The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has pledged a donation of ₦1 billion to support victims of natural disasters and banditry attacks in Niger State.

The announcement was made on Tuesday in Minna during the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Women Empowerment Programme.

Senator Tinubu explained that the funds will be used to provide housing assistance and essential supplies aimed at helping displaced families rebuild their lives, secure daily income, and improve their living conditions.

This contribution aligns with the core mission of the Renewed Hope Initiative, whose motto is “Towards a Better Life for Families.”

At the event, Mrs. Tinubu disclosed that 500 women from Niger State would benefit from a total of ₦25 million in empowerment grants, with each woman receiving ₦50,000.

The broader empowerment programme targets 18,500 women nationwide and has so far been implemented in 15 states.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Renewed Hope Initiative and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, reflecting a shared commitment to empowering women, seen as fundamental to national development.

“The economic empowerment programme is designed to support women entrepreneurs, petty traders, and small business owners who work tirelessly to provide for their families, educate their children, and uplift their communities,” Mrs. Tinubu stated.

She emphasized, “This grant is not a loan but a seed of renewed hope to help women recapitalize their existing businesses. Empowering a woman is empowering a household, a community, and ultimately the nation.”

The First Lady expressed gratitude to the Tony Elumelu Foundation for their substantial contribution of ₦1 billion to the programme.

She also thanked the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, and his wife for their support.

Governor Bago commended the First Lady for her generosity, recalling her previous donation of ₦100 million to victims of a bomb explosion at a mine site in Niger State.

He highlighted how her ongoing support has positively impacted many lives.

“This generous gesture comes at a crucial time as our people are grappling with the aftermath of flooding and insecurity. We appreciate her continued care and kindness,” Governor Bago said.

He further noted that the First Lady’s benevolence reflects the progressive leadership of her husband, President Bola Tinubu.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has confirmed efforts to persuade former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for Nigeria’s presidency once again in the 2027 general elections.

According to a report by BBC Hausa, which was monitored by DAILY GAZETTE, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said that the move is part of a broader initiative to restore trusted leadership and respond to mounting public demand.

“The party is inviting Jonathan because many Nigerians are also making similar calls to the former president to come back,” Abdullahi stated.

Jonathan, who served a single term from 2011 to 2015, lost his re-election bid to former President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, PDP leaders now describe him as a model of democratic leadership and are eager to bring him back to the political frontline.

“Nigerians have realised that Jonathan was a good leader and most of the problems they blamed him for were actually not his faults,” Abdullahi explained.

He praised Jonathan for his peaceful concession in the 2015 elections, saying, “He also exhibited high level of statesmanship by not rigging the 2015 elections despite his power to do so as an incumbent president, like what his predecessors had done, but he toed the path of honour and conceded defeat to avoid bloodshed.”

Abdullahi further claimed that Jonathan has responded positively to the party’s approach, saying, “He would ponder and consult about it to make a decision.”

“Some of the conditions he gave were: to be given automatic ticket if he accepts to run, though he also said he would have to make consultations before getting back to us,” he added.

According to the report, some PDP governors have even traveled with Jonathan to The Gambia, where he recently attended a function, as part of ongoing efforts to court him for the 2027 presidential race.

The Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSAA) has formally petitioned the Police against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate for violating the Out-Of-Home campaign regulations.

Dr. Tony Ujubuoñu, Managing Director of ANSAA, made the announcement during a press conference held in Awka on Tuesday.

DAILY GAZETTE recall that ANSAA had earlier set a ₦50 million approval fee for outdoor advertising and campaign activities ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

Dr. Ujubuoñu explained that these guidelines were introduced to promote orderliness, fairness, and aesthetic standards during the electioneering period.

He revealed that only five of the 16 registered political parties had complied by paying the required campaign fees.

Ujubuoñu added that on August 1, members of the ANSAA enforcement team were attacked by APC supporters while attempting to remove unauthorized outdoor campaign materials.

He emphasized that political parties are free to use alternative campaigning methods such as social media, radio, or television, as long as they adhere to established rules.

The agency issued two demand notices giving APC a two-week period to comply, followed by a legal reminder with an additional one-week deadline. However, these notices were disregarded.

“Despite not securing the mandatory campaign permit, APC has carried out unauthorized promotional activities including erecting posters, branding vehicles, hanging banners, and hosting events with promotional items,” Ujubuoñu stated.

He further noted that in Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, APC supporters obstructed ANSAA officials during their lawful operation and resorted to violence.

“ANSAA has officially reported the assault of our personnel in Nri to the Nigeria Police and will pursue all legal avenues to maintain the authority and integrity of our regulatory mandate,” he concluded.

The Senator Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has disassociated itself from a planned protest set to take place at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

In a statement released in Abuja late Tuesday, the Senior Special Adviser to the Interim National Chairman of the LP, Ken Asogwa, made it clear that the party has no knowledge of, nor involvement in, the protest.

He said: “The attention of the leadership of the Labour Party has been drawn to an invitation circulating in certain quarters regarding a purported protest scheduled to hold tomorrow, 6th August 2025, at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

This protest is allegedly being organised by some unknown individuals purportedly operating under the banner of the Labour Party.”

The party leadership emphasized that it had not authorized any such activity.

“We wish to categorically state that the said protest is not sanctioned by the Labour Party. The organisers are unknown to the party’s leadership, and the action lacks the approval and backing of the party.”

“The public is hereby put on notice that anyone participating in or promoting this protest is doing so without the consent of the Labour Party and should be seen as an impostor.”

The LP also responded to a recent decision by INEC rejecting a list of candidates submitted by the Julius Abure-led faction, which it described as illegitimate.

“It would be recalled that INEC recently rejected the illegitimate list of candidates for the upcoming national bye-elections and local council elections submitted by the former chairman of the party, Barr. Julius Abure, and his unlawful group.”

“The Labour Party received that decision with relief, knowing that INEC – as a responsible electoral umpire – would eventually proceed to accept and publish the authentic list submitted by the current, lawful leadership of the party.”

The party urged INEC to remain resolute and follow through on the legal affirmation of its leadership by the Supreme Court.

“We urge INEC to remain steadfast and continue to disregard the desperate antics of these individuals whose tenures expired since 8th June 2023 – and whose expiration was expressly affirmed by the Supreme Court in its judgment of 4th April 2025.”

“While we await INEC’s timely action in publishing the valid list of candidates submitted by the legitimate party leadership, we also call on the Commission to give full effect to the said Supreme Court ruling by updating its official portal and other platforms to reflect the correct leadership of the Labour Party in line with the court’s judgment.”

The party concluded by calling on security agencies to take immediate action against those behind the protest.

“In light of the foregoing, we therefore call on all security agencies to take note: the persons planning to stage a protest at INEC headquarters on 6th August 2025 are not representatives of the Labour Party.
They are political impersonators and mischief-makers, and should be treated as such. We call for their immediate arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.”