The Ebonyi State government has approved the appointment of 25 permanent secretaries to fill existing vacancies in the state civil service. This announcement was made in a press statement by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, on Thursday. Okpor stated that the development followed a request by the Head of Service, Mrs. Rita Okoro, to address the vacancies. Additionally, Okpor revealed that the State Executive Council has received an interim progress report on the foreign scholarship scheme from the Commissioner for Education, Professor Omari Omaka. “The state government has charged the Secretary to the State Government, Prof.…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Phillip Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, has expressed vindication following a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated the Edo State governorship primary election. In his reaction on Thursday to the judgment delivered by Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo, Shaibu stated that the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) primary election held on February 22, 2024, was merely a “tea party” without any legal standing. Shaibu asserted that he had consistently criticized the PDP for undermining internal democracy through what he described as fraudulent practices during the primary election at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. The former Deputy Governor maintained…
Prominent activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of working to undermine the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Adeyanju warned that Wike’s actions could prevent the PDP from fielding a presidential candidate to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. In a post on X, Adeyanju wrote: “Wike is working hard to ensure PDP does not have a presidential candidate against Tinubu. Wike was the one who engineered and is backing all those who went to court in Edo. Until the hungry PDP leadership grows some balls and expels Wike so…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed strong criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, claiming it has failed Nigerians. The PDP attributes the country’s worsening economic and social conditions to the administration’s policies. In a post on its X page, the PDP stated: “The Tinubu administration’s bad leadership has plunged Nigerians into unimaginable hardship, exacerbating the country’s already precarious economic and social conditions. Since assuming office in 2023, the APC-led administration’s policies and actions have only served to worsen the lives of Nigerians.” The PDP highlighted several key issues contributing to the nation’s hardship: 1. Cost of Living: The party…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has urged Governor Hyacinth Alia to revise his approach to addressing security issues in the state. In a statement by its publicity secretary, Bemgba Iortyom, the PDP expressed condolences to the government and people of Ukum Local Government Area following recent killings. This call followed a violent protest in Ayati village, where killings by local bandits led to the destruction of both personal and government properties by protesters. In response, Governor Alia imposed a 24-hour curfew in the affected local government. While consoling those who lost loved ones and sympathizing with those…
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned the expulsion of Martin Amaewhule and 24 others from the Rivers State House of Assembly by the Rivers State High Court. A three-member panel of the court ruled that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the ex parte order that led to the expulsions. The Appeal Court declared the ex parte order null and void, citing that it was made without jurisdiction. According to the court, Section 272(3) of the Constitution gives the Federal High Court the authority to determine whether the seat of a House of Assembly member…
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) conducted airstrikes on Wednesday, killing several terrorists near Degbewa and Chinene in Borno State. NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, announced this in a statement on Thursday. Gabkwet detailed that the airstrikes targeted and destroyed multiple terrorist structures in the Mandara Mountains. The operation was initiated after several days of aerial surveillance over Chinene and Degbewa revealed a large gathering of terrorists. “The terrorists were observed loitering within the vicinity, clearly oblivious to the impending attack, and likely confident in the safety of their location from military bombardments,” Gabkwet said. “The airstrikes were authorized,…
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has distanced itself from alleged plans by some groups to stage protests against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). InfoStride News recalls that the anti-graft agency raised the alarm on Wednesday, alleging that a “shadowy group” is planning to instigate a protest against the Commission. According to the EFCC, the group has been campaigning on social media, recruiting young Nigerians, including students, to take up arms against the agency. Reacting, NANS, in a statement signed on Thursday by its President, Lucky Emonefe, condemned the move by “faceless groups to manipulate students for…
The White House has dismissed reports that President Joe Biden is considering quitting the presidential race, calling them false. White House Senior Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to the President, Andrew Bates, described the report by the New York Times as inaccurate. Posting on X, Bates wrote: “This claim is absolutely false and if we had been given more than 7 minutes we could have communicated this before it was publicized.” Bates was responding to a New York Times report alleging that Biden informed his allies he is contemplating withdrawing from the presidential race. The newspaper quoted an anonymous…
