The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened talks with the two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the party’s lingering leadership crisis.

The meeting is taking place at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja and is aimed at addressing internal disputes threatening the party’s stability.

This emergency engagement brings together representatives of the factions led by Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed.

The Mohammed faction is widely known to be backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the Turaki group claims recognition by key party structures.

Sources within the commission confirmed that the meeting is part of INEC’s effort to clarify the leadership status of the PDP and prevent further confusion ahead of future electoral activities.

The commission is said to be concerned about conflicting communications and submissions from the party.

Tanimu Turaki arrived at the meeting with several members of his National Working Committee.

Also present in his delegation were officials of the party secretariat and former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who is regarded as a key stakeholder within the PDP.

On the other side, Abdulrahman Mohammed led members of the PDP’s national caretaker committee to the meeting.

Among those in his team was the committee’s secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, alongside other senior figures aligned with the faction.

The closed-door meeting is expected to focus on documentation, leadership claims, and possible pathways toward resolving the internal rift that has divided the opposition party in recent months.

INEC officials are reportedly seeking clarity to determine which faction holds legitimate authority to act on behalf of the PDP.

As of the time of filing this report, discussions were still ongoing, and no official statement had been released by INEC or the PDP factions.

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President Donald Trump has ordered an immediate suspension of the United States’ diversity visa program, popularly known as the green card lottery.

This follows the deadly shootings at Brown University and the killing of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The suspension was announced on Thursday by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said she was acting at the direct instruction of the president.

In a post on the social media platform X, Noem said the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) had been directed to pause the program, which grants permanent residency through a lottery system.

What she said 

‘’The Brown University shooter, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente entered the United States through the diversity lottery immigrant visa program (DV1) in 2017 and was granted a green card. This heinous individual should never have been allowed in our country.  

‘’In 2017, President Trump fought to end this program, following the devastating NYC truck ramming by an ISIS terrorist, who entered under the DV1 program, and murdered eight people.  At President Trump’s direction, I am immediately directing USCIS to pause the DV1 program to ensure no more Americans are harmed by this disastrous program.’’ 

U.S. authorities have identified the suspect as Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national. He is believed to be responsible for a shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine others, as well as the fatal shooting of an MIT professor.

Officials said Neves Valente was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing an end to a manhunt that had gripped parts of the northeastern United States.

According to court documents, Neves Valente first entered the U.S. in 2000 on a student visa to attend Brown University. He reportedly took a leave of absence in 2001. Years later, in 2017, he obtained a diversity immigrant visa and was granted lawful permanent resident status. Authorities said it remains unclear where he lived or what activities he engaged in during the years between leaving school and receiving the green card.

What you should know 

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has been excluded from the U.S. Diversity Visa program for several years because it is classified as a “high-admission” country. Under the rules of the program, countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years through family-sponsored or employment-based visas are not eligible.

This is designed to preserve the lottery’s original goal of promoting immigration diversity from countries with low historical migration to the United States. As a result, Nigerians born in Nigeria cannot participate in the lottery, although some exceptions exist for those born abroad or with eligible parents.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program awards up to 50,000 visas annually through a random lottery. Selected applicants must still undergo extensive background checks, interviews, and security screening before receiving permanent residency.

Suspending the program is part of a wider series of immigration measures by the Trump administration, often implemented in response to violent incidents attributed to lax immigration policies. Earlier, the administration restricted immigration from developing countries following an attack by an Afghan national on National Guard soldiers in Washington.

Additionally, the administration has proposed a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, implemented extended vetting for tourists, intensified deportation efforts in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, and planned to expand immigration detention facilities with new “mega centres” across the country.

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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reportedly introduced a new policy that would require generator owners in Abuja to pay fees for noise pollution.

Residents concerned over noise pollution tax

The notice, recently displayed at a business office in Zone 11, FCT, signals the government’s intention to regulate noise levels caused by private power generation.

Many residents and business owners have expressed concern, arguing that generators are a necessity due to the city’s inconsistent electricity supply.

“In Abuja, we rely on generators because there is no guarantee of stable power. Penalising us for that feels unfair,” said Chinedu Okafor, a small business owner in the city centre.

Potential impact on small businesses

The policy appears to target individual generator users rather than providing a broader solution to the city’s electricity challenges.

The administration has not yet released details on how fees will be calculated or enforced, leaving many residents anxious about possible penalties.

Balancing regulation and necessity

Environmental advocates argue that noise pollution is a valid concern, but they emphasise that any regulation must consider citizens’ reliance on generators for daily operations.

