Election materials arrived late at several polling units during Saturday’s local government elections in Kwara State, causing delays across various polling stations. Despite the setback, residents turned out in large numbers to elect chairmen and councillors in the 16 local government areas of the state. Voters arrived at polling units as early as 8:00 a.m. for accreditation and subsequent voting across the 193 wards in the state. However, many polling units experienced delays in the distribution of election materials. Speaking to journalists about the situation, Basambo Oladimeji, the Supervising Officer for Danialu Collation and Distribution Centre in Akanbi Ward 3,…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has reiterated his stance that the upcoming September 21 governorship election in the state is a “do-or-die” affair. This statement has drawn significant criticism, particularly from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Thursday, Obaseki defended his comments, stating that the stakes in the election are high, as the people of Edo would suffer dire consequences if the APC were to take control of the state. According to Obaseki, the APC has allegedly perfected plans to rig the election in their favour, and he warned that…
An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has remanded 11 men in a correctional facility for their alleged involvement in an armed robbery. The accused individuals include Musa Abdulahi (23), Abdulahi Sodiq (26), Umaru Dama (27), Usman Sule (23), Sule Abubakar (21), Muhammadu Abdulahi (30), Muhammed Bello (25), Musa Amu (22), Muhammed Abdulahi (23), Abu Abdulahi (30), and Muhammadu Abubakar (28). The defendants are facing charges of armed robbery, a serious offence under Nigerian law. Presiding Magistrate Gladys Oladele, however, did not take the pleas of the accused due to the court’s lack of jurisdiction over the case. She…
The Benue State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested and paraded a 17-year-old woman, Nguemo Ikyowe, for allegedly killing her three-year-old stepson, Vanen Ikyowe, in Ginde village, Guma Local Government Area. The State Commandant, Larai Bitrus, disclosed the arrest while addressing the media at the NSCDC headquarters in Makurdi on Thursday. According to Bitrus, the suspect was apprehended on 12th September following a distress call reporting the murder. “On receiving a distress call from the public, our officers stationed in Ginde village swiftly responded and apprehended the suspect. During interrogation, she confessed to the…
The Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) has called for the introduction of the death penalty for corrupt officials in Nigeria as a deterrent to the rising levels of corruption in the country. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Saturday, the Executive Director of WAMAC, Zubair Abdurra’uf, highlighted the urgent need for stricter penalties for those found guilty of corruption. The event, themed “Good Governance: A Product of Transparency and Accountability for Societal Development,” aimed to strengthen investigative data journalism in the fight against corruption, particularly through the use of Nigerian local languages. Abdurra’uf lamented…
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has firmly denied rumours of his alleged defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), reiterating his unwavering loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The rumours, which circulated widely on social media, included an electronic banner featuring the governor’s image, suggesting his defection to the APC. In response, the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, issued a statement on Friday, dismissing the reports as false and misleading. Bere emphasised that Governor Mutfwang remains fully committed to the PDP and the people of Plateau State, who entrusted him with the mandate during the…
The Kwara State Police Command has announced its readiness to enforce restrictions on the movement of people and vehicles ahead of the local council elections scheduled for Saturday, 21st September 2024. In a statement issued on Friday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, it was revealed that the movement restrictions would be effective from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on the day of the elections. According to the statement, the curfew is aimed at ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections and safeguarding public peace. “This measure has been put in place to ensure the security and smooth…
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has made bold claims that certain individuals currently serving in government should be behind bars due to past misdemeanours and criminal misconduct. Obasanjo made this assertion on Thursday during a virtual address at the memorial lecture for Denis Joseph Slattery in Lagos. In his speech, titled “The Imperative for Moral Rectitude in Governance,” Obasanjo expressed concerns about the integrity of many government officials, stating that individuals with questionable backgrounds cannot be expected to make decisions in the best interests of Nigerians. He stressed that accountability is the most crucial requirement for anyone involved in governance…
Widespread anger and condemnation have followed the Federal High Court’s judgement, which dismissed a case challenging the defection of 27 sacked members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja, declared the decampment as a pre-election matter and dismissed the suit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP). The APP had sought to replace the lawmakers, who were loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on the grounds that they had defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the…
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a level playing field in the forthcoming Edo State governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024. Jonathan made the call in a statement on Thursday, emphasising the need for peace before, during, and after the polls. The former president stressed the importance of free and fair elections, calling on political actors and stakeholders to prioritise the peace and security of Edo State, in line with efforts to deepen Nigeria’s democracy. In a statement issued by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan highlighted the…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has accused the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) of deliberately hindering opposition parties in the lead-up to the local government elections scheduled for 22 February 2025. This accusation follows revelations by OSSIEC, led by its chairman, Hashim Abioye, which the APC claims have undermined the chances of its candidates in the forthcoming election. It was earlier reported that OSSIEC raised concerns over the improper nomination of candidates by three political parties, including the APC, Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Action Peoples Party (APP). According to Abioye, during a presentation of the…
