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Showing posts from February 19, 2023

British Consul Meets Nnamdi Kanu In DSS Custody

A British Consul, Ms. Heather Wilkie met with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS. Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, said the IPOB leader discussed issues bothering on his health and extrajudicial detention with the British Consul. Ejimakor also said other issues discussed by Kanu and Wilkie can’t be made public. In a tweet, Ejimakor wrote: “UPDATE: I visited #MNK today in the company of SAN Machukwu-Ume & Barr Maxwell Opara. “MNK confirmed to me a recent visit by the British Consul & that the matter of his extrajudicial detention & health were predominant. “Other messages are legion but not for public consumption.”

INEC Releases Number of PVCs Collected According To States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the number of Permanent Voter Cards collected according to states. According to INEC, 87,209,007 permanent voter cards (PVC) have been collected across the country so far. Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairperson, announced the development on Thursday during a media briefing at the national collation centre in Abuja. The commission had initially fixed December 12 to January 22 for the PVC collection exercise in all LGAs. The commission then extended the deadline till January 29 and again till February 5. Speaking at the briefing, Yakubu said while the commission is pleased that the rate of collection is higher than in previous years, there are still many PVCs uncollected. According to data distributed to journalists, out of 93,469,008 registered voters in Nigeria, 93.3 percent have collected their PVCs. However, 6,259,229 cards — representing 6.7 percent of PVCs — remain uncollected. The data also shows that Lagos leads in t...

Election: Comedian AY Endorses Peter Obi Of Labour Party

Nigerian comedian, Ayo Makun aka AY has finally endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party ahead of Saturday’s election. He revealed this on his Facebook page. Revealing his choice to his millions of fans, he wrote: “I will be 💯 Obedient to the call for a better Nigeria on Saturday. What about you?” Obidient is the term used to identify supporters of Obi.

We’ll Provide Terrorism Evidence to Prosecute Simon Ekpa – Ohanaeze

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political organization has urged the federal government to demand the extradition of Baifra agitator, Simon Ekpa. This comes after Ekpa was arrested in Finland. Ohanaeze vowed to provide terrorism evidence to prosecute Ekpa. Ohanaeze said providing evidence against Ekpa would serve as a deterrent to those planning violent agitation in the Southeast. Speaking with DAILY POST, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro said Ekpa’s arrest would not affect Nnamdi Kanu’s case. Finish authority had arrested Ekpa from his apartment in Lahti. He was later released after the police allegedly arrested him for a suspected crime. The Finnish Central Criminal Police has now confirmed Ekpa’s release on Thursday. The police claimed Ekpa’s arrest was in connection with the ongoing preliminary investigation. However, Isiguzoro said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be happy to help the Federal Government to provide all necessary evidence of terrorism that will help prosecute ...

US Billionaire Financier, Thomas Lee Commits Suicide At 78

Thomas H. Lee, a billionaire financer who helped pioneer the debt-fuelled corporate acquisition known as a leveraged buyout has been found dead. In a statement, Thomas H Lee’s family said they were “extremely saddened” by the 78-year-old’s death. According to the New York Post, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his Manhattan office. He was found dead on Thursday morning at 767 Fifth Avenue. The address is where the offices of Thomas H Lee Capital LLC are listed. According to Forbes, Mr Lee was worth $2bn (£1.6bn) at his time of death. In a statement, police said they had responded to a 911 call shortly after 11:00 (16:00 GMT) on Thursday morning from an office on Fifth Avenue. “Upon arrival EMS [Emergency Medical Services] responded and pronounced the male deceased at the scene,” they said. A statement by family friend and spokesman Michael Sitrick said: “While the world knew him as one of the pioneers in the private equity business...

Presidential Polls: Peter Obi, G-5 Govs Will Help Tinubu Win Saturday’s Election – Keyamo

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has expressed optimism about the presidential flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu emerging victorious in the Saturday polls. The spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, said the Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the G-5 governors will help Tinubu win the Saturday’s presidential election. Tinubu, Obi, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are the frontline candidates for Saturday’s election. In a tweet, Keyamo said Tinubu would be declared president-elect next week. He wrote: “The reasons Asiwaju will win are Peter Obi and the G5; after @officialABAT is declared winner, add the votes of Obi & the APC votes in Rivers & Oyo to that of PDP, then you’ll see how PDP lost its way. “See you all next week when @officialABAT is President-Elect.”

