Taraba Assembly Speaker and 15 Lawmakers Join APC

The Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kizito Bonzena, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside 15 other lawmakers from the state assembly. The group of defectors includes Deputy Speaker Hamman Adama Abdullai (Bali 2), Majority Leader Jethro Yakubu (Wukari 1), Tafarki Eneme (Kurmi), Akila Nuhu (Lau), Musa Chul (Gassol 1), Josiah Yaro (Wukari 2), Tanko Yusuf (Takum 1), Veronica Alhassan (Bali 1), Anas Shuaibu (Karim Lamido 2), Nelson Len (Nguroje), Umar Adamu (Jalingo 1), Joseph Kassong (Yorro), John Lamba (Takum 2), Happy Shonruba (Ardo-Kola), and Zakari Sanusi (Ibi). Bonzena emphasized that the decision was made in the collective interest of Taraba State, not for personal gain. “Our people should not misinterpret this decision. It is for the interest of Taraba. We now have all 24 members of the House as APC members. We want the people of Taraba to see this as the best decision for the state and continue to support the government,” he said. Former Speaker and Mbamnga Constituency representative, Peter Diah, welcomed the defectors, noting that the House had previously supported APC members when they were in the minority. He expressed satisfaction that all members are now united under the vision of President Bola Tinubu. Bonzena also prayed that the move would usher in a new era of progress for Taraba State. With the shift, the Taraba State House of Assembly now has no opposition members. Governor Kefas has confirmed he will also defect from the PDP, with his formal declaration for the APC scheduled for Saturday. The mass defections have raised concerns among critics, who argue that the moves may be pushing Nigeria toward a one-party system under the APC.

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Electricity Company Threatens Nationwide Shutdown After Police Attack on Imo Staff

The nation’s power supply faces potential disruption after the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) threatened a nationwide shutdown following an alleged attack on Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) staff by armed police officers at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation in Imo State. The union described the incident as a “brutal invasion” and has ordered its members in Imo State to suspend electricity operations until further notice. According to NUEE, staff on duty were beaten, held at gunpoint, and some were reportedly taken away by police officers allegedly acting under state directives. The incident has sparked outrage across the power sector, with NUEE warning that it may withdraw services nationwide unless immediate measures are taken to protect electricity workers. Police operatives were accused of forcefully entering control rooms, damaging equipment, and disrupting operations, while assaulting staff and taking some to an undisclosed location. In a statement on Saturday, NUEE Acting General Secretary Dominic Igwebike condemned the police actions, calling them unprofessional and violent. He said officers attempted to force staff to grant an illegal power outage, disconnecting electricity at gunpoint, vandalizing equipment, and assaulting workers. Personal belongings, including phones, laptops, and vehicles, were reportedly destroyed, and CCTV cameras damaged. The union demanded the immediate release of abducted members, full medical attention for assaulted workers, and replacement of damaged or confiscated property. NUEE also called on TCN management, the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Inspector-General of Police to ensure the safety of electricity workers. Igwebike warned that work would not resume until staff safety is guaranteed. “Failure to address these issues promptly will leave the union with no option but to withdraw our services nationwide until adequate protection is secured at all workplaces,” he said. The threat of service withdrawal underscores rising tensions in the nation’s power sector and raises concerns over potential widespread disruptions if the situation is not quickly resolved.

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Blueface Reveals He Wants to Collaborate With Burna Boy

American rapper Blueface, recently released from jail, has revealed his interest in collaborating with Nigerian Afrobeat superstar Burna Boy. During a livestream that drew significant attention from fans, a streamer asked Blueface which artists he would like to work with that he hasn’t collaborated with yet. “I’d like to work with Burna Boy,” Blueface said, naming the global hitmaker as his top choice and expressing enthusiasm about creating music together. The comments have already sparked a wave of excitement on social media, with fans sharing clips from the livestream and speculating about the potential for a cross-continental collaboration. Blueface says Burna Boy is the the only artist he wants to work with. https://t.co/ZK6qo9OSXl pic.twitter.com/AyzBybeBmN — benny. (@1BENNY7G) November 16, 2025

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Wike-Backed PDP Faction Calls Emergency NEC And BoT Meetings In Abuja

