The presence of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, at the private ceremonies of an opposition senator in Kano has sparked controversy.
Recall that Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), had defected from the APC ahead of the 2023 elections following a prolonged leadership crisis within the party.

In a statement on Friday, Mr. Jibrin confirmed that he led a delegation of federal lawmakers to attend the wedding of Mr. Sumaila’s children.

“Today, (21 February), I led the Senate delegation to the wedding ceremony of Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila’s and Alhaji Abdulmanaf Yunusa Sarina’s children in Sumaila town, Kano State,” he stated.

He further noted that the ceremonies—uniting Dr. Khadija Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila with Faisal Abdulmanaf Sarina, and Maryam Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila with Bello Ibrahim Ma’aji—were officiated by Professor Salisu Shehu, the Imam of Sumaila Jumaat Mosque.

“The National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CFR, also attended the wedding. May Allah bless their union and give them patience, endurance, tolerance, and love. Congratulations to the newlyweds,” Mr. Jibrin posted.

On Saturday, both Mr. Jibrin and Mr. Ganduje also attended the first convocation of Al-Istiqama University, a private institution reportedly founded by Mr. Sumaila in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State.

Their participation in these events has triggered unease within the NNPP, particularly on social media, fueling speculation that Mr. Sumaila may be considering a return to the APC. Party members have questioned why the senator sidelined Governor Abba Yusuf and NNPP leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso while welcoming opposition figures, including former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Efforts to reach Mr. Sumaila for comment were unsuccessful, as his known phone number was unreachable on Saturday evening.

Mr. Sumaila and several NNPP lawmakers from Kano South have previously clashed with Governor Yusuf over the reinstatement of deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and the repeal of the 2019 State Emirate Council Law, which had established five emirate councils. The lawmakers opposed the dissolution of the four emirates created under former Governor Ganduje, arguing that removing all five emirs was against the interests of their constituents.

Since then, Mr. Sumaila and some of his colleagues have distanced themselves from the NNPP-led state government.

If Mr. Sumaila were to defect to the APC, he would join a growing list of opposition lawmakers switching allegiance to the ruling party.

The NNPP, currently Nigeria’s fourth-largest political party by parliamentary representation, has Kano as its stronghold—the only state it governs.

Its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, finished fourth, securing victory only in Kano State.

The year 2024 saw a number of events that had both negative and positive impacts on the Nigerian entertainment industry. LEADERSHIP Weekend reviews a few that had significant impact on the industry.

 

The Death Of Actor Junior Pope :

The death of Nollywood actor Junior Pope (nee John Paul Odonwodo) on April 10, 2024, drew negative attention to the world’s third largest film industry.

The 42-year-old actor, alongside 3 crew members, drowned in River Anam, Anambra State, while filming The Other Side of Life produced by Adamma Luke.

Producer Luke, said that the actor alongside the production manager and Director of Photography (DOP) were offered life jackets, but that the actor refused to wear his because it was dirty. She, however, did not state whether the lower members of the film crew were given a life jacket.

The incident not only led to the suspension of The Other Side of Life filming, and a No Shoot on all locations nationwide on Thursday, the next day April 11, by the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), in commemoration of the actor. More importantly, it exposed the absence of basic safety measures that faced by Nollywood actors on most filming set.

However, ten months past Pope’s death who was the only child of his parents and the father of three very young boys, the industry is yet to answer the call for the creation of film regulatory body, to oversee safety in every filming location across the country.

 

The Very Public Online Diss Between Wizkid And Davido :

On April 29, 2024, Nigerians witnessed a very public online diss between Wizkid and Davido. There have been allegations of a feud between the two, but the insinuations became a reality that day.

Wizkid kicked off the diss by accusing Davido and his songwriter as delusional ‘to think they are better than him”. Davido responded saying, “We are not delusional. You are a sick man.” Wizkid then posted a video meme of Davido crying and laughing. The other retorted that he will not jeopardize his USD endorsement on someone whose career resurrected only to die again.”

It was brutal. But it wasn’t always like this. The actors had collaborated years before to produce songs as My Way and Feel (Remix).