How to curb silent killer diseases — Experts

Medical experts have urged Nigerians to embrace regular visits to the hospital for health checks, noting that it can help in early diagnosis and treatment of silent killer diseases. The experts made the call during a medical outreach organised by the Gbagada General Hospital. According to the Managing Director of the hospital, Dr. Segun Babafemi, some conditions can be properly and seamlessly treated when the diagnosis is made early. “But because we hardly go for regular health checks, we are taking this to people,” Dr. Babafemi added. He further said that the medical outreach contains screening for hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, eye problem, Malaria, and dental check. He said, “The outreach was a community service. We are doing a free medical mission involving screening common ailments. These are the ailments that are silent killers; hypertension, diabetes, and other diseases. “And this is not just going to be a one-off thing, this is what we want to be doing regularly, going...

Russia to buy Chinese drones for Ukraine war – Report

Russia is in talks with a Chinese drone maker to supply it with self-explosive drones that could be deployed in Ukraine, German magazine Der Spiegel reported Friday. The magazine said it has seen information indicating that Russia’s military is negotiating with Chinese drone manufacturer Xi’an Bingo Intelligent Aviation Technology to produce such drones for Moscow on a large scale. The Chinese manufacturer, the report said, has agreed to build and test 100 ZT-180 prototype drones before delivering them to Russia by April 2023. Each of the drones is reportedly able to carry between 35 to 50 kilogrammes of explosives. As a further step, Bingo is reportedly planning to send Russia components and know-how for Moscow to manufacture the drones onsite. Contacted by Spiegel, the Chinese foreign ministry denied armament supplies to Russia but did not address the specific allegation on drones. It underlined however that NATO nations including the US are “the biggest source of weaponry for the ba...

Why Sergio Ramos retired from international football

Spain’s most capped player, Sergio Ramos, has explained the reasons for announcing his retirement from the Spanish national team. The 36-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender, who won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 as well as two European Championships, has not played for Spain since March 2021. He cited a lack of playtime and exclusion from the new coach, Luis de la Fuente’s plans as reasons for his retirement announcement. Prior to the discussion he had with the new coach, Ramos had missed the Euro 2021 championship due to injury. The last few years of his career haven’t gone according to plan as he wanted to represent the national team in the world cup but was not included in Spain’s squad for FIFA World Cup 2022 under former manager Luis Enrique who was dismissed after the quarter-final exit to Morocco. When Luis de la Fuente was announced as the new coach of Spain after the Qatar world cup 2022, there were rumours that Ramos will be called up for the next international fixtures. But a...

Anambra party chairmen, journalists kick over electoral material inspection

AVarious party chairmen and journalists who were at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Awka, on Thursday, were left stranded as the state Resident Electoral Commission, Dr Queen Agwu, refused to attend to their enquiries. The party chairmen and the media men had wanted to observe the movement of electoral materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, Awka, but were shut out. The party chairmen and party agents who were spotted around 8 pm at the CBN office alleged that INEC loaded voting materials into trucks without them having the serial numbers for documentation. Speaking to journalists, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ndubisi Nwobu, described the attitude of the INEC officials as “very disappointing”, adding that the party agents wanted to know the details of the voting materials so they could communicate to their party officials to cross-check them when they arrive. “We want to believe that the materials will not leave this night. We are...

Polls: Police arrest Rivers Rep member with $498,100

A few days after his Television and Radio Stations were allegedly bombed by gunmen, Dr Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives has been arrested with a bundle of dollars along Ana Road, Port Harcourt very early on Friday morning. The police while confirming Igwe’ss arrest gave the total sum as 498,100 USD, along with a list of people the monies are meant for. The PUNCH reports the Atlantic Television Network and Wish FM 99.5 located in the same building in Ozuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State were attacked with dynamites, with many properties destroyed. The State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said Igwe was nabbed during a stop and search operation by operatives deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission office along Aba Road in Port Harcourt. Following his arrest, Iringe-Koko said the Assistant Inspector General of Police deployed to the state for elections, AIG Abutu Yaro, has ordered swift interrogation and arraignment of the la...

