The Senate has adjourned plenary until May 18, 2021, to enable members to observe the Sallah celebrations. The Senate President, Mr Ahmad Lawan, announced this after a closed-door session with Service Chiefs, which lasted for about 4 hours on Thursday. Lawan, however, disclosed that before that date, “we expect that our committees will still be working, particularly the Joint Committee working on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). “We expect that the joint committee will be presenting its report to the Senate as soon as we resume. “It’s still our desire and determination to pass the PIB before the end of…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, warned political parties, including the APC and PDP, to stay away from engaging in premature campaigns ahead of the 2022 governorship election or risk being sanctioned. Dr Adeniran Tella, Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, gave the warning in Ado-Ekiti at a stakeholders’ meeting with political leaders, religious groups, youths and women. The meeting was convened to address issues bothering on expanding voters’ access to polling units, as it affected the state. “The commission is challenging you to play this game by the rules,” Tella said. “The Electoral Act, 2010, Section 9991,…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to pay attention to the situation in Imo State. The National Chairman, Uche Secondus, told reporters on Wednesday in Abuja that federal authorities should intervene to forestall further incidents. Secondus accused the Imo State Government of plotting to rope perceived opponents in its probe of the attacks. The opposition leader stressed that Imo and other parts of the country needed adequate security. He advised the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to do a thorough investigation and not politicise what is going on in the South-East State. Secondus…
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma says the masterminds of attacks in Imo and other parts of Nigerians will be exposed soon. The governor disclosed that security agencies are compiling a comprehensive report on recent incidents. Uzodimma was a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. The Imo helmsman said he would allow the security agencies to do their job as the matter is still under investigation. “Sooner than later, you will see a report that will expose identities of those behind what has happened in Imo and what is possibly happening in other states,” he said. Imo has come…
Two groups within the fold of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have collapsed their structures with the sole aim of unseating the incumbent Governor of the State, Seyi Makinde in 2023. InfoStride News reports that Makinde, who was sworn-in as the Governor of the State on May 29th 2019, won the gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Makinde defeated the candidate of APC, Adebayo Adelabu through a coalition which had African Democratic Congress (ADC) Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). Our correspondent recalls that a former Governor of the…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has released guidelines for aspirants contesting on its platform for the July 24 Local Government election in the state. The PDP Chairman in Lagos, Adedeji Doherty who made this known in a statement released on Thursday said sales of nomination forms for the Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions will begin on May 7 and end on May 14, while May 18 is the last day for the submission of the forms. According to him, the party’s screening exercise for the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants would hold on May 20, while ward…
A leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olumide Aderinokun, has asked Governor Dapo Abiodun not to turn the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) into a revenue generation agency. InfoStride News reports that the Ogun electoral commission, saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections into the local governments of the state, has demanded N200,000 from chairmanship candidates. OGSIEC, through its Chairman, said Tuesday that those eyeing the councillorship posts must pay a non-refundable deposit of N100,000 each, saying it was in accordance with the law of the commission. But, the Akinruyiwa of Owu Kingdom, Aderinokun told Governor Dapo…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicated this on Wednesday, explaining that to arrive at the new number of PUs, a total of 1,495 voting points (VPs) used for the 2019 general election will be converted to polling units in addition to the existing 2,609 PUs used for the 2019 election. The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Kassim Gaidam, in an address said converted voting points would be moved from the vicinities of PUs where they currently exist to places with no PUs He explained that conversion of VPs and their relocation to new settlements is to enhance…
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus of the National Assembly on Wednesday reacted to the Peoples Democratic Party’s allegation that ‘insecurity under the APC-led government was worsening by the day. The APC caucus had planned to hold a joint meeting of Senators and Rep members on its platform, however only a few members turned up with many absent for unknown reasons, But speaking at a press conference after the meeting attended by a few, the APC senators maintained that their PDP counterparts were overheating the polity. The caucus decision which was read by the Senate leader, Yahaya Abubakar Abdullahi,…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has created additional 1,235 polling units in Imo State. The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu made this known while briefing newsmen on Wednesday, NAN reports. Ezeonu said over the years, there had been attempts by the commission to create additional polling units to cater to the interest of new settlements and areas with unmanageable voter population. He explained that in 2011, the commission opted to create voting points and voting settlements to address the issue of overcrowding during elections and new settlements not served by existing polling units. Ezeonu said…
