Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was meeting in South Africa with counterparts from the BRICS economic bloc of developing nations for discussions Thursday that will start with an exchange of views on major geopolitical issues, including the war in Ukraine, South Africa’s ambassador to the bloc said. Most of the BRICS countries differ sharply from the position of the US and its Western allies on the war. Speaking ahead of the meeting, the South African ambassador, Anil Sooklal, referred to the West’s military aid to Ukraine as one of the things that fuels the conflict. Any endeavour that fuels the…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 presidential election, Mr Peter Gregory Obi and his party confirmed to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Thursday in Abuja that they would challenge the election results in 18 states only. They held that they would not dissipate energies in the states where they won convincingly and without any dispute. However, at the end of proceedings, Obi and his party tendered certified electoral documents obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in only six states. The documents, mainly, Forms EC8A, election results from polling units were…
The Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu has joined other well meaning Nigerians in congratulating the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, on their inauguration. He said that by signing three Executive Orders on the day of his inauguration, the Governor had demonstrated that he came prepared. The lawmaker, who represents Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency, stated these in his congratulatory letter to Mbah on his inauguration as the governor of Enugu State. “He said: “On behalf of my family and constituents, I congratulate you and your deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi…
The Lagos chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has refuted claims by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s achievements in his first term in office was characterised by an increase in poverty and unemployment. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Hakeem Amode, in a statement on Tuesday, said that the party was surprised by Sanwo-Olu’s claim during his second term swearing-in ceremony that he had met residents’ expectations. The party, describing Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda as a total failure, said the Governor could not justify the huge amount of money spent…
Members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, have elected Barr Sly Ezeokenwa as the national chairman of the party. They also elected other members of the National Working Committee, NWC. The party held its national convention in Awka, Anambra State capital, where it elected the 31 officers through a voice vote. The out-gone national chairman, Victor Oye while handing over, stated that his leadership had been able to bequeath the party a national secretariat in Abuja and a five-storey edifice as the South east regional secretariat of the party. He revealed that with that feat, APGA now ranks as…
A Federal High Court in Abuja told former Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the right to suspend or expel him if the action is done in accordance with the law. Justice James Omotosho stated this in a judgement he delivered on a suit filed by Wike prior to the 2023 general elections to seek a court order to stop the PDP from taking action against him without a fair hearing. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ex-governor had sued the PDP, its National Working Committee (NWC), and its National…
In a recent development, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to immediately vacate the office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) located in Ikoyi, Lagos. The President’s directive came after reports surfaced that DSS officials had stormed the EFCC office, preventing the anti-graft agency’s personnel from accessing their workplace. In his statement via his media aide, Tunde Rahman, President Tinubu emphasised the need for a peaceful resolution if any issues existed between these crucial government agencies. He expressed his expectation that the matter would be resolved amicably. The incident occurred on Tuesday,…
Two serving senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mathew Urhoghide (Edo) and Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo), have resigned their membership in the party. Their resignations are contained in separate letters, read at plenary on Wednesday by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who presided over the session. Urhoghide, in his letter, said: “I write to formally inform you and the entire senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that I am resigning my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), effective immediately. “This difficult decision arose out of the negative political energy emanating at the moment from the…
In a recent development, the United Kingdom Government has extended its congratulations to Senators Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima on their official inauguration as the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His Majesty King Charles III, in a message conveyed his warmest congratulations to President Tinubu. “Dear Mr. President, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to you on your inauguration as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to send you every possible good wish as you assume the many responsibilities of your office.” The monarch acknowledged the deep bond and shared…
The National Vice Chairman, North West, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Salihu Lukman, has described having Senator Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman of the party and Senator Iyiola Omisore as the National Secretary as a double tragedy that befell the ruling party. Lukman, in a statement issued Wednesday, said Adamu, with the support of Omisore, has ensured that other higher organs of the party have been grounded, except the National Working Committee (NWC). He stressed that in the case of the NWC, it was more a case of spoon-feeding members with convenient information, adding that where challenged,…
