ABUJA DAILY MAIL

 A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and presently the Director of Special Media Projects and Operations and New Media, Bola Tinubu/Kashim Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Tuesday said Peter Obi, the presidential flag-bearer of the Labour Party, “has a deep, dark, sinister and shady past”. Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, also said the former Anambra State governor ‘lacks sense’. He also described Obi’s running mate, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, as “an ignorant sociopath”. “The only thing that is consistent about Peter is his lack of sense. How can he have a running mate who says Margaret Thatcher led the UK in the ’50’s, was a member of the Labour Party & helped to build & strengthen the Unions? Same guy said gay people ought to be killed! “Obi has a deep, dark, sinister and shady past whilst his running mate is an ignorant sociopath who seeks to prescribe the death penalty for someone’s sexual preferences and...

A Second Republic Minister of Steel, Wantaregh Paul Unongo, is dead. Unongo died on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 87. The elder statesman died at a hospital in Jos, Plateau State. The former Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, has been battling with ill-health lately. The late Unongo was born on September 26, 1935 and belonged to the Kwaghngise-Anure-Abera ancestry in Turan of Kwande Local Government Area in Benue.

 The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN on Tuesday said that of the N3.2 trillion in circulation, N2.7 trillion is outside the banking sector. Mrs. Amina Giwa, the Deputy Director, Currency Department of the apex bank disclosed this in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the ongoing 2022 Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) FICAN Workshop Programme with the theme: ‘Boosting Depositor’s Confidence Amidst Emerging Issues and Challenges in the Banking System’. Giwa, while presenting a paper entitled: ‘Redesign of Naira: Benefits to financial system and the Nigerian economy’, said 85% of cash in circulation found to be constantly outside the banks over the years. She also gave insights into the reasons for the redesigned of the Naira saying it is to fight against counterfeiting of the currency and discourage hoarding among other things. According to the Deputy Director, 99% of counterfeit discovered are in the three highest denominations including N1000, N500, and N200 notes, ...

 Victoria Chintex, a leader of  Labour Party (LP) in Kaura Local Government Aarea of Kaduna State,  has been killed. The Party’s Publicity Secretary in Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone, Edward Buju, announced this in a statement on Tuesday. Buju said Chintex’s husband sustained injury in the attack and is currently receiving treatment at a medical facility. The statement read, “The Southern Kaduna (Zone 3) Labour Party commiserates with the party chairman and his excos in Kaura local government area, over the untimely demise of our mother and sister, Mrs Victoria Chintex, woman leader, Kaura local government who was killed yesterday (Monday) by some unknown gunmen in her residence in Kaura. “More so, as we await the burial plans by the family, the Zone 3 Labour Party will make support to her family. “On behalf of our presidential candidate, Peter Obi; our gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna state, Jonathan Asake; the party senatorial candidate for Southern Kaduna zone, Mike ...

 The minister Of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has said that the security features on the Abuja-Kaduna train will guarantee maximum safety of passengers. Sambo stated this while riding on the train to inspect the security features and other measures put in place to protect passengers and also forestall subsequent attacks that may occur in the course of plying the Abuja-Kaduna corridor after resumption. The minister was accompanied by the minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Hussein Adamu, minster of state for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, chairman governing board Nigeria Railway Corporation, Ibrahim Musa, directors of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the  managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Fidet Okhiria. Sambo also said the train service on the corridor is 90 per cent ready and that the remaining 10 per cent would be achieved in the next couple of days for a full resumption of rail services. He said the remaining days would b...

 The Northern Christian Women Coalition (NCWC) Support Group has declared that they will work hard to ensure that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar wins the 2023 election. The 414 women from the 19 Northern States and FCT who gathered at the Women Development said they are moving into the villages to ensure that all the Northern Christians vote for Atiku. The women who described Atiku as a detribilised Nigerian, said everyone in the country will be safe with the PDP government. Speaking, the National President, Northern Christian Women Coalition (NCWC) Support Group, Princess Leah Solomon, said Nigerians should be happy to have a great unifier in Atiku Abubakar adding that by 2023, the Northern Christian Women will ensure Atiku win the presidency. She said her target is the unity of the country, adding that many people are not happy with the division, hunger while Children cannot go to school. Speaking, the National President, Northern Christ...

 Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has dispelled insinuation that he was nursing a plot to relocate Nigeria’s federal capital territory (FCT) from Abuja to Lagos State. According to rumours making the rounds, Tinubu, a former Lagos State governor, has concluded arrangements to return the nation’s capital to Lagos 32 years after former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, had relocated it from Lagos to Abuja on December 12, 1991. But, Tinubu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by the director, Media and Publicity of the APC presidential campaign council, Bayo Onanuga, refuted the claim, expressing shock that such a rumour could be hatched. Onanuga said, “The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council hereby alerts Nigerians about the latest insidious campaign in some parts of the country against our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. After exhausting their arsenal of calumnies and character assassination against...

