ABUJA DAILY MAIL

 The Federal Road Safety Corps on Monday said from January to December this year, it recorded 9,483 crashes with 4,427 deaths. Acting FRSC Corps Marshall, Dauda Biu, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja. He this was an eight percent reduction in the last year’s incident which recorded 10,304 crashes and 4,800 deaths. He said part of the overall strategies of the Corps was the deployment of patrol teams on major corridors and traffic gridlock prone areas to ensure its personnel were seen within every 10 kilometers drive on all sides of the roads. He listed the areas as including the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, the Nyanya-Maraba-Keffi-Akwanga Road and the Lugbe-Giri-Gwagwalada-Abaji-Lokoja Road. He said the fundamental objectives of the special patrol operation which  commenced on December 15 and would terminate on January 15,  2023 included easing movement on the highways, enforcing traffic laws as well as reducing crashes, fatalities and injur...

 Benue State governor Samuel Ortom has ruled out division in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but admitted that the party is tackling issues that brought division one after the other. The governor said the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level would soon be resolved and “we will soon become one.” Ortom spoke yesterday during the PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, the state capital. He said the party’s candidate in the state, Hon. Titus Uba, who is away for over a month due to ill health, would be back in the first week of January. It was learnt that the long absence of Uba has created a lot of anxiety and tension in the party. The speaker who spoke by phone to PDP stakeholders commended the governor for giving him the opportunity to speak with the people and clarify the speculations surrounding his health, saying that he is sound and healthy. While also thanking the governor for his fatherly love in his moments of trial, Uba said he hoped to come back soon to continue w...

 The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic  Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday,   said the South-East people have no reason not to vote for the  PDP in the 2023 presidential  election.  Atiku spoke at Ndubusi Kanu Square,  Owerri during the PDP presidential rally. His reason was that he would sit down and listen to the Igbo who are at the forefront of the campaign for the restructuring of the country.  He also promised to inject $10 billion into businesses in Igbo land to boost their economic activities as people known for businesses. “If I am the President, Imo is at the Presidency. We know we have security challenges in Imo and all over the country. But once I am elected the President, I will sit down with you to work out the problem. I have been associated with the Igbo for decades.  “I know Igbo are businessmen. If elected I will bring back business in Igboland. Once I am elected I will inject $10 billion into sm...

 Mrs Uju Ken-Ohanenye, the vice chairman of the APC presidential campaign council and former APC presidential candidate, said that as young as most of us may look, senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC presidential candidate and former Lagos 2-term governor, is much stronger than we are. She made the statement while reacting to the rumour out there most especially by the opposition that her principal, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu's health is not that strong. Uju Ken-Ohanenye in a bid to quench the rumour said "As young as most of us may look, Tinubu is much stronger than we are, most young men don't have the strength that he has." Ken-Ohanenye is concerned that why would some persons be wishing her principal, the APC standard bearer, Asiwaju Tinubu ill health, adding that assuming he was sick as people are speculating around, sickness would not be hidden. She pointed out that someone who is sick cannot be up and doing but would rather be in hospital and be admitted for treatmen...

 Chairman of Kaduna State Peace Commission (KAPECOM) Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon has said that religious leaders must see themselves as instruments of unity despite their personal political preferences. Bishop Idowu-Fearon was reacting to a statement credited to the General Overseer of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, ‘the number of people who vote for APC in 2023 will determine the number of mad people in Nigeria’. Fearon contended that it was improper for a religious figure to urge his followers to support a specific political party. In Kaduna State, 18 registered political parties, 14 candidates for governor, and candidates for the National Assembly and House of Assembly signed a peace accord during a high level conference of political parties, candidates, and stakeholders for peaceful campaigns and elections. Hope Action Progress, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), ActionAid, Christian Aid, Global Community Engagement and Resilient Fund (GCERF), SARVE, and ...

Point of Sale Operators in the nation are expecting their monthly N700bn monthly revenue to fall by about 80 per cent when the new Central Bank of Nigeria’s withdrawal limit kicks in. Since July the monthly average revenue of PoS operators has stayed above N700bn according to data on the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System. Revenue was N724.73bn in July; N711.17bn in August; N735.57bn in September; N753.6bn in October; and N759.29bn in November. This expected fall in revenue was revealed by the National President, Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, Victor Olojo. This is coming after the CBN released a revised cash withdrawal limit in line with its naira redesign policy. This policy restricted the maximum cash withdrawal via Point of Sale terminal to N20,000 daily. According to him, operators are anticipating a drastic fall in revenue which would affect their income. He said, “We should expect a very drastic fall, in fact, a nosedive, and there would be a lot of ne...

