The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Chief Olusola Nehemiah and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the forthcoming Ondo State gubernatorial election, scheduled for November 16, 2024. Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Friday, affirming that Nehemiah and Awude must be accorded full recognition, rights, and privileges as the legitimate candidates of the Labour Party in the Ondo State governorship race. The judgement was delivered in response to a suit filed by the Labour Party, Nehemiah, and Awude, challenging INEC’s failure to acknowledge…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
In a significant political shift, no fewer than 1,331 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Dawakin Tofa, the hometown of the party’s National Chairman, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, have defected to the ruling New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State. The defectors, who are primarily from 11 wards in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, pledged to work against the APC’s return to power in the state. Among the notable figures who switched allegiance were former Vice Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Government, Malam Isyaku Dahiru Kwa, former state House of Assembly aspirant Hon. Audu Magaji Tumfafi, and…
The national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja has been officially served with a court order halting the party’s congresses at all levels in Nasarawa State. The court order was delivered via substituted service, following an ex parte motion filed by 16 PDP members, led by Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, representing Nasarawa South in the Nigerian Senate. Justice Abdullahi Hassan Shams Shama of the Nasarawa State High Court in Doma issued the order, temporarily stopping the PDP from conducting its congresses in the state. In addition to halting the congresses, the court granted the applicants’ request for…
Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested four individuals in connection with the alleged theft of a Toyota Highlander at gunpoint. The Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, disclosed this to journalists on Friday in Benin City. The suspects, identified as Ifeanyi Okpara (26), Dennis Okosun (25), and Edwin Iruogbe (27), reportedly carried out the carjacking in Ekpoma, Edo State, using a motorcycle to ambush the vehicle’s owner. The stolen SUV, a Toyota Highlander with registration number RBC 66 AQ, was taken from the victim, Iwologbe Raphael, at gunpoint on August 23, 2024. Following the theft, Raphael, a resident…
The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 50-year-old man, KC Okojie Prince, for the alleged theft of two electricity transformers and two drums of 2.5mm flex cable wires. This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Nemi Edwin-Iwo, while parading the suspects alongside five others for various crimes at the Police headquarters in Benin City on Friday. According to the police, Okojie was involved in stealing a 300kva transformer, a 100kva transformer, and two drums of 2.5mm flex cable wire from a property located at No. 8 Idugboe Estate, off Sapele Road, Benin City, on August 11, 2024. The…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lashed out at Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who are supporting Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Wike expressed strong disapproval, stating that the governors must be “sick” if they fail to acknowledge that he is “bigger” than all of them combined. Wike made these remarks during a grand reception organised in his honour by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The event saw the attendance of prominent PDP figures, including Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who are members of…
The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISIEC) has announced that 11 political parties, including the state’s major opposition parties, the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will participate in the upcoming local government election. This was disclosed by the Executive Chairman of JISIEC, Mr. Auwal Harbo, during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Dutse. The local government election has been scheduled for October 5, 2024. Harbo stated that only the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fielded candidates for all council chairmen and councillor positions across the state’s 27 local government areas. The…
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, passed a bill amending the 1999 Constitution for the first reading. The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Allow for the Participation of Candidates Who Are Not Sponsored by Political Parties in the Presidential, Governorship, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Council Elections”, seeks to expand electoral participation beyond candidates sponsored by political parties. The bill, sponsored by Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson for the House and representative of the Ikole-Oye Federal Constituency…
The Media Office of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step in and resolve the ongoing confrontation between the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ex-governor. In a statement issued by Ohiare Michael, the media office criticised the EFCC’s recent actions, describing them as biased and politically motivated. The statement condemned the anti-graft agency’s approach towards the former governor, accusing the EFCC of acting based on “personal and political interests” rather than genuine anti-corruption efforts. Michael argued that the EFCC’s attempts to arrest Bello have been embarrassing for the agency, questioning why…
The Anambra State Government has imposed a restriction of movement across the state from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 28, 2024, to facilitate a smooth local government election. In a statement released by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, the government explained that the restriction was put in place at the request of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process. “Ndi Anambra are hereby informed that there is a movement restriction throughout Anambra State on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, as requested by…
The Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Mr. Steven Nwankpa, has imposed a ban on all forms of ceremonies within the area following a recent cholera outbreak. The outbreak has claimed the lives of 11 people in Ndibokote, Ezzainyimegu community. This announcement follows a statement from the Ebonyi State government on Thursday, where the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Moses Ekuma, confirmed the fatalities. Nwankpa, while commending health workers for their swift response, expressed shock over the incident and urged residents to suspend burials and mass gatherings until further notice to curb the spread of the disease. “We…
The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has announced that it will not utilise the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the upcoming local government elections scheduled for September 28, citing concerns over its reliability. This was disclosed by ANSIEC Commissioner for Information and Logistics, Anthony Nnalue, during a sensitisation programme organised by the International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC) on Thursday in Awka. Speaking at the event, which was aimed at election observers and media personnel, Nnalue revealed that the commission had opted for manual accreditation, stating that it was a more dependable system. “We will not use…
The Executive members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State have removed their chairman, Alhaji Sala Umar, citing misconduct and non-compliance with party guidelines. In an official letter addressed to the party’s headquarters in Gusau, the council leadership confirmed that a vote of no confidence was passed on the chairman during a meeting held on 23rd September 2024, which was attended by two-thirds of the members. The letter, signed by Nura Yusuf (Acting Secretary), Musa Muhammad (Legal Adviser), and Salisu Adamu (Ward Chairman), highlighted multiple grievances against Umar. These included his failure to…
The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested and paraded a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, ASC 11 Maikano S/Tasha, for allegedly supplying arms, ammunition, and drugs to bandits in the state. The arrest was announced by the Commissioner of Police, Shehu Muhammad Dalijan, as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to combat banditry. Maikano was apprehended in possession of a significant quantity of ammunition, including AK-47 rounds and anti-aircraft bullets, alongside drugs such as cannabis. The officer confessed to his involvement, admitting, “Yes, I was caught with drugs and bullets on my way to the bandit camp,…
An Osun State High Court in Ede has ordered the remand of the Elegbedi of Egbedi, Oba Muideen Azeez, and four other defendants at the Ile-Ife Custodial Centre following their inability to meet the bail conditions granted by the court. The traditional ruler, along with Akibu Abioye, Yisa Akolapo, Rasidi Ayandiran, and Sarafadeen Abioye, is facing a 29-count charge, including arson and malicious damage of a farm in Iloba town. At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Justice Kudirat Akano granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N5 million each, with two sureties. The judge stipulated that one of…
Justice Hauwa’u Bubari of the Federal High Court in Kaduna has sentenced Audu Ishida and Elisha Smith to a total of six years imprisonment for fraud-related offences. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Directorate, prosecuted the duo on separate charges of impersonation, retention of proceeds of fraud, and money laundering. According to a statement posted on the EFCC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, both Ishida and Smith pleaded guilty to the charges during their trial. This prompted the EFCC’s prosecution counsel, M.E. Eimonye, to request their conviction and sentencing. After reviewing the case, Justice Bubari…
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the just-concluded Edo State election, has accused members of his party of selling their votes to rival political parties. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the election on Sunday. Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes. Akpata finished a distant third with 22,763 votes. During an interview on Channels TV, Akpata attributed his defeat to the widespread vote-buying that occurred during the election, lamenting that even members of the…
The Coalition for Kaduna Political Groups (KPG) has raised concerns over the internal crisis currently plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), warning that it could significantly affect the party’s chances in the 2027 general elections. In a statement signed by its leadership, including Convener Ibrahim Murtala Kachia, Co-Convener Solomon Jacob Maiyaki, PRO Dr. Victor Bobai, and Secretary General Mrs. Daniel Blessing, the group expressed alarm over the leadership struggles, divisions, and erosion of trust within the PDP. They cautioned that these issues have cast doubt on the party’s ability to function as a credible opposition. The group highlighted recent developments…
The Kwara State High Court has sentenced five suspects involved in the infamous 2018 Offa bank robbery to death. Justice Haleemah Salman, presiding over the case, found the five individuals guilty of multiple charges, including illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and culpable homicide. The judge stated that the offences, under Nigerian law, are punishable by death. The 2018 Offa bank robbery remains one of the most brutal criminal incidents in the state’s history, resulting in the deaths of several people, including police officers and civilians. More details to follow…
Edo State Governor-elect, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed anticipation for a congratulatory message from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the recently concluded gubernatorial election, Asue Ighodalo. After receiving his Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, Okpebholo visited the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he met with President Bola Tinubu. During his visit, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate pledged to lead as a “servant-leader” and emphasised his commitment to the development of Edo State. “For me, I’m coming as a servant to serve the Edo people. That is what is…