The House of Representatives has passed, for second reading, a bill to bar people without university degrees from contesting the presidential position. To contest for federal and state legislature and governorship seats, a candidate will need a minimum of a university degree. The bill, sponsored by Oriyomi Onanuga, seeks to amend sections 66, 106, 131 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The proposed bill, if passed, means that lawmakers, governors and presidents must have a minimum qualification of a Bachelor degree, a Higher National Diploma, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) and other degree equivalent certificates. Several politicians in Nigeria…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
A group of 33 Republican senators warned U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday that they would work to thwart implementation of any new Iran nuclear agreement if his government did not allow Congress to review and vote on its terms. Led by Senator Ted Cruz, a long-time opponent of the 2015 nuclear deal, the senators told Biden in a letter dated Monday that they would use “the full range of options and leverage available” to ensure that his government adhered to U.S. laws governing any new accord with Iran. Indirect talks in Vienna between Iran and the United States on…
The Zamfara State Government has commended the judgment delivered by Justice Bappa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Gusau, the state capital, that Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle has the right to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the constitution of both political parties states, as well as the nation’s 1999 Constitution, did not prohibit him. According to the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, the PDP is saddened by the governor’s defection along with his teaming supporters including members of state and national assemblies from the…
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Minority Caucus on Tuesday appointed Senator Shaibu Lau representing Taraba North as the Senate Deputy Minority Leader. The post became vacant following the defection of its former occupant, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha (Taraba South) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week. Recall that Senator Bwacha had defected last week and was officially received into the party by President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan during Tuesday plenary read a letter from the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, announcing the choice of Senator Lau as the new Deputy…
The Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has raised the alarm over impersonation, warning Senator Rochas Okorocha and his group to stop making a mockery of themselves and desist from all acts tantamount to impersonation as members of the party. In a release signed by its state Publicity Secretary, Cajetan Duke, the party under the chairmanship of Hon. MacDonald Ebere will deal decisively with any wanton act of provocation by this shameless group that does not deserve an atom of honour, through appropriate legal means. The release said, “It is highly embarrassing, that Dan Nwafor, who beyond…
The Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State not to turn the State to a battlefield ahead of the 2023 elections. Publicity Secretary of the party, Engineer Akeem Olatunji made this disclosure via a statement made available to the media in Ibadan, on Tuesday. The APC has been battling with a series of internal crises over which group controls the party. The crisis started when the party conducted its State congress on Saturday, 30th October, 2021. The congress produced Mr. Ajiboye Omodewu as chairman of the…
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has brought in new senior staffers as he tries to restore his flagging authority including a communications chief who has called lockdown-breaching government parties unforgivable. The prime minister hired Guto Harri, an aide from his days as London mayor who has recently been critical of Johnson, to try to regain control of the government’s messaging after weeks of turmoil that have led some in the ruling Conservatives to call for his removal. He also appointed a senior Cabinet minister, Steve Barclay, as his new chief of staff. Visiting a hospital cancer center Monday outside London,…
A coalition of Akwa Ibom youth groups have called on Governor, Udom Emmanuel to give chance to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to fulfil its mandate of fielding a flag bearer rather than usurping the duty singlehandedly. This is one of the criticisms the governor has faced in recent times at the heels of pronouncing the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources as his successor. The youths in a joint press conference on Monday by the Speaker of the South-South Youth Assembly (SSYA), Victor Thompson and the leader, Youth Democratic Movement (YDM), wondered why the governor would hide under the…
The factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC in Imo State, Daniel Nwafor on Monday said he still remained the authentic, duly elected, legally recognized and competent Chairman of the party in the state. In a press statement on Monday, Nwafor insisted that his faction was not perturbed by the alleged triviality, jamboree and fanfare of February 3rd by the interim national leadership of the party. Recall that the interim national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday presented certificates of return to the chairmen-elect of the party in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the confirmation of a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Rhoda Gumus, as a National Commissioner (South-South) in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). While rejecting her appointment, the PDP alleged that INEC deliberately intends to compromise the electoral commission ahead of the 2023 polls. A statement by Debo Ologunagba, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, on Monday, warned that Prof. Gumus’ confirmation by the APC-led Senate leadership was a “coup” against democracy and an open invitation to political crises. The PDP accused the APC-led Senate leadership of…
The hope of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of defeating Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in the 2023 gubernatorial election may have suffered a hit as major stakeholders within the party have kicked against the emergence of Mr Isaac Omodewu as chairman of the party. InfoStride News recalls that the APC had in the last few months boasted that it was ready to defeat Makinde in the 2023 elections. Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in 2019 defeated the APC candidate, Adebayo Adelabu. Our correspondent however gathered that major stakeholders of the APC have insisted that they…
Five Pakistani soldiers were killed when terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border opened fire on the troops, a military statement said. The incident took place at the border area in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in the statement on Sunday. The Pakistani troops retaliated the attack “in a befitting manner”, and as per intelligence reports, the terrorists have suffered heavy losses, Xinhua news agency quoted the ISPR statement as saying. “Pakistan strongly condemns the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for activities against Pakistan,” it added.
