President Bola Tinubu would on June 12 confer national honours on selected legislators in commemoration of Democracy Day.
This is contained in a statement by the House Spokesman, Akin Rotimi Jr., in Abuja on Sunday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the leadership and members of the House of Representatives will participate in a Special Joint Sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12.
The President who is expected to be the special guest of honour will address the joint sitting of the legislators.
“The programme will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly and the conferment of national honours on select legislators by Mr President,” Rotimi said.
The House spokesman said that the theme for this year’s celebration is “26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”
Rotimi explained that the joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
He said that it underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.
Rotimi urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation.
Ukraine said on Sunday that a planned exchange of captured soldiers would start “next week”, after both sides accused each other of trying to thwart and delay the swap.
“The start of repatriation activities based on the results of the negotiations in Istanbul is scheduled for next week,” the head of Ukraine’s defence intelligence Kyrylo Budanov said on social media.
Ukraine and Russia on June 2 agreed to a fresh exchange of POWs. They also agreed to take back the bodies of killed soldiers.
The Peoples Democratic Party is set to overhaul its South-South zonal and state structures in a sweeping move aimed at flushing out disloyal members and forestalling further defections.
A member of the PDP’s National Working Committee, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the planned restructuring was part of renewed efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to the source, the party is “clearly displeased” with the spate of defections in recent weeks and is ready to take firm action.
“This will not be business as usual. When the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and former governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, left, the NWC met and resolved to challenge their defection in court. That process is ongoing. As for Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, who defected on Saturday, the party will act after the Sallah break,” the source said.
“These defections damage the party’s internal structure because most of these leaders have their loyalists occupying key positions at state and zonal levels. The party must now clean the house. We will overhaul the South-South leadership to ensure only committed members remain in charge. No more space for political opportunists who will jump ship at the slightest discomfort.”
The PDP has faced internal turbulence since the 2023 general elections.
With no clear resolution in sight, the party has continued to lose high-profile members to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
On April 23, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and other key party leaders dumped the party.
After months of behind-the-scenes talks with APC leaders, Governor Eno and several officials also formally defected last weekend.
The wave of defections has dealt a major blow to the party’s image and weakened its electoral base ahead of the 2027 polls.
Reacting to Eno’s defection, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, urged disloyal members planning to jump ship to do so quickly, so loyalists could focus on rebuilding the party.
“No political party, whether big or small, will be happy to lose assets, especially priced assets like a sitting governor from a critical state such as Akwa Ibom. So yes, the PDP received the news with mixed feelings,” Osadolor said.
“But at this stage in our national life, what Nigeria needs are sincere patriots committed to nation-building, not political merchants chasing personal gains. It is sad that the men we once looked up to as beacons of integrity have turned out to be nothing but overhyped figures, big men in oversized shoes and garments who cannot meet the basic standards of integrity.”
Osadolor criticised Eno, a cleric, for prioritising political survival over public welfare.
“The truth is, given his background, many had hoped his worldview on governance would be shaped by compassion, service, and truth. But it appears the welfare of Nigerians is not his concern. His focus, clearly, is securing a second term,” he said.
The PDP deputy national youth leader, however, expressed optimism that the defections would make it easier for Nigerians to reject the APC in 2027.
“In an interview earlier this year, I said those looking for transport fare to leave should hurry up. And if they need help, they can come to Wadata Plaza, we’ll be glad to escort them out. Let them go quickly so the party can heal and rebuild.
“It’s better they leave now than linger as saboteurs. Those of us who truly believe in this party are ready to reposition it. All hope is not lost.”
President Bola Tinubu will address a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday, June 12, at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Democracy Day is observed in Nigeria on June 12 in honour of the June 12,1993 presidential election seen by many as the most credible poll ever conducted in the history of post independent Nigeria.
The election was won by the late Moshood Abiola but was annulled by the military regime of Gen Ibrahim Babangida (retd).