Some residents hope the government will explore alternative solutions, such as incentives for cleaner energy options, before fully implementing the tax.

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Professor of Law, Auwalu H. Yadudu, has raised grave concerns over what he described as an alleged usurpation of the National Assembly’s legislative powers following discrepancies between tax laws passed by lawmakers and the versions later gazetted by the Federal Government.

In a detailed commentary, Prof. Yadudu said his review of a document summarising differences between the Acts passed by the National Assembly and the gazetted copies had led him to an “inescapable conclusion” that elements within the Executive arm of government may have unilaterally altered the laws in pursuit of a tax reform agenda by executive fiat.

His intervention followed a motion raised on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday by Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki (Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State), who alleged a breach of legislative privilege. Dasuki told the House that provisions of four tax bills debated, harmonised, and passed by both chambers of the National Assembly were materially different from those contained in the official Gazette.

Prof. Yadudu said such alterations, if verified, strike at the heart of constitutional governance. “For how else can one explain extensive review and alteration of laws that were publicly debated, subjected to public hearings, and duly passed, to now insert entirely new provisions or remove those lawfully adopted?” he asked.

Highlighting examples from the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Yadudu pointed to changes affecting provisions on petroleum income tax and value-added tax, which he said negated legislative consensus and introduced internal inconsistencies. He also cited a provision in the gazetted version mandating the use of the United States dollar as the sole currency for computing tax obligations, contrary to the law passed, which allows computations in any currency relevant to the transaction.

According to him, the gazetted law further introduced a new requirement compelling taxpayers to pay 20 per cent of a disputed tax assessment before they can file an appeal — a provision not contained in the Act passed by the National Assembly and one he described as potentially unconstitutional.

Yadudu also criticised provisions granting tax authorities garnishee powers without court orders, warning that such measures undermine procedural fairness and judicial oversight. He noted that while the law passed by lawmakers requires court orders for garnishee actions, the gazetted version exempts some tax authorities from this requirement.

“These are only a few of the discrepancies observed,” Yadudu said, adding that more may exist across the other tax reform laws. He warned that the credibility of the entire tax reform exercise had been “utterly undermined” and that public trust, already fragile, had suffered further damage.

He called for an open and thorough investigation by both chambers of the National Assembly to determine who authorised the changes and how they were effected. He also questioned the wisdom of the proposed January 1, 2026 commencement date for the tax reforms, arguing that enforcing laws under a cloud of alleged illegality would expose the government to avoidable litigation and uncertainty.

“Proceeding in the face of these allegations risks dignifying impunity and further subverting legislative autonomy,” Yadudu said, urging restraint until the matter is fully resolved.

Rep. Dasuki had earlier told the House that after comparing the gazetted laws with the Votes and Proceedings and harmonised versions adopted by both chambers, he discovered inconsistencies that, in his view, amounted to a breach of legislative privilege.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently presiding over an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ahead of the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The meeting, holding at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, is coming just hours after the President formally notified the National Assembly of his intention to present the 2026 budget estimates at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Speaking at the opening of the Council meeting, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the emergency session was convened to give final approval to the 2026 budget proposals before their presentation to the lawmakers.

He explained that the meeting was meant to “put the stamp of approval” on the budget estimates to be laid before the National Assembly by the President.

The development follows the Council’s meeting of December 3, during which the FEC reviewed and approved key parameters of the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

At that meeting, the Council approved an oil price benchmark of $64.85 per barrel and a budget exchange rate of ₦1,512 to one United States dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.

Under the three-year MTEF projections for 2026–2028, gross Federation revenue for 2026 was estimated at ₦50.74 trillion.

Of this amount, the Federal Government is projected to receive ₦22.60 trillion, while states and local governments are expected to receive ₦16.30 trillion and ₦11.85 trillion, respectively.

Briefing journalists after the Council meeting, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, disclosed that the FEC also approved a crude oil production benchmark of 2.06 million barrels per day for 2026.

He, however, said a more conservative production estimate of 1.8 million barrels per day would be adopted for budgetary planning.

Those in attendance at the meeting included Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Ministers and other members of the Federal Executive Council are also present.

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By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, ABUJA

The Supreme Court, on Friday, dismissed as lacking in merit an appeal the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, filed to query the leadership of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

The Commission, through its team of lawyers, sought to set aside the October 17 judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld an order that compelled it to include SDP candidates in by-elections that were conducted across 12 states of the federation.

INEC faulted the appellant court for affirming the judgement of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025, which was instituted against it by the SDP.

