Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso

The Ekiti government has terminated the appointment of Mr Isaac Ayodele as the Chairman of the state Sports Council with immediate effect. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. (Punch) This was contained in a letter exclusively obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti. The letter, dated November 19, was signed by the Secretary to Ekiti Government (SSG), Mr Biodun Oyebanji, but was dispatched to Ayodele on November 20. “I wish to inform you of the directive of Gov. Kayode Fayemi that you should be relieved of your post as Chairman, Sports Council with immediate effect.…

Governor David Umahi has dissolved all Boards and Commissions untenured by law in Ebonyi. (BBC) Umahi gave the directive for the dissolution in a statement by Mr Kenneth Ugbala, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Coordinating Commissioner. The statement said the dissolution of the boards and commissions by the governor was in a bid to reposition the government. Semi Ajayi impresses against Manchester United and continues to make a case for himself He said that the exercise was carried out to promote inclusiveness and enhance service delivery in the state . “In effort of the state government to…

A U.S. federal court, on Saturday evening dismissed President Donald Trump’s suit that sought to cancel millions of mail-in votes in the Nov. 3 election in Pennsylvania. His legal team, led by former New York Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, had approached the Middle District Court of Pennsylvania, alleging that 1.5 million mail-in votes in the state were illegally counted. Giuliani had alleged that the president’s poll watchers were not allowed to observe the counting of mail-in ballots. This, he claimed created room for local governments controlled by the opposition Democratic Party to accept fraudulent and “technically deficient ballots”. Giuliani also said…

The Police Command in Nasarawa State has confirmed the abduction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairman, Philip Shekwo. The incident occurred on Saturday. Commissioner of Police, Bola Longe, spoke to newsmen on Sunday in Lafia, the state capital. He disclosed that the politician was seized from his residence in Bukan-Sidi, Lafia around 11 pm. Longe assured that operatives had been deployed to search various forests and flashpoints to ensure the rescue of the APC chieftain. The party remains divided in the state. Factions led by former Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former Senator, Kabir Marafa are battling for control.

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has assured Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi of a level-playing field if he aspires for the presidency in the 2023 general elections. The PGF, chaired by Kebbi State Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, welcomed Umahi, said to be angling for the presidency, to the APC fold, saying he would surely contribute to the party’s process of membership and leadership recruitment at all levels. The PGF, in a statement, noted: “Our message to all Nigerians is clear- politics is all about free, fair and transparent contestation. APC belongs to every member. Everyone from every part of the…

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has described the death of Mrs Amaka Victor Ndoma-Egba as shocking and devastating, while condoling with the former Senate Leader. Amaka died after an auto crash on Ore-Okitipupa expressway in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State on Thursday. This is contained in a statement by Mr Donald Ojogo, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, on Saturday in Akure. Akeredolu also condoled with all those who lost loved ones in the auto crash. “The governor, who prayed for the repose of the departed souls, said the death of Amaka was particularly…

The Ebonyi Governor, Chief David Umahi has sacked political appointees from Ohaukwu local government Area of the state. Umahi gave the order on Friday in a statement signed and issued to newsmen in Abakaliki by the Secretary to the State government, Mr Kenneth Ugbala, NAN reports. “In the avowed determination of Ebonyi State Government to allow greater participation of people in governance, Gov. David Umahi has approved the sack of political appointees from Ohaukwu Local Government Area with immediate effect. “The office holders include: all the Coordinators, all the Executive Assistants (EAs), all the Senior Technical Assistants (STAs). “Others include…

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said he won’t join political enemies of the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to shoot him down politically. He described him as one of the greatest builders of men in Yoruba land and Nigeria at large. Fayose clarified that though he was not holding brief for Tinubu, who is the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, people should learn how to appreciate those who had done well despite political differences. On his seeming frosty relationship with Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde and Senator representing Ekiti South, Biodun…

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has urged the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ajayi was Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate in the Ondo governorship election. A statement on Saturday by Fayose’s spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, said the duo met in Afao-Ekiti Friday night. The PDP chieftain told Ajayi to put the past behind and rejoin the party to make it stronger in Ondo. Fayose called Ajayi a force to be reckoned with in the politics of the state, adding that he will thrive better in a “mainstream and liberal”…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has struck out the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, from the Bayelsa West senatorial by-election, which was earlier scheduled for October 31, but has now been fixed for December 5 as a result of the #EndSARS protest and other disturbances. Head of Voters Education and Publicity of INEC in Bayelsa State, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said in a statement issued on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) that the Commission had taken a decision to strike out the APC and its candidate in compliance with the judgment of the…