The All Progressives Grand Alliance on Friday released its Presidential Campaign Council ahead the 2023 general election. The 1,573-man committee has Abubakar Adamu as the Director General of the Campaign Council while Damian Okolo was named Deputy Director General (Contacts) of the council. Other prominent members include the Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo, Deputy Governor, Dr Gilbert Onyekachukwu; National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Oye; APGA Presidential candidate, Justice Peter Umeadi as well as the Vice Presidential candidate, Comrade Mohammed Koli. Others include former governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano and Virgy Etiaba, also a one-time governor of the South-Eastern state as well as commissioners serving in the Governor Soludo-led government

 There is tension brewing among transport union members in Ogun motor parks following the approval of another union by the Ogun State Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo. The Ministry had in a letter dated 15th December, 2022, approved the Ogun State Operations Management Services (OSOMS) as one of the transport unions operating in its parks. The letter, made available to DAILY POST, indicates that OSOMS, led by its Chairman, Mustapha Ismahi Adewale (aka Yaro), is to join the subsisting unions, associations and organizations in the conduct of par operations and activities in the State. The letter signed by the Director of Public Transport and Commuter Services, Engr. Shokunbi O.B.A., on behalf of the Commissioner, read partly: “Further to the above approval, I am also delighted to inform you that your proposal to offer revenue collection services on behalf of the state in the Ogun East Senatorial District, adopting the existing field operational plans, protocols and proce...

The Secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council, (PCC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), James Faleke, has warned Nigerians to be wary of cyber criminals asking unsuspecting online users to pay the sum of N18, 500 to access the empowerment fund from the PCC. Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, issued this warning, in a statement on Thursday. The campaign Secretary urged Nigerians to ignore messages from Facebook, asking them to pay N18,500 to access the fund. The lawmaker, who also urged Nigerians to ignore messages from his Facebook account demanding money from people, said his Facebook account was hacked and cybercriminals are using it to demand money from people.

 Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has celebrated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 80th birthday anniversary.  Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has celebrated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 80th birthday anniversary.  In a statement issued by his Media Officer, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu hailed the president for his commitment to nation-building and long years of patriotic service to the country. Tinubu, who described the president as ‘a patriot, selfless and steadfast leader of uncommon zeal,’ noted that Buhari enlisted himself into the service of the country as a teenager, who joined the military immediately after secondary school. At 80, Tinubu said the president can look back and be proud of his unblemished record of service to the nation throughout his military career as a soldier, platoon commander, General Commanding Officer, military governor, Minister of...

 President Muhammadu Buhari, has appointed Rukayyatu Gurin as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs in the Office of the First Lady. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement on Monday titled ‘President Buhari appoints new aides for First Lady.’ According to the statement, Gurin holds a Doctorate degree in Curriculum Instruction from the University of Maiduguri and has served as a Lecturer at the University of Maiduguri; a Deputy Director at the National Universities Commission; a Director at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru; and a Senior Lecturer at Baze University, Abuja.

 According to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in the state's eastern region have reported getting more defectors. The APC leader in the state and special assistant to senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) for media, Bashar Abubakar, disclosed this. In the most recent defections, according to Abubakar, hundreds of supporters of the PDP, Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) from the Gwadabawa, Illela, and Goronyo Local Government Areas switched allegiances to the APC. Among the defectors are former council members and other key figures from the eastern part of the state. Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, the party's candidate for governor, and Alhaji Idris Gobir, his running mate, welcomed them all in their local governments, he said. Abubakar said that the development has continued to give the party more cause for optimism ahead of the state's next elections in 2023. Prior to the ...

 The federal government has declared December 26 and 27 as well as January 2, 2023, as public holidays. The ministry of interior announced the festive season holidays in a statement signed by Belgore Shuaib, the permanent secretary, on Friday. The public holidays are to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day celebrations respectively. Rauf Aregbesola, the minister of interior, asked Christians to emulate the doctrines of Jesus, noting that “we must imbibe the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings on humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness”. The minister called on Christians to use the festive period to pray for the total eradication of the insecurity bedevilling Nigeria. He said peace and security are two critical conditions for economic development and prosperity. Aregbesola asked Nigerians not to be swayed by “criminal elements” who intend “to create anarchy in the country”. “Moderately celebrate the festival, avoid the spread of fake ...

