Labour Party, LP, factional National Chairmen, Callistus Okafor, has declared that the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, cannot lead Nigeria.

Okafor made this declaration on Thursday as he announced his exit from the party.

He cited unresolved leadership tussles and disappointment with Peter Obi.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Okafor, said the decision followed extensive deliberations by his faction’s National Working Committee and National Executive Council.

“My team and I had carefully looked at what is happening in the Labour Party, including the crises that have been going on for seven years, and wondered how long it will continue,” he said.

According to him, an estimated five million supporters are leaving with him, declaring his new destination to be Team Wazobia Nigeria, a socio-political and non-partisan movement.

“I hereby stand today to announce to Nigerians and all the Labour Party faithful who are under my own faction that we are pulling out today as a team.

“We are moving from the Labour Party to Team Wazobia Nigeria. This crisis has come to a point where it’s no longer healthy in the Labour Party,” he added.

Okafor blamed Obi for failing to resolve the lingering leadership crisis, saying his inaction raised questions about his capacity to govern a country like Nigeria.

In fulfillment of a promise to give free medical services to a Sokoto businessman accidentally shot during an operation, the Department of State Services (DSS) has invited the victim to its hospital in Abuja.

In mid-March, the DSS Director- General, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, approved the payment of N10 million damages awarded by a court to the businessman six years earlier.

To compensate for time lost, the DG handed the businessman an additional N10 million, bringing the total sum to N20 million.

At the time, the DSS Chief directed the DSS hospital to officially integrate the businessman into the Services’ medical care system, which would enable him to enjoy free medical services anytime he so desired.

A security source said the businessman arrived in the hospital “a few days ago, and has been undergoing free medical tests and treatment from the hospital’s best doctors.”

He said, “True to the DG’s directive, the man has been in the VIP ward which, of course, is fully air-conditioned. They have been running a series of checks and giving him round-the-clock medical attention, in order to make him regain full control of his limbs. I even understand the DG asked that he be fed for free.”

In 2016, during a pre-dawn operation to arrest a suspected gunrunner in Jos, Plateau State, DSS operatives mistakenly shot and injured the businessman who incidentally bears the same name with the suspected gunrunner.

The gunrunner was eventually arrested.

Two years after the shooting, in 2018, the businessman, through his lawyer, Idris Akibu, approached a Federal High Court in Bauchi.

Delivering judgement on the matter with suit number FHC/J/CS/18/2018, the court, presided by Justice Muhammed Shittu Abubakar, ordered the DSS to pay N10 million in damages to the injured businessman.

“This is the third DG since this unfortunate case of mistaken identity happened.  We were very happy when our new DG directed that we pay the money.

“He even added another N10 million to the victim’s money. It goes to show that, not only can security agencies be law abiding, we can also be full of the milk of human kindness,” the source declared.

The Lagos State Government has enhanced its community-based security framework with the recruitment of over 1,000 officers into the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, LNSC.

This strategic move forms part of a broader initiative to modernise local security operations and extend their impact across grassroots communities.

Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this development during the 2025 annual ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja. He highlighted the comprehensive reforms undertaken to reposition the LNSC as a more dynamic and responsive security outfit.

“In the past year, we have deepened our reach across communities by recruiting over 1,000 officers.

“This is more than just a number, it reflects our commitment to ensuring every ward in Lagos feels the presence of security and order,” Oyerinde said.

According to the commissioner, the state has gone beyond just increasing manpower. New specialised units have been introduced within the LNSC, including Marine Patrol, Forest Rangers, Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence, Forensics, Crime Scene Management, Paramedics, and Crowd Control.

These units are designed to equip the agency with the tools needed to tackle diverse and emerging security threats.

The government has also provided the corps with an array of modern mobility assets, ranging from patrol bicycles and scooters to motorcycles and vehicles, ensuring faster and more efficient response times across the state.

