Author: Editor

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu Despite recent advances in Malawi and Zambia, elective government stutters and sputters to the uncertain rhythms of pathogens and politicians across Africa. The onset of 2022 served notice that #NigeriaDecides2023 is likely to be the most complex and most watched in a brutal biennium for elective governance in the continent. In Mali and Guinea, these uncertainties have produced military coups. In Ethiopia, they have led to a civil war. The electoral landscape in Africa over the next biennium reads like a minefield. Among the countries scheduled to vote, “Libya, Somalia, Mali, Guinea, and Chad are all tentatively scheduled to…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii has said that the insecurity currently pervading Ebonyi State was as a result of unemployment and the needless interference of government in the affairs of local communities. Dr. Odii spoke through his Deputy Governorship candidate, Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu, during a debate organised for governorship candidates of different political parties in Ebonyi State by the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Abakaliki. He said that until the state government hands-off local administration to the local people, conflicts and communal crises may continue. He said, “unemployment, government interference in the affairs of local…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia It has been revealed that some powerful persons in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, wanted to use the party’s governorship ticket as access to permanent share in the state resources. The said leaders, according to the source, offered the party’s governorship ticket to a willing candidate as condition to share the state’s allocations among them. Governorship flag bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Professor Greg Ibe, who made the revelation during a meeting with the state leadership of the Christian Association, CAN, said he turned down the selfish offer,…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Barely 48 hours after a protest erupted at the Umuahia office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, women in Bende, Saturday, blocked the Uzuakoli/ Isuikwuato Road to protest what they called “criminal rigging” of the results of the February 25, presidential and national assembly elections. The protesters mainly women and youths, accused INEC of colluding with anti-democratic forces to subvert the will of the people and announce doctored results. The protesters who claimed that what INEC announced as the outcome of the election was not a true reflection of their votes,  called for outright cancellation of the polls particularly…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The emergence of currency redesign, naira swap and cashless policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has continued to have negative impact on citizens especially those doing businesses in Anambra State. Nigerians in Anambra State are becoming more frustrated amid the naira scarcity since the CBN’s decision to redesign the notes of the three largest naira denominations: N200, N500 and 1,000. Citizens have been spending their productive hours queuing in banks to access the new naira notes from the Automated Teller Machines (ATM). Queues for withdrawal of the new N1,000, N500 and N200 notes from ATMs have persisted…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The much talked about 2023 general election is gradually passing by with the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections gradually becoming a thing of history. Following the anger; the frustrations; the disappointments; and the excitements that characterised the outcome of the exercise, all eyes are now fixed on the March 11 Governorship and States House of Assembly Elections across Nigeria. Enugu State is not an isolated case; in fact, Enugu stands out as one of the flash-points in the March 11 election following the shocking outcome of the Feb. 25 elections, especially the national assembly. Like in some…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State has started re-strategising ahead of the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections, scheduled for March 11. The state Chairman of APC in the State, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, disclosed this on Friday, while briefing Journalists shortly after a closed door meeting with executives of the party at the ward and local government levels The meeting held at the party’s state secretariat, Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre, Abakaliki. This is even as he expressed optimism that the APC would be victorious in the election. According to him, Ebonyi is the only…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Five days after it declared an indefinite strike in Abia State over backlog of salary arrears owed workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Friday, suspended the industrial action. The suspension followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between the State Government and Labour on how to defray the backlog of salary and pension arrears owed workers and pensioners in the state. The MoU was jointly signed by Secretary to State Government (SSG); Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah (on behalf of Government); and the Assistant Secretary General of NLC, Comrade Chris Onyeka; Chairman of NLC in the state,…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The All Progressives Congress (APC) has replied to comments made by the candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, where he challenged the outcome of the 2023 presidential election. Obi told newsmen during his post election International press conference that he was robbed of his mandate and would seek legal approach to reclaim it. Obi also claimed that  Tinubu cannot confidently tell the world that he won the poll when it was obvious that the exercise did not meet the criteria for a free and credible election. Reacting in a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Director of Media and Publicity for…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Barely 48 hours after Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, was declared winner of the February 25 presidential poll, the Court of Appeal, Friday granted leave to Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party; and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to inspect documents used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the poll. This is following two separate ex parte applications filed by Obi and Atiku respectively. The duo who came third and second respectively according to the result of the presidential poll announced by the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, alleged substantial…