 Anambra State governor, Charles Soludo, has again thumbed down the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, while hosting Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Atiku was in the state on Thursday to continue his presidential rally but was hosted in the Anambra State government house in Awka by Soludo, who was governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria when Atiku was Vice president. The pair formed a close working relationship as Atiku was head of the economic team while Soludo presided over the CBN. The former CBN governor failed his governorship bid on the platform of the PDP in 2010 before defecting to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in 2013. He successfully emerged APGA governorship candidate in 2021 and won the election. He was sworn in in 2022. Although APGA has a presidential candidate, Peter Umeadi, Soludo sees only two candidates as contenders. He believes Atiku of the PDP and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, ...

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has said the commission has recovered more than N30 billion from the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed. He said this Thursday while appearing on the Ministerial Briefing organised by the Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The commission is currently prosecuting the suspended AGF over alleged N109 billion fraud. The EFCC boss, who pointed out the achievements of the agency from January to December, 2022, gave other recoveries as N134,33,759,574.25, $121,769,076.30, £21,020.00, €156,925.00, ¥21,350.00, CFA300,000.00 among others. Bawa who further spoke on the operations so far under his watch, said the EFCC had not backed down on the N7.1 billion fraud case against former governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. Senator Kalu had sought an Abuja Federal High Court’s order to bar the EFCC to retry him, arguing t...

 Governor Ademola Adeleke has declared that he inherited N407.32 billion debt from the administration of his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola when he took over power in November 28th 2022. Adeleke made the declaration at the meeting of Osun State Traditional Rulers which he attended to present the debt profile of the state. He noted that he inherited eight outstanding loan facilities, apart from salaries and pension debts from governor Oyetola’s administration, stressing that repayment period ranges from 16 months to about 28 years. According to him, “Outstanding Balance for Budget Support Facility is N51.8 Billion, balance for salary bail out is N38.8, for Restructured Commercial Bank Loans N158.77 billion is the balance while for Excess Crude Account (ECA) Loan, Outstanding Balance is N14.48 Billion. “CBN Infrastructure Loan has outstanding balance of N9.2 Billion as FGN Intervention Loan outstanding Balance is N1.7Billion and FGN Bridge Finance Facility loan is N18.04 Billion.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said politicians are trying hard to hack into its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). The Commission reiterated its resolve to make the 2023 general elections free and fair, adding that it is working round the clock to ensure that the integrity of its server is maintained during and after the 2023 elections. INEC’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Achumie Chuka Rex, stated this recently at a two-day workshop for civil society organisations on Voter Education, organised by Transition Monitoring Group (TMG). “There is no room to hack into INEC sever,” Chuka said.  “Politicians are doing everything possible to get into INEC server or even to manufacture BVAS but unfortunately for them, INEC is three steps ahead of their plots.” Furthermore, dispelling fears of a network problem that would make BVAS work effectively in rural areas, the INEC official said that BVAS was built on a dual basis – “online and o...

 Wives of federal lawmakers, under the aegis of the House of Representatives Members’ Spouses Association (HORMSA), has endorsed the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the election. This was done when the group, led by its president and wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Salamatu Gbajabiamila, paid a courtesy call on the chairman of the Tinubu/Shettima Women Campaign Team, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.,  Mrs Gbajabiamila in her address, stated that Tinubu’s track record of supporting and prioritising women makes his campaign promises regarding equitable representation believable. “In 1999, when Asiwaju became Lagos State governor, it was not the norm to carry women along so strongly, but Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not think that only men were capable of fixing Lagos. He recognised and demonstrated that women are not insignificant. “With your and Asiwaju’s record, we have no doubt that women wil...

 Nigeria's main ruling party, the All Progressives Congress and its campaign team took the movement to Niger state At the Niger state APC presidential rally, Tinubu made fresh promises to the people and Nigerians as he was welcomed by a large crowd Meanwhile, Tinubu and his running mate on Monday arrived in Kaduna for the North West presidential campaign rally and flag-off of gubernatorial, senatorial, House of Reps and state Assembly campaign A mammoth crowd of supporters converged on the Trade Fair Complex, Minna venue of the All Progressives Congress Presidential campaign rally in Niger State on Wednesday, December 14, to receive the party's Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a statement signed by Tinubu Media Office, Tunde Rahman, on Wednesday, and sent to Legit.ng, the electrifying crowd was too ecstatic to see Asiwaju Tinubu shortly after he was in Minna when he attended the Town Hall meeting with farmers and agro-commodity traders. Tinubu makes a fresh...