The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has distanced himself from contesting the 2027 Presidential election against incumbent Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement signed by Ohiare Michael, Director, Yahaya Bello Media Office, he described the campaign poster in circulation as false, misleading and the handwork of mischief makers who wanted to bring him down at all cost.

Bello reiterated his unflinching commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.

The statement reads in part, “Our attention has been drawn to another senseless post by mischief makers, who have no other job than to fabricate falsehood and disseminate same to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.

“They have tried so hard in their “bring-him-down-at-all-costs” mission against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, but have always failed woefully.

“It is not the first time detractors and their co-travellers would fly absolute falsehood with the aim of setting the former governor against our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But this latest slant of reposting a 2022 rally afresh and insinuating that it is just happening, connotes nothing but insanity.

“Nigerians should be wary of witless bloggers who concoct stories without thinking, just to satisfy the interests of their equally brainless paymasters.

“In their desperate bid to create a crisis where there is none, they forgot the 2022 dates written boldly on the banners on display. Yet, they expect reasonable people not to see this as the handiwork of frustrated detractors.

“While we state, categorically, that our Principal, His Excellency former Governor Yahaya Bello, has no 2027 presidential ambition, we want to also stress his unflinching commitment to the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.

“The indices cannot lie. The President and his team have done exceedingly well for the country, despite global challenges. On merit, he deserves the support of well-meaning Nigerians.

“Nigerians should disregard the mischievous post insinuating a fresh presidential support rally as what it is – a senseless post by a confused, witless mind.”

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday downplayed the possibility of impeaching President Bola Tinubu.

Akpabio said the current National Assembly will not impeach Tinubu with two years left in his first tenure.

The Senate President noted that the National Assembly is bold enough to tell Tinubu if he is not performing up to expectations.

Speaking at the ongoing All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit in Abuja, Akpabio said: “If this president has done well, is it not us (National Assembly) that will say so? If he has not done well, is it not us that will give him notice of impeachment?

“We are not giving him notice of impeachment; we are giving him notice that it was difficult for you in 2023, but in 2027 I see everything turning around—the number of states that are coming to join you.”

This comes as the APC Governors’ Forum has endorsed Tinubu for a second term.

Governor Hope Uzodimma said APC governors will work towards ensuring that Tinubu wins re-election in 2027.

According to Uzodimma: “That the governors produced by the APC are hereby charged to take responsibility to market all federal government policies and occupy all the political space in their domains, win all elections in their states come 2027.

“It is therefore my humble pleasure, with total humility to the Almighty God, to move that this august assembly adopt and concur with the position of the Progressive Governors that Mr. President carries our flag in 2027, and the governors take the responsibility for delivering this mandate. I so move.”

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a driver to a Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over the alleged sexual assault of the governor’s aide’s 15-year-old daughter.

DAILY POST reports that the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Moses Yamu, confirmed the arrest of the suspect, identified as 50-year-old Mohammed Ihuenuma, to newsmen on Thursday in Benin City.

Yamu said the investigation is ongoing and that the suspect would be charged to court after the investigation.

He advised members of the public to always report cases of rape, indecent assault, and defilement to the police for immediate action.

He added that the state Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has zero tolerance for cases associated with Gender-Based Violence, GBV.

DAILY POST gathered that the suspect was arrested following a tip-off from the father of the victim.

It was alleged that the suspect often looked for an opportunity to fiddle with the teenager, who lives with her parents, whenever he came to the house on an errand.

A source alleged that the driver has touched the girl at different times in an indecent manner, trying to entice her.

It was further learnt that after several incidents, the girl reported the matter to her mother, who eventually informed her father.

The father later reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has told those struggling to accept the new version of him that the old version of him has “died”.

In a post shared on the official Instagram page of his upcoming album, ‘No Sign Of Weakness,’ Burna Boy blamed Nigerians for “killing” the old version of him.

He revealed that the new and old versions of him are constantly in conflict.

