Author: Editor

By Nnamdi Elekwachi  The generally held notion that the Igbo are inherently apolitical is receiving a sharp contrasting twist with the Peter Obi presidential candidacy. Even Nigerians of other ethnic affiliations, mostly the youth who held no PVCs before now, are radically joining the ranks too, showing their overwhelming support for the Obi candidacy. Of late, there’s an unheard-of level of mobilisation among the hitherto ‘apolitical’ Igbo that is now moving them, their entire consciousness and collective aspiration to the centre – a centripetal pull one might say.   Not Obi himself could tell how all of a sudden he became such…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Contrary to reports that the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, has been extended by 60 days, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said the June 30 deadline for the exercise remains sacrosanct. The electoral umpire, however, said that despite its deadline, voter registration might continue following the court injunction asking the commission not to end the exercise yet. INEC National Electoral Commissioner for information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who made the explanation on Wednesday, urged members of the public to ignore the fake reports. According to him: “No. We have not extended anything. The June 30…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia After weeks of speculations and lobbying, the governorship flag bearer of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, Professor Uche Ikonne, has nominated the member representing Umunneochi state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Okey Igwe, as his running mate. The former Chairman, Umunneochi Local Government Area, is the Publisher of the Oracle Newspapers Ltd. Igwe, 49, who hails from Umuogele, Amuda Isuochi in Umunneochi LGA was based in the United States of America before he became Council Chairman in 2016. Meanwhile, the PDP has congratulated the lawmaker on his nomination, describing…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described as laughable and malicious the recent allegation attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari that IPOB was involved in pipeline vandalism in oil producing areas of the country. President Buhari had in an interview with Bloomberg, a foreign media outfit, asserted that members of IPOB are responsible for the vandalization of pipelines in the Niger Delta and asked the nation’s Western allies to designate IPOB as a terrorist organization. He attributed Nigeria’s inability to meet its OPEC quota in crude production to the criminal activities of the secessionist group in the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia As intrigues and political re-alignments ahead of the 2023 general election continue, the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, Wednesday, visited Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The duo held a closed door meeting at Wike’s private residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. When they emerged, none of them talked to the press on reasons or outcome of the meeting believed to be about 2023 presidential project of the Labour Party flag bearer. The visit is coming days after the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, also met with Wike behind closed doors. Speculations…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia. The dust raised by the conduct of Arochukwu state constituency primary election in Abia State is yet to settle as one of the concerned delegates, Chidindu Kalu, has dragged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia. He urged the court to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to recognise anybody as PDP’s flag bearer for the constituency, claiming that the party did not conduct any primaries in the constituency. Kalu queries the purported emergence of a candidate when there was no primaries, claiming that delegates including himself and others…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, has confessed that there is so much disenchantment in Nigeria against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC; and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the 2023 general elections. The Governor who made the confession in a viral video while speaking on the outcome of the just-concluded Ekiti State governorship election, said that the failure of the PDP to come second at the poll was a danger signal that Nigerians are tired of the two major political parties. Alluding to the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Mr…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered security agencies to ensure urgent rescue of the remaining 51 victims of abducted Kaduna-bound train. The President’s order coming about three months after the incident was contained in a tweet by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu. According to the statement, the President is making spirited efforts to ensure the safe return of the innocent victims still in captivity. Below is a full text of the statement: “As the government continues to review the issue of the kidnapped railway passengers and making all efforts to…

Michael Onwuka, Enugu The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd. has decried the poor performance of schools in the South-East Zonal Finals of the NNPC National Quiz Competition. The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC Ltd., Mr Garba Muhammad, disclosed this on Wednesday during the zonal final quiz competition in Enugu. Muhammad, who was represented by the Manager, Community Impact Investment, NNPC Ltd., Mrs Doris Ohia, said he was disappointed with the performance of the students on parade. He urged the various state governments in the zone to return to the drawing board and improve the standard of…

Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor All do not seem to be well with the third arm of Government as 14 out of the 15 Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, have written a strongly worded letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, and Chairman National Judicial Council, Tanko Muhammad, expressing their dissatisfaction with the happenings at the apex court. The Justices who complained bitterly over the gross neglect of their welfare and total disregard to norms since the current CJN assumed office, said they would no longer put up with the anomalies. The Justices who said it…