Reasons for their beef, were tabled to several reasons: first, was Davido’s absence at Wizkid’s mother‘s funeral a year, a personal loss that affected him deeply. There was also singer, Tiwa Savage’s video message, where urged the public to hold Davido accountable should anything happen to her and her family. Tiwa who had filed a petition with the Police in Lagos, said she had received a direct threat from the ‘Fall’ singer for posting a photo of herself and the singer’s baby mama, which led to the singers unfollowing each other on social media. With Wizkid accusing Davido of intimidating others with his wealth. Finally, there was the Puma endorsement deal, which was part of the several international deals initially offered to Wizkid but instead signed by Davido who reportedly secured higher pays.

 

‘Mai Martaba’ Making 2025 Oscars Longlist:

Nigeria made history when Mai Martaba an epic northern Nigeria based film made the Oscars 2025 longlist.

Produced by Prince Daniel, a Nigerian radio producer and filmmaker, the film is set in a fictional, patriarchal Kingdom of Jallaba, political intrigues, power mongering and greed come to play in ‘Mai Martaba’ (Your Highness) when ruling King Sanaya, nominates his daughter, princess Sangaya, as his successor.

This is the first time any Nigerian film made the longlist in the Oscars, in particular, the International Feature Film category. The last two times Nigeria submitted in the category with Lionheart in 2019, and Mami Water (in 2019), both failed to pass the first selection.

However, Mai Martaba didn’t make it past the second selection, which left only Senegal’s Dahomey as the last Africa country in the list of 15 films vying for the Best International Feature Film Awards.

 

Everybody Loves Jenifa (The Movie) & Christmas Song:

Besides shattering the Nigerian cinema box office last year with her film, ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ which released around the holidays season, Funke Akindele went on to pull another history maker, with the film adaptation of her Everybody Loves Jenifa television series, Everybody Loves Jenifa, The Movie.

Featuring veteran and contemporary popular Nollywood stars, Jide Kosoko, Patience Ozokwor, Nancy Orjime, Stanley Eze, Adedimeji Lateef, Jackie Appiah, singer – Falz, and comedian Layi Wasabi among others.

She raised the bar a notch higher with the release of what netizens has tagged Nigeria’s Christmas song ‘Everybody Loves Christmas’ which features not just the entire film cast, but also singers like Niniola, On-Air-Personality (OAP), Bisola Aiyeola, and Dbanj, and Akindele herself singing.

 

Netflix Exiting Nigeria Controversy:

At the Zuma International Film Festival (ZIFF) held December 2024, a comment by filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, led to misconstrued allegations that global film streaming platform, Netflix is exiting Nigeria.

The controversy started when President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Dr Victor Okhai revealed at the ZIFF, that Netflix had halted the acquisition and funding of Nigerian films a month before (November).

The rumour escalated with an interview granted by Comedian Basketmouth who blamed the platform’s decision on Nigerian producer who only spend a small percentage of funds from Netflix on filming, and the majority of it on flashy cars, material things and in buying homes in Nigeria.

However, Netflix denied plans to leave Nigeria, reiterating its commitment to Nigeria’s creative industry. Afolayan also cleared the air stating that the platform is scaling back on original productions in Nigeria, as well as adjusting its funding and operational structures.

The move, the filmmaker said should serve as a ‘wake-up call’ for Nigeria to not only rely on global streaming platform rather innovate viable alternative local distribution platform/channels, whilst working with international ones.

Netflix collaboration with Nollywood kickstarted in 2016 where it signed several deals for the production of original movies with several Nigerian filmmakers. While Afolayan confirmed that the platform cancelled some local productions commissioned alongside his organization’s three film project’s, he said “Netflix has assured us that they are still here, though they might reduce the volume of projects they fund.”

 

Of the 1.6 million subscribers of Netflix in Africa, Nigeria accounts for 10.5 percent, while South Africa takes the lead with 73.3 percent. African subscribers to the platform is estimated to rise to 2.2 million in the next five years.

 

 

As the year winds down, IMOLEAYO OYEDEYI captures some of the most dominant events that shaped political discourse and challenged the effectiveness of government policies for the masses

Ibadan Explosion

A series of explosions in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, shattered the early excitement of 2024, raising concerns about the escalating menace of illegal mining across the country. The blasts, which dominated public discourse for weeks, claimed two lives, injured several others, and caused widespread destruction of property. The explosions tore off rooftops and shattered windows, leaving many homeless for days and prompting costly government rescue operations.