 Atiku Support Group (ASO) has debunked reports that some support groups of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar have joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The group said the report was false and malicious, alleging it was planted by the APC to gain undue advantage. A statement by ASO’s National Publicity Secretary Victor Moses said: “We wish to state clearly and unambiguously that the story is false and nothing but propaganda from the camp of the APC and should be disregarded. “Atiku groups are as solid as the rock and like a fine wine, we keep getting better and growing in number every day. “By every indices, the APC has plunged Nigeria into a disaster and February 25th, 2023 will be judgment day. “Nigerians now know better. Only an Atiku Abubakar presidency can and will deliver Nigeria and usher us on the path of prosperity. “Therefore, the APC should note that no amount of propaganda can save the party from defeat in all electio...

Osun Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke has sacked 12,000 workers barely 24 hours after his inauguration. The Governor also nullified the appointment of 30 Permanent Secretaries and suspended the chairman and members of Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC). The release reads: “All employments in the service of Osun State Government made in any capacity into any capacity in all the Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Commissions, Boards and Parastatals after July 17th, 2022 be and are hereby nullified. Osun immediate past Governor Adegboyega Oyetola employed over 12,000 workers and appointed 30 permanent secretaries. A statement by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Tesleem Igbalaye, also announced the suspension of the chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr. Segun Oladitan and its members. Others are: Yusuf Oyeniran, Suibat Adubi, Prince Yinka Ajiboye, Abosede Omibeku, Dosu Gidigbi, and Wahab Adewoyin. He noted that the suspension was a...

 Senate President Ahmad Lawan has lost the battle for the senatorial ticket of Yobe North senatorial district of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The judgement was delivered at the Court of Appeal yesterday in Abuja. The court affirmed Bashir Sheriff as the authentic candidate of the APC for Yobe North senatorial district of Yobe State. President, Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensen, who presided over a three-man panel, gave the affirmation in an appeal by the APC challenging the decision of Justice Fadimatu Aminu of the Federal High Court Damaturu,  which had on September 28, 2022, declared  Machina as winner of the primary election organised by the party in May 2022, while Lawan opted to contest the presidential primary election organised by the APC in June. Lawan lost the APC presidential ticket to former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu. However, Machina was asked to step down for Lawan but he insisted that he would not withdraw for the Senate Presiden...

 The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2023 general election and a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has condoled Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, over the death of his wife, Hajiya Atika Wamakko, prayed that the Almighty God will forgive her sins and grant her Aljannah Firdaus. Recall that Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko lost his wife Hajiya Atika Wamakko just two years after the death of his daughter. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar then took to his official Twitter page to say that he received the report of the passing of Hajiya Atika Wamakko, the beloved wife of Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, with sadness, and that, on behalf of him and his family, he expresses his condolences to the former Governor of Sokoto State and his family. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar concluded by saying that he prays that the Almighty God will forgive her sins and grant her Aljannah Firdaus.

 The tenure of Mojisola Adeyeye as director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has come to an end. The agency made the announcement in a public notice on Friday. NAFDAC said it has appointed Monica Eimunjeze as the acting director general of the agency. “The Management of NAFDAC wishes to inform all stakeholders and the general public about the expiration of the tenure of office of her Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye.” “Consequently, the Federal Government has appointed the Agency’s Director of Drug Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Dr. Monica Hemben Eimunjeze as Acting Director-General with effect from 12th November, 2022.” Adeyeye was appointed the Director General of NAFDAC on November 3, 2017 for a five-year term. Before her appointment as Director General, she was a Professor of Pharmaceutics and Manufacturing for 21 years at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. She is the founding Chair of Biopharmaceutic...

 The Osun State House of Assembly says the state will continue to be referred to as ‘state of Osun’ as against ‘Osun state’. The development was announced on Monday in a statement by Kunle Akande, the house committee chairman on media and publicity. On Sunday, while making his inauguration speech, Ademola Adeleke, the Osun governor, ordered an immediate reversal to ‘Osun state’ instead of ‘state of Osun’, which was adopted during the Rauf Aregbesola administration. Speaking on the development, the Osun assembly said the adoption of ‘state of Osun’ is “a matter of law”. “The usage of the state anthem, crest and flag is an enactment of law and as such, its usage is a matter of law and not choice,” the statement reads. “The enactment ‘state of Osun anthem, crest and flag law, 2012’ assented to on the 18th of December, 2012 contained in Schedule I, II, III, IV and V, which carefully details every component of this law is not in ambiguity. “Schedule I is the State Anthem, Schedule II ha...

 Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has deposed three monarchs appointed by his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola. The affected monarchs are Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Yinusa Akadiri; Aree of Iree, Oba Ademola Oluponle; and Adegboyega Famodun, the Owa of Igbajo. The new governor in a statement signed by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, disclosed the sack of the monarchs on Monday “All appointments of traditional rulers made by Osun State Government after 17th July 2022, are hereby ordered to be reviewed to ensure there was strict compliance with due process of chieftaincy declarations and native law, custom, and tradition relating to such chieftaincies. “In the case of Ikirun, Iree and Igbajo, to avoid further breakdown of law and order, the appointments of Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Ire and Owa of Igbajo are hereby put on hold pending review. “Subsequently, the palaces of Akinrun of Ikirun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo should remain unoccupied, while security agencies are hereby ordered...

The Mandate Secretary Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, Hon. (Dr) Abdullahi Adamu Candido will this week Friday receive the prestigious media merit award of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Abuja Chapel  under the distinguished host of the Director General of NTA, Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos. The Chapel said Candido deserved the honour in view of his remarkable performance in public service delivery from his beginning as public office holder till date. While informing him, the Chapel executive stated: "Sir, you have been nominated by the majority among other names put forward for an award by NUJ NTA Abuja Chapel. The ceremony is being hosted by the DG NTA Abdulhamid Salihu Dembos on 2nd December, 2022." Candido, a journalist and administrator is the immediate past two-term Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC from 2016 to 2022. During his tenure, he was widely adjudged as best performed AMAC Chairman so far with the execution of abou...

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has approved the appointments of Alhaji Kassim Akinleye as the chief of staff to the Governor, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as the Secretary to the state government and Mallam Rasheed Olawale as the Spokesperson to the Governor The appointment, however, takes immediate effect

 The Federal Government has announced that there will be a hike in the rail service fare as the Abuja-Kaduna train service gets set for resumption. The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, disclosed this on Sunday while announcing the extension of the resumption date at the station. Recall that the Nigerian Railway Corporation shut down the station following a brutal attack on passengers by terrorists sometime in March 2022. Speaking, however, on the resumption of activities at the station, Sambo said  that there would be an increase in the rail service fare as a result of the economic situation in the country. The minister noted that the number of daily trips would also be reduced, adding that there would not be night journeys until further notice. Sambo disclosed this to journalists on Sunday in Kaduna while inspecting the train station. He said, “The number of trips will be reduced. Naturally, you should expect that a certain number of passengers will not be comfortabl...

 A coalition of youths in Anambra State have urged the presidential candidate of the Labour party, Mr Peter Obi to drop his presidential ambition for the interest of Igbo people. Addressing journalists at a press conference in Awka at the weekend, National Leader of the coalition, Dr. Chinedu Ekwealor, said the former Anambra state governor cannot claim to love Ndigbo if he cannot consider the interest of the people ahead of his personal ambition. According to Ekwealor, Obi should step down and strategies for future elections as his present ambition will only deny the Ndigbo the presidential seat for a long time. “If Peter Obi truly loves Ndigbo, he should step down forthwith and strategise with other well-meaning Igbo elites in charting a way forward for the Ndigbo. " Ekwealor said. Speaking further, Ekwealor said Peter Obi, Ohaneze Ndigbo as well as all the prominent people in the South-East should begin to push for a new narrative for the Igbo nation in the forthcoming presiden...

 The media team of the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, has stated that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress does not appreciate facts and figures used by opponents in place of mere rhetoric. The team noted Obi's claims were verifiable, and that many analysts had been on them. In a statement made available to on Sunday, the Ob-Datti Media Office said it noted the attempts by Tinubu and his party to cast aspersions on the informed use of statistics by his counterpart, Obi, declaring that the APC candidate could not stand Obi's statistics. Tinubu had said at a rally in Gbaramatu, Delta State that Obi lied with figures. He described him Obi as a man that was not wanted by Nigerians because he (Obi) lies with arithmetic that no mathematician can solve it. "To mention his name is a disgrace to me. He gives out wrong arithmetic and wrong statistics on the economy. That is not what Nigerians want. Nigerians need honesty, they need the man ...

 The North West Presidential Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Northerners to disregard elders advising them against voting for the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in next year’s general election.  In a statement yesterday, the spokesman of the council, Muhammad Shehu Molash, said Tinubu emerged as one of the believers of the Nigerian project as reflected by his constant support for the presidential candidates of northern extraction. There is acrimony and disaffection in the APC over the issue of Muslim/Muslim presidential ticket, which has continued to rage unabated. But the party’s campaign council said, “The Tinubu/Shettima joint presidential ticket is merely coincidental and not out of any desire to suppress a particular set of people.” Part of the statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a widely circulated voice note of a supposedly northern elder, Alh Sani Zangon Daura, calling on Northerners to reje...

