The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has announced October 19, 2024, as the date for local government elections across the state. This was disclosed by the Chairman of KOSIEC, Mamman Nda Eri, during a press conference held in Lokoja on Tuesday. Eri stated that the commission is empowered under Section 197 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Kogi State Government’s Local Government Election Law of 2004, and the Electoral Act of 2010 to conduct council polls. “We are assuring you that these activities have been designed with the utmost consideration for inclusivity and adherence to…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of obstructing genuine development efforts intended to transform Rivers State into a significant economic hub for Africa. Eze criticized Wike for causing unnecessary political turmoil in Rivers State while other state governments are striving to meet the needs of their citizens amidst the country’s challenging economic situation. He alleged that Wike, relying on support from the Presidency, has instigated a superiority battle that has derailed the state’s progress. In October 2023, the multi-billion naira Rivers State House of Assembly complex was…
The founder and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to quietly leave the party if he wishes to do so. Okorie accused the Anambra State Governor of attempting to destroy the party, which he was elected into office on. Okorie alleged that Governor Soludo had sworn never to accept or work with Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA. Addressing the press in Abuja on Tuesday, Okorie accused Soludo of sponsoring factions within the party, particularly the one led by Victor Oye, despite a Supreme Court ruling that…
Ayodele Olorunfemi, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Ondo State, has pledged to implement a N120,000 minimum wage if elected in the off-cycle election on November 16. Olorunfemi emphasized the necessity of a minimum wage that aligns with the current economic conditions, citing the significant increase in the cost of living. Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he stated, “As of 2023, when we were campaigning, we assured our people that LP would be paying a minimum of N80,000 minimum wage in Ondo; that was before the economy got to where it is today. With the situation…
Following the dismissal of Dr. Samuel Alli as the Edo State Commissioner for Health by Governor Godwin Obaseki, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on other commissioners to resign and join forces with the party to build a prosperous state. The APC, in a statement signed by Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Director of Publicity for the Edo APC Governorship Campaign Council, described the sacking of Dr. Alli as an admission of the Obaseki-led administration’s failure. The statement was made available to newsmen in Benin City. “The sacking of Dr. Samuel Alli as Commissioner for Health did not come to the All…
A couple in the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Musa Baba and his wife, Fatima Baba, were fatally struck by a car while on their way to the farm on a motorcycle. Witnesses reported that the accident occurred around 3 p.m. near the Abaji General Hospital junction. According to the reports, a Mercedes Benz traveling from the Gwagwalada axis ran over the couple. “The man died on the spot while his wife passed away at the hospital where she was rushed to,” a witness stated. Officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) quickly arrived…
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday sentenced a 30-year-old woman, Omolola Kayode, for trafficking in marijuana. Kayode was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Mohammed Kala on a one-count charge of drug trafficking. She pleaded guilty to the charge. Following her plea, NDLEA counsel Mr. P. O. Ajoku presented the facts of the case, calling NDLEA staff member Mr. Aliyu Mohammed Ogah to provide evidence. Kayode confirmed the evidence when asked by the judge. Consequently, Justice Kala found her guilty as charged. Kayode’s counsel, Chief Lilian Omotunde, pleaded for leniency, noting that Kayode…
A 45-year-old businessman, Dada Alaba, was arraigned on Monday before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for an alleged N11 million fraud. Alaba, whose residential address was not provided, faces a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and fraud. According to Prosecutor ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, the defendant committed the offences in November 2023 at Unity Estate, Egbeda, Lagos. Aigbokhan stated that Alaba fraudulently obtained N11 million from the complainant, Mr. Oyedepo Olamilekan, under the pretense of investing the money in a business. “The defendant did not invest the money but converted it to his personal use,” Aigbokhan said. The prosecutor noted…
The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South East zone, Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has announced that the party is poised to capture the remaining states in the region. Speaking to journalists in Anambra, Arodiogbu expressed optimism about the APC’s prospects in the South East, indicating that the party has implemented strategies to ensure success in upcoming elections. “The prospects of the APC in the southeast region seem to be very bright as the days roll by,” he said. Arodiogbu revealed that the APC is targeting Anambra in the next year’s gubernatorial election and aims to secure…
Former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba, has alleged that ex-military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), was held hostage by the co-conspirators who helped him overthrow his predecessor, General Muhammadu Buhari. In 1985, Babangida led a coup that ousted Buhari from power. Key figures in the coup included the late Sani Abacha and Aliyu Gusau. Osoba revealed that Babangida confided in him and other journalists about being held hostage while in power. Speaking with Journalists Osoba recounted Babangida’s admission that he had no choice but to heed the demands of his fellow coupists. “You see, even under the military, I…