The African Democratic Party (ADC) has expressed opposition to the plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create additional polling units ahead of 2023. The National Chairman of the party, Okey Nwosu, addressed the media in Onitsha on Wednesday. He said that establishing more units in addition to the existing 120,000 was bad timing, considering the current economic challenges. The chairman said America, with more population and landmass, has only about 240,000 polling places. “How do we justify this with INEC’s call for additional polling units? Is it because INEC is spending from government coffers?” he quipped. The…
The crisis rocking the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), took a new twist on Wednesday following the opening of a new parallel party Secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital. The Ebierien Fala Itubor led faction of the party who is in charge of the new secretariat and is suspected to be loyal to former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, also accused the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, of failing in his leadership role. The newly opened parallel secretariat is miles away from the popular APC secretariat…
Olusegun Bamgbose, the National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has pleaded with former Army Generals, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Azuibike Ihejirika to, without further delay, rescue the country from imminent collapse. He noted that the insecurity in the country has become so worrisome and pathetic, calling on every Nigerian to be concerned about how to address the issue before it gets out of hand. The recent attacks on our security agents are like ill wind which will blow no one any good. There is a need to prioritize the issue of insecurity. “Our nation is gasping for…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advocated the establishment of a National Border Protection Force to secure Nigeria’s borders. At a world conference in Abuja on Monday, the National Chairman, Uche Secondus, said the current situation in Nigeria “is not normal”. He said the Force will include an integrated border protection system and draw personnel and equipment from existing security services. Secondus noted that the initiative would ensure terrorists and bandits who come into the country are detected early. The opposition leader added that the Force should have air, sea, and land capability. Secondus condemned the spate of murder, kidnapping,…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released guidelines for aspirants contesting on its platform for the Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the July 24 Local Government election in Lagos State. The party’s Caretaker Committee Chairman and the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Tunde Balogun and Mr Lanre Ogunyemi respectively, made this known in the guidelines jointly signed on Monday. The officials said it was the duty of the party to provide guidelines for its members seeking to contest an election. They noted that the guidelines would without prejudice conform with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the 2010 Electoral Act…
A Peoples Democratic Party Chieftain in Anambra State, Mr Valentine Ozigbo has called on the government to consider investing in the Nigerian media industry, describing it as a defender of the country’s democracy. Ozigbo said there was a need for the government to forge a partnership with the media instead of stifling her. In a press release made available to in Awka to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day, Ozigbo congratulated Nigerian journalists for their doggedness, describing them as the defender of the country’s democracy. “Today, I celebrate the Nigerian press for their resilience and commitment to the profession and…
The wife of a People’s Democratic Party Chieftain in Ekiti State, Mrs Abimbola Omotoso, has accused the State government of plotting to frame her husband with ‘phantom’ rape charges. Mrs Omotoso, spouse of the former Lawmaker representing Oye Constituency 11 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Omotoso alleged that the government was using a domestic staff that had lived with the family for over five years to achieve the sinister motive. But responding, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Wale Fapohunda, said the matter was being handled by the police and that it would be hasty…
The security meetingheld on Friday and presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari with all the security heads in attendance will reconvene on Tuesday this week, a presidency source privy to the meeting has said. President Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Service Chiefs and other security heads met on Friday at the First Lady’s Conference room, Presidential Villa, Abuja. But the source said, “We have not finished, we will reconvene on Tuesday.” The meet came on the heels of escalating security crisis in different parts of the country and many stakeholders for urgent action from the President. Niger Governor, Abubakar Bello,…
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday raised alarm over frequent attacks on its offices nationwide, saying this could derail the 2023 general elections. The alarm followed yesterday’s attack on its office in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. This came as insecurity woes in the country were weekend compounded by the killing of a senior military officer by Boko Haram which attacked a military base in Ajiri village in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State. This is even as gunmen killed Kogi State Commissioner for Pensions Board, Mr. Solomon Adegbayo, popularly known Akeweje, in the…
National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralphs Nwosu, has attributed the major problems facing Nigeria’s democracy to the alleged ineffectiveness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Nwosu, who spoke yesterday after Patrick Obianyo and Anthony Aniebue emerged as chairman and secretary of the Anambra chapter of the party in Awka, claimed that if the electoral umpire had been “more sincere before now with the conduct of credible elections in Nigeria, democracy would have gone beyond the present situation.” According to him, without credible election, democracy is in danger. He said: “If we had got our elections…