The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has established a seven-man Governorship Screening Committee to vet aspirants ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for April 20. The committee was inaugurated on Friday in Abuja by the party’s Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Duru, on behalf of the NWC. Duru urged the committee members to conduct the exercise with diligence, discipline, and friendliness, emphasizing the need to complete the screening within the projected timeframe. He also mentioned that the Appeal Committee would begin its work immediately after the screening. The committee, chaired by former Deputy Governor of…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has dismissed rumors circulating in some quarters about the authenticity of his certificates, affirming that they are genuine and authentic. Aiyedatiwa made this known on Friday at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja after being cleared by the Screening Committee to contest the primary election. He addressed the issue of his certificates, stating, “Questions were asked and answered, and at the end of the day, I have been cleared that there are no issues. Especially the issue that has to do with the certificate that a petition was written, today that has…
A Former spokesman of the Peter Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe, has offered advice on how Air Peace can survive the price war with other foreign airlines. Okupe emphasized that Air Peace must demonstrate boldness and resilience to withstand the price competition from other airlines operating international routes. He suggested that the Nigerian airline should be prepared for non-profit operations for up to a year. In a post on X, Okupe outlined the financial dynamics, stating that each flight costs about $100k with approximately 350 passengers. Given that about 4,000 passengers travel to the UK per day, even with…
Rights activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has criticized the six-month sentence handed down to popular social media personality Okuneye Idris Olarewaju, known as Bobrisky, over Naira mutilation. Adeyanju urged security agencies to consider a community service approach for victimless crimes like currency mutilation in the country. Justice Abimbola Awogboro delivered the sentence without the option of a fine to Bobrisky on Friday. The controversial celebrity has been in EFCC custody since his arrest last week and will serve the jail term at Ikoyi Prison, Lagos. Adeyanju’s statement expressed concern over the sentence, particularly highlighting Bobrisky’s status as a first-time offender and…
A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 19 for the hearing of a suit filed by the impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, against the State House of Assembly and others. The matter, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, was fixed for hearing on Friday after a team of lawyers, including Alex Ejesieme, SAN, sought a date for the case. Although the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/405/24, was not listed on the cause list, the defense team appeared in court. One of the lawyers informed Justice Ekwo that the matter was originally scheduled for Thursday but was rescheduled…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced the screening of 16 aspirants vying for its ticket in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State. The screening is being held at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, where the Screening Committee and the Screening Appeals Committee were inaugurated earlier in the day. Among the aspirants undergoing screening are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Olusola Oke, Prof. Francis Faduyile, Dr. Funmi Waheed-Adekojo, and APC National Vice Chairman (South West), Isaac Kekemeke. Others include Akinfolarin Samuel, Olusoji Ehinlanwo, Okunjimi Odimayo, Adewale Akinterinwa, Olugbenga Edema, Gen. Ohunyeye Olamide, Morayo Lebi, Garvey Oladiran…
The Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) has reportedly executed a police officer who was abducted along the Damboa-Biu Road in Borno State. The officer, who was traveling with his wife and children from Damboa to Biu for Eid break, was abducted after inadvertently taking a banned route. According to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, the officer and his family were abducted by suspected ISWAP operatives around the Shokotoko general area, approximately 73 kilometers south of Damboa. While the wife and children were later released by the abductors, the police officer was reportedly…
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called on the state governments in the south-west to allocate intervention funds to support farmers and tackle food insecurity in the region. Afenifere emphasized the importance of farming and agricultural development in contributing to economic growth and ensuring food security. The group made this statement following its caucus meeting held in Akure, the capital of Ondo State. Jare Ajayi, the Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, urged the governors of the Yoruba-speaking states in the South West to streamline access to loans for farmers. He highlighted that some facilities available at the federal level were not…
Troops of Operation Haderin Daji (OPHD) have launched successful attacks on bandits’ camps in Zamfara State, forcing the criminals to flee en-masse. According to reports, the bandits have been losing ground due to OPHD’s ground and air operations, which have delivered serious blows to their operations. The latest offensive involved airstrikes on the Bayan Ruwa general area and Bayan Dutsin Gidan-Kano, resulting in the destruction of several bandits’ camps. Operations in Zurmi, Kaura Namoda, Maradun, Tsafe, and other areas have significantly reduced banditry activities in the state. High-profile bandit leaders such as Sani Dangote, Kachalla Chaki, and Lamo Saude, along…
Former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has expressed sadness over the passing of Ogbonnaya Onu, highlighting the late politician’s displacement from the presidency in 1999. Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th assembly, paid tribute to Onu, noting that he could have been Nigeria’s President in 1999 after winning the All Peoples Party (APP) primaries in Kaduna, attended by prominent figures like the late Ikemba of Nnewi, Chief Ojukwu. According to Sani, Onu was deliberately displaced after a midnight merger with the then Alliance for Democracy (AD), as the military favored Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae for the…
