Lanka’s powerful Buddhist clergy has threatened to issue a decree against the government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and decided to stage a protest against it on Saturday for its failure to make way for an interim government to resolve the ongoing political and economic crisis Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets since April 9, as the government ran out of money for vital imports; prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed and there are acute shortages in fuel, medicines and electricity supply. In recent weeks, the Buddhist clergy, civil society and trade chambers have demanded the formation of an…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
One hundred and forty-three aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are jostling for seats in the Adamawa State House of Assembly. The House, which has 25 seats, is currently occupied by 13 members of the governing PDP and 12 members of the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). Towards the 2023 general elections, the PDP has just screened 143 aspirants seeking the party’s ticket for the House of Assembly election, according to the Committee that conducted the screening. Chairman of the House of Assembly/National Assembly Screening Committee for the state, Rt Hon Dave Iorhemba, who disclosed this to the…
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has debunked a report alleging that the Media Subcommittee of the Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, spent N800 million on its publicity activities. Shehu, who served as Secretary of the Committee, however, clarified that they only got N100 million which was used to augment an initial budget of N360million. In trying to set the records straight, Shehu said the report in the Daily Telegraph that the Media Subcommittee of the Convention Planning Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Abdullahi Sule, the Governor…
The ruling APC in Cross River State has advised aspirants for different political offices to decamp if they are not satisfied with consensus arrangements in the party. Chairman of the party, Alphonsus Eba spoke over a radio programme. Many aspirants in the state who were told to accept the consensus arrangements have expressed displeasure. Eba said it is not compulsory for disenchanted ones to remain stuck in APC when they can decamp or form their own parties. “If any one of you feels dissatisfied with the decision of the party to go for consensus candidates you can decamp to other…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said the only authority vested with the power to authenticate Party membership cards for eligibility to participate in Congresses, including the 3-man Ad-Hoc Delegate Congresses, are the National Chairman and the National Secretary through their signatures on the cards. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the party in a statement on Saturday, said the clarification becomes necessary, following reports of misinterpretation in some chapters, particularly in Lagos State, where some party stakeholders are reportedly demanding that membership cards be authenticated by Ward Chairmen before the holders are eligible to participate in the 3-man Ad-Hoc…
The United States is engaging with India over the issue of Ukraine and this will continue in the upcoming Quad summit in Japan next month, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters here. “We have had a number of engagements, as you know, with leaders in India about our approach to supporting the Ukrainians in this war, whether that is sanctions and the enormous sanctions package we’ve put in place or, of course, the assistance we’ve provided. We will convey the same sentiments in this meeting,” Psaki said. She was responding to a question on the Quad summit in…
The Bauch State Governor and 2023 presidential aspirant, Bala Mohammed, has described a former Edo Senator, Ehigie Uzamere, as a disgrace to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Mohammed, a Northern Consensus candidate of the Northern elders, urged the National Working Committee, NWC, to call Uzamere and the campaign organization he represents to order. He was reacting to a recent statement credited to the former Edo Senator which he described as uncouth, reprehensible, gutter sniping and irresponsible public statements. Mohammed spoke through the spokesperson of the Bala Mohammed Presidential Campaign, Prof Udenta O. Udenta. Addressing a Press Conference in Abuja on…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has promised to retire the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state at the 2023 elections. This promise was made through a statement on Friday, by Bemgba Iortyom, the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, in response to utterances made by Akume and APC stakeholders at a retreat for the party’s governorship aspirants that they will issue red cards to the PDP at the coming polls. Akume and others had issued a red card to Ortom and PDP,…
National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Adamu has said the party has no regret fixing the presidential nomination forms at N100 million, insisting that it was a deliberate ploy to discourage candidates who are not serious contenders from infiltrating the party to cause confusion. Adamu, who brought the gubernatorial flagbearer of the APC in the forthcoming Ekiti governorship election, Mr Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that it was also hiked to mobilise sufficient funds to run the elections. He came to the Presidential Villa Abuja, in the company of the Chairman of the…
Najat Rochdi, the UN for Lebanon resident also praised the UN’s emergency programs for their role in facing the main challenges in the country Najat Rochdi, the UN resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, has urged Lebanese authorities to adopt emergency development measures amid the current humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, a statement by Lebanon’s Council of Ministers reported. “The country needs emergency development that would put an end to the prolonged economic stagnation, and constitute a trigger for the growth of the country and its prosperity,” Rochdi said on Thursday. His remarks came during a ceremony held by Prime Minister…