In a statement issued on Sunday by the House of Representatives Spokesman, Akin Rotimi, noted that the event was formally conveyed to members via an internal memorandum issued by the House Clerk, Yahaya Danzaria.
“The Special joint sitting is scheduled to hold at the House of Representatives Chamber, National Assembly Complex, commencing at 11:00 AM, with preliminary proceedings ahead of the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at 12:00 noon.
“The theme for this year’s celebration is: ’26 years of democracy: Renewing our commitment to national development.” President Tinubu is expected to attend the occasion as Special Guest of Honour and will deliver a presidential address to the joint sitting,” the statement read in part.
It also noted that the programme will feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly and the conferment of National Honours on select legislators by the President.
It further stated that,”This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
“It underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”
The House of Representatives in the statement urges all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for “reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation.”
Some members of the All Progressives Congress in Yaba Local Council Development Area of Lagos State have kicked against the alleged imposition of a chairmanship candidate for the upcoming July 12 local government elections.
They accused a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Senator Anthony Adefuye, of imposing his son, Bayo Adefuye, on them as the flagbearer of the APC in the LCDA.
In separate petitions addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Chairman of GAC, Tajudeen Olusi, the aggrieved members lamented what they called an “undemocratic” and “unacceptable” attempt to sideline grassroots aspirants.
The petitions were signed by Domingo Babajide from Ward A, Kemi Aboyarin (Ward B), Adediran Olorunnimbe (Ward C), Taoreed Abiona (Ward D), and Alani Ifatokun (Ward E).
They claimed that Adefuye hailed from Somolu LCDA and had no prior political affiliation with Yaba LCDA until his brief appointment as Sole Administrator, which lasted less than a year.
The aggrieved APC members insisted that there was no primary election in the LCDA, just as no consensus meeting was held among all aspirants.
This, according to them, directly contradicts both the letter and spirit of APC’s internal democratic principles.
“The attitude of Senator Adefuye to impose his son on us in Yaba at all costs is not only worrisome but also amounts to selfishness. While we have more than 12 aspirants jostling for the seat of Yaba LCDA, Senator Adefuye suddenly encouraged his son to come and indicate his interest to contest the seat.
“We embrace APC, we love our President, but we will not accept Adebayo Adefuye in this local government (Yaba LCDA),” the petitioners said.
They appealed to Tinubu and the GAC chairman to intervene in the matter before it degenerates into a crisis that might cost the party victory in the election.
Reacting, Adefuye dismissed the allegations, describing the petitioners as “losers” with no political relevance.
In an interview with Sunday PUNCH, Adefuye insisted that his son hailed from Yaba LCDA and had been politically active in the area, saying, “This is not the first time he (Bayo) will be contesting in that local government area, and the leaders in Yaba are all behind him.
“I don’t want to be involved in the issue. Anybody is free to write a petition; they have written petitions in nearly all the local government areas. Until will go back to doing it the way it should be done, there won’t be petitions again, but as long as we continue to do it this way, there will always be petitions.
“What we did was to try and choose the best candidate by whatever method, without fighting. They said if we conduct a primary election, there will be a fight, but that fight will only last for a day because everybody will know who won.
“All these people writing petitions, can they win in that local government, can they defeat him (Bayo)? He defeated them during the House of Assembly primaries, but it was Asiwaju (Tinubu) who appealed to him to forgo the ticket, and he was compensated with the position he is today.”
Former military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), has said the Biafra civil war was never his choice.
Gowon was presiding over the affairs of Nigeria during the civil war from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970.
He described the civil war as the most difficult period of his life.
The former ruler spoke after he was honoured with a Life Time Integrity and Achievement Award at the fifth convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship, Abuja Anglican Diocese on Saturday in Abuja.
He also disclosed that his decision to prosecute the Biafra civil war was never born out of hatred.
Gowon explained that he prosecuted the civil war due to the urgency to preserve national unity.
The former Nigerian ruler called for forgiveness, reconciliation and unity across faiths and ethnicities.
He said, “I always remember the civil war. It was the most difficult period of my life.
