Youth Participation in Nigeria's Politic

Youth Participation in Nigeria's Politics

·      The Demographic Power of Nigerian Youth

·      Legal Milestones: The “Not Too Young to Run” Bill

·      Barriers Hindering Youth Political Participation

·      Youth Activism and Social Movements

·      Opportunities for Greater Inclusion

·      The Future of Nigerian Democracy

Youth participation in Nigerian politics is both a powerful demographic force and a contested space, with over 70% of the population under 35 but still facing systemic barriers to meaningful representation. Despite activism, reforms like the “Not Too Young to Run” law, and strong voter registration numbers, financial constraints, cultural biases, and low voter turnout continue to limit their influence.

Youth Participation in Nigeria's Politics

Nigeria is a nation defined by its youthful population. With more than 70% of citizens under the age of 35, the country’s political future is inevitably tied to the engagement of its young people. Yet, the paradox remains: while youths are socially conscious, digitally connected, and politically vocal, they remain structurally sidelined from the corridors of power.

Historical Context and Legal Framework

The passage of the “Not Too Young to Run” Bill in 2018 was a landmark reform, lowering the age requirements for elective offices. It was celebrated as a breakthrough for youth inclusion, but its impact has been limited. While it opened doors legally, the entrenched political culture and financial demands of Nigerian politics have kept many young aspirants outside the system.

Barriers to Participation

Several obstacles hinder youth involvement:

• Financial constraints: Nomination forms often cost millions of naira, pricing out most young candidates.
• Cultural biases: Older elites dominate party structures, with youth often dismissed as inexperienced.
• Systemic bottlenecks: Delegate systems and political godfatherism restrict access to decision-making.
• Low voter turnout: Despite youths making up the largest voting bloc (48 million registered voters in 2023), turnout among 18–35-year-olds was below 30%.

APO-KARSHI ROAD PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR -FCT MINISTER

FCT Minister fielding questions from journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing road projects in the FCT on Wednesday

APO-KARSHI ROAD PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR -FCT MINISTER

…EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH QUALITY AND PACE OF WORK, AS HE INSPECTS PROJECTS AHEAD OF THEIR COMMISSIONING

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has assured residents of the territory that the Apo-Karshi road project will be completed before the end of the year.

The Minister disclosed this while addressing journalists shortly after inspecting the Karu town, Apo-Karshi, and Gbazan-Kubwa road projects on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Barr Wike said residents have long awaited the completion of the Apo-Karshi road, which is being handled by SCC.  Describing the road as critical, the Minister expressed confidence in the ability of the contractor to deliver a quality work, within the agreed timeframe.

Recall that the 13.4 kilimetre road was initially awarded to Kakatar Engineering limited in 2011, to create an alternative route between Apo and Karshi and ease traffic from the Nyanya axis of the FCT, but was abandoned until Barr. Wike terminated the previous contract and re-awarded it to SCC in late 2025.

NUJ FCT Council and SEB Media Sign MoU for Weekly Video Interview Programme — “BEYOND GOVERNANCE” (MEDIA CHAT)

NUJ FCT Council and SEB Media Sign MoU for Weekly Video Interview Programme — “BEYOND GOVERNANCE” (MEDIA CHAT)

PRESS RELEASE

NUJ FCT Council and SEB Media Sign MoU for Weekly Video Interview Programme - “BEYOND GOVERNANCE” (MEDIA CHAT)

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, and SEB Media have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the production of a new weekly video interview programme titled “BEYOND GOVERNANCE,” also known as MEDIA CHAT.

The partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing public discourse and transparency in governance through media innovation.

The programme will serve as a platform for constructive dialogue between government officials, policy experts, and citizens, focusing on leadership, accountability, and national development.

The collaboration is a strategic step toward strengthening journalistic engagement with governance.

BEYOND GOVERNANCE will spotlight issues that matter most to Nigerians, bridging the gap between policymakers and the public.

By combining in-depth interviews, citizen participation, and digital feedback to create a truly interactive experience the programme’s production quality and open‑air format will set a new benchmark for broadcast journalism in Nigeria.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FCT – FCT MINISTER

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE FCT – FCT MINISTER

…DIRECTS THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROAD TO BODY OF BENCHERS ANNEX

The FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has reiterated the Administration's commitment to providing infrastructure in the nation’s capital and will not be swayed by unnecessary criticism.

