Author: Editor
Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been stopped from ending the on-going Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, on 30 June 2022, as earlier announced by the Commission. This is sequel to an order by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday, in a suit jointly filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP; and 185 concerned Nigerians. Honourable Justice Mobolaji Olajuwon of Court 10, Monday, granted an order of interim injunction brought by SERAP against INEC. The plaintiffs asked the court to “declare unconstitutional, illegal, and incompatible with international standards the…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has been advised not to endorse any candidate or party for the 2023 presidential election as doing so would be politically suicidal. A concerned Igbo simply identified as Nwachinemere in an open letter posted on Izu Umunna platform to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor; and Secretary, Ambassador Okay Emuchay, respectively, said Ohanaeze should remain neutral. He argued that endorsement of any candidate or political party by the Ohanaeze would send the wrong signals to other tribes, urging the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation to leave its doors…
By Owei Lakemfa Femi Soyinka, Professor of Medicine, may not be known much outside the medical field or outside the university system where he taught for thirty years. Certainly, he was known in the world of HIV/AIDS where he worked tirelessly to bring succour to the victims. He is of course far less known than his famous elder brother and Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka. But like his brother, he was a humanist and advocate of social justice. Many of us who were in the University of Ife, UNIFE, now Obafemi Awolowo University in the 1980s knew Femi Soyinka quite…
Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri A suspected escapee of Imo prison break whose name was given as Justice Anukam on Sunday allegedly stabbed a pregnant woman, said to be from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of the state to death. The incident happened at Umuejechi Nekede autonomous community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. An eyewitness who spoke to newsmen said the suspect stabbed the pregnant woman said to be coming back from the church after the suspect mounted force on the victim to surrender what she had including her money and she refused. It was said that the suspect…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh, has called on the people of South-East to close ranks and liberate the region. According to him, the people of the region should ensure they vote in credible leaders who will be committed and champion development and unity of the region irrespective of political parties. He said this is the only way the region would be taken seriously in national politics. He stated this at the All Saints Anglican Cathedral Abakaliki, capital of the state while receiving an outstanding leadership award from…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Donatus Nwankpa-led faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State; and the Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu-led leadership of the party, have finally agreed to sheath their swords and work together for the sake of the state. Both divides who have been in the trenches since 2019, held a reconciliation meeting at Ntalakwu Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area where they agreed to forge a united front ahead of 2023. The gladiators, stakeholders and party members at the meeting, adopted Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu as the authentic Chairman of the party in the state, and Chief Ikechi Emenike…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Contrary to media reports and speculations in some quarters, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, has said that its presidential flag bearer, Rabiu Kwankwaso, will not contest the 2023 Presidential elections as running mate to his counterpart in the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi. NNPP refuted reports that Kwankwaso was to run as Obi’s running mate, saying that such matter was never discussed. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr Agbo Major, who made the explanation Sunday in Abuja, said Kwankwaso could not have accepted to be Obi’s running mate. According to him: “NNPP has never at…
Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri The Imo State Police Command arrested two suspects, Mrs Victoria Nwosu, (Stepmother) aged 26, and Mr Chimezie Nwosu, (Father) aged 30, for allegedly chaining their 7-year-old boy, Kelechi Nwosu, and dumping him in a room around World Bank area in Owerri, Imo state. The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Michael Abattam, disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, on Sunday. Police said a good Samaritan reported the matter and the command swung into action and arrested the suspects and rescued Kelechi and two other children as well. According to the police “Sequel to a report on child…
Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, winner of the Ekiti State governorship poll held on Saturday. INEC Returning Officer for the poll, Professor Oyebode Adebowale, who declared the results of the contest, said Oyebanji polled a total of 187, 057 to emerge the winner. Mr Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, scored 82, 211, to come second, while Chief Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, came a distant third with 67,457. Other contestants according to the result…
By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu Three days before Nigeria voted in the presidential election in 2019, on Wednesday, 20 February, a little known official from Saudi Arabia dropped into Abuja to visit Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, who was running for re-election. His name was Ahmed Qattan, described as the “Minister of State for African Affairs” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His arrival was as unheralded as it was suspicious. He lingered long enough for the bowels of his corpulent aircraft to be emptied. The bulletin from the Presidency on the day merely said that Sheikh Qattan visited to deliver an anodyne “letter”…