He wrote, “The ‘African Giant’ Burna Boy died. His own people killed him. Then ‘Big 7’ was born to protect what was left of ‘Burna Boy.’

“Burna Boy and Big 7 fight each other a lot because while Big 7 is only protecting the final and only existing piece of Burna Boy’s broken heart, the ‘African Giant’ still haunts Burna Boy.”

Former governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Liyel Imoke of Cross River State have been appointed to lead key committees in a growing opposition coalition for the 2027 general election.

The development was disclosed on Thursday in Abuja by Dr. Umar Ardo, Convener of the League of Northern Democrats (LND), during a press briefing following an expanded strategy meeting.

The LND declared its decision to align with the coalition at the meeting, which drew prominent northern political figures including former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau.

According to Ardo, the coalition, which includes heavyweight figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, is currently deliberating on whether to float a new political party or align with an existing platform. Amaechi and Imoke have been tasked with leading the respective committees overseeing those options.

“The coalition set up two committees, among others, to consider the desirability or feasibility of registering a new political party and to consider fusing into an existing political party,” Ardo said. “The committee for fusing into another political party is headed by former Governor Liyel Imoke and the committee for registering a new political party was chaired by erstwhile Governor Rotimi Amaechi. I was the secretary of that subcommittee for the registering of new political parties.”

The final decision on the coalition’s political vehicle is expected to be taken on May 30.

“We resolved to support the National Opposition Coalition Group for the transitional politics towards 2027 and to contribute in the dialogue on either to register a new political party as the vehicle to drive the politics or fuse into an existing political party,” Ardo stated.

He further disclosed that the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are under consideration as potential platforms, should the coalition choose not to establish a new party.

“Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai brought a complaint that SDP is interested in being considered for the fusing. For that, the committee set up the 30th of this month to decide either to go with ADC, SDP or form a new political party. So, we in the LND here have resolved to support that position,” he added.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has narrated how a Labour Party Senator begged him to help him join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akpabio said that several Nigerian politicians are eager to join President Bola Tinubu’s political train.

Speaking at the APC’s National Summit in Abuja on Thursday, May 22, Akpabio addressed the gale of defection rocking the opposition parties.

He announced that more people are interested in joining the Tinubu train.

He said, “The number of states that are coming to join you (Tinubu) is increasing. As I was leaving, one senator was dragging my dress today. He said, ‘Please take me there.”

According to the Senate President, he explained to the Labour Party lawmaker that he cannot join Tinubu at the moment.

He, however, did not say when it would be possible for the unnamed lawmaker to join the APC.

“I said, ‘You can’t come now,’ and he is an LP senator. I don’t want to mention his name, he is in my car outside,” Akpabio noted

Suspected members of an organised criminal gang invaded Efab Global Estate in the Idu Industrial Area of Abuja on Wednesday, injuring at least five security guards and robbing multiple homes.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen, numbering over 20, stormed the estate in a coordinated attack around midnight and began shooting sporadically to create panic.

A resident who asked not to be named for security reasons said the attackers overpowered the estate’s security personnel and macheted five guards before proceeding to rob six homes.

“We were woken by the sound of gunshots and screams. It was terrifying.

“The gunmen were over 20 and overpowered our security guards. They macheted five of our security guards.

“The criminals stole cash, mobile phones, jewellery and other valuables.

“In some cases, victims were coerced into transferring money to designated accounts under duress,” the resident told Punch.

A message issued by the estate’s security committee stated that the assailants laid siege to the estate before commencing their operation.

The statement read: “In a coordinated operation, about 40 armed individuals linked to an organised criminal group infiltrated the Efab Global estate in Idu.

“Thereafter, the gunmen conducted a siege around the estate and shot randomly to commence their operation, causing panic, fear and confusion.

“The police were not alerted immediately due to residents’ fear and agitation.

“The Security Committee alerted the police around 0400hrs local time, and they arrived later.

“The attack highlights a security breach in the estate, with the attackers gaining access and causing harm to residents and security personnel.