“It was not my choice, but I had to be there, and had to do what I did in order to keep this country together.
“It was never a hatred against any people, I can assure you.”
Reflecting on life after that period, the former Head of State stressed that his decisions had often been guided by prayers and a desire to act with integrity and compassion.
“As far as this heart is concerned, everything that I do, it is through prayers.
“I ask God to help me to do the right thing the way He thinks it should be done, with love and respect for all the people.
“That is why at the end, what do we have to say? As they say: no victor, no vanquished,” he added
The Kano State Government has expressed sympathy to traders affected by the fire that gutted parts of the Farm Centre GSM Market on Sallah day, pledging its commitment to support them in recovering their losses.
The state Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, said this in a a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Shuaibu, on Saturday.
He described the incident as devastating, not only to the affected traders but also to the wider economic fabric of the state.
The inferno, which occurred at Dan Sulaika Plaza—one of the busiest sections of the market—destroyed several shops and merchandise worth millions of naira, affecting traders who deal in mobile phones, accessories, and computer gadgets.
“This is a deeply saddening event.
“Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is extremely concerned, and we stand in solidarity with those who have lost their means of livelihood.
“The state government is committed and shall explore ways to support the victims to mitigate their loss,” the deputy governor said.
Gwarzo noted that the incident struck at the heart of Kano’s commercial life, particularly as it happened during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations when business activities typically peak.
He assured the victims that the government would not abandon them in their time of need.
“The government will provide the necessary support to ensure our traders bounce back.
“We share in their pain and understand the critical role this market plays in the economy of Kano State,” he added.
He further disclosed that the Yusuf-led administration is working on sustainable strategies to prevent similar disasters in the future, particularly in markets across the state.
“The government is actively reviewing fire safety measures, building standards, and emergency preparedness protocols to enhance resilience in our commercial centres.
“We will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure a safer trading environment,” Gwarzo said.
He also urged market unions, traders’ associations, and other stakeholders to partner with the government in implementing safety guidelines and enhancing awareness on fire prevention.
The Farm Centre GSM Market, situated in Tarauni Local Government Area, is a major hub for technology and communication gadgets in Kano, serving buyers from within and outside the state.
Donald Trump said on Saturday that his relationship with his billionaire donor Elon Musk is over and warned there would be “serious consequences” if Musk funds U.S. Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the president’s sweeping tax and spending bill.
In a telephone interview with NBC News, Trump declined to say what those consequences would be, and went on to add that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Musk.
Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah.”
“No,” Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Musk.
“I have no intention of speaking to him,” Trump said.
However, Trump said he had not thought about terminating U.S. government contracts with Musk’s StarLink satellite internet or SpaceX rocket launch companies.
Musk and Trump began exchanging insults this week, as Musk denounced Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination”.
Musk’s opposition to the measure complicated efforts to pass the legislation in Congress, where Republicans hold only slim majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
The bill narrowly passed the House last month and is now before the Senate, where Trump’s fellow Republicans are considering making changes.
Nonpartisan analysts estimate the measure would add $2.4 trillion to the $36.2 trillion U.S. debt over 10 years, which worries many lawmakers, including some Republicans who are fiscal hawks.
Musk also declared it was time for a new political party in the United States “to represent the 80 per cent in the middle!”
Trump said on Saturday he is confident the bill would get passed by the U.S. July 4 Independence Day holiday.
“In fact, yeah, people that were, were going to vote for it are now enthusiastically going to vote for it, and we expect it to pass,” Trump told NBC.
Republicans have strongly backed Trump’s initiatives since he began his second term as president on Jan. 20.
While some Republican lawmakers have made comments to the news media expressing concern about some of Trump’s choices, they have yet to vote down any of his policies or nominations.
Musk has deleted some social media posts critical of Trump, including one that signaled support for impeaching the president, appearing to seek a de-escalation of their public feud which exploded on Thursday.
During his first term as president, the House, then controlled by Democrats, twice voted to impeach Trump but the Senate both times acquitted him.