Barr. Wike stated this when he received a delegation of the Body of Benchers, led by its new Chairman, HRM Albert Akpomudje SAN, on a courtesy visit to the Minister on Tuesday, May 13, 2026.

The Minister, who spoke on a recent criticism by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, who was quoted as saying that the construction of houses for judges was to compromise them, stressed that the FCT Administration will continue to provide infrastructure for government establishments, where needed and as directed by President Bola Tinubu.

He said that though government welcomes criticism, such should be constructive, adding that negative criticism does not augur well for the development of the country.

Report on NUJ FCT Council 2026 Press Week

Report on NUJ FCT Council 2026 Press Week

The NUJ FCT Council 2026 Press Week is a week-long celebration of journalism in Abuja, running from May 16 to May 22, 2026. It features health-focused initiatives, professional lectures, student competitions, and social gatherings, all designed to promote the welfare and development of journalists in the Federal Capital Territory.

Report on NUJ FCT Council 2026 Press Week

Introduction

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, has unveiled a comprehensive program for its 2026 Press Week. This annual event is a cornerstone of the union’s activities, combining professional development, welfare initiatives, and community engagement. The 2026 edition emphasizes health, education, and camaraderie among journalists and the wider public.

Opening Ceremony and Medical Outreach

The Press Week is scheduled to commence on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with a free medical outreach at the NUJ FCT Secretariat in Utako. Organized in collaboration with Nizamiya Hospital, the outreach is intended to provide general medical check-ups, eye screening, blood pressure and sugar tests, and health consultations. NUJ FCT Chairman, Grace Ike, highlights the importance of prioritizing journalists’ health, given the demanding nature of their profession.

Health Walk

On Monday, May 18, 2026, is a Health Walk, beginning at Julius Berger Roundabout at 7:00 a.m. This initiative is aimed at promoting fitness and healthy living among journalists and residents of Abuja.

AHEAD OF PROJECTS COMMISSIONING, FCT MINISTER EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH QUALITY AND PACE OF WORK

FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike waves at excited residents who came out in their numbers when the Minister inspected the Dei-dei to Life Camp road on Monday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

AHEAD OF PROJECTS COMMISSIONING, FCT MINISTER EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH QUALITY AND PACE OF WORK

…FAULTS CITIZENS’ APATHY TOWARDS PAYING TAXES

The FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of ongoing infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory.

Addressing journalists shortly after a tour of key projects in the FCT, Barr Wike noted that several projects scheduled for inauguration during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary celebrations were nearing completion.

“Part of these projects are slated to be inaugurated by Mr President as part of his third-year anniversary celebration. Quality jobs done by very good contractors. We are happy. The excellence is there”, he said.

Projects inspected include access roads to the Renewed Hope Estate in Karsana, the Dei-Dei to Life Camp road, the road connecting the Body of Benchers, Baze and Nile Universities at the Institution and Research district and the Bill Clinton drive to Tugan Madaki community road being executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.

Comparative Editorial: Speed Darlington’s Offer and the Global Culture of Celebrity Controversy

Symbolic Photo
Comparative Editorial: Speed Darlington’s Offer and the Global Culture of Celebrity Controversy

Comparative Editorial: Speed Darlington’s Offer and the Global Culture of Celebrity Controversy

·      Global Parallels in Celebrity Controversy

·      Cultural Impact within Nigeria’s Entertainment Industry

·      The Ethics of Fame and Exploitation

·      Nigeria’s Moral Landscape and Youth Culture

·      Conclusion: Shock Value as a Global Strategy

Speed Darlington’s ₦5 million offer to any woman aged 20–24 willing to have his child has not only stirred outrage within Nigeria but also mirrors a broader global phenomenon - the use of scandal and shock value as tools for fame. Across continents, celebrities have long leveraged controversy to remain relevant, often blurring ethical boundaries and igniting cultural debates about morality, power, and influence.

Global Parallels in Celebrity Controversy

In the United States, figures like Kanye West and Nick Cannon have faced backlash for their public statements about relationships, family, and religion. Nick Cannon’s decision to father multiple children with different women, while claiming spiritual justification, sparked similar debates about responsibility and exploitation. In the UK, reality TV stars have courted controversy through provocative social media posts and transactional relationships that blur the line between personal life and publicity. In Asia, pop idols have faced scandals over romantic relationships that violate fan expectations, showing how fame can distort cultural norms around intimacy and morality.