Cooking gas price rose by 39% in 12 months – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics has revealed that the price of 12.5kg of cooking gas rose from N7,413.25 recorded in January 2022 to N10,277.17 in January 2023, representing a 38.63 percent increase on a year-on-year basis. However, the cost to refill it rose by only 0.28 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N10,248.97 in December 2022 to N10,277.17 in January 2023. State profile analysis showed that Benue recorded the highest average retail price of N11,260.67 for 12.5kg cooking gas, followed by Cross River at N10,833.33 and Ebonyi at N10,763.57. On the other hand, the report showed that the lowest average price for 12.5kg of cooking gas was recorded in Yobe at N9,550.00, followed by Taraba and Gombe at N9,845.00 and N9,850.00. This was contained in the Bureau’s “Cooking Gas Price Watch’’ for January 2023 released on Friday in Abuja. The report also revealed that the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased from N4,565.56 recorded in December 2022 to N4,588.75 in January 202...

I Will Relocate To Nigeria If Obi Wins – Rapper Yung6ix

Yung6ix, the popular Nigerian rapper, has made a new claim. He said that if the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi emerged winner of Saturday’s election, he will relocate to Nigeria. Yung6ix made this known in a tweet on Thursday. The rapper, however, said he will move his investments to Ghana and South Africa if the APC candidate, Bola Tinubu wins. He tweeted, “If Peter Obi wins this election, I’m moving back to Nigeria. “if BAT wins, I’m moving all my investments in Nigeria to Ghana and South Africa.”

How A 28-Year-Old Man Duped Jobseekers Of N1.2m In Lagos

Ekene Itodo, a 28-year-old man, who is said to have allegedly obtained N1.2m from three people under false pretences of securing jobs for them, has been dragged to court. The man, on Thursday appeared at an Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Itodo is standing trial on five counts bordering on conspiracy, fraud and breach of peace. He, however, pleaded not guilty. The prosecutor, ASP Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant and one person currently at large committed the offences on January 30 and February 6, 2023, on Ayerowi Street, Igando, Lagos. According to him, the defendant fraudulently obtained N550,000 from one Mr Benedict Okon; N500, 000 from one Mr Sampon Sunday and N170,000 from one Felix Musa. He said the defendant obtained a total of N1.2m from the complainants in the guise of getting jobs for them. The prosecutor said the defendant did not get the jobs but converted the money to personal use. He said the offences c...

40-Year-Old Unemployed Man Defiles 15-Year-Old Girl

A 40-year-old unemployed man, George Ukpong, has been jailed in Lagos. An Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on Thursday remanded the man in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old girl. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, who did not take the plea of Ukpong, ordered that the case file should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice. Kubeinje adjourned the case till March 22 for DPP advice. Earlier, the prosecution counsel, DSP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that Ukpong committed the offence on February 19 at Jaiye Oba Street, Shasha, Lagos. Ajayi said Ukpong lured the girl into his room and defiled her. He said that the defendant was caught by some neighbours. Ajayi said the offence contravenes the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. NAN reports that the section stipulates life imprisonment if found guilty.

15 People Die In Commercial Bus, Truck Collision In Bauchi

In what will come across as a really tragic development, a fatal crash has killed more than 10 people in Bauchi, The crash that occurred on Thursday afternoon at Nabardo town along Bauchi – Jos road in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State claimed the lives of 15 people. Seven other people sustained varying degrees of injuries in the crash that was caused by speed violation and dangerous driving. The crash involved two commercial vehicles, a Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number: YLA 984XA belonging to Adamawa Sunshine Transport Corporation which collided with a Howo Trailer with registration number: DKD32 XB belonging to Dangote Company. The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp, Bauchi State, Yusuf Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Thursday night. He said: “Yes, there was a crash today, Thursday, February 23, 2023. The incident happened at Nabardo town in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State. “It involved two vehicles belonging to Adamawa S...

