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APC Chairman Fires Up Journalists: ‘Hold Us Accountable To Save Nigeria’s Democracy’.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on journalists across the country to embrace constructive criticism and uphold their responsibility of holding leaders accountable as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy. According to Nivo News, Yilwatda made the call on Thursday in Makurdi during the 2025 Press Week, Public Lecture, and Awards Ceremony organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Benue State Council.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Represented at the event by the Benue State APC Chairman, Benjamin Omale, the party’s national leader emphasised that journalism must remain factual, ethical, and non-partisan if the nation is to witness sustained development, peace, and justice. He warned that democracy falters when the media becomes sensational, biased, or driven by unverified information, noting that journalists play a decisive role in shaping national direction.
He stressed that government and political parties, including the APC, must be receptive to criticism, so long as such criticisms are grounded in truth rather than propaganda. Yilwatda urged media practitioners to prioritise national unity, verify information before publication, and ensure that their work promotes healing and cohesion rather than division. He noted that the health of any democracy depends significantly on the quality of information available to citizens.
According to Nivo News, Yilwatda added that a strong, ethical, and independent press ensures citizens remain informed, encourages accountability among leaders, exposes developmental challenges, and supports meaningful national dialogue. He reiterated that the APC-led Federal Government remains committed to stabilising the economy, improving security, and promoting inclusive growth to strengthen democratic institutions.
His remarks come at a time when concerns continue to grow over press freedom in Nigeria. Recent reports highlight persistent cases of harassment and intimidation of journalists, often linked to the misuse of certain laws and the actions of security agencies. Stakeholders in the media industry have repeatedly warned that shrinking civic space, increasing attacks on journalists, and unethical practices within the profession undermine its role as a watchdog of democracy.
Public commentators and editorial boards have also continued to advocate for credible, fact-based reporting as a crucial tool in fostering accountability and rebuilding public trust. Against this backdrop, renewed calls for responsible journalism, democratic oversight, and constructive engagement by the media continue to echo across the nation.
On Wednesday, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja under tight security. Reports indicate that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives restricted access to the courtroom, preventing lawyers, supporters, and associates of the activist from entering.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Public Access Challenged: Oshiok Philip, the National Secretary of the AAC, confronted the security officials, arguing that the courtroom is a public space and asserting that blocking citizens from observing legal proceedings violates constitutional rights.
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Criticism of the Agency: During the exchange, Philip cautioned the DSS against allowing the agency to be utilized as a tool against dissenting voices.
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Heightened Security: Operatives reportedly established a security perimeter around the courtroom, restricted public movement, and engaged in the intimidation of some of Sowore’s supporters.
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Context of Ongoing Tensions: This event followed a ruling two days prior by Justice Mohammed Umar, which ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
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Allegations of Force: Supporters and AAC members expressed outrage following reports that armed DSS operatives had forcibly removed Sowore from the courtroom on Monday while he was waiting for correctional officials, characterizing the actions as lawless and an affront to due process.
The Dangote Refinery has issued a formal denial regarding accusations that it exports petroleum products to Lomé, Togo, only for them to be re-imported into Nigeria. In a statement released Tuesday, the company dismissed these claims as an “ill-motivated web of falsehoods,” noting that it usually ignores baseless allegations but felt compelled to address this specific narrative for the record.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The refinery highlighted the following key points in its rebuttal:
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Commercial Illogic: The company stated that the idea of shipping products to Togo and back to Nigeria lacks both commercial sense and supporting trade flow data. It noted that the added expenses for shipping, storage, handling, and financing—estimated at $82 to $90 per metric tonne—would eliminate profit margins, making such a strategy financially unattractive.
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Core Objectives: Facilitating imports that compete directly with its own output would contradict the refinery’s primary goal of serving as a leading supplier for the Nigerian market.
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Contractual Prohibitions: The refinery’s sales contracts and tender terms explicitly forbid the resale or re-importation of its products into Nigeria.
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Traceability and Compliance: Dangote Refinery maintains rigorous records of all product sales, including details on vessels, counterparties, and destinations, asserting that any claim of knowingly facilitating re-importation contradicts its established compliance procedures.
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Strategic Alignment: The company emphasized that these allegations clash with its consistent advocacy for reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, which it argues burdens foreign exchange reserves and hinders local industrial growth.
Ultimately, the refinery concluded that there is no strategic or economic justification for such practices, reaffirming that the allegations are unsupported by the economics of the trade or its own internal controls.
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is facing scrutiny following reports that he bypassed several summons from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding a certificate forgery probe. The investigation centers on allegations that Nnaji utilized fraudulent academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials during his 2023 ministerial screening, a matter brought to light after a two-year investigation by Premium Times into his documents from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Following his failure to respond to these summons, the ICPC reportedly initiated a search for the former minister, eventually securing an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja for his arrest to ensure he cooperates with the investigation.
Nnaji’s Response Prior to the court-ordered arrest, Nnaji publicly denied the existence of an ICPC investigation and alleged that the reports were politically motivated, blaming the Enugu State Government for spreading falsehoods. “Is it not me here? Where is the ICPC?” Nnaji stated, dismissing the claims.
Documented Invitations Contrary to the former minister’s denials, documentation obtained by Premium Times confirms formal efforts by the ICPC to reach him. A May 15 letter from the Head of the Chairman’s Special Task Force, Usman Ahmed, formally requested Nnaji’s presence at the Abuja headquarters on May 20, 2026. Because investigators could not locate him, the invitation was transmitted via email, text message, and WhatsApp.
After Nnaji did not appear for the initial interview, the commission moved the date to June 3, 2026, advising him to attend in the interest of a fair hearing. He reportedly failed to appear for this second appointment as well, leading the ICPC to seek the court-sanctioned arrest warrant. As of now, the ICPC has not released a formal public statement, and Nnaji continues to maintain his innocence.
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