Tag: Current Naija News

Big loss for APC as National Welfare Secretary dies

‘Monumental Loss’ — APC Announces Death Of National Welfare Secretary

Friday Nwosu, the National Welfare Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has passed away.

In a Thursday night tweet, the APC announced his passing.

Read Also: Politicians Collected Our Account Numbers Without Paying — Niger Voters Cry Out

The ruling party did not disclose the cause of death, but Ejes Gist News Nigeria has learned that Nwosu passed away in a federal capital territory hospital (FCT).

Sir Friday Nwanozie Nwosu, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, passed away recently. The APC family has suffered a tremendous loss. “May he rest in peace,” tweeted the APC.

Nwosu was a governorship candidate for the APC in Abia State in the run-up to the 2019 general election.

However, he lost the primary election to Uche Ogah, who ultimately lost the general election to Okezie Ikpeazu, the incumbent governor.

Also Read: Gbajabiamila dumps re-election bid, tops list of contenders for Tinubu’s Chief of Staff

Prior to 2015, Nwosu competed with the future governor for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship nomination before joining the APC.

Ikpeazu, who was later sworn in as governor, won the election.

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March 10, 2023
Another Top Government Official Charged with Corruption

Malaysia’s ex-prime minister charged with corruption

On Friday, former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged with corruption and money laundering in connection with the alleged misuse of a COVID economic recovery fund.

Muhyiddin served as prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, during the height of Malaysia’s battle against the coronavirus. He now leads an opposition coalition against Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

Read Also: Politicians Collected Our Account Numbers Without Paying — Niger Voters Cry Out

He is the second former Malaysian prime minister to be charged with corruption, following former leader Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year sentence for his role in a financial scandal involving the state investment fund 1MDB.

Muhyiddin, 75, was charged with four counts of using his position to obtain bribes totaling $51.4 million for his political party Bersatu.

Companies that were favoured for Covid fund-financed projects are allegedly the source of the bribes.

Each offense is punishable by up to twenty years in prison if convicted.

Muhyiddin was also charged with two counts of money laundering involving 195 million ringgit deposited into Bersatu’s account, according to the charge sheets.

Also Read: Gbajabiamila dumps re-election bid, tops list of contenders for Tinubu’s Chief of Staff

Each of these charges carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

On Monday, prosecutors are expected to charge him with a third instance of money laundering.

Muhyiddin pled not guilty to all charges and requested a trial on Friday in Sessions Court.

He was released on bail but must hand over his passport.

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March 10, 2023
Politicians Collected Our Account Numbers Without Paying — Niger Voters Cry Out

Politicians Collected Our Account Numbers Without Paying, Says Niger Voters Cry Out

Voters in Niger State have accused politicians of deception by collecting their account numbers before the presidential and National Assembly elections without paying them.…

Voters in Niger State have accused politicians of deception by collecting their account numbers before the presidential and National Assembly elections without paying them.

Mrs Felicia Sunday told City & Crime that their account numbers were collected by various political parties but that two weeks after the polls they were yet to receive the money they were promised.

She said, “Our account numbers were collected during the presidential and National Assembly elections and up till now we’ve not heard anything. Some parties promised us N5,000,” adding that, “These politicians are deceitful people. I can’t just trust them again.”

READ ALSO: BREAKING: APC Chairman And Ex-Deputy Governor In Niger State Resigns From Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council

She, however, noted that some parties shared food items like rice, spaghetti, Maggi and salt.

Mallam Danjuma Mohammed shared a similar experience with our reporter, saying that account numbers were submitted during voting.

Mr. Philip Nma, another voter, said he submitted his account to an agent of one of the political parties, who promised to send him N5,000 after the poll but have not done so up till now.

He said many of the voters had decided not to listen to any of them during the forthcoming gubernatorial polls.

A Point of Sale (POS) operator told our reporter that some voters brought dollars to him to buy a day after the presidential and National Assembly elections.

But speaking on the conduct of the voters, a retired police officer, Mr Sunday Ajeromi, told City & Crime on phone that it was a criminal offence for them to collect money in exchange of votes, saying that is what the law refers to as vote selling or buying, which is criminal.

He said instead of them complaining, the law enforcement agents should have arrested and prosecuted them accordingly.

The retired police officer noted that it was a serious offence in the Electoral Act to either buy or sell votes and urged the populace to desist from such in the interest of the nation’s democratic development.

March 10, 2023
Gbajabiamila dumps re-election bid, tops list of contenders for Tinubu’s Chief of Staff

Gbajabiamila dumps re-election bid, tops list of contenders for Tinubu’s Chief of Staff

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila is a leading candidate for the post of chief of staff to president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the next administration.

Gbajabiamila was conspicuously missing at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, on Wednesday when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented certificates of return to elected members of the 10th House of Representatives.

Gbajabiamila was re-elected to represent Surulere 1 federal constituency, Lagos, for the 6th Consecutive tenure during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections. He polled 19,717 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Bosun Jeje, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 5,121 votes.

Ejes Gist News Nigeria Friday, however, gathered that the speaker may eventually not represent his constituency in the 10th Assembly as he is likely to be considered for the position of chief of staff to the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the new government.

A source familiar with Gbajabiamila confirmed that the speaker, being one of Tinubu’s core loyalists and having worked with politicians from every federal constituency in Nigeria in the last 20 years, is more likely to be considered for the plum job.