The commencement of pretrial session in the ongoing petition filed by All Progressives Congress, APC, challenging the victory of Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, was stalled on Tuesday. This is owing to the failure of the Petitioner’s counsel to effect a mandatory fee. The APC lead counsel, Nuraini Jimoh, SAN, told the Tribunal that failure of the network prevented them from generating REMITA and paying the Federal Government the sum of N700. He told the court that they faced a slight hitch to access the Network and generate REMITA to pay and upload…
In a move to solidify his administration, Tinubu has appointed Nosa Asemota as his official photographer and Adelani Opeyemi as the official photographer of Vice President Kashim Shettima. The news of these appointments was made public by Tolani Alli, the official photographer of the immediate past vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, through a tweet. Alli expressed her congratulations to Asemota and Opeyemi, emphasising her well wishes and prayers for their success in their new roles. She also extended her hopes for God’s guidance, protection, and favor to both photographers. The inauguration ceremony for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima took place…
In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past Governor of Kano, clarified that he is not actively pursuing any appointment from President Bola Tinubu. However, he acknowledged that he would accept an appointment if it were offered to him. During the interview, Ganduje extended his well wishes to Tinubu and expressed his commitment to praying for his success. He emphasised that people voted for Tinubu based on their belief that he would replicate the successful initiatives he implemented during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State, as well as his reputation as a true democrat.…
In a significant development, the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja admitted a judgment from a United States District Court that reportedly indicted Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a prominent political figure, and ordered the forfeiture of $460,000 in drug-related offenses. The judgment, a certified true copy, was presented by witness Barrister Lawrence Uchechukwu Nnana Nwakaeti at the start of the hearing for a petition filed by Peter Gregory Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), challenging Tinubu’s election. Led by Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the witness submitted the US court judgment as part of the…
Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged President Bola Tinubu to abolish the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, citing its redundancy in light of the Niger Delta Development Commission’s existence. Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, Kalu extended his congratulations to President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima on their successful assumption of office. Kalu emphasised the need to streamline the government’s ministries and parastatals, identifying the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as one that has become obsolete. He suggested that the ministry should be scrapped, pointing out that the Niger Delta Development Commission serves a…
Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, shared his thoughts on the ongoing election tribunal. Ahmed, who had reportedly attended the tribunal proceedings alongside Peter Obi, the LP’s presidential candidate, reiterated the party’s determination to challenge the sitting President’s victory. He stated, “Before now, we were challenging candidates, but now we’re challenging sitting Presidents, so for us, it is sweeter.” What has been going on? The tribunal sessions, which began on May 8, 2023, have been addressing five petitions that contest the declaration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.…
President Bola Tinubu has said he will treat his opponents in the February 25 presidential election with respect. Tinubu defeated Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) to emerge as president-elect. He was officially sworn-in as Nigeria’s 16th president on Monday at the Eagle Square in Abuja. “My victory does not render me more Nigerian than the rest of you. It also does not render my opponents less Nigerian than me. “I will treat my opponents, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, as important compatriots,” Tinubu said in his inaugural speech. Atiku…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has resumed official duties at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Shortly after a brief reception at noon on the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, he went into a closed-door meeting with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari. The meeting is currently held at the State House, with Vice President Kashim Shettima among the attendees. It is not clear what the agenda of the meeting is, though fuel queues have resurfaced since the President’s announcement of the suspension of subsidy on fuel products during his inauguration yesterday.
The Labour Party, LP, has described the inaugural speech of President Bola Tinubu as disappointing. Obiora Ifoh, the LP National Publicity Secretary, said Tinubu’s inaugural speech exposed the “shallowness and policy incongruity” he wants to give Nigerians. On Monday, Tinubu was sworn in as the 16th President of Nigeria. However, Ifoh said Tinubu’s declaration that he won the 2023 presidential election fairly was “a slap on the faces of millions of Nigerians.” A statement by Ifoh reads: “The Labour Party is disappointed with the inaugural speech made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today which clearly exposed the shallowness and policy…
There was mild drama in Kano State after the swearing-in of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Monday. Gov Yusuf refused to sit in the official chair used by his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje. In a viral video, the newly sworn-in governor was seen opting for an unofficial smaller seat as he prepared to give an address. After he was declared the winner of the last governorship election, Yusuf vowed to review some of Ganduje’s policies. The governor had vowed to probe the N241 billion debt inherited from Ganduje’s administration.