The Nigerian Baptist Convention, NBC, has advised widows and widowers to be in the vanguard of ensuring the emergence of credible leaders in the 2023 general elections. The Director, Social Ministries Department of the Convention, Rev. Mrs Elizabeth Aderounmu gave the advice in Abuja during the end of the year forum organized for Baptist and Non Baptist Widows and Widowers in the Northern Region. Rev. Mrs Aderounmu who expressed concern over the plight of widows in the country said widows should elect leaders who are passionate with the welfare of widows and other less privileged in the society. She therefore enjoined them to obtain their Permanent Voters Card and also pray for the successful conduct of next year's poll. The Director used the occasion to call on Government's at all levels to put in place empower programmes for widows in the country to enable them cater effectively for their families. Earlier, the Director, Social Ministries, FCT Baptist Conference, Mrs Naomi Ol...

 The APC Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had taken to the Northwest in Kaduna to hold a presidential and gubernatorial rally ahead of the 2023 general election. The vice-presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, the Kaduna State gubernatorial candidate, Uba Sani, and the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, were present during the rally. Massive supporters trooped out in numbers to show support for the APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC gubernatorial candidate, Iba Sani. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu drove around the venue with Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Senator Uba San to salute the audience. However, before joining the presidential rally, the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, visited the Emir of Birnin Gwari and was turbaned as the DAKARE OF BIRNIN GWARI (Defender of Birnin Gwari), the Strongman of Birnin Gwari. During the rally, Tinubu addressed the crowd and stated some of his plans for the people if he becomes presid...

 Ahead of the 2023 general election,  former vice president of Nigeria and presidential candidate of the peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has arrived in the beautiful city of Lafia, Nasarawa State in continuation of its tour with the “rescue Nigeria” message. The campaign rally is expected to have in attendance the PDP National Working Committee, governors, candidates of the PDP; NASS members, NEC members, BOT, state chapters, former governors, BOT, NASS, and NWC members, former ministers, and party stakeholders. He was accompanied by the PDP vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, former senate president Bukola Saraki, Governor Godwin Obaseki, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state, National youth leader of the people's Democratic party and governor Aminu Tambuwal, who is the director general of his presidential campaign council.

 There was drama at the government house in Minna, the State capital on Monday as a Minna High Court sacked the newly elected Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Areas of the state, Dr Mustapha Jibrin, less than hour to his Inauguration. Dr Jibrin had lined up along with other 24 newly elected Council Chairmen at the government, waiting to be sworn in when a Minna high court presided over by Justice Mohammed Mohammad sacked him. The state governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, however went ahead to sworn in the Chairman and allowed him to take the oath of office and allegiance despite the court judgment sacking his immediate past Commissioner of Health and later investment. The presiding Judge, Mohammed Mohammed of the state High court 4 had delivered judgement on a pre election suit instituted by one Aminu Ladan against Dr Mustapha Jibrin over illegal substitution of his name after the party primary which produced him. It was gathered that some stakeholders in the local government had ...

 A 75-year-old man, Sunday Muoghalu, who raped, impregnated and abandoned a 13-year-old girl in Anambra State has confessed to the crime. The suspect was arrested on Sunday night, December 11, by the police with the help of the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo. We gathered that the Anambra State Government rescued the minor following a viral video  which showed her carrying her newborn baby in a hospital in the state. She was reportedly held in the hospital over her inability to settle her medical bill, after her delivery of the baby. The young girl, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, told reporters in Awka, the state capital, shortly after her rescue, that her guardian serially raped her before getting her pregnant. The victim also revealed that her guardian had been raping other children in the area.  She said her biological parents reside in Agulu, a community in the Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. In an interview, t...

 The crisis between the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the five aggrieved PDP governors may be far from over, this is even as the duo of Governors Samuel Ortom and Nyesom Wike shunned Atiku at the Makurdi Airport in Benue State. Mr Abubakar whose presidential campaign is billed to hold in Nasarawa State on Monday decided to fly to Benue because he could not secure a landing clearance in Nasarawa. About 20 minutes to his arrival, Governor Ortom arrived at the Airport and many thought he was there to receive the PDP presidential candidate. However, about five minutes later, the PDP vice presidential candidate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State landed at the Airport, and he exchanged pleasantries with Governor Ortom. The latter was heard asking “So, you people will come to my state without telling me?” Moments later, a jet landed and Governor Ortom swiftly moved towards it to receive the person or persons aboard, it turned out to be Go...