When asked if Gbajabiamila will abandon his fresh mandate to pursue the chief-of-staff job in Tinubu’s government, the source said, “That is what we are hearing. If you notice, he didn’t come for his certificate of return on Wednesday. The truth is he doesn’t need that certificate; he has everything to function optimally as chief-of-staff to the president in the new government. He has worked with politicians in every federal constituency and across political divides in the last 20 years.”

When contacted, the special adviser to the speaker on media and publicity, Mr Lanre Lasisi, said his principal was not able to attend the presentation of the certificate ceremony. He, however, declined further comments on the matter.

“He was just not able to be in Abuja for the ceremony,” Lasisi said.

Gbajabiamila was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003. Since then, he has won elections in the subsequent five election cycles. During his 20-year journey in the House of Representatives so far, Gbajabiamila served as minority whip, minority leader, and majority leader before he was elected as Speaker in 2019.

March 10, 2023
NADECO flags off anti-Tinubu campaign in USA, asks Biden, others to withhold recognition

NADECO flags off anti-Tinubu campaign in USA, asks Biden, others to withhold recognition

True to its threat, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), USA Chapter, has kick-started a global campaign against the declaration of All progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Nigeria’s President-elect.

Addressing an international press conference on “2023 Nigerian Election Crisis”, NADECO), USA Executive Director Lloyd Ukwu, declared Tinubu’s election as fraudulent, announcing that the premier Nigerian pro-democracy group has consequently severed ties with him.

USA NADECO expels Tinubu, rejects 2023 presidential election results, moves to extract original votes from INEC server, BVAS

Ukwu at the press conference held at the National Press Club, Washington, D.C., on Wednesday appealed to the Joe Biden administration and the global community not to recognise Tinubu’s election. He described the press conference as “the first of its series of events planned over the next several weeks regarding the recently held Presidential election in Nigeria”.

Below are parts of his remarks:

“NADECO alleges that the election results pronounced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (“INEC”), February 25-26, 2023, are fundamentally at odds with Nigerian election laws and constitute wholesale disenfranchisement of Nigerian voters caused by the pervasive rot of Nigeria’s increasingly kleptocratic political structure.

“NADECO demands that INEC draw back its curtains to let the full light of truth prove the transparency and veracity of the 2023 electoral processes. It is without question that nearly all of the electoral reforms implemented to safeguard the 2023 Nigerian elections have been savaged by INEC and scattered to the winds of tyranny. It is beyond debate that initial investigation into the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Elections inexorably discloses that Nigeria’s most recent election is the polar opposite of transparency, fairness and electoral integrity. This election was polluted by blatant bribery and widespread corruption – even INEC itself has admitted to its abject failures to comply with the requisite transparency laws mandating real-time electronic transmission of election results from the polling units to the public, instead opting to cloak the electronic results in darkness before emerging with a declared rather than proved “winner” who is presently incapable of being fully embraced by the World.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC action clearly constitutes negligence per se and electoral fraud, as it violated the very statutory provisions and guidelines that are designed to protect against the type of fraud caused by its failure to transmit the results in real time. The people of Nigeria are supposed to be the ones the statute is designed to protect, instead, they have found themselves at the receiving end of the resulting gross injustice.

“NADECO maintains that the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election is an attempt to disenfranchise the Nigerian people through the Four Horsemen of Democracy’s Doom – Bribery, Voter Intimidation, Insecurity, and Vote Rigging, all harnessed to skew the results of the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election.

“NADECO calls upon the people and the Judiciary of Nigeria and the International Community to join hands in a concerted effort toward global condemnation and absolute rejection of the hasty, hollow, and illegitimate result declared by INEC as being contrary to the will of the people and the rule of law.

“NADECO hereby takes the following positions to lead a global call for action to redress INEC’s duplicity that endangers democracy in the Giant of Africa:

“NADECO is gravely concerned about the irregularities, voter intimidation, violence, the breach of the National Electoral Act, and most importantly the abrupt and hurried pronouncement of the dubious 2023 Presidential Election results. This, in our viewpoint, signals a wholesale disenfranchisement of voters in Africa’s largest nation.

“NADECO’s goals and singular mandate have always been to fight for the rule of law and democracy in Nigeria as Nigeria’s watchdog of democracy.

“NADECO hereby, as a first step, formally severs its relationship with Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a former founding member of NADECO (U.S.A.) for his participation in the worst electoral fraud in Nigeria’s recent history.

“NADECO and Tinubu fought Abacha as the military dictator who scuttled the will of the Nigerian people in 1993 June 12 elections. Ironically, exactly 30 years later, in 2023, “NADECO is fighting the same species of dictatorship but only this time a much more dangerous civilian dictatorship – a kleptocracy- mostly perpetuated by one of those who fought Abacha then. NADECO will not look the other way simply because the fraud was perpetrated by one of its founding members.

“NADECO urges the Biden administration to withhold any recognition of the product of the flawed election prior to proof the electoral process reflects the will of the Nigerian People and was without substantive corruption and fraud.

“NADECO further entreats the U.S. Congress to introduce a Resolution calling on the U.S. administration not to recognize the product of the election. It is the product of a poisonous tree.

“NADECO calls on the international community to support the empaneling of a team of internationally acclaimed technical experts to examine and analyze the INEC servers, and BVAS, etc. to extract the original votes.

“NADECO implores the Nigerian People and the Judiciary of Nigeria, acting in concert with the International Community, to join together in a concerted effort toward global condemnation and absolute rejection of the hasty, hollow, and illegitimate result declared by INEC as being contrary to the will of the people and the rule of law.