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has moved to reassert its authority by calling emergency meetings of the party’s National Executive Committee and Board of Trustees for Tuesday. Both sessions will hold at the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja, signaling a rejection of the parallel convention staged in Ibadan over the weekend. The notice, issued by Samuel Anyanwu, a strong Wike ally, directed BoT members to meet at 11 a.m., while the NEC will convene at 2 p.m. Members were told attendance is compulsory as they will be addressing what the faction described as critical party matters. The Abuja meetings come as a counter to the Ibadan convention led by Umar Damagum, where Kabiru Turaki was named national chairman and several prominent figures—including Wike, Anyanwu, and former Ekiti governor Ayo Fayose—were declared expelled. That same convention announced the dissolution of party structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers. However, divisions quickly surfaced. Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, who were physically present in Ibadan, later distanced themselves from the move to expel the FCT minister. Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, circulated the invitation for the Abuja meetings on X on Monday. Earlier, he had dismissed the Ibadan gathering entirely, describing it as a political charade rather than a legitimate convention. “They went to Ibadan to start dirty December in November,” he wrote, adding that whatever resolutions came from the meeting were of no consequence and could be ignored.

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Dead Cannot Expel the Living — Fayose Hits Back at PDP

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has fired back after his expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party, taking to his X account with a pointed message that immediately stirred reactions. “The living can’t be found among the dead. The dead don’t expel the living.” His post made it clear he has no intention of recognizing the action taken against him, dismissing the faction behind the decision as a broken structure with no real political life left. Fayose hinted that the PDP, in its present form, has lost its relevance, framing the expulsion as meaningless to someone he considers still very much active in the political arena. The remark has triggered discussions across political circles, with many seeing it as Fayose asserting that his influence remains intact—regardless of any announcement made by what he describes as a failing party.  

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Tope Alabi Marks 25 Years of Marriage With Husband Soji Alabi

Nigerian gospel singer Tope Alabi celebrated a remarkable milestone, marking 25 years of marriage with her husband, Soji Alabi. Sharing a rare photo of the couple rocking white shirts and jeans, she expressed her joy and gratitude in a heartfelt Instagram post. “25 years and we’re still doing this thing called love! A whole quarter of a century together—laughing, learning, praying, growing, and walking through life side by side. We’ve supported each other’s dreams and purpose through every season with joy,” she wrote. Tope described their partnership as one built on complementary strengths: from her husband, the “master strategist,” to herself, the “divine minstrel.” Together, they have built a home, a ministry, and a family they are proud of, cherishing countless memories and celebrating their children. She concluded her message with a prayer: “Lord, as we step into the next chapter, may Your grace shine even brighter on our journey, strengthening our bond, enlarging our joy, and deepening our roots in Your purpose. Amen. Happy 25th anniversary to us—the Alabis!” Fans and followers have flooded the post with congratulations, celebrating the couple’s enduring love, teamwork, and faith that have sustained them through a quarter of a century.

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Kebbi Bandits Abduct 25 Schoolgirls, Kill Vice Principal in Night Raid

Armed bandits armed with sophisticated weapons launched a devastating attack on Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on Sunday night, abducting at least 25 schoolgirls. Local source Sulaiman Abdullahi reported that the attackers killed the school’s vice principal, and several unidentified bodies were left on the school premises. “They came in large numbers at night, fired sporadically, and forced their way into the school,” Abdullahi said. By Monday morning, air force jets were seen patrolling the area around 8 a.m., and the school was heavily secured by armed security personnel. CSP Nafiu Abubakar, spokesperson for the Kebbi Police Command, confirmed the attack, saying a tactical team had been deployed to carry out rescue operations for the abducted students. He added that all efforts are being made to ensure the safety of the schoolgirls in captivity, and that Commissioner of Police Bello Sani is committed to putting an end to banditry in the state.

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VeryDarkMan and Mr Jollof Get Into Physical Fight on United Nigerian Airline Flight

Social media star Martins Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM), and comedian Freedom Atsepoyi, aka Mr Jollof, reportedly got into a physical altercation on a flight. The incident was shared by Facebook user Dr Paul Ezikel, who posted a video of the clash on Monday morning. According to the post, the confrontation occurred on a United Nigerian Airline flight from Asaba, Delta State, to Lagos. VDM and Mr Jollof have a history of heated exchanges on social media, which escalated after VDM accused the comedian’s wife of being involved with internet fraudsters. VDM confirmed the in-flight scuffle in a video posted on his Facebook page, claiming he confronted Mr Jollof. “I don chop Jollof father for inside plane. He bite me, man wey de bite,” he said. The video has since gone viral, sparking reactions from fans and followers of both personalities. Moment VeryDarkMan VDM and Mr Jollof exchanged blows inside plane pic.twitter.com/lkqm1NCg2B — Ochogwu Sunday (@OchogwuSunny) November 17, 2025

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