The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully addressed the passport production crisis affecting its three Missions in the United States. Passport services at the country’s missions in the US have reportedly resumed. A Public Notice displayed at the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC announced the resolution of the issue. The notice specified that all passport applicants previously scheduled for biometric capturing are expected to visit the Mission on Monday. For those applicants originally scheduled from Monday, November 13th, to Thursday, November 16th, the biometric capturing has been rescheduled. The notice indicates that the capturing has been refixed to take…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
Supporters of the Labour Party (LP) staged a protest on Monday at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The demonstration was prompted by the party’s alleged denial of access to documents used in the November 11 governorship election. Senator Athan Achonu, the LP candidate in the election, claimed that INEC had refused to provide certified true copies of the election materials despite an official request. LP State Chairman, Callistus Ihejiagwa, addressed journalists during the protest, expressing frustration with INEC’s handling of the situation. Ihejiagwa, who spoke from a wheelchair, stated,…
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court sternly warned the public against leaving charms in his courtroom during Monday’s trial of five men accused of murdering Ifeanyi Etunmuse. “No one should leave charms in my courtroom. It should not be repeated. A talisman was found after the last adjourned date in the murder case,” Justice Oshodi emphasized, referring to the charm as ‘property’ and cautioning the courtroom audience against leaving such items. The defendants, Atunrase Omolabi, Shittu Olawale, Olaide Opeifa, Olanrewaju Adebiyi (aka Maja), and Jamiu Omosanya (aka Orobo), face charges of attempted murder and murder for their alleged…
Barrister Sani Mohammad Takori, a former member of the House of Representatives and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed deep concern over the internal crisis within the Zamfara State chapter of the party. Takori lamented that the ongoing turmoil has become a source of worry, perplexity, and embarrassment for the party. Addressing the media via telephone, the former federal lawmaker highlighted the distress of APC supporters in Zamfara State, attributing the party’s defeat in the 2023 general election to the lingering internal crisis. He emphasized the importance of the party’s leadership in the state addressing the issue…
The National Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Olaposi Oginni, has pointed the finger at the party’s presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, for the removal of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano by the election tribunal and the Appeal Court. Despite Yusuf’s initial victory in the March 18 governorship election, the APC is poised to take over the seat pending a Supreme Court decision. Oginni accused Kwankwaso of irregularities and electoral malpractices, attributing the Kano governor’s predicament to the former presidential candidate’s alleged greediness and insatiable quest for power. In a statement, Oginni argued that the lack of internal…
Amidst the ongoing escalation between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon’s Hezbollah Movement claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli troops in Northern Israel on Monday, using drones, artillery, and missiles. Hezbollah fighters, backed by Iran, reportedly deployed three attack drones west of Kiryat Shmona in Northern Israel, followed by artillery fire in the same area. Earlier, the group claimed to have fired “Burkan missiles” at an Israeli barracks and carried out additional attacks on Israeli positions. Israel’s army confirmed the drone strikes, stating that three UAVs were identified near an army post, with no reported injuries. The army reported…
Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has taken a bold step by declaring his intention to run for the governorship position, challenging his boss, Governor Godwin Obaseki. Shaibu, who has been in a tense relationship with Obaseki, revealed his ambition to lead the state under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking in Benin City, Shaibu justified his gubernatorial bid, asserting that Edo requires a practical leader. Noting the nearing 2024 Edo governorship election, he expressed concerns about experimenting with leadership, emphasizing the need for a leader who understands the state’s politics and the people’s needs. Shaibu…
In a decisive ruling on Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal lodged by Titus Uba, the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the election of Governor Hyacinth Alia in Benue State. Justice Onyekachi Aja Otisi, delivering a unanimous judgment, addressed and rejected all three issues raised by Uba and the PDP. Notably, the court dismissed Uba’s claim of non-qualification against Deputy Governor Samuel Ode, stating that the forgery of INEC Form EC9 was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The court emphasized that issues of non-qualification fall under pre-election matters, exclusively within the…
The Presidency, through President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has responded to complaints about the Appeal Court’s judgment sacking Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State. Onanuga shifted blame to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that the PDP’s use of an illegal caretaker committee for primaries in Plateau State, despite a court order, led to the governor’s removal. In a post titled “The Avoidable Fate of Caleb Mutfwang” on X, Onanuga recalled the 2019 case in Zamfara State, where the APC lost due to illegal primaries, leading to the ousting of all APC elected officials.…
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State urged political officeholders to maintain humility in serving the people during a thanksgiving service held on Sunday. The occasion, dedicated to the Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emeka Nwaobi, took place at St. Paul’s Catholic Cathedral Church in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area. Describing Nwaobi as a commendable individual, Governor Oborevwori encouraged him to continue serving with humility and to leverage his position for the unity and benefit of Aniocha North. Reflecting on their political journey, the governor highlighted their shared experiences, emphasizing the role of divine intervention. The…