NADECO demands that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC), Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, MUST resign or be removed immediately.

“NADECO urgently requests that all Countries worldwide, especially the United States, place an immediate visa ban upon Prof. Mahmoud.

“NADECO solemnly exhorts the U.S. to not deviate from its democratic standards in Africa just because it fears competition with China and seeks to curry favor with illegitimate dictators who come to power through bribery, force, intimidation, and vote rigging. The U.S. should come out and condemn the apparent corruption of the electoral process, and impose an immediate visa ban on those suspected to have compromised the polls.

“NADECO demands that President Buhari and INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu should be held jointly and severally liable and accountable by the Nigerian Courts and the International Community for what is currently happening across Nigeria in the days following the 2023 elections, and for what could happen in the next few weeks should INEC’s noxious banquet be forced down Nigerian’s throats.”

March 10, 2023
Ex-Niger Delta agitators demand arrest of APC governorship candidate, Omo-Agege over surveillance funds

Ex-Niger Delta agitators demand arrest of APC governorship candidate, Omo-Agege over surveillance funds

Former Niger Delta agitators of Urhobo and Isoko extraction have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for allegedly withholding the Pipeline Surveillance contract funds meant for the youths of Urhobo and Isoko ethnic nationalities.

Senator Omo-Agege is the current Deputy President of the Senate and leading Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming March 18, 2023, Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Delta State.

The aggrieved, wild-looking youths, armed with placards with various inscriptions and chanting revolutionary songs on Thursday morning, stormed the Ovwian Express Junction, Udu Local Government Area of the state, on a peaceful protest, calling out Omo-Agege to return the pipeline surveillance funds allocated to the two ethnic nationalities.

The youths, therefore, gave the EFCC a seven-day ultimatum commencing March 9, 2023, to carry out the arrest or be ready for more showdowns on the ystreets.

In a statement read by the Secretary General of the Ovwian community, Okoro Godspower, the youths alleged that they had, at different occasions, met with the Obarisi of Urhoboland concerning the slot, but nothing has been done.

According to them, their neighbours, the Itsekiri and Ijaw youths have been receiving N200,000 surveillance funds, and the Urhobo and Isoko youths are being given N60,000 with Omo-Agege allegedly withholding N140,000.

The statement also alleged that Omo-Agege was cajoling them to tender a hand-written resignation letter stating that they have defected to APC, with a promise that their names would be included in the pipeline surveillance contract list.

The statement read: “Based on the exigencies at the moment, it has become paramount and imperative for us, the Ex-Agitators of Urhobo and Isoko Ethnic Nationalities, to stage a peaceful protest to let the whole world know about the evil schemes of Senator Ovie Omo Agege who has taken over the Pipeline Surveillance contract meant for the Urhobo and Isoko Nations.

“Since he has refused to listen to the voice of reason to remove his hand from this God-given opportunity, we unequivocally declare as follows:

“Commencing from today, March 9, 2023, we hereby issue a seven days notice to the EFCC to arrest Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and let him explain to the whole world what happened to the pipeline surveillance contracts funds meant or Urhobo and Isoko youths

“Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have joined issues with OMO-AGEGE, our Orogun Senator, in staging today’s peaceful protest march, knowing fully well that the Orogun Senator will learn a lesson in a week from today that power belongs to the people via the ballot

“However, we are saddened by his recent display of lack of empathy, and human consideration, wherein our Orogun Senator acquired a new Private jet aircraft, with funds meant for the payment of persons who are supposed to be guarding NNPCL pipeline that transverses the length and breadth of Urhobo and Isoko land.

“Unlike High Chief Government Owelzie Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo and Chief Emami Ayiri who have since commenced work at the payment of the youths of their ethnic nationalities as far as the Pipeline Surveillance Contract is concerned.

Lamentably, the same testimony cannot be said of Urhobo and Isoko youths who have been pushed aside, Today, our Orogun Senator is busy cajoling our youths to tender a handwritten resignation letter stating that they have defected to APC, with a promise before their names can be included to be part of the Surveillance contract and also support him hook line and sinker so that OMO-AGEGE can be sworn in as Delta State governor.

“I wish to end this address by reminding the EFCC that, after seven days from today, the 9 of March 2023, no action is taken: against the Orogun Senator, we shall return to the street in a bigger way to agitate for our lawful rights.”

Meanwhile, Senator Omo-Agege has described the protesters as “hirelings of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s misguided PDP and government in Delta.”

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Sunny Areh, the leading governorship candidate, said;

“Having lost woefully in the presidential election and presently struggling on all fronts in the governorship race in Delta, they mistakenly think they can dent the solid and untainted profile of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who is surging ahead to become the next elected Governor of Delta.

“Senator Omo-Agege is not a contractor and has no contract with NNPCL on pipeline surveillance. That is an easily verifiable fact. What you are seeing is just the last kicks of a dying horse. Ignore them as the losers that they are and will continue to be.

“We only pity the juveniles that they are paying peanuts to misbehave. Deltans have decided to sweep away Okowa and whatever looks like him, especially his lackeys and stooges.stooges.

“Nothing will change that. But we must seriously warn those who allow the wayward Okowa government to use them, to seek legal guidance on our laws concerning defamation,” he added.

