Mr Yekini Naben, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has announced that the next presidential candidate of the party will be based on agreement by stakeholders”. Mr Nabena, speaking with the Sun, also suggested measures the Southeast geopolitical zone can adopt to actualise Igbo presidency in 2023. “We know that there are six geographical zones in the country. But what is going to be the major determinant is the agreement by stakeholders. The unity of the country is more important than any zoning arrangement,” he said. Mr Nabena further said: “Every zone will be involved…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Lauretta Onochie as an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner. Recall that Onochie is Buhari’s Special Assistant on social media. APC stated that her appointment has been subject to rash, subjective, misplaced and selective criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and interest groups. On Friday, Yekini Nabena, in a statement ultered that the PDP “needs to be reminded that one of its card-carrying members, Dr. Johnson Alalibo is the current Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).” He stated that Alalibo who was also a former Deputy…
The President of the federation, President Muhammadu Buhari has consoled and mourned with the Oyo state governor, Governor Seyi Makinde and his entire family over the passing of their mother, Mrs Abigail Makinde. The president’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Thursday. Buhari also commiserated with friends, family and associates of the matriarch, “whose testimony of love and kind heartedness continues to be shared, particularly her warmth to the poor and less privileged.’’ He encouraged the friends and family members to find solace in…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State on Thursday met with different leaders of political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to ensure successful Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe Constituency II by-elections on October 31, 2020. The event, which was an expanded stakeholders’ meeting for both election, witnessed the signing of peace accord by candidates. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Sam Olumekun, stated that the commission was ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections without compromising standards. Olumekun applauded stakeholders and media’s contributions to the success of the 2019 General Elections, saying without their support the success of…
The leadership house of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership and their Senators caucus have thrown their weight behind the END SARS protest, stating that government should adequately compensate victims of Police brutality as a way out. PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said this after over one-hour closed-door meeting with the PDP Senators caucus on Thursday in Abuja. Chief Secondus stated that the leadership of the opposition party was at the National Assembly for a meeting with the upper legislative arm lawmakers as a result of critical issues that needed to be distilled. According to him, there were issues…
Governors from the Northern part of Nigeria have rejected the IGP’s disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). According to them, the police unit has been useful in the fight against insecurity in the region. The Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) stated this to reporters on Thursday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. The Governor said though the government has approved the scrapping of the unit, States in the North are of the opinion that the baby should not be thrown away with the bath…
The vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presided over a virtual meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting was the fifth virtual meeting as the nation complies with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocols on COVID-19. The governors joined the virtual NEC meeting from their respective states. At the last virtual meeting on September 17, 2020, the council announced that 15 states had qualified to benefit from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) for funding education as part of measures to cushion the impact of COVID-19 on the…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced when the 2023 presidential election will hold. INEC has set the date for presidential election to be February 18, 2023. INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure on Thursday. He spoke at the inauguration of the Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. Yakubu told House of Representatives members that they are about 855 days left for the next general elections.
