Big Gist Africa

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a stern warning over what he described as a grave and dangerous ambiguity in Nigeria’s Electoral Act, calling on the National Assembly to act immediately safeguard the sanctity of the ballot. In a statement signed Wednesday in Abuja, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the Waziri Adamawa raised alarm over Section 63 of the Act, particularly the provision that allows a ballot paper without an official mark to be counted at the discretion of a returning officer. “This is not a minor technical issue—it is a direct threat to electoral integrity,” Atiku declared. He warned that any legal provision that permits discretion in determining the validity of ballot papers creates a loophole that could be exploited to compromise the will of the people. “A democracy cannot survive on ambiguity. A ballot must either meet the standard or it does not. The moment you leave such a critical decision to subjec...

Kimberly Daniels, a United States Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 14, has alleged that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, attempted to bribe a US official to deflect the narrative of the United World Congress of Diplomats, UN-WCD, report. The lawmaker made the claim in a viral video released on her official Facebook account on Monday. She said Matawalle’s alleged move was to cover up the UN-WCD report on Christian genocide in Nigeria, which indicted him. Daniels insisted that no amount of pressure can silence her stand against the killings of Christians in Nigeria. “A US elected official was offered money by Nigeria’s minister of state defense, Bello Matawalle, to change the narrative of the UN-WCD Christian genocide in Nigeria report,” she said in the viral video. Recall that Daniels, who doubled as the chairperson of UN-WCD, had called for President Bola Tinubu to remove Matawalle over alleged complicity in the...

Political activist, Comrade Timi Frank, has called on the United States Government to investigate and sanction the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over alleged actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy. Frank’s demand followed a viral video in which Gbajabiamila was quoted as telling Hon Leke Abejide, during his wife’s 50th birthday that: “Don’t come to APC. Stay in ADC and scatter them. We like what you’re doing… stay in ADC and win your election… bring Bala Gombe, and we’ll support him. Good luck in court.” Describing the remarks as “reckless” and dangerous, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said they point to a deliberate attempt to weaken opposition parties and erode democratic institutions. “Your statement, as Chief of Staff, raises serious concerns about the determination by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s regime to truncate democracy,” he said, adding that “inference can be made that ther...

By;  MUAZU MUHAMMAD In every democratic society, leadership is defined not only by ambition, but by service, sacrifice, consistency, and measurable impact on the lives of the people. In Sokoto State today, a growing consensus is emerging around one figure whose political journey reflects these values in practice —Hon. Almustapha Ladan. Across the political and social landscape of Sokoto State, his name has become increasingly associated with grassroots connection, humanitarian service, and unwavering loyalty to democratic structures.  His long-standing commitment to the ideals of the All-Progressives Congress has been marked by consistent participation, mobilization, and personal sacrifice in support of party growth and electoral success at both state and national levels. Unlike many political actors whose engagement is limited to election periods, Hon. Ladan’s presence in communities has remained constant. His approach to leadership is rooted in direct interaction...

*With Ambassador Abbas with us, 2027 victory is sure - ADP The dynamics ahead of the 2027 general is fast changing as the President of National Youth Alliance (NYA), alongside the 36 State chairmen, 774 local government coordinators embraced the Action Democratic Party (ADP), with a resolve to ensure a youth Emerges President of Nigeria in 2027. Speaking at a world press conference in Kano to inform of the alliance with ADP on Thursday April 16, 2026, NYA's  Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas said that the days are over for old politicians in Nigeria. He explained that so many wrongs in the country are left unchecked, a situation that ADP will salvage when it wins in 2027. Ambassador Abbas said that although the NYA and ADP do not have the financial muscle of the other political parties, the firm believe in God and the resources of the youth God has blessed the country would bring about that desired change. "Nigeria is blessed with everything we can dream up. It is a beaut...

*Unit records second major interception in two weeks along Kano-Jigawa axis The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’, has dealt another blow to wildlife traffickers with the interception of additional live pangolins being illegally transported along the Kano–Takai–Jigawa road. This was contained in a statement signed by the  Ag. PRO,  ASCII  Mohammed Usman Balarabe, made available to newsmen on Thursday April 9, 2026. It informed that the this latest arrest occurred on 26 March 2026 at approximately 13:00 hours. This follows a similar successful operation conducted on 12 March 2026, marking a significant escalation in the Unit's enforcement activities this month. The seizures were effected pursuant to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement to which Nigeria is a signatory, which strictly prohibits trade that threatens the survival of wild species. ​...