Why INEC Shouldn’t Fix Elections For Saturday – Seventh-Day Adventist

As many as 4,817 petitioners have reached out to the Independent National Electoral Commission with a request. The petitioners are asking the INEC to desist from holding elections on Saturdays, which, for them, is a ‘critical day of worship and a date with God.’ The petition, titled “General Elections and the Religious Rights of Seventh-Day Sabbath Keepers in Nigeria,” was started on Thursday by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nigeria on the global change website, change.org. The church requested that INEC change the election calendar to any day between Monday and Thursday so as to enable them ‘to exercise their rights to freely participate in the election process.’ This is coming less than 48 hours before the presidential and National Assembly elections, which are set to take place on Saturday. “As a nation, we have managed to live with these differences over the last 58 years. And, like many other nations around the world, we are still striving for unity in diversity, Nigeria bei...

Tourist Dies From Gunshot While Trying To Defend His Girlfriend From Motorcycle Bandits

In what will come across as a really shocking development, a New Zealand tourist has died in the Philippines. He died while trying to defend his girlfriend from robbers. Nicholas Peter Stacey, 34, was visiting the country with his girlfriend, Pamela Villanoza, 31. The couple had visited Palawan and were staying in Makati, a district in the capital region of Manila, on February 19, when a pair of robbers on a motorcycle stopped them and held them at gunpoint. Stacey tried to wrestle the weapon free, however, the gun went off, fatally shooting him in the chest. The gunman stole Villanoza’s phone and wallet before escaping with his accomplice. “We regret to report this incident and extend our sympathy to the bereaved family,” police Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo said in a statement, telling reporters that he ordered officers to “leave no stones unturned until the culprits are brought to jail and are prosecuted.” Estomo described the death as an “isolated incident...

Labour Party Kicks As INEC Allegedly Omits Party Logo On Lagos Ballot Papers

The Labour Party, LP, has lashed out at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The party slammed INEC for omitting the party’s logo on Lagos State ballot papers for the Saturday election. Recall that INEC had on Wednesday taken delivery of sensitive materials for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections scheduled for Saturday, February 25. LP Chairman in the State, Dayo Ekong, who decried the exclusion of the party’s logo on Senatorial and House of Representatives ballot papers in a statement on Thursday, called on the INEC to either correct the mistakes or reschedule the National Assembly election. While calling on INEC to either correct what she described as an anomaly, she said, ”As Nigerians prepare to go to the polls to vote a new president and members of the Senate and House of Representatives on Saturday, the LP is decrying the flagrant exclusion of its National Assembly candidates on the ballot papers. “This malicious ‘error’ was found out in Lagos this mo...

Election: Soldiers Take Over Governor Ayade’s Hometown

A day before the presidential election, a large number of armed soldiers have taken over Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, particularly the Obudu town where the state governor, Ben Ayade hails from. They can be seen in strategic locations in complete battle gear and their Armoured personnel carriers. Different other platoons are also stationed in other parts of Cross River North Senatorial District considered to be flashpoints of violence. This is because the state governor is in the race against a sitting Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe for the senatorial seat, and there has been tensions and fears owing to repeated attacks on individuals and their properties. Armed gangs without masks were alleged to be driving about the Obudu town, shooting freely into the air in the last few weeks, intimidating the populace and electorates. Two days ago, a gang of dreaded boys reportedly led by one Christian Ukpam Odey and Tom Adie, a.k.a. Tompolo, entirely vandalised the country home ...

2023 Polls: Ebonyi Under Siege – CSOs

The Civil Society Committee for Anti-fraud Election Security, CISCAES, a coalition of civil society organisations, has frowned at the high rate of insecurity in Ebonyi State. The group made the observation during a press conference in Enugu State. It alleged that the situation in Ebonyi was occasioned by the state Governor, Engr. David Umahi, who they accused of using the Ebubeagu security outfit to intimidate and harass the citizenry and political opponents. DAILY POST reports that the Ebubeagu was recently declared illegal by a Federal High Court sitting in Ebonyi. At the press conference tagged, “a critical media briefing and national press conference on the Worrisome State of Insecurity in Ebonyi State and its Dangerous Consequences Before, During and After the 2023 General Elections,” the National Coordinator of CISCAES, Comrade Kennedy Iyere described Umahi as a dictator and emperor who is intolerant of the opposition. Iyere alleged that Umahi is bent on imposing a candidate of h...

