Author: Amina Ibrahim

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published 240 polling units across the country with no registered voters. The INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had earlier on Monday disclosed at a meeting with political parties in Abuja that the polling units have no registered voters, adding that the total number of polling units in the country is now 176,606. According to Yakubu, voters assigned to new polling units will receive text messages to know their new polling units before the February 25 and March 11, 2023 general elections. News Point Nigeria reports that, the electoral chief also said voters can locate…

FORMER Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS). A source in the DSS told News Point Nigeria that, the secret service also asked Fani-Kayode to report back to its facility on Wednesday. Earlier on Monday, DSS invited the Director of Special Projects and New Media of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for questioning and grilled him for about seven hours. The APC chieftain had appeared at DSS office in Abuja to answer questions on the allegations he made about some army generals plotting with some presidential candidates to scuttle the 2023 general elections…

THE Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday met with the United States Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Africa Affairs, Molly Phee; and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard. News Point Nigeria reports that, the meeting was held in Abuja, hours after Yakubu met with leaders of political parties ahead of the general elections. The US Assistant Secretary of State, in her remarks, noted that the forthcoming general elections “matter to the United States,” because according to her, the US is interested in consolidating democracy, and doing so peacefully. She…

LESS than 12 days to the general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said that election will not hold in 240 polling units. The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated this at a meeting with leaders of political parties on Monday. News Point Nigeria reports that, Yakubu stated that no voters indicated interest to transfer to those units them during the last Continuous Voter Registration due to insecurity, hence the total polling units for elections is now 176,606. He noted that the Commission would make a comprehensive list of these polling units. The INEC Chairman explained, “Let me therefore start…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is not supporting any candidate or any political party in the forthcoming general elections, maintaining that its only interest is in the electoral process. The Chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said this when he addressed Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) for the 2023 general election in Abuja. According to a video the Commission posted on its Twitter handle, Yakubu demanded neutrality from electoral officers. “INEC is not a political party. INEC has no candidate in the election. Our commitment is to the process and we will make sure that the process…

OPERATIVES of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested the founder and General Overseer of Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly, Lagos, High Priest Nnodu Azuka Kenrick; a student of Emmanuel College of Theology, Samanta, Ibadan, Udezuka Udoka and their freight agent, Oyoyo Mary Obasi. They were apprehended over an attempt to export methamphetamine and skunk consignments concealed in kegs of palm oil through the NAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos to Dubai, United Arab Emirate. High Priest Nnodu was arrested on Saturday 11th February 2023 at his Seraphic and Sabbath Assembly church located…

THE Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 5, comprising Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, is dead. He died Sunday morning at the Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State after a brief illness. This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, SP Ahmed Wakil, in a terse Whatsapp message sent to News Point Nigeria, on Sunday. He said: “Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raj’un. With a heavy heart but total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, I wish to announce the death of  A.I.G  Lawan Tanko Jimeta “He died at the Teaching Hospital, Benin…

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned Nigerians against making money bouquets, noting that is it an abuse of the country’s currency.  In a tweet on its official Twitter handle Saturday, the apex bank called on Nigerians to report such abuse of the naira. “It is your civic duty to protect the Naira,” the tweet added. It also listed spraying, selling, squeezing, and defacing as other forms of currency abuse. This is coming days after the CBN issued a similar warning, saying it would start the prosecution of naira abusers. In a statement, the CBN said it is working…

THE Supreme Court on Saturday came hard on some Nigerians who had been “venting convoluted anger”, following its recent pronouncements, which affirmed a former Governor of the Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25 elections. The Apex Court warned purveyors of such attacks on the judiciary and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, especially the United States-based Professor, Farooq Kperogi and Progressive Minds Forum, to desist and channel such energies to political parties which “fail to organise themselves well.” The Director of Press And Information…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, is in a closed-door meeting with the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at his official residence at the State House, News Point Nigeria gathered. Tinubu, who abandoned the ‘Meet the mentor’ dinner held in his honour by the APC Progressives Sisters Network at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, announced that he had an important meeting with the president at 9.45 pm. In his closing address, he said, “I have a superior appointment. Late yesterday, the president called that I should be at his place by 9.45 pm this evening (Friday). What…

