China’s state planner warned on Wednesday against fabricating iron ore prices, saying for the second time this year that regulators would study effective measures to ensure market stability amid fast rising prices. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation recently talked to iron ore price information providers, warning the firms to ensure accuracy of their releases, the regulator said in a statement. “Related companies … should not fabricate or publish any false price information and should not drive up prices,” the statement said. The NDRC and market regulator said they would strengthen market…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
Ahead of the national convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), slated for February 26, party stakeholders from the south-south have demanded the position of National Secretary. The stakeholders are also of the view that former National Working Committee (NWC) members should not be re-elected as national officers of the party. Already, the South-East APC members are already campaigning for the position of the APC National Secretary, including Mr Jerry Ugokwe and Hon. Chidi Duru, both from Anambra State while the former National Organizing Secretary of APC, Senator Osita Izunaso, is said to have indicated an interest in the same…
Senator Ademola Adeleke, a top aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Osun 2022 gubernatorial election, has denied that he walked out of the party’s peace and reconciliation meeting on Monday. InfoStride News had reported that Ademola Adeleke stormed out of the peace and reconciliation meeting convened by a former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola because he was not comfortable with the direction of the meeting. But Adeleke in a statement by his campaign organisation, noted that he accepted the resolutions made at the meeting but only left the meeting to attend to an urgent family…
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has noted that currently, Nigerians are expressing resentment against what he termed autocrats, mediocre, ethnic champions, incompetent and visionless actors in the country. Babangida stated this during a visit by the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Iyorcha Ayu, along with the members of the National Working Committee at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State. The former military leader, who read from a prepared speech, explained the need by leaders of the party to cash in on the present moment to adequately manage the complexities of the competitive party…
French President Emmanuel Macron, the first leader of a major Western power to meet Vladimir Putin since Russia massed troops near Ukraine, said on Tuesday he believed steps can be taken to de-escalate the crisis and called on all sides to stay calm. Macron, who in contrast to the U.S. and British leaders, has played down the likelihood that Russia may soon invade its neighbour, shuttled from Moscow to Kyiv on Tuesday in a bid to mediate a settlement and avoid war. The French president had no breakthroughs to announce but Macron said he thought his talks had helped prevent…
Ahead of the 2023 general election, former Local Government Council Chairmen in Jigawa State have vowed to be united in producing the next governor of the State. Operating under the aegis of “Forum of ex-Council Chairmen”, with members from the twenty-two Local Government Areas in Jigawa State, they called on Alhaji Mustapha Sule Lamido to join the State governorship race. The group declared that Jigawa State needed someone who is focused, and one who can harness the agricultural potentials and convert the State into an agricultural economy. The forum, whose membership is drawn from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),…
An Osun State High Court, Ikire judicial division, on Tuesday, struck out a suit instituted by members of The Osun Progressives, a group within the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the validity of the party’s congresses. Recall that a similar suit filed in the Federal High Court, Osogbo, by the group which is loyal to Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of the State and current Minister of Interior, in respect of the Ward Congress/Executives, was struck out on February 2, 2022, for lack of jurisdiction. With the striking out of the two suits by both courts of competent jurisdiction,…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Daniel Bwala has disclosed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would not contest for the presidency in 2023. Bwala explained that it would be injurious for Osinbajo to run for the Presidency since Bola Tinubu, APC National Leader had signified interest. Reports had it on Monday that Osinbajo would declare his interest to run for the Presidency after the ruling party’s National Convention scheduled for February 26, 2021. But, Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, dismissed such claims, which he described as false and speculative Bwala stressed that contrary to such reports, the Vice President…
Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Tuesday, stated that any political party trying to pick its candidate from the northern part of the country will definitely fail at the polls. Akeredolu emphasised that his colleagues, under the aegis of Southern Governors Forum are determined to ensure that the next president comes from the south. The governor stated this while receiving members of the Power Rotation Movement, who were led by Dr. Pogu Bitrus, who also doubles as the Chairman, Middle Belt Forum, in his office, Alagbaka,…
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said sanctions and other measures will be ready in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine, and his government will ask parliament for sanctions on Russian individuals and companies. Writing in The Times on Tuesday, Johnson said Britain is considering deploying Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters and Royal Navy warships to protect southeastern Europe. Johnson also said Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will both travel to Moscow soon. His comments come as officials in the United States say an attack by Russia on Ukraine could occur within days or weeks.…
Over 12 thousand members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its immediate past chairman in Plateau State, Latep Dabang have dumped the broom to take shelter under the umbrella of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Also on the list are the former member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Nanpon Tom and former State Assistant Secretary of the APC, Binkur N. and their supporters. The defectors were received by the party during the Langtang Mega Rally 2022 tagged “The Great Movement.” Speaking to journalists shortly after receiving the PDP flag at the Langtang North…
Justice I.R Minakiri of a Rivers State High Court has withdrawn from a matter instituted by one Ogechi Ogwu-Edwin and three others against the All Progressives Congress and the former Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC, Isaac Ogbobula. Justice Minakiri also withdrew from a similar suit by one Alaibo Soibibo and three others against the APC and Isaac Ogbobula. This comes after he adjourned the suits whose plaintiffs are seeking an interlocutory injunction against the APC and the conduct of congresses. The judge had fixed the 15th and 23rd of February respectively for judgment on the suits after parties argued and…
Governor Gboyega Oyetola has said the window of reconciliation is still open to those who are members of caucus groups within the All Progressives Congress (APC). He said this during his tour to Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Government Areas. Oyetola urged the members of the APC to extend their hands of fellowship to aggrieved members who have shown genuine resolve to return to the party. He said “the window of reconciliation is still open to those who are members of the splinter group, to have a rethink and join the mainstream of the party structure. “This is where the party…
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…
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,…