Author: Eileen Peters

AFTER months of controversy and uproar, Edo State Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, bit the bullet on Monday when he officially declared to run for the 2024 governorship election in the state. In a pre-recorded speech aired today, Shaibu, who has been the deputy governor of the state since 2016, said he would run for the office of the number one in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). After his official declaration, Shaibu launched his campaign office in Benin City, the state capital, at an event crowded with party supporters in branded accoutrements. “After all the…

CHAIRMAN of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, says the new leadership in the Commission will unveil the right vision and set the tone for the management to drive the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region. Ebie, who spoke during a facility tour of the NDDC headquarters complex in Port Harcourt, underlined the need for the new Board and Executive Management to take basic steps that would inform the roll out of new strategies to drive the development process in Nigeria’s oil-rich region. Accompanying the Chairman on the facility tour were other…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commenced oral interviews for over 1,050 candidates for its Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme. The interview process, spanning over eleven days, is for the candidates that were successful during a Computer-Based Test written by 5,000 applicants earlier this month. Speaking at the venue of the interview in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who was accompanied by the Executive Director Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, the Executive Director Projects, Sir Victor Antai, and the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, said that the guiding principles for the interview were…

THE crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly is far from over as the police again took over the complex on Tuesday. This came as members loyal to both factions allegedly held separate sittings at different locations. Four police patrol vans were sighted at the entrance of the assembly complex, while the movement of people and vehicles along the Moscow Road Axis of the assembly were restricted. Also, an Armoured Personnel Carrier was seen pacing from one end to the other on the road where the complex is located, while scores of armed operatives mounted strategic locations. The reason…

Alabo (Hon.) Boma Iyaye, Esq, DSSRS: Advocate For Youthful Growth IN the sprawling Niger Delta landscape of the Niger Delta, an inspiring figure of steadfast commitment and indefatigable spirit emerges: Alabo (Hon.) Boma Iyaye. The current Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), it has been a lifelong mission to uplift, guide, and provide a nurturing platform and environment for the region’s youth. Deeply embedded in his essence, this mission has painted a remarkable canvas of his journey through public service and the private sector. He was born to the esteemed lineage of Alabo A.…

Chiedu Ebie: The Technocrat And Beacon Of The Niger Delta Region MR Chiedu Ebie, the newly appointed Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is not just a lawyer but a seasoned technocrat who represents transformative leadership for the Niger Delta Region. His vast experience and innate capabilities make him well-equipped to combat the enormous challenges ahead and leave a monumental impact on the development of the Niger Delta Region. He was born into the family of Professor John C. Ebie, a respected psychiatrist, academic, and pioneer Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).  This…

THE Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Chinedu Ebie, has stressed the need for collaboration with all stakeholders in driving the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for Nigeria and the Niger Delta region in particular. Speaking during the inauguration of the NDDC Board at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Mr. Ebie said that the Commission would achieve more when there is collaboration and harmony in the development process. He stated: “To maintain focus on our development efforts, the Board will honor and collaborate with critical stakeholders…

NATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, says insecurity has reduced across the country since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over power. Ribadu said Tinubu does not make noise over the breakthroughs recorded in the security sector since his assumption of office. Speaking during the ongoing 19th Annual Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Thursday, Ribadu said the current administration inherited tough period. He explained that militancy in the Niger Delta and insecurity in the South East has reduced since Tinubu’s administration came on board, adding that it will get better. “Let me start with…

AT least 62 passengers escaped death on Tuesday as an aircraft belonging to Nigerian airline, Value Jet skidded, off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport in Rivers State. The incident caused panic among the passengers in the oil-rich state after the jet reportedly landed at 3.30 pm the passengers and five flight crew members were on board. The Port Harcourt International Airport is situated in Omagwa, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. “The airline confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the “ValueJet aircraft slipped on taxi turn after landing safely and cleared off the runway at…

AFTER over 48 hours after the Bayelsa governorship election, Governor Douye Diri has clinched a second term in office as the leader of the coastal state. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate fought off his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart Timipre Sylva in a fiercely contested exercise in the oil-rich state. Diri, who came into power in 2020, got a total of 175,196 votes while Sylva polled 110,108 votes. The figures meant the PDP flagbearer beat his closest rival by 65,088 votes. The Labour Party (LP) scored a total of 905 to come a distant third. While 18 candidates vied…

GOVERNOR Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State is leading with over 60,000 votes in the ongoing election. Diri, who is seeking reelection, contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). After the result of Southern Ijaw was declared, the margin between Diri and his closest challenger, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), climbed to 65,088. Diri polled a total of 175,196 votes while Sylva trailed with 110,108 votes. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are putting finishing touches to the exercise at the collation center in Yenagoa, the state capital.