Some governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and chieftains of the party have visited former President, Goodluck Jonathan, as pressure continues to mount on him to contest the 2023 election. They visited Jonathan at his Abuja residence to felicitate with him on his 63rd birthday anniversary. Those who visited the former president include: Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu and Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru. Also an ex-President of the Senate, who is a chieftain of the APC, Ken Nnamani, was on the visit. It is, however, not…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has resumed preparations ahead of the Plateau South Senatorial by-election slated for December 5. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Malam Halilu Pai, disclosed this to newsmen in Jos on Friday. NAN reports that the commission postponed bye-elections earlier scheduled for Oct. 31 due to security and environmental challenges in the country. However, Pai during a briefing with newsmen said the commission has started drafting a schedule of activities to be used for the bye-election. “We have resumed preparations for the rescheduled Plateau South Senatorial bye-election. “Based on the schedule, we began…

Former member representing Igalamela/Odolu State Constituency and Chairman of Public Accounts Committee in Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Sani Makama, on Friday, filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court, Abuja against the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, LPPC, for nominating Barrister Abdul Wahab Mohammed for the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Kogi State nominee for the 2020 SAN title is the immediate younger brother of Kogi State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mohammed Sani Ibrahim. The ex-lawmaker approached the court seeking to stop the committee from going ahead to confer the title of Senior Advocate of…

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday, said elections in Nigeria will never be credible until there are improvements in the country’s electoral laws. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, stated this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. Ologbondiyan also said that the party resolved to constitute a broad-based committee to work with the National Assembly and other stakeholders on the Electoral Act amendment to make Nigeria’s elections free, fair and credible. “For us in the PDP, we believe that until there are improvements in our electoral laws, our elections are not going to be credible…

A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Jude Idimogu, on Friday insisted that the political future of people of South-East Nigeria lies in the APC. Idimogu an APC, Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II chieftain and Deputy Apex Leader, Ndigbo in Lagos APC, stated this while reacting to Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi’s defection from the PDP to the APC. The two-term lawmaker explained that it was time politicians from the South East embraced the ruling party to actualise their hopes and aspirations for the region. “Our party is a great party; APC is the hope. I thank God that one…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has declared that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, government has failed. The Abia South Senator said this on Friday when he appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. Abaribe said the President Muhammadu Buhari government has failed the country, adding that “The PDP has its position and the position is very simple: this government has failed. “You don’t have any other way of trying to cover it. You can say all the rhetoric, you make all the propaganda. You can go ahead and try to pull the…

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, fixed December 14 for judgment in a suit challenging the validity of the primary election that produced Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the October 10 election. The Judge, Justice Okon Abang fixed the date following arguments from all parties in the suit with number: FHC/ABJ/CS/886/2020 filed on August 3 by Dr Nath Adojutelegan, an APC governorship aspirant in the state election. NAN reports that in the suit, Akeredolu, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are 1st to 3rd respondents respectively. Adojutelegan,…

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the pioneer Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, on his 60th birthday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ribadu will mark the occasion on Saturday. The president said this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Friday. Buhari joined the family and friends of Ribadu to celebrate the milestone “marked with years of diligence and service to the nation’’. He felicitated with the former EFCC Chairman, who also served as Chairman of Petroleum Revenue Task Force. The president…

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan says the National Assembly will pass the 2021 budget of N13. 08 trillion by the second week of December. Lawan made this known while declaring open a retreat for members of National Assembly Management and National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) in Abuja on Friday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Senate had in October, adjourned plenary for budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). “We are working to pass the 2021 budget by the second week of December and we are working very assiduously, we will ensure there is…

A former commissioner of Information and State Orientation in Ebonyi State, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, said that Governor David Umahi’s statement that “I offered this movement (from PDP to APC) as a protest against the injustice being done to the southeast by PDP,” is without foundation. Onwe, who represented Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in the 7th National Assembly remarked that although there are a number of perfect justifications that the governor could have advanced for his decampment from the PDP to the APC in pursuit of the presidency of Nigeria, “grounding his reason on the purported ‘injustice’ meted out to the Southeast…