The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the presidency to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to schedule local government council elections within three to six months. This request comes in response to the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s recent judgment granting full financial autonomy to local government areas. In a statement issued on Monday by Abraham Amah, the Abia Deputy Chairman and Acting Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the party suggested appointing sole administrators to manage council affairs during this transition towards full autonomy. “The Supreme Court’s decision is a crucial step towards…
A driver of the Akwa Ibom State Transport Company (AKTC) and his 18 passengers were abducted by unknown gunmen along Azumini, a boundary town between Akwa Ibom and Abia states. The incident occurred last Wednesday when the AKTC bus left the Uyo terminal and was passing through Iwukem in the Etim Ekpo council area. The driver and passengers were intercepted by the abductors at the Azumini axis of the road. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Timfon John, confirmed the incident and said the situation is being investigated. According to reports, the gunmen stopped the driver by shooting into the…
The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has denied filing any appeal at the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, challenging an order from the Rivers State High Court. The order in question restrains the Chief Judge of Rivers State and the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly from receiving or acting on any resolutions from the Martins Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly until a pending case is resolved. The PDP’s national leadership clarified that their attention had been drawn to a purported appeal regarding Suit No: PHC/2177/CS/2024, where the PDP is…
Former President Donald Trump has announced 39-year-old Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate for the upcoming US general election. Trump made this highly anticipated and high-stakes announcement on Monday as the Republican National Convention commenced in Wisconsin. “After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump announced on his Truth Social platform. Trump emphasized that Vance, on the campaign trail, “will be strongly…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has instructed accredited organizations to upload personal details and photographs of their field observers via its portal in preparation for the 2024 Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections. This directive was announced in a post signed by Sam Olumekun, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, via INEC’s official X handle. According to INEC, a total of 153 applications were received from interested organizations. Of these, 134 groups (124 domestic and 10 international) met the requirements for accreditation and were selected. The commission also announced plans to organize a one-day training session for…
The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended three suspects involved in the vandalization of oil pipelines, oil theft, and illegal dealings in petroleum products. The arrest took place at Umuodo, Umuajuloke community in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State. CSC Babawale Afolabi, Public Relations Officer at the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja, announced that the arrests were the result of sustained intelligence efforts that uncovered an illegal oil refinery at the site. Numerous illegally refined petroleum products, suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), were discovered. “Based on credible…
Former Lagos lawmaker Dipo Olorunrinu has lauded President Bola Tinubu for improving the electoral prospects of the All Progressives Congress (APC) through the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy. Olorunrinu, who represented Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2015 to 2019, made these remarks in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. NAN recalls that on Thursday, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling directing the Federal Government to commence direct payments of local government funds into their exclusive accounts, bypassing the State Joint Local Government Account. This ruling…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially disowned Itodo Ubolo, declaring that he is no longer a member of the party in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State. This announcement was made in a statement signed on Sunday by Hon. Isah Alhassan, the PDP chairman in Ofu Local Government, representing ward chairmen, executives, and key stakeholders. Alhassan accused Ubolo of engaging in anti-party activities prior to the November 11, 2023, governorship election in Kogi State, alleging that Ubolo worked for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for personal gain. He warned Ubolo to cease presenting himself as a PDP member to…
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has reaffirmed its determination to secure victories in Abia and Enugu states in the 2027 general elections. The party claims to have made significant progress in the South-East zone, positioning itself for success in the upcoming elections. During the APC South-East stakeholders’ meeting held in Abakaliki, the national vice chairman of APC, Ijeoma Arodiogu, highlighted the party’s advances. He revealed that discussions have been finalized with four Labour Party House of Representatives members in Enugu State for their defection to the APC. Additionally, numerous opposition leaders in Abia State, including former Speaker of the…
In a significant political shift, over 200 members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from Guni ward in Munya local government area defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday. Despite prevailing security challenges, the defectors were welcomed into the APC by the state commissioner for Land and Survey, Maurice Bello Magaji, alongside local government party chieftains. Among the new APC members were the Munya LG PDP Chairman, popularly known as Osama, ward party executives from Guni, and former House of Representatives member for Munya/Shiroro/Rafi federal constituency, Abdullahi Mohammed Ricco. Also joining were former state House of Assembly…