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…
Author: Ifeanyi Nwagboso
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…
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.