Binance Executive Detention

In February, one of the most contentious issues in the country was the arrest and detention of Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, on charges of money laundering and operating without a licence.

However, his detention was short-lived, as he was eventually released due to deteriorating health and diplomatic interventions.

Kano Emirate Tussle

The first half of the year witnessed significant political drama in Kano, triggered by the state assembly’s repeal of the law that had divided the city into five emirates. Governor Abba Yusuf swiftly signed a new law, resulting in the removal of five prominent emirs: Aminu Ado Bayero of Kano, Nasir Ado Bayero of Bichi, Kabiru Muhammad Inuwa of Rano, Ibrahim Abubakar II of Karaye, and Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir of Gaya.

In a dramatic turn of events, former Central Bank Governor, Muhammadu Sanusi, who had been dethroned by the previous administration, was reinstated. However, Ado Bayero rejected the decision and moved to the Nasarawa palace. The two emirs, locked in a parallel leadership battle, continue to fuel tensions in Kano, making the emirate tussle one of the year’s most prominent issues.

Cabinet reshuffle

Amid months of intense speculation, President Bola Tinubu enacted a significant reshuffle of his 45-member cabinet on October 23, appointing seven new ministers, dismissing five, and reassigning 10 others to new roles. Notably, the ministers of finance, defence, and national planning, and two junior energy ministers retained their positions. The reshuffle also saw the Ministry of Niger Delta Development renamed the Ministry of Regional Development, the Ministry of Sports dissolved, and the Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture merged.

The reshuffle sparked mixed reactions across Nigeria, with many questioning why some underperforming ministers were retained while others were dismissed. The public discourse surrounding these changes made it one of the year’s most debated political topics.

Tax Reform Controversy

Since Tinubu introduced his tax reform bills to the National Assembly in October, the proposals have become a major point of contention. The bills—comprising the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, the Nigerian Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and the Nigeria Tax Bill—have sparked nationwide debate.

Supporters argue that the reforms will ease the tax burden on 90 per cent of Nigerian workers, streamline tax procedures, support small businesses, and enhance tax collection efficiency. However, opposition from Northern lawmakers and leaders, including Senator Ali Ndume and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, has been vocal. Critics contend that the bills could disrupt business operations and negatively impact state government revenue, particularly in the Northern region.

National Grid Collapses

A persistent issue throughout 2024 was the frequent collapse of the national grid, occurring no fewer than 12 times. These grid failures caused widespread blackouts across some of Nigeria’s largest cities, including Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, severely disrupting daily life and economic activities.

The outages paralysed businesses in affected regions, resulting in staggering financial losses. Northern electricity distribution companies alone reported losses exceeding N74 billion, underscoring the urgent need for reforms in the country’s power sector.

Prison Break in Suleja

On the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, a heavy downpour flooded the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, sparking a dramatic prison break. The flood destroyed critical sections of the facility, including its perimeter fence, enabling the escape of 118 inmates.

Although authorities later reported recapturing some fugitives, the incident raised serious concerns about prison security and disaster preparedness in Nigeria. The escape dominated the news for weeks, with many calling for urgent reforms in the country’s correctional system.

Flooding in Northern Nigeria/Alau Dam Collapse

A major humanitarian disaster in 2024 was the collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State. On September 10, the dam’s embankment gave way, releasing an overwhelming 112 billion litres of water into low-lying areas in the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Government Area.

The resulting flood submerged entire towns and villages, displacing over one million people and affecting 414,000 residents. The catastrophe left hundreds homeless, prompting widespread sympathy and a swift response. Business tycoons and state governors donated over N13 billion to aid flood victims, highlighting the disaster’s devastating impact.

Ondo and Edo Governorship Elections

The off-cycle governorship elections in Ondo and Edo States were among the year’s most significant political events. In both contests, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared candidates from the All Progressives Congress—Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Ondo and Monday Okpebholo in Edo—as winners.

In Ondo, Aiyedatiwa secured 366,781 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who polled 117,845 votes. Similarly, in Edo, Okpebholo garnered 291,667 votes to beat PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who received 247,274 votes.

However, the opposition rejected the results, citing allegations of widespread electoral fraud. Both cases are now before election petition tribunals, with hearings expected to gain momentum in the early part of 2025.

