Author: David Akonuche

THE Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate in the 2023 Presidential Election, Peter Obi, to return to the party. Obi was PDP’s vice presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, with former vice president Atiku Abubakar. In a communiqué signed by the PDP chairman in the state, Chidi Chidebe, the party advised Obi that joining a coalition ahead of the 2027 election would not yield success. The communiqué stated, “The committee extends an open invitation to all aggrieved and former members of the PDP in Anambra, particularly our revered former…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, on Wednesday, released the final list of candidates for the 2025 Anambra State governorship election. The electoral body also announced June 11 as the official commencement date for election campaigns, which must end at midnight on Thursday, November 6, 2025. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the list was compiled following the conclusion of candidate substitution processes and the verification of personal particulars submitted by political parties. INEC noted that 16 political parties met the submission deadline of May…

THE West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) will on Thursday, June 5, 2025, mark the hundredth edition of its fake news debunker series, WABMA Fake News Debunker, as the academy graduates 50 successful participants in its 2025 second quarter media and communication certification courses A statement by the Registrar of WABMA, Joseph Obari quoted the Rector of the Academy, Dr Ken Ike Okere as saying that in an era of worrying proliferation of fake news and a culture of poor verification, the fake news debunker series has come to be a reference point for news consumers in Nigeria and…

GUNMEN last Sunday evening killed a United States-based returnee, abducting his wife in Umuguma, Owerri West local government area, Imo State. A source said the deceased, an indigene of Ihiala, Anambra State, and a Nigerian-US soldier, accompanied by his wife and land sellers/agents, had arrived in his Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) at a site which he was said to have negotiated to buy, located near the Golden Estate / Abba Father Avenue, Umuguma, Owerri West, Imo State. On arrival at the site masked armed bandits, ambushed them, killing him and abducting his wife. Others escaped with injuries, while…

THE Nigeria Police Force said it has rescued 12 trafficked children in Abia State. The police arrested two individuals for operating an unregistered and illegal motherless babies’ home within their residential apartment located at Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba, in Abia. “Upon intervention, the operatives discovered twelve (12) children, ranging in age from six months to fourteen years, housed in the premises,” Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said in a statement. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the children originated from various villages in the Arochukwu area. “The rescued minors have been safely handed over to the Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs for…

OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Immigration Service have arrested Levi Obieze, a native doctor popularly known as ‘E de play, e de show,’ who is wanted by the Enugu State Police Command over allegations of abduction, kidnapping, and ritual killings. The arrest took place at the Gbaji checkpoint along Badagry-Seme Road, Lagos State, where Obieze was caught attempting to flee the country on a motorcycle. The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) confirmed the arrest on Thursday through a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Akinsola Akinlabi. “Through credible intelligence, Obi Levi Obieze was apprehended by vigilant men of the Nigeria Immigration Service,…

SINCE a former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, came third in the 2023 presidential election, many have touted that his surest path to the Presidential Villa is by being a running mate to a northern politician. The same forces are currently urging him to join a coalition designed to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027. The forces in the coalition are mainly made up of northern politicians who feel the Tinubu administration let their region down after helping him win the 2023 election against their own, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who came second. With President Tinubu running the…

PAT Utomi, a professor of political economics and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, has said that the concept of a shadow cabinet in Nigeria was not new, revealing that he created one as far back as 2008 and even discussed it with then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Utomi had recently announced the Shadow Cabinet, a platform to promote “responsible democratic opposition,” a move that has generated negative reaction from the government, prompting the Department of State Security (DSS) to sue him. Speaking during a virtual event organised by the University of Lagos Mass Communication Class of 1988…

A PROFESSOR of Political Economy, Pat Utomi, on Friday said he is receiving support from some Nigerians who are planning to mobilise 500 lawyers to defend him against the Department of State Services. “It’s energising (that) some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS,” he said. The DSS had sued Utomi over his alleged plan to establish what he calls “a shadow government” in the country. According to the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the DSS prayed the court to declare the move an attack on the Constitution. The professor of…

TRAGEDY struck in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as five siblings died from suspected food poisoning, leaving their mother hospitalised in critical condition. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, May 3, threw the family and the entire community into mourning, with relatives and neighbours seen consoling the bereaved during a visit by our correspondent on Wednesday. Pa Robinson Aghalu, a 79-year-old retired soldier and father of the deceased children, said the tragedy began shortly after the children ate a meal prepared by their mother. Aghalu said the children started experiencing stomach aches, vomiting, and other symptoms,…