The Zamfara State All Progressives Congress (APC) faction loyal to former Governor Abdulaziz Yari has condemned the action taken by the national Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee over the issuance of a certificate of return to the chairman of Governor Bello Matawalle’s faction, describing it as illegal. Addressing newsmen in Gusau, the state capital, the chairman of Yari’s faction, Alhaji Lawal Liman Kaura, said that the action was a contempt of court, saying that despite the court had ordered them to maintain the status quo. The chairman explained that the national organ of the party expected to respect the court…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State, Chidi Wihioka, has accused the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, of attempting to change the history of Ikwerre people because of his presidential ambition. Wihioka, who is a loyalist of Magnus Abe, alleged that Amaechi has been telling Nigerians that Ikwerre people are Igbos because he wants to become president. The former member of the House of Representatives was speaking at an event held in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state on Sunday. He insisted that Ikwerre people are not Igbo, saying they have their own history and culture.…
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said he is against the idea of zoning of political offices ahead of the 2023 general elections. Lamido, speaking on BBC Hausa on Saturday, stated that the zoning of political offices has been counter-productive. According to him, the idea of zoning should be discarded for the welfare and unity of Nigerians to take the centre stage. “When it comes to zoning, I would say I don’t agree. The world should look at it as it is, everywhere it goes; everywhere we talk about human development, “Lamido said. Lamido asked Nigerians to consider…
Prof. Pat Utomi, a political economist, has spoken on plans to join the presidential race in the 2023 election. Utomi, a former presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that he does not need a title to make contributions in Nigeria. When asked if he would contest for the office of the president, Utomi said: “It is not a criminal offence. We will cross that bridge when we get there. “Our commitment is to a better society. I don’t need a title to make a contribution to the…
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told the Chinese leadership that he expects Beijing to allow the world body’s human rights chief to make a credible visit to China, including Xinjiang where the country is facing serious rights violations against Uygur Muslims. Guterres, who was in Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics, met Chinese President Xi Jinping and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the margins of the games. China had said last month that UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet is welcome to visit Xinjiang, where Beijing faces serious human rights allegations against…
The Special Adviser on media and public enlightenment to Governor Bello Mohammed of Zamfara State, Hon. Zailani Bappa has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over allegations against Governor Matawalle. According to a press statement signed by the Governor’s media aide, Governor Matawalle is not responsible for the impeachment of the Deputy Governor, Barrister Mahdi Aliyu Gusau. He said the accusation of trying to cause the breach of the peace in the State was an empty propaganda that can be thrown into a waste paper basket. He said that a press release signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State chapter has asked the State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola to disclose the State’s debt profile. The request was made by the Osun PDP Chairman, Sunday Bisi while featuring on a radio political programme on Saturday in Osogbo. Bisi while challenging Governor Oyetola to make public to the citizens of Osun the State’s debt burden, said that the State Governor could not exonerate himself from his predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola whom he served as Chief of Staff. The Osun PDP boss stated that the role of the State Governor then as Chief Of Staff for 8…
There seems to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State. InfoStride News reports that the APC had on Thursday inaugurated chairmen of the State chapters of the party in Abuja. The following day, one of the claimants to the position in Enugu State, Ugochukwu Agballah, paraded major streets in Enugu, the Coal City Capital, claiming to have been inaugurated alongside other chairmen. However, a video clip obtained by the media showed that Agballla was not inaugurated but was ordered back when he stepped out to collect his certificate of return.…