March 10, 2023
Why Buhari is silent over allegations of election results compromised against INEC — Presidency

Why Buhari is silent over allegations of election results compromised against INEC, says Presidency

The Presidency on Thursday, gave the reason why President Muhammadu Buhari kept silent when there were allegations of irregularities and compromise against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the conduct of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Presidency also ruled out the possibility of taking any decision that would lead to the annulment of the presidential elections as was the case of June 12, 1992.

It advised any candidate or political party that is not satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the election to approach the court for redress.

These were contained in a report by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, titled, “At the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), President Buhari drums up support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidency.”

Before the elections, President Buhari had at different fora, both local and international, assured that he would ensure that the elections that would herald his exit from office would be credible, free, fair and transparent and that the outcome would reflect the wish of the people in choosing who would lead them.

The signing into the law the Electoral Act, 2022 and the use of technology for the elections were indications that President Buhari was ready to bequeath to the Nigeria, a transparent electoral process, devoid of manipulations.

However, controversies have trailed the conduct and outcome of the February 25 presidential election as the INEC has been accused to have failed to follow strictly the Electoral Act as regards the transmission of the results from the BIVAS to the iREV immediately after collation at the Pulling Units.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was the first to raise the alarm that the INEC had compromised the conduct of the election by not keeping to the electoral laws and had, in a statement, called on President Buhari to call the electoral umpire to order so that the country would not be thrown into political crisis.

There has also been plethora of negative reports from a section of international news media, casting aspersions on the conduct of the election, saying that it fell flat from the expectations of majority of the electorate.

But the presidential spokesman in what could be said to be the takeaways he listed from the President participation at the LDCs Conference, in Doha, Qatar, said that Buhari, while speaking to Nigerians in the Diaspora about the ongoing political transition, called for support for the incoming government of Asiwaju Tinubu, “so that Nigeria will continue to be the beacon of hope and prosperity in our continent and an example for other African countries to emulate.”

He further said, “In addition to other things, this trip, more than any other, speaks to the courage, political stamina and statesmanship with which the President has managed the affairs of the nation.

“In the buildup to the trip, he was faced with orchestrated attempts to poison public opinion against national institutions, particularly the presidential election and its conduct by the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as an institution, against which vile and unsubstantiated allegations were hurled.

The clear intent of this was creating an atmosphere of fear, polarizing the public and demonizing the administration of the President. The wishful thinkers appeared to assume that the June 12, 1993 election crisis, the worst ever since the Civil War could be recreated. Those who sought to do this forgot what the President said at the palace of the Gbong-Gwon Jos, when he went to the city to inaugurate the Tinubu-Shettima campaign: “this election will not be annulled; whoever is the winner will be president.,’’ he said.

He also said, “President Buhari not only muted himself following the cacophony, he picked up international travel: “Bola Tinubu’s election stands. If you are aggrieved, and you have the locus to do so, go to court.’’

Continuing, he said, “President Buhari used the opportunity of the visit to speak to his guests about the recent election in Nigeria and the fact that a new President would be taking over in less than three months. He hoped that the strong relations he had built between those countries will continue to endure in the new administration.

“The highlight of the conference for Nigeria was the national address on the theme of this year’s event “From Potential to Prosperity,” a speech that observers described as strikingly activist. In it, the President criticized the current structure of the global financial system which, he said, “places an unsustainable external debt burden on the most vulnerable countries.”

March 10, 2023
Prominent Monarch Slumps, Dies in Palace

FCT Monarch Slumps, Dies In Palace

The traditional ruler of Yaba in the Abaji area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, has passed away.

On Thursday night, a member of the deceased monarch’s family, Shuaibu Abdullahi, confirmed the monarch’s death to our reporter.

Read Also: NADECO flags off anti-Tinubu campaign in USA, asks Biden, others to withhold recognition

According to him, the late Etsu of the Yaba chiefdom died in his palace while on his way to observe Magrib prayers.

According to Abdullahi, the monarch suddenly collapsed, and his aides rushed him to Abaji General Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Also Read: Breaking: INEC Rejects Court Ruling, Gives reasons

“As soon as he collapsed, they rushed him to the hospital in the car. “Unfortunately, doctors confirmed his death upon arrival at the hospital,” he said.

The 62-year-old monarch’s body has been transferred from the hospital to Yaba, where he will be buried by 9 a.m. on Friday.

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March 10, 2023
Nigerian Newspapers Headlines Today: 15 Things You Need to Know Today, Friday, March 10, 2023

Nigerian Newspapers Headlines Today, Nigeria News Today, Headlines, Newsonline Nigeria, News Headlines in Nigeria Today, Top Naija News, the Nigerian latest news, latest Nigerian news papers Today read them all.

Very good morning to you and welcome to our curated top Naija headline News today from Nigerian Newspapers today March 10th, 2023.

What are the Nigerian newspapers headlines today saying?.

1) The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigerian Railway Corporation have blamed the driver of a Lagos State Government staff bus for a fatal train accident that occurred in the PWD area of the state on Thursday, killing six people and injuring 96.

2) After the train accident on Thursday morning, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State suspended his campaign activities for the March 18 governorship election. A train belonging to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) collided with a BRT passenger bus carrying state civil servants to work, resulting in the death of a number of individuals and the severe injury of dozens more.

3) On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to permit the use of Temporary Voter Cards (PVC) in the March 18 governorship and state legislative elections. Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order while rendering a verdict in a case brought by two disgruntled Nigerians.

4) There are indications that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is about to relieve one of his most senior attorneys of his duties for failing to handle his case professionally. According to reports, the leader of IPOB was angry with the aforementioned senior attorney, whom he accused of being unable to secure his release from custody since his incarceration for what he described as having committed no crime.