#EndBadGovernance protest

One of the most defining events of the outgoing year was the eruption of the #EndBadGovernance protests, also known as #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. Between August 1 and 10, thousands of young Nigerians, frustrated by the soaring cost of living, took to the streets in mass demonstrations across all six geopolitical zones of the country.

The protests quickly became a focal point in national discourse as they were met with brutal repression. Scores of protesters were killed, and over 1,000 were arrested across major protest grounds in cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Niger, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina. These demonstrations marked one of the most significant political movements of the year.

Detention of minors over protest

A controversial event that dominated political discourse this year was the arraignment of at least 76 detained #EndBadGovernance protesters at the Federal High Court in Abuja. They faced ten counts of charges related to alleged treason and conspiracy to destabilise Nigeria, contrary to sections 96 and 97 of the Penal Code Act.

Among those detained were 32 minors, aged between 14 and 17. Their court arraignment sparked nationwide outrage, especially when national television broadcasts showed clips of the minors, appearing malnourished and sickly, writhing in pain on the floor of the courtroom. Four of the minors collapsed before proceedings began, further igniting public anger. Amid growing controversy, the court eventually granted the minors bail at N10m each, with stringent conditions.

The Arewa Consultative Forum condemned the Federal Government for its treatment of the minors, calling the trial a blatant attempt to intimidate citizens and stifle their constitutional rights to protest and voice grievances.

Rise in killings, kidnappings, and terror attacks

Year 2024 saw a chilling rise in cases of kidnappings, banditry, killings, and terror attacks across Nigeria, making it one of the deadliest years in recent memory. From mass kidnappings to village assaults, the year was marked by shocking brutality.

High-profile kidnappings included the abduction of at least 61 people from Kajuru village in Kaduna State by bandits disguised in military uniforms on March 12, and the kidnapping of 80 people, mostly women and children, by bandits in Zamfara State on April 19.

In a particularly brutal attack on May 24, suspected Boko Haram militants abducted 160 people in Kuchi village, Niger State, while at least 100 more were kidnapped in Maidabino village, Katsina State, on June 22.

The year also witnessed some of the most horrific fatal attacks.

Bandits killed 40 people during an assault on Zurak village, Plateau State, on May 24. On the same day, Boko Haram terrorists killed 10 people in Kuchi village. A few weeks later, on June 10, unknown gunmen killed at least 50 residents of Yargoje village in Katsina State.

The killing spree reached a devastating peak on March 14, when 17 Nigerian Army officers were massacred during a peace-keeping mission in Okuama, Delta State. Among the fallen were the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt Col Ah Ali, and several other military personnel.

Students were also not spared, as the year saw numerous abductions. Nine students from the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Osara, Kogi State, were abducted on May 10, and 20 medical and dental students were taken from Otukpo, Benue State, on August 15.

Northern Nigeria, especially Borno and Zamfara States, endured a wave of bombings that left over 18 people dead and more than 30 injured in different explosions.

In response, the military launched major counter-terrorism operations. On May 21, Nigerian troops rescued 350 Boko Haram hostages, primarily women and children, from the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. Additionally, 974 terrorists were killed, 466 hostages were freed, and 1,157 terrorists from Boko Haram and ISWAP surrendered in February.

Spiking inflation, naira devaluation, and CBN interest rate hikes

A persistent trend throughout the outgoing year was the alarming spike in both nominal and food inflation, which stood at 34.60 per cent and 39.93 per cent respectively in November.

The surge in inflation was largely driven by the soaring cost of food, which placed an immense strain on Nigerian households across the country.

Similarly, the Naira endured frequent devaluations, becoming the third most devalued currency in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024. According to the Dataviz Economic Explorer, from November 2023 to November 2024, the naira depreciated by a staggering 51.79 per cent against the US dollar, based on the official exchange rate.

This devaluation significantly increased Nigeria’s external debt, which rose by approximately N30.03 trillion from 2023 to June 2024 when evaluated in Naira terms.

In response to this economic turmoil and to combat the mounting inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria raised the interest rate six times throughout the year, eventually placing it at 27.25 per cent. This represented a cumulative increase of 875 basis points by November.

National Anthem Change

On May 29, Tinubu signed into law a controversial change to Nigeria’s national anthem, returning to the old version titled “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which had been in use since the country’s independence in 1960. This replaced the version “Arise, O Compatriots,” which had been adopted in 1978.