  President Muhammadu Buhari has begged the people of Katsina State not to put him to shame, but vote candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress cone 2023. Don’t put me to shame, vote APC, Buhari begs Katsina electorates to vote APC all the way. Buhari made this over the weekend in Dumurkol, Daura, Katsina State at the APC governorship campaign. The President, who was represented at the rally by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed optimism that the people in the campaign team would not fail because of their electoral values and capacities, said: “Coming to campaign here is just to thank the people of Dumurkol because they need no lecture on whom to vote for to succeed President Buhari in 2023.”  He told the gathering that the President had directed that they vote for Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima for president and vice, Dikkon Radda and Kobe for Katsina governorship and deputy as well as Nasiru Sanni for the Senate in the area “Vote for APC from top to bottom...

 The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has landed in Kaduna ahead Tuesday’s mega rally in the State. Tinubu will hold a mega presidential rally on Tuesday at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to drum support for his presidential ambition. He was received at the Airport by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and other dignitaries. Also with him are his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; former Super Eagles strike, Daniel Omokachi. Omokachi is not hiding his support for Tinubu as he received the former governor of Lagos in Kaduna with his cap designed in Tinubu’s logo and puts on a t-shirt with the APC’s presidential candidate and his running mate’s photos.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, at the weekend, demanded that Ibadan State should be created if the Labour Party (LP) wins the 2023 presidential election through the candidatures of Peter Obi and his vice, Datti Ahmed. The Olubadan, who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, made the demand at his Alarere residence while playing host to the party and its presidential candidate, Obi. The monarch commended Obi’s delivery on various problems confronting the country and how he would tackle them to bring about a new Nigeria that citizens would be proud of, enjoining him to remain focused and committed to his programmes. He stated: “We are happy to see you and your presentation bore eloquent testimony to your rich understanding of what you set out to do and one can only pray to God to grant you your heart desires and ability to follow to the letter your plan for a better and prosperous Nigeria.” Meanwhile, Obi, who spoke ea...

The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the Peoples Democratic Party does not want power to depart from the northern part of the country. According to Nyesom Wike, the PDP is against going for a Muslim-Muslim ticket, however, the leadership of the party at national level only wants a northern person to become the president of Nigeria after Buhari. Nyesom Wike made this known during a church service which was organized to dedicate the 2023 election in God's hands. Nyesom Wike maintained that since PDP is against Muslim-Muslim ticket, it should also be against northern presidency Nyesom Wike stated that the PDP at the national level are playing with people's intelligence. Nyesom Wike wondered why the party is against Muslim-Muslim ticket but refuse to allow a southerner to become the presidential candidate of PDP. Nyesom Wike went on to say that he agrees with the fact that Muslim-Muslim ticket is wrong. However, he noted that if PDP agrees that Muslim-Muslim...

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu alongside some notable members of the APC is currently in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. The former governor of Lagos State is in Ibadan to meet Muslim leaders from the South West geo-political zone to seek their support ahead of the 2023 presidential election. Tinubu who arrived at the venue of the meeting around 1:20 pm on Sunday was accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole and Hajia Hadiza Bala Usman. Those who received Tinubu in Ibadan to the meeting included the gubernatorial candidate of APC, Senator Teslim Folarin, Oyo South senatorial candidate, Barrister Sharafadeen Alli, Oyo North senatorial candidate, Dr Abdulfatai Buhari, Oyo North senatorial candidate, Dr Yunus Akintunde and former Minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu. Others are Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, APC Chairman in the state, Is...

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Katsina State has cautioned politicians and political parties to avoid using provocative and abusive words during campaigns in the state. Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim-Umar, the Head of the Commission’s Election and Party Monitoring (EPM), gave the caution at a stakeholders forum at the weekend According to the INEC official, political campaigns should be conducted in a peaceful, orderly and matured manner. He explained further that, “Electoral Act 2022 section 92 (1-6) stipulates how political campaign should be conducted. He said the law provided that “a political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly, especially such is likely to injure religious, ethnic, tribal or sectional feelings. “Also, Electoral Act 2022 section 92 (1) says political campaigns, rallies and processions should not be conducted in places designated for religious worship, police stations, and other public offices.” Ib...

