Despite internal challenges within the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Benue State House of Assembly unequivocally expressed confidence in Governor Hyacinth Alia during Friday’s plenary session. Simon Gabo, representing Mata state constituency, commended the governor’s unparalleled performance, especially as the 2024 budget was presented. Gabo moved a motion, urging his colleagues to collectively endorse a vote of confidence in Governor Alia. Applauding Alia’s remarkable achievements in just over six months, Gabo highlighted the governor’s reputation as “Mr 25th” among Benue residents, emphasizing the prompt payment of salaries and pensions, as well as substantial infrastructural development without…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
In a solemn ceremony at the command headquarters in Asaba, the Nigerian Police presented cheques totaling over N110 million to the families of 33 deceased officers. The cheques, issued on behalf of Inspector General of Police Olukayode Egbetokun, are part of the IGP Family Welfare and Group Life Assurance Schemes, customary offerings to the next of kin of fallen officers. Commissioner of Police Wale Abass, presiding over the emotional event, expressed profound gratitude for the IGP’s benevolence. He emphasized that the financial support would greatly assist the families and serve as a lasting tribute to the sacrifices made by their…
In a recent interview with newsmen on Friday, Alhaji Muhammad K. Dagaceri, the Head of Civil Service in Jigawa State, announced that workers are on the verge of enjoying wage allowances and additional palliatives. Dagaceri reassured civil servants, stating, “I’m appealing to our teeming civil servants to be patient, as the state government will soon announce the agreed-upon amount and month for the payment.” He added that a crucial meeting with the leaders of the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) is imminent, where discussions will revolve around determining the wage award amount…
In early December, senior Chinese leaders convened a meeting to “coordinate” government initiatives aimed at influencing the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan, according to intelligence gathered on the island. Taiwan officials perceive this campaign as interference in the electoral process and have raised concerns about Beijing’s attempts to sway voters towards candidates favoring closer ties with China in the January 13 elections. The meeting, held in Beijing, was chaired by Wang Huning, the fourth-ranked leader of the Chinese Communist Party and deputy head of Beijing’s Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs, chaired by President Xi Jinping. Multiple Taiwan…
In a distressing incident, ten students from the Federal University of Lafia in Nasarawa State were abducted by bandits in the early hours of Thursday, near the Gandu village, approximately two kilometers from the university. A resident of the area, requesting anonymity, informed reporters that the assailants, armed and numbering several, raided the student community opposite the university’s permanent location around 2 a.m. on Thursday. The attackers discharged firearms into the air, causing panic among the students who fled for safety. The entire operation spanned approximately two hours, as per a local insider. When addressing the media in Lafia regarding…
President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the appointment of four new members to the National Council on Privatization (NCP), representing the private sector within the council. The appointed members and their respective regions are Oluwole Osin for the South-West, Mohammed Mustapha Bintube for the North-East, Olayiwola Yahaya for the North-Central, and Akwa Effion Okon for the South-South, as disclosed in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Thursday. President Tinubu charged the newly appointed Council members with the responsibility of leveraging their private sector experience to ensure that…
The Coalition of Middle Belt Groups has unequivocally endorsed Alhaji Usman Ododo’s triumph as the All Progressives Congress candidate in the Kogi gubernatorial election, asserting that the stance of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and other political entities serves as a validation of the electoral process. Dr. Omale Ben Amedu, the convener of the group and former APM Deputy Governorship candidate, refuted attempts to undermine the credibility of the election, emphasizing that the results accurately represented the will of the people. Amedu acknowledged the challenges faced during the election but maintained that it was free, fair, and credible. He asserted,…
In a resolute stand against perceived threats to Rivers State, Governor Sim Fubara vowed to resist any form of blackmail and intimidation, emphasizing that the state is the collective inheritance of its people. Governor Fubara expressed his commitment to safeguarding and advancing the state’s interests during the quarterly general meeting of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers. The Governor addressed the ongoing political discord with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, at the event. The face-off, centered around the state’s political structure, had escalated to the point of an impeachment move against Fubara. However, intervention from President Bola Tinubu averted the…
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, remains undeterred by protests against his policies, emphasizing his commitment to delivering President Bola Tinubu’s mandate. Multiple demonstrations have taken place against Wike, particularly concerning his land allocation policies in the capital city. Key FCT indigene, Adamu Matazu, criticized Wike’s actions, claiming they were detrimental to Abuja’s progress and growth. In response to the protests, Wike dismissed them, asserting that the demonstrators were financially motivated. During the flag-off of remedial road work in the FCT on Thursday, Wike stated, “Frankly speaking, I don’t have the time to see that. I…
The New Benue Development Agenda (NBDA) has voiced concerns over Governor Hyacinth Alia’s initial six months in office, deeming it the most arduous period for the state since the advent of democracy in 1999. According to NBDA, Governor Alia is facing allegations of inadequate preparedness for governance and a lack of a clear development blueprint for the state. In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Tersoo Hwande, the group expressed disappointment, labeling the priest-turned-politician as the most lackluster governor in the state’s history. The NBDA’s evaluation suggests that Governor Alia has fallen short of expectations, engaging in unnecessary conflicts…