Over 100 Corps Members Withdraw From Election Duties In Imo State Amid Security Concerns

Over one hundred corps members trained as Electoral Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers in three Imo Local Government Areas have withdrawn from Saturday’s general elections, according to SaharaReporters. Prof Sylvia Agu, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, revealed this on Thursday in Owerri while speaking about the commission’s readiness for Saturday’s election. According to her, the corps members’ withdrawal was motivated by a sense of insecurity, PUNCH reports. The REC said: “This morning, I received information that all the corps members we trained to work in Okigwe, Orlu, and Orsu local government areas have been withdrawn. “They say they cannot go to volatile areas; that these areas are terrorist areas. “I have called the NYSC to appeal to them but I was told that the scheme has even withdrawn all corps members serving in the three local government areas so as not to risk their liv...

Nnamani Reacts To Death Of Oyibo Chukwu, Says LP Senatorial Candidate Unknown

Chimaroke Nnamani, the Senator representing the Enugu East Senatorial District, has reacted to the killing of a rival politician. Nnamani, who is also seeking re-election, reacted to the killing of his counterpart of the Labour Party, Oyibo Chukwu. In a seemingly taunting statement, the former Enugu State governor said the deceased was not favoured to win the election as speculated on social media. He also said the late Oyibo Chukwu was largely unknown and that his party (LP) thrives on deception and social media stunts, claiming it was impossible defeating him as a sitting senator and past two-term governor of the state. His reaction is contained in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday. Recall that DAILY POST reported that Oyibo Chukwu was murdered and set ablaze alongside other party members on Wednesday evening at Amaechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of the State. It was also gathered that the unidentified persons accosted them while riding in a To...

What's Your Reason For Losing Me To The Streets? - Singer Omah Lay Questions Ex-lover

Popular Nigerian singer, Omah Lay has taken to Instagram to question his ex-girlfriend. In the video, the singer is seen filming himself while asking his ex why she lost him to the streets. “What’s the f reason why you lost me? Tell me, what’s your reason for losing me,” he asked. Watch Video Below; View this post on Instagram A post shared by gistoftheday.com (@gistoftheday)

I Am The Envy of Many Presidents In The World - Buhari Boasts

President Buhari has boasted that many presidents in the world envy his position. According to him, this is because of the support his government has received from the private sector in addressing societal issues. The President said this while speaking at the commissioning and handover of security equipment valued at over N12 billion to the military and Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday, February 22. “Today is indeed a very happy day for all Nigerians, and I can happily say that I’m the envy of many presidents in the world. I’m exceedingly honoured to be the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at this time. I’m gratified to have the honour of leading a country whose private sector willingly galvanises itself to raise funds to enthusiastically support the government in resolving social ills. I’m proud to say that there is nowhere in the entire world, except in Nigeria, where the private sector has voluntarily come together to assist g...

Chef Arrested For Allegedly Sedating His Employers And Carting Away Their Properties in Lagos

One Wilfred Amoussou has been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly sedating his employers and stealing their valuables. In a tweet shared on his handle this morning, the spokesperson of the state police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said Amoussou would take up as a chef and thereafter sedate his bosses with Benzodiazepines and then proceed to cart away their valuables He said most of his victims reside in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Parkview Estate. He called on anyone that has been a victim of Amoussou’s nefarious activities to visit the Ikoyi police station to lay their complains. Read his tweet below:

Presidential Polls: We Are Optimistic That Tinubu Will Win - APC Reacts To ACF’s Endorsement Of Atiku

On Wednesday, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council, PCC, said its principal, Asiwaaju Bola Tinubu is unbothered about the endorsement of Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF. APC PCC said it would not take ACF’s endorsement of Atiku seriously because a lot of Northern groups support Tinubu. A few days ago, a chieftain of the ACF, Muhammad Yakubu, said Atiku was the body’s preferred candidate ahead of Saturday’s election. Speaking with journalists, Yakubu said the comments by Zango Daura, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, were enough evidence that the region had settled for Atiku. Yakubu said the North is supporting Atiku because he has the capacity, competence and integrity to rule Nigeria. Reacting, the APC PCC Director of Strategic Communications, Idris Mohammed, said: “As far as we are concerned, the ACF is just a group. There are lots of northern groups out there who have also supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He is...