The Adamawa State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has constituted new state executives. The party has also picked executives for the 21 local government areas and the 226 wards through affirmation at the party congresses held in the state capital, Yola. After the Congress, the Chairman of the Electoral Panel, Abubakar Dogara, announced Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf as the newly elected state Chairman while Mr Danjuma Chikalu emerged as the vice Chairman and Mr Nafama Thimnu the secretary, among other officials. The SDP was a strong party just before and after the 2019 election in Adamawa but its life…
There are indications that the ruling All Progressive Congress is still undecided on where it would zone its presidential ticket in the forthcoming general elections. This comes despite the commencement of the sale of nomination forms by the party and aspirants purchasing them. National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, confirmed it when he said no decision has been reached in the zone to produce its presidential candidate for the 2023 election yet. This also comes as the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has initiated fresh moves to pressure the major political parties…
Ahead of the May 28 primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, said the party must zone the 2023 presidential ticket in its interest. The former Ekiti State Governor stated this after appearing before the ex-Senate President David Mark-led screening committee on Friday in Abuja. He noted that “you can tar all the roads here, you can do every good work on infrastructure but when the people are not happy when people are not looked after, then you have done nothing. On zoning, Fayose said, “I am for zoning and I believe the best…
Ahead of the 2023 All Progressives Congress, APC’s primary elections, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination form. The form, which was billed to be sold out for N100 million, was purchased by the governor on Thursday in Abuja. The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello was among the first presidential aspirants to have purchased the APC form since the party commenced selling to interested members. Francis Nwaze, spokesman of Governor Umahi, who disclosed the development in a post on his official Facebook page, claimed that his boss is more capable than other presidential…
US President Joe Biden is asking Congress on Thursday for new powers to seize and repurpose the assets of Russian oligarchs as part of a new funding request to aid Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s invasion. In remarks at the White House on Thursday morning, Biden will ask for billions of dollars in additional US spending earmarked for supplying Ukraine’s military, bolstering its economy and supporting the millions of refugees who fled Russia’s invasion two months ago. He will also seek new authorities from Congress to strengthen US sanctions against the Russian government and those who profit from it,…
Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention slated for 28 and 29 May 2022, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said he deserved the right of first refusal for the party’s ticket. Atiku, who stated this during his visit to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Thursday in Abuja said he has 11 million votes in his kitty to help the party return to power in 2023. The PDP 2019 Presidential candidate, commended the party leadership for allowing others to contest. Atiku promised that if elected, he will reunite the country, deal decisively with security issues and revamp…
A candidate of the African Democratic Congress party (ADC) for the June 18 governorship poll in Ekiti State, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has indicated support for local government autonomy. Oluyede said it would take concerted and ingenious efforts for Ekiti to stand afloat economically, with over N88 billion in debt, N37.8 billion indebtedness on retirees’ gratuity and arrears of workers’ salaries. The medical doctor spoke in Ikere- Ekiti, on Thursday, during an interactive session with journalists. Lamenting the opposition given to local government autonomy, Oluyede said: “Why are local governments not autonomous? If the government is local, then development will be…
In the build-up to the 2023 general elections, Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has said his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, deserves a second term in office, having performed beyond expectations. The endorsement came when the outgoing governor of Ekiti state paid a visit to Abiodun in Abeokuta. Recall that Gov. Dapo Abiodun succeeded Ibikunle Amosun, now a Senator representing the Ogun Central District of Ogun State. He is serving a second term in the Senate. According to Fayemi, “As Chairman of the Governor’s Forum, I was elected to protect…
A Bayelsa State governorship hopeful on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ebegha Tarelayefa, has expressed sadness over the killing of an APC chieftain, Sunday Frank-Oputu, saying the state was tired of unresolved murders. Recall, that the media had earlier reported that gunmen yesterday assassinated a factional Chairman of APC in the state, Sunday Frank Oputu, while in his home in Yenagoa. Tarelayefa, said the recent brutal killing of Frank-Oputu in his sleep at his residence in Yenagoa, the state capital, must be subjected to thorough investigations. He asked the state government and security agencies especially the police…
Uncertainty over the safety of war-wracked Ukraine’s nuclear power plants has reignited concerns over a Russian-owned nuclear power station now being built in a quake-prone area on Turkey’s southern coast, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot activists said Wednesday. About 200 activists representing two dozen organizations from both sides of ethnically divided Cyprus converged inside the United Nations controlled buffer zone that cuts across the capital Nicosia. They sought to voice their unease over ongoing construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is only 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the island nation’s northern coast. Organizers said the annual event to…