5) On Thursday, the Defence Headquarters announced that 1,332 terrorists and their family members have surrendered to Operation Hadin Kai troops in the North East over the past two weeks. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major-General Musa Danmadami, disclosed the information during the twice-weekly news briefing in Abuja on the activities of the armed forces.

Nigerian Newspapers : INEC Reacts to Court Judgement Granting Usage of Temporary Voter Cards for Election, Reveals Next Move

6) The widespread rejection of the old N500 and N1,000 notes that persisted yesterday was exacerbated by banks’ refusal to accept deposits of the notes without registration on the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Cash Return Portal, CRP. Investigations indicate that banks cannot accept customer deposits of old currency until the CBN suspends or eliminates CRP registration of old currency deposits.

7) The Presidency yesterday ruled out annulment of the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections, which were allegedly marred by irregularities, stating that it will not allow a repeat of the events of June 12, 1993. Therefore, it advised any candidate or political party dissatisfied with the conduct and results of the election to seek redress in court.

Nigerian Newspapers: APC suffers setback as influential SAN, Akubo rejects appointment to be part of Tinubu’s legal team

8) The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has advised newly-admitted foreign-trained doctors to consider practicing medicine in the country, as opposed to seeking greener pastures abroad. Given the discrimination they face in the workplace, according to the MDCN, a significant number of doctors who emigrated to other countries regret their decision.

9) On Thursday, the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps arraigned a man, Samuel Oni, for allegedly defrauding a sex worker, Blessing Olaitan, of N120,000 through a fake alert.

10) Gerald Irona, the state’s former deputy governor, has been remanded to prison custody by a court in Owerri, Imo State. Irona served as the state’s deputy governor from May 29, 2019 to January 14, 2020, while Emeka Ihedioha was governor.

Nigerian Newspapers: NDLEA Recruitment Portal 2023: Application form is now available for free

11) US varsity speaks on certificate forgery allegation against Rhodes-Vivour

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has confirmed that Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s (LP) candidate for governor of Lagos State, attended the institution.The institution’s administration informed Ejes Gist News Nigeria on Thursday that Mr. Rhodes-Vivour earned a master’s degree in architecture after attending between 2005 and 2008.

12) APC welfare officer dies in Abuja

Friday Nwosu, the All Progressives Congress’ National Welfare Officer and a member of its National Working Committee, has reportedly passed away. Nwosu, a party leader, once ran for governor of Abia State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party before defecting to the ruling APC.

13) Troops stopped terrorists from disrupting presidential poll –DHQ

Troops conducting operations in Kogi and Borno states foiled terrorist and political thug plots to disrupt the 25 February presidential and National Assembly elections in the states, according to the Defence Headquarters. According to the military high command, terrorists had planned to attack locations in Borno’s Kauwa, Gamboru, and Monguno, and troops conducted an airstrike in response to an intelligence report.

Nigerian Newspapers: BREAKING: Wike begins Second Phase of war, Vows To Chase Atiku, Ayu, Others from PDP

14) NLC strike throws Owerri, environs into darkness

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, declared a statewide strike in Imo State to protest unpaid wages and worker violations, among other things. The strike has left Owerri, the state capital, and other parts of the state in the dark. However, the Imo State government characterized NLC’s action as a deliberate and calculated attempt to disrupt the state’s administration.

15) FCT Monarch Slumps, Dies In Palace

The traditional ruler of Yaba in the Abaji area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, has passed away. On Thursday night, a member of the deceased monarch’s family, Shuaibu Abdullahi, confirmed the monarch’s death to our reporter. According to him, the late Etsu of the Yaba chiefdom died in his palace while on his way to observe Magrib prayers.

Nigerian Newspapers –Newsonline Nigeria

Our Sources: Punch Newspapers , Vanguard Newspapers , Premium Times, The Guardian Nigeria, Leadership Newspapers, Channels Television,. Daily Trust NewsPaper Today ,This Day Newspaper.

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March 10, 2023
LP appoints Prominent Nollywood Actress as caretaker chairman for Rivers (Photo)

LP appoints Hilda Dokubo as caretaker chairman for Rivers

Comrade Julius Abure, National Chairman of the Labour Party, has appointed Hilda Dokubo to lead a three-person Steering Committee for the Rivers State chapter of the party for one month.

This information was contained in a letter signed by Abure, a copy of which was seen by Ejes Gist News Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.

Read Also: JUST IN: Court Makes Crucial Decision in Labour Party suit seeking Electronic Transmission of Guber Results

The appointment of the Dokubo-led panel followed the expiration of the three-month term of the Mr. Deinye Pepple-led Rivers State Labour Party Caretaker Committee and its subsequent dissolution by the appropriate authority.

Hilda Dokubo is the chairman of the Steering Committee, Pastor Philip Nyechi Loveday is the secretary, and Mr. Gogo Wellington is the publicity secretary.

The immediate task of the Committee, according to the party, is to ensure the victory of Comrade Beatrice Itubo, the Gubernatorial Candidate of the Labour Party in Rivers State, and all of its House of Assembly candidates in the March 18 election.

Also Read: INEC Reacts to Court Judgement Granting Usage of Temporary Voter Cards for Election, Reveals Next Move

Abure exhorted “all Obidients and Labour Party members to cooperate with them in the performance of their duties to ensure our unity, which will lead to our victory in the upcoming election.”