2023 Election: SDP Adopts Peter Obi As Presidential Candidate

The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi has been adopted by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as the candidate to vote for in Saturday’s presidential election. Nigerian Tribune reported that the resolution was contained in a communiqué issued and co-signed by the Party’s National Chairman, Chief Supo Shonibare and National Secretary, Hon. Saleh Dass at the end of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held in Abuja, on Wednesday, the 22nd of February, 2023. According to the communiqué, the NWC “deliberated on the report of the Senator Ebenezer Ikeyina Committee, investigating the allegation that some of our Leaders from Oyo State, issued a statement declaring support for a candidate other than the Labour Party’s Mr. Peter Obi. “The NWC has accepted and adopted the disciplinary action recommended by the Ikeyina Committee and suspended the Leaders involved. Should they object to this decision, they have the right to appeal to the NWC, through the National Secreta...

Respect Yourself - Eniola Badmus Issues Stern Warning To Wunmi Ajiboye

Popular Nigerian actress, Eniola Badmus has issued a warning to her colleagues, Wunmi Ajiboye. Wunmi is one of the wives of famous actor, Segun Ogungbe. Calling her out on Instagram, Eniola warned Wunmi to respect herself, as she wouldn’t like to see her drama. Though she did not disclose what Wunmi did. She Wrote; “@omowunmiajiboye Kindly respect yourself. You don’t want to see my drama oooo. I don try ooooo Do the needful asap”.

Presidential Election: No Sit-at-Home Order, We’re Not Interested in Nigeria’s Polls – IPOB Declares 72Hrs to Election

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has issued a new directive barely 72 hours before the presidential election. IPOB said it did not call for a sit-at-home during the 2023 polls starting from Saturday. IPOB disclosed that it’s not interested in Nigeria’s election process, adding that it did not call for a boycott. Emma Powerful, the spokesman of IPOB, said those calling for a sit-at-home in the Southeast during the election are anti-democratic forces. A statement by Powerful reads partly: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU who is illegally detained in DSS solitary confinement once more unequivocally and publicly declare our lack of interest in the Nigeria fraudulent selection process called elections coming up in this month February, 2023. “We have stated for the umpteenth time that we have nothing to do with the Nigeria elections and have neither called for a boycott nor do ...

Naira Scarcity: El-Rufai Using Free Food, Transport To Buy Votes – PDP Cries Out

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has been called out by the Peoples Democratic Party in the state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused El-Rufai of using free food and transport incentives to buy votes. The claim comes after the Kaduna state government had announced the provision of free food, free transport, and medical services as part of measures to cushion the effect of the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In a statement on Wednesday, the PDP State Secretary, Ibrahim Wusono, said such a gesture by the El-Rufai government is a tactic for vote-buying ahead of the 2023 general election. Wusono added that the move was part of the deceit employed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government for the past seven years, urging the residents to resist the gesture. He said, “They brought a plan by transporting people from Kaduna to Zaria metropolitan free of charge. I want to draw the attention of Kaduna citizens that it’s part of the deceit which ...

INEC distributes election materials as Buhari meets security chiefs

Ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday commenced the distribution of sensitive materials in states including Lagos, Benue, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun. Also, as part of the preparations for the polls, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday met with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he said INEC had no excuse not to conduct successful polls. In no fewer than nine states, the electoral commission stepped up preparations through the distribution of sensitive materials to local government areas. In Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, the Resident National Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, at 10am, met with security agencies and officials of the commission before the distribution of the materials to local government areas. Salami, who spoke at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado Ekiti branch, venue of the distribution, said early distribution of the mate...

FIFA invites Edo deputy gov to Best Football Awards gala

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, has been invited by the International Federation of Association Football to the annual celebration of football’s greatest stars, the Best FIFA Football Awards. Shuaibu, who is a sports lover, got the international recognition and invitation due to his contributions towards sports development in Edo State. The awards will take place at Salle Pleyel in Paris, February 27. A letter of invitation sent to Shaibu by FIFA Guest Operations read, “Dear Mr Shaibu, “It is our pleasure to invite you to the annual celebration of football’s greatest stars, the Best FIFA Football AwardsTM, which will take place at Salle Pleyel in Paris on 27 February 2023. “On this occasion, we honour the best players, coaches and fans who have enthralled us over the last season with their breath-taking skills and moments of high drama. “This year’s ceremony will take on a special significance as it will be held in the wake of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, which ga...