T he vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has explained why he wants former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to step down for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Speaking on Channels Television's Politics Today on Thursday, Kwankwaso said his appeal is not driven by personal bias but by their long political relationship and the need to allow a new political arrangement. Asked if he was insisting that Atiku should drop his ambition, he replied, “Well, yes.” He said he used a recent courtesy visit by Fulani leaders from across the country to his residence to urge them to speak with Atiku about stepping aside. Kwankwaso noted that he has known Atiku since 1993 when they both belonged to the political movement led by the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua. At that time, he said, Atiku was their preferred presidential candidate under the Social Democratic Party. According to him, their alliance continued through the transition to civ...

  O gun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, says his administration will upgrade the Ogun State Cooperative College to start awarding National Diploma and Higher National Diploma. The governor said the plan is to train more qualified professionals who can manage cooperative societies better, manage risks and protect members' savings. He disclosed this on Wednesday in Ijebu-Ode during the 2026 International Day of Cooperatives, organised by the state cooperative federation and the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives. Abiodun also revealed that his government has given out over N1 billion in loans to support small businesses in the state, as reported by Arise News. According to him, N500 million went to cooperative societies through the State Cooperative Federation under the revolving loan scheme, while another N500 million was disbursed through the Oko Owo Irinse Dapo soft loan scheme for artisans, traders and small business owners across all 20 local government areas. He s...

  T he Senate has taken a major step to close the long-standing gap between university and polytechnic graduates. At plenary, lawmakers amended the Federal Polytechnic Act to allow federal polytechnics across the country to award Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees in science, engineering and other technology-related courses. The amendment followed a motion by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who called for a review of the Act to provide clearer administration and a stronger legal framework. After deliberations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put it to a voice vote and the amendment was passed. Before now, federal polytechnics were only allowed to award National Diplomas (ND) and Higher National Diplomas (HND). That restriction has now been lifted. According to Premium Times, the new Section 2(1)(c) of the Act allows polytechnics to award http://B.Tech degrees to qualified holders of ND, HND or Postgraduate Diploma. However, there is a condition: the degree programmes mu...