By ENUENWOSU IFEANYI KINGSLEY A State Defined by Diversity DELTA State stands as one of Nigeria’s most ethnically diverse states, structured into three senatorial districts that broadly reflect its five recognised ethnic nationalities. The distribution of these groups has shaped political zoning, electoral contests and debates over identity for decades. While the state operates under administrative […]
‘We Will Strive for Excellence’ THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission cannot guarantee a 100 per cent perfect general election in 2027, urging Nigerians to moderate expectations while assuring them of the commission’s commitment to credible polls. Amupitan made the remarks on Sunday at a […]
By MELVIN KOFFA New Law Reshapes Party Organisation NIGERIA’S major opposition parties — PDP, ADC and LP — have launched sweeping digital membership registration campaigns to comply with Section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, a provision reshaping internal party politics. The law requires parties to maintain verifiable digital registers and submit them to INEC […]
Low Turnout and Voter Apathy ELECTIONS into the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, held on 21 February, have raised questions about Nigeria’s electoral preparedness ahead of 2027. Conducted under the amended Electoral Act 2026, these polls were not merely routine; they served as a test of the Act and a […]
IKHIDE R IKHELOA Soldier of Fortune: Early Years and Formation BORN on 8 November 1938 in Kano, Murtala Ramat Muhammed emerged from the elite Barewa College, Zaria, into a generation of young officers who would shape Nigeria’s post-independence history. Trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he was commissioned in 1961 and quickly developed a […]
By OCHUKO EDAFE Scrutiny Mounts Over Government Spending Channels FRESH concerns have emerged over the transparency and impact of several government-funded programmes in Delta State, with critics alleging that certain initiatives have become conduits for mismanagement rather than engines of development. Among the spending areas drawing attention are government conferences, investment consulting arrangements, media projects, security […]
Parties Race to Comply as New Electoral Rules Tighten Nigeria’s political landscape is entering another season of recalibration as parties restructure their strategies to meet the stringent requirements of the Electoral Act 2026. At the centre of the debate are new provisions mandating digital membership registers and detailed timelines for party primaries ahead of next […]
Executive Order 9: Stakeholders Demand Clarity, Warn of Legal Fallout THE controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order 9 continues to deepen, as oil and gas stakeholders, legal practitioners and policy experts question its legality and implications for Nigeria’s petroleum sector. Signed on 18 February 2026, the directive mandates that all revenues from the oil […]
By OGHENETEGA PINTO When History Meets Law: The Sapele Land Controversy and the Limits of Narrative A well-researched essay by historian Odjegba Victor recently struck a chord in Delta State’s ongoing debate over land ownership in Sapele Local Government Area. It touched on centuries of settlement, jurisprudence and recorded tradition — not just folklore or contemporary […]
A Kingdom at a Crossroads: Ovonramwen’s Early Reign WHEN Oba Adolo died in 1888, his eldest son, Prince Idugbowa, ascended the throne as Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, taking a name that signified grandeur: “The Rising Sun” and “which spreads over all.” By most historical accounts, he was imposing in stature and voice—tall, stout, commanding. Yet beneath the […]