Nedu Echianu's Blog

The Federal Government has urged the State Selection Committees on the Expanded Special Public Works Programme for the recruitment of 774,000 unskilled workers to proceed on their work unhindered. Minister of State for Labour and Employment Festus Keyamo, said this in a statement in Abuja. The minister was reacting to a report on the alleged purported suspension of the Selection process of 774,000 jobs by the National Assembly Joint Committees on Labour following a disagreement between him and the committee members on how the process of recruitment should be carried out. The States’ Selection Committees on the Expanded Special Public Works Programme for the recruitment of 774,000 unskilled workers was inaugurated on Monday. Keyamo insisted that it was only President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the Expanded Special Work Programne that has the power to stop the programme. Below is the complete statement: Tuesday, June 30th, 2020. PRESS RELEASE BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has tested positive for COVID-19. The governor confirmed his status on Tuesday via his facebook page. According to the governor in a 3:29 minutes video he posted while briefing the state on his status, he said that he is asymptomatic and has begun self-isolating. Akeredolu disclosed that he took the COVID-19 test after he had malaria with advice to those treating malaria to also take the test. “Earlier today, I got confirmation of a positive result for COVID-19. I am asymptomatic and not displaying any symptoms. “I am currently self-isolating and supervised home management will be administered by the wonderful team at our Infectious Disease Hospital. I ask that we all stay safe and be well.”

The leadership of the National Assembly on Monday waded into the controversy on the planned hike in electricity tariffs from July 1st, 2020 and succeeded in convincing the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to defer the plan till the first quarter of 2021. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and other principal Officers of the two Chambers met at the National Assembly with the Chief Executives of the government electricity regulatory body and DISCOs across the country. Also in attendance were the Chairmen of the Committees on Power from the Senate and House of Representatives. The National Assembly leaders were emphatic at the meeting that the timing of the planned hike was wrong even though they had not much issue with the need to introduce a cost reflective tariff for the power sector to attract the much needed investment. In the course of the meeting, the DISCOs too admitted that they were not well pr

Access Bank has announced that it will shoulder the stamp duty charge for three months so that customers will not have to bear the cost. As mandated by the Federal Government, banks are required to collect stamp duty charge from account holders and remit the funds to the FG via the CBN. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the economy, Access Bank held off on charging stamp duty on some customers' accounts from February to April 2020. After the lockdown was eased, Access Bank applied the accumulated charge on customers' accounts. However, after receiving feedback from customers, Access Bank announced that it will refund all individuals and SME's who were debited for the accumulated stamp duty charge from February to April 2020. In a statement released online, Access Bank added that its management will bear the cost of the stamp duty charge from February to April 2020 on behalf of customers. The bank also thanked customers for giving feedback and aske

The Federal Government has approved what it called “safe reopening” of schools nationwide in the next phase of the gradual easing of lockdown ordered to curtail further spread of COVID - 19. However, only graduating students will resume. It has also lifted the ban placed on interstate travels with effect from July 1, provided such journeys are made outside curfew hours. The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID - 19, Boss Mustapha, disclosed these at the ongoing daily briefing of the task force in Abuja on Monday. Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also said the government has approved the safe resumption of domestic flights in the country. He said the reopening of schools was meant to allow students in graduating classes resume preparation for examinations. He disclosed that the latest developments were contained in the task force’s fifth interim report which was submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the day. Mustaph

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out a suit seeking the disqualification of Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting the forthcoming governorship election in the state for allegedly forging his university certificate. The suit was filed on May 29, 2020 by Edobor Williams, Ugesia Godwin and Amedu Anakhu, ahead of the governorship election scheduled to hold in Edo State on September 19. Joined as respondents in the suit were the governors’ party, the All Progressives Congress, the Inspector-General of Police and Obaseki himself. But Justice Anwuli Chikere struck out the suit on Monday as neither the plaintiffs’ lawyers nor the defendants’ were present in court. The plaintiffs alleged in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/553/2020, that the University of Ibadan certificate which he attached to his Form CF.001 which he submitted to INEC for his first term election in 2016 was forged. They argued that the governor’s educational information contained in Part C of the Form CF 001 whic