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take swift action against individuals allegedly impersonating the party’s governorship candidate in Ondo State, Gbenga Edema, and his running mate, Rotimi Adeyemi. The NNPP raised the alarm on Wednesday, identifying Akintan Michael and Kemi Fasua as the persons purportedly parading themselves as the party’s candidates ahead of the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State. In a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the NNPP’s national secretariat described the development as a clear breach of the 2022 Electoral Act. The letter, signed…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned state governors’ interference in the national minimum wage negotiation, labeling it unconstitutional. Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, made this statement during an interview on Arise Television. “The process for arriving at a national minimum wage comprises three parties: labour, employers, and government. The government is currently playing a dual role of being the employer as well,” Upah stated. “Governors have been part of this process, and for some of them to want to pull out from the national team (under the government) will be injurious to the whole…
The Labour Party (LP) has established an electoral reform committee, headed by analyst Sam Amadi, to conduct a comprehensive review of its electoral processes aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, the party announced that the committee would be inaugurated on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at 11:00 am at the national headquarters in Abuja. The statement read, “This is to inform members of the public that the leadership of the party has approved the following persons to serve as members of the Labour Party Electoral Reform Committee. They…
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, has called on members of the Benue South Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vote for credible candidates in the upcoming party congresses. He emphasized the importance of unity and peace within the party, urging members to avoid divisive issues. Senator Moro delivered this message on Sunday during the PDP zonal meeting at Leach Hotel, Otukpo, Benue State. He stated, “If we are genuine and sincere to ourselves, we must ponder over what will unite and bring us together. We are not here to ponder over who is going to be the next Senator, House…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has announced that it will not participate in the upcoming local government election scheduled for October 5th. This decision was disclosed by the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, during an interview with the media, citing flaws in the election process. Okocha highlighted that the APC, under his leadership, was not invited to the stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on Monday, where the election date was announced. He clarified that despite reports suggesting that all political parties were represented at the…
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has dismissed calls for him to join former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as his running mate in the 2027 presidential election. The call was made by a group known as Diri Angels (DA), which urged Atiku to consider Governor Diri as his Vice-Presidential candidate. DA’s statement, signed by Secretary John Ondowari on Tuesday, expressed confidence that Atiku would again be the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2027 and suggested that Diri’s selection as running mate would bolster his chances against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, Governor Diri, through his Chief…
Hope for the release of detained Biafra nation agitator Nnamdi Kanu is on the horizon as South-East Senators are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Wednesday, July 3. The delegation, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, aims to advocate for Kanu’s release and convey their plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the AGF. Sources close to the Senators confirmed to media personnel that the meeting will take place at 10 am in the Conference Hall of the AGF at the Federal Ministry of…
Joe Igbokwe, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, has stated that Nigeria owes the Southeast an additional state. Igbokwe made this assertion in response to renewed calls for the creation of more states in the Southeast region. Posting on his Facebook page, Igbokwe wrote, “Nigeria is still owing the Southeast an additional one state and one governor.” His comments come as the bill seeking to create Adada State passed its first reading in the Senate on Tuesday. The bill, cited as the “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2024 (SB.…
South-East governors announced on Tuesday their intention to engage with the federal government for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This decision was part of the communiqué issued after a meeting of the Forum in Enugu, attended by governors Hope Uzodinma, Dr. Alex Otti, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, and host Governor Peter Mbah. The move follows Kanu’s expressed willingness to seek an out-of-court settlement with the Nigerian Government. On June 19, 2024, Kanu, facing charges of terrorism, indicated through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, his intentions to reconcile with the government. Ejimakor had discussed this with the government’s…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has raised concerns about a new trend among youths who are using nail polish and methylated spirit to achieve a state of ‘highness’. The agency attributed this shift to the rising costs of conventional narcotic substances such as tramadol, codeine syrup, and cannabis. Tijjani Rabe, the Ogun State Commander of the NDLEA, disclosed this information while receiving members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta. Represented by the Deputy State Commander, Ekundayo Williams, Rabe expressed concern over the growing menace, highlighting its impact on the families…
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, has issued a stern warning to civil servants against leaking official documents, emphasizing that such actions could harm Nigeria. Akume highlighted that the government has implemented measures to curb the leakage of sensitive information in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through service-wide circulars issued by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in August 2021. Speaking at a workshop organized by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in collaboration with the Office of the Government of the Federation (OSGF) on Tuesday in Abuja, Akume,…