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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A statement by Tinubu’s spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.
“Until his nomination, Ambassador Enikanolaiye, from Kogi State, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
“Enikanolaiye is a distinguished diplomat and seasoned public servant with over three decades of exemplary service in Nigeria’s foreign service. He has previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held key diplomatic postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.
“The President noted that these appointments are part of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships.
“President Tinubu congratulates the appointees and urges them to work diligently to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad,” he said.
The Labour Party, LP, has elected Nenadi Usman as its National Chairman at the party’s national convention held on Tuesday in Umuahia, Abia State.
With her emergence, Usman makes history as the first woman to be elected National Chairman of a political party in Nigeria.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday, 4th September 2024, Usman was appointed to lead the National Caretaker Committee of the party at a NEC meeting in Umuahia, following a leadership vacuum created by the expiration of the tenure of the former National Working Committee.
She successfully steered the party through a turbulent period marked by leadership disputes, which were ultimately resolved in her favour by the appellate court.
A former Minister of Finance and senator, Usman brings a wealth of experience and proven capacity to her new role.
As the 2027 general elections approach, she bears the immediate responsibility of positioning the party for electoral success.
Following its strong showing in the 2023 general elections, the Labour Party has firmly established itself as a formidable political platform, a foundation Usman is poised to consolidate upon.
Prior to the convention, Usman had been recognised as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the Party by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following a Federal High Court judgement delivered on 21st January 2026 affirming her leadership.
This decision was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal in a unanimous judgement delivered on Tuesday, 21st April 2026.
In her acceptance speech, Usman expressed gratitude to party members for the confidence reposed in her and pledged to reposition the party for greater success.
She commended the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and assured members that she would not let the party down in her new capacity. Usman also reaffirmed her commitment to fostering unity, peace, and reconciliation within the party ahead of the next general elections.
In his remarks, Governor Otti charged the newly elected National Working Committee to provide purposeful leadership and strengthen the party’s structures nationwide.
Others elected into the National Working Committee of the party include Iheanacho Obioma, National Secretary; Mrs Nike Oriola, Deputy National Chairman, Ken Eluma Asogwa, National Publicity Secretary; Mrs Oluchi Oparah, National Organising Secretary; Comrade Anslem Eragbe, National Financial Secretary; Hilda Dokubo, National Women Leader.
The newly elected National Working Committee was sworn in at the convention.
The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe, says every aspect of the Electoral Act document has been turned upside down.
Kingibe made this known on Monday during an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
The lawmaker said she was on the Committee for Electoral Reforms, noting that most items in the Act were not in the original one.
