President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, hosted members of the 1999 class of governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The former governors were led to the State House by a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori.
Details of the meeting were not disclosed as of the time of filing this report, but the visit is believed to be part of ongoing consultations by the President with key political stakeholders.
The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun made this known in a post via his X handle on Friday.
The class of 1999 governors, who assumed office at the return of democratic rule, played significant roles in shaping Nigeria’s Fourth Republic politics.
PUNCH Online reports that Tinubu was the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
The internal crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party took a dramatic turn on Friday as the party’s National Executive Committee dissolved the National Working Committee led by the suspended National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, over the lingering crisis rocking the party.
The decision was announced at an emergency NEC meeting held in Abuja and presided over by the party’s National Financial Secretary, Ibrahim Biu.
“The NWC, by this resolution, stands dissolved. We hereby nominate the following persons to take charge of the affairs of our great party, and to move the party forward,” he declared.
The new interim leaders announced include “Adamu Modibo (National Chairman), Abubakar Dogara (Deputy Chairman), Ekpeyong Ambo (National Secretary), Joseph Abu (National Organising Secretary), and Chief Solsuema Osaro (National Legal Adviser).
“Others are Judith Shuaibu (National Publicity Secretary), Ibrahim Biu (Financial Secretary), and Eluwa Ifeanyi (National Youth Speaker).”
Biu told journalists that it was unfortunate the NEC took such a drastic measure following failed attempts to resolve the internal crisis.
“In the last couple of months, our party, unfortunately, was engulfed in a leadership crisis. You are fully aware, somehow, that the party has been factionalised.
“A group loyal to the National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, suspended the National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, on allegations of misappropriation and fraud.
“On the other hand, the national chairman debunked those allegations and equally considered the so-called appointments made by the group of the secretary as illegal. “That resulted in a kind of scuffle to the extent that the two groups clashed at the National Secretary of SDP. That created a crisis that security operatives had to intervene”, Biu stated.
Continuing, he noted that despite efforts by the NEC to reconcile the factions, the crisis has severely damaged the party’s image and progress.
“This has seriously affected our supporters, and we felt all the efforts we put in the last three years, since our last convention in 2022, somehow, because of this crisis, seem to be lost. And we cannot afford it. We have put in so much effort to build this party to this level. It’s for this reason that we decided to say, let’s come together.
“If the leadership of the party are not ready to provide a remedy to this situation, then you, NEC members, especially at the state should come together and see what we can do so that we can restore the confidence and trust of our teaming supporters,” he said.
In a related development, the NEC also announced SDP’s withdrawal from any form of alliance with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s coalition, which includes the African Democratic Congress.
Addressing journalists, the Deputy Chairman, Abubakar Dogara, clarified the party’s position.
He said, “Recently, there was this issue of coming together of major political stakeholders in the country and some political parties to form a coalition, which SDP was part of in the initial stage.
“But later, the person who represented SDP in that coalition meeting explained to the coalition that SDP are still contesting the by-elections across our 12 states and that the party was not ready to lose its identity. So the party decided to remain as SDP for the time being.
“Stakeholders were engaged later, and everybody agreed that the party should remain as an individual political party. Therefore, the SDP is not part of the coalition. So we will be contesting in the 2027 general elections with our presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates.”
Meanwhile, the embattled National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, has rejected the dissolution of the NWC, insisting the action holds no legal weight.
Agunloye disclosed this in a statement released in the wake of the NWC dissolution on Friday.
According to him, the NEC members were loyalists of the other faction carrying out a hatchet job.
He said, ‘This is to let members of the National Executive Committee of our great Party know that the National Working Committee at its meeting passed a resolution, dissociating itself and the national leadership of the Party from the so-called NEC meeting in Abuja.
“The NWC urges all our elected federal and state legislators, Zonal Officers and State Chairmen, to disregard this illegal and irregular NEC meeting. About 13 State Chairmen had already sent sworn affidavits, as of 23/7/25, through various lawyers to the INEC Chairman to dissociate themselves from the Bissallah-Modibbo NEC Call, claiming their signatures were misappropriated and improperly used.
“The NWC enjoins all our esteemed State Chairmen to be properly guided and not be lured into a trap to avoid sanctions for breach of the SDP Constitution.”
The Transmission Company of Nigeria and the Kano State Government have reached an agreement to resolve a protracted legal dispute that had stalled the completion of the Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line.
The resolution followed a high-level meeting convened on July 21, 2025, by the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning to address issues relating to land ownership and compensation, which had led to litigation and delayed the project.