 Special advisor to Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Bello Malami Yarima, has left the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to join the main opposition, the All Progressives Congress. Malami oversaw the Marshall, a state-owned security company. Aliyu Wamakko, the state APC leader and senator who represents the Sokoto-North Senatorial zone, and Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the minister of police affairs, officially welcomed him into the party on Friday at the former home in Gawon Nama. Malami made a commitment to work for the party's victory in the upcoming 2023 elections. The Special Adviser returned to his place of origin after being "gone on sabbatical," according to Ahmad Aliyu, the APC candidate for governor in the state, who spoke at the ceremony. "You are back where you will be respected and kept in high esteem.  As you are already aware, the APC treats all of its members equally and with the utmost respect. Alhaji Umaru Chori Sanyinna, a prominent PDP member...

The newly sworn-in Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reversed all appointments made by his predecessor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola between July 17 and November 26, 2022. The Governor also made executive orders freezing all bank accounts of the State stressing that, “a new era has come and “it’s not a business as usual. We’re here for a serious business.” He stated this in his inauguration speech on Sunday at the Osogbo Township Stadium, addinh that his administration will as a matter of urgency convey an education conference to arrest the decline of Osun education among comity of States. Gov. Adeleke sacks all new appointees of Ex- Gov. Oyetola He said, “let me make the following executive orders. Shortly after my emergence on July 17, my predecessor Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola started making appointments and awarding contracts without budgetary allocations. “Reversal of all appointments from July 17, 2022 with immediate effect Other executive orders made by the new Governor are im...

Gunmen have killed two security guards in different locations at Ikare-Akoko, Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State. Report said that the gunmen raided the government-owned Mimiko Market and NASFAT Schools in the Ikare-Akoko metropolis, killed the guards and dismembered their bodies, leaving their remains in the pool of blood. According to a source, the gunmen attacked the two places in the middle of the night on Friday while the deceased were found in the pool of blood on Saturday. “The gunmen killed one of the guards and cut off his head and placed the head beside his body while the other man’s hand was cut and placed beside him too. The source, who said that the killers did not take anything from the deceased before they left the scene, added that the way and manner the suspected bandits carried out the attack raised the suspicion of ritual killing. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) SP Olufunmilayo Odunlami, said that the police...

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has confessed that it would be tough for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, in the 2023 governorship poll. el-Rufai reportedly stated this at the commemoration and send-forth ceremony organised for the outgoing director-general of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nteranya Sanginga, on Friday. The Kaduna governor, however, said APC would try its best to unseat Makinde, but it would be tough because he (Makinde) had governed well. Both governors, on the occasion, recounted how they argued during a National Executive Council (NEC) sitting, over whether or not to lock down their states in the heat of the COVID-19 outbreak. “After that debate, I went back to my state and I locked it down. Seyi (Makinde) went back to his state and did a partial lockdown. “But he locked himself down because he got COVID. “In my state, I did what I felt was the right thing and he did what was...

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aspirants for political offices in Edo State aligned with Governor Godwin Obaseki have again suffered a setback following the Court of Appeal judgment which sacked the list of the governor as candidates of the party. Details of the judgment which emerged on Friday, November 25 averred that the appellate court set aside the judgment earlier won by the Obaseki aligned candidates and returned the candidates aligned to the mainstream of the party, otherwise known as legacy PDP as led by Chief Dan Orbih, the National Vice-Chairman, South-South. It would be recalled that the Obaseki inclined faction of the party had won a court judgment that removed the candidates earlier listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The candidates removed belong to the Orbih faction and were those who emerged from the primaries the INEC claimed to have observed. the development led the Orbih faction to lodge an appeal at the Court of Appeal Benin which in its j...

 The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has boasted that he will defeat his opponents in the forthcoming presidential election. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress is one of the leading presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections. He has been consulting widely since he declared his presidential ambition some months ago. The presidential candidate of the ruling party, while speaking at a rally in Lagos State today stated that he will outsmart his main opponents and get the bulk of the votes in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara and Plateau states. He added; "Can you see the governors of Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kwara, and Plateau? “We won’t lose any of the states. We will govern this country together"

 Two officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps were crushed to death on Friday by a truck driver along Ikot-Ikpene – Aba route. In a statement signed by the Corps Spokesperson, Bisi Kazeem, the crash occured as a result of excessive speed indulged by the driver of a DAF articulated truck while trying to dodge a pothole along the axis. The Acting Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, decried the incessant knock down/ crushing of patrol operatives as a result of the recklessness of some  drivers who have continuously violated the legally prescribed speed limit The statement “The Acting Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Biu has decried the incessant knock down/ crushing of patrol operatives as a result of the recklessness of some  drivers who have continuously violated the legally prescribed speed limit. He stated this while bemoaning the death of two Operatives of the Corps as he pledged the resolve of the Corps to apprehend perpetrators of this deadly act and force...