Barely two weeks after the United States indicted six Nigerians for their alleged involvement in over $6m internet fraud, 11 more Nigerians have been arraigned over another $6m bank fraud. According to a statement by the US Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, the defendants are Sulaiman Dosunmu, 39;  Tunde Adeowo, 40; Muritala Adeowo, 55; Ayanniyi Alayande, 47; Ahmmed Ponle, 41; Margiettu Kamu, 34; Rafiat Sarumi, 36; Babatunde Oke, 40; Adekunle Owolabi, 49; Olayinka Olaseinde, 42; and Olugbenga Oyedele, 47. They were charged for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud in Southern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania over the course of four years, US Attorney, Craig Carpenito said. The suspects, said to have swindled hundreds of victims through accounts domiciled in American banks including Wells Fargo, were arraigned on multiple counts such as fraud, forgery, amongst others. Their charge sheet partly read, “The defendants are allegedly members of a Nigeria-b

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, awarded the sum of N15 million against the Nigerian police over the alleged killings of three members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in his judgment, also ordered the National Hospital, Abuja, to immediately release the three corpses in its morgue. Justice Taiwo while granting Reliefs A and C of the applicants, said each of the applicants must be paid a sum of N5 million as compensation for the killings. The judge, however, did not grant the prayer that the Nigerian police should tender an apology in two national newspapers. The Inspector General of Police is the 1st respondent while the medical directors of National Hospital, Abuja, and Asokoro District Hospital are both 2nd respondent in the four separate charges. Suleiman Shehu, Mahdi Musa, Bilyaminu Abubakar Faska and Askari Hassan were alleged to have been killed by agents of the first respondent on July 22, 2019 while on a peaceful protest to demand for the

Nigerian Afrobeat music superstars, Burna Boy and Wizkid have both emerged winners at the 20th edition of the BET Awards held on Sunday. The award which took place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic was hosted by Amanda Seales. Wizkid’s feature on Beyonce’s ‘Brown Skin Girl’ track won him the BET Her Award category, making history as the African artiste with the most BET awards win. Burna Boy also emerged winner in the Best International Act. The biggest winners of the night were Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion, Chris Brown and Roddy Ricch. They won two awards each. See Full List of  Winners: BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST Beyonce H.E.R. Jhene Aiko Kehlani Lizzo — WINNER Summer Walker BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST Anderson .Paak Chris Brown — WINNER Jacquees Khalid The Weeknd Usher BEST GROUP Chloe X Halle City Girls Earthgang Griselda Jackboys Migos — WINNER BEST COLLABORATION Chris Brown Ft. Drake – “No Guidance” — WINNER DJ Khaled Ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend – “Higher” Fu

Immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, has accepted the decision of the party's National Executive Committee that dissolved the National Working Committee which he chaired. The former Edo State governor, who spoke at a media briefing in Abuja , said he is happy with what he achieved during his time in office. The former chairman said President Muhammadu Buhari invited him to reposition the APC noting that since the president in his wisdom has agreed to the dissolution of the NWC, he was duty -bound to obey him as the leader of the party. Oshiomhole also said he has told his lawyers to withdraw all suits in court in obedience to the appeal of the President that all contending parties within the party withdraw their cases from the court.

Singer, Peter Okoye, has narrated how he and his wife, daughter as well as two domestic staff tested positive for COVID - 19 and recovered after a few weeks. Making the revelation in a video posted via his Social media handles on Saturday, Okoye said, ”For the past three weeks, I have been ill and most people didn’t even know what was wrong with me. I kept it to myself. It has been three weeks of hell for me and my family. “I had COVID 19 for about three weeks and it happened to me. “I was sick and I tested positive. “It’ s been hell for this family in this house. Not just me. Even two of my domestic staff. “After a week, my daughter caught the virus as well. It was sad that when she caught it, the doctor insisted that she has to be self - isolated in her own room but my wife did something very courageous. She said no. “I was sick and I was being self-isolated in my guest room. I couldn't even see my sick daughter and I was feeling so bad. I felt so bad because I felt that I

The Office of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has reacted to a publication on Sahara Reporters news medium purporting that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management allocated N-Power recruitment slots to the Senate President and other lawmakers A statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to President of the Senate, Ola Awoniyi advised members of the public to totally disregard the publication which it described as fake and malicious in its entirety as regards the Senate President. The statement went further to say: "It should be noted that the fairytale only blandly and obliquely claimed that some lawmakers printed out application forms from the portal of the scheme but failed to provide any evidence that this was to fill its speculated allocated slots. "We wish to stress that neither the Senate President nor this office has anything to do with the purported slots mischievously credited by the publication to the Senate President. "We

Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa The daughter to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has tested positive for coronavirus. This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Friday in Asaba. He announced that one of the children of Okowa tested positive for the virus. He said, consequently, the Governor and his family members had commenced self- isolation for 14 days. He said, “One of the children of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has tested positive for the virus and as such, the governor and his family members have gone on self -isolation for 14 days. “It is again pertinent to stress that COVID - 19 is real, and citizens are advised to be disciplined and comply with the protocols of wearing Face Masks and maintaining physical-distancing while in public places. “And as well as basic hygiene of hand -washing with soap in running water and use of alcohol-based sanitisers as NCDC regulation demands.” Ifeajika stressed that “the state g

The Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, was on Thursday honoured with a recognition award by the West African Society for Communication and Administration in collaboration with the Institute of Administrative Sciences.  Tabiowo was inducted as a Professional Fellow of the West African Society of Communication and Administration (WASCA).  The event which was earlier slated for March 2, 2020, was postponed due to the introduction of the lockdown policy by the Federal Government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  A statement signed by Mohammed Isa, Special Assistant (Media) to the President of the Senate quoted the Executive secretary of WASCA Simeon Charles as saying: “the Honour is in recognition of your (Tabiowo's) professional excellence, resourcefulness and application of dynamics in the discharge of your duties as well as motivation for your outstanding achievements and selfless service in contribution to the nation’s socio-economic devel

The Point-Per-Game (PPG) voting system adopted by the Club Owners Association to decide placements in the 2019/2020 season, has finally been approved by the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL. Some clubs had cried foul over the decision of the 17 Clubs who voted for the PPG but superior argument ended the hisses in an all-embracing meeting called by the NPFL and the 20 clubs. Clubs voted via Zoom meeting, in a third round of voting since the League was shut down due to the COVID 19 outbreak. With the outcome of the voting, the clubs to fly Nigeria’s flag at the continent next season are Plateau Utd, and Enyimba International of Aba in the Champions League while Rivers United and Kano Pillars will fly Nigeria’s flag in the Confederations Cup.

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed sadness over the demise of the former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, describing it as a grave loss to the nation. Ekweremadu, while reacting to the sad development, eulogised the former Governor as a bridge builder and pan Nigerian. In a statement signed by his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, he said: “I received with a deep sense of loss the passing on of my friend, brother, and colleague in the 5th Senate, Distinguished Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi. “He was an accomplished public administrator, legislator per excellent, pan Nigerian, and bridge builder. “As a grandson of the a former chief in the revered Ibadan royal court and scion of former member of the defunct Western Region House of Assembly, Ajimobi brought his rich political background to bear in his service to his people and the nation as a whole. “He no doubt excelled in political engineering and mobilisation and will forever be re

The immediate past Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has died at the age of age 70 after battling coronavirus - related symptoms for a month. Reports say Ajimobi, who was governor from 2011 to 2019, was named the Acting National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress last week but never resumed. The former governor was hospitalised at First Cardiologist and Cardiovascular Consultants Hospital, Lagos on June 2, 2020. He was said to have tested negative for COVID -19 but the illness had caused his health to deteriorate. Ajimobi’s wife, Florence, had earlier been hospitalised with her husband. She was, however, discharged. He was said to be managing the illness at home before the situation worsened and he had to go to a hospital. Like other VIPs, he was said to have opted for private treatment rather than a public facility after his condition worsened. A source close to the family said the former governor had diabetes and other ailments. “It is true that Ajimobi ga

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed a suit seeking an order directing Senator Ovie Omo-Agege to vacate his seat as a senator and Deputy Senate President. The suit filed by a civil society group, Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, is anchored on the grounds that Omo - Agege allegedly has a record of previous criminal convictions in the United States of America. But delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Ahmed Mohammed dismissed the suit on the grounds that it constituted an abuse of court process. In dismissing the suit, the judge upheld the preliminary objection filed by four respondents, comprising, Omo-Agege, the Clerk of the National Assembly, his party, the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission. Justice Mohammed noted that the plaintiff ought to have immediately withdrawn the suit on realising that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, a court with coordinate jurisdiction with the Federal

The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress has ratified the governorship primary in Edo State which produced Pastor Ize Iyamu as its governorship candidate. President Muhammadu Buhari has also directed that all party members should discontinue all ongoing litigations as they affect the party.

Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has been appointed as the head of the All Progressives Congress caretaker committee and chairman of the extraordinary convention. The Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress-led by Buni will run the affairs of the party for six months. The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee. While introducing Buni, the governor said after six months, the committee is expected to convene a convention that will produce new leadership.

The All Progressives Congress has dissolved its National Working Committee. The decision was reached at the National Executive Council meeting held on Thursday. Bashir Ahmad, an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, tweeted, “Following the recommendation of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been dissolved.” Punch

The National Secretary of the Senator Ajimobi-led National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, Waziri Bulama, was among those prevented from entering the National Secretariat of the party. Bulama, who arrived at the Secretariat about 10:50 am in a black Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number Abuja, Abj -140 DN, was stopped at the gate by armed policemen on duty. He stepped out of his vehicle, asked for the leader of the team, and later called the FCT Commissioner of Police. In a brief interview with reporters, Bulama said: “I came here this morning to resume work and met policemen who said they have instructions from above to seal the secretariat. “I have called the commissioner of police and he said he is sending a senior officer to see what is happening. “The workers of the secretariat are servicing over 16 million members of this party across Nigeria. They are like civil servants.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown his weight behind Victor Giadom as the acting chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress. He has also expressed his readiness to attend the virtual meeting of the party’s National Executive Council meeting that Giadom announced that will hold at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this on Wednesday while answering questions from State House correspondents. Shehu said, “The President has received very convincing advice on the position of the law as far as the situation in the party is concerned and has determined that the law is on the side of Victor Giadom as Acting National Chairman. “Because he will always act in accordance with the law, the President will be attending the virtual meeting Giadom called for tomorrow afternoon. “We urge the media to stop promoting manufactured controversies and to not give any further room for mischiev

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Wednesday struck out a suit seeking to bar Governor Godwin Obaseki from contesting the Edo State Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary scheduled for Thursday. The Court took the decision after parties to the suit agreed to an out-of-court settlement and withdrew the matter which was before Justice E. O Obile. Counsel for the plaintiff in the matter had earlier sought for leave of the court to settle with the defendants, which counsels for the defendants did not object. The court took a recess in the morning to allow parties in the suit amicably settle their contentions out of court. But the court upon resuming on the matter in the afternoon, struck out the suit after the plaintiff’s lead counsel, D. C. Denwigwe (SAN), withdrew the suit on the grounds that all parties had settled amicably. Justice Obile commended the parties for settling out of court, adding that it was the proper thing to do.

In compliance with the directive of the Federal Ministry of Aviation that all agencies in the sector relocate their corporate headquarters to Abuja, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has moved its corporate headquarters to Abuja. A statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said the movement is aimed at ensuring operational efficiency, while also improving the quality of service delivery to its customers. She said already, the Managing Director, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu, Directors and other critical members of staff of the Authority had since relocated to the new FAAN headquarters in Abuja.

* Says some members of PDP NWC are tax collectors *To sue ThisDay Newspapers Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pulled out of the reconciliation efforts of the Edo State Chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He told newsmen in Port Harcourt today that some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP are sycophants and tax collectors who will never tell the truth. According to him, instead of the NWC to carry everybody along in Edo state, they resorted to using the media to blackmail him. "I told them that in Edo State, we must handle the issue carefully and carry everybody along. They must respect human beings and not behave like tax collectors. "They said because an order was obtained from a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, then I am responsible. "I have had sleepless nights to resolve the issue in Edo state. The Governors of Edo, Adamawa, and Delta states, know what I have done to resolve the issues in Edo state.