In a significant legal development, a High Court in Ado Ekiti has invalidated the appointment of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee in Ekiti State. The court has reinstated the duly elected State Working Committee led by Engr Alaba Agboola, known for its allegiance to former Governor Ayo Fayose. The National Working Committee of the party had dissolved the Ekiti State executives in June, establishing a Caretaker Committee with Sadiq Obanoye as chairman. Dissatisfied with this decision, Alaba Agboola filed a lawsuit (HAD/90/2023) against PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, and two others. In the recently delivered judgment, Justice…
In response to recent claims circulating in the media, the Action Alliance (AA) categorically rejects assertions that the Federal High Court in Abuja recognized Kenneth Udeze as the national chairman. The party insists that Dr. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje remains the only legitimate and acknowledged national chairman. National Publicity Secretary Comrade Olu Omotoso issued a statement denouncing a newspaper publication that erroneously reported Udeze as the national chairman. Omotoso emphasized that such misleading information creates confusion and discord within the party. Omotoso reiterated that the Court of Appeal previously affirmed Dr. Omoaje as the rightful chairman, with key stakeholders, including the…
In response to security concerns and reported attacks on tribunal officials, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the President of the Court of Appeal, has ordered the relocation of the Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja. A statement issued by David Umar Mike, the tribunal’s secretary, confirmed the change in venue, with future proceedings to take place at the National Judicial Institute on Umar Yar’Adua Way. While the statement did not explicitly provide the reasons behind the relocation, a reliable source within the tribunal disclosed that the move was prompted by ongoing security challenges. The source revealed that tribunal staff…
The Kogi State Police Command reported on Wednesday that armed men targeted and attacked Mr. David Mike, the Secretary of the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The assailants, driving SUVs, seized valuable items during the incident, including petitions submitted by opposition parties involved in the recent election. According to Police Public Relations Officer SP Williams Ovye-Aya, the attack unfolded as Mike, along with Labode Apreala, a female confidential secretary, and Hassimu Adamu, an assistant secretary, was en route to court. Ovye-Aya detailed that the attackers, about seven hooded and heavily armed individuals dressed in black attire, surrounded and blocked Mike’s…
The Chairman of the Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ade Adetimehin, countered the assertions made by his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Fatai Adams, on Wednesday. Adetimehin dismissed Adams’ claims that former PDP members who had joined the APC were now returning to the PDP, labeling the assertion as false. In a statement released in Akure, Adetimehin clarified his position regarding the swearing-in ceremony of the caretaker committee. He denied being part of the ceremony, contradicting Adams’ allegation that it occurred at the Government House instead of the House of Assembly. Responding to the accusations made…
Sola Ebiseni, the Secretary-General of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has officially rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after a brief sojourn with the Labour Party. His return on Wednesday evening at the PDP Secretariat in Alagbaka, Akure, is fueled by his ambition to vie for the governorship ticket in the upcoming 2024 polls in Ondo State. Sources indicate that Ebiseni’s decision to return to the PDP is rooted in his aspiration to contest for the governorship, and he expressed this during his visit to the party’s secretariat. He clarified that his temporary departure from the PDP was associated with…
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has issued a stern warning on the peril of hate speech within the electoral process. The caution came during the iVerify project launch organized by the International Press Centre in Abuja. Represented by the Acting Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Yakubu emphasized that hate speech poses a significant threat to social peace and the democratic principles of equality. He outlined key dangers, including the undermining of democratic values, disruption of social cohesion, incitement of violence and intolerance, undermining political discourse, and eroding trust in institutions. Yakubu highlighted…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Legal Team has raised allegations against the 200 lawyers associated with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) who convened a press conference in Kaduna, accusing them of engaging in unethical acts with the intent of creating political turmoil. Last week, lawyers identifying themselves as Counsels to NNPP had criticized the Court of Appeal for what they termed a miscarriage of justice in the judgment against Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf. In response, the APC Legal Team, speaking in Kano on Wednesday, deemed the actions of NNPP lawyers as contrary to legal principles and the…
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has pointed to the lack of accountability and impunity as key factors eroding public trust in Nigerian political parties. Akpabio emphasized that addressing these issues is vital for restoring confidence in the nation’s political landscape. Speaking at an event organized by the Kukah Centre in Abuja, the Senate President, represented by Senator Victor Umeh of Anambra Central, highlighted the role of political parties in shaping Nigeria’s policies and governance. He acknowledged their significance in providing platforms for citizen participation in the democratic process. Akpabio expressed concern over the decline in public trust and…
In a bid to maintain peace and curb rising security concerns, the Imo State Government has issued a ban on all masquerade activities in Ideato North Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. The directive, outlined in a letter dated December 1, 2023, was sent by Eze Emmanuel Okeke, the chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, to Eze K.N. Kanu, the Chairman of Ideato North Local Government Traditional Council. Eze Okeke, who also holds the position of chairman of the community policing council in the state, emphasized that the decision aims to prevent a potential breakdown of…