The federal government  has declared that “Nigeria requires 410 billion dollars to achieve its energy transition plan by 2060 to address challenges and policy flexibility in the sector. The Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, said this at the 7th Meeting of National Council on Hydrocarbons in Minna. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the meeting was: “Roadmap and Strategic Option Towards Achieving Energy Transition in Nigeria.” Sylva, who was represented by the Ministry’s permanent secretary, Gabriel Aduda, said Nigeria was committed to achieving carbon neutrality. “This will end energy poverty as it will lift 100 million people out of poverty and drive economic growth forward,” he said. The minister of state said the country, through the Solid Minerals Development Fund, was on the verge of unveiling cutting-edge technology in gold mining. He said to this end, the federal government had received 34 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs)...

 The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, has declared the local government election held on October 15, 2022 as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. Consequently, Justice Nathaniel Emmanuel Ayoola sacked all the chairmen and councillors elected into the local governments across the state, saying the election that produced them was in contravention of the law. He held that the election conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) pursuant to Section 25(4) of its law was in contravention of Sections 29 & 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022. Joined as respondents in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Gboyega Famodun (now King), Barrister Ogunsola Rafiu, Barrister Olubisi Oladosu and Engr. Ogundipe Kayode. The plaintiff claimed that the notice of election published on August 15, 2022, was in contravention of the law and pr...

Lelook Bags Academy, Lugbe Abuja has graduated its first set of students. Speaking at the occasion in Lugbe Abuja, a Retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Mrs Nken Wadibia Anyanwu called for policy that would strengthen and encourage skills acquisition among Nigerian youths. Mrs Anyanwu who expressed concern over the high level of unemployment in the country, advised graduates of tertiary Institution to develop keen interest in vocational training towards becoming self-reliant. She commended the initiative of Lelook Bags Academy towards making the youth employers of labour and reduce unemployment in the country. While advocating compulsory teaching and learning of entrepreneurship studies in tertiary Institution, the former Permanent Secretary called for more enabling environment to encourage the growth of small scale industries in the country. Earlier, the Chief Executive Director/ CEO of Lelook Bags Academy, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa said the Academy was established to compliment the efforts ...

 Two married men were arrested with a woman's severed head in Abuja. Peter Ochigbo, 42, from Otukpo in Benue state, married to Rebecca Iche, and Samuel Bachu, 35, a married father-of-five, also from Otukpo in Benue state, were arrested this week by police in Abuja. When questioned, Peter Ochigbo said he was set up by his friend named Peter Etuma. Ochigbo claims Etuma was the one who took him to Abuja and also provided the human head. He said Etuma called him to meet him somewhere and he did, not knowing Etuma had called the police, and when the police arrived they arrested him with the human head. When asked where the said Etuma got the head from, Ochigbo feigned ignorance.

 The Osun State Caretaker Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Akindele Adekunle, has commended the judiciary over its refusal to grant an order sought to stop the governorship inauguration of Senator Ademola Adeleke slated for Sunday. A statement by Adekunle obtained in Osogbo on Thursday said some people had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo last Friday, asking for an order to stop Adeleke’s inauguration. The party, however, commended the Judge that handled the matter for refusing to grant such an order. Adekunle said, “Some paid agents of destabilisation had approached the Federal High Court, Osogbo, on Friday, seeking an order to stop the swearing-in programme slated for Sunday. “His lordship, Justice Emmanuel, in his wisdom declined granting the order, adjourning the case to Thursday to explain why the swearing-in must stop. It beats imagination for any sound mind to even contemplate halting a democratic constitutional process. The greed for power is drivi...

 Bola Tinubu continues to intensify his campaign across the shores of his stronghold to stake a claim to the presidential seat in the forthcoming election The APC presidential candidate moved his campaign to Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria In what was a warm welcome and elegant reception, City Boy or Jagaban as he is fondly called was conferred the title of "Dike Di Ora NmaI" of Ebonyi state Ebonyi , Abakiliki - The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu , has been conferred a chieftaincy title in Ebonyi state. The 70-year-old former Lagos state governor was conferred with the "Dike Di Ora Nma I" title of Ebonyi state on Thursday, November 24. Bashir Ahmed, the Special Assistant on Digital Communications to the President and the Deputy Director, Special Media Projects/New Media, APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), confirmed this development in a social media post.

Governor of Ebony State, Dave Umahi has urged the people of the South East to ensure that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is elected the next President of Nigeria. Tinubu is the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general election. “Asíwájú knows the road, we must follow him. He has shown that he loves and trusts Igbo and our people. “He has been here since yesterday. He slept here in Abakaliki and ate our food. Only a man who loves you eats your food,” Umahi declared on Thursday. Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma backed Umahi with the assertion that with Asiwaju “there is no more lamentation for the Igbo The South East leaders spoke at the APC presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State on Thursday, November 24, 2022. The event was held at the Abakaliki Township Stadium. On his part, Asiwaju Tinubu, the frontrunner presidential candidate stated that “I believe in the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo. I encouraged a lot of Igbo businesse...