A statement issued on Friday by the General Manager, Public Affairs at TCN, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed that under the new agreement, the state government would compensate affected individuals whose cases remain in court and provide alternative land for others.
The statement read, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria, Kano Region, and the Kano State Ministry of Land and Physical Planning have reached a pivotal agreement to resolve legal disputes that had stalled the Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV transmission line project.
“The meeting, held on July 21, 2025, was convened by the Ministry to address litigation surrounding land ownership and compensation, which had significantly delayed progress.
“Under the terms of the agreement, the Kano State Government will compensate individuals whose cases remain under legal consideration and provide alternative land to affected parties.
“The resolution removes the final obstacles to the completion of the project,” Mbah stated, adding that the development marks a significant milestone in efforts to boost power supply and industrial development in the North.
She expressed optimism that with the legal issues out of the way, work on the transmission line would progress swiftly.
The Kumbotso–Rimin Zakara 330kV line is expected to enhance the electricity transmission capacity of the national grid and support economic growth in the region.
The commission also reported that a vandal was electrocuted on July 19, 2025, while attempting to sabotage a high-voltage facility in Ebonyi State.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on Tower 34 along the Nkalagu–Abakaliki 132kV transmission line.
“The body of the vandal, who was electrocuted while trying to vandalise the tower, has been recovered,” the company said.
TCN reiterated its warning to the public on the dangers of tampering with power infrastructure, noting that such facilities carry high voltage and pose severe safety hazards.
“The public is urged to safeguard power installations in their communities and promptly report suspicious activity to security agencies or the nearest TCN office,” the statement added.
PUNCH Online reports that in recent times, vandalism of the transmission infrastructures and distribution equipment has been a common occurrence in the country.
In January 2025, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said over N9bn was spent to restore vandalised power infrastructure in the northern part of Nigeria in 2024.
The Nigeria Basketball Federation has officially released a 17-man provisional roster for the senior men’s national team, D’Tigers, ahead of the 2025 FIBA Afrobasket tournament which will be held in Angola from August 12 to 24 PUNCH Online reports.
Headlining the squad list for the former AfroBasket champions, which was posted on the official X account of the Nigerian Men’s Nat’l Basketball Team on Wednesday, is Houston Rockets’ latest acquisition Josh Okogie, who is making a return to the national team set-up after a few years away.
The ex-Phoenix Suns guard represented Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup in China and at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Japan.
Meanwhile, 2025 Basketball Africa League winner Caleb Agada, who plies his trade with Libyan franchise Al Ahli Tripoli, is among the elite players who have been called up.
There is also room for experienced hands including Ike Nwamu, Mike Nuga and Talib Zanna, while Peter Olisemeka and Devine Eke who both featured in this year’s BAL tournament for Rivers Hoopers of Nigeria and ASCVD of Senegal respectively, have earned call-ups to the national team.
Completing the preliminary roster are Kareem Joseph, Wesley Iwundu, Ugochukwu Simon, Stanley Okoye, Folabomi Fayemi, Emmanuel Omogbo, Christian Mekowulu, Martins Igbanu, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, and Jekiri Tonye, while a notable absentee is experienced veteran Chimezie Metu, who is currently recovering from a long-term injury.
The 2015 continental champions last assembled in August 2023, during the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Lagos for the Paris 2024 summer Games which Nigeria ultimately failed to qualify for.
The team is expected to begin camping next week as preparations intensify, before the list is pruned to the final 12 players who will don the nation’s colours at the tournament.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group B alongside defending champions Tunisia, Cameroon and Madagascar. D’Tigers will begin their campaign with an opening game against Madagascar on August 13, before taking on Tunisia two days later.
They will wrap up the round-robin stage with a fixture against Cameroon on August 17. The knockout rounds will tip off on August 18 and conclude with the final which will be played at the Pavilhao Multiusos de Luanda on August 24.
France defended its decision to recognise Palestinian statehood amid domestic and international criticism on Friday, including against the charge that the move plays into the hands of militant group Hamas.
President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during a UN meeting in September, the most powerful European nation to announce such a move.
Macron’s announcement drew condemnation from Israel, which said it “rewards terror”, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it “reckless” and said it “only serves Hamas propaganda”.
Mike Huckabee, US ambassador to Israel, quipped that Macron did not say where a future Palestinian state would be located.
“I can now exclusively disclose that France will offer the French Riviera & the new nation will be called “Franc-en-Stine”, he said on X.
Hamas itself — which is designated a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union — praised the French initiative, saying it was “a positive step in the right direction toward doing justice to our oppressed Palestinian people”.
But French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Friday argued that Macron’s initiative went against what the militant group wanted.