THE Labour Party has announced the indefinite suspension of six prominent members, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Senators Darlington Nwokocha and Ireti Kingibe, over alleged anti-party activities. Others suspended are Victor Afam Ogene, Amobi Ogah, and Seyi Sowumi. The party’s National Executive Council said the decision followed the recommendations of a five-man Disciplinary Committee set up on May 2, 2025, to probe allegations of anti-party conduct. In a statement signed by the National Secretary, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, on Wednesday, the party said the suspension takes immediate effect and bars the affected members from participating in any Labour Party activities.…

THE trial of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, resumed on Friday before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, with the cross-examination of principal witness, who said he did not find any instrument of terrorism on Kanu. The court had granted the request of the Federal Government for witnesses to testify behind the screens. While the prosecution counsel is Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), a former Attorney General of the Federation, Kanu Agabi, led the defence team. An operative of the Department of State Services, known simply as AAA, appeared as PW1. When…

THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, to reverse the appointment of the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Theophilus Nnamdi Nzeukwu, and appoint the most senior judge as the Acting Chief Judge of the state. The NJC, under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, also directed that Justice Nzeukwu should be issued a query to show cause within seven days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for presenting himself to be sworn in as the CJ. Justice Nzeukwu was sworn in by Governor…

FORMER Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has explained why he and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori joined the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party. Speaking at a ceremony held at the Cenotaph in Asaba on Monday, where they were formally received into the APC, Okowa said the decision was taken in the best interest of Delta State and its people. “People wondered why, but one thing is very important: in the history of a people there is always a time to change their path for the common good of the people, and whatever decision we took was based on that…

THE Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to Vatican City to attend the burial of Pope Francis on Saturday. In a statement on Friday, presidential adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the five-member delegation was constituted by President Bola Tinubu. Other members of the delegation are the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama. Pope Francis, the revered head of the Roman Catholic Church,…

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, has urged Peter Obi to return to PDP ahead of the 2027 presidential contest to brighten his chances. However, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), has dismissed moves by some political actors to form a coalition with the aim of defeating President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, describing them as content creators. Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, left the PDP in June 2022, citing inability to make “constructive contributions”. In an interview with the ‘Mic On podcast’…

A FORMER Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has called on Nigerians across religious and ethnic divides to embrace love, peace, and tolerance to build a safe, unified, and prosperous nation. Amaechi made the call in his Easter message to Nigerians. He also decried the wanton killings of innocent citizens in different parts of the country, stating that Nigeria can only move forward if there is security of lives and property, peace, a thriving economy and unity of purpose and love among its people. He said, “We may be a country with diverse ethnic nationalities and religions, but in achieving our…

THE Magistrate Court in Apapa has freed the 17-year-old minor, Alabi Quadri, who went viral ahead of the 2023 general elections for standing in front of the convoy of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Magistrate Adetola Olorunfemi freed him following the legal advise of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins. The magistrate confirmed that the legal advice issued by the DPP showed that there was no evidence to substantiate the allegation of armed robbery against Quadri. In his Legal Advice, the DPP recommended the non-prosecution of Quadri and another defendant, one Muiz Animashaun. Quadri and…

THE Federal Government has declared Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, 2025, as public holidays to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday. This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday. He emphasised the importance of embodying the virtues of the sacrifice and love displayed by Jesus Christ, who had to die for the redemption of man, while greeting Christians on the joyous occasion. In a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, the minister called on Nigerians to use the holiday period to pray for the peace, unity, and stability…

SENATOR Seriake Dickson, PDP Bayelsa West has appealed to the People and Youths of Rivers State and Youths of Ijaw Nation across the Niger Delta to continue to be peaceful and resist any form of provocation or incitement to violence. Senator Dickson made this known in a statement shortly after he paid a visit to Governor Siminalaye Fubara, Governor of Rivers State where they discussed the political development in the State within the last couple of weeks. He appreciated the governor’s peaceful disposition even in the midst of unprecedented turbulence. The Lawmaker commended the people of Rivers State for maintaining…