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March 9, 2023
JUST IN: Court Makes Crucial Decision in Labour Party suit seeking Electronic Transmission of Guber Results

INEC: Court Dismisses Labour Party Suit Seeking Electronic Transmission Of Election Result

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the Labour Party (LP) to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt electronic means of transmitting the 2023 election results.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, determined that Section 52(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022, cited by Monday Mawah, counsel for the party, provided for voting and transmission of results in accordance with INEC’s procedure.

Read Also: BREAKING: Wike begins Second Phase of war, Vows To Chase Atiku, Ayu, Others from PDP

According to the judge, INEC is free to prescribe or select the method of transmitting election results.

The LP, through its attorney, filed the originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1454/2022, on August 22, 2022, to sue INEC as the sole defendant.

The party asked the court to determine whether, in light of the combined effect of sections 47 (2), 50 (2), 60(4), 60 (5), and 62 (1)(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 and other pertinent provisions, the commission can still insist on manual collation of election results.

The LP requested two injunctive reliefs if the question was decided in its favour.

These include “a declaration that the respondent has no authority to opt for a manual method other than the electronic method provided for by the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022” and an order compelling INEC to comply with the Electoral Act 2022 regarding the electronic transmission of election results.

However, INEC neither responded nor filed a motion in the lawsuit.

Mawah argued in his brief that, based on the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022, manual collation of results was not permitted and must therefore be rejected or disallowed by the court.

Justice Nwite, while delivering the verdict, stated, “It is a truism that the court’s role is limited to interpreting the law.

“When interpreting the law, the court is required to interpret the status quo without introducing its own interpretation of what was intended.”

Also Read: INEC Reacts to Court Judgement Granting Usage of Temporary Voter Cards for Election, Reveals Next Move

According to him, the court’s functions, roles, and responsibilities in interpreting a statute are to give meaning and effect to the statute’s clear and unambiguous words.

Sections 50(2), 60(5), and 62(2) of the Electoral Act of 2022, according to the judge’s analysis of the plaintiff’s attorney’s argument, were the subject of contention or interpretation requests.

According to him, Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act of 2022 has provided for the transfer of election results, including the total number of accredited voters, from each polling location.

“Section 62(2), on the other hand, provides for the compilation, maintenance, and continuous update of the register of election results as a distinct database for all polling unit results as compiled in all commission-conducted elections.

“According to Section 62(2), this register of election results must be maintained in an electronic format at the commission’s national headquarters.

“Now, a careful reading of Section 50(2) reveals that voting and transmission of results must be conducted in accordance with the commission-determined procedure.

This means that the commission is at liberty to prescribe or select the method for transmitting election results.

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March 9, 2023
INEC Reacts to Court Judgement Granting Usage of Temporary Voter Cards for Election, Reveals Next Move

We haven’t seen court judgment allowing Temporary Voter Cards for election — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that it had not received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the federal high court’s ruling requiring it to allow registered voters with Temporary Voter’s Cards (TVCs) to participate in the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.

Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, stated, “I have not yet seen a Certified True Copy of the court order, so I am unable to comment on it.”

Read Also: Breaking: Court Okays the use of temporary voter cards (TVC) for Governorship Election

Justice Obiora Eguatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled on a case brought before him by two disgruntled registered voters, Kofoworola Olusegun and Wilson Allwell, on Thursday (today).

The court ruled that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the Electoral Act (as amended) specified that only Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) could be used, but that Section 47 of the Electoral Act provided for only a voter’s card.

Section 47(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) states: “A person who intends to vote in an election must present his voter’s card to a Presiding Officer for accreditation at the polling unit in his registered constituency.”

Since 2011, INEC, in reliance on its authority to develop election guidelines and manage the electoral process, has consistently adhered to the policy “no PVC, no vote.”

Also Read: Mass defection rocks PDP as former lawmaker, others, join APC, says party has lost focus

In the meantime, a source at the commission told Ejes Gist News Nigeria that the ruling violates the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2033 (as amended) and that only voters with Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) should be permitted to vote in elections.

“It is a decision with which we disagree, and I can tell you that when we receive the Certified True Copy, CTC, we will study it thoroughly and determine our next steps,” said the source.

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March 9, 2023
Mass defection rocks PDP as former lawmaker, others, join APC, says party has lost focus

Mass defection rocks PDP as former lawmaker, others, join APC, says party has lost focus

Many members and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State have dumped PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress on Thursday.

This development is barely two weeks after the presidential election, when the ruling party won the state with over 65% of the total vote cast. The APC equally won the three senatorial seats and seven of the nine house of representatives seats.

BREAKING: Wike begins Second Phase of war, Vows To Chase Atiku, Ayu, Others from PDP

It was gathered that the defectors are from the 18 local government areas of the state and they were received by the state leadership of the APC at the party secretariat, along Oyemekun Road, Akure, the state capital.

Leader of the defectors and former member of the state House of Assembly, Adeyinka Banso, said they dumped the PDP following the leadership crisis, declaring that the party had lost focus and vision.

He explained that he lost interest in the PDP when the opposition party picked its presidential candidate from the northern part of the country, saying it was a breach of the agreement on part of the PDP.

He said, “We are here to declare our unreserved and total commitment to APC. We declare total loyalty to our party leader, our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and our party chairman, the Jagaban of Ondo politics, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.

“Our quest to drop vision-lessness informed our defection to the progressive party. If I stay in PDP, I won’t get the opportunity to represent my people to do what will be beneficial to them. By joining APC, I can heave a sigh of relief.

