News on the Go: 5 things that should matter to you today

• Oborevwori, Okowa, PDP bigwigs in Delta join APC
• NDLEA boss calls for drug testing among NYSC members
• Minna airport named backup to Abuja

We have highlighted the five most important developments in the news today, Thursday, April 24, and present them below.

5 issues in the news that should matter to you today

1. Delta political shift: Oborevwori, Okowa, PDP bigwigs join APC: In a major political realignment in Delta State, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, and several top members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) have officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Delta’s Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, explained that the move was driven by the desire to align with a party that better reflects the state’s development priorities and the needs of its citizens.

2. Push for gender inclusion: Stakeholders demand female deputies for all offices: The Minister for Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim; the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory Senatorial District, Senator Ireti Kingibe; the National Deputy Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress and several other stakeholders are advocating for a bill that mandates female running mates for all elective positions, from the presidency down to local government chairs.

Speaking at a two-day conference for political women leaders in Abuja on Wednesday, April 23, they called on the National Assembly and political parties to support a 50 per cent female representation policy in public offices. 

3. NDLEA boss calls for drug testing among NYSC members: The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), has renewed calls for mandatory drug testing of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, stating it is a preventive step to combat drug abuse among Nigerian youth.

During a visit from the NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, and senior officials at NDLEA headquarters in Abuja, Marwa stressed the need for early intervention.

4. INEC may permit voting without PVC by 2027: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is considering allowing Nigerians without Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to vote in the 2027 elections, but only if the law is amended.

INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, confirmed that the commission supports wider voter access through technology, but stressed that legislative backing is necessary for such a change to happen.

5. Minna airport named backup to Abuja: The Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport in Minna, Niger State, has officially been named as the alternative airport to Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo announced the designation during the launch of Overland Airways' commercial flight operations from the Minna airport, marking a strategic move to boost regional air connectivity.