Nigeria News (Standard)
Lagos Artists Lead New Music Friday With Ayra Starr, Shallipopi, YCee and Bloody Civilian Releases
Nigerian musicians debut fresh tracks across Afrobeats, Fuji and Afro-Trap genres, highlighting Lagos as a centre for innovation
Nigerian musicians debut fresh tracks across Afrobeats, Fuji and Afro-Trap genres, highlighting Lagos as a centre for innovation
Tornado
Lagos witnessed a surge of new music on Friday as top Nigerian artists including Ayra Starr, Shallipopi, YCee and Bloody Civilian rolled out major releases, marking one of the most diverse weeks for the country’s music scene in June 2026. The tracks span genres from Afropop to experimental Fuji, underscoring the city’s reputation as a hub for musical creativity.
Ayra Starr unveiled her latest single ‘Tornado’ in Lagos on Friday, featuring Fola. The song blends Afrobeats and Afropop with sharp production and confident vocals. Starr has publicly spoken about her artistic growth in recent weeks, and ‘Tornado’ is seen as a continuation of what many industry observers call the best phase of her career to date.
Meanwhile, Shallipopi returned with ‘Allergies’, staying true to his street-inspired rap style over Amapiano and Afrobeats rhythms. Although critics note that the track does not depart significantly from his earlier works, fans who appreciate his signature energy are likely to welcome the release. YCee also made a notable comeback after nearly five years away from the scene with new material that signals personal growth and renewed artistic direction.
A standout collaboration this week is ‘Holiday’ by Shoday featuring Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho Gaúcho and Tu Musica. Released as part of Ronaldinho’s Camisa 10 album project, the track sees Shoday’s Afrobeats vocals blend seamlessly with Latin-influenced production—a cross-continental effort that industry experts say highlights Nigerian artists’ global adaptability.
Bloody Civilian delivered what many are calling the most experimental song of the week with ‘SpaceFuji’, featuring Terry Apala and Boj. The record mixes traditional Fuji drum patterns with electronic sounds in an unconventional arrangement that has sparked conversations about the future direction of Nigerian music. Other notable releases include Naira Marley’s upbeat ‘Ijoba’ featuring Kizz Daniel—a track rooted in street-hop but leaning heavily into Kizz Daniel’s melodic style—and Zaylevelten’s ‘Go Again’, an underground Afro-Trap and Nigerian Drill offering characterised by heavy bass and electronic synths.
Veteran producer ID Cabasa closed out the week with ‘How Long’ featuring Milanto—a soulful Afrobeats piece that departs from club-centric sounds in favour of reflective lyricism. As at press time, several tracks have already gained traction on streaming platforms, while industry stakeholders predict continued innovation from Lagos-based musicians in the coming months.
Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/new-music-friday-ayra-starr-ycee-shallipopi-june-2026-2026061213212819364
Nigeria News (Standard)
Ekiti Governor Oyebanji Extends Lead as INEC Announces More 2026 Election Results
APC candidate maintains advantage in key Ekiti LGAs; opposition parties yet to concede as collation continues
APC candidate maintains advantage in key Ekiti LGAs; opposition parties yet to concede as collation continues
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has widened his lead in the ongoing collation of the 2026 governorship election results, according to figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday. The announcement, made at the state collation centre in Ado-Ekiti, shows Oyebanji, who is seeking re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of his main challengers in most local government areas declared so far.
INEC officials continued releasing results from various LGAs throughout Sunday, with Oyebanji securing majorities in several key constituencies. The process, which began on Saturday evening after voting ended across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas, has seen large turnouts and close monitoring by party agents and observers. As at Sunday afternoon, the APC candidate was reported to have maintained a significant margin over his closest rivals from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), though final figures are still being awaited from some remaining areas.
The governorship election is seen as a crucial test for both APC and PDP in Ekiti State, located in the South-West geopolitical zone. With voter interest high following recent political developments nationwide, stakeholders say the outcome could influence alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. The exercise has also drawn attention due to its largely peaceful conduct and improved logistics compared to previous polls in the state.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State urged all parties and supporters to remain calm as collation continues. “We appeal for patience while we complete this important process,” he said at the collation centre. Opposition party representatives present declined to comment on preliminary results but indicated they would await final tallies before making any official statement.
Final declaration of the winner is expected once all LGA results are collated and certified by INEC officials. Security personnel have maintained a visible presence around collation centres across Ekiti, with no major incidents reported as at press time.
Nigeria News (Standard)
APC Wins Ekiti Governorship Poll in PDP Candidate’s Stronghold
Victory in opposition base signals shifting political landscape ahead of 2026 general elections, analysts say
Victory in opposition base signals shifting political landscape ahead of 2026 general elections, analysts say
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has clinched a significant victory in the Ekiti State governorship election, securing majority votes in a local government area previously regarded as a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The result was announced on Sunday, 21 June 2026, by electoral officials at the collation centre in Ado-Ekiti.
The APC candidate outperformed the PDP challenger by a wide margin in the constituency, overturning past voting patterns that consistently favoured the opposition. Election observers noted that turnout was moderate, with security agencies maintaining a visible presence across polling units to ensure a peaceful process. Official figures for total votes cast and margin of victory are yet to be released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This outcome is seen as a major upset in Ekiti’s political landscape, as the constituency has historically delivered strong support for PDP candidates in previous governorship and general elections. Political analysts have attributed APC’s breakthrough to recent grassroots mobilisation efforts and what they describe as voter dissatisfaction with past PDP representation at both state and federal levels.
In his reaction, an APC chieftain described the win as “a clear endorsement of our party’s renewed commitment to good governance,” while promising to consolidate on recent gains. However, PDP officials expressed concern over alleged irregularities and said they would review available evidence before deciding on next steps. The opposition could not be immediately reached for an official statement regarding possible legal challenge or petition.
With this development, attention now turns to how the APC will build on its momentum ahead of the 2026 general elections, particularly as parties strategise for further contests across Ekiti State and other parts of the South-West zone.
Nigeria News (Standard)
TCN Engages Ebonyi Communities on Safeguarding Power Installations Amid Rising Vandalism
Transmission Company of Nigeria urges local residents to protect critical infrastructure, citing frequent attacks and economic setbacks in South-East
Transmission Company of Nigeria urges local residents to protect critical infrastructure, citing frequent attacks and economic setbacks in South-East
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commenced a sensitisation campaign across communities in Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria, urging residents to support efforts to protect power installations from persistent vandalism. The outreach began this week as TCN officials met with traditional leaders and youth groups in various local government areas.
TCN’s engagement follows a surge in reported cases of vandalism targeting electricity transmission lines and substations in the region, which have led to repeated blackouts and significant repair costs. During the sessions held in Abakaliki and other affected LGAs, TCN representatives emphasised that destruction of infrastructure not only disrupts power supply but also undermines local businesses and social amenities.
The push to safeguard national assets comes as Nigeria’s power sector grapples with chronic instability, worsened by frequent attacks on installations. According to TCN officials, repairs following acts of vandalism have diverted substantial resources that could otherwise be used for network upgrades or improved service delivery. “We are appealing to community stakeholders to take ownership of these facilities,” a senior TCN engineer told participants at one event.
Community leaders in attendance expressed concern over the negative impact of outages on daily life and pledged to collaborate with security agencies to monitor suspicious activities around installations. Some youth groups called for increased job opportunities as a way to reduce incentives for vandalism.
TCN said it will continue its sensitisation drive across Ebonyi State and neighbouring areas. The company also urged residents to promptly report any attempts to tamper with transmission equipment, noting that enhanced vigilance is critical for sustaining reliable electricity supply in the South-East.
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