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the November 11, 2023 governorship poll in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, won another local government area (LGA) when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resumed collation of results on Monday afternoon. The state Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, resumed collation at 12:42 on Monday, about 48 hours after the election held in the oil-rich South-South state. The APC candidate won Brass LGA which was the first to be announced at the resumption of collation today. In Brass, Sylva polled 18, 431 while Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 12,602.…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday night, adjourned the collation of results in the November 11, 2023, Bayelsa State Governorship Election till Monday noon. Results from six of the eight local government areas in the state namely Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Yenegoa, Sagbama, Nembe and Ekeremor have been collated. The remaining local government areas are Brass and Southern Ijaw. Prof Faruq Kuta, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, and the state Returning Officer for the election in Bayelsa adjourned the exercise on Sunday night. Sixteen political parties sponsored candidates for the election in Bayelsa.…

A CHIEFTAIN of one of the leading parties in Bayelsa State, Mr. George Sibo, has been killed at the collation center in Twon-Brass, Brass local government area of the state. The deceased popularly called “Kobo-Kobo” was an aide to the Brass Local Government Chairman, Hanson Alabo-Karika. An indigene of Twon-Brass, who was married with children, was attacked when thugs invaded the collation center. Eyewitnesses told this newspaper that the deceased was murdered at the Collation Centre when results for some wards in the constituency were being submitted. Reacting to the incident, lawmaker representing Brass Constituency, Dr. Daniel Charles, expressed sadness…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, said some of its officials on election duty were held hostage in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. “The Commission is closely watching the situation in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State where our officials are held hostage,” the commission said in a statement on its verified X platform. INEC condemned the action as “detrimental to credible elections” and called on security agencies including the police to swing to action and rescue the electoral officers. “We call on the security agencies to immediately facilitate their release,” the commission said. News Point…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, adjourned the collation of election results in the Bayelsa State Governorship Elections conducted on November 11, 2023. The collation of results was adjourned about two hours after the commencement of the exercise which was earlier adjourned last night. Prof Faruq Kuta, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, and the state Returning Officer for the election in Bayelsa adjourned the exercise till 3pm today. The adjournment was after the collation of results from three of the eight local government areas in the state namely Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia and…

A DAY after the governorship election held in Bayelsa, serving commissioners and members of the state House of Assembly have laid siege to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Yenagoa, the state capital. At the INEC office on Sunday, the aggrieved lawmakers and commissioners insisted that the election did not be held in the Nembe Local Government Area of the riverine state. However, there was tight presence of security operatives at the INEC office to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Earlier on Saturday, Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, accused the candidate of the All Progressives Congress…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the state collation of results for the Bayelsa governorship election. The Returning Officer of the election, Faruk Adamu Kuta announced this late Saturday at the INEC Collation Centre in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He said the collation will now take place by 10:00 am on Sunday. The election had been concluded in most parts of the state on Saturday evening. The exercise was largely hitch-free in the oil-rich coastal state. But before the governorship election, an INEC official was abducted and later released. The official was forcefully taken by his captors on Friday…

THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, official, Supervisory Presiding Officer, SPO, abducted on the eve of the governorship election has regained his freedom. The Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Bayelsa, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, made this known in a statement made available to News Point Nigeria on Saturday. Ifogah, who thanked those to showed concern and contributed towards the release of the INEC official, said the officer is doing fine.

THE candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11, 2023 governorship poll in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and security agents of harassing his supporters. Sylva spoke on Saturday after he cast his vote at Ward 4, Unit 4 in the Brass Local Government Area of the South-South state. The APC candidate fingered security agents “especially the Army”, alleging that they are “playing on the side of the PDP”. Sylva said violence has been recorded in Yenagoa, the state capital, alleging that an APC member was shot. He wondered why large…