The Governor of Sokoto State, H.E Aminu Tambuwal, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari named Onochie and a few others in the nomination he sent to the Senate during the week for confirmation. The development has generated a lot of controversies, with many Nigerians kicking against the appointment. Governor Tambuwal said Buhari should withdraw Onochie, who also serves as one of his aides. Tambuwal made the demand while speaking at the swearing-in of members of the State Independent Electoral Commission…
A Lagos state Federal High Court on Wednesday adjourned until November 25, 2020 continuation of trial of a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, charged with N338.8 million money laundering. Mr. Ikuforiji is charged alongside his former Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi. on 54 counts bordering on the offences. They had pleaded not guilty before Justice Mohammed Liman and were allowed to continue on an earlier bail granted to them in 2012 when they were first arraigned. The case which was however, slated for continuation of trial by 1.p.m. on Wednesday, could not proceed, as a…
The government of Bauchi State has announced that it has lifted the four-month suspension placed on the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman. The royal father was suspended following a farmers/herders clash over grazing land at Zadawa village in Hardawa District of Misau Local Government Area of the state of 29th June, 2020. While 11 persons lost their lives during the clash, some others sustained varying degree of injuries, with several properties worth millions of Naira also lost in the clash. The clash resulted in the suspension of the council caretaker chairman, Mohammad Tanko, his deputy, among other council officials,…
The House of Representatives had again, opened debate on the 2021 Appropriation bill of N13.8 trillion with the view to passing it for second reading. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Thursday, October 8, 2020 laid the bill before the house for consideration. Leading the debate, the Majority Leader, Rep. Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), said that the Bill was for an Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, the total sum of N13.8 trillion. Doguwa stated that N484.4 trillion is earmarked for Statutory Transfers, N3.3 trillion for Debt…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State has announced that it has dumped senator Favour Semilore-Tomomewo. APC accused her of anti-party activities. The ruling platform stated that she worked against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu during the election. The lawmaker represents Ilaje Constituency 2 at the House of Assembly. Semilore-Tomomewo is the only woman in the state’s legislature. The expulsion letter was duly signed by Olamigoke Ajimuda and Taid Omosule, Ilaje Constituency 2 Ward Chairman and Secretary, on Wednesday. They alleged that senator Semilore-Tomomewo worked against the interest of the party in all political meetings. The…
An Abuja Federal High Court has overruled the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register the Youth Party of Nigeria, YPN. The court ruled that INEC’s decision was a breach of the political party’s right to fair hearing. In his judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo, stated that the electoral umpire breached YPN’s right by de-registering it despite a pending case the party filed against INEC’s earlier threat. Justice Ekwo’s ruling was on a suit filed by the Youth Party, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2020, which had INEC as the sole defendant. The judge ruled that inasmuch as INEC is empowered under…
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the sitting Governor of Ondo state has been issued his certificate of return alongside his deputy. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Tuesday gave the certificate of return to Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor-elect, Lucky Ayedatiwa. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, issued the certificate to Akeredolu and his deputy. Speaking during the presentation, Akeju encouraged Akeredolu to continue his good works of providing basic services, basic amenities and infrastructure in the state. Governor Akeredolu emerged winner of last Saturday’s governorship election after emerging with the highest number of votes.
A former Kaduna Central Senator, Senator Shehu Sank has reacted to President Buhari’s nomination of Lauretta Onochie, his personal assistant on Social Media as a Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Mrs. Onochie who hails from Delta State was named alongside three others and for confirmation by the senate in line with the laws that set up the electoral umpire. Part of the letter was read by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan on Tuesday at the plenary. However, Senator Shehu Sani stated the last senate led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki would have rejected her nomination. He…
His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded to the Senate for Screening and subsequent confirmation, his Special Assistant, Social Media, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday read the letter from President Buhari forwarding the name of Onochie from Delta along side three other National Commissioners. Others are Prof. Mohammed Sani from Katsina State; Prof. Kunle Ajayi from Ekiti State and Seidu Ahmed from Jigawa Buhari stated “Appointment for Commissioners for INEC. Pursuant to paragraph 14 of part 11 of the first schedule of…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday announced its support for the dissolution of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police. The party through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, stated that the overhaul was necessary to engender professionalism, adherence to rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of Nigerians. Mr Ologbondiyan beckoned on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, to go beyond the dissolution and reassignment of officers of the unit. He called on General Adamu to commence the profiling, arrest and prosecution of erring members of the disbanded outfit. Mr.…
The Abia State House of Assembly has asked the Governor of Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to suspend the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr Cosmas Ndukwe from office. The House also beckoned on the Governor to suspend the Chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre Traders Association, Aba, Mr Friday Dimiri and as well as the Chief Security Officer of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, from Office. The move followed a resolution of the House which came through the consideration of the interim report of the Adhoc Committee on the ‘Indiscriminate Erection of Stalls in Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba- A Genocide waiting…
Just In, the Governor of Lagos State; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed the state Police to release all those arrested during the #EndSARS protests. To that end, the Police had released the following individuals: Nkemakolam Okpara Felicia, female; Nduka Treasure Chiamaka, female; Adefila Olanrewaju, male; Adeola Adebayo, male; Ayodeji Ayeni, male; and Adebola Ojabodu. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso on Tuesday reiterated the need for the youth to reciprocate the Lagos State Government’s gesture by shunning further protests. He beckoned on them to allow the government to take steps…