“Hamas has always ruled out a two-state solution. By recognising Palestine, France goes against that terrorist organisation,” Barrot said on X.
With its decision, France was “backing the side of peace against the side of war”, Barrot added.
Domestic reactions ranged from praise on the left, condemnation on the right and awkward silence in the ranks of the government itself.
– ‘Counter-productive’, ‘pointless’ –
The leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, said the announcement was “rushed” and afforded Hamas “unexpected institutional and international legitimacy”.
On the other side of the political spectrum, Jean-Luc Melenchon, boss of the far-left France Unbowed party, called Macron’s announcement “a moral victory”, although he deplored that it did not take effect immediately.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, a right winger whose relationship with Macron is tense, declined on Friday to give his opinion, saying he was currently busy with an unrelated “serious topic” linked to the “security of French people on holiday”.
But the vice president of his party, Les Republicains, Xavier Bellamy, blasted the decision as possibly “counter-productive” or, at best, “pointless”.
The move risked “endangering Israeli civilians” as well as “Palestinian civilians who are victims of Hamas’s barbarism”, he said.
Bellamy said that Macron’s move was a departure from the president’s previously set conditions for recognition of Palestine, which included a Hamas de-militarisation, the movement’s exclusion from any future government, the liberation of all Israeli hostages in Gaza and the recognition of Israel by several Arab states.
“None of them have been met,” he said.
While France would be the most significant European country to recognise a Palestinian state, others have hinted they could do the same.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he would hold a call on Friday with counterparts in Germany and France on efforts to stop the fighting, adding that a ceasefire would “put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state”.
Norway, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia all announced recognition following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, along with several other non-European countries.
Once France follows through on its announcement, a total of at least 142 countries will have recognised Palestinian statehood.
A former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party and ex-Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has revealed that there is mounting pressure on the Osun Sate Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Oyinlola, in an interview on Arise News’ Prime News on Thursday, described the situation as a common trend where the ruling party exerts influence on elected officials, leading to defections.
“It feels horrible, I would say, but the fact is that there is always enormous pressure from the ruling party on all the elected officers, and that’s what is producing this defection on them,” Oyinlola said.
According to him, the Osun governor has resisted the move because it would amount to political suicide, given the APC’s dwindling popularity in the state.
“Why my governor has not gone was just because it would be a dilemma. APC has not fared well with the people of Osun State, and I can say that. Telling him to roll over to APC will mean ruining his political career because the people will not go along with that. He knows it,” he added.
While confirming that the pressure on the governor persists, Oyinlola dismissed any notion that he might be considering defection, describing himself as “a battle-tested general.”
“No amount of pressure will shake me off my post,” he said, boasting of his experience as a former military administrator, a civilian governor, and a PDP national secretary.
The Mediation Training Institute has called on Nigerians to make mediation a daily practice to resolve disputes peacefully and build stronger relationships at all levels of society.
In a statement to mark the International Day of Mediation on Thursday, the MTI President, Segun Ogunyannwo, said mediation should be viewed as an essential life skill rather than an occasional option.
“Mediation should not be like a garment that you put on whenever it suits you and put off when it does not serve your interest or purpose.
“In our thoughts, words, and deeds, we should reflect the high standards and ideals of the very fulfilling ministry of reconciliation—mediation,” he said.
He noted that the institute chose July 24 as symbolic, underscoring the message that mediation should be practised “24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
Ogunyannwo urged Nigerians to use mediation to address disputes in families, workplaces, communities, and business relationships, stressing its role in sustaining harmony in a conflict-prone society.
He also encouraged individuals to take practical steps by mediating real disputes on the day and sharing their experiences with the institute via email for recognition of their peacebuilding efforts.
“Mediation skills are life skills”, Ogunyannwo noted, adding that these skills are vital for managing differences, preserving relationships, and fostering peaceful co-existence.
He reminded mediators to uphold confidentiality and respect privacy in all interventions, stating that the International Day of Mediation continues to serve as a platform to promote dialogue, tolerance, and reconciliation across Nigeria.
Kano State Government has conveyed 588 students to 15 northern states under the Students Exchange Programme for the commencement of the 2024/2025 third term holiday.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Enlightenment, Kano State Ministry of Education, Balarabe Kiru, on Thursday in Kano.
According to the statement, the students, comprising both males and females, are transported to various states participating in the programme.
It said the states include Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Jigawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Taraba, Yobe, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Gombe, Borno, Niger, Plateau, and Kwara.
It said that Kano was one of the 17 northern states involved in the initiative aimed at promoting unity and cultural integration among the participating states.