The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) swiftly addressed misleading reports on Sunday, refuting claims of the withdrawal of Sector 4 Niger from the organization. Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief Military Public Information Officer in Ndjamena, Chad, issued a statement dismissing the insinuations as false and lacking official correspondence. The MNJTF, established to foster a safe environment in regions affected by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, stressed the integral role of Niger as a member. Abdullahi stated, “At no point has there been any official communication regarding Niger’s withdrawal or exit from the MNJTF.” Highlighting the collaborative efforts of member…
Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s decision to halt the planned electricity tariff hike, stating that it reflects the president’s sensitivity to the masses’ plight. Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Sunday, Oyintiloye highlighted that Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had revealed on November 8 that President Tinubu intervened to prevent an increase in the cost of electricity tariff. The president insisted that a subsidy be maintained on power consumed nationwide, emphasizing the potential counter-productivity of removing the subsidy while Nigerians were still grappling with the effects…
The Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party issued a call on Sunday to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, urging them to follow the example of Liberian President George Weah by extending congratulations to President Bola Tinubu. President Weah gracefully conceded defeat in his re-election bid to opposition leader Joseph Boakai, showcasing a commendable display of sportsmanship. Abayomi Arabambi, the spokesman for the LP faction, emphasized the importance of emulating such sportsmanship, stating, “Nigerian leaders should emulate this spirit of sportsmanship.” Arabambi urged Obi and Atiku to join forces with President Tinubu…
In a sweeping triumph, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured a resounding victory in Taraba State as they clinched all 16 local government chairmanship seats and 168 ward councilorship positions during the recently concluded local government council election on Saturday. The Taraba State Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) officially declared the results on Sunday in Jalingo, the state capital. Dr. Philip Duwe, the Chairman of TSIEC, disclosed that only six out of the 19 registered political parties actively participated in the keenly contested election. Duwe emphasized the legal validity of the results announced at the local government collation centers, underscoring the…
Aisha Yesufu, a prominent rights activist, has affirmed her commitment to supporting the presidential ambition of Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi. Yesufu clarified that her support for Obi is based on his potential to lead Nigeria, emphasizing that political allegiance should be rooted in the ability to provide good governance rather than shared religion, tribe, or gender. In a statement on X, Yesufu stated, “‘Your own’ in politics is not one you share the same religion, tribe, or gender with. ‘Your own’ is one who can give you good governance.” Expressing her stance on Obi, she continued, “I will…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Timipre Sylva, has expressed criticism towards former President Goodluck Jonathan for his comments on the recently concluded governorship election in Bayelsa State. Sylva described Jonathan’s remarks as unfortunate after Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured his reelection during last Saturday’s governorship election. Jonathan had congratulated Diri, stating that his victory would enhance the security situation in the state and humorously added that he would have relocated his mother to Abuja if Diri had lost. In response, Sylva questioned the authenticity of Jonathan’s statement, expressing hope that the former president…
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to initiate a comprehensive investigation into allegations of electoral bribery and violence during the off-cycle governorship elections in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states. In a letter dated 11 Nov., signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged Yakubu to take decisive actions, including identifying, arresting, naming, and shaming suspected perpetrators and their sponsors. SERAP emphasized the importance of ensuring effective prosecution, regardless of political status or affiliations. The organization also requested INEC to disclose spending details on the…
The Osun State Government has refuted reports suggesting that Governor Ademola Adeleke appointed an acting Chief Judge after dismissing Chief Judge Oyebola Adepele Ojo. In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Oluomo, the government clarified that Governor Adeleke formally communicated the House of Assembly’s resolution and recommendation for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). Governor Adeleke’s notification to the CJN outlined the House of Assembly’s resolution, prompted by numerous petitions against Chief Judge Ojo. The statement emphasized that the governor recommended the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi in an acting…
In a closed-door meeting with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Lokoja, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State expressed vehement anger towards cabinet members he accuses of betraying him in the recent gubernatorial election. Governor Bello accused some of his allies of betrayal, citing their opposition to his chosen successor, Usman Ododo, who emerged victorious in the election, defeating contenders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). During the meeting, Bello used strong language to describe those he perceived as disloyal, stating, “Shame on you all. I was fighting known enemies while enemies within were pulling…
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has announced a groundbreaking commitment, revealing that his administration plans to allocate 30% of the 2024 state budget to the education sector. Governor Mbah emphasized that education serves as the paramount tool against poverty and underscored his determination to provide world-class education to every child in the state, regardless of their socio-economic background. Addressing the audience at the 19th convocation of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in Agbani on Saturday, Governor Mbah, who is also the Visitor to the University, outlined the significant changes expected in the realm of basic…