Former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, has endorsed Governor Siminalayi Fubara as the political leader of the state, praising him for defending the interests of the people. Speaking at the commissioning of a Primary Healthcare Centre donated by his PAMO Foundation in Ndoni, Odili stated that Fubara had earned the position of leadership by securing his electoral victory both through the ballot and the courts. He emphasized the importance of Rivers State in the Nigerian context, stating, “if Rivers State sneezes, the entire Nigeria would catch cold,” and urged Fubara to govern with this awareness. Odili commended Fubara for…
President Joe Biden of the United States highlighted the stark disparities in maternal health outcomes between black and white women in America, emphasizing the urgent need for action during Black Maternal Health Week. In a post on X, President Biden noted that black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. He underscored his administration’s commitment to addressing these disparities faced by the black community in the US, particularly in healthcare. President Biden’s statement read: “Black women in America are 3x as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, making…
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatization and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, has expressed sadness over the death of former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. Dr. Onu, a former governor of Abia State, passed away on Thursday in Abuja after battling an undisclosed ailment. In a condolence message personally signed by Kalu, he described Dr. Onu as a nationalist with a passion for the unity and progress of Nigeria. Kalu acknowledged Dr. Onu’s invaluable contributions to nation-building and urged his family to take solace in the knowledge that their late patriarch lived…
President Bola Tinubu has extended his deepest condolences to the Onu family following the death of Chief Ogbonnaya Onu at the age of 72. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu praised Onu for his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his advocacy for peace. “The President mourns the first civilian governor of Abia State, former minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, a principal draughtsman in the founding of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and a valiant partner in the victory of the party in the 2015 elections,” the statement read. Tinubu described…
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant in the 2023 election and former civilian governor of Abia State, has passed away in Abuja. Details surrounding Onu’s death are still unclear at this time, but sources indicate that he had been battling an undisclosed illness. Onu’s last significant public appearance was during the APC primary election in 2022, where he raised concerns about injustice against the people of the Southeast region. Former President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Onu as the Minister of Science and Technology in November 2015. However, he resigned from his position on May 6, 2022, to…
Daniel Bwala, a former lawmaker, has criticized the quality of boreholes donated by Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing them as repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience. Bwala alleged that the Water Corporation in Anambra State, during Obi’s tenure as governor, was not in a good state, questioning the rationale behind the borehole donations. Obi recently concluded his visit to 19 states in the northern part of Nigeria, during which he donated boreholes to communities in Kaduna, Sokoto, and others. While this gesture received commendations from many Nigerians, it has also faced criticism from individuals like…
An Osun State High Court has removed Oba Johnson Ajiboye as the traditional ruler of Olola of Ola in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, causing tension in the town. Justice Lawrence Arojo delivered the judgment, declaring the stool of Olola of Ola vacant due to alleged illegality in Ajiboye’s appointment by Governor Ademola Adeleke on January 3, 2024. The appointment was made despite a pending court case and restraining order, leading to six interlocutory injunctions granted in favor of the opposing family on March 25, 2024. The head of the kingmakers, Dr. Femi Fasanya, had boycotted and disowned…
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to demolish buildings that fail its integrity test, following a fire outbreak at Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known after assessing the damage caused by the fire, which resulted in the collapse of 14 buildings near the market. Sanwo-Olu expressed concern over the incident, stating that many residential apartments had been illegally converted to warehouses, posing a significant risk to safety. He emphasized the need for strict enforcement of building regulations, stating that more buildings could collapse as a result of the fire. The governor also expressed…
The Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced plans to merge with other political parties in Nigeria to form a strong coalition aimed at defeating the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. The National Chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, revealed this during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, where he criticized the APC-led government, stating that it has failed Nigerians and performed poorly on all fronts. Nwosu emphasized the need for the opposition to strategize and work together to create a new political system that prioritizes the people and the country’s development. He announced that…
Engineer Josiah Wasa Wukari, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) in the 3023 election in Taraba State, has criticized political leaders at all levels for failing to adhere to their election promises to the people. In a statement on Thursday, Wukari expressed his disappointment with the current state of leadership, stating that political leaders have failed to fulfill their responsibilities, leading to socio-political challenges. He emphasized that despite these challenges, there is still hope for change, and he remains optimistic that the people will triumph over bad leadership. Wukari urged the people of Taraba State to draw…