Online polls that put Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate, ahead of Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been disregarded by Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule. Sule asserted that Obi's value as a presidential contender had been reduced to less than 10 kobo as a result of Charles Soludo's attacks of the former governor of Anambra State, Obi. He made the claim while participating in the Politics Today program on Channels Television. Sule asserted that the best person to explain what transpired while Peter Obi was governor of Anambra State—where he previously served—is the present governor. Thus, if you visit Anambra, what the governor of Anambra has to say (is saying). They shared a party together. Not because they switched parties. Peter Obi switched parties, but the All Progressives Grand Alliance remains the same (APGA). You won't buy Peter Obi for 10 kobo if you go ...

 Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has urged the electorate to vote for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming general elections. Governor Makinde stated this at Consultative and Town Hall meetings with stakeholders of the PDP in Oyo Federal Constituency. The governor said the PDP has become stronger in the constituency following the resolution of the internal wrangling among its members. Governor Makinde said he was confident that the PDP would win all elections in the zone, because according to him, he has fulfilled over 80 per cent of his campaign promises to the people. Speaking at the Town Hall meeting, held at the Atiba Hall, Oyo Town, Governor Makinde declared that if he is re-elected, there would be an upgrade of good governance, hence the campaign theme Omituntun 2.0. The governor also reeled out the achievements of his government in Oyo zone as including; the building of the ultramodern Akesan Market; construction of Gedu-Oroki-Sabo Ro...

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has expressed commitment to work for the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. El-Rufai gave the assurance on Thursday at the inauguration of Kaduna APC Campaign Council. The governor described Tinubu as an experienced leader who performed well as Lagos governor. El-Rufai said the party expects the standard bearer to apply the same formula to transform Nigeria for the better. “Bola Tinubu is our candidate whom we all supported to get the ticket and we are sure we will not regret it. “Tinubu is a leader who will be just, fair and equitable to all”, he said. The governor tasked the council to ensure total victory for the APC in the 2023 general elections. He added that a vote for the ruling party would be a vote for progress and development.

 The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal announced his support for the Labour Party candidate in a controversial statement on yesterday. The northern Christians group, has swiftly distanced itself from his position. According to the group, "We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, Engr B D Lawal, as the position of our Group. We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon. Also suffices to say that no one in the group including the Chairman has been mandated to speak to the public about our position at this material time.  Based on our modus Operandi, our position was meant to be presented to the general public at the event above referred to. That has not changed.  Consequently, the...

A sociopolitical activist, Deji Adeyanju, has said the opposition political parties are “indirectly working for” Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who is running for president. Adeyanju predicted that Tinubu will triumph in 2023 by taking advantage of the resistance. This was revealed by the public commentator in a series of tweets. Tinubu will prevail in the next presidential election because the opposition is essentially working in his favor.The opposition parties will divide their votes “in favor of Tinubu,” he said, stressing this. In his words, o"The opposition in Nigeria should stop making noise and concentrate on how to stop voting rigging or splitting their votes in favor of Tinubu. “I’ll be the first to admit that I forewarned you in February. I’ll get out buckets for their tears and be making fun of them when the opposition starts crying and blaming one another.

 The immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has reportedly defeated Peter Obi and other past governors of Anambra State, to emerge as the best chief executive of the state since 1999, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, trade and investment According to a poll/survey that was conducted by a financial literacy and content platform, Financial Street (financialstreet.ng), which targeted project funding, impact and scale of investment as well as security of projects, former governor Willie Obiano was credited with excellence in the three areas.. Speaking on Wednesday, in Lagos, while releasing the result of the poll/survey, the Director of Operations at Financial Street, Mr Ifendu Iwenofu, noted that the firm decided to conduct the poll to gauge public perception on government performance and project relevance to the people. Furthermore, Iwenofe disclosed that 79 per cent of respondents rated Former Governor Obiano above Peter Obi and other forme...

 The Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammed Badaru, recalled on Thursday how former Lagos Governor, Bola Tinubu, helped create the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party under which he became governor, and how he helped him get the gubernatorial ticket during the 2011 election.  He made the revelation during the APC campaign rally in Ebonyi State and revealed that he was a village boy from Jigawa before the APC presidential candidate helped him. According to him, "Let me tell you about myself." I was a village boy from Jigawa. I was given a gubernatorial ticket by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the 2011 election." However, he praised the Governor of Ebonyi State, David Nweze Umahi, for the various things he did for the people of the state, and while he was about to conclude his statement, he started coughing repeatedly and was forced to end the statement

In a news reported by Nigerian Tribune, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, the chairman Senate committee on cooperation and integration in Africa/NEPAD revealed how Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All progressives congress will win the 2023 election. Senator Chimaroke Nnamani noted that the performance of Bola Tinubu as the governor of Lagos state and his vast network of associates would enable him win the presidential election. Senator Nnamani said that he can't help but feel that when Tinubu and his team began what will be remembered as Nigeria's largest political reform which elevated Lagos state to one of the biggest economic centres in Africa the majority of the residents in Lagos did not envision the city as it is today, after they had lived through decades of military rule during which they experienced the first hand crumbling of the health system, collapsing school buildings and poor social services. In conclusion, senator Nnamani said that our inability to diffe...