The statement, quoting the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation of the ministry, Auwal Muhammad Mustapha, said the government, under the leadership of Gov. Abba Yusuf, had provided all necessary logistics to ensure a smooth exercise.
Mustapha stated that the governor had provided all the necessary financial support to ease their work and ensure the safe transportation of the students to their respective states.
He also commended the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, for the support given to the programme, considering its significance in promoting unity among the northern states.
He appreciated the cooperation of parents and other stakeholders in making the Students Exchange Programme more effective and beneficial.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adeleye, on Thursday, called for stronger collaboration among women in the South-West to close the gender disparity gap, strengthen families, and enhance women’s empowerment for a more stable and prosperous nation.
Adeleye made the call in Abeokuta while speaking at the Pre-Council Workshop for the Ministries of Women Affairs in the South-West zone, held in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The workshop is part of preparations for the 25th National Council of Women Affairs, slated to be held in Edo State later this year.
The commissioner described the workshop as more than a routine meeting, but rather a convergence of purpose—a call to action and an opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and realign collective strategies for empowering women, protecting the vulnerable, and strengthening families and communities.
“At a time when gender disparities continue to hinder collective advancement, this forum provides fertile ground for robust dialogue, policy brainstorming, and experience-sharing that will shape the outcomes of the forthcoming National Council of Women Affairs”, Adeleye stated.
She added, “Here in Ogun State, we take pride in our commitment to inclusive governance. Our Ministry has continued to implement impactful initiatives focused on gender equity, economic empowerment, child protection, and support for the elderly and persons with disabilities.
“But we know that no state can walk this journey alone. Collaboration, as we are witnessing here today, is the soul of progress. I therefore urge us to engage deeply, speak boldly, and listen intently.”
Adeleye urged participants to let their conversations be guided by facts, driven by compassion, and rooted in the vision of a Nigeria where women are not just seen but heard, respected, and empowered.
“Let us challenge ourselves to leave here not just with reports and recommendations, but with renewed resolve and actionable plans that will transform lives in every corner of our region,” she added.
Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr Maryam Keshinro, emphasised the importance of the workshop, noting that it allows for critical brainstorming and knowledge-sharing on how to improve the lives of women across the country.
Represented by Ameh Esther from the ministry, Keshinro said the deliberations would focus on the presidential priority areas of the Renewed Hope Agenda, especially as they relate to actualising the presidential mandate for women, children, families, and vulnerable groups.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Adejumoke Adewole, said the workshop offered a valuable opportunity to reflect, deliberate, and assess the progress made in advancing the rights and well-being of women and the girl child in Nigeria.
Adewole added that the state government is proud of its proactive measures, including the establishment of Gender Desk Officers across ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as relevant local government areas. These measures have created referral pathways for survivors of gender-based violence and run grassroots awareness campaigns
Thousands of UK doctors launched a five-day strike early Friday after talks with the Labour government for a new pay increase failed to reach a deal.
Doctors were out on picket lines outside hospitals after negotiations with the government went down the wire late Thursday, without reaching an accord.
The move comes after the doctors accepted a pay rise offer totalling 22.3 per cent over two years in September, soon after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour party took power.
Resident doctors — those below consultant level — have said they felt they had “no choice” but to strike again to reverse “pay erosion” since 2008.
Starmer on Friday appealed to the doctors, saying patients were being put at risk and the strikes would “cause real damage”.
Launching a strike “will mean everyone loses,” Starmer wrote in the Times, highlighting the added strain it would put on the already struggling National Health Service (NHS).
He appealed to the doctors not to “follow” their union, the British Medical Association (BMA) “down this damaging road. Our NHS and your patients need you” .
“Lives will be blighted by this decision,” Starmer warned.
But the junior doctors have said their pay in real terms has eroded more than 21 per cent over the past two decades.
“We’re not working 21 per cent less hard so why should our pay suffer?” said the co-chairs of the BMA’s resident doctors committee Melissa Ryan and Ross Nieuwoudt in a statement.
Last year’s doctors’ strikes, which saw tens of thousands of appointments cancelled and treatment delayed, were among a series of public and private sector walk-outs over pay and conditions as inflation soared.
Health minister Wes Streeting also appealed to doctors to reverse their position, saying in a letter published in The Telegraph that the government “cannot afford to go further on pay this year”.
The previous Conservative government last year resisted the BMA’s demands for a 35-perc ent “pay restoration” to reflect real-term inflation over the last decade.
Last year, Labour moved to draw a line under a series of disputes reaching pay offers to public sector workers including teachers and train drivers.
Those included a 15 per cent pay deal over three years for train drivers, which was heavily criticised by the Conservative opposition.
