British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday after less than two years in office, in a term characterised by policy U-turns and deep public unpopularity.

“Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign as leader of the Labour Party,” Starmer said as he choked up in an emotional speech outside 10 Downing Street.

Starmer said the process of picking a new leader for the centre-left party would be launched in July, and he would remain as prime minister until his successor is chosen, to be in place before parliament returns from the summer recess in September.

Starmer’s main rival, veteran politician Andy Burnham, is due to be sworn in as a member of parliament on Monday after winning a crucial special election on Thursday, allowing him to return to parliament and clearing his path to run for party leader.

“I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete, and I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power,” Starmer added.

Until the weekend, Starmer had insisted he was going to fight on and remain as prime minister as he fought off challenges and calls to step down.

He has clung to that position for months after multiple scandals and high-profile resignations that piled the pressure on him and his Labour Party.

But Britain is now set to get its seventh prime minister in a decade.

Starmer’s widely anticipated announcement comes a day before the 10-year anniversary of the Brexit referendum, which triggered the UK’s exit from the European Union and an unprecedented churn of prime ministers.

Starmer has been credited with reshaping Labour into an election-winning party, which clinched a decisive victory in 2024, ending 14 years of Conservative rule.

But his term was derailed by missteps ranging from benefit cuts to criticism over defence spending plans.

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He was nearly ousted in March over his ill-fated decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a known associate of the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as the UK’s ambassador to Washington.

He has also struggled to fight off the rapid rise of the far-right, anti-immigration Reform UK party — which defeated Labour in local elections in May, further weakening Starmer’s position.

“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago,” Starmer said in his resignation speech.

Courtesy – AFP

Gunmen have killed a former staff member of Ogun State Television, Mrs. Kitan Oyesiku, popularly known as “Aunty Kitan,” alongside her security guard in a violent early morning attack in Agodo community along the Abeokuta–Siun–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, threw residents of the area into panic and mourning as news of the killings spread across the community.

The victims were reportedly attacked inside their residence by unknown armed men who stormed the compound and carried out the operation before fleeing the scene.

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The security guard on duty was also killed during the invasion.

The attack took place within the Abeokuta axis of Abeokuta, raising fresh concerns over insecurity in parts of the state.

The bodies of the deceased have since been deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta.

As of press time, the motive behind the attack remains unclear, while security agencies are expected to launch a full-scale investigation into the incident.

An anonymous source who spoke on the development said the incident was discovered after concerned church members went to check on the deceased when she failed to appear at church service.

The source said: “They had come around to check on Mrs Oyesiku when they did not see her in the church. On getting to her residence, they found out that the security officer had been killed, and they later also saw that the assailants had also killed Mrs Oyesiku. That was how they raised the alarm in the community.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident and said an official statement would be issued after preliminary investigations.

Mrs. Oyesiku, a former broadcaster with the state-owned television station, was well known in media circles before her retirement.

Her death has sparked grief among colleagues, friends, and residents across Ogun State, as calls mount for improved security in the area.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on his re-election, describing the outcome of the governorship election as a clear affirmation of the people’s trust in continuity, stability, and development-focused leadership.

Tinubu also called on opposition parties in the state to accept the results of the election and work with the re-elected governor to strengthen governance and accelerate development across Ekiti.

His message was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, following the official declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Independent National Electoral Commission).

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The president said the victory represents a strong endorsement of Oyebanji’s performance during his first term in office, noting that the people of Ekiti have reaffirmed their confidence in his leadership.

He urged the governor to remain humble in victory and ensure inclusive governance that carries all stakeholders along in the next phase of administration.

“President Tinubu urges Governor Oyebanji to remain magnanimous in victory and to carry all Ekiti people along as he consolidates on his achievements in the next four years,” the statement read.

Tinubu further appealed to candidates who participated in the election to prioritize peace and unity, stressing the importance of collaboration in moving the state forward.

He noted that the election outcome should mark the beginning of broader cooperation among political actors in Ekiti rather than division.

According to him, Oyebanji’s first term witnessed notable progress in key sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and rural development under the BAO agenda.

The president described the renewed mandate as a reflection of voters’ confidence in stability and continuity of governance.

“The renewed mandate is therefore a clear vote of confidence in continuity, stability, and people-centred governance,” Tinubu stated.

He also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to partnering with the Ekiti State Government to deepen development and ensure the delivery of democratic dividends under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu praised the conduct of voters during the election, describing the process as largely peaceful, and commended security agencies for maintaining order throughout the exercise.

Meanwhile, Biodun Oyebanji was officially declared winner of the poll after securing 319,224 votes across all 16 local government areas of the state.

The victory makes him the first governor in the history of Ekiti State to win consecutive re-election, marking a significant milestone in the state’s political history.