 per cent growth in…

BREAKING : Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar resigns on health grounds

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, has resigned from office with immediate effect, citing health challenges that required urgent attention.   His resignation was communicated to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a letter dated December 1, 2025. According to the letter, Badaru said he was stepping down to focus fully on his health and ongoing medical care.   The announcement was confirmed on Monday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed that President Tinubu has accepted the resignation and expressed…

JUST IN : IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu sentenced to life imprisonment

Emporium Reporters

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment, ending a years-long legal battle over charges of terrorism.   Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho stated that Kanu’s broadcasts and directives to his now-banned IPOB group had incited deadly attacks on security forces and civilians in the southeast.   “His intention was clear he believed in violence. These threats of violence were nothing but terrorist acts,” the judge said.   Kanu was first arrested in 2015…