 President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday, December 11, depart for Washington, USA, to join other African leaders at the United States-Africa Leaders Summit. According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, the High Level Meeting which holds December 13-15 is at the instance of the United States President, Joe Biden, who looks forward to “working with African governments, civil society, diaspora communities across the United States, and the private sector to continue strengthening our shared vision for the future of US-Africa relations.” He said the event is expected to demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to Africa, and underscore the importance of US-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities. The Summit further seeks more pragmatic ways to: foster new economic engagement; advance peace, security, and good governance; reinforce commitment to democracy, human rights, and civil society; work collaboratively to strengthen re...

 Thousands of supporters of Mr. Peter Obi, under the aegis of the fast-growing ‘Obidient Movement’ converged on strategic parts in Lagos to campaign for Peter Obi and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (GRV), the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour party (LP) for Lagos State in the upcoming 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election. As promised, Obidients in Lagos State have began their planned car rally for Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party. In a video that was shared online, exotic car convoys were spotted in a particular area in Lagos. This is coming few weeks after this kind of rally was also held in Edo State. In the video, you could spot several cars bearing the flag and logo of the Labour party, some flags were bearing the name "GRV" the name of the governorship candidate of Lagos state. Peter Obi, a wealthy businessman with a reputation for being frugal has continue to be a powerful force ahead of Nigeria's presidential election in 2023, energising vote...

 Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the People's Democratic Party, claimed that more people attended his campaign in Abuja than the APC's national election campaign did. This was stated by Atiku Abubakar to the kind Abuja citizens who came out to support him today in Eagle Square. Atiku claimed throughout the campaign that he and his team were in Abuja to express their gratitude to the beautiful residents of Abuja for their unwavering support. He argued that there is no doubt in their minds that they will continue to support them. Atiku went on to say that if given the chance to govern the nation, they will outperform all of Abuja's accomplishments from 1999 to 2015. He assured them that he would give them everything to which they are currently entitled under the constitution and said that he would make all the appointments to which the great people of Abuja were entitled. If he wins, he also pledged to defend Abuja and change the constitution. He continued by s...

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has received more than 250 members of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), who defected to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Fune local government area of the state. Receiving the decampees, Gov. Buni, represented by his Deputy, Idi Barde Gubana described the development as a great loss to the opposition. He assured the new entrants that the party would accord them equal rights and opportunities as other members, saying the “APC believes in one united Nigeria, contrary to PDP”. In his remarks, the state party chairman, Mohammed Gadaka who congratulated the defectors for joining the ruling APC, urged members of other political parties in the state to follow suit to move the state forward. A former PDP executive member in Fune local government, Mallan Iliyasu Adamu Jilum who spoke on behalf of the defectors said their decision to shift their loyalty couldn’t have come at a better time. “We dumped our former party because of Governor Mai Mala Buni’...

Nigeria’s total debt stock has risen to N44.06 trillion on the back of borrowings by Federal and State Governments. A statement by the Debt Management Office yesterday in Abuja explained: “as at September 30, 2022, Nigeria’s Total Public Debt Stock which comprises the Total Domestic and External Debt Stock of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), all State Governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stood at N44.06 trillion”. Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N42.84 trillion by June 2022. According to the DMO, “the total domestic debt stock as at September 30, 2022, was N26.92 trillion while the total external debt stock as at September 30, 2022, was N17.15 trillion”. The DMO attributed the increase in the debt stock to “largely new borrowings by the Federal Government to part-finance the deficit in the 2022 Appropriation Act, as well as, new borrowings by sub-nationals”.

 Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has accused Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor of targeting the political class with the cash withdrawal limit policy. The planned policy of the CBN to limit daily cash withdrawal for individuals to N20,000 daily and N100,000 and N500,000 per week for individuals and corporate bodies respectively, has continue to generate reactions. Weighing in at a campaign outing in Kala’a, Hong Local Government Area of the state on Friday, the governor said it was evident that the policy by Emefiele was targeted at the political class. Fintiri said having lost out in his bid to join the political class, Emefiele chose to hunt politicians. A group had purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) N100 million for the CBN governor, but he later distanced himself from the race. Speaking at the campaign outing, Fintiri said, “What is breeding poverty? Economic policies. Look at the one that is about to be implemented by the Central Bank ...

