The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the violence that resulted in the death of a police officer in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Thursday. In a statement by its spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP called on the police to investigate reports that the violence stemmed from the reckless demonstration of force by thugs allegedly mobilized by the APC gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and allied prominent politicians. The PDP claimed these thugs accompanied Okpebholo from the Benin Airport into the city to intimidate and instill fear in the citizens.…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The Edo State Government and the reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, are at odds over the appointment of political aides by Shaibu. On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja reinstated Shaibu, who had been impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly on March 8, 2024. Following his reinstatement, Shaibu reappointed some of his former political aides. The reinstated aides include Kingsley Ehigiamusor as Chief of Staff, Musa Ebomhiana as Chief Press Secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Akhaba as Senior Special Assistant, Charles Olubayo as Senior Special Assistant, Mustapha Lawal-Omokpo as Senior Special Assistant, Matthias Akhanemhe as Special Assistant, Comrade Robinson…
Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the re-election of President Paul Kagame of Rwanda as an affirmation of the trust and confidence reposed in him by the Rwandan people. Obasanjo made this known in a congratulatory message released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, to newsmen on Friday. In the letter, Obasanjo, a former Chairman of the African Union (AU), extended his congratulations and expressed his joy over Kagame’s new mandate to lead Rwanda for another term. The letter, signed by Obasanjo, reads: “I have just received the happy news of Your Excellency’s resounding victory in the…
The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, vowed on Friday to remain in office until November 11 when the governorship election is scheduled to take place. Shaibu announced his intention to resume his duties as deputy governor after an Abuja Federal High Court reaffirmed his position. He made these remarks during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show. The deputy governor, who has been embroiled in a dispute with Governor Godwin Obaseki, accused the governor of withholding his salary for the past year despite his elected position. “I’m the elected deputy governor of this state, and the court…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for the Edo gubernatorial election has called for an investigation into the security lapse that led to the attack on its gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. In a statement released on Friday in Benin, the council’s Director of Publicity, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, condemned the incident as an assassination attempt on the candidate and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice. “We are appalled by the gruesome murder of Police Inspector Onu Ako, who was killed in cold blood while carrying out his official assignment. We are also grateful that Sen. Okpebholo appears to…
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has vehemently condemned the proposed bill by the Senate to establish the Local Government Independent Electoral Commission. The bill, sponsored by Senator Sani Musa, has been labeled as unacceptable and unnecessary by IPAC, which argues that it will lead to a duplication of functions and waste of public funds. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chinyere Ogekalu, IPAC expressed its concerns: “Creating another commission will not address the challenges faced in conducting local government elections. Instead, it will lead to unnecessary duplication of efforts and resources. The proposed commission will still rely…
The Labour Party Chairman in Rivers State, Hilda Dokubo, has been suspended from the party by her ward in Asari Toru Local Government Area. In a letter addressed to the Labour Party Chairman of Asari Toru LGA, the suspension was confirmed by the Ward Chairman, Mr. Ajalamonia Ibama; Secretary, Mr. Lole Amacheer; Treasurer, Mr. Emmanuel Ibamathe; Women Leader, Mrs. Osaki Dieypiriye; and Publicity Secretary, Osaki Dokubo. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the 54-year-old actress was suspended on Thursday following an emergency meeting of the ward executive committee held on July 15. Dokubo faces allegations of financial misconduct,…
The Borno State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old woman, Lydia Aji, for killing her husband with an axe in Kautikari village, Chibok LGA. ASP Nahum Daso, the command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed that Lydia Aji killed her husband during a fight over their daughter, Rachael Aji, 13, who had stolen and sold a goat. The father ordered their daughter to leave the house due to her criminal behavior, which led to a fight with his wife, who opposed the order and struck him with an axe. “Lydia Aji struck her husband on the head with an axe, killing him…
The Bauchi State Police Command has recovered firearms from hoodlums following a successful raid on black spots in the Mai-Ari-Arewa area of Alkaleri Local Government Area. A locally made revolver and ammunition were seized from the hoodlums, who fled into the bush with injuries after a shootout with the police. The police displayed superior firepower, compelling the criminals to retreat. The Command’s spokesperson, SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, announced the recovery in a crime bulletin issued on Thursday. He detailed that the incident occurred on July 17, 2024, at around 4:30 am, when operatives led by the Divisional Police Officer in…
Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has expressed strong criticism towards Doyin Okupe, former spokesman to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s administration. In a post on his X handle on Friday, Momodu promised to personally carry President Tinubu “on his head” if the President can significantly reduce government spending and make tangible sacrifices. Momodu’s comments come amid widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration’s economic policies. He described the situation in Nigeria as dire, criticizing Okupe for defending what he termed a “profligate government” with unsound economic measures. In his post, Momodu said, “My…
