The Peoples Democratic Party, Sunday, announced the attempt by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to justify President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of his aide and frontline APC member, Ms Lauretta Onochie, as national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirms that the ruling party is to blame for the series of constitutional violations, assault to the human rights and impunity bedevilling the nation in the last five years. This is as the party noted that such provocative, arrogant and disdainful display of impunity by the APC and its administration, particularly “in the violation of rules and crass abuse of…
Author: Ifeanyi N.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to quickly address the concerns of Nigerian youths to prevent the situation from getting out of control. The party, in a statement by its National Chairman, Chief Ralphs Nwosu, said that the lingering #EndSARS protests had revealed the intensity of the anger in the land. According to the ADC chairman, the country’s political class had failed to harness the vast resources of the country for sustainable growth and development over the years. Chief Nwosu further stated that the time had come for Nigerians to snatch the destiny of this…
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi has won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats in Saturday’s council polls in the state. The chairman of Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), Alhaji Dahiru Tata, announced this on Sunday in Bauchi while issuing Certificates of Return to the newly elected chairmen. “The election has been largely successful and peaceful and PDP won all the 20 local government chairmanship and the 323 councillorship posts in the state. ” The results are as officially declared by Returning Officers at the various levels as I am only here to issue certificates to the…
The Federal Government has issued a serious warnning that it will not allow the country to be thrown into anarchy following the violence that has trailed the #EndSARS protests. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this on Saturday when he featured on a late night Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news programme, “Weekend File” The programme entitled, “EndSARS Protest: The Way Forward,” was monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. The minister stated that Saturday’s assassination attempt on the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, while addressing the protesters was a clear confirmation that the protests…
Mrs Favour Semilore-Tomomewo, the lawmaker representing Ilaje Constituency II in the Ondo State House of Assembly, has denied her purported expulsion from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday, and made available to newsmen in Okitipupa. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Senator Semilore-Tomomewo, the only female lawmaker in the Assembly, had reportedly been expelled from the APC through a letter dated October 13, 2020. The letter was jointly signed by Olamigoke Ajimuda and Taid Omosule, Chairman and Secretary respectively for APC, Ilaje Constituency II. NAN also reports…
As #ENDSARS protests intensify across the country, the Senate has beckoned on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the demands of the protesting youths. This was made public on Friday night by the spokesperson of the Senate, Dr Basiru Ajibola. On Tuesday, October 13, 2020, the Presidential Panel on the reform of the recently-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) approved the five-point demands put forward by the youths, who have been protesting against police brutality for more than a week. The youths had demanded the immediate release of all arrested protesters; justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation…
The Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano on Saturday stormed the three offices of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The offices are in Ekwulobia, Neni and Awkuzu. However, TheInfoStride gathered that the governor during the visit granted bail unconditionally to three detainees illegally held by the defunct unit. Speaking during the exercise, Governor Obiano stated, “the Commissioner of Police in the state has released everyone detained illegally, and everyone remanded by the order of the court, will remain there until their cases are determined.” Governor Obiano had on Thursday dumped his senior security aide, James Nwafor, who was formerly…
The leadership of Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, has declared that it will soon come up with its definite position on the nomination of Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, as National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The acting President of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC, Chief Ralphs Okey Nwosu, who made remarks in a statement issued in Abuja, explained that the General Assembly of IPAC was yet to debate on the issue. Chief Nwosu stated that the Council was yet to table the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari before the General Assembly of IPAC for proper…
As the longed anticipated local government elections hold today in Bauchi State after over a decade, voters in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state have weeped over delayed arrival of election materials in the area. Journalists on duty in the area discovered that voting is yet to kick off in many polling units visited, with voters waiting anxiously for electoral officials to kick-start voting processes. A visit to the local government election materials distribution centre revealed that electoral officers were still collecting materials, including ballot papers and boxes as of 10am. A presiding officer at a polling unit at…
Fourteen days to the Imo North Senatorial district bye-election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has confirmed that it has received the list of 14 candidates fielded by 14 out of 18 political parties who met all the requirements for the poll scheduled to take place on October 31, 2020. Also, the Commission has begun the recruitment process of over 3,000 ad hoc workers who will join over 400 members of its staff in the state, to conduct the poll, which will hold in six local councils of the district, comprising Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, Obowo and Ihitteuboma,…
Just Ten (10) days after the Nigerian youth invaded the streets with #ENDSARS protests, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has apologised to the protesting youths. Recall that the demonstration started last week after operatives of the recently-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) killed a young Nigerian in Delta state and also made away with his vehicle. Before its dissolution on Sunday, October 11, 2020, SARS officers were infamous for extra-judicial killings and human rights violation. Despite the dissolution of the police unit, the #ENDSARS protest has intensified across the country as it spreads to major cities and gathers momentum and support…
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…
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…