The newly elected Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, Yusuf Ado Kibiya, has disclosed that the party opted out of Saturday’s local government elections, describing the process as undemocratic. Speaking to journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Center in Kano on Monday, Kibiya criticized the elections, stating that they lacked fairness from the outset. “There is no way local government elections, under the type of governance we operate in Nigeria—especially at the state level—can be free and fair,” Kibiya remarked. “The last council election in Kano was the worst in the history of…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Tony Okocha, a factional chairman of the party, for allegedly seeking to stop revenue allocations to the state’s 23 local government areas. In a statement on Sunday, APC spokesperson Darlington Nwauju expressed concern over Okocha’s continued disregard for a court ruling that removed him and his seven-member caretaker committee from their positions. Nwauju described Okocha’s actions as a deliberate effort to undermine the judiciary and disrupt governance in the state. “The APC cannot remain indifferent to political moves that negatively affect the livelihood of Rivers citizens. Okocha’s attempt…
The kidnappers of Rev. Fr. Thomas Oyode, a Catholic priest and Rector of Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Ivanokpodi, in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, have demanded a ransom of N200 million. InfoStride News reports that the priest was abducted around 7 p.m. on Sunday after gunmen invaded the seminary. Sources revealed that Fr. Oyode offered himself to the kidnappers in exchange for two students of the seminary who were initially abducted. The gunmen accepted his plea, releasing the students and taking the priest instead. On Monday evening, the kidnappers contacted the Catholic Diocese of Auchi, led…
A 34-year-old man, Segun Adegbite, was found dead with machete wounds at a construction site near WitchTech Factory along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to Newsmen on Tuesday. According to Odutola, the incident was reported by one Adedeji Adegbola to the Sagamu Police Division on Monday. Adegbola said he was informed of the situation by Hassan, a local security guard attached to the site, who reported a violent altercation between Adegbite and some unidentified individuals. “The incident was reported to the Sagamu Police Division by Adedeji Adegbola, who resides along Lagos-Abeokuta…
The Body of Federal and State Auditors-General of Nigeria has urged government functionaries to intensify efforts in combating corruption across the country. The National Chairman of the body, Sunday Adegoke, made the appeal on Monday during the flag-off of a four-day capacity-building workshop for auditors-general of state and local governments in the Southeast zone, held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Adegoke emphasized that financial misappropriation and other corrupt practices are global challenges that require urgent action in Nigeria. “The public finance actors, especially key government functionaries managing public funds, have a primary responsibility to ensure that this menace is curtailed,” Adegoke…
As the Ondo State gubernatorial election draws near, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on the people of the state to vote massively for the party. Ganduje made the appeal on Monday while inaugurating a 305-member national campaign council for the November 16 governorship election. He urged voters to support the APC, emphasizing that casting their votes for the ruling party would honor President Bola Tinubu, who hails from the region. InfoStride News reports that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will chair the campaign council, with Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and…
The National Patriotic Coalition (NPC) has criticized the recently concluded local government elections in Kano State, describing them as a “sham” and an attack on democratic values. InfoStride News reports that despite a Federal High Court ruling disqualifying the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidates, Governor Abba Yusuf allegedly proceeded with the election in defiance of the court’s decision. In a statement signed by NPC spokesperson Kunle Solomon, the coalition denounced the election results—where the NNPP reportedly won all 44 chairmanship positions and 484 councillorship seats—as illegitimate. Solomon described the election as “a comedy taken too far” and labeled it…
The Ogun State Police Command on Monday confirmed the death of a hunter, identified as Femi, who was found with bullet wounds in a forest near Ijebu Igbo. Omolola Odutola, the command’s spokesperson, stated that Femi, a resident of Ofemodoko village, went hunting on Friday with a companion named Taoreed, popularly known as Kokoro, but failed to return home. According to Odutola, Femi’s wife, Grace James, raised the alarm after her husband’s prolonged absence. She reported the incident to the village head, who organized a search party to locate him. “On October 26, 2024, Grace James, a resident of Ofemodoko,…
A Magistrates’ Court in Jos on Monday sentenced a 25-year-old security guard, Lucky Bulus, to 18 months in prison for stealing 350 litres of diesel. Magistrate Shawomi Bokkos issued the sentence following Bulus’s guilty plea during a summary trial. In his judgment, Bokkos gave the convict the option of paying a N30,000 fine to avoid six months in prison. He also ordered Bulus to pay N150,000 in compensation to the complainant, with the alternative of serving an additional one-year jail term if the payment is not made. Prosecutor Insp. Labaran Ahamed told the court that the theft was reported on…
Signs of division within the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) became evident on Sunday as several groups within the party announced their support for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Benson Akingboye, over APC’s Lucky Aiyedatiwa ahead of the November 16 election. The coalition of groups—including Ondo Patriots, Ondo APC Solidarity Group, Jagaban Coalition, and APC Youth League—argued that the process that led to Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy was flawed, prompting their decision to support Akingboye. In a statement issued by Dele Oyewo of Ondo Patriots, the groups labeled Aiyedatiwa an “opportunist,” claiming he continuously betrays those…