 Labour Party has sacked its National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, and dissolved Ogun State chapter executives of the party for alleged anti-party practice. This is coming almost two months before the 2023 general elections. The National Working Committee of the party took the decision, following their role in the alleged expulsion of Doyin Okupe, the Director General of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council. During the emergency meeting of the NWC in Abuja, on Friday, Umar Farouk, the National Secretary of Labour Party, announced the dissolution of its state chapter in Ogun, removal of the party spokesman and suspension of its chairman and other executives. The committee is said to have passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of its embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, saying it has reviewed the corruption allegations levelled against him and found him not culpable. Okupe and 10 members of the party were removed by the leadership of the Ogun State chapter o...

 A political pressure group supporting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, the National Mandate Group (NMG), has said that it will organise a solidarity march in Port Harcourt, the State capital, in support of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. NMG national coordinator, Senator Lee Maeba, who disclosed this on Friday while speaking during the launching of pro-Atiku campaign T-shirts in Port Harcourt, however, did not disclose the date for the solidarity march Insisting that campaign rallies hardly attract votes, Maeba said the organization would not want a situation where its members would be attacked while attending rallies in the State. He said: “Rallies do not bring votes now. We resolved that the modus operandi of the National Mandate Group is to go to the units and fish the voters. “What we shall do is to stage a solidarity march across the streets of Port Harcourt for Atiku and Okowa and so many peo...

 The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has de-registered 61 secondary schools in Kogi State for gross malpractices in the 2022 WAEC examinations. The commissioner for education, science and technology, Mr Wemi Jones, disclosed this in Kabba during the distribution of chemistry and physics textbooks to 95 senior secondary schools in Kogi western senatorial district under the ministry’s schools adoption and mentorship programme. According to him, similar complaints were tendered by the examination body in 2019 when 51 secondary schools were involved, noting that things  started getting better in 2020, 2021 when the number of schools deregistered by WAEC reduced from fifty-one to one as a result of serious warning from the ministry of education to principals of schools. The commissioner lamented that on Thursday WAEC officials forwarded a letter to his office intimating him that 61 secondary schools in the state were grossly involved in examination malpractices in the 2022...

 The election is fast approaching and supporters of each political party are working diligently to promote their candidate in any way they can.  According to Abuja Daily Mail sources, over 27 former Super Eagles stars arrived in Kano State on Friday to kickstart the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential campaign tour at the Sani Abacha Stadium. The players who made it to Kano include Daniel Amokachi, Peter Rufai, Victor Ikpeba, Julius Aghahowa, Mutui Adepoju, and Emmanuel Babayaro, among others.  The campaign tour will no doubt be a very fun one for the players as they reunited for the first time in so many years. 

 The director, Contact and Mobilisation (North-west), of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, Aminu Sani Jaji, has distributed 70 vehicles to all the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State to boost campaign for party’s candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The distribution was made Tuesday during the flagging off Jaji’s campaign for House of Representatives for the Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara state held at the Kaura Namoda stadium. While adressing party supporters and APC stakeholders, Jaji, who is also the national coordinator, Baba For All, said the gesture is part of his personal contribution and commitment to the Asiwaju/Shettima project. “We are here to kick start our campaign process as part of contribution to ensure the victory of Tinubu/Shettima and the APC in general,” a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by Jaji’s media office quoted him as saying. He described Tinubu as a credible politician with a wealth of ex...

 The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore has reacted to the proposed increment in the Nigerian minimum wage should the party wins the presidential election in 2023. The Labour Party's Deputy National Chairman, Ayo Olorufemi had said the LP is looking at implementing a new minimum wage of between N80,000-N100,000 as against the current N30,000. There has been some doubts to the possibility of the Labour Party to implement the proposed minimum wage if it wins in 2023 as questions arise regarding the source where the money will come from. However, while reacting to the promise by the Labour Party, Omoyele Sowore said that the Labour Party stole the promise from the African Action Congress's 2018 campaign. He added that the minimum wage idea is now outdated. According to Omoyele Sowore, the minimum wage must reflect the cost of living and purchasing power parity. He added that they are proposing at least 250,000 naira minimum wage for Nigerian...

