Author: Editor

By Promise Adiele The democratic years of Nigeria’s political experience have witnessed various electoral bodies playing significant roles in the country’s democratic engagements. There was the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) from 1960 to 1966. There was the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) from 1979 to 1983. There was the National Electoral Commission (NEC) in 1993. There was the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) from 1995 to 1998. There is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 1998 to date. No electoral body in Nigeria’s democratic journey has conducted a malpractice-free election. There were degrees of manipulation and underhanded, sharp practices…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to the creation of state police. According to him, the establishment of state police has become unavoidable as part of efforts to strengthen security across the country. Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa during a courtesy visit by a delegation of prominent Katsina indigenes led by Governor Dikko Radda. He assured the delegation that the federal government remains committed to confronting insecurity head-on. The President directed security agencies to reassess their operations in Katsina State following a spike in banditry. He added that advanced military equipment and surveillance…

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu The news hit me hard on Sunday, August 31, in this year of Our Lord. It was beyond acceptance that my ever-rendering friend and brother, Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase, former Inspector-General of Police of Nigeria and ex-Chairman of the Police Service Commission, had passed away. It was impossible to control the tears from flowing… Solo, as all of us his close friends dearly called him, was the quintessential officer and gentleman of the very first order. Born on June 21, 1956, Solomon Ehigiator Arase enlisted into the Nigeria Police in 1981 after taking a 1980 degree…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki An Ebonyi State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abakaliki has remanded a 24-year-old man, Nwebonyi Ubadinma, popularly known as Prophet Ubadinma, in a correctional facility over allegations of attempted murder, arson, stealing, malicious damage, and defamation of character. The suspect, notorious for allegedly dishing out fake prophecies, was accused of committing the offences in different villages across Izzi and Ikwo Local Government Areas between 2020 and 2025. According to the police, Ubadinma allegedly prophesied that an Ogun State-based businessman, Emeka Mgbore (popularly known as EmmyBest), was a ritualist. He was said to have circulated a video of the…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Oluyemi Olatoye, has charged officers to prioritize sound operational planning, continuous rehearsals, and readiness in single, joint, and multi-agency security operations. Olatoye gave the charge on Tuesday in Enugu while declaring open a four-day 82 Division Operations Planning Cadre (Training) 2025 for military, paramilitary, and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officers. He stressed that assumptions must have no place in operations, noting that only deliberate and well-thought-out planning, backed by rehearsals, guarantees operational success. “The cadre is designed to refresh and deepen our knowledge of…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Dr. Caleb Ani, has called on residents of the council to actively participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Ani made the appeal in a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Sammie Agbo, on Tuesday in Enugu. He described the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) as “the most powerful instrument for influencing governance and safeguarding the people’s future.” According to him, democracy begins with voter registration and collection of the PVC, which serve as both the people’s voice and their…

Our Reporter, Abuja  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 2.6 million Nigerians have registered in the first two weeks of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced this in a statement on Tuesday after the Commission’s meeting in Abuja. According to him, 2,532,062 Nigerians had completed online pre-registration as of August 31, with women slightly outnumbering men. A total of 1,313,580 (51.88%) registrants are female, while 1,218,482 (48.12%) are male. Young Nigerians dominated the exercise, with 1,602,484 (63.29%) between the ages of 18 and 34.…

By Chinedu Agu This is not an attack piece. This is a lamentation. A public mourning. Because it is shameful that Imo, once a shining light of the South-East, has now become its sick patient, limping behind as Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi match forward…” As the goalkeeper of NBA Owerri FC, I went to Enugu to represent my branch in the NBA Football Tournament where 40 branches battled for glory at the just-concluded AGC. We came 4th — a commendable feat. But beyond that, I was privileged to be awarded the Golden Glove as the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament. It…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government has announced plans to launch a Contributory Pension Scheme for workers in the state public service. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Umuahia after the State Executive Council meeting. According to him, the scheme is part of ongoing public service reforms aimed at improving the welfare of workers. He described the initiative as “a clear demonstration of government’s unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of Abia workers.” “The state government is set to formally launch its workers’ contributory pension scheme. To this effect, ten Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs)…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Abia State Government has approved the mandatory wearing of traditional outfits by members of the State Executive Council every first Monday of the month. Similarly, all civil servants in the state are now required to wear traditional attire every Friday. The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting. He explained that the decision was aimed at promoting locally-made traditional outfits and showcasing indigenous craftsmanship in Abia. Kanu added that the initiative was also designed to bridge cultural…