Falana Warns Nigeria Risks Military Coup Without Political Pluralism, Open Civic Space

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has warned that Nigeria must urgently embrace political pluralism and expand civic freedoms to avoid the growing wave of military coups destabilising West Africa. Speaking on Channels TV, Falana said widespread poverty, insecurity, shrinking civic space, and the criminalisation of dissent are fueling public anger across the region. He criticised INEC for restricting the registration of ideological political parties and warned that Nigeria risks sliding toward a one-party state. Citing the recent failed coup in Benin Republic, Falana stressed that suppressing opposition, jailing critics, or limiting political space undermines democracy and increases instability.

Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for 18-Year-Olds Amid Rising Security Concerns

Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, has voted to introduce voluntary military service, marking a major shift in the country’s defense policy following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The move is part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to build Europe’s strongest conventional army.

Starting January 2026, all 18-year-olds will receive a mandatory questionnaire asking if they are interested in joining the armed forces. The form will be compulsory for men and voluntary for women. From July 2027, all 18-year-old men will undergo medical examinations to assess their fitness for possible military service.

The decision has sparked widespread opposition among students, with strikes planned in as many as 90 cities. Protesters argue that compulsory training promotes drill and obedience, offering little benefit while disrupting young people’s lives.

Currently, Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, have around 182,000 personnel, with plans to increase the number to 260,000 by the early 2030s, supplemented by 200,000 reservists. The government says that while service is voluntary, compulsory measures could be considered if too few volunteers come forward or if security thr+ats escalate.

Fake Coup In Guinea-Bissau: How Embaló Tried To Disrupt Democracy — Inside Story By Owei Lakemfa

The article exposes how Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embaló allegedly orchestrated a fake coup after losing the November 2025 election. Facing imminent loss of power and possible prosecution, Embaló reportedly staged a sham overthrow with loyal soldiers, misleading the media and foreign observers. International missions, including AU and WAEF led by Goodluck Jonathan, already had verified election results showing the opposition won. As his plot collapsed, Embaló fled Senegal, while ECOWAS and Nigeria now protect President-elect Fernando Diaz. The piece calls for the coup plotters to step down and for Embaló to face trial for treason.

Governor Radda Accuses Opposition of Undermining Peace Efforts in Katsina

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has accused opposition figures of deliberately working against the state’s improving security situation in order to portray his APC-led administration as a failure. Speaking during his tour of Danmusa Local Government, Radda said bandit-hit communities are now witnessing the return of farming and normal socio-economic activities. He claimed critics, including Dr. Mustapha Inuwa and ex-Senator Ahmed Babba Kaita, were exploiting insecurity for political gain ahead of 2027. The governor insisted his government will not be distracted by “celebrants of killings,” and urged residents to remain law-abiding and committed to sustaining peace.

Trial of Ex-Acting Accountant-General Nwabuoku Stalled as Defence Counsel Fails to Appear in N868m Fraud Case

The trial of former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku, was on Thursday stalled at the Federal High Court in Abuja after his lead counsel, Norrison Quakers (SAN), failed to appear. Nwabuoku faces an amended nine-count charge filed by the EFCC, alleging money laundering and diversion of N868.4 million during his tenure as Director of Finance at the Ministry of Defence. Despite opposition from the prosecution, Justice James Omotosho granted an adjournment “in the interest of justice,” shifting the trial to February 2, 2026. The court had earlier ruled that Nwabuoku must enter his defence after dismissing his no-case submission.

Nigeria Grants Asylum to Guinea-Bissau Presidential Candidate at Embassy

The Federal Government of Nigeria has granted temporary asylum to Guinea-Bissau opposition presidential candidate Fernando Dia Da Costa, offering him protection inside the Nigerian Embassy in Bissau amid credible reports of threats to his life.

The decision was formally communicated in a letter dated November 30, 2025, from Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to the President of the ECOWAS Commission.

Al-Kasim Abdulkadir, Media Aide to the Minister, confirmed the move, stating that granting refuge to Mr Da Costa “falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and its longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”

He emphasised that the intervention is aimed at de-escalating tensions in Guinea-Bissau, promoting social cohesion, and preventing further instability in the West African sub-region.

“This action is guided solely by the imperatives of peace, human security, and regional stability, in full alignment with ECOWAS principles and Nigeria’s historic role as a stabilising force in West Africa,”

Abdulkadir added the development comes ahead of Guinea-Bissau’s presidential run-off election scheduled for later this month, in which Mr Da Costa is a leading contender.

