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Iran/Israeli War: US Removes Jets from Qatar Base 

The United States has withdrawn its fighter jets from Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar due to fears of an Iranian counterattack. Satellite images reveal that the previously occupied airbase is now empty, indicating Washington’s concerns over potential Iranian retaliation amid escalating tensions. 

US officials told Reuters that jets were moved from Al Udeid base near Doha due to threats from Iran. This is the largest US airbase in the Middle East and crucial to regional operations. 

Besides relocating jets, the US has withdrawn some naval vessels from the area. The US Embassy in Qatar has limited staff access to the airbase for safety. These actions reflect serious concerns about regional escalation risks. 

Al Udeid Airbase, established in 1996, is key to American military operations with about 10,000 US troops. It serves as the forward headquarters of CENTCOM and has been crucial for missions in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. 

The Iran-Israel conflict has heightened global concern. The US military’s force repositioning indicates Washington’s readiness for various scenarios. As tensions escalate, regional players anticipate further instability in the Middle East. 

Hot this week

NNPC Limited Alerts Public to False Claims Over Refinery Scrap Sales 

 In its release signed by Andy Odeh, its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, the company clarified that it has not authorized or issued requests for bids, tenders, expressions of interest, or approvals concerning the sale of scrap materials, refinery components, or other items from its warehouses or inventories. The company underscored that any information circulating in public forums suggesting otherwise is inaccurate and should be disregarded. 

Supreme Court Cancels PDP Convention; BoT Assumes Leadership 

In a dramatic turn on Thursday, the apex court invalidated the November 15–16, 2025 convention held in Ibadan, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC). The ruling also upheld the suspension of key party officials, including Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature and Kamaldeen Ajibade. 

Opposition Parties Unite in Ibadan, Vow Single Candidate for 2027

Opposition political parties in Nigeria on Saturday resolved to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, including plans to field a single presidential candidate, as they accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining democracy. The resolution, contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a national summit in Ibadan, warned against what participants described as attempts by the APC to impose a one-party state on the country. The parties pledged to “resist all machinations” that could threaten Nigeria’s multi-party system.

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Interrupted by Shooting Incident 

Just after 8:30 p.m., while President Trump and Melania Trump were engaging with entertainer Oz Pearlman on stage, a man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, sprinted through a security checkpoint carrying a shotgun. Secret Service agents pursued and exchanged gunfire with him, quickly subduing Allen before he could reach the ballroom. Inside, guests enjoying their salads were startled by loud, cracking sounds, leading to confusion and panic as armed law enforcement swept in and shouted for everyone to get down. 

President Tinubu Felicitates NNPC Board Chair Musa Kida at 65

President Tinubu Felicitates NNPC Board Chair Musa Kida at 65

Topics

NNPC Limited Alerts Public to False Claims Over Refinery Scrap Sales 

 In its release signed by Andy Odeh, its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, the company clarified that it has not authorized or issued requests for bids, tenders, expressions of interest, or approvals concerning the sale of scrap materials, refinery components, or other items from its warehouses or inventories. The company underscored that any information circulating in public forums suggesting otherwise is inaccurate and should be disregarded. 

Supreme Court Cancels PDP Convention; BoT Assumes Leadership 

In a dramatic turn on Thursday, the apex court invalidated the November 15–16, 2025 convention held in Ibadan, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC). The ruling also upheld the suspension of key party officials, including Samuel Anyanwu, Umar Bature and Kamaldeen Ajibade. 

Opposition Parties Unite in Ibadan, Vow Single Candidate for 2027

Opposition political parties in Nigeria on Saturday resolved to form a united front ahead of the 2027 general elections, including plans to field a single presidential candidate, as they accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of undermining democracy. The resolution, contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a national summit in Ibadan, warned against what participants described as attempts by the APC to impose a one-party state on the country. The parties pledged to “resist all machinations” that could threaten Nigeria’s multi-party system.

White House Correspondents’ Dinner Interrupted by Shooting Incident 

Just after 8:30 p.m., while President Trump and Melania Trump were engaging with entertainer Oz Pearlman on stage, a man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, sprinted through a security checkpoint carrying a shotgun. Secret Service agents pursued and exchanged gunfire with him, quickly subduing Allen before he could reach the ballroom. Inside, guests enjoying their salads were startled by loud, cracking sounds, leading to confusion and panic as armed law enforcement swept in and shouted for everyone to get down. 

President Tinubu Felicitates NNPC Board Chair Musa Kida at 65

President Tinubu Felicitates NNPC Board Chair Musa Kida at 65

We Are Better Together: A Caution to the Advocates of Separation

It must first be clearly stated that the North’s preference for Nigerian unity is not because it is incapable of standing on its own, nor because it is uniquely dependent on the present federal arrangement for its existence. Historically, the North demonstrated a strong capacity for political cohesion and governance under the regional system, where the Caliphate produced the Premier and the Sultanate provided the Governor. With a vast, geographically contiguous landmass, a dominant lingua franca and largely shared religious and cultural frameworks, a substantial part of Northern Nigeria has historically functioned as a coherent political space.

PDP Disputes Ibadan Court, Affirms NWC Validity 

The PDP chairman noted that the Ibadan ruling was only one of several judgments of the Federal High Court on the matter and that the core issues were already before the Court of Appeal. He described the decision as “technically academic” pending an authoritative pronouncement by the appellate court. Turaki reassured party members that the National Working Committee produced by the Ibadan Convention remained “legally intact and firmly in place,” and committed to what he described as the party’s ongoing rebirth.

A Setback for Wike in PDP Crisis 

While the Supreme Court’s earlier intervention briefly revived Anyanwu’s standing, Tuesday’s dismissal signals that legal victories alone may no longer be enough to secure long-term control. The struggle within the PDP is increasingly shifting from courtrooms to internal political negotiations, and in that arena, the momentum appears to be slipping away from the Wike camp.
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