 The Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organisation has expressed gratitude to Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-South geo-political zone for speaking with one voice in support of the party’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa. Spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this in a statement in Abuja, late on Wednesday. He said the Campaign “Commends the South-South Governors elected on the platform of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for pulling together in support of the  PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Ologbondiyan explained that the commendation is coming on the heels of the meeting of Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Udom Emmanuel, their Delta State counterpart and PDP Vice Presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, as well as the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki ...

A Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a request seeking to nullify the candidature of Bola Tinubu for the 2023 election. The Action Peoples Party (APP) dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential flagbearer to court. Suit no. FHC/UM/CS/124/2022 joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first defendant. The former Lagos governor is the second defendant, and the ruling APC the third defendant. The plaintiff argued that Tinubu allegedly submitted to the 1st defendant false information in his form EC9. They said he failed to include his primary and secondary education in his form CF001 of 1999, submitted ahead of the gubernatorial election. The APP cited section 29 of the Electoral Act 2022 and 131 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution. APC counsel, Babatunde Ogala filed a notice of preliminary objection, insisting the suit was statute barred and that the APP had no locus standi. APC campaign spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said the plaintiff was not in ...

92 days to the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has, again, raised the alarm over the level of insecurity in the country as well as attacks on its personnel, offices and materials. The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu specifically lamented that the perennial insecurity in the country is a source for concern to the commission. ItProf Yakubu raised the alarm yesterday in his remarks at the stakeholders’ Forum by the Nigeria Civil Society situation room held at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) conference centre, in Abuja. The INEC Chairman pointed out that the existing security challenge was compounded by the unfortunate incidents of attacks on campaigns, rallies and processions across all political parties. According to him, “there are four broad areas that Nigerians would like to receive assurances of the progress the Commission is making and challenges (if any) being encountered. “They are security, campaign finance, technology, the Permanent...

The governors of the 36 states in the country have taken the position that only the court of law can determine the legality or otherwise of the deduction of $418 million Paris Club refund from the state allocations. The governors who met in Abuja on Tuesday night under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, equally revealed that they have instructed their lawyers to approach the Federal High Court to stop the proposed privatisation of 10 National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) by the Federal Government. In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by the Chairman of NGF, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Governors expressed their determination in exploring all legal channels, available, in ensuring that resources belonging to states were not unjustly or illegally paid to a few in the guise of consultancies. According to the communique, “We, members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), at our meeting held today (Tuesday night), received briefings on various subnation...

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N736.782 billion October 2022 Federation Account Revenue to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils. This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting for November 2022. The N736.782 billion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N417.724 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N213.283 billion, Exchange Gain revenue of N5.775 billion and N100.000 billion Augmentation from Non-oil Revenue In October 2022, the total deductions for cost of collection was N33.555 billion and total deductions for transfers, savings and refunds was N186.749 billion. The balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was $472,513.64. The communiqué confirmed that from the total distributable revenue of N736.782 billion; the Federal Government received N293.955 billion, the State Governments received N239...

 President Muhammadu Buhari on has announced the appointment of a top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Lauretta Onochie, as the new Chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). In a letter addressed to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, President Buhari also announced the nomination of 15 others as NDDC board members. The letter was read at Wednesday’s plenary at the red chamber. The NDDC is a federal government agency established by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in the year 2000 with the mandate of developing the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. In September 2008, Late  President Umaru Yar’Adua announced the formation of a Niger Delta Ministry, with the Niger Delta Development Commission becoming a parastatal under the ministry. One of the core mandates of the commission is to train and educate the youths of the Niger Delta region to curb hostilities and militancy while developing key infrastructure to promote diversification and produc...

President Muhammadu Buhari has unveiled the redesigned naira notes across the N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations. Buhari unveiled the notes at the Council Chambers of the State House shortly before the kickoff of this week’s Federal Executive Council meeting. The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, further cleared at the venue that the move is not targeted at anyone. Rather, he said the redesigned notes would give the apex bank ample control over the amount of money in circulation. “This move is to enable the Central Bank of Nigeria have control over the size of money in circulation “There is no need to think that the programme is targeted at anyone. During my speech at the unveiling, I said that plans for this started early in the year. We considered the pros and cons carefully.