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized Governor Dauda Lawal for celebrating in Enugu State while Zamfara is grappling with severe insecurity. In a statement, APC’s publicity secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, condemned the governor’s actions, stating that 54 people have been killed and hundreds kidnapped in just one week. Gusau expressed outrage that Governor Lawal was seen dancing with his PDP counterparts in Enugu despite the ongoing crisis in his state. “It is precarious to see a leader like Governor Dauda Lawal showing a nonchalant attitude to the plight of his people, having left the…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its governors’ meeting in Enugu on Wednesday. The PDP governors had accused the APC of destroying the country’s economy and institutions, addressing issues such as the recent Supreme Court decision on financial autonomy for local government councils, economic hardship, and food inflation. In response, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, issued a statement condemning the PDP governors as “barefaced heirs of a legacy of sleaze and ruin, morally and politically unfit to point fingers.” Morka accused the PDP governors of failing to understand their responsibilities as…
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has named the 12.5-kilometer Kemta-Idi Aba-Somorin Road in Abeokuta after Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. Governor Abiodun made the announcement during a reception organized by the state government to celebrate Soyinka’s 90th birthday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta. He cited Soyinka’s achievements in academia and the literary world, which have brought honor to Ogun State, Nigeria, and the black race. “Prof. Wole Soyinka is a towering figure in literature and a Nobel Laureate whose works have echoed across the world; a shining star of our great nation. His life and works…
The Delta State Police Command announced on Thursday that its operatives have rescued 25 victims of human trafficking in the Ughelli area of the state. In a statement issued in Asaba, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, detailed the rescue operation that took place on June 15, 2024, following credible information about the activities of a trafficker identified as Chinyere (surname unknown). Chinyere is accused of luring women from the Southeast to Ughelli, Delta State, under the false pretense of employment as salesgirls in restaurants, only to force them into prostitution. “The Commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi,…
A former National Vice Chairman North-west of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has stated that the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the Chief Whip of the Senate and his expulsion from the party indicates President Bola Tinubu’s intention to serve only one term in office. On Wednesday, Ndume was replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno as Chief Whip following a directive from the APC Caucus in the Senate. The directive, contained in a letter signed by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Basiru Ajibola, cited Ndume’s alleged rabid outbursts against the president as the reason…
The secretary of a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, Hon Mansur Khalifa Kaura, has predicted that the internal crisis which led to the failure of forming a government in 2019 may repeat itself in 2027. Kaura stated in a release issued in Gusau, the state capital, that the ongoing crisis within the party could result in another failure in the 2027 general elections if not addressed promptly. The statement reads in part: “It appears that Zamfara State APC leaders, such as Sen. Yari and Bello Muhammad Matawalle, the serving Minister of State for Defence, and…
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Thursday affirmed the decision of the Bayelsa Governorship Election Tribunal, which upheld the November 11, 2023, re-election of Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State. A three-man panel of the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed an appeal seeking to overturn the Tribunal’s decision. The Justice Adekunle Adeleye-led three-member tribunal had on May 27 dismissed the petition filed by the APC and its candidate, Timipre Sylva, against Governor Diri’s re-election, citing a lack of merit. The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to provide any credible evidence to substantiate the allegations…
Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested three suspected gunrunners who allegedly manufacture and supply firearms to armed robbers and kidnappers. The suspects are Tega Dierunaba, 44, from Ororokpe community in Okpe LGA, Delta State; Chibiuke Anuforo Cosmas, 42, from Orlu Town in Nkwerre LGA, Imo State; and Sunday Moses Pam, 36, from Von community in Jos South LGA, Plateau State. Following an intensive intelligence-led investigation, the operatives on the CP’s special assignment, based in Ughelli, apprehended the three suspects on July 16, 2024, between 1 pm and 7:35 pm. Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe, in…
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Lucky Emonofe, has expressed excitement over the N35 billion finance-backed Student Loan Scheme introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. In an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Emonofe reacted to Tinubu’s launch of the scheme’s disbursement at the presidential villa. He emphasized that the initiative would significantly ease the difficulty of accessing higher education for Nigerian students. “We are happy and excited. It is a new dawn for the education sector. It has come to reality following the recent launch of disbursement by President Bola Tinubu to students. Now…
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has rejected the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission’s (KOSIEC) planned sale of nomination forms for the upcoming October 19th Local Government election. In a statement on Thursday, Kogi State CNPP Chairman, Mohammed Kabir Abdullahi, condemned the alleged plan by KOSIEC to sell nomination forms and screen potential candidates across political parties prior to the council polls. Abdullahi described the move as laughable, fraudulent, and the biggest joke of the century since Nigeria returned to democracy, claiming that such actions would hinder transparency and equality for those vying for elective positions. Abdullahi further alleged…