SDP had, in the suit, challenged the refusal of INEC to recognise its candidates for the by-elections, after they emerged through primaries that were monitored by the electoral body.

On its part, INEC contended that letters and notices that were sent to it, on behalf of the party, were invalid.

According to the Commission, the correspondences were signed by the Acting National Chairman of SDP, Dr Sadiq Umar Abubakar, and the National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye.

It noted that the duo were previously suspended by the party.

It was INEC’s position that internal party suspensions invalidated all the letters that Dr Abubakar and Dr Agunloye signed, including the nomination of candidates for the by-elections.

Meanwhile, following SDP’s legal action, the high court ordered that all its candidates should be recognised and included in the ballot.

Even though INEC complied with the high court order, it, however, took the matter before the appellate court.

In a unanimous decision, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko dismissed the appeal and upheld the high court verdict.

Not happy with the outcome, INEC lodged the appeal, which the Supreme Court also dismissed on Friday.

A five-member panel of the apex court declared that the appeal had turned into an academic exercise, noting that elections had since been held with all the winners sworn in.

In the lead judgement that was prepared by Justice Mohammed Idris, the Supreme Court said it found no reason to dislodge the concurrent findings of the two lower courts.

“The substratum of this appeal has been dissipated,” the panel held, saying, “Courts do not engage in interventions on academic questions.”

It held that there was nothing upon which the apex court could exercise its adjudicatory powers.

Stressing the absence of any live matter for determination, the Supreme Court declined questions on interpretation of the Electoral Act, saying the issues could not be resolved in a vacuum.

Aside from dismissing the appeal, the court awarded a N2 million cost against INEC’s lawyer.

The post Supreme Court dismisses INEC’s appeal against SDP, awards N2m cost appeared first on Vanguard News.

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A Cameroonian woman, Kelly Maffo, has been defrauded in the Ibafo area of Ogun State under the guise of visa processing.

The case of obtaining money under false pretences, involving the female Cameroonian national who was allegedly defrauded of over N2 million, was reported at the Ibafo Division of the Ogun State Police Command on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at about 3:00 p.m.

Upon realising she had been deceived and abandoned along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway by the suspects, the victim reportedly sought help at the nearest police station, where officers immediately received her and commenced investigations.

Sources said the police response was swift, professional, and compassionate. Detectives promptly swung into action to trace the suspects, while the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ibafo Division, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ajayi, personally intervened to ensure the victim’s welfare.

In an exceptional show of humanity and leadership, the DPO reportedly funded Maffo’s transport back to the airport, ensuring her safety and that she did not miss her scheduled flight.

The Command told The Guardian that efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects are ongoing, and further updates should be expected. The incident has been described by observers as a strong reflection of the people-friendly, responsive, and service-driven posture of the Ogun State Police Command.

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, commended the DPO and other officers for their response.
Calling for support, CP Ogunlowo said: “I urge members of the public to remain vigilant and law-abiding, and to support the Police with credible information. The Ogun State Police Command remains fully prepared to ensure a safe, peaceful state.”

In other news, one person has died in an auto crash that occurred on Thursday in Ijuri along Agbara/Lisada Expressway in Ogun State. One other person also sustained varying degrees of injuries from the accident.
Vehicles involved in the crash are a Forklift and a Motorcycle.

Spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed this to newsmen in a statement on Friday in Abeokuta.

Akinbiyi said that four people (three male adults and one female adult) were involved in the crash, with one injured and the other dying on the spot.

He said the accident was caused by the forklift driver, who lost control and rammed into the oncoming motorcycle.
The TRACE PRO said that its operatives were on the ground for a rescue mission, saying that the injured victim had been taken to the hospital by a good Samaritan.

He added that the dead body had been taken to the General Hospital in Badagry.
Akinbiyi noted that the accident vehicles were later cleared off the road, while traffic flow had returned to normal.

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Ahead of the presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presided over an emergency meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

President Tinubu is expected to lay the budget today (Friday) by 2 pm in his capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In his remarks at the opening session of the FEC, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, said the emergency session was convened to give final approval to the 2026 budget proposals before their presentation to the lawmakers.

Tinubu to present 2026 budget estimate to NASS, Friday

He further clarified that the meeting was meant to “put the stamp of approval” on the budget estimates to be laid before the National Assembly by the President.

Checks revealed that at the Council’s meeting held on December 3, the FEC reviewed and approved key parameters of the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

The FEC had approved an oil price benchmark of $64.85 per barrel and a budget exchange rate of ₦1,512 to one United States dollar for the 2026 fiscal year.