Editorial: Speed Darlington’s Offer and the Storm It Has Unleashed

Symbolic Photo
Editorial: Speed Darlington’s Offer and the Storm It Has Unleashed

Editorial: Speed Darlington’s Offer and the Storm It Has Unleashed

·      Public Reactions to Speed Darlington’s Offer

·      Legal Implications and Ethical Concerns

·      Speed Darlington’s Past Controversies

·      The Larger Debate on Celebrity Exploitation

·      Conclusion: Fame, Shock Value, and Responsibility

When Nigerian rapper Speed Darlington announced that he was offering ₦5 million to any woman aged 20–24 willing to have his child, the news immediately ignited a firestorm of reactions. His declaration, framed as a straightforward transaction rather than a relationship, has become a lightning rod for debates about morality, legality, and the boundaries of celebrity behavior in Nigeria.

Public Reactions

The public response has been overwhelmingly critical. Many Nigerians see the offer as exploitative, targeting young women who may be financially vulnerable. Critics argue that by specifying a preference for women from struggling backgrounds, Speed Darlington is attempting to commodify poverty and desperation. Social media platforms have been flooded with condemnations, with some calling the proposal “predatory” and “demeaning.” Others dismiss it as yet another publicity stunt from a man who thrives on controversy. Still, there are voices that treat the announcement with humor, mocking it as part of Speed Darlington’s eccentric persona rather than a serious proposition.

Speed Darlington offers N5m to any woman aged 20-24 willing to have his child

Nigerian rapper Speed Darlington
Speed Darlington offers N5m to any woman aged 20-24 willing to have his child

Speed Darlington offers N5m to any woman aged 20-24 willing to have his child

·      Speed Darlington’s ₦5 Million Offer

·      Conditions Attached to the Proposal

·      Public Reaction and Criticism

·      Past Controversies of Speed Darlington

·      Ethical and Legal Implications

·      Conclusion: Shock Value or Genuine Intent?

Controversial Nigerian rapper Speed Darlington has announced that he is offering ₦5 million to any woman aged 20–24 willing to have his child, sparking widespread debate across social media. He emphasized that he is not interested in marriage, only fatherhood, and prefers a non-Igbo woman from a financially struggling background.

The Announcement

Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, made the declaration in a viral Instagram video on May 11, 2026. He explained that two years ago he had offered ₦3 million for the same arrangement but was dissatisfied with the women who responded, as they did not fit his preferred age range. This time, he raised the offer to ₦5 million, specifying that the woman must be between 20 and 24 years old.

Conditions Attached

Speed Darlington laid out several conditions:

• He is not seeking marriage and does not want to tie himself down to one woman.
• The chosen woman would not live in his house, though she would be allowed to visit the child after birth.
• He prefers a non-Igbo woman, despite being Igbo himself, claiming that Igbo women are “too proud.”
• He wants someone from a financially struggling background, not from a wealthy family.

2027: No southern candidate can unseat Tinubu, Atiku camp warns

Nigeria's President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu

2027: No Southern Candidate Can Unseat Tinubu, Atiku Camp Warns

Atiku Camp Warns Against Southern Opposition Candidate in 2027

Historical Precedent: Incumbents and Regional Politics

Zoning Debate: North vs South Power Balance

South-East Aspirations and Political Equity

Opposition Strategy: Coalition Building vs Sentiment

The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has issued a strong warning to opposition parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

In a statement released in Abuja by Atiku’s media aide, Olusola Sanni, the group cautioned against zoning the opposition’s presidential ticket exclusively to the South, arguing that such a move would virtually guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

The statement emphasized that political strategy, coalition-building, and electoral calculations should guide decisions rather than sentiment or moral arguments.

Sanni posed a rhetorical question: how could a Southern opposition candidate realistically unseat a sitting Southern president? He noted that Nigerian political history offers no precedent for such an outcome, stressing that no incumbent president has ever been defeated by an opposition challenger from the same geopolitical bloc. To insist otherwise, he argued, is to enter the contest already defeated.