THE Council of State has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to print more redesigned naira notes or allow the new and old banknotes circulate concurrently to ease tension caused by scarcity of cash. The Council approved the naira redesign policy of the CBN but faulted its implementation. Briefing State House Correspondents after the Council meeting chaired by the President, the Attorney General of the Federal, Abubakar Malami, who was flanked by Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that the Council illuminated the need for aggressive…

PRESIDENT Muhammmadu Buhari on Friday chaired the National Council of State meeting to address the current upheaval regarding the naira redesign and the currency swap. News Point Nigeria learnt that, in attendance are the former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan; Yakubu Gowon, and Abdulsalami Abubakar as well as ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo who attended virtually. Also present at the chamber is the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. News Point Nigeria gathered that, governors in attendance are; Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Babagana Zulum…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted there will not be another extension of the deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) before the general elections. The commission said it needs to move its staff away from the issuance of PVCs to other sectors that need attention ahead of the elections. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, stated this on Thursday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s The 2023 Verdict programme. “Unfortunately we are not going to extend the collection of PVCs. The periods we have extended…

THE controversy over the February 10 deadline for the validity of three old naira notes assumed another dimension on Wednesday as the Supreme Court of Nigeria restrained the Federal Government from implementing the February 10 deadline for the old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes. On the same day, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami asked the apex court to dismiss the suit filed by three state governments challenging the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states are behind the suit. Interestingly, all three states are controlled by…

THE National Population Commission Chairman, Nasiru Isa Kwara, has disclosed that census will hold in Sambisa Forest. He said, despite the security challenges, the commission would ensure people in the area are counted. Kwarra announced this at the inauguration of the population and housing national census publicity committee in Abuja. “I can assure you your village has been covered. There is no place we have not visited. Our staff even went as far as Sambisa Forest where we have security challenges. So, I assure you that no one will be left out in the entire census process. “And all structures…

FORMER Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd) says he is running for the governorship position in Bauchi State, in a bid to give back and contribute to the transformation of the state. Abubakar who is governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi, stated on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily monitored by News Point Nigeria, that he has given Nigeria about 42 years of excellent service and sees the need to replicate such excellence. According to the former CAS, all the years of managing Nigeria’s internal security crisis thought him that except the root causes…

A FORMER Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, has urged Nigerians to be vigilant ahead of the 2023 elections, warning that politicians are likely to deploy all means necessary to emerge victorious because the political class don’t mean well for Nigerians. He said Nigerian politicians since 1999 see the electoral contest as a do-or-die affair, noting that the 2023 elections won’t be different. He stated this in Abuja while delivering a keynote at the public sensitization on peaceful co-existence and the need to have hitch-free 2023 elections, organized by the Abuja National Mosque Da’awah and…

36 NIGERIAN governors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) have written to President Muhammadu Buhari, demanding an extension of the timeframe for the implementation of the naira redesign policy and a review of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cashless policy. The governors made the demand in a letter addressed to President Buhari and signed by the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is the NGF Chairman obtained by News Point Nigeria, Wednesday. The governors said that the policy had resulted in riots and protests from Nigerians who are presently frustrated and traumatised by the…

THE Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to dismiss a suit filed by three state governments challenging the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In a preliminary objection filed by the AGF through his lawyers – Mahmud Magaji and Tijjani Gazali – the Federal Government argued that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit. In court filings dated February 8, 2023, the AGF contends that “the plaintiffs have equally not shown reasonable cause of action against the defendant.” They are asking the court to strike out the…

THE Senator representing Delta North in the National Assembly, Peter Nwaoboshi, who has been on the run for months since the Court of Appeal Lagos Division convicted and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for money laundering, is finally in prison custody.  According to a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, the lawmaker was intercepted by EFCC operatives at a hospital in Lagos on Monday, and finally remanded in Ikoyi Custodial Centre on Wednesday to commence his prison term. The Court of Appeal had in a judgement delivered on…