 Former Nigeria Vice President and the candidate of the People Democratic Party in 2023 Presidential Election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar got the endorsement of Osun traditional rulers he paid a courtesy visit to.  Atiku was in the state for the presidential campaign rally which was held at the Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo. According to Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who is 6 the Spokesperson, Osun State Chapter of Atiku / Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, he said in the press statement that the three leading traditional rulers in the state namely Ooni of Ife, Owa of Obokun, and Ataoja of Osogbo showered royal blessings on the former Vice President and Presidential Candidate, they equally projected the Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the winner of 2023 presidential election. He said in Ooni's Palace, the Royal Father showers royal blessings on Atiku/Okowa project that the 2023 election will produce a president that will change the fortunes of the country for the better. Ooni de...

Chatham House, a world-leading policy institute and think-tank forum, has given an invitation to the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to discuss his plans for Nigerians ahead of the next year’s presidential elections. This was disclosed in a post via the Twitter handle of the institute. The event is part of a series of events and outputs examining Nigeria’s 2023 elections. Obi, Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are frontline candidates in the 2023 presidential race. It wrote: “Nigeria’s 2023 Elections: In Conversation with @PeterObi. “The second of our events examining # Nigeria’s 2023 elections and political developments will take place on January 16 2023.” Obi is expected to honour the event scheduled in London, the United Kingdom, on January 16, 2023. Recall that the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, was featured at Chatham House in London on December 5, 2022.

 The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has vowed to prevent what it called double taxation of businesses in the Area Council by the agencies of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), threatening to checkmate those sabotaging revenue generation in the council. At a media briefing yesterday, Yusuf Ahmadu, the Senior Special Assistant on Community Development to AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, said it was worrisome for residents to pay tax to both FCTA and AMAC. He said it was wrong for the Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS) in the FCTA to be collecting mobile advert in AMAC, “without the knowledge of officials in-charge of tax collection.”  Ahmadu warned that the current leadership of the council will not accept anybody found thwarting AMAC privileges in collecting revenue.: In his words: “Based on a recent Supreme Court ruling, no body or establishment has the power to transfer the authority of the area council or power to collect reve...

 Nigerian musician Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, popularly known as D’banj, has regained his freedom after hours in detention. Legal counsels to the embattled singer confirmed the development to SaharaReporters, noting that D’banj was released on bail because he made himself available for investigation. Recall that the anti-graft agency, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) detained D’banj on Tuesday at its office over alleged N-Power fraud. We gathered that the singer will soon speak on the alleged involvement in irregularities in the Federal Government empowerment scheme.

By Matthew Ayoola The passage of the Nigerian Hunter and Forest Security Services Bill, NHFSS Bill by the two chambers of the National Assembly has been described as a welcomed development towards strengthening the protection of lives and property in the country. This followed the passage of the Bill by the Senate in April this year and was also endorsed this week by the House of Representatives. Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on the  passage of the Bill by the House of Representatives, the Commander General of NHFSS, Ambassador Joshua Osatimehin  said the move has showed the determination of the lawmakers towards combating insecurity in the country.. He comnended the two chambers for approving the Bill after legislative deliberation and public hearing on the Bill in the past six years According to Ambassador Joshua Osatimehin, the Bill when finally signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari will give legal backing to the activities of NHFSS nationwide The Commander General...

 The Department of Quality Assurance of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA has begun accreditation of schools in the Federal Capital Territory. This became necessary so as to ensure that the quality of teaching and learning are maintained in schools across the territory. The Batch 16 accreditation exercise was to assess the level of compliance with the laid down rules and regulations governing both private and public schools. The Acting Director of the Department of Quality Assurance Mrs. Magdalene Uzoanya, speaking during the of the evaluators, said that accreditation was a routine exercise and core activity of quality assurance mechanisms, which ensures that Schools are assessed in various areas of Education Management to enhance the quality of teaching and learning process. She explained that both public and private Schools are accredited and the exercise should be carried out with utmost objectivity and transparency. Uzoanya further charged the evaluators to ens...

 The Labour Party has said it would implement a minimum wage of N80,000 to N100,000 if the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, wins the 2023 election. Recall that the Labour Party had, a few days ago, unveiled its manifesto after a long wait with its candidate Peter Obi touting the payment of hourly wages against the current monthly format in the country. Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Ayo Olorufemi, stated that LP is looking at implementing a new minimum wage of between N80,000 to N100,000 as against the current N30,000. He said, “It depends on the nature of the job that would be given out. For instance, when you take a cursory look at the manual labour out there, a labourer does not take less than N2,500-N3,000 per day, which is still not okay as far as the reward system is concerned. If you divide N3,000 by six hours, you will be talking about N500 per hour.” “So, when you benchmark that against what we h...