The White House and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday on the deleted posts.
People who have spoken to Musk said his anger has begun to recede and they thought he would want to repair his relationship with Trump.
One of the X posts that Musk appeared to have deleted was a response to another user posting: “President vs Elon. Who wins? My money’s on Elon. Trump should be impeached and (Vice President) JD Vance should replace him.” Musk had written “yes.”
On Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast – recorded on Thursday as the feud between Trump and Musk unfolded and released on Saturday – Vance called Musk’s criticism of Trump a “huge mistake.”
“I’m always going to be loyal to the president, and I hope that eventually Elon kind of comes back into the fold. Maybe that’s not possible now because he’s gone so nuclear.
But I hope it is,” said Vance, describing Musk as an “incredible entrepreneur.”
Trump is due to attend an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight card on Saturday in New Jersey.
Since his second election win, he has attended two previous UFC mixed martial arts fight cards with Musk. Musk is not expected to attend on Saturday.
Musk, the world’s richest man, bankrolled a large part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly 300 million dollars in last year’s U.S. elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate.
Trump named Musk to head an effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending, lauding him at the White House only about a week ago for his work as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk cut only about half of one per cent of total spending, far short of his brash plans to axe two trillion dollars from the federal budget.
Zambia on Saturday declared seven days of national mourning in honour of the country’s former president Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa on Thursday, the government said.
Lungu, who died at the age of 68, ruled the large but sparsely populated southern African nation from January 2015 until August 2021, when he lost to current President Hakainde Hichilema.
“The government of the Republic of Zambia wishes to inform the nation that President Hakainde Hichilema has accorded a state funeral to the sixth president, Edgar Lungu, who died on 5 June,” said the secretary to the cabinet, Patrick Kangwa.
The government announced that all flags would fly at half-mast from June 8 to 14 and that entertainment events would be suspended during that time.
Kangwa said that the body of Lungu would arrive in Zambia next Wednesday and that Belvedere Lodge in the capital, Lusaka, had been designated as the official place of mourning.
Lungu was receiving specialised medical treatment in a clinic in Pretoria, South Africa, his political party, the Patriotic Front (PF), said.
He was suffering from recurring achalasia, a condition caused by narrowing of the oesophagus.
Nigerian constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, Professor Mike Ozekhome, (SAN), has advocated for improved funding and incentives for the nation’s judiciary, warning that continued neglect could undermine justice delivery.
During an interview on Channels Television’s “Hard Copy” program on Saturday, Ozekhome highlighted the deplorable conditions of many Nigerian courts, describing them as “dilapidated infrastructure” where judges often have to write proceedings with longhand.
He linked the judiciary’s struggles to the wider societal challenges, asserting that “garbage in, garbage out” applies to the justice system.
“We saw the visuals of some of the courts I wouldn’t sit there, but is the place where we are calling a hall of justice and these places are dilapidated infrastructure.
“The judiciary has been ignored for too long,” Ozekhome stated.
He emphasised that judges, being human beings, live in the same society where corruption is pervasive. To insulate them from such pressures, he argued, they must be “treated respectfully” and “well funded.”
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria acknowledged recent efforts by the current government to improve judicial remuneration, noting a new law from last year that saw Supreme Court justices’ salaries increase to approximately N54m per annum, or about N5.3m monthly.
While acknowledging that this might not fully offset the impact of inflation, he deemed it a “leap forward.”
However, Ozekhome stressed that more needs to be done.
He quoted an old adage saying, “A corrupt judge is more dangerous than a man armed with a dagger,” explaining that while a man with a dagger can be physically restrained, a corrupt judge “destroys the moral fiber of the society.”
He underlined the critical role of the judiciary in delivering justice between individuals and between citizens and the government, reiterating the necessity for judges to be sufficiently cared for to resist corruption and uphold the integrity of the justice system.
Ozekhome’s comments came in the wake of the recent suspension of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria strike, which had been prompted by demands for better wages and improved working conditions.
