Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, is in a comfortable lead as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announces results of the Edo State governorship election held on Saturday. INEC has so far announced results of 16 out of the 28 Local Government Areas in the state. According to the results so far announced, by INEC on Sunday, Okpebholo polled 244,549 votes, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scored 195,954 votes. Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata is trailing behind with a total of 13,348 votes. INEC has adjourned till 5:00 pm when…
By Cheta Nwanze In an era dominated by cutting-edge technology, an unexpected incident involving seemingly obsolete devices has sent shock waves through the international community. The recent explosions of pagers in Lebanon have not only altered the political landscape of the Middle East but also threatened to reshape the global technology industry and international relations. In recent months, the Lebanese government placed a substantial order for pagers to bolster its communication infrastructure. This decision, influenced by security concerns over vulnerabilities associated with more modern technologies, inadvertently set the stage for a crisis that is likely to have far-reaching consequences. The choice of…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu When Major-General Muhammadu Buhari overthrew the elected civilian administration of President Shehu Shagari on the last day of 1983, he inherited an economy in a mess and a political system in a turmoil. This crisis of a dysfunctional political economy was Buhari’s principal reason for sacking the Shagari administration. For Buhari, Nigeria’s crisis of balance of payments was the result of two things: indiscipline and economic crimes. His answer to the former was a War against Indiscipline (WAI), a catch-all acronym for everything from instilling a queue culture in the population to capital punishment for drug suspects.…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, has announced November 2, 2024, as the date local government election in the state. Unveiling the timetable for the poll Saturday in Umuahia, ABSIEC Chairman, Professor George Chima, said all political parties in the state would be given equal play ground. He said the commission was committed to doing things right and vowed to deliver a credible poll. “We have been set up to give free, fair and unpolluted election that will be accepted by Abians,” he assured. He solicited the cooperation of the parties, urging them to comply with the…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu A Chieftain of the Accord Party (AP) in Enugu State, Barrister John Nwobodo, has described Saturday’s Local Government Council election as a clueless exercise. Nwobodo said this in a statement he raised in reaction to the election. The statement is entitled “Enugu Elections 2024: a Wasteful Exercise by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC).” He said: “The Local Government Elections holding in Enugu today, 21st September, 2024 is one that is bedeviled with many invalidating factors, as it is riddled with a cacophony of complications and dereliction. “It will be recalled that preparations for the elections…
Ugo Nosiri, Owerri The Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC) says it has deployed both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to various 27 Local Government Areas of the state for the state elections. The Police command in the state has also deployed security operatives throughout the State to ensure that the ongoing Local Government Council Election is peaceful, credible, and transparent. The Police commissioner in the State CP Aboki Danjuma reiterated that the Command is fully committed to upholding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring a safe environment for ISIEC officials and voters. The state is currently experiencing relative…
Our Reporter, Abuja The much awaited whistleblower protection law in Nigeria must cover all gaps in the existing laws in the country and globally, to compensate for the long wait for it following a journey that was said to have lasted over a decade. This was the consensus of participants at the national conference on whistleblowing, corruption and human rights organised by African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in collaboration with Amnesty International Nigeria. The conference took place on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the Reiz Continental Hotel Abuja, and had many stakeholders in the anti-corruption fight including…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Johnson Urama, has lauded UNICEF for partnering with the institution in several fields of endeavour. He said this at a two-day training workshop on green activation organised for secondary and undergraduates of UNN and some selected secondary schools. The event was on the auspices of UNN, Youth Friendly Resource Center in collaboration with, Enugu State Waste Management Agency and UNICEF, Enugu Office. Urama, a Professor of Astro-Physics, who represented the acting Vice Chancellor, Polycarp Chigbu, said the university appreciates the support of UNICEF to the school. “I…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Stakeholders in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, have thrown their weight behind the calls for the creation of ‘Office of the Citizens (OOTC)’ Help Desk in the local council areas in the state. They said the move would help to promote good governance, transparency and accountability. They also said it would give them a voice for timely reporting of challenges and needs in their localities. The people made their feelings known in Urum during a major stakeholders meeting with Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi, a faith-based non-profit organisation, and its development partner, Enough…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As the United Nations marks World’s Clean Up Day today (September 20), Governor Alex Otti has urged Abia residents to key into the state’s recycling initiative aimed at revolutionalising waste management in the state. This is as the Governor cautioned against dumping of waste at unauthorised places or drainages which according to him, leads to flooding and environmental hazards. The Governor in his message to mark the day, restated his administration’s commitment to timely and efficient waste evacuation to keep the state clean. According to the message released by the General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency…