SPECIAL REPORT
BREAKING! Biden drops out of US Presidential Race
U.S. President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign on Sunday after fellow Democrats lost faith in his mental acuity and ability to beat Donald Trump while endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him as the party’s candidate.
Biden, 81, in a post on X, said he will remain in his role as president and commander-in-chief until his term ends in January 2025 and will address the nation this week.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote.
His initial statement had not included an endorsement of Harris, but he followed up a few minutes later with an expression of support.
Harris, 59, would become the first Black woman to do run at the top of a major-party ticket in the country’s history.
Former President Trump, the Republican candidate in the Nov. 5 election, told CNN on Sunday that he believed Harris would be easier to defeat.
Biden had a change of heart, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The president told allies that as of Saturday night he planned to stay in the race before changing his mind on Sunday afternoon.
“Last night the message was proceed with everything, full speed ahead,” a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. “At around 1:45 p.m. today: the president told his senior team that he had changed his mind.”
He announced his decision on social media within minutes.
It was unclear whether other senior Democrats would challenge Harris for the party’s nomination – she was widely seen as the pick for many party officials – or whether the party itself would choose to open the field for nominations.
Biden’s announcement follows a wave of public and private pressure from Democratic lawmakers and party officials to quit the race after his shockingly poor performance in a June 27 televised debate last month against Republican rival Trump, 78.
Biden’s failure at times to complete clear sentences took the public spotlight away from Trump’s performance, in which he made a string of false statements, and trained it instead on questions surrounding Biden’s fitness for another 4-year term.
Days later he raised fresh concerns in an interview, shrugging off Democrats’ worries and a widening gap in opinion polls, and saying he would be fine losing to Trump if he knew he’d “gave it my all.”
His gaffes at a NATO summit – invoking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name when he meant Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and calling Harris “Vice President Trump” -further stoked anxieties.
Only four days before Sunday’s announcement, Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 for a third time, forcing him to cut short a campaign trip to Las Vegas. More than one in 10 congressional Democrats had called publicly for him to quit the race.
Biden’s historic move – the first sitting president to give up his party’s nomination for reelection since President Lyndon Johnson in March 1968 – leaves his replacement with less than four months to wage a campaign.
If Harris emerges as the nominee, the move would represent an unprecedented gamble by the Democratic Party: its first Black and Asian American woman to run for the White House in a country that has elected one Black president and never a woman president in more than two centuries of democracy.
Biden was the oldest U.S. president ever elected when he beat Trump in 2020. During that campaign, Biden described himself as a bridge to the next generation of Democratic leaders. Some interpreted that to mean he would serve one term, a transitional figure who beat Trump and brought his party back to power.
But he set his sights on a second term in the belief that he was the only Democrat who could beat Trump again amid questions about Harris’s experience and popularity. In recent times, though, his advanced age began to show through more. His gait became stilted and his childhood stutter occasionally returned.
His team had hoped a strong performance at the June 27 debate would ease concerns over his age. It did the opposite: a Reuters/Ipsos poll after the debate showed that about 40% of Democrats thought he should quit the race.
Donors began to revolt and supporters of Harris began to coalesce around her. Top Democrats, including former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime ally, told Biden he cannot win the election.
Biden initially resisted pressure to step aside. He held damage-control calls and meetings with lawmakers and state governors, and sat for rare television interviews. But it was not enough. Polls showed Trump’s lead in key battleground states widening, and Democrats began to fear a wipeout in the House and Senate. On July 17, California’s Rep. Adam Schiff called on him to exit the race.
Biden’s departure sets up a stark new contrast, between the Democrats’ presumptive new nominee, Harris, a former prosecutor, and Trump who is two decades her senior and faces two outstanding criminal prosecutions related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election result. He is due to be sentenced in New York in September on a conviction for trying to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star.
BIDEN STRUGGLED BEFORE DEBATE
Earlier this year, facing little opposition, Biden easily won the Democratic Party’s primary race to pick its presidential candidate, despite voter concerns about his age.
However, his staunch support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza eroded support among some in his own party, particularly young, progressive Democrats and voters of color.
Many Black voters say Biden has not done enough for them, and enthusiasm among Democrats overall for a second Biden term had been low. Even before the debate with Trump, Biden was trailing the Republican in some national polls and in the battleground states he would have needed to win to prevail on Nov. 5.
Harris was tasked with reaching out to those voters in recent months.
During the primary race, Biden accumulated more than 3,600 delegates to the Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago in August. That was almost double the 1,976 needed to win the party’s nomination.
Unless the Democratic Party changes the rules, delegates pledged to Biden would enter the convention “uncommitted,” leaving them to vote on his successor.
Democrats also have a system of “superdelegates,” unpledged senior party officials and elected leaders whose support is limited on the first ballot but who could play a decisive role in subsequent rounds.
Biden beat Trump in 2020 by winning in the key battleground states, including tight races in Pennsylvania and Georgia. At a national level, he bested Trump by more than 7 million votes, capturing 51.3% of the popular vote to Trump’s 46.8%.
-Reuters
SPECIAL REPORT
Atta Diaspora Plans U.S. Convention, Fundraiser to Boost Healthcare in Imo Community
Citizens of the Atta community of Imo State living in North America and Canada have concluded plans to host a major convention and fundraising gala aimed at improving healthcare delivery in their hometown in Ikeduru Local Government Area.
The three-day event, organised by the Atta People’s Assembly of North America and Canada, is scheduled to be held from May 22 to 24, 2026, in Irvington.
