The Plateau State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling APC of attempting to undermine Nigeria’s democracy through what it described as politically motivated court actions aimed at weakening opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.   Speaking at the party’s headquarters in Jos on Tuesday, Plateau State Chairman, Comrade Solomon Ndam, maintained that the NDC remains a legally registered political party despite a recent Federal High Court judgment delivered in Lokoja, Kogi State. Ndam described the June 26, 2026 judgment as “illegal and organised”, alleging that it was initiated by the Peace Movement Party, which he claimed is neither a registered political party nor a legally recognised organisation. According to him, the NDC filed an appeal against the ruling on June 29 alongside applications for a stay of execution and an injunction, which have been served on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He insisted that there is currently no court order directing the deregistration of the party. Party says candidate nominations are underway Ndam disclosed that INEC has granted the NDC access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload candidates in line with the commission’s election timetable. He said the party had already uploaded its presidential candidate on June 29 and would submit National Assembly candidates before the July 11 deadline, while governorship and state assembly candidates would be uploaded before July 17. The chairman recalled that the NDC secured its registration following a Federal High Court judgment on December 10, 2025, after a legal dispute with INEC. He said the commission had initially declined registration over concerns that the party’s logo resembled that of the APC before the court ruled in its favour. Ndam also claimed the party has registered more than 13 million members nationwide and conducted congresses and primaries in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines. Criticism of APC and Plateau government The NDC chairman commended INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan for what he described as professionalism and urged the electoral body to continue acting within the law. He further alleged that the APC was using judicial processes to frustrate opposition parties, claiming that parties including the ADC, SDP, PRP and NDC had faced similar legal challenges. Ndam also referenced Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, claiming he represents a political alternative that unsettles entrenched interests. He called on the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations and the media to scrutinise the activities and funding of the Peace Movement Party, saying greater transparency was needed. Turning to Plateau State, Ndam criticised Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s administration over insecurity and development, alleging that thousands of residents remain displaced and accusing the government of failing to protect lives and property. He urged Plateau residents and Nigerians to support the NDC, describing it as a platform committed to equal opportunities and good governance.

The Federal Government has said it will seek compensation from the South African government for Nigerians who were forced to abandon businesses and properties during recent anti-immigrant protests in the country.   Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed the plan while speaking on the return of hundreds of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, according to Channels Television. Ajayi said the Nigerian government would engage South African authorities to pursue compensation for citizens who suffered financial losses after fleeing the unrest. He also rejected claims that most Nigerians living in South Africa are undocumented, insisting that the majority entered the country through legal channels and have valid immigration status. The envoy’s remarks came after another batch of evacuated Nigerians arrived in Lagos following weeks of anti-immigrant demonstrations and rising tensions targeting foreign nationals in parts of South Africa. The Federal Government has continued efforts to evacuate affected citizens while working through diplomatic channels to address their welfare and seek redress for losses incurred during the crisis.

The Federal Executive Council has approved the most sweeping NYSC reforms since the scheme was established in 1973, replacing military leadership with a civilian Director-General, extending the orientation camp from three to six weeks and scrapping the traditional passing-out parade.   The decisions were taken at Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, according to Punch Newspapers. Minister of Youth Development Ayodele Wisdom said the reforms are aimed at transforming the National Youth Service Corps from a mobilisation programme into a skills-driven platform focused on employment, entrepreneurship and national productivity. Under the new framework, corps members will choose from 11 specialised streams during registration. These include Agriculture, Medical, Education, Technology and Digital, Legal, Public Service, Infrastructure, Green, Enterprise, Creative Economy, and Paramilitary and Security. The orientation camp will now run for six weeks in three phases. The first two weeks will focus on civic responsibility, national values and leadership. The second phase will cover career development, financial literacy, business planning and access to finance, while the final two weeks will provide specialised training based on each corps member’s selected stream. Officials said participants in programmes requiring longer certification, such as the Digital Core, may remain in structured training for up to six months before deployment. The reforms also introduce a civilian-led management structure headed by a Director-General, supported by three Executive Directors. Security responsibilities will remain with the military through a dedicated security directorate. In another major change, the traditional Passing-Out Parade will be discontinued and replaced with a graduation ceremony. The NYSC uniform will also be redesigned to reflect a more professional identity. Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination Hadiza Bala-Usman said the overhaul is the first comprehensive reform of the NYSC in its 53-year history and is intended to align the scheme with the Federal Government’s ambition of building a one trillion-dollar economy. She added that the Attorney-General of the Federation has been directed to amend the NYSC Act and related regulations to provide legal backing for the approved reforms.

United States President Donald Trump has welcomed a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States that upholds state laws banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s school sports.   Reacting on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday, Trump described the decision as a “big win,” writing: “The United States Supreme Court just ruled against men playing in women’s sports. Wow! That takes that ridiculous situation off the table!!!” According to AFP, the court ruled 6-3 that the US Constitution does not prevent states from enforcing laws requiring student athletes to compete based on their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity. Writing for the majority, Brett Kavanaugh said legislatures and schools were better positioned to determine policies on the issue, citing the complex medical and scientific considerations involved. The decision allows states including Idaho and West Virginia, along with more than two dozen other states with similar laws, to continue enforcing the restrictions. However, the justices did not fully resolve whether the state bans violate Title IX, leaving that legal question open for future litigation. The cases were brought by transgender students who argued the laws breached the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee and Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education. Supporters of the bans say the measures are necessary to ensure fairness and protect opportunities for girls and women in competitive sports. Opponents argue the laws unfairly target a small group of transgender students and exclude them from school athletics. The ruling follows the court’s decision last year to uphold Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, another major decision in the ongoing legal debate over transgender rights. Trump has consistently backed restrictions on transgender participation in women’s sports. Earlier, he signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports”, directing federal agencies to support policies limiting transgender athletes’ participation in female sporting events.