The Recent Elections in FCT, Kano and Rivers, By Reuben Abati

The elections, held over the weekend, Saturday, February 21, were interesting for the obvious reason that they were clearly the litmus test cases for the Electoral Act, 2026 which was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, February 18, 2026. The President had promised last week that we were “all going to […]

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Senate and the Electoral Act Amendment, By Reuben Abati

The Senate returns from a two-week recess today to attend an emergency plenary session at noon to address the lingering and vexed matter of the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act 2022. Expectations are high. Opinions are divided as to what may well be the outcome of today’s meeting. Since the return to civilian rule […]

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Tinubu’s Many Travels And The Critics, By Reuben Abati

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Saturday after a state visit to Turkey during which Nigeria and Turkey signed a total of nine agreements covering defence, energy, military training, intelligence sharing, health, education and a shared target of trade investment valued at about $5 billion. It is not enough to sign bilateral agreements, […]

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Where was Africa in Davos?, By Reuben Abati

To state the truth, Africa was significantly nowhere at the World Economic Forum which took place this 19-23 January. You may say absent figuratively, sidelined more specifically, and that has been very much the pattern over the years. The World Economic Forum was established in 1971 by Professor Klaus Schwab to provide a forum for […]

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The Importance Of Kashim Shettima, By Reuben Abati

There is a potentially disruptive speculation, a kite being flown in political conversations, which could affect the fortunes of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the relationship between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima as Nigerians begin the dress rehearsal towards the 2027 general elections. It […]

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Trump, Venezuela And The American Empire, By Reuben Abati

The received opinion in 20th century literature on America’s foreign policy process is that the United States, America as we know it, is not a colonizing power but a liberal society of men and women who are committed to the ideals of democracy, free trade and economic prosperity, human rights, humanitarian aid, and global stability. […]

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Supreme Court, Rivers And The State of Emergency, By Reuben Abati

Yesterday, December 15, the Supreme Court of Nigeria struck out the suit filed by 11 Governors of states controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Ah-med Tinubu on March 18, 2025. The suit: AG Adamawa & 10 Ors vs. AG Federation and the National […]

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Amupitan: New Broom At INEC, By Reuben Abati

Last week, October 7, the announcement was made of the exit of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, Chair of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 2015 – 2025, and his replacement in acting capacity by Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Chairperson of Legal Services, Clearance, and Complaints Committee (LSC &CC) – she is now likely to hold the record […]

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The Third Coming Of Rashidi Ladoja, By Reuben Abati

On September 26, 2025, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, precisely a day after his 81st birthday was crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland to succeed Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan who passed in July 2025. This may well be described as Senator Ladoja’s third momentous coming on the stage of Nigerian politics, and some may even […]

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INEC’s Bye-elections and Lessons Not Learnt, By Reuben Abati

The by-elections held across the country last Saturday in 16 constituencies across 12 states, in terms of the organization, the process and outcomes would seem to confirm one painful truth, namely that Nigeria’s democracy is still inchoate, tentative, fledgling, and that we are not yet anywhere near the target of democratic consolidation in Africa’s largest […]

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Trump, Musk and The Nigerian Gladiators, By Reuben Abati

“Bros, looks like one accidented trailer has just passed between Trump and Elon Musk oh, and it gets messier by the day.” “What do you expect? It is just simple common sense. Elon Musk invested over $290 million to bring Trump to power. He supported him, campaigned with him. Then he got rewarded with the […]

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