“The moment my party picked a candidate from the northern extraction because it’s a breach of an agreement to me, this is not fair, I started thinking of moving to APC.”

Receiving the former PDP chieftains, the state Chairman of APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin, expressed delight at the development. He stated that the defectors were strong members of the PDP.

Adetimehin said, “I am the happiest man today. These are shakers and movers of Ondo politics. Politics is about grassroots, these gladiators are grassroots politicians popular among their people. These are men who usually gave us tough times in their various units, wards and constituencies during the elections. They are going to add value to our party a great deal.

“With their defection, we are sure of winning the state assembly election in their various units, wards, and constituencies.”

Adetimehin also said the remaining strong chieftains of the PDP would be drawn to APC before the end of the year.

“We are happy to receive the new decampees from the PDP. With these brothers coming, we have set the ball rolling. Before the end of this year, we are going to receive all leaders of the PDP into our party. There will be no PDP again. Ondo state shall become a full-time APC state.

“On behalf of the leader of our party, Akeredolu, I hereby receive you into our party, APC. Let’s go back to our units to join our party. All leaders in units and wards should issue membership cards to them all. If you don’t have membership cards again, come to the secretariat to get another set, ” the said.

March 9, 2023
BREAKING: Wike begins Second Phase of war, Vows To Chase Atiku, Ayu, Others from PDP

Wike begins Second Phase of war, Vows To Chase Atiku, Ayu, Others from PDP

The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has pledged to chase away Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP’s national chairman, and several other party figures from the PDP.

At the launching of a road project in Rivers State’s Ikwerre Local Government Area on Thursday, Governor Wike made the commitment.

Wike attributed the PDP’s defeat in the recently held presidential election to those who, in his opinion, disobeyed the PDP Constitution. He pledged to eject them from the gathering and begin the party’s reconstruction.

The governor described the move as the “second phase of the war.”

According to him: “These people left our party in 2014-2015, our party lost; again they came back, our party has lost again.

“They have destroyed our party. We are going to chase them away from our party. They have no role to play for our party.”

Wike also slammed the leadership of the PDP for accusing the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission of not following election guidelines when they (PDP) allegedly refused to follow the party’s constitution.

He further mocked the PDP leaders for staging the protest against INEC describing the party leaders as “students unions.”

March 9, 2023
Why Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade loses senatorial bid to Jarigbe Agom of PDP

Why Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade loses senatorial bid to Jarigbe Agom of PDP

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has lost his bid to return to the Senate. The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts in the state expressed surprise over his defeat, with Ayade polling 56,595 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Jaribe Agom-Jaribe, who polled 76,145 votes in the February 25, 2023, Presidential and National Assembly elections.

BREAKING: Jarigbe Agom defeats Cross River Governor, Ayade to win Northern senatorial seat

Analysts attribute his loss to a disconnect between him and his Cross River North people, who felt abandoned by him when he became governor. Ayade’s dumping of the PDP for the APC and his failure to fulfill promises were also blamed for his defeat.

Ayade’s critics claim that his eight years in office were all about his family and friends, who operated like demi gods. A businessman in Obudu, who chose to remain anonymous, complained about items to empower citizens lying down at Obudu Local Council and not being distributed. He blamed the disagreement between the governor and his ‘co-governor’ Frank for this delay, as they were trying to identify who was their relation or not.

Another resident said that the cargo airport under construction was sited on people’s land forcefully taken without adequate compensation. Ayade promised to complete the airport, yet the project is a far cry from completion. People are hungry, and the project was done for selfish interests, forcing local councils in the state to pay out so much.

In contrast, supporters of Ayade said that he did not perform so badly for his people. For instance, he opened up Obudu by building a world-class facility, the Obudu-German Hospital, and a university, the Obudu Canadian School. He also constructed the cargo airport and brought other developments to the state. They believe that Ayade will be vindicated in the future.

However, the people of Cross River North senatorial zone voted against Ayade and his brother, Frank, whom he christened ‘co-governor’ because they failed to meet the expectations of the people. The accused Ayade of bringing down electric poles for the phantom super highway project, and for eight years, there was no light. They criticized his leadership for not providing good water or a single borehole from the government.

Ahead of the March 11 governorship election in the state, a section of Northern youths and stakeholders held a meeting where they resolved to vote for Prince Bassey Otu, the APC governorship candidate, in the spirit of zoning or rotation instead of the PDP candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, who is from the Central. They assured Otu of their support, saying that what happened in the last election was an internal disagreement among their people.

March 9, 2023
Labour Party Governorship Candidate Steps Down, Declares Support for PDP

Labour Party Governorship Candidate Steps Down, Declares Support for PDP

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Nasarawa State, Joseph Ewuga, has shelved his ambition and declared support for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, David Ombugadu, ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll.

Speaking in the Akwanga Local Government Area on Wednesday, Ewuga said he stepped down to boost the chances of the PDP candidate.

While appealing to his supporters to vote for the PDP candidate, Ewuga expressed confidence in the leadership qualities of Ombugadu to take Nasarawa State to greater heights.

He said, “I have decided to step down from the governorship race to fully support my brother from the Peoples Democratic Party, David Ombugadu.

I believe he has great plans for our dear state and if he is voted into office, he will ensure that the 13 LGAs of the state are developed.

“So, I am calling on all my supporters and followers all over Nasarawa State to come out en masse on Saturday, March 11 to vote for Dr. David Ombugadu, to enable all residents of the state to enjoy the dividends of democracy for the next four years.”

