Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the recent election, has called on the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Speaking from his residence in Onitsha, Anambra State, Obi stressed that Nigeria is teetering on the brink of failure and highlighted the critical importance of upholding the rule of law.

He urged the government to respect court rulings that have granted Kanu bail and to release all individuals detained for protests or freedom of speech.

Obi emphasized the need for democratic principles and listening to citizens’ grievances.

On Saturday, June 22, former presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, paid a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State.

Atiku arrived at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Airport in Katsina around 11:25 am on a private jet before heading straight to Daura to meet with the former President.

Accompanying him were former Sokoto State governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former National Secretary of the PDP Ibrahim Tsauri, as well as party stakeholders and supporters.

After the visit, Atiku spoke with journalists, explaining that his visit was to congratulate the former President and the Emir of Daura on the successful celebration of the Eid-el-Kabir festivity.

However, some, including Doyin Okupe, believe the visit is politically motivated with an eye on the 2027 election. Atiku has previously stated in an interview that he will continue to run for the presidency as long as he remains healthy.

On Tuesday, June 18, President Joe Biden will introduce new regulations to simplify the pathway for undocumented spouses of US citizens to obtain permanent residency, the White House has announced.

The updated rules will not extend eligibility for permanent residency but will simplify the existing process for those already eligible. One significant change is the elimination of the requirement for applicants to leave the United States during the application process.

These new regulations will apply to individuals who have been residing in the US for at least 10 years and are married to a US citizen by June 17, 2024. The administration estimates that this will affect approximately 500,000 people. Additionally, around 50,000 stepchildren of US citizens will also benefit from these changes.

Those who qualify under the new rules will be granted work authorization and permission to remain in the US for up to three years while their permanent residency applications are processed. Upon obtaining permanent residency, commonly known as a green card, individuals can then apply for citizenship.

A senior administration official highlighted that the new process aims to “reduce bureaucracy and alleviate the hardship caused by the need to leave the country.” However, another official stressed that comprehensive reform of immigration and asylum laws can only be achieved through Congress.

This announcement comes on the heels of President Biden’s executive order to close the border to asylum seekers after daily limits were reached, a move that faced significant backlash and legal challenges from various rights groups. Biden’s previous attempt to pass a bipartisan immigration reform package also failed when Republicans withdrew their support.

In addition, the Biden administration will simplify the process for “Dreamers”—individuals who entered the US illegally as children—to obtain work visas if they have graduated from college and secured a high-skilled job offer.