Public Relations Officer of the association, Evelyn Childs, said the convention—tagged “Improving Healthcare in Atta”—will feature a fundraising gala as well as elections into key executive positions.
She explained that proceeds from the fundraiser would be used to upgrade existing health centres in Atta and to construct befitting residential quarters for nurses and matrons to improve service delivery and staff welfare.
President of the association, Godwin Ehirim, has called on Atta indigenes in the diaspora and their friends to support the initiative, describing it as critical to the community’s development.
“We are appealing to Atta citizens in North America and their friends to rally round the association to help uplift the town,” he said, urging unity among community stakeholders both at home and abroad.
Ehirim also raised concerns over insecurity in the area, noting that it continues to hinder development in Imo State. He appealed to federal, state and local authorities to intervene in key areas including security, road infrastructure, social programmes and youth employment.
The association acknowledged challenges such as recruiting members and securing sustained financial commitment, but expressed optimism that collective effort would drive meaningful progress.
This year’s convention will be hosted by the New Jersey branch of the organisation under the leadership of Sir Oliver Egenti, Mrs Chika Iwuanyanwu, Sir Justin Okafor, Engr. Barnabas Lewis and Lolo Stella Ezeilo.
Organisers say the gathering will not only raise funds but also strengthen bonds within the Atta diaspora community while charting a unified path for development back home.
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Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Friday called on members of Morocco’s Parliament to prioritize social equity, local development, and national unity as the country enters the final legislative year of the current term.
The King, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid, delivered his address during the opening of the first session of the fifth legislative year of the 11th Legislature in Rabat.
King Mohammed VI flanked by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan (left) and Prince Moulay Rachid
In his speech, the Monarch commended Parliament’s work in legislation, government oversight, and public policy evaluation, while urging lawmakers to complete pending legislative plans and projects with renewed diligence and responsibility.
“This is an opportunity for me to express my appreciation for the work you do,” King Mohammed VI said. “I invite you to devote this final year to serious, responsible work to complete legislative plans, implement ongoing programs, and address citizens’ pressing needs.”
The King stressed the need for harmony between major national projects and social programs, emphasizing that both serve the goal of advancing Morocco’s development and improving citizens’ living standards.
He urged parliamentarians, political parties, elected officials, the media, and civil society to play an active role in communicating policies that affect citizens’ rights and freedoms. “It is, first and foremost, your duty as parliamentarians, given that you represent the citizens,” he said.
Reflecting on his earlier Throne Day Address, King Mohammed VI reiterated his call for a new generation of local development programs based on social justice, territorial balance, and equal opportunity. He said achieving these goals would require collective mobilization, a shift in mentality, and a stronger results-oriented culture supported by digital tools and accurate field data.
“I seek to ensure everyone benefits from the fruits of growth and from equal opportunities among the citizens of our unified country,” the King said, describing local development as “the mirror that truly reflects the progress of the emerging, united Morocco.”
The Monarch outlined three key priorities for the coming year:
- Empowering Fragile Areas: A new policy for mountainous regions and oases, which cover 30% of Morocco’s territory, to promote solidarity and regional integration.
- Sustainable Coastal Development: Better use of coastal laws and national plans to balance rapid development with environmental protection and build a strong maritime economy.
- Strengthening Rural Centers: Expansion of rural development programs to manage urban growth and improve access to services in remote areas.
King Mohammed VI urged both government and Parliament—across majority and opposition—to act in the nation’s best interest and uphold integrity, commitment, and selflessness in public service.
“The coming year will be replete with projects as well as challenges,” he said. “Live up to the trust placed in you; be worthy of the responsibility falling upon you, and of the integrity and commitment required by the mission of serving the nation.”
He concluded with a verse from the Holy Qur’an underscoring accountability: “Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good see it; and anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil shall see it.”
The royal speech sets the tone for a decisive year aimed at consolidating Morocco’s path toward inclusive development, transparency, and social justice.
SPECIAL REPORT
Morocco to Showcase Tourism and Football Heritage at African Football Exhibition in Abidjan
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
The Moroccan National Tourist Office (MNTO), in collaboration with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), will be actively participating in the upcoming African Football Exhibition, scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on June 28 and 29, 2025.
The joint participation underscores Morocco’s commitment to leveraging its rich football heritage and dynamic tourism industry to foster cultural diplomacy and pan-African collaboration. The two-day event, expected to attract thousands of visitors, including football legends, officials, fans, and media professionals from across the continent, is being billed as a unique convergence of sport, culture, and tourism.
The MNTO will be showcasing Morocco’s diverse tourist offerings—from its vibrant imperial cities like Marrakesh and Fez, to its scenic coastlines, desert adventures, and cultural festivals—while highlighting the kingdom’s growing reputation as a global hub for sports tourism.
Visitors to the Moroccan stand will experience immersive presentations, destination marketing materials, and interactive sessions designed to promote travel to Morocco, especially ahead of upcoming global football events.
Meanwhile, the FRMF will spotlight Morocco’s footballing milestones, including the historic semi-final run by the Atlas Lions at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the country’s increasing influence in continental football development.
The exhibition comes at a time when Morocco is gaining prominence on the international sporting stage, especially in light of its successful bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
According to organizers, the African Football Exhibition aims to celebrate Africa’s rich football heritage while serving as a platform for strategic networking among federations, tourism boards, sports ministries, and private sector stakeholders.
Morocco’s participation reflects its broader vision of using sports, particularly football, as a soft-power tool to deepen ties across Africa and position the kingdom as a leading destination for major events and experiential tourism.
Further announcements regarding Morocco’s exhibition activities, special guests, and cultural showcases are expected in the coming days.
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