General
Anambra Guber: PDP Group Endorses John Emeka as Its Candidate
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
With less than two days to the PDP governorship primary election in Anambra State, the national leadership of the PDP Prayer Network has endorsed Prince John Okechukwu Emeka as its candidate for this Saturday’s election.
A statement issued by National Coordinator of the group, Mr Emmanuel Chukwu, explained that, “Our decision to endorse and mobilise supports for Prince John Emeka stemmed from the fact that he is the only person among the aspirants contesting for PDP governorship ticket for Anambra State that showed genuine concern and support to our move in seeking the face of God to end the internal crisis that threatened the existence of our great party.
“When our team visited the fair-weather members of the party who are now aspirants to solicit their support for our National Day of Prayer in February this year, they all told our team that PDP was dead and buried thinking that peace can never return to the party again.”
Mr Chukwu noted that, “Prince John Emeka is the only PDP aspirant from Anambra State that supported our members who went to the Holy Land of Jerusalem and Mecca to pray to God to end the crisis in our party and to reposition it for victory ahead of the 2019 Presidential race.
“Therefore, we are surprised to see people who did not contribute anything for the growth of the party to come and reap from where they did not sow. This is against the law of nature which says, man must reap from what he sow.
“However, it is a nationwide fact that on February 26 this year, we declared a national day of fasting and prayer for the party since all man-made solutions has failed to end the crisis.
“Because these aspirants never believed that PDP will one day return to glory let alone contributing anything towards the growth of the party both at the state and at the national level, we are asking them to withdraw and support Prince John Emeka who has what it takes to win Anambra State for the PDP ahead of the 2019 general elections.”
“We are also asking the National Working Committee members of our great party headed by our great leader, Senator Ahmed Makarfi who is the immediate beneficiary of our spiritual endeavour and services to use the power given to him by our party’s constitution to adopt Prince John Emeka as PDP Consensus candidate for Anambra State so that other party members would learn how to support the party in times of crisis,” he said.
Mr Chukwu explained that, “This will also serve as deterrent to other no-supportive members that if they contributed nothing to the party in moments of crisis, then they should expect no dividends in times of peace.
“We also call on our members in Anambra State and other loyal party faithful as well as delegates to vote for Prince John Emeka on Saturday; should these aspirants refuse to withdraw from the race.
“Our position is not a witch-hunt, but an act that will support the party’s quest for supremacy above members as well as rebuilding and repositioning it for victory in 2019 general elections.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the latest United States airstrikes on Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) targets in northwest Nigeria were conducted at the request of the Nigerian government.
According to reports, the US struck at ISWAP targets in Jabo, Sokoto State, on Christmas night.
The ministry described the operation as a product of established counterterrorism cooperation between both countries.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the Ministry said the strikes were “undertaken following formal engagement and with the full knowledge and coordination of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“The Government of Nigeria wishes to clarify that the airstrikes conducted by the United States against Islamic State elements in parts of northwest Nigeria were carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and in line with existing bilateral security cooperation frameworks,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that Nigeria “remains firmly in control of all counterterrorism operations within its sovereign territory,” adding that international partners only provide support “where such assistance aligns with Nigeria’s national security objectives.”
According to the statement, the strikes form part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to “degrade terrorist capabilities, disrupt logistics networks, and protect civilian populations from violent extremist threats.”
The Foreign Ministry further emphasised that the federal government “will continue to work with trusted international partners to confront terrorism, banditry, and transnational criminal networks that threaten national and regional stability.”
Reacting to concerns around sovereignty, the Ministry said:
“At no time was Nigeria’s sovereignty compromised. All actions were conducted with due respect for Nigeria’s laws, institutions, and command structures.”
The statement also cautioned against mischaracterising Nigeria’s security challenges, noting that extremist violence “has affected communities across religious and ethnic lines and should not be framed in sectarian terms.”
Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to a multi-layered response combining military operations, intelligence sharing, community engagement, and socio-economic interventions, adding that counterterrorism efforts remain focused on protecting lives and restoring stability.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes were carried out in Sokoto State and that multiple militants were killed.
US President Donald Trump described the strikes as “powerful and deadly,” saying they were directed at Islamic State militants responsible for violent attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government has clearly denied that only Christians are affected by the killings, saying the terror spread across all faiths.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that “more to come” as part of sustained efforts against extremist groups.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The United States government gave some terrorists in Nigeria a Christmas gift that sent many of them to the great beyond.
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, the United States President, Mr Donald Trump, directed his country’s military to launch air strikes on camps of members of the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in Sokoto State.
According to Mr Trump, the military action, which he threatened to carry out a few weeks ago if the Nigerian government does not stop the killing of Christians in the country, occurred on Thursday night.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Department of War of the United States posted the below video of the air strikes;
https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2004351717131903272
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The presidency has reacted to speculations that Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has been removed as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
It was alleged that Mr Gbajabiamila has been replaced with the President’s Principal Private Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola.
Mr Muri-Okunola went to Abuja to take up this role after leaving as the Head of Service of the Lagos State Civil Service.
Reacting to the reports on social media on the purported removal of Mr Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, the presidency said no such change has been made.
In a statement signed on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, members of the public were advised to disregard the report as “there is absolutely no truth to this story.”
“The Chief of Staff remains in his position. The Principal Private Secretary likewise remains in his role. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has not replaced Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff.
“The viral claim is a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.
“We reiterate that news media should always verify their information before publishing or sharing on social media,” the statement said.
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