The decision to revert to the old anthem sparked mixed reactions across the country, particularly due to the swift pace at which the legislation was debated and passed by the National Assembly. The lawmakers’ performance further fueled public debate when they sang the chorus “On your mandate we shall stand” in unison before the president in the Red Chamber, intensifying perceptions of their rubber-stamp nature.

Bobrisky and Simon Ekpa’s detention

One of the year’s most talked-about stories centred on the imprisonment of controversial social media personality and cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, as well as pro-Biafran activist, Simon Ekpa.

Bobrisky’s trouble began on April 3, 2024, when he was arrested and detained by the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He faced accusations of mutilating naira notes worth N490,000 and engaging in money laundering.

This arrest followed the viral circulation of a video showing Bobrisky spraying naira notes at the premiere of the movie Ajakaju at Film One Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos, on March 24, 2024.

After being arraigned on six counts at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison without the option of a fine for abuse of the naira.

However, his imprisonment became even more controversial when, upon his release on August 5, he appeared at a celebratory party just hours after walking out of jail. Many Nigerians were shocked to see him looking more radiant than ever, sparking suspicions about whether he had truly served his time in a custodial facility.

This episode spiralled into heated exchanges involving Bobrisky, social media activist Martins Otse (also known as VeryDarkMan), the EFCC, and renowned lawyer Femi Falana over allegations of unpaid debts. This saga remained one of the year’s most divisive topics.

In another high-profile case, Simon Ekpa was arrested on November 21 in Finland, alongside four others, on charges related to terrorism, including inciting violence and financing terrorism.

According to Finnish media outlet Yle, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court, facing charges of incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. He was accused of orchestrating violent actions in Nigeria’s South-East region through social media from Finland.

The Federal Government sought Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria, but the Finnish District Court has set May 2025 for the hearing of his case.

Dele Farotimi and Afe Babalola saga

The dramatic feud between elder statesman Chief Afe Babalola and civil rights activist Mr Dele Farotimi dominated national discourse in the outgoing year. Babalola took Farotimi to court in both the Federal High Court in Ekiti State and the Ekiti State Magistrate Court, accusing him of defamation and cyberbullying. The revered legal icon claimed that Farotimi had besmirched his character in his book Nigeria’s Criminal Justice System.

The case sparked widespread public outrage, with many questioning why Farotimi was being prosecuted in Ekiti, rather than Lagos, where he resides. The Ekiti Magistrate Court eventually granted Farotimi bail in the sum of N30m, with two sureties, but the controversy surrounding the trial continued to fuel heated debates across the nation.

Fatal stampedes

In just four days, a series of tragic stampedes across Nigeria claimed the lives of at least 70 people in Ibadan (Oyo State), Okija (Anambra), and Abuja. These fatal incidents sparked political outrage, with opposition parties accusing the current administration of failing its citizens. They described the stampedes as glaring signs of leadership failures and widespread poverty, drawing further attention to the nation’s deepening socio-economic crisis.

Labour Unions Strike

In June, the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a nationwide strike due to the government’s failure to raise the federal minimum wage following an increase in electricity tariffs. The unions demanded an increase in the national minimum wage from 30,000 naira to 494,000 naira, but the presidency dismissed these demands as “unreasonable.”

The strike dominated national discourse for weeks, plunging the country into darkness as union workers shut down the national grid and the nation’s power supply, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria. However, after a prolonged battle, both the labour leadership and the Federal Government reached an agreement on a N70,000 national minimum wage.

Opposition Verbal War with APC Over 2027 Presidency

Another major issue in the outgoing year was the series of verbal clashes between the All Progressives Congress and opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party, regarding the 2027 presidency.

The verbal war began when the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume, declared that there would be no vacancy in the presidential villa in 2027, claiming that the current administration had exceeded expectations.

In response, the PDP and prominent Northern politicians, such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, condemned Akume’s assertion, arguing that the poor performance of President Tinubu’s administration would lead to its ousting in the next presidential election.

Miss Universe Nigeria

In August, Chidimma Adetshina, who represented Taraba State, was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024. Her journey to the title was considered remarkable by many Nigerians, reflecting resilience and grace, reminiscent of the Miss Universe South Africa incident, where she was disqualified. While she will be representing Nigeria on the global stage in Mexico, her victory was undoubtedly one of the most talked-about events of the outgoing year.