The police have said they did not seal the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress in Abuja, contrary to reports in the media. The force made it clear that it deployed its operatives as a proactive measure to maintain peace and ensure there was no breakdown of law and order at the party secretariat. The force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, explained in a statement on Tuesday, that the policemen were deployed in the premises “to prevent any untoward situation within and around the APC national secretariat.” He stated that the party members and the secretariat staff were at liberty to conduct their legitimate businesses as usual. The ruling party had been engulfed in crisis following the ruling of the Appellate Court upholding the suspension of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. A chieftain of the party, Victor Giadom is laying claims to the position of the APC national chairman in an acting capacity, but the National Working Committee is insisting that a former g

Armed Police personnel sealed the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Tuesday. Reports say the IGP had scheduled a meeting with some of the feuding members of the party for 1 pm. The Appellate Court sitting in Abuja last week upheld the suspension of the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has barred Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State from participating in the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary slated for Thursday, June 25, 2020. According to the court documents, the suit was instituted by one of the governorship aspirants on the PDP, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, who had vowed not to step down for Obaseki. Ogbeide-Ihama, prayed the court to stop Obaseki from participating in the primary on several grounds. A major reason by Ogbeide-Ihama was that Obaseki recently joined the party and that only those who purchased the forms during the stipulated window before the waiver granted Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress, should be allowed to partake in the primaries. He also questioned the validity of Obaseki’s certificates. While the primaries of the PDP was scheduled for June 25, the Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed the governorship

Ghana has “regretted” the demolition of a residential building at Nigeria’s diplomatic mission in Accra. The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement reacting to the demolition of the building reassured the diplomatic community in Ghana, particularly the Nigerian High Commission that they were safe in the West African country. “Ghana remains a law-abiding country that upholds the principle of the rule of law. “The government will, therefore, not relent in its primary obligation to guarantee the safety of members of the diplomatic corps in Ghana.” Armed men raided the Nigerian diplomatic mission in Accra late on June 19, demolishing some apartments under construction and recently acquired by the Nigerian High Commission. The statement noted that a businessman accused the high commission of encroaching on his land. It said that investigations had commenced “to unravel the facts” and that security had been beefed up at the facility. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday released guidelines to guide member associations on the restart of football activities on the continent. A statement on the continental body’s website said that the guidelines were put together by the CAF Medical Committee in collaboration with the Technical and Development Department as well as a team of experts. ”The 27-page document entitled, “CAF Guidelines to Resume Football in Africa,” emphasises on the health of the major stakeholders (Players, Officials, Fans, Partners) as the essential element, which should constitute the basis of all decisions regarding the reintroduction of football activities across the continent supported by the authorisation of relevant State Authorities. ”The plan also highlights on effective and continuous medical assessment (testing) of players and officials, guidelines for training sessions, disinfection of sporting facilities, as well as strict adherence to the global preventive protocols. “This c

Nigeria has announced 675  new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 20, 919. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced this on Monday, through its official Twitter handle. NCDC said that the 675 new confirmed cases were from 21 states, with seven deaths as at June 22. The health agency said that no new state reported a case in the last 24 hours. The NCDC said that Lagos reported the highest number of cases with 288 new cases, while Oyo came second with 76 new infections. Other states reported as follows: Rivers, 56, Delta, 31, Ebonyi, 30, Gombe, 28, Ondo, 20, Kaduna, 20, Kwara, 20, Ogun, 17, FCT, 16, Edo, 13, Abia, 10, Nasarawa, 9, Imo, 9, Bayelsa, 8, Borno, 8, Katsina, 8, Sokoto, 3, Bauchi, 3, Plateau, 2. The NCDC said that till date, 20,919 cases had been confirmed – 13,285 active, 7,109 cases treated and discharged, 115,760 samples collected and 525 deaths recorded in 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), says no state in Nigeria is free of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ihekweazu said this at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) media briefing on Monday in Abuja. He noted that some states might not have recorded any COVID-19 case at the moment, but they would eventually do. While giving an update on his visit to four states including  Akwa Ibom, Edo, Plateau and Lagos, he commended the state governors for aggressively investing in the COVID-19  response, using state resources. He lauded Edo government for the innovative approach adopted such as the inclusion of Edo in the diaspora, in various universities around the world, to understand how they were responding. “We are really impressed by the work going on in Edo. “In Edo, we met a very dedicated team at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the Stella Obasanjo Hospital and really saw a set of clinicians working very hard innovatively, to de

Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Edo governorship election on September 19 has appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to return to the party. Ize-Iyamu made the appeal on Monday in Benin while addressing newsmen shortly after his emergence as the candidate of the party. In the party’s primaries conducted across the 18 local government areas of the state, Ize-Iyamu, defeated two other aspirants to clinch the APC ticket. He scored 27,838 votes to beat the state’s former deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu, and Mr Osaro Obaze, who scored 3,776 and 2,324 votes respectively to emerge second and third in the primaries. Ize-Iyamu said he deemed it necessary to appeal to the governor to retrace his step to avoid a similar mistake he (Ize-Iyamu) made when he left APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014. While commending the two other aspirants in the primaries, he said he would unite the party. “This is the time to unite all the members of the APC. Somet

P olice personnel have rescued a 40-year-old Filipino lady, Irene Panas, allegedly held hostage by one Chukwudi Odo, whom she met on Facebook in 2019. Panas, an accountant based in Manila, was lured to Nene-Uno village in the Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, where she spent six months, while being sexually abused by her supposed lover. After her rescue, the victim was immediately taken to hospital, where she was admitted from June 5 to June 16, 2020. The police explained that Panas, who had a month visa, had planned to spend 10 days in Nigeria, but was forced to stay for six months against her will. The force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, who paraded Odo in Abuja on Monday, explained that his victim was critically ill at the time of her rescue, noting that she was held incommunicado by the suspect. He stated, “Irene Panas, an accountant by profession and a native of Manila in the Philippines, arrived Nigeria on November 22, 2019, on a visit to one Chukwudi Odo, 54, of Enugu

One of the governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, has emerged winner of the party’s direct primary conducted on Monday. Chairman of the Edo State APC Primary Election Committee, Governor Hope Uzodinma, declared Ize-Iyamu winner of the election after collating the results turned in by the returning officers in the 18 local government areas of the state. He pulled 27,838 votes, while his closest rival, Dr Pius Odubu scored 3,776, while Mr Osaro Obaze pulled 2,751 votes. With the result, Ize-Iyamu will face other contenders in the September 19 governorship election in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari and governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress are currently meeting in Abuja. Reports say the meeting is holding in the presidential villa, Abuja. The President had earlier summoned some APC governors to a meeting on Monday as part of efforts to resolve the leadership crisis in the party.

A factional acting National Charman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Victor Giadom, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disregard the ongoing governorship primary election in Edo State. He made the appeal in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, and received by the electoral umpire on Monday. In the letter dated June 18, 2020, Giadom asked INEC not to give support to direct primary election conducted by a committee chaired by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma. “Kindly note that as the acting chairman of our party, I did not authorise such a committee, neither have I inaugurated one,” he said. The factional chairman added, “You are, therefore, advised not to give any support to any such committee or to monitor any such primaries.” Although Giadom acknowledged that the party had fixed June 22 to conduct the exercise, he insisted that the primary had been postponed and a new date would be communicated to INEC soon. He n

Following the demolition of the Nigerian High Commissioners’ residence in Accra, Ghana with bulldozers on the midnight of Friday, the National Association of Nigerian Students in Ghana NANS-Ghana has condemned in the strongest terms what it described as the callousness of the action by the perpetrators. NANS-Ghana, the umbrella body of Nigerian students in tertiary institutions across Ghana said it received with shock, news of the demolition of the uncompleted apartments which was being constructed to house staff and visiting diplomats to the High Commission. A statement signed by Comrade Adebayo Samuel Ogunkoya, Executive President, NANS Ghana said an eyewitness report by JoyNews editor, Fred Smith who was at the scene, indicated that armed men threatened to shoot staff of the embassy who were present at the scene if they interfere in their operations. According to the head of security at the High Commission Emmanuel Kabutey, the leader of the team that came to demolish the building

The All Progressives Congress in Rivers state has suspended the Deputy National Secretary of the party, Mr Victor Giadom, for acts of gross infractions against the party's constitution. According to a statement signed by Livingstone Wechie, Media Adviser to the APC Rivers state Chairman, Igo Aguma, on Sunday, the suspension followed recommendations of a fact-finding committee of the party. The committee recommended that “Victor Giadom be immediately suspended from the party and every party activities for his numerous infractions of the party constitution and conduct, which had caused the party irredeemable disrepute". The statement further stated that Giadom should immediately write a letter of apology to the party and also publish the same letter on three national newspapers. The statement added that the position of the committee’s report was accepted and adopted by the APC in the state after it was presented to the state Executive Committee during its meeting.