By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urgently called on the Federal Government to implement a temporary cap on petrol prices, warning that the recent surge in fuel costs is exacerbating the hardship faced by millions of Nigerian households.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, acknowledged that volatility in global oil markets—spurred by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East—is contributing to the price hikes. However, the ADC argued that external factors do not justify allowing fuel prices to rise unchecked in an economy still reeling from the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“For everyday Nigerians, petrol determines the price of food, transportation, and survival. When petrol rises, everything else rises with it,” Abdullahi stated. “This is why the African Democratic Congress urges the Federal Government to take urgent action to stabilize petrol prices.”

The party criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stating that the current APC-led government must take responsibility for shielding citizens from the harshest effects of the increases. The ADC further called for the introduction of targeted palliatives specifically designed to support low-income Nigerians who are most vulnerable to the rising cost of transportation and goods.

Beyond the immediate call for a price cap, the ADC questioned the feasibility of the government’s long-term energy strategy, specifically targeting the recently announced plan to distribute 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits.

The party noted that with over 11 million vehicles registered in Nigeria, the proposed 100,000 kits would cover less than one percent of the nation’s vehicle fleet. Furthermore, the ADC raised concerns about the limited availability of CNG refuelling stations across the country, questioning whether the policy would have any tangible impact on the average Nigerian.

“A policy that touches only a fraction of vehicles cannot meaningfully address a national fuel crisis,” Abdullahi said. “If Nigerians cannot easily find where to refuel, then the policy risks becoming an announcement without real impact.”

The ADC urged the Federal Government to pursue a more comprehensive and credible energy strategy that reflects Nigeria’s status as an oil-producing nation.

“Nigeria is an oil-producing country, and it should not be a place where the cost of petrol repeatedly pushes millions of citizens deeper into hardship,” the statement concluded. “At a time of rising global uncertainty, protecting the welfare of citizens must remain the first duty of any government that knows what they are doing.”

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has directed the nation’s service chiefs to conduct on-the-ground visits to the North-West and North-East regions to reassess and revitalize ongoing military operations against terrorists.

The directive was issued on Wednesday during a high-level security meeting convened by the minister at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in Abuja. The meeting was called to address the pressing security challenges plaguing the two zones.

Confirming the development to TheCable, Timothy Antigha, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, stated that the service chiefs are expected to embark on the visits imminently. Upon their return, they are to submit comprehensive reports detailing their findings and proposing strategic adjustments to enhance the effectiveness of military operations in the troubled regions.

The minister’s directive follows a concerning surge in attacks by terrorist groups, who have recently intensified assaults on military installations, leading to the deaths of several personnel.

In a significant escalation on Monday, fighters from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) overran a military facility in the Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, during which a commanding officer was killed.

The following day, troops in the same locality successfully repelled another early-morning assault, also attributed to ISWAP fighters, highlighting the sustained pressure on forces in the region.

This recent spate of violence includes an attempted incursion by suspected Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters on military positions in Ngoshe, Gwoza LGA, about a week prior. The Nigerian Air Force responded with air strikes in that engagement, reporting that over 50 of the suspected terrorists were neutralized.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The House of representatives has amended the Electoral Act 2026 to criminalise dual membership of political parties.

Under the new provision, individuals found guilty of belonging to more than one political party at the same time will face a fine of N10 million and a maximum prison term of two years.

The lower legislative chamber passed the amendment during Wednesday’s plenary.

The amendment introduces three new subsections to section 77 of the Electoral Act 2026, which deals with political party membership.

The amendment provides that any individual found to be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time will have such membership declared void.

“A person shall not be registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time,” the provision reads.

“Where it is established that a person is registered as a member of more than one political party at the same time, such dual membership shall be void, and the person shall cease to be recognised as a valid member of any political party pending regularisation in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the constitution of the political party concerned.

“A person who knowingly registers or maintains membership in more than one political party at the same time commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of
N10,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of two years, or both.”

If signed into law, the amendment is expected to strengthen the legal framework governing party affiliation and curb cases of multiple party memberships.