A leading support group of APC, led by Muhammad Ganduje, son of Kano state governor, Umar Ganduje had mobilised over one million youths to hold a street walk in what appears to be a show of strength. Kano appears to be a scene to watch in 2023 with the soaring strength of APC, even as past leaders of the state who are now in opposition have vowed to sack the ruling party from the state which boasts of massive electoral strength. But leading excited mammoth crowd of youths in the peaceful walk in the state, the convener Muhammad Ganduje said the walk was just a tip of the APC strength in the state, assuring that the party will have a clean sweep in all the elective positions. He notes that the walk on Sunday was the first step towards securing victory. Governor of the state, Umar Ganduje also made a surprise appearance, assuring that APC will secure the presidential victory in the state as well as other political positions. The governor said the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola ...

 Senator Ita Enang, a former special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta issues, has stated that he views the Labour Party as the All Progressive Congress' (APC) campaign manager. Senator Ita Enang claimed during an appearance on Political Paradigm on Channels TV that the gains the Labour Party has achieved since entering the contest have served as a wake-up call for them. He claimed that they had been researching their competitors' campaign strategies and using them as inspiration to advance further in the race. “Labour Party is like the campaign manager for APC. We stood up and were more aware as a result of their intrusions and the fire they brought. We observed them over time, noted what they were doing and saying in relation to the opinions of particular voters, and then stepped in to address those factors. And we were able to win again, retake the lead, and restore the public's faith in the APC. They therefore did a terrific job for the APC, and we ar...

Dr Mutiu Agboke, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun, says the commission is no longer in possession of Sen. Ademola Adeleke’s Form CF 001 used in the 2018 governorship election. The tribunal had earlier granted subpoena application to the petitioners, compelling the REC to produce Adeleke’s Form CF 001. Form CF 001 is the nomination form and all its attachments, including the certificates used in the 2018 election. Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola and APC had on Aug. 5 submitted a petition before the tribunal in Osogbo. Oyetola and APC are challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state for various alleged electoral malpractice, especially over-voting. INEC had declared Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Oyetola. At the resumed hearing on Tuesday in Osogbo, Counsel to the petitioners, Chief Akin Olu...

The Federal Government said it had concluded investigations into the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre jailbreak by Boko Haram insurgents on July 5, 2022. The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who disclosed this in Abuja said the investigation remained a security document that could not be discussed in the public. However the minister said some of the escapees from the facility had been recaptured while many of them were still at large. The attacks by the insurgents’ group led to the escape of over 600 inmates, including members of the terror group. Briefing journalists at Radio House in Abuja while presenting his Ministry’s scorecard, Aregbesola who was flanked by the Minister of Information and Cultural, Lai Mohammed and the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Dr Shuaib Belgore, said the greatest legacy of the Buhari administration was the ability of the government to push Boko Haram insurgents out of all the local governments they occupied in 2015. “In 2015 Boko Haram member...

 Controversy is trailing the appointment of the new Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA). The National Service Commission (NASC), on Friday, announced Magaji Tambuwal as the new Clerk to the federal legislature. Mr Tambuwal, who will serve in acting capacity pending his confirmation, replaces the former CNA, Olatunde Ojo, who was asked to proceed on the required three-months pre-retirement leave – ahead of the retirement date in February 2023. Until his appointment, the new acting clerk was the secretary to the directorate of finance and accounts in the National Assembly. However, the appointment of Mr Tambuwal, who hails from Sokoto State, has generated controversy as the NASC allegedly breached its Act by bypassing other officials who are ‘next in line’ to appoint him as acting clerk. NASC allegedly ‘bypassed’ the next in rank, Chinedu Akabueze, the Clerk of the Senate, and three others, to appoint Mr Tambuwal thus breaching Section 6 of the Act establishing the Commission. The l...

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of failing to fulfil its promises to Nigerians during their campaigns in 2015. He said especially the promise to restructure the country once voted into power. Atiku said there was a difference between the PDP-led government from 1999 to 2015 and the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari under the platform of the APC from 2015 to date. The former Vice President said this while speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Abuja on Tuesday. The PDP presidential flag-bearer, who stressed the need for a constitutional amendment which he promised to work on if elected as president in 2023, said he would decentralise the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to states and communities. He said: “There is a difference between the government that ran this country from 1999 to 2015 and the government that has been running ...

 The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi is tipped to be the winner of the 2023 election if it were held today, an opinion poll conducted by Nextier, a multi-competency advisory firm, has shown. Conducted in rural communities, the survey interviewed 2,000 Nigerian registered voters in 12 states across the six geopolitical zones. The Nextier survey team said they excluded the home states of the leading presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The poll suggests a three-horse presidential race between Mr Obi, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Though with a strong support base in Nigeria’s north-west, particularly his Kano home state, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is not considered a top contender, according to the survey. The poll results show that Mr Obi leads in rural communities at 40.37 per cent. Mr Abubakar is at a distant second with 26.7 per cen...