The Chairman of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Charles Ejiogu, has announced that the Commission has successfully trained 15,000 ad-hoc staff in preparation for the upcoming local council elections scheduled for 21 September. Speaking to journalists at the ISIEC headquarters, Ejiogu assured that the Commission is committed to conducting a free and fair election, ensuring a level playing field for all political parties participating in the polls. The election is set to take place across all 305 wards and 4,758 polling units in the state. Ejiogu reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to deliver a credible and transparent election. He…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has reacted to recent allegations made by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle. Governor Lawal had accused his predecessor, Matawalle, of sponsoring banditry, a claim that has sparked controversy. The accusations arose after a memo surfaced on social media, allegedly showing how the government has been making payments to bandits. In a televised interview on TVC, Lawal suggested that Matawalle should resign to clear his name, citing his involvement in bandit activities. In response, HURIWA, through a press release signed by its National Coordinator,…
With just two days remaining before the Edo State governorship election, concerns have been raised about the continued arrest of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Police. The Edo Collectives, a socio-political group, sounded the alarm on Thursday, calling attention to the detainment of several PDP members. In a statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Ese Ipboba, the arrested individuals were identified as PDP chieftains Chief Ehikioha Clifford, Friday Adams, and Obehi Stanley. According to the statement, they were apprehended by the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Thursday. The group expressed concern that the reasons for…
The International Press Centre (IPC) has issued a call for journalists and media professionals covering the upcoming Edo governorship election on 21 September to prioritise their safety. The appeal was made by the IPC’s Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade, through a statement released by Melody Akinjiyan, the Press Freedom Officer of the centre. Arogundade stressed the importance of journalists taking extra precautions while covering the election, citing the persistent risk of attacks on media personnel during election periods. “It is crucial for journalists covering the Edo election to remain safety-conscious and avoid situations that could jeopardise their well-being,” he warned.…
The Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi, has reaffirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s dedication to alleviating the hardships faced by Nigerians. He made this statement while addressing a large gathering of APC supporters during a zonal rally campaign held ahead of the upcoming local government elections in Gumel, Hadejia, and Jahun. Speaking to the enthusiastic crowd, Governor Namadi emphasised that the APC-led administration, both at the federal and state levels, is fully committed to mitigating the current economic difficulties affecting citizens across the country. “The APC is doing everything within its capacity, both at the Federal and state…
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has expressed strong confidence in the All Progressives Congress (APC) achieving a sweeping victory in the upcoming local government elections slated for Saturday, 21 September. Speaking at the grand finale of the party’s campaign rally held at Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Owerri, the governor addressed a large gathering of party supporters and candidates for various elective positions. He firmly stated that the APC’s popularity, particularly at the grassroots level, coupled with its people-oriented policies, would ensure a resounding success at the polls. “The APC has worked hard to connect with the people through meaningful policies. With…
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Thursday, submitted a comprehensive report on transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector to President Bola Tinubu. Jega was appointed as the co-chairman of the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of Livestock Reforms by the Tinubu administration in July 2024. The report is expected to provide strategic recommendations to revamp the livestock industry in the country. The submission took place at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, marking a significant step towards addressing challenges in the livestock sector, including conflicts between farmers and herders, as well as improving productivity and sustainability. Further…
Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, announced on Thursday that the Senate would work on amending the constitution to support the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy. He made this statement while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) loyal to former Interim National Secretary, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. A statement released by Akpabio’s Special Assistant on Media, Jackson Udom, quoted the Senate President as expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his efforts in advancing local government autonomy through the Supreme Court. Akpabio emphasised that under his leadership, the Senate would make…
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr Hajiya Zubaida Umar, has disclosed that 1,061,254 Nigerians have been affected by floods across the country this year. Of these, 634,035 individuals have been displaced, while 94,741 houses have been submerged. Dr Umar, represented by Dr Daniel Obot, NEMA’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, made this revelation during the “2024 Downscaling of Flood Early Warning Strategies for Early Actions” event held on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi. She also warned that 16 local government areas in Kebbi State are expected to be severely impacted by floods in the coming months. …