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has declared that the party is determined to take over the leadership of Rivers State in future elections. Ganduje made this assertion during the defection of Dawari Ibietela George, the 2023 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), to the APC. He assured that the state chapter of the party would be “rebuilt and repositioned” to establish a firm political foothold. The APC chairman emphasized the party’s strategy of welcoming diverse interests while promoting fairness among members. He praised George’s political experience, referring to him as a “big fish,”…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has condemned a lawsuit filed by one of its chieftains, Tony Okocha, seeking to block the disbursement of funds to local government councils in the state. In a statement issued by the party’s spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the APC criticized Okocha’s legal action, accusing him of undermining governance at the grassroots level and acting against the interests of the state. Nwauju noted that Okocha and his caretaker committee had been removed from office by a court ruling but have continued to act contrary to the judgment. “We are shocked at the continuous and…
The Taraba State Task Force on Environmental Protection, Public Safety, and Prohibition of Land Degradation has linked its crackdown on tree burning for charcoal production to the need to prevent desert encroachment and environmental degradation. This effort has triggered concerns among residents over the rising cost of charcoal, with many families lamenting the additional hardship in light of the high prices of cooking gas and fuel. Addressing the public outcry, the chairman of the task force, Gen. Jeremiah Faransa, acknowledged the economic challenges but stressed that the government’s primary goal is to stop the illegal logging and burning of economic…
A legislative move by the Senate to establish the Federal University of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship in Bama, Borno State, garnered overwhelming support from stakeholders during a public hearing on Monday in Abuja. The public hearing, organized by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, featured the sponsor of the bill, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC, Borno Central). He emphasized that the rising unemployment rate and the overreliance on white-collar jobs highlight the need for a specialized university focused on agriculture and entrepreneurship. “Entrepreneurship education provides students with the knowledge, skills, attitude, and motivation needed for success in business ventures,”…
The Gombe State Police Command has arrested 21-year-old Mubarak Haladu for kidnapping, culpable homicide, shop breaking, and theft. Haladu allegedly abducted his seven-year-old nephew, Haruna Bello, and demanded a ransom of N1.5 million from the boy’s father, Bello Haladu. ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest on Friday, detailing the tragic sequence of events. “Mubarak made a ransom demand through a phone call, leaving his brother devastated,” Abdullahi said. The police launched a search operation, but the young boy was later found dead in an abandoned building. Bello Haladu, the boy’s father, recounted the ordeal: “I…
The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested three suspects in possession of illicit drugs during a raid in Lere Local Government Area. ASP Mansir Hassan, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, revealing that the operation took place on Saturday evening in compliance with directives from the Commissioner of Police. “At about 2000hrs on Saturday, our operatives conducted a raid at identified black spots in Unguwan Mangou, Saminaka town, Lere LGA,” Hassan said. The suspects were identified as Ahmed Sama’ila and Nuhu Ahmadu, both from Lazuru village, and Sagir Idris from Mangorori, Saminaka town. “They were found…
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has emerged victorious in all 44 local government chairmanship seats and 484 councillorship positions contested in the just-concluded local council elections in Kano State. The results were announced by the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Professor Sani Lawan Malumfashi, on Saturday. Malumfashi disclosed that six political parties, including AA, AAC, Accord, ADC, APM, and NNPP, participated in the election. He emphasized that KANSIEC fulfilled its constitutional mandate by organizing, planning, and conducting the elections across the state. “The exercise has been largely peaceful and successful in all ramifications. The Commission…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Abia State have threatened to resume their suspended strike on November 2, 2024, if the state government fails to show commitment and transparency in negotiations over the payment of the new minimum wage. The unions insist that the effective date for implementing the new minimum wage remains July 29, 2024. Following a State Action Committee and Executive Council meeting on Saturday, NLC Chairman Okoro Ogbonnaya and TUC Chairman Ikechi Enogwe, among others, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government to conclude negotiations. The ultimatum began on October…
The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified its opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, describing the move as “anti-party.” Tinubu’s government announced the nomination of Ojukwu, the widow of the late Biafran warlord Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, on Wednesday. However, APC stakeholders in Anambra have expressed discontent, arguing that Ojukwu is associated with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), not the APC. Chief Bunty Onuigbo, representing Anambra APC stakeholders, criticized the appointment, while Dr. Josef Onoh, Bianca’s brother and former spokesperson of Tinubu’s campaign council,…
A prominent political figure, Iyiola Oyedepo, has criticized the current administration in Kwara State, accusing it of failing to provide good governance and direction. Oyedepo, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, made the remarks during the launch of a new socio-political initiative tagged the *Kwara Redemption Movement* (KRM) at a press conference held in Ilorin over the weekend. Speaking at the E-Phonix Hotel, GRA, Ilorin, Oyedepo said the KRM aims to address the perceived lack of equity, justice, and fairness in governance and resource distribution in the state. He clarified that the movement is not a…