Under the three-year MTEF projections for 2026–2028, gross Federation revenue for 2026 was estimated at ₦50.74 trillion.

Apart from Ministers and aides of the President, others in attendance at the ongoing emergency meeting are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack; the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

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The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested the alleged leader of the Sai Mallam cult group, Mohammed Mukhtar, and a suspected serial rapist, Annas Sani.

The police also recovered fetish materials and other items allegedly used to hypnotise victims.

New Telegraph gathered that the suspects are being investigated, and efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the group.

Briefing journalists on Friday, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Musa, said the arrests were part of ongoing operations to restore peace and dismantle organised criminal groups terrorising communities across the state.

According to the Commissioner, the “Sai Mallam” group has, in recent months, generated widespread fear in several parts of Sokoto through alleged fraud, intimidation and fetish practices.

“You may recall our press release of November 29, 2025, where we announced the arrest of three members of the Sai Mallam gang,” the police spokesperson said.

“Following that development, the anti-kidnapping unit intensified a manhunt for the remaining members, especially those in leadership positions.”

Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives arrested the group’s alleged leader and chief priest, Mohammed Mukhtar, popularly known as Sai Mallam.

” A search of his residence, which reportedly also served as a shrine, led to the recovery of fetish materials, banners bearing the group’s name and other items allegedly used to hypnotise victims.

“This arrest marks a significant breakthrough in our efforts to completely dismantle this dangerous group,” the Command said, adding that investigations were ongoing to track down other members.

The Police expressed concern that most members of the cult were youths aged between 19 and 30, describing the trend as disturbing.

“These are the most productive years of their lives,” the spokesperson said. “Instead of being in school or learning trades, they are being lured into deception, fraud and fetish activities in the pursuit of quick wealth. Parents must pay closer attention to their children, their friends and their activities.”

In a separate operation, the Command also confirmed the arrest of a suspected serial rapist, Annas Sani, of the Gidan Igwai area of Sokoto, over allegations of conspiracy, abduction, impersonation and rape.

Police said the suspect was arrested on December 9, 2025, following a report involving the abduction and sexual assault of two teenage girls aged 17 and 18. Further investigations, however, uncovered a wider pattern of abuse.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to committing these crimes with the assistance of three accomplices who are currently at large,” the Police said, identifying them as Mohammed, Adam Nura (alias Willy), and Mubarak Yusuf.

The suspects allegedly operated under the guise of an organisation known as the Sokoto State Masterpiece Brigade, using it to lure unsuspecting girls to an office near Gidan Igwai, where victims were intimidated and abused.

Investigators said at least 28 victims have so far been identified, adding that some of the affected girls were traumatised and fled their homes out of fear.

“This is a very disturbing development in our community,” CP Musa said. “Parents must monitor the movements of their daughters, especially in the evenings, and have the courage to speak openly with them. Many victims were too traumatised to report what they were experiencing.”

Items recovered during the operation include a camouflage-style uniform allegedly used to intimidate victims and an identification card bearing the suspect’s name.

The Police assured residents that efforts were ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects and urged members of the public to provide useful information, stressing the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and safeguarding communities across Sokoto State.

Meanwhile, the arrested Sai Mallam gang leader, Mohammed Mukhtar, denied any involvement in cult activities, claiming he was only a spiritualist.

“I am just a spiritualist working for the people in the state. I am not involved in any cult activity,” he said.

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The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation on Friday said that it has fully complied with the government’s policy of making the civil service records management paperless.

The Minister, Prof. Joseph Utsev, at the launch in Abuja, said the deployment of the digital system in the Ministry goes beyond mere digitisation, but creates a more efficient platform for productivity.

Utsev noted that moving from paper-based operations to a smart, integrated, and technology-driven work environment would help with efficient data management, proper technical documentation, and streamlined workflows.

He added that such digital infrastructure was essential for effective governance in a highly technical Ministry such as Water Resources and Sanitation.

According to the Minister, “ the system will enhance productivity, preserve institutional memory, reduce operational costs, and strengthen transparency and accountability in decision-making processes across the Ministry”.

Also speaking, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, while launching the digital platform, described “ the initiative as a bold and transformative step in public administration.

She noted that the Ministry’s mandate directly impacts every Nigerian household through water supply, sanitation, irrigation, river basin development, hydrology, and climate resilience programmes”.

Walson-Jack explained that the 1GOV ECM enables secured digital records management, automated workflows, electronic approvals, real-time collaboration, and interoperability across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

She added “ that the deployment aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (2021–2025) and the Federal Government’s directive for the full digitalisation of work processes by the end of December 2025”

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