“PROVISION OF JUDICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT ERODE INTEGRITY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM” - FCT MINISTER

L-R) Executive Secretary FCDA Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, Director, Public Building, Arch. Bature Tagwai Garba, MD/CEO Details 2 Dot Development Co. Nig. Ltd, Arc Akor Adapoyi, FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike, former Mayor of Port Harcourt City Hon Victor Ihunwo and Chief Audu Ella during the Minister's inspection of almost completed Judges Quarters in Katampe district, Abuja, on Friday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

“PROVISION OF JUDICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT ERODE INTEGRITY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM” - FCT MINISTER

…SLAMS NBA CHAIRMAN OVER COMMENTS ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticisms suggesting that the provision of residential accommodation and office complexes for the judiciary by the executive arm will erode judicial independence.

Barr. Wike made the remarks while speaking to journalists on Friday, May 8, 2026, following an inspection of ongoing judicial infrastructure facilities and road projects, in the Abuja city centre, scheduled for commissioning to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year anniversary.

Reacting to the concerns reportedly raised by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, that building courts or providing vehicles for judges will compromise their integrity, the Minister described the notion as "unfortunate" and inconsistent with historical facts.

FCT MINISTER DIRECTS THE EXTENSION OF 10KM OUTER SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY (OSEX) TO WASA JUNCTION

FCT Minister fielding questions from journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing road projects in the FCC on Thursday

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

FCT MINISTER DIRECTS THE EXTENSION OF 10KM OUTER SOUTHERN EXPRESSWAY (OSEX) TO WASA JUNCTION

…DISMISSES CRITICISMS OVER LAND ALLOCATION POLICIES

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has directed the immediate extension of the 10km Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) main carriageways from the Ring Road II Junction (Apo) to the Wasa Junction to ensure the full completion of the arterial network and provide seamless connectivity for residents and businesses.

The Minister gave this directive on Thursday, May 7, 2026 during a routine inspection of vital infrastructure projects slated for inauguration during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third-year anniversary.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the tour, Barr. Wike expressed satisfaction with the speed of work, particularly on the OSEX bridge, stressing that he has directed the FCDA Executive Secretary to ensure the full completion of the project by the contractor, China Geo-Engineering Construction (CGC).

He said, “I have instructed the Executive Secretary that from where this OSEX road will stop at Ring Road II junction, they should take it to the end of the OSEX at Wasa junction, which is about 10 Kilometers, so that people will be very happy that at the end of the day, this administration has been able to complete the OSEX carriageway. This is another promise made and another promise fulfilled”, the Minister said.

Providing updates on the observed progress at the various sites, including the Collector Road CN2 in Katampe district, streets within the Gaduwa District, the OSEX highway, and the Wasa Informal Sector site, Barr. Wike expressed massive satisfaction with the level of completion and commitment of the contractors.

He commended the progress of work on the Collector Road CN2 in Katampe District which he noted was nearly 100% complete with streetlights and walkways already being installed.

On the Wasa District designated relocation site for the Apo Mechanic traders, the Minister disclosed that the project was nearly completed, describing the move as the fulfillment of a long-standing promise that had stalled for over a decade.

Akpabio, Oshiomhole Clash Over New Senate Leadership Eligibility Rules

Akpabio, Oshiomhole Clash Over New Senate Leadership Eligibility Rules

Akpabio and Oshiomhole Clash Over New Senate Leadership Eligibility Rules

·      Background to the Senate Rule Amendments

·      The Heated Exchange Between Akpabio and Oshiomhole

·      Implications for Senate Leadership Positions

·      Reactions and Speculation Ahead of 2027

·      Broader Impact on Nigeria’s Legislative Politics

The Nigerian Senate was thrown into turmoil following a heated confrontation between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Adams Oshiomhole over newly amended standing rules that redefine eligibility for leadership positions in the chamber.

The amendments, passed during a closed-door session lasting about three hours, stipulate that only senators who have served at least two consecutive terms, equivalent to eight uninterrupted years, can contest for presiding and principal offices such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

The clash erupted when Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, attempted to raise a point of order during plenary. Akpabio ignored him while calling for the confirmation of votes and proceedings from the previous legislative day. Oshiomhole persisted, shouting “point of order” even after his microphone was switched off.