A former Minister of Information and Director-General of the State PDP Campaign Council, Labaran Maku, said his party and the Labour Party decided to come together to rescue the Nasarawa State from the alleged bad governance of the All Progressives Congress administration. Any attempt to rig the elections and usurp the will of the masses will be resisted by the people,” Maku added

March 9, 2023
JUST IN: Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s Phone Stolen While Collecting Certificate Of Return

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s Phone Stolen While Collecting Certificate Of Return

Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has said that his two cell phones containing the MTN and Glo lines have been stolen.

Taking to his Facebook page on Thursday to report the theft, Kalu also cautioned members of the public against reciprocating activities involving the phones.

He said they were stolen during the collection of his Certificate of Return at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja.

He appealed to the public to provide useful information that may lead to the recovery of the two phones, adding that his network providers have been duly informed also.

“This is to notify the general public to beware of any illicit activity involving my cell phone and numbers. During the collection of Certificate of Return at International Conference Centre Abuja, my cell phone with MTN and Glo lines were stolen by a yet-to-be-identified person(s). My network providers have been duly informed. Please don’t hesitate to provide any useful information”.

#OUK

March 9, 2023
BREAKING: Governor, two others kill in a bomb blast, Police reacts

Governor, two others kill in a bomb blast, Police reacts

Taliban’s governor and two others have been killed in a blast in his office in northern Balkh province in Afghanistan on Thursday.

The blast tore through the Taliban governor’s office, police said.

“Today around 9am a blast took place inside the second floor of the governor’s office, due to the blast (governor) Mawlawi Mohammad Dawood Muzamil has been killed with two civilians,” said Mohammed Asif Waziri, Balkh’s police spokesperson.

He said police were investigating and would provide more details once they became clear, Ejes Gist News has learnt.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

Mohammad Dawood Muzammil is one of the highest-ranking Taliban officials to be killed in such a circumstance since the group took over Afghanistan in 2021. Muzammil was initially appointed as the governor of the eastern province of Nangarhar, where he led the fight against Islamic State before he was moved to Balkh last year.

Muzammil’s death comes a day after he met two deputy prime ministers and other senior officials visiting Balkh to review a major irrigation project in northern Afghanistan, a government statement said.

Violence across Afghanistan has dramatically reduced since the Taliban came to power. However, the security situation in the war-torn country has again deteriorated with the Islamic State claiming several deadly attacks.

Several attacks have rocked the Balkh province, some claimed by the Islamic State. In December last year, a roadside bomb killed seven petroleum company employees aboard a bus in Mazar-i-Sharif city of the province. Also, in December, 19 people were killed and 24 injured by a blast at a madrassa in Aybak, southeast of the city.

March 9, 2023
BREAKING: Court remands ex-Imo deputy gov in prison

Court remands ex-Imo deputy gov, Gerald Irona in prison

On Thursday, a Magistrates’ court in Owerri, Imo State, remanded the former deputy governor of the state, Gerald Irona, to prison.

Read Also: APC suffers setback as influential SAN, Akubo rejects appointment to be part of Tinubu’s legal team

After hearing the prosecution and defense attorneys, the presiding magistrate, C. N. Ezerioha, ordered Irona to be remanded to the Owerri correctional facility.

Also Read: Vote only APGA or you’ll get nothing from me till my tenure ends – Soludo warns Anambra electorate

She further stated that the court lacks the authority to hear the case.

Gerald Irona: Court remands ex-Imo deputy gov in prison

See Also: Nigerian Army Discover Voting Materials, PVCs Stashed in Lagos Residence

Meanwhile the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo has stated that all Anambra people should vote APGA or they face the repercussions of getting nothing from his government.

The governor urged the people to support all APGA candidate adding that if other candidates from other party emerges, all that would be gotten would only be salaries.

Also Read: BREAKING: 2 dead, Many Feared Injured as Train crushes govt staff bus in Lagos [PHOTOS]

The governor further stated that the candidate wouldn’t have access to him as they would be restrictions and all that would be gotten would only be salaries thereby hindering possible development in the community been represented.

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March 9, 2023
Vote only APGA or you’ll get nothing from me till my tenure ends – Soludo warns Anambra electorate

Soludo sternly warns Anambra electorate

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has threatened his constituents if they do not vote exclusively for the candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, he will ignore them.

In a video circulating on social media, Soludo is heard telling constituents of Igbo-Uwku/Aguata 2 State constituency that if they vote for a candidate from a party other than APGA, he will only pay him salaries.

Read Also: Breaking: Court Okays the use of temporary voter cards (TVC) for Governorship Election

Additionally, the governor stated that only his friend from the same political party would have access to him.

“Everyone I work with must be an APGA member. If you vote for another candidate and he wins and comes to Awka, you can rest assured that he will only be collecting a salary. If he receives his pay, he will return home.

Nobody in the House of Representatives builds roads; he does not construct hospitals or schools due to a lack of funds. I, as governor, am the only one who can accomplish all of these tasks. And only those who are both my friend and a member of the same political party will have access to me. Only such a person is capable of advising me on the necessary tasks.

See Also: Bola Tinubu’s victory stands, Presidency warns Peter Obi, Atiku, others

“Yes, that should be the case. Only my phone will be answered when he calls and listens. If you bring another individual from another party, we will only pay him salary. And he should be warned never to approach me with a request to assist his people. He should not dare,” said Soludo.

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March 9, 2023