Atiku Slams Tinubu Over ₦17.5trn Pipeline Security Spending in One Year


Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Bola Tinubu administration over revelations that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) spent ₦17.5 trillion within 12 months on fuel pipeline security.

Atiku described the revelation as “one of the most brazen financial scandals in our nation’s history,” questioning how such an enormous amount could be justified for a single line item. The opposition leader is calling for full transparency and an independent investigation into the expenditure.
#AtikuAbubakar #TinubuAdministration #NNPC

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has officially joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC), confirming his move in a post on X with photos of his membership card. Atiku resigned from the PDP in July, citing irreconcilable differences and saying the party had deviated from its core principles. Although he helped adopt the ADC as the opposition coalition platform for the 2027 elections, he and other key figures delayed their formal registration. The coalition says its goal is to “rescue and rebuild Nigeria,” accusing the APC-led government of undermining democratic institutions.

Guinea-Bissau’s military has taken over the government, appointing General Horta N’Tam as leader for one year after overthrowing President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and suspending election results. Soldiers have shut down media, imposed a curfew, and briefly closed borders. The military claims it acted to stop a plot involving “drug lords” aimed at destabilising the country. Several top officials, including the president and opposition leader Domingos Pereira, have been arrested. ECOWAS, the UN, and Portugal have condemned the coup as the region faces a growing wave of military takeovers.

“I am afraid I have to disagree with the idea of withdrawing police from VIPs. That is another danger, because the VIPs are going to be the next targets” — Senator Aliyu Wamakko.

Coup Tension in Guinea-Bissau as President Embaló Says He Has Been Arrested

Guinea-Bissau descended into chaos on Wednesday as outgoing President Umaro Sissoco Embaló claimed he was arrested at the presidential palace around 1 p.m., describing the development as a “coup d’état” led by the army chief of staff.

He said no force was used during his detention. Gunfire was reported near the National Electoral Commission (CNE) in Bissau, with journalists covering the presidential election forced to hide inside offices as security rapidly deteriorated around them.

The arrests extended beyond the president. Those detained include the armed forces’ chief of staff, General Biaguê Na Ntan; his deputy, General Mamadou Touré; and the interior minister, Botché Candé. Embaló insisted he had legitimately won last Sunday’s presidential election with “65% of the vote,” according to his own tally, even though official provisional results are not expected until Thursday.

Both Embaló and opposition candidate Fernando Dias de Costa had already declared first-round victory, reflecting the deep political fractures that have long troubled Guinea-Bissau. The exclusion of the major opposition party PAIGC and its leader Domingos Simões Pereira from the race had initially positioned Embaló as the favourite, but Dias de Costa’s strong performance unsettled expectations.

Analysts say the current rupture stems from years of mistrust between the presidency and the military, historically the most powerful institution in the country. Embaló’s push to centralise authority, restructure security agencies and sideline rivals reportedly intensified tensions.

His early self-proclaimed victory and alleged pressure on institutions appear to have triggered a backlash within the armed forces. The situation remains fluid, with the capital on edge and the country facing yet another political crisis that underscores its long-standing institutional fragility.

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As former Vice President Atiku Abubakar joins the ADC ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Demola Olarewaju says his influence remains central to any viable opposition coalition, adding that a united front with key contenders could reshape the race.

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The ancient town of Mamukam came alive in a blaze of colour and celebration on Tuesday as the Waziri of Adamawa and former Vice President, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, graced the grand turbaning ceremony of renowned scholar Professor Ahmed Shehu (Pullo Jada).

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Joy is coming: FG Cash Transfers Reach 5.5 Million Nigerian Households

At least 5.5 million Nigerian households are currently receiving cash transfers from the Federal Government, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, has revealed.

Speaking at the inaugural National Steering Committee meeting of the Act Naija project in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Doro, represented by his aide Abimbola Fasanu, said the ministry is focused on strengthening social protection systems to tackle poverty, vulnerability, and humanitarian challenges across the country.

“Key programmes include Conditional Cash Transfer, the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, N-POWER, GEEP, Homegrown School Feeding, and National Social Safety-Net Coordination,” he said. “Over 19.78 million households have been verified in the National Social Register, while 5.5 million households currently benefit from cash transfers.

Micro-credit schemes are also supporting livelihoods for over 5 million Nigerians, with strong participation from women and youth in all 774 local government areas.” Dr. Doro added that the ministry is working with stakeholders to review and update the National Social Protection Policy (NSPP), ensuring it reflects evolving socio-economic realities and aligns with government priorities.

On the Act Naija Project, he said the committee is critical to guiding efforts across stakeholders, promoting transparency, and delivering measurable impact for vulnerable households. He called on members to serve with professionalism, dedication, and integrity.

Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), described the committee’s inauguration as a significant step toward strengthening Nigeria’s social protection system and ensuring that no citizen is left behind.

Tanzanian President Appoints Daughter and Son-in-law as Ministers.

Tanzania’s President Samia Hassan has appointed her daughter and son-in-law as ministers in her newly formed government. In a nationwide broadcast on Monday, Mrs. Hassan, who was declared the winner of the October 29 presidential election, named 27 ministers and 29 deputy ministers, including her family members.

Wanu Hafidh Amei, the president’s daughter, was named deputy minister for education, science, and technology, while her husband, Mohamed Mchengerwa, took over as health minister. In other appointments, Tanzania’s ambassador to China, Khamis Mussa Omar, became finance minister, while Adolf Mkenda retained his role as education, science, and technology minister.

Seven former ministers were removed, but Anthony Mavunde and Mahmoud Thabit Kombo were retained as mining and foreign affairs ministers, respectively.

Mrs. Hassan’s re-election has attracted criticism due to violent protests, an internet shutdown, and a crackdown on demonstrators.

The United Nations has called for thorough investigations into reported deaths, warning that authorities may be concealing evidence. Opposition party CHADEMA, whose candidate Tundu Lissu was barred from the election, claims about 700 people were killed and refuses to recognize Mrs. Hassan as president.

International observers have also expressed concerns. The African Union deemed the election not credible, while the European Union, Southern African Development Community, and missions from the UK, Canada, and Norway condemned the fatalities, suppression of opposition, and internet restrictions during the polls.

Fayose Declares: “PDP Is in a State of Coma” — Says Party’s Crisis Beyond Rescue

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has delivered a blunt assessment of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that Nigeria’s main opposition party is “in a state of comatose” and possibly beyond redemption.

Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Fayose said the PDP’s internal problems have deepened following contradictory court rulings and power struggles, accusing some judges of judicial overreach.

“I have to tell you the hard truth — PDP is in trouble, the party has gone bad and is in a coma,” he stated. “When a fish decays from the head, there’s no saving it.”

Fayose specifically condemned an Oyo State High Court order allowing the PDP’s national convention to proceed despite an earlier Federal High Court injunction stopping it, describing the ruling as compromised and dangerous for the rule of law.

The outspoken former governor said the party’s leadership crisis stemmed from failures at the top, warning that the PDP is imploding under internal divisions and judicial confusion.

“The judge compromised the matter and granted an ex parte order. This is a bad precedent,” he said.

Despite his criticism, Fayose reaffirmed his commitment to remain in the PDP, though he admitted that several of his colleagues had already left.

“Three governors have gone already, and another will soon leave. When I return here, I’ll remind you,” he added.


The PDP, which has been battling factional leadership between Umar Damagum and Samuel Anyanwu’s camp, continues to face deepening legal and political turmoil ahead of its national convention.

Trump Hosts Syrian President and ex-Jihadist, Al-Sharaa, in First-Ever White House Visit.

US President Donald Trump on Monday held a closed-door meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, marking the first time a Syrian leader has ever visited the presidential residence.

The meeting, which took place without reporters or photo coverage, comes amid ongoing shifts in Syria’s political landscape. 

Al-Sharaa, 43, is a former leader of al-Qaeda and was once listed by the US as a wanted t+rrorist, with a $10 million bounty on his head until late 2024. He previously spent time in Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison.

His recent appearance on the global stage has drawn widespread attention. Just weeks ago, he attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York — a move analysts say underscores his evolution from a militant figure to a recognized political leader.

Ahead of his visit, the US government lifted longstanding sanctions on al-Sharaa and removed his global terrorist designation, as well as that of Syria’s interior minister, Anas Khattab.

Trump has previously praised al-Sharaa, referring to him as a “young, attractive guy” with a “very strong past” after the two briefly met during the US president’s Middle East tour earlier this year. 

Shortly afterward, Washington began easing some of the economic restrictions imposed on Syria.

Al-Sharaa rose to power in January as part of a transitional arrangement after armed opposition groups launched a major offensive that forced former President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia.

Prison Break: Nigerian Kidnap Convict Escapes UK Prison, Sparks Major Police Manhunt.

A Nigerian man, Ola Abimbola, convicted of kidnapping and serving a 21-year sentence, has escaped from an open prison in Sussex, United Kingdom, sparking a widespread police search.

The 36-year-old, jailed for conspiracy to kidnap, grievous bodily harm, blackmail, and false imprisonment, reportedly walked out of HMP Ford around 8 a.m. on October 10 — barely a month after being transferred there. He has been missing ever since.

Abimbola’s transfer to the open prison, also known as a Category D facility, was made under new Labour government rules aimed at easing overcrowding in higher-security prisons. The relaxed policy allows inmates to move to open conditions earlier in their sentences, even if they are not yet close to release.

Under the old system, Abimbola would not have qualified for transfer for another six years. Open prisons have minimal security and are meant to help low-risk prisoners reintegrate into society a move that has now come under scrutiny following his disappearance.

Sussex Police have launched a manhunt, urging the public not to approach the fugitive and to report any information by calling 999. Authorities admit that efforts to track him down have so far been unsuccessful.

The escape has intensified political pressure on Justice Secretary David Lammy, already facing criticism after the mistaken release of two foreign sex offenders and a British fraudster. Opposition figures say the justice system is “in chaos,” blaming government policy changes for endangering the public.

Mark Drury of the Prison Governors’ Association said the rise in absconders from open prisons shows a troubling trend, noting that many prisoners now housed in such facilities “would not have been considered suitable two or three years ago.”

In response, the Ministry of Justice defended the system, insisting that all transfers follow “strict risk assessments” and that any offender breaching the rules can be “immediately returned to closed conditions.”

APC was in White House in 2024 seeking help over Christian genocide – Adamu Garba backs Trump.

Former presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adamu Garba, has admitted that there is an ongoing genocide in the country.

The APC chieftain spoke in an interview on Trust TV, while reacting to the recent move by the US President, Donald Trump, who designated Nigeria as Country of Particular Concerns over persecution of Christians.

Countering those antagonizing President Trump’s decision to take out the perpetrators of the alleged massacre, Adamu recalled that the APC as an opposition party in 2024, sought help from the US military over the same killing of Christians.

He argued that the United Nations had empowered the US to help in fighting terrorism worldwide.

He said, “When you look at the damage, the total number of the people that have been killed over time in Nigeria, they are killed defenseless in villages and even in their homes, what can you call it? it? It’s nothing, but pure genocide.

“In 2014, the opposition party then, the APC were in the White House seeking for the same help on the same Christian genocide at the fall out of the Chibok girls.

“It was a United Nations convention on counter-terrorism that empowered the United States to become the global vocal point in fighting against terrorism, so wherever a word terrorism is defined, the US has the right to protect. They call it responsibility to protect. They call it Responsibility to Protect, R to P”.

APC Slams Promoters Of Christian Genocide Claims In Nigeria.

The Lagos Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has described the members of the opposition political party as “politically-frustrated loudspeakers” for their supposed involvement in President Trump’s recent declaration of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.”

This was disclosed in a statement signed by Seye Oladejo, the chapter’s spokesperson, obtained by TVC on Sunday.

According to the statement, the chapter condemns individuals or groups who amplify the voice or statement encouraging foreign military intervention, describing them as “traitors to the flag and enemies of the Republic.”

The statement reads, “The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is compelled to address a dangerous and disgraceful trend perpetuated by a faction of politically-frustrated loudspeakers who believe that because they failed woefully at the ballot box, Nigeria must burn for their ego to breathe.

“To even daydream about a United States invasion of Nigeria is not only delusional – it is the height of treachery and emotional bankruptcy. This is what happens when desperation meets intellectual emptiness: people begin to flirt with national suicide.”

President Samia Suluhu declared winner of tanzanian election amid deadly protests.

Tanzania’s electoral commission has declared President Samia Suluhu Hassan winner of the country’s disputed election, securing nearly 98% of the votes.

The result announcement triggered widespread unrest across several regions, with opposition groups alleging a government crackdown that left hundreds dead. Chadema party spokesperson John Kitoka claimed about 700 people were killed nationwide including over 350 in Dar es Salaam and 200 in Mwanza citing reports from party members who visited hospitals and clinics to count bodies.

He accused security forces of targeting protesters and demanded a transitional government to restore electoral justice and end the killings. While a security source confirmed between 500 and 800 deaths, Amnesty International reported at least 100 verified fatalities.

The government dismissed the opposition’s figures as exaggerated, describing the violence as isolated incidents caused by “criminal elements.”

Authorities also imposed a nationwide curfew and restricted internet access, a move critics said was aimed at silencing dissent.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an impartial investigation into the alleged use of excessive force. Suluhu, who assumed power in 2021 after the death of President John Magufuli, sought her first full term under the ruling CCM party.

However, the exclusion of major opposition candidates and arrests of political